MAGNUS

With a name identical to a U.K. dance group and confusingly similar to fellow Chicago artist Magas, it's safe to say Magnus face an uphill climb in establishing their identity in the local scene. That's a shame, given that their first full-length, Sleepwalker, is such a gorgeous and enveloping listen. Their melodic yet meticulously textured indie rock, layered with electronics and keyboards, is positively monolithic in scope and ambition, yet so cozy and approachable that listeners will want to settle into it on repeat. What's in a name, anyway? - Joseph Niemczyk

"These little geniuses do nothing else but pop: intelligent, synthetic, emotional, delicate and twisted." - Vincenzo Lorussa

Chicago quartet Magnus embodies everything good about indie rock on Sleepwalker. It's melodic, but not an obvious, pandering way. At the same time, while it's challenging in spots, it doesn't deliberately confound potential listeners with self-absorbed coolness either. Magnus' tunes include familiar bits nicked from various underground rock icons, but excellent cuts like "Broken," "Transmitting" and "Awake" smartly revolve around the melodies, not the arrangements. The psychedelic rock grandeur of "Sun Burning Satellites" (isn't that a band name just waiting to be scooped up?) splits the difference nicely. - Michael Toland

This Chicago band is not lacking for ideas, and their debut album illustrates a guiding sensibility and a sense of exploration on a batch of memorable, well-executed songs that are tailor made for quality college radio stations. The band's big guitar sounds at times merit comparisons to shoegazers and My Bloody Valentine acolytes, while their consistent songwriting brings to mind a host of college radio friendly rockers like The Lassie Foundation, Tiara and New Radiant Storm King. An impressive opening effort. - Mike Bennett

Magnus really is a very unique sounding band. Sometimes sounding like Brainiac, sometimes sounding like an early Radiohead, or even a harder sounding Broken Social Scene, Magnus is adept at using post-rock and electronic elements to deconstruct fairly average pop and rock songs. With good musical intuitions and an expertise in craftsmanship, Magnus could create a masterwork. - John Thrasher

Spring 2004

Excellent! This Chicago group won't fall in line with prevailing indie rock elements, putting up a false intensity. They just let the delighting, surprising turns in their tightly-written and executed music speak volumes. I can't remember the last time I heard such inventive guitar passages from an American band that doesn't ape Neil Young, yet seems like they might have heard Brian Eno's Here Come the Warm Jets or Radiohead's Ok Computer along the way, and understood the dynamic trichotomies of beauty, brain, and aggression inherent in both. With music of this striking power right under our noses, the rest of America rock and its overwhelming mediocrity just lost its excuse. - Jack Rabid

For a full-length with such evident talent and enough golden moments to keep you coming back, Sleepwalker is a very promising beginning. It works from an impressive arty-pop pedigree to form a sound that's most effective at its most ambitious. If Magnus can sustain that ambition, they could well grow into a leading -- even unique -- pop force in the future. - Amir Karim Nezar

Chicago's Magnus embrace ost-rock on Sleepwalker, crafting artful ndie rock that's equal parts brains and brawn. If not inspired by Radiohead's The Bends, the disc can't help but recall it as evidenced by "Inside Out," one of several standouts. Another, "Behind the Eyes," feels closer to the op side of Canada's Broken Social Scene. But for all the comparisons, Magnus somehow succeeds in retaining its own identity on this debut. The title track is as beautiful as it is powerful, where chaotic sounds are used subtly. The group is careful not to overpower the album with experimentalism, demonstrated to further effect on the set-bowing "Sun Burning Satellites." Here, the electronic bleeps at play are promptly crushed by My Bloody Valentine-like guitars, sounding like the perfect ending to a promising new album and the perfect launching pad for Magnus -- who just may become college radio's heroes of tomorrow. - John D. Luerssen