Upon the first listen of Xrayok’s November self-released sophomore album “Like Life,” this reporter immediately closed her eyes and let the music take her to an untarnished utopian land, populated by the bare trees pictured on their album cover. The foursome can almost be described as the brainy lovechild of rock inspirations like Radiohead and Muse. It is hard to believe Xrayok hails from a state just next door, Arizona, and not from across the pond like their Brit-rock influenced sound leads the listener to believe. The band describes themselves as “a lush blend of dark New Wave, Rock and Electro that fuses Brit-rock style with spaced out keyboards.” It is noticeable to the listener where Xrayok drew inspiration from; bands such as Muse, Sigur Ros, Coldplay, Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins immediately come to mind. However, the indie rock outfit knows precisely how to make a prevalent style of its own. The band has managed to draw elements from each of these bands, mixing and matching its own personalized experimental approach. Xrayok infuses rhythmic, up-tempo melodies with their indie rock ‘n’ roll sound getting its listeners to dance with the music. Each track is executed sublimely with every hook and intricate melody in the six-song EP. They are hardly a band who relies on synthesizers, like most contemporary dance-rock bands. The quartet brings just as much reverberating guitars to its music as it does with its hazy keyboards, making a blissful experience for any listener. The EP starts out perfectly with “The Luster.” It is a three-minute masterpiece in which lead vocalist and songwriter TJ Hill and band molded to get in the listeners ears and mind with dark resonance. As the listener enters the song, Hill sends all his emotions jabbing through the air for the verses and then brings them back down with slow, sensual moaning throughout the chorus. The listener is sent through the same whirlwind of emotions feeling Hill’s sting. The only downsides to the album are the lack of completion in the lyrics. Like clockwork, the chorus of each track is one line sang over and over again. In the third track, “Fall of Your Eyelash,” Hill croons again and again as the chorus, “Would you believe in love, would you believe in love? Let it fall away.” Nevertheless, it is refreshing to hear a simple, yet striking line repeated rather than having to listen to a singer attempt to come up with different ways to say the same thing. Though the lines are repetitive, Hill’s mysterious vocals make the listener release all inhibitions and relax to the constant, steady realms of the haunting music. Their word reiteration occurs yet again a couple songs later with the tracks “Doesn’t Matter” and “Sunshine.” Even so, they are flawlessly captivating without being terribly overbearing. Xrayok spent the end of 2005 on the road with the Lovemakers, She Wants Revenge and Rock Kills Kid. It currently has dates lined up for a few album release shows in its hometown of Tempe, Ariz.

Be careful where you listen to the new self-released xrayok EP Like Life -- you're likely to find your pulse quicken and your body move without permission to the throbbing, '80s-informed dance-rock sound. With atmospheric vocals and haunting keyboard lines, xrayok mixes enough New Wave appeal to tempt you to buy a pack of cloves, but delivers it with the kind of modern urgency Chris Martin only wishes he could muster up on the last Coldplay record. Sing-along choruses, hooky piano lines and sparkling Bob Hoag production make a potent antidote for anyone who's overdosed on Franz Ferdinand and The Bravery in search of what is hip. From opener "The Luster," beckoning with a yearning dance groove, to "Sunshine," the final track, winding down into a contemplative confidence, Like Life sounds like a night of hungry kisses that bleed into the dawn of a satisfied morning after.

X Ray OK: Like Life (self-released) X Ray OK, a four-piece from Arizona, is far better than OK. They have taken a new-wave sound made popular in the early ’80s and done a great job of updating it for 2005. The keyboard sound in particular, when mixed with the guitars, is really distinct, providing an approach to modern pop they can really call their own. Singer/guitarist T.J. Hill sounds great throughout the six-track CD and sings with plenty of heart and confidence. While all of the songs are enjoyable, “The Luster” clearly stands out. It’s impossible not to be drawn into the song’s great melody and danceable beats; the track is perfect for the late-night Goth clubs that like to crank out good synth bands through their speakers. www.xrayok.com | John Kujawski

It's hard to listen to these guys and not think of U2 or Radiohead. That's not a bad thing, by the way, as I certainly mean it as a compliment. How else to better describe a strong and emotive lead singer, backed by dynamic and catchy modern rock? Even with those comparisons, xrayok holds its own. The songwriting is strong and the performance is dead-on, with tight songs and impeccable musicianship. As this is more an EP with only six songs, the album never has time to grow weary, smartly leaving the desire to hear more. These guys show a lot of promise, and I'd imagine that time will only strengthen their identity and their songs. MISH MASH Mandate: X Marks The Spot