Most normal cities (like, not this one) have small enough music scenes to support the bands who practice hard, play a regular circle of clubs to small but enthused crowds, and generally don't waste their time dreaming of rock & roll greatness outside their hometown. There's something innately special about a band that knows its charms are ragged ones, and such a group can become local champions without making much of a ripple anywhere else. They may not be fitted for crowns and tiaras yet, but Brooklyn's Palomar could grow into one of those acts.

Lots of songs on Palomar's self-released, self-titled debut clock in at two minutes or less (ah, the wit of brevity!), and that suits its bashing pop-rock well. The trio tears through 14 songs that – while not exactly developing new formulas for guitar-bass-drums – bounce and race around with as much spunk and fire as Seattle's Fastbacks, who Palomar resembles at times.

One thing that could push a few fans away is the way hard-strumming guitarist Rachel (no last names, please) sings. Her vocals are like the Incredible Hulk –s weet and pretty when calm (okay, maybe Bill Bixby was never pretty), but don't make her angry. You might not like her vocals when she's angry! Although sometimes the lyrics are a little vague, there's no mistaking Rachel's feelings on "Washington" when she screams, "I don't want to mean anything to you!" And on "Sits Like a Girl," it's not hard to picture her coyly swinging a knife when she sings, "I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you / But I think it's going to again and again!"

Bassist Sasha, who sings with a steadier but also endearingly unpolished voice, and crisp drummer Matt lay down tight, wiry rhythms for Rachel to charge with her jagged riffs.While you might not see them on the cover of Rolling Stone any time soon, it'd be a crime for Palomar not to get noticed in a city with surprisingly few good rock bands to champion these days.