The tag of garage rock is getting thrown around much these days. Not without reason as a number of bands have found their muse in the sounds of the Music Machine, the Seeds, the Sonics or any number of bands that once upon a time churned out spastic guitar rock with blatant disregard for a polished sound. Chicago’s Outer Minds are no exception. Except maybe they are. On their self-titled Plustapes debut tape, yes, another tape, Outer Minds channel early Rolling Stones and maybe even a little Syd Barrett fronted Pink Floyd to create four reverb heavy and catchy as all hell songs.

How does one stand out from the ever expanding garage scene lead locally, at least, by White Mystery? Well, for one write songs full of memorable melodies and hooks. Done and done. Opener “Footsteps” is all jingle jangle with keys, tambourines and Brian Costello’s steady drumming with simply one verse repeated over and over. “Something New” offers more guy/girl vocals than “Footsteps” and a breezier 60′s vibe like the Mamas and the Papas covering the Stones. Catchy? Check.

Side two keeps the party going with more guy/girl call and response on “Conversation” with back up vocalist and keyboard player Mary McKane’s vocals shining through a bit more. Closer “Kings and Thrones” is leaner and a bit snottier but still bristles with pop energy, sing-along choruses, and a hint of early Beatles fret work from lead vocalist and guitarist Zach Medearis. And that’s it. Four songs full of verses and choruses, jangly guitar, and spooky keyboards.

Sounds simple, right? You’d think so, but it’s not easy to make simple stick in your brain. The beauty of Outer Minds is that they write songs. Like song songs. They are not content to rest on the sounds of garage rock or to spazz out so much as to distract you from what they are playing. Pop music only really works when there is something tangible to hold. Each of these four songs has that something. It sounds right, and you might actually find yourself playing air tambourine which can’t possibly look good.

Puchase Outer Minds right now at Plustapes.com!