Girl in a Coma

Even before the heavy guitars kick in, San Antonio trio Girl in a Coma shows more dimension than we've heard since the days when the word punk meant not only the Ramones but also Talking Heads and Patti Smith. When the guitars start to race, the chords stay colorful and full (think Failure or the Cure going by really fast). Singer Nina Diaz has a voice that makes you get your elbows off the bar and pay attention. She uses it differently for each song, and the band as a whole gracefully navigates new wave and disco without pandering to trends. Forget those bands in the glossy mags. Girl in a Coma blows 'em away.