California X hail from Amherst, Mass., so you figure they'd have to reckon with the daunting specter of Dinosaur Jr. no matter what they sound like. Chalk it up to youthful audacity, then, that the band uses their debut double-A-side on The Sounds Of Sweet Nothing to confront the Mascis head on. Recorded with Justin Pizzoferrato (whose credits include Sonic Youth, and, yup, Dinosaur Jr.), "Mummy" doles out highly melodic fuzz riffs and yelping vocals like gourmet comfort food, instantly familiar but unmistakably richer. "Mummy"'s wealth of hooks and reckless gusto is evidence of a band that loves distortion but ultimately wants to be heard loud and clear. Retro as hell, surely-- yet, who doesn't want to remember that amazing time when "Start Choppin'" and "Kool Thing" threatened to turn indie heroes into pop superstars?