Think you got problems?  Look in the mirror, man!  You could really learn a thing or two from The High Strung’s latest studio release Ode to the Inverse of the Dude, which features short and strange slices of savory self-reflection. Get hip to the Dude, an indie rock endeavor produced by David Newfeld (Los Campesinos!, Broken Social Scene).  With eleven tracks clocking in just shy of thirty minutes, there’s no excuse not to take it for a quick spin.

A sure-fire sing-a-long, “Standing at the Door of Self-Discovery” opens the record like a pop-tinged battle cry.  “I Got Your Back” is an affectionate acoustic number so simple and sweet it’s this writer’s favorite from the batch.  Singer Josh Malerman’s voice is of a nasally nature, similar to that of Gene Ween, especially in the jumpy track “Guilt is How I’m Built”. Just think of The High Strung as a squeaky clean Ween - instead of chirping about bananas and blow, Malerman’s lyrics look inward, celebrating all that makes us unapologetically human.

Despite their caffeinated calling card, Ode will leave you more relaxed than jittery.  But save your energy for their lives shows, as the Detriot Rock City trio is sure to cross your path this summer.