Not too cramped for coffee!

Minneapolis indie-rocker Zoo Animal is a bipolar creature. On the one side, its songs are toe-tapping, lo-fi grooves with catchy riffs and irresistible vocal melodies. On the other, its songs are laden with gloomy, down tempo tendencies and socially conscious lyrics about heavy themes such as religion and womanhood. Recorded with just one track per instrument, the band’s debut, Young Blood, embodies a minimalist mindset within its 10 anthems, but packs each one full of dense material. Holly Newsom’s voice is the unmistakable main attraction, as she bobs and weaves her hollowing croons throughout a maze of twangy, vintage rock guitars and moody dance beats. With great clarity and ease, she delivers clever and inspired vocal hooks with surprising bluntness. “I was thinking about when women started working,” she sings on the second track, Black and Gold, “all the stores had to stay open late, because there was no one to shop during the day.” Later on the album she unabatedly explores her Christianity on the song My Lord. “All these kids running around, they’ll be scared when my lord comes down.” The invitation into Newsom’s personal life becomes a lot to take on in the album’s 25-minute playtime, but it also gives Young Blood a value that’s hard to find in indie-rock.

Zoo Animal + Hildur Victor • April 8 • The Underground, Stout Student Center, 302 10th Ave., Menomonie • 8pm