With all the crappy and contrived rock that has clogged up many a good radio station and record store lately, it's nice to get a progressive guitar act that succeeds in doing the retro thing.

Velvet Crush mixes it up in the Rolling Stones/Alex Chilton/Velvet Underground way that is oh-so-common in today's world of "alternative" rock -- but without too much sugary aftertaste.

Sure, In the Presence of Greatness, their 1991 release on Ringers Lactate Records is full of familiar candy harmonies and three-chord vamps. But the band has a fuzzy garage sound which will jostle your smile muscles -- thanks probably to their producer, pop debutante Matthew Sweet.

The best way to describe it might be to take Murmur-era R.E.M., juice up the harmonies and then add some unobtrusive guitar feedback for good measure.

Sometimes it's cute, like in "Window to the World." Sometimes it's uplifting, like in the sonic wall of "Drag Me Down" and the bass-laden "Superstar." Other times it's melancholy and reflective --witness the sour grapes ballad "Asshole" and the nostalgic "White Soul."

You can argue that it sounds like it has been done before, but try to deny that "Blind Faith" or "Speedway Baby" wouldn't sound great on a lonely stretch of highway. When rock formula is mixed right, it's nourishing and naughty at the same time.

In any case, vocalist/bassist Paul Chastain makes up for his lack of a strong voice by not trying too hard. He just presents the melody and lets you follow in your own way.

Sweet does a good job of keeping guitarist Jefferey Borchardt and drummer Ric Menck from fighting for control of the mix. The result is a recording that sounds like it was done in just a few takes, with no psychedelic overdubs or chintzy drum samples.

I like that. Good rock music should sound as if it is recorded live in the studio, or in somebody's basement.

Garage rock is as American as anything. And perhaps the nicest thing about this record is its total lack of dance beats. Let the Brits keep their hip-hop versions of Beatles tunes. I'd rather jump around the living room to Velvet Crush.