The Oranges Band‘s last album, The World and Everything In It, is the kind of record most music writers would feel obligated to say is “pretty good.” It’s got catchy songs, but no hook is too forceful; it’s got fuzzy, but stately guitars and giddy, but assured performances; and the singer has a little of that British-circa-1981 thing going on. And he’s singing about summer, and girls, and often about girls in the summer who get you to do things you probably wouldn’t otherwise.

We’re supposed to like this sort of thing, sure, but we here at DCist have to admit to loving it. The album’s got a unique combination of nervy energy and tight arrangements – a restrained sort of spazz that perfectly fits those wistful, nostalgic remembrances.

All this really comes to a head in their live show. When we last caught up with them, they were the highlight of the DAM! Fest’s opening night, nailing their rockers (“Ride the Nuclear Wave”, “OK Apartment”) and breathing new life into their slower, more complex numbers. Suffice it to say, we were excited to hear the band was coming back to D.C. this Thursday and pretty damn giddy that lead singer Roman Kuebler agreed to chat with us ahead of the show.