The XYZ Affair will be at the Black Cat Backstage Sunday night. With the Teeth and the High Strung. $10.

Is the XYZ Affair’s first proper full-length, A Few More Published Studies, a concept album about academia? If so, it’s anything but bookish. Give the band points for originality — quoting F. Scott Fitzgerald and echoing Queen isn’t exactly a natural combination — but give them more points for ambition, because this album is a testament to how up-and-coming bands can walk those fine lines between catchy and experimental, between lo-fi and well-produced, between clever and meaningful.

Like so many strong debuts, the band comes out with a sense of purpose. By the time the their signature sound – a thick chorus of harmonized voices (again, think Queen, maybe even a little Futureheads) – flies in on the opener “Smile,” hovering above jagged guitars, they’ve declared their intentions. This is not whiny, angst-ridden indie rock, and it’s certainly not a cutesy twee album. Instead, feedback-laced post-punk riffs, thunderous drums, and chiming synths build into dramatic vocal climaxes, with lead singer Alex Feder’s dramatics ably urged on by his band mates’ wordless backup parts.

Without a doubt, a less skillful band might have blown their wad too early. “Ideals” shrieking guitar solo comes right on the heels of the romantic – or maybe sarcastic? – “And I will build a bridge to your window ledge / ‘Cause I know you’re as good as your ideals.” This kind of lyrical tension runs throughout the album, as characters and voices grapple with expectations – realistic and unrealistic – and how to live up to them or go down trying. “Academics” gives us a little break from the fast pace – its dark verses the most awkward moment on album – but its only two minutes into the song and they’re back at it again, as soaring harmonies lead into a rousing march. Maybe best of all is Feder’s biting and hilarious chorus, “A few more published studies could save this fate from others / We need more academics, the world needs academics now.”