For fans of Bruce Springsteen, the Replacements and the Pogues, their latter-day answer to those icons came in 2010 in the form of Titus Andronicus' epic, messy, passionate, over-the-top masterpiece, The Monitor. Similarly, fans of the Smiths, Tears for Fears and the Church may find solace in Merchandise's similarly epic and messy release, Children of Desire. A full-length at merely six songs, Children of Desire is somehow over-stuffed and minimalistic at the same time. Vocalist Carson Cox evokes Morrissey without ever approaching imitation. For all its bluster and ambition, Merchandise's album somehow leaves the listener in mystery, even in the wake of such a strong statement of purpose. "Who Are You," the lead track off of Merchandise's forthcoming follow-up, finds them tightening their arrangement without sacrificing the awesome sound that has become their calling card.

NORTHERN, W/ LOVE INTEREST, CAIRO PYTHIAN, WET HAIR, 8 P.M., $6, 414 ½ LEGION WAY, OLYMPIA