The Airborne Toxic Event have been accused of being derivative and they are. Try not to think of Arcade Fire or the Strokes when you listen to this LA indie-rock quintet: you'll have your work cut out for you. Nor does their debut album eschew the middle of the road; musically, it's about as thrilling as a Volvo estate car. What marks them out are the lyrical talents of Mikel Jollett, an aspiring novelist before he started a band. Jollett writes with clarity and verve, enough to balance the equation and keep us listening.