BUZZ BANDS

Jam songs about our traffic jams

To hear the agit-pop of Controlling the Famous, you’d think the L.A. quartet was one fender-bender away from being really angry, what with its bickering guitars, uppity percussion and songs that bristle at traffic jams, indolence and other sundry annoyances.

But a week after the release of “Automatic City,” the band’s debut for indie label the Militia Group, singer-guitarist Max Hellmann genially deflects any questions about subtext. “We live in an interesting place,” he says, “especially if you step back and watch the world go by.”

Since Hellman, singer-guitarist John Collins and bassist Brendan Hughes got together at USC in 2002 (drummer Mike Schneider joined later), CTF has certainly seen some of the world -- with more ahead when the band launches a tour Saturday at the Knitting Factory.

The quartet’s tightly woven, almost math-rock guitar sound, first displayed on an EP the band did with producer Brad Wood, was honed over the last couple years. On the new album, producer Alex Newport left the edges nice and sharp. “It’s not like you have to have a calculator to figure out the time changes,” Hellmann says. “A lot of that kind of music is like needles to the ears, but I don’t think we come off as too dissonant.”

New and

notable

L.A. artists who are stocking the “just out” bins:

* The Aggrolites’ “dirty reggae” has been cleaned up a bit since their self-released debut a couple years ago, but the quintet’s debut for Hellcat Records is no less party-worthy. Their tour starts Sunday at the Knitting Factory.

* Orchestral popsters Bedroom Walls advance their “romanticore” sound nicely on their second album, “All Good Dreamers Pass This Way,” on Baria Records. They celebrate its release Tuesday at the Troubadour, with Lavender Diamond supporting.

* Atmospheric rock quartet the Slow Signal Fade found a home for its second album, aptly titled “Steady” and produced by Steve Albini, on Portland-based In Music We Trust Records. They debut the new stuff, highlighted by the vocals of Marguerite Olivelle, on Friday at Spaceland.

* Zack Hexum (the brother of 311’s Nick) celebrates the release of “The Story So Far” on Saturday at the Hotel Cafe.

Fast

forward

* Touts: It would take a lot of hyphens to describe what the Gray Kid does, but suffice to say the young crooner-rapper, playing solo for now, commands the stage. The man (with laptop) holds forth Tuesday at Spaceland.... The Adored’s catchy debut for V2, “A New Language,” isn’t out until July 11, but its mod-punk will be in fashion on Tuesday at the Echo.... Long Island’s Nightmare of You brings its fop-pop to town for shows Friday at the Knitting Factory and Monday at the House of Blues Anaheim; Cleveland’s Brandston, better than most of the emo pack, is also along.... San Diego’s shoegazey Ilya has a new batch of mood-altering material, titled “Leaving Sans-Souci”; the quartet plays the Scene in Glendale on Friday night.

* Shouts: To the Little Ones, who followed up a PR shot in the arm Friday (when they were featured on NPR) with an energetic set at the Echo in support of the equally jaunty Irving....To Great Northern and the Brokedown for delivering the goods Tuesday at Silverlake Lounge.

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-- Kevin Bronson

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Recommended downloads

* Stream “Highway Parking Lot” by Controlling the Famous at www.myspace.com/controllingthefamous

* Download “Mr. Misery” by the Aggrolites at www.myspace.com/theaggrolites

* Stream “TBA” by the Slow Signal Fade at www.myspace.com/theslowsignalfade