Cotton Mather is one of Austin's leading entries in the neo-pop sweepstakes. Their Beatles-derived sound has touches of new wave energy and Califonia harmony. Their first album, Cotton Is King, is out-of-print, but copies are floating around town (check the used CD sections at better indie stores...). The second record, Kon Tiki, features the equally talented Darin Murphy, and is even better. It is still available - if not on-line then locally.

By their second album, Cotton Mather had succeeded to a far greater extent in Europe and Japan than here at home. The band suffered a setback, though, when plans for an English tour and a third record were shelved when leader Robert Harrison injured his back in 2000. Thankfully, everything turned out okay, and The Big Picture, Cotton Mather's most ambitious work to date, was released to glowing critical reaction in late 2001. Definitely a band to watch - visit their website, www.CottonMatherMusic.com.