Indianapolis ruckus-raisers Jookabox were known as Grampall Jookabox last time they stopped in Iowa City, playing PS1 during last year’s Mission Creek Festival. In putting out their new album Dead Zone Boys, they’ve dropped the “Grampall” but are still putting out frenetic, anthemic kitchen-sink pop. Dead Zone Boys, out now on Sufjan Stevens’ Asthmatic Kitty was one of 2009′s most under the radar releases, but should already be near the top of your list of “Best Albums from Last Year That I Didn’t Hear Until This Year.” You’re working on that list already, right? Good.

Dead Zone Boys is an intense percussionistic experience, full of warped, transportive vocals. It’s as if this record was made by tribal ghosts, and not dudes from the heartland. With an ever changing live sound, this is going to be a show that’s certain to make each performance something to remember. It’s dance-worthy, but not dance music and if it sounds like these guys are taking themselves too seriously, they’re not. For all the weight of the arrangements, it is fun music, especially in the creative vocal lines and use of vocal treatments. Who knows how they’ll pull that off live – we’ll find out later this week.

Jookabox comes to the Mill this Friday, and to help celebrate we’ve teamed up with Team Clermont to give away three copies on CD of Dead Zone Boys! All you have to do is email contest [at] missionfreak.com with Jookabox in the subject line to be entered to win. All entries must be received by Friday, Jan. 15 at 6pm to be considered. As with all our contests, you do not need to be an Iowa City area resident to enter. Good luck!

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Download: Jookabox – Don’t Go Phantom

Who: Jookabox with Molly Ringwald, Happy Chromosomes, and Hey Hello
When: Friday, 9pm
Where: The Mill
How Much: $6