Mixing the power pop thrust of the Real Kids and the Undertones with the buzzsaw aggression of the Saints and Teengenerate, Chicago's Returnables lived in a world where teenage kicks were just around the corner and everbody went to Vince Lombardi High.

The band's roots date back to 1997, when Reggie and Bobby James Lee Ray got together with the intention of drinking a few beers and bashing through some Undertones covers. Dubbed The Underclones, the boys soon ruled the basement party circuit of Madison, WI.

Although started as a casual side project, the chemistry was immediate. The guys decided they needed to devote their complete attention to this fortunate accident. Relocating to Chicago and re-christening themselves The Returnables, the boys fueled their songcraft from those initial influences and immediately started lighting up every hall, hole and hovel that would host them.

In the fall of 1999 they released “So When Can I See You Again?”, a 4-song EP on their own Rocketship Records imprint. When original drummer Richie Stuverud (ex-Fastbacks) and guitarist Ernesto Che Lee Ray split, the band went through a succession of drummers and guitarists before settling into the classic Returnable lineup of BJ, Reggie, Frankie and Arturo in 2000.

In the meantime, “So When” caught the ear of Naked Raygun frontman Jeff Pezzati, who was so taken by the band’s garage-pop sound that he immediately signed them to his Jettison Music label.

The full-length “Unrequited Hits” was released in May 2002. Once again working with producer Mike Hagler (Wilco, Mekons, Neko Case), who had manned the knobs on the EP, “Unrequited Hits” was exploding-white-mice loud – but the volume never overwhelmed the melodies, which lingered long after the final cut had played. A baker’s dozen of manic pop thrills, “Unrequited Hits” was a blast of pop mayhem that brought the band international attention.

The Returnables followed up that triumph with “So When Can I See You Again?...Plus!” in May 2003, a rerelease of the debut EP with 4 brand-new nuggets added for good measure. This release, bolstered by further touring and a featured performance in the Independent Film Channel (IFC) production “Running With the Bulls,” further cemented the band’s reputation as one of Chicago’s finest musical exports.

A few more lineup changes followed, with Tommy Lee Ray taking over the drum throne in 2004 and bassist Blaze St. John coming into the fold in 2005.

Unfortunately, the band never got a chance to capitalize on its growing notoriety. On July 14, 2005, guitarist John Glick (aka Bobby James Lee Ray) was killed in an auto collision that also claimed the lives of Silkworm’s Michael Dahlquist and The Dials’ Doug Meis.

But while the band may have come to an end, the music goes on. In March 2006, Dirtnap Records will be releasing a new Returnables disc. Consisting of 4 studio tracks recorded in March ’05 and 3 live tunes pulled from a June ‘05 show, the self-titled EP shows the band at the peak of of its power. With its sharp hooks and raw energy, “The Returnables” stands as a powerful parting shot from a band that never pulled its punches.

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