Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003)

Faced with becoming a '90s nostalgia act, these founders of the school of overly precious chamber pop try stretching out. With their slightly more aggressive tempos and beaming harmonies, even hints of falsetto, songs like ''Roy Walker'' and ''If She Wants Me'' have moments of genuine beauty. But the smiley-face vibe and quasi-ironic lyrics -- call it shiny, semi-happy people -- only make the band seem more coy and arch than ever. The importance of being earnest still eludes them.