NEW CD RELEASES

Boy - Mutual Friends (Nettwerk/ Gronland Records) Rating: 8 (out of 10)

Boy are anything but. The Hamburg-based German indie folk pop duo (Valeska Steiner and Sonja Glass) have a way with words and music that is entirely their own.

Boy's debut album, Mutual Friends, out this week in North America on Nettwerk, features 12 tracks including their massive Internet YouTube hit "Little Numbers" with 7.5 million views and counting. Lufthansa also uses the track in their advertising for even more worldwide exposure.

Steiner sings all of their original material in impeccable English and the overall vibe of the music is reminiscent of Feist at her best.

To coincide with the album release Boy are performing dates in North America including an all-ages gig in Seattle at the Triple Door on Monday, March 4 (thetripledoor.net/ Calendar/Events/March-2013/BOY.aspx) as part of a West Coast swing.

- John Goodman

Feb. 26

Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell - Old Yellow Moon; Joan Armatrading - Spotlight Johnny Marr - The Messenger.

March 5

Autechre - Exai; Boz Scaggs - Memphis; Kate Nash - Girl Talk; Ólöf Arnalds - Sudden Elevation; Robyn Hitchcock - Love from London; Son Volt - Honky Tonk; The Cave Singers - Naomi; Youth Lagoon - Wondrous Bughouse.