Garageland don't sound anything at all like a band that just emerged from the cluttered, oil-stained floors of their namesake. In fact, they come from the past, combining a blast of synth-pop urgency from the early days of the new wave eighties with the uplifting guitar-twirl of the sixties (and hey, with another Bush in the White House, it's hard to argue that everything old isn't new again). The interesting thing about Do What You Want, recorded in Neil Finn's home studio, is how the sound of a thousand songs from the past, stretching all the way back to the earnest ballads of the fifties, is glossily updated for the present moment.

Garageland have found success in their native New Zealand -- both of their previous albums went gold -- and in other parts of the former British Empire, including America. Their 1996 debut, Last Exit to Garageland, received critical acclaim from a number of arbiters of musical worth. The uplifting-without-being-sappy music on Do What You Want proves that this acclaim wasn't unwarranted: the songs here are almost-classics, instantly hummable and immediately appealing. You might even find yourself wondering if you've heard them before. But Garageland aren't mired in the past; there's a modern feel to the band's sound, anchored in the spiky guitar washes and power pop choruses that pack the album's openhearted songs.

"Good Luck" and "Middle of the Evening" employ echoing vocals and simple guitar lines for a feel similar to Pearl Jam's cover of the old hit "Last Kiss"; Abbey Road-era Beatles are evoked in "Good Morning", with its swelling piano and "Here Comes the Sun"-esque lyrics ("Woke up all fresh and new, it's good to know someone needs you./Good morning, how are you?"). "Not Empty" moves from a bouncing bass line, quiet crooning and strummed guitar to a full-throated gallup. In one sense there's nothing at all surprising about the song -- it builds up and up and up, gaining momentum and volume, and the guitars and drums crash in exactly as you'd expected. The effect, however, remains magical; it's an exhilarating release. Do What You Want as a whole works in much the same way, taking an expected route but never letting the scenery get dull.