It's been more than a decade since the North Carolina triangle of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill yielded the nationally known scene that included Superchunk, Polvo and Archers of Loaf, and spawned Merge Records. Lately, though, I've sensed a second coming. Exhibit A) the Raleigh band Schooner, whose You Forget About Your Heart (Pox World Empire) hit me like a ton of bricks and was voted one of 2004's unknown pleasures by GQ. Just eight songs long, it's steeped in the same stumbling, organ-drenched fuzz-pop of the Walkmen and the Rock*A*Teens. Exhibit B) the Durham band the Sames, whose You Are the Sames (also on Pox World Empire) is a total relic of heady '90s indie rock in the vein of Silver Scooter. Each song is crowded with giant hooks, bristling feedback and slacker choruses. Exhibit C) the Raleigh band Ticonderoga, whose self-titled album (54° 40' or Fight!) weds twangy turbulence with breathy pop in the manner of ex-Gastr del Sol whiz David Grubbs. Clarinet, accordion and contrabass make it all the more moody. These three, along with recent releases by the Comas and the Rosebuds, are enough to fuel hopes of the triangle's resurgence. Like all scenes, it may be largely imagined, but it's hard to ignore this many bands that are this good when they're coming from the same little corner of the world.

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