"How we knew about Pap smears in eighth grade I don't know," admits Papsmears bassist Fiona Axelsson, just moments after doing preproduction work on the band's next EP.

"Me, Jodi and Jordan have been together since seventh grade," Axelsson says of the Paps' beginnings. "We were called Forward. We changed it to Papsmears in eighth grade. The three of us are now in Grade 12."

The Papsmears are a teen power pap. er. power pop/new wave quartet from Gimli, Man. Their excellent playing skills and authentic attention to form are just a couple of the things that make the blitzy group stand out from the throng of new Winnipeg-based bands. Filled out by twin sisters Jodi Dunlop on animalistic drums & steadfast guitarist Jordan Dunlop, the Papsmears have recently added powerful new vocalist Terra Stevenson to their lineup.

You streetbeatin' power poppers can check these rockin' Papperz out when they gig with some freshly crafted pop numbers such as Love Chords and Cut & Paste Girls at Dylan O'Connor's on Pembina with the Choir Boys on March 22. You can also learn more by hittin' the Papsmears' MySpace page.

"We're thinking about calling the EP One More Time Girls, but that's not final," Axelsson says.

Whatever the release will be called, Axelsson says The Papsmears are also thinking of releasing it in July. Last July they released their excellent - now out-of-print - debut four-song EP called Love Chords.

"Our sound has matured a lot since then," Axelsson says. "We have more knowledge because we're also in senior jazz band in school. We're more musical. The songs on the first EP were the first four songs that we had written. We've learned a lot since then.

"We love what we do. We're energetic and pretty fun on stage. You can dance to us if you want to," Axelsson says when asked what U streetists can expect from the band at a live gig. "We say it's power pop. Rockish with catchy riffs - driving riffs."

Streetbleats: Catch synth-slicing rockers Mahogany Frog's tour kickoff at the Albert on March 22 with Suture, Absent Sound, and the Calculus Affair. The Frogs are splitting for an eastern Can-Am tour which doesn't see them jump back home until late April, when their new full-length album Mahogany Frog Do 5 sees release.

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