Calgary indie rockers The Fast Romantics have just released their self-titled debut - but the album isn't technically the band's first.

"We sort of did make one before under a different name and three-quarters of this band," says Matthew Angus (vocals/keys/guitar), 28, over the phone from Calgary. "The last album was really derivative. We were really into Radiohead and we wanted to be moody and serious. And deep. Very deep. But we quickly realized that when you try to sound deep it starts to sound pretty shallow."

That album was called What's on the Surface And What's Underneath. The band was called The Mood. "I didn't realize how funny that is until I said it out loud," Angus says, laughing.

Happily, under their new (and much better) moniker, The Fast Romantics shoved their well-worn copies of OK Computer aside and came up with a bouncy collection of angular dance-rock tracks, no doubt influenced by Britrock's cheerier players.

"We're good-natured guys, so we wanted to make music that was less serious but still reflected our influences," Angus says. "We wanted to be ourselves, and I think we succeeded with that. And we're thrilled with (the record). We've had it sitting on the shelf for a long time but it hasn't gotten old to us yet."

That old adage about just being yourself has paid off for The Fast Romantics. The quartet - which includes Matthew Kliewer (guitar), Jeffrey Lewis (bass) and Alan Reain (drums) - caught the ear of noted mix engineer Mike Fraser (Franz Ferdinand, AC/DC), who was eager to work on The Fast Romantics.

"He brought confidence to the sessions," Angus says. "Just to hear how excited he was about our little record, it made us go, 'Whoa, we really need to give this everything we've got.' And when you have someone who understands you sonically, there's nothing better than that."

The record's release couldn't have come at a better time. The Fast Romantics were recently named one of three finalists in Spin's Free the Noise contest, a "global search for the next great rock 'n' roll band." On Sept. 15, the three lucky bands will head to New York City to play a prominent industry showcase at the John Varvatos boutique at 315 Bowery Ave. (the former address of legendary punk club CBGB) as part of New York Fashion Week. The winning band will receive a development deal with Island Records, among other coveted prizes.

Good thing The Fast Romantics have no problem strutting their stuff onstage.

"We're ultra-proud of our record, but we're more proud of our live show," Angus says. "There are so many bands that take themselves seriously and are just so cool, you know? But isn't that kind of boring? They're so dead serious about it that they look miserable playing it. I'd rather look like a dweeb and be having fun."

THE FAST ROMANTICS
Sept. 6, Pyramid Cabaret
w/ Secret Broadcast