On Mess, Liars turn dance music on its head by giving it a heroic dose of their dark mischief. Whether they give their taut, snotty art-punk a glossy chrome plating or conjure hammering beats and slithering textures that Trent Reznor would be proud to call his own, the band delivers some of their most spontaneous, kinetic music while pushing their boundaries. - Heather Phares