THE EXIT HOME FOR AN ISLAND SOME

There appears to be some kind of backlash against this NYC trio for their appropriated mixture of ’80s pop reggae (think the Police) and ’90s alternative rock (think Foo Fighters), as if, say, Interpol weren’t guilty of their own borrowings. But after two years of almost non-stop touring and a sting in the studio with producer Ron Saint-Germain, the Exit have located their niche on their sophomore disc, as a live band who even in the studio sound best playing like a live band. The result here straddles the line between art rock and more straightforward pop, with every dubby, reverb-drenched verse giving way to a catchy chorus. Echoing the Police may not be as hip as mimicking Joy Division, but on Home for an Island, they’ve found a comfortable musical home for the Exit.

The Exit + the Detachment Kit | Middle East downstairs, 480 Mass Ave, Cambridge | Nov 13 | 617.864.EAST