BOAT is the kind of band it's easy to take for granted. Every couple of years the Pacific Northwest group put out a hooky, fun, and funny album's worth of indie rock nuggets powered by D. Crane's sideways look at life and a crunchy guitar-bass-drum attack that floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. Tread Lightly is another installment in their underrated catalog that really should get all the indie kids, both nascent and aged, in a mild uproar. Not only is the album their snappiest, most energetic, and best-sounding to date, it's good enough that Magic Marker records shook off years' worth of dust to rise from slumber and release the album. In this economy, that's really saying something! This time around the lyrics detail concerns familiar to anyone who's getting a bit older -- slow metabolism, grey hair, hiding from responsibility, zombified brains -- and set them to the usual amped-up sounds. J. Long is back in the drummer seat and the time off seems to energize the band. They romp through the rockers like they are having a total blast, display a light-fingered approach when finesse is called for, and never settle for a boring arrangement when they can boost it with a horn section, a roll of tympani, some nifty keyboards, or guest vocals. This tough and expansive sound gives the already-strong songs a kick in the pants; almost all of them sound like candidates for a future best-of that will probably never happen but should. "Metabolism" is a jaunty romp that kicks things off with a power pop jolt, "So Many Reasons Your Hair Turns Grey" melds a melancholy verse with a joyous chorus and makes it sound like indie rock perfection, "I Believe in the Principle" is a lazy, loping rocker that features some fine examples of the band's guitar firepower, and the rest of the songs aren't far behind in the hooks sweepstakes. "Be as Good as You Want to Be" certainly has enough pizzazz to be an imaginary hit single, or at least show up on the soundtrack of a Chuck reboot. Tread Lightly is the sound of no-frills rock & roll made by a band in firm control of their sound and destined to be overlooked by far too many people who would probably dig them with a big old shovel if only they heard them.