DeKalb-based quintet Bicycle Day is a breath of fresh air on a local music scene that only a short while ago was deflated.

“It’s Time for a Rock Song,” the band’s six-song, independently-released debut EP, recalls the Beatles circa “The Magical Mystery Tour” (on the title song and album opener) and fuses the sonic guitar stylings and harmonies of current indie rockers Rainer Maria and Superchunk (“Impossible”).

Bicycle Day rocks on the aforementioned songs and “It’s Not a Secret” and rolls on “Paperwork.”

Drummer Isaac Hill punctuates and propels “It’s Not a Secret” with his thundering Keith Moon-like drumming while vocalist/guitarist Andy Herald and bassist Elizabeth Hill provide the lush and catchy harmonies that close out “Paperwork.”

The former opens with Herald singing about a certain someone else. “It’s not a secret that you’re beautiful,” he sings, slowly building a would-be ballad into a rollicking number that would make Rivers Cuomo blush.

Bicycle Day incorporates not one, but three guitarists on each track – Herald, Jer Misiaveg and C. Roy Finley – giving the album a thick, dense “wall of sound.”

The only thing better than listening to “It’s Time for a Rock Song” is seeing the band perform the songs live. Bicycle Day should be required listening not only for the spring semester, but beyond.

For more information on the band or to get a copy of “It’s Time for a Rock Song,” e-mail [email protected]. Some band members also spend time at The House, 263 E. Lincoln Highway.