Minneapolis' The Spectaculars are back from what seems to be one hell of an inspiration-gathering bender. A touring leg in Europe and countless shows stateside seemed to have led to someone’s basement, where crates of crackly, 70s soul records plus 80s funk and pop bleached some brains. The influences interpreted, live on the waxy tracks of the band’s sophomore record, “You can look up now.” It’s a natural evolution from their 2006, critically-acclaimed, hiphopinous debut, “Have you heard things?” Most bands, after cementing an international following, would return to the studio to repeat the sound that brought them praise. Not the Spectaculars. Instead, they withdrew, retooled and returned with a record that is more ambitious and ultimately, more themselves. They found the Spectaculars’ sound. “You can look up now,” will keep the hip-hop following fixated, but open the doors to shoe-gazers, the Prince army and soul seekers alike. From the opening piano flurry of Fever Dream to the waning gospel chorus of Whipped, the Spectaculars lead the listener on an aural adventure without any filler. It’s more sexed up, more soulful and more musically diverse. It sounds dirty and sweet at the same. Irresistible. “You can look up now” is available June 2009 in store and at iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster and thespectaculars.com.