A troublesome trend is growing more prevalent as of late in the institution of art and media criticism. Fueled by the public’s shortsighted need to label and group everything into a predefined category that, once classified, can be safely and simply filed away. It is rare to find a media review that does not immediately try to pigeonhole its subject matter. Ironically, many of the most innovative developments in any given artistic field completely defy classification.

In the wasteland of disposable pop/rock tunes that have dominated the music scene from the late ’90s to today, it is extremely refreshing to be introduced to musicians that create a fresh, innovative and original sound.

Jordan Parker and Brandon Schreiner, the musicians and UW students who make up the members of the local band ifthenelse, bring the sort of innovation the popular music scene of the past decade seems to lack. On their recently released, self-titled, self-produced, self-funded debut album, the young duo breaks free of musical genres. Amidst this deconstruction, they manage to build up a modern, sophisticated musical vision that often defies description. Though obvious influences are drawn from pop, rock and electronica, lumping ifthenelse into a single genre does a great disservice to the multitudes of musical styles they draw inspiration from.

After a chance meeting in 2003, their similar interest in experimental music production led them to combine their talents and transform their hobby into something more ambitious. ifthenelse was formed out of the pair’s diverse musical backgrounds. Being equally adept on guitar, drums, vocals and synthesizer, Schreiner and Parker leave a personal touch on everything they write. They bring together two distinctive visions that collide in a beautifully rendered, sonically varied landscape of vocals, instruments and computerized effects. Schreiner describes the band’s sound as follows: “We have the dancy feel that a lot of electronica has, but we also have the energy and the guitar playing that they don’t, so it’s the best of both worlds.”

With the assistance of computer-aided production, ifthenelse constructs a wave of sound that weaves harmony with dissonance. The band’s debut album is a pleasing contradiction and a testament to the eclectic nature of its style.

“Every song was us sort of experimenting with some idea,” said Schreiner.

The music changes from sparse and minimalist to wonderfully dense and nuanced over the course of a single song. Unlike bands that use the same equipment to record every track (guitars, mics, amps, etc.), every note of the album is handcrafted utilizing both conventional and unconventional means involving literally years of work to construct.

“A lot of times, bands put out a CD and it’s very homogenous from song to song. All you have to provide the variance is the structure or the form of a song,” said Parker. “If a band can pull off a very homogenous album with interesting music, it’s great, but I think it’s more fun to do it this way.” This variation also results in a more involved listening experience.

Across the 12 tracks on this album, the vocals tend to coincide with the changing scope of the music by shifting from delightfully understated (“On the Other Side of Phones”) to raw (“Wind in Your Hair”) and everywhere in-between.

By trading off on the vocal duties, the pair emphasizes the importance of their musical partnership. Their two unique voices mesh well, however, and they are each able to retain their own style and sound.

Perhaps the best reason this album is so appealing and fun to listen to is that it crosses lines of tangibility in its sometimes bizarre, always fascinating use of samples. The sounds of coins, clapping, tones from Microsoft Windows and various other “found sounds” have never been as appreciated as when layered between the soft vocals and heavy guitars of ifthenelse. The multilayered production is certainly a major highlight of this release. Parker and Schreiner bring together a diverse array of instruments and sounds (classical violin samples, jazzy saxophone and vintage video game music) and fuse them into a cohesive aural experience that never gets stale.

Also of note, the abundant energy and enthusiasm ifthenelse displays at its live shows perfectly translates to a full, polished sound for the record. To emphasize the new CD release, the band is amping up its live performance schedule with an upcoming show on March 29 at the Cardinal Bar.

For the uninitiated, the live shows are a great introduction to the band’s kinetic style, and a great way to get your dance on. In addition to the shows, the CD is available for purchase at B-Side, the Exclusive Company on State Street, and the band’s upcoming website (myifthenelse.com).

With its recent endeavor, ifthenelse proves it can’t be grouped into a trendy pop genre with a catchy name, such as iRock or livetronica. Besides, it’s too busy making high-quality music to care.

Grade: A

— Rachel Kohtala contributed to this article.