Stray Master - the group dedicated to saving rock music from an otherwise ugly demise - was formed circa 2005. The band consists of Josh Rude wielding multiple instruments (including guitars, keyboards, vocals) and Dirk Ton on drums."Of Mice and Giraffes", the group's17-track debut album, showcases Stray Master's intention of carrying on the indie (with a touch of arena) rock torch from 1990's influences such as Pavement and Guided by Voices. A whiff of nostalgia? No, a kick in the pants to modern freezedried pop music. And God help us, they are quirky to boot (witness the Repoman ranting of"Cyber X" or the filing clerk saga within"0s and 1s".) Stray Master, AKA rock music's last stand. This is their first album, released June 2007, and recorded December 2005 - June 2006 in Rude's basement. You can't get more Stray - or Masterful - than that.