NEW YORK TIMES PLAYLIST : URSA MINOR SHOWFACE This staunchly eclectic indie-rock band released its first album, “Silent Moving Picture” (Smells Like), back in 2003. Its second album, “Showface” (Anthemusa), has finally been released, and whatever mystery lies behind the long wait, the new music feels tough and loose, totally incubated. As ever, Ursa Minor lives and dies by the effort of Michelle Casillas, an assertive lead singer and a broodingly earnest songwriter. She used to play keyboards in the band and now focuses on electric guitar, which may account for the punchier underground-rock tone. There are guest turns by the guitarists Teddy Kumpel and Jim Campilongo, the violist Caleb Burhans and a handful of jazz-trained horn players. And the band still has one of the most flexibly rugged rock rhythm sections in New York, with Tony Scherr on guitars, Rob Jost on bass and Robert DiPietro on drums. (Mr. Scherr and Mr. Kumpel produced and mixed the album.) The songs run the gamut — power pop (“She Wants You”), ragalike rock (“No Other”) and retro-grunge (“Guerilla”) — and they’re often infused with surprising details. They make you want to see Ursa Minor in action at a place like the Living Room, where the band will play next Saturday. Details on that show are at ursaminor.info. -Nate Chinen URSA MINOR Showface All songs by Michelle Casillas (BMI) except 2032 and All Of The Time by Robert DiPietro (BMI) & What Good Is A Song and Living Positive by Rob Jost (ASCAP) Michelle Casillas (vocals, guitar) Robert DiPietro (drums, vocals, percussion, wurlitzer on 9, nylon string gtr on 10) Rob Jost (bass, vocals, french horns on 11 & 12) Tony Scherr (guitars) with guests: Teddy Kumpel (guitar/harmonica loops and effects, vocals on 1, 12) Jason Crigler (left channel guitar on 2, 3, 7) Jonathan Goldberger (left channel guitar and loop on 12) Jim Campilongo (left channel telecaster guitar on 11) Caleb Burhans (violas on 3,6,7) Ethan White (organ on 9, 11, wurlitzer on 12) Chris Brown (organ on 1) Tony Barba (flute & clarinet on 9, tenor saxophone on 2, 10) Jesse Neuman (trumpet on 2,3) Ryan Keberle (trombone on 2,10) Woodwind (9)and horn arrangements (2, 10) by Robert DiPietro. French horn arrangements (11, 12) by Rob Jost. String arrangements (3,7) by Michelle Casillas, Robert DiPietro & Caleb Burhans. String arrangement (6) by Michelle Casillas. Produced by Tony Scherr with Ursa Minor & Teddy Kumpel Mixed by Tony Scherr with Teddy Kumpel Recorded by Robert DiPietro at DP Studios, Bklyn NY Additional recording by Teddy Kumpel, Tony Scherr, Rob Jost, Patrick Glynn Mastered by Gene Paul at G and J Studios, NJ Cover photo by Brianna Hughes. Photo editing by Dina Regine, Daphne Brucculeri, Bevin Waxman Layout by Dina Regine, Edwina Stevenson, Steven Dempsey