Jan 14, 2010 By Frank Valish

The Wrens are one of those bands that defines cult status. Let's frame it in the context of one of the biggest "cult" acts to ever grace the indie stage, Neutral Milk Hotel. After recording two albums, one a certified classic, the band and its enigmatic frontman Jeff Mangum simply went away, and people have been pining for them ever since. New Jersey's The Wrens have followed a similar musical trajectory in their 20-year history, recording very little—three albums and a smattering of EPs and 7-inch records—yet they are critically acclaimed for their work and have developed a quite devoted following, renewed in recent years by the strength of their "comeback" album, 2003's The Meadowlands. More