Devotees of the local band The Lovelies will finally get their paws on the trio's latest recording, "White Leather," at a CD release party scheduled for this weekend at the Mad Planet.

Although fans wondered for months what the new disc would sound like, the far more pressing question of the evening is: what will Liv and Barb Lovely be wearing?

Guitarist and lead singer Liv and bassist Barb, both platinum blonde alterna-punk divas, have performed in intriguing ensembles from "gay jogger" get-ups to shamelessly topless and they aren't divulging what they plan to put on for the show this Saturday.

White leather, perhaps?

"The music definitely comes first, but musicians should also be entertainers," says Liv. "I think a lot of people would disagree and say that it 's all about the music, but you have to put on a show, too."

All apparel talk aside, "White Leather" is an addictive collection of well-written, power poppy anthems and anyone who appreciates driving around and singing with the window rolled down should own this electric, candy-coated caboodle of guitar-driven ditties.

Liv's writing taps into pop's most primal places. Songs like "Strange One" have an instant-classic appeal and every song on the record is radio-ready. If forced to compare, the Lovelies sound a little like Sleater-Kinney, a punk pop trio of grrls from the West Coast, but Liv is adamant about keeping "chick rock" labels off her band.

"I just think we're these human beings creating music together and hopefully a couple people out there like it," says Liv, who founded the band seven years ago, but feels it wasn't complete until members Barb Lovely and drummer Billy Backes floated onto the scene.

So why white leather and not black or pink or red or yellow?

"There's something about white leather that I absolutely love," says Liv. "It reminds me of the interior of a nice car, Nancy Sinatra, Evil Kanevil, white leather shoes ... I am inexplicably drawn to it."

The Lovelies will play Sat., Sept. 20 at the Mad Planet, 533 E. Center St. The show starts at 10 p.m. The Melismatics from Minneapolis will open. "White Leather" will be available at Atomic Records and Rush-Mor records on Tues., Sept. 23.

For more information, go to www.loveliesonline.com