Low and behold, I Am the World Trade Center is shaking up electronic pop with real storytelling on The Cover Up. They are among the few bands to take high-tech imitations of '80s synthesizers and make the sound their own -- which is the usually the secret to making memorable music. Perhaps the extra edge of oomph is a reaction to what they've been through since dropping their first album in July 2001: a whole lot of grown folks' strife. The emotion drips from Amy Dyke's convincing verses, and Dan Geller (founder of Kindercore Records, no less) brings a furious laptop assault that never dwindles. The result is a vigorous collection of songs, many of which sound alike, down to the same drum patterns and chords. The formula works best when they back off monotonous beats and leave space for interpretation in verses of the techno ballad "Future Sightings" and "His n' Hers," where they reinvent the sound of heartbreak.