The four men and women of Joydrop describe the sound of their debut album, Metasexual, as rock. Certainly, when the guitars swell up against the raging chorus of “Beautiful,” that definition is not in debate. “Fizz,” the album’s opener starts off with pounding percussion and remains relentless like a good rock ‘n’ roll song should. However, by the middle of the album the group is looking at other options. Tony Rabalao, the drummer, sits out while filtered drum loops take over on songs like “If I Forget” and “Until.” Do the samples fading in and out of “Strawberry Marigold” make it trip-hop? Lead singer Tara Slone is never quite Spice Girl-silly, but her vocals alternate between angst-ridden bellowing and melancholy crooning, assuring her a place in the girl-power pop set. “Dream Today” erupts like a high-energy Prodigy song until the acoustic guitars seep in and smother the distortion. Is it electronica? With its folky strumming and catchy hook, “Cocoon” would fit right into the MTV Road Rules soundtrack. It sounds alternative, but what does that mean nowadays, and how can you tell, anyway? Does it even matter anymore? Tommy Boy Records doesn’t seem to think so, unabashedly scrounging in the multigenre grab bag for their next generation of artists. With Vi Vu Va Vera at 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, at the Metro Cafe, 1522 14th St. NW. $5. (202) 518-7900. (Neil Drumming)