50 Words Or Less: Top Ten Tracks on Elbo.ws (May 1-15)

Note: We’re gonna try to run an elbo.ws-oriented feature every Wednesday (even if its 11:53 PM CST), so what you see here may not reflect what’s currently on the charts. Other than that, go on and dig it!

1.  *MP3: Bowerbirds – “Northern Lights”

Dylan-indebted ramshackle…between Elvis Perkins, and a million other singer-songwriters with this exact same sound…well, where does “Northern Lights” point to, exactly?” Perhaps the qualities of this song will elucidate themselves in the right context. But this song feels utterly slight.

Grade: C

2. *MP3: Lichenstein – “Roses in the Park”

This latest single from the Vivian Girls…what’s that? Come again? Oh…oh boy.

Grade: D

3. *MP3: N.A.S.A - “Gifted” (Steve Aoki)

Sounds like a special soundtrack contribution for Look at This Fucking Hipster: The Movie! Expect to hear it blaring out of the speakers at the Look at this Fucking Hipster: The Movie!: The Ride!

Grade: D

4. *MP3: Au Revoir Simone – “All or Nothing”

Soft electronic beats, and even more hushed female vocals make for an agreeable exercise in sedate pop, a la Beach House. But “all or nothing?” More like “maybe something.”

Grade: B-

5. *MP3 Passion Pit – “The Reeling” (Calvin Harris Remix)

Remixer Calvin Harris takes the exuberant melody of the original while adding some funky-ass slap-bass and steady house beats. “The Reeling” should have listeners raving un2 the joy not-too-shabby.

Grade: B

6.  *MP3: Akron Family – “River”

Like a strange midway point between echo-laden, Eno-inspired U2, and an unusually reflective They Might Be Giants, “River” builds patiently, with minimalist, shaker-heavy intro eventually segueing into a grander arrangement and a repeated mantra (“you and I and the flame make three”). A pleasurable slow-burn.

Grade: B

7.  *MP3: White Rabbit - “Percussion Gun”

The rollicking drum rolls make the song’s title more than apt, but the guitar line cribs a little too much from “I Might Be Wrong” for my taste. Still, the callbacks to new wave (chunky bass line, clunky piano chords) make for an appealingly insoucient song arrangement.

Grade: B

8.   *MP3: Julian Plenti Is…”Fun That We Have”

An Interpol frontman creates an alter-ego, and uses it as an excuse to indulge more experimental impulses. Conceptually, it’s intriguing, but “Fun That We Have” pretty much fades into the ether on impact. (Shrugs).

Grade: C

9.  *MP3: Don Diablo & Example - “Hooligans (Extended Mix)”

Even though I’m pretty sure that I heard this first in an American Apparel store (or at least it sounds like I did), the pounding electronic beats and the repeated mantra of a refrain (Veni Vedi whatever “we killed the crowd” translates into French) make for an ass-shaking good time.

Grade: B

10.  *MP3: Dan Black – “Symphonies” (Passion Pit Remix)

The OMG! These guys are amazing! blog-band give the UK-based artist a remix treatment consisting of a twinkle-y, electronic gloss. And do you know what? This is actually really good. Go figure.

Grade: B+

(Jon Graef)