Beyond The Elbo.Ws Top Ten: June 12th

1. *MP3: Sun Volt - Down To The Wire

The low-key alt-country ambience (lead by the usual Hammond organ, acoustic guitar, and soft, but persistent drum work) make the latest from Son Volt palatable. But a little more excitable elements—perhaps more emotion from vocalist Jay Ferrar, a faster tempo—would help to make “Wire” more memorable

Grade: B-

2. *MP3: Gay Beast - “Expanding”

A cacocophonous blend of noise-pop, free jazz, and lord knows what else (prob. polka for all I know), this Minneapolis duo create a chaotic, frantic, yet, somehow, catchy and danceable music that starts and stops on a dime. Kind of nuts, yet wholly awesome.

Grade: A-

3. *MP3: Lullatone - “A Mobile Over Your Bed”

There’s always been a certain lullaby-like quality to Sigur Ros’ brand of celestial post-rock (considering the child-like tenor of Jónsi Birgisson). The fact that Lullatone strips away that sound to its very essence (the vocals, a steady cresendo) may sound like a recipe for bastardization. Judging by the entranching effect of “Mobile,” it’s anything but.

Grade: A-

4. *MP3: Assemble Head - “By The Rippling Green”

Mid-tempo psychedelic/folk-rock revivalism is well-punctuated with certain touches in the arrangement (the violin in particular), but for a song like this to stand out, both the more expansionist (i.e., the jammin’) and the main melody need to excel, or at least meet, past standards. As such, “By The Rippling Green” manages to pass the time in only adequate fashion.

Grade: C+

5. *MP3: Rock Plaza Central - “Handsome Men”

“Don’t you believe the words of handsome men.” Fair enough. Do you have to tell me that over and over again in order for me to be truly convinced? (Waits for song to end). Apparently, yes.

Grade: B

6. *MP3: The Raveonettes - “Last Dance”

Not to be confused with the Donna Summer song of the same name, this “Last Dance” was offered on the band’s Twitter as a demo. So let’s see if I can sum it up in 140 characters (starting now): Pretty much similar to the Spector-esque songs from Lust Lust Lust. Not a bad thing at all.

Grade: B+

7. *MP3: Discovery - “Orange Shirt”

Discovery is the electro-pop side project featuring members Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot, two bands most likely to annoy the bejesus out of curmudgeon hipsters. And surprise, surprise: It sounds like white people massive screwing up R. Kelly.

Grade: D

8. *MP3: The Deer Tracks - “Yes, This Is My Broken Shield”

Swedish electronic duo start slow and build up big orchestral elements and Eno-indebted guitar piecemeal, as if the Postal Service specialized in crescendo rock. Some more visceral elements would greatly enhance song dynamics, anything that swells to that horn ending is just fine with me.

Grade: B+

9. *MP3: The Big Pink - “Velvet” (Van Rivers and The Subliminal Kid Remix)

Up-and-coming nu-gazers get the remix treatment from the Swedish DJ duo. There’s a bit of dubstep’s cold, detached humanity in the remix here, and that serves the listener in good (it’s chill as hell) and bad ways (sense of inertia).

Grade: B

10. *MP3: The Idle Hands - “Loaded”

Like fellow early 90s minded revivalists Gospel Gossip, Minneapolis-based The Idle Hands traffic in uber-melodic jangle-pop that surprises listeners with its youthful precociousness. While the Hands don’t have the same sense of melodic transcendence that GG does, there’s much here still to recommend.

Grade: B