Top Ten Tracks on Elbo.Ws Reviewed in 50 words or Less: June 1st—June 15th

1. *MP3: Yo La Tengo - “Periodically Double or Triple”

“Proven review” or not, the Hoboken-based indie legends latest track starts off as an irritatingly cliche garage-rock romp. But thanks to the band’s insistence on sticking with a danceable groove, “Double or Triple” ingratiates itself enough so that the charm of the track starts to become apparent (even if the effort is ultimately too little too late)

Grade: C+

2. *MP3: Patrick Wolf - “Who Will (Buffetlibre Remix)

In the most direct language possible: Were I to play any track for skeptical listeners who thought that dance music was a farce, and that remixes are unimaginative with their source material, it would be this one.

Grade: A-

3. *MP3: The Phenomenal Handclap Band - “15 to 20”

TPHB sounds like what happens when your little brother discovers Blondie and The Go! Team…and then takes absolutely nothing away from them. Sure, sass is a prequisite for this kind of post-disco, pre-rap music, and when the band focuses on sheer instrumental interplay, there’s merit to be found. But sass alone does not a good song make.

Grade: C-

4. *MP3: YACHT - “Psychic City”

Remember what I said about sass not being able to solely sustain music? Color this Exhibit B. Except that, sonofabitch, “Psychic City” has started to grow on me. While I’m not quite ready to be a denizen, I hear that rent is reasonable, groceries are affordable, and there’s a halfway decent band who can tell you more.

Grade: B

5. *MP3: The Radio Dept. - “David”

Thoughts remain unchanged

Grade: C+

6. *MP3: Discovery - “Orange Shirt”

Kids, I was wrong. Though Discovery’s “Orange Shirt” has an intro that’s still too sickly precocious for my liking (the one that prompted my visceral reaction last time), the electro-pop effervescence has a disarming, charmful effect on even the most curmedgeonly of hipsters. Mea culpa, Ezra Koening.

Grade: B+

7. *MP3: Cave Singers - “Beach House”

Reasonably pleasent folk-rock with a clean electric guitar sound and softly hit hi-hats not entirely unlike late 90s-era Yo La Tengo. However, The Cave Singers’ strength—a consistently soothing mood—is simulatenously a weakness, as “Beach House” doesn’t quite reach a compelling conclusion (in spite of gospel effusiveness toward the end) to its introductory musical motif.

Grade: B-

8. *MP3: Fanfarlo - “I’m a Pilot”

Is “I’m A Pilot” wholly indebted to the grandiose orch-pop of the Arcade Fire? Without question. Does Fanfarlo’s “I’m A Pilot” hit all of the same notes with the graceful, transcendent aplomb? Oh yes. Just because you follow the same script doesn’t mean that you can’t be just as successful with it.

Grade: A-

9. *MP3: Master Shortie - “Dead End” (Don Diablo Knows You Like It Hard Remix)

How did Don Diablo guess?

Grade: B

10. *MP3: The Clean - “In The Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul”

Psychedelic jangle-rock (complete with 12-string guitar and two-chord manderbeat progression) and etheral female vocals straight from the Belinda Butcher playbook are buoyed by a straightforward, four-on-the-floor drumbeat. The combination is satisfactory, but only mildly. In the dreamlife, you may need more than just a Rubber Soul (a Village Green Preservation society may help).

Grade: C+

(Jon Graef)