50 Words Or Less: Elbows Top Ten Sept 15-Sept 30

Yeah, so sorry about…oh, the last three months or so. Where does the time go? But hey! I’m slowly going to make it up to you in the most meaningless fashion possible, by making this a weekly get-together. Won’t that be lovely? Here’s the rebooted Top Ten:

1. *MP3: Cassius -“Youth, Speed, Trouble, Cigarettes (Don Diablo Remix)”

French House duo’s latest single from upcoming 2010 remixed by contemporary Dutch DJ. YSTC’s bleeps-and-blips breeze on as quickly as its youthful subjects, with vocals straight out of double-dutch and slinky synth-lines borrowed from Daft Punk. Length of song allows monotonous dance floor repetition to creep in, though.

Grade: B

2. *MP3: Chromeo - “Night By Night”

Elbo.ws is officially a nightclub, with disco-funk duo Chromeo dropping this latest single. Insistent electro-beats, harmonized guitars and driving synth-bass keeps up the pulse, but “Night” can’t helped be consumed in part by nostalgic compositional gimmickry (talk-box and falsetto vocals are things to use sparingly, kids) and lyrical cliches.

Grade: C+

3. *MP3: Girls - “Lust For Life”

Short, snotty and jangly, “Lust For Life” makes like a vaguely more lo-fi Big Star; sweetly melodic pop music marred somewhat by non-specific, trope-filled lyrics.  Affected, sure, but also infectious. Utterly.

Grade: B+

4. *MP3: Midnight Juggernaut - “This New Technology”

Behind a drumbeat that’s more skipping rock than juggernaut, Melbourne-based trio layer campy haunted-house organ sounds, acoustic guitar and swirling synthesizer (think Granddaddy), only to interrupt themselves with celestial multi-part harmonies and a David Gilmour-meets-Nicolas Godin ambiance. A compelling listen, even if the distinct musical parts threaten to overwhelm the good of the song.

Grade: B

5. *MP3: El Perro Del Mar - “Change of Heart”

Weirdly reminiscent of downtempo if it had been co-opted by Steve Nicks, “Change of Heart” skates on by with a cool, chilly instrumentation, but its refusal to develop any sort of discernible, distinctive melody eventually results in listener indifference to its merit-filled arrangements.

Grade: C

6. *MP3: The Sweet Serenades - “On My Way”

Deceptively simple, “On My Way” features many noteworthy nods to a wide variety of genres and styles, despite its simple song structure and clean, anxious punk guitars. However, these elements (afro-pop’s syncopated percussion, Moog-y synth-pop) don’t coalesce into something more transcendent Intriguingly put together,  “On My Way” nonetheless suffers from a lack of true musical direction.

Grade: C+

7. *MP3: The Golden Filter - “Thunderbird” 8. *MP3: Miike Snow - “Black and Blue (Tiga Remix)”

You like dance music? Sure you do. These two tracks pretty much engage in very similar, and yet, quite different, ways to get you off the coach and shake your money maker. The former is more synth-pop, the latter more rave. But both succeed in similar, satisfying ways to make listeners want to groove heavily.

Grade: B

9. *MP3: Nirvana - “Scoff” (Live at the Pine Street Theatre)

Live version of Bleach deep cut resurfaces as part of 20 year re-issue of first Nirvana album. Monstrously tight, furiously catchy, and a good reminder of that, of all the things indie-rock should miss the most, it should be the sheer sonic terror of angry riffs.

Grade: A

10. *MP3: Volcano Choir - “Island, IS”

Bon Iver side electro-heavy offshoot re-contextualizes Justin Vernon’s ghostly, lonesome harmonies into a loop-intensive, almost glitch-y laptop pop. Chaotic click-and-clack lends an air of mystery, but Vernon’s vocal work always gives the listener something warm and humane that one can latch unto.

Grade: B+

(Jon Graef)