Elf Power - Back to The Web Album Review

Elf Power
Back to The Web
Rykodisc
Album Review

Styling themselves as a 'lo-fi indie pop band' goes no way to describing the whole state of mind that surrounds this band, or this excellent album. Formed in Athens, Georgia in 1994, Elf Power came from the Elephant 6 collective which also produced legendary bands like Neutral Milk Hotel, Of Montreal, Apples in Stereo and Olivia Tremor Control, and have shared stages with REM, Wilco and Dinosaur Jr. They also run 150 acres around Athens as a self-sustainable village and nature preserve, so they are clearly people with ideas. Fortunately, their ideas extend to their music. Back To The Web is like some glorious Byrds/ Bob Dylan Desire mix, mashed up with some eclectic instrumentation (think Velvet Underground) and orchestral layers, with the catchiest, most aching songs - like Horse With No Name America brought bang up to date. Astonishing in its diversity, every song is like pure pop perfection. I fell in love with at least 6 songs on this album instantly, and went back for more with each listen.

Rating 9/10

Mike Rea

9-10 Essential purchase
7-8 Good, definite buy if you've liked this artist in the past
5-6 OK only, don't say I didn't warn you
3-4 Poor, even for this artist
1-2 Awful