Jukebox the Ghost/The Elwins/Front Porch Lights

The band’s eponymous album -- an excellent starting point for the uninitiated -- begins with gentle synth droning over a snapping snare beat and singer Ben Thornewill crooning a reflective verse. Then the guitars, the keys, the bass drum, everything kicks into a higher, poppier gear — the band's joyous default setting, as it were. Hook-laden and catchier than hell it’s a undeniable kaleidoscopic hit. The title? "Sound of a Broken Heart," which reveals a good deal about the album and the band. Their live show sets this stuff in technicolor glory; every time we’ve seen them in Cleveland has been a terrifically fun time. (Sandy)