The April 2011 Esssential Eleven

It's that time again when I play amateur music critic and list some songs that ought to be getting more airplay on Alternative and/or AAA radio (or if they're already getting a lot deserve it) -- its the essentila 11!

1. ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS -- GUSTER Why is this haunting, beautiful song struggling so much getting airplay while the inspid "Do You Love Me" is getting played to death.
2. OPTIONS -- GOMEZ A song that's slowly growing on me. Gomez's music is usaully deceptively simple, always more going on than you hear the first couple of times through.
3. ADOLESCENTS -- INCUBUS Probably the most critically underrated rock band. They consistently deliver on music that ts both challenging and tuneful. As unconventional in time signature as your average Radiohead song, and the melody goes into many unexpected places, but still very listenable.
4. WHIRRING -- THE JOY FORMIDABLE The song title says it all. A whorling dervish of a song that slowly builds to a frenzy.
5. BUTTERCUP -- LUCINDA WILLIAMS Veteran country rocker really pulls out all the stops on her latest album, with a smoking backup band, even on this relatively laid back track. (they really tear it up on "Seeing Black" especially the guitarists).
6. MAKE SOME NOISE -- BEASTIE BOYS They are so old school that they reach back to the 70's for their backing track, including a guest appearence by the cowbell.
7. FUTURE STARTS SLOW -- THE KILLS Allison Mosshart's original duo has a new album out and if this song is any indication, it's killer. Dead Weather fans won't be disappointed by this blusey stomp.
8. YOU ARE A TOURIST -- DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE Another deceptively sunny song from Death Cab.This is more uptempo than a lot of their recent music, with a memorable guitar riff anchoring the whole it.
9. APRIL FOOLS -- MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA I'm a bit puzzled, I'll admit. This is the song the modren rock stations are playing a more or less straight ahead rcoker on hte other hand ,,,
10. SIMPLE MATH -- MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA This is the song they made their first video off their new album, a dense, slowly building brooder that been growing on me slowly. Guess I'll put them both on.
11. GOT TO LOSE -- HOLLERADO The lyrics are rather silly, but this song rocks mightily and tunefully, like Weezer on a good day. Can't get this song outta my head.