Elefant

In high schools and colleges throughout America, small pockets of brooding, sensitive book readers harbor an intense love of British rock from yesterday and today. Some of these Anglophiles form bands to make music to sate their fellow Anglophiles’ ravenous hunger for more effete, stylish permutations on the Cure, Modern English, the Smiths and U2 (Irish, but let’s not quibble). Meet New York-based Elefant, the latest hyped hipsters to perform this valuable function. On the band’s debut album, Diego Garcia’s Bowie-esque drama-queen vocals ride elegantly chiseled melodies, the corners brightened by Edgelike sunburst guitars. Mixed way up front, bassist Jeff Berrall generates memorable lead riffs, and drummer Kevin McAdams efficiently bumps things along at a peppy pace. Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid (veddy British sentiment) pedals dewy romanticism and grandiose yearning perfect for prom dances and bedroom-bound self-pity sessions. Call it mope-better blues.