DeVotchka - Curse Your Little Heart

After three albums where each was an improvement on the former, indie-cabaret darlings Devotchka continue to move forward. Capturing all the drama inherent in Eastern European folk styles and pairing it with the more dramatic end of indie rock (think Arcade Fire or Calexico), Devotchka carve out a rich little niche for itself. The band tips its glass to a number of influences on this six-song E.P - along with the original title track, the band offers up covers that range from Siouxsie And The Banshees' "The Last Beat Of My Heart" to the Velvet Underground's "Venus And Furs" to the Sinatra tune "Something Stupid." Regardless of the source material, the band wholly remakes each tune, skillfully playing a mariachi band on "El Zopilote Mojado" or the moody troubadour on the title song. It all fits together like a jigsaw puzzle with no pieces missing, proving that this band's interpretive skills are just as strong as its compositional ones. -- Tad Hendrickson

Mad props to Xiomara - the coolest pirate chick, ever!!!