1 – In the Still Of the Night – 5 Satins
2 – Earth Angel – Penguins
3 – Since I Don’t Have You – Skyliners
4 – Till Then – Classics
5 – Soldier Boy – Shirelles
6 – The Lion Sleeps Tonight – Tokens
7 – Under the Boardwalk – Drifters
8 – You Belong To Me – Duprees
9 – 16 Candles – Crests
10 – Mack the Knife – Bobby Darin
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Editors
“In This Light and On This Evening ”
3 out of 5 stars

Following two highly successful records in the U.K., post-punk revivalists Editors decided to experiment with a third album. Pegged for years as Interpol clones, the Birmingham foursome strays from its comfort zone on “In This Light and On This City,” crafting an album that contains almost no guitars. The empty space is filled with electronics, as massive use of synthesizer take the band’s arena posturing to new heights.

Where the band once worshiped ’80s alt-rock gods R.E.M. and U2, its muse has shifted to past electronic staples Depeche Mode and New Order. For a band that once seemed content as a cut-and-paste version of its influences, Editors often seem surprisingly comfortable in its new style. The formula is perfected on “Papillion,” a pulsating synth-rocker perfectly driven by the tension of its verses and the catharsis of its refrain. The album struggles when the group abandons this attention to buildup and release, and bogs itself down in droning, directionless songs like “The Boxer” and “Eat Raw Meat=Blood Drool.”

Lyric-wise, baritone guitarist Tom Smith is as earnest as they come, which tends to be a problem. As with previous efforts, the scope of his lyrics carries a Bono-like ambition, yet falls far short of the target.

Key Tracks: “Papillion” and “You Don’t Know Love”
-Chris Payne
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Built to Spill
“There is No Enemy”
3.5 out of 5 stars

Indie rock icons Built to Spill have been strumming and singing since the ’90s, but unlike most ’90s bands, its managed to remain relevant today. With very little lost over the years, frontman Doug Martsch and his band strive for an alt-pop sound and are constantly compared to Pavement, Dinosaur Jr. and the Flaming Lips.

Though similar to its 2006 release, “You in Reverse,” on its latest album the band trades all its three-minutes-or-less pop packages for more jam-focused, ambling guitar fills. “Hindsight” features all the literate songwriting of Martsch with the usual pedal-enhanced guitar riffs.

Tracks such as “Aisle 13” and “Nowhere Lullaby” are worth a listen as well, with a slightly more pop-oriented feel.

Key Tracks: “Hindsight” and “Aisle 13”
-Melissa Virzi