There are bands out there that are overly predictable and embrace the cheesiest of pop hooks and I can’t stand them. Elias and The Wizzkids (myspace) take the great parts of pop music and infuse it reasonably well (there are parts where they get a little close to being over the top) with the singer’s awkwardly comfortable singing style, upbeat indie rock, and wonderfully depressing and negative-outlook-on-life lyrics into something great.

You’ve got to give it to them just for being from Stockholm.

[audio:mp3s/elias_and_the_wizzkids-i_wish.mp3] Elias and the Wizzkids - I Wish

[audio:mp3s/elias_and_the_wizzkids-the_dance.mp3] Elias and the Wizzkids - The Dance