OurStage

Some bands are lovable because they sound so dumb: Take the Pipettes or Metallica, for instance. Local jangle freak-pop band 20 Minute Loop is just the opposite, with a distinct sound that says, "These people are perfectly nice, but they are smarter than you and know it. Fear them slightly. They can do math." It's the sound of many other musical aggregations, like early REM, or the Pixies or Sonic Youth. Sudden tempo changes, a total lack of normal chord structure, and difficult vocal harmonies are typical 20 Minute Loop touches, but the overall effect is far from challenging. In fact, it's charming and pretty - it's pop, after all. Interestingly, the group's three full-length CDs hardly do justice to its live show, which is even better and smarter.

Unfortunately, this song by the 20 Minute Loop fell astray of our eligibility guidelines and wasn't able to compete for the grand prize, but it was so good we wanted to share it with you anyway. The track is called "Cora May" and it rises on a cloud of spacy slide guitars, airy keyboards and forceful boy/girl vocals. It should have the New Pornographers looking over their shoulders.

On the surface, 20 Minute Loop sound all catchy and good-natured, but there's a mischievous side to this San Francisco foursome (sic) that features boy-girl harmonies and distorted guitars. The resulting sound is sweet ear candy with serious bite to it, like a big ol' cherry-flavored Tootsie Pop with a shot of bourbon inside.

20 Minute Loop is one of the more refreshing musical experiences I've had in months and months. Decline of Day practically begs for stupid music review fantasy hybrid-type descriptions. So here goes: say you've got XTC. Now subtract the TC, and pair the remainder of John Doe and Exene Cervenka with J. Robbins in a six-by-six cell haunted by Frank Black's muse, with only a Radiohead CD, a Flannery O'Connor novel, and occasional visits from the members of Seely to break the psychosis.