Elf Power

Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev producer Dave Friedman also twiddles the knobs for these magnificent and otherworldly visionaries who are blessed with the studio accompaniment of the eclectic and chemically imbalanced Elephant Six collective. The dynamic and hallucinogenic songs of Elf Power make you want to punch your fist in the air triumphantly and paint miniature lead figurines at the same time. If J.R.R. Tolkien knew how to play the theremin or the flugel-snorkle (and he might have -- wait, is he dead yet?), he would be a perfect addition to this fantastical symphony of white light, white heat, and white noise. Check out their innovative and soaring cover of Brian Eno's "Needles in the Camel's Eye."