Walking With the Beggar Boys

Elf Power's latest album, "Walking with the Beggar Boys," marks a definite change in sound and style for Athens, Georgia's underground cult favorites. New members Eric Harris (formerly of The Olivia Tremor Control on guitar)and Craig McQuiston (formerly of the Glands on bass) join longtime members Andrew Rieger (singer/songwriter), Laura Carter (multi-instrumentalist), and Aaron Wegelin (drums), reinventing the band both musically and lyrically on their sixth release (April 2004). Musically the band is all over the map this time, going from sleazy, T-Rex rockers ("Drawing Flies"), to psychedelic electronica ("The Cracks"), to blown out Southern boogie romps (title track, featuring a duet with folk rock legend Vic Chesnutt). Lyrically, the band foregoes the abstract supernatural imagery of their past releases for a more straightforward lyrical approach, with songs about the effects of advertising and media on modern America ("Empty Pictures" and "Never Believe"), love songs ("Drawing Flies"), and even strange, autobiographical songs about meeting up with a gang of beggar children in Warsaw ("Walking With the Beggar Boys"). Elf Power's finest moment is here, so listen up!