DeVotchKa
A Mad and Faithful Telling (Anti-)
ESSENTIAL "Undone"
Even though Eastern European music has become trendy in indie rock lately, Colorado's DeVotchKa has pursued its sound for 10 years, achieving notoriety for backing up burlesque's Dita Von Teese and breaking through by scoring 2006's sleeper hit "Little Miss Sunshine." DeVotchKa's fifth album, "A Mad and Faithful Telling," is an accomplished if meandering variation on its punk-rock mariachi horns and Roma rhythms. Blessed with a supple croon that recalls Roy Orbison, frontman Nick Urata hits the high notes and can wrench pathos out of lyrics mundane and true. The otherworldly and raucous Spanish jam "Head Honcho" bounds up against the instrumentals and leads into loping, elegant ballads like "Undone" and "A New World." DeVotchKa can harness transcendent emotion from its music, and "Undone" is exemplary: A vulnerable Urata prays and apologizes, and the softly strummed guitar, evocative violin, and propulsive drumming answer back, forgiving him for his sins. [Elisabeth Donnelly]
DeVotchKa plays at the Paradise Rock Club with Basia Bulat Sunday. Tickets are $19.50 at ticketmaster.com.
