Swedish bands always seem to get at the heart of music they love and amplify everything great about it. The latest example is the Mary Onettes, whove soaked up the best of the moping, melancholy British guitar-pop of the 1980s. Comparisons to the Cure, New Order, and Echo & the Bunnymen have accompanied both of the bands albums to date, and front man Phillip Ekstrom seems all too comfortable with that. His lyrics are all about missed opportunities and dwindling hope, manifesting in song titles like Once I Was Pretty and God Knows I Had Plans. Any dampening effect is offset by the constant tide of rapturous guitar and keyboard melodies. With Hotels, Erik Blood. DOUG WALLEN
Sun., April 25, 9 p.m., 2010
