The Starlight Mints

There aren’t a lot of bands from Oklahoma that end up on anyone’s radar, so it’s inevitable that if you’re an Okie with a penchant for bent pop, you’re just going to have to accept the Flaming Lips comparisons. The tag sometimes makes sense with Starlight Mints, at least in relation to its big ambitions—the group from Norman threw horns, church bells, and violin into 2006’s Drowaton, resulting in a compelling album that brings to mind everyone from Pavement to Violent Femmes to John Vanderslice. For its newest, Change Remains, the band veers not too far from the upbeat pop-rock it's become known for, excepting a subtle addition of electronics and synths.