(Neumos) It’s interesting to note the phonetic similarities between Owen Pallett’s surname and the word “polite,” as his compositions (from string arrangements for other bands to film scores and his own orchestral pop) tend toward the elegantly pleasing and inoffensive. His thorniest impulses were embraced on his debut album under his own name, Heartland, a dense collection of strangely angled, baroque indie rock showcasing his skill on violins and keyboards, as well as his everyman vocals and twisted poetry. His collaborative work on Spike Jonze’s Her, with Arcade Fire’s Win Butler, represents the safer side of Pallett, a scrubbed-clean soundtrack that came off as a sort of futurist Disney score. Tonight, Pallet will likely draw heavily from recent release, In Conflict, a middle road of sorts between the avant leanings of his solo work and his G-rated collaborations. KYLE FLECK
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(Barboza) Scott & Charlene’s Wedding might be the best band named after an episode of an Australian soap opera. The New York via Oz band sounds like a cross between scrappy indie-rock melody factory Guided by Voices and the Moles, a defunct ’90s Aussie psych-pop group with a knack for poignant-as-hell tunes. S&CW leader Craig Dermody sings with an expressive flatness, not a million miles from that of Jonathan Richman. Stuff like this can either sound dreadfully pedestrian or surprisingly uplifting. Much of S&CW’s success rides on Dermody making the most of his limited pipes and plucking listeners’ heartstrings with just the right amount of pathos in his lyrics and tunesmithing. When done this well, hard-luck music can really hit those soft spots. DAVE SEGAL
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(Chop Sue) Remember the cult British indie label Sarah Records, beloved for its output of fey, reserved pop of extraordinary melodic beauty? San Francisco quartet Melted Toys sure seem to. These sensitive lads strike devotional poses toward the catalogs of Sarah stalwarts like 14 Iced Bears, Sea Urchins, and the Field Mice. Androgynous vocals breeze by in a lilac whisper and the guitars glisten and burble with a pristine sheen. There’s zero machismo in their music, so you tough guys will hate it. Check out Melted Toys’ Washed & Dried EP for the Underwater Peoples label for further illumination (it’s on MT’s Soundcloud). With Devon Williams. DAVE SEGAL
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And here’s all our recommended music events—tonight, tomorrow, this weekend, and beyond!