Pitchfork

It's a bittersweet year for Ra Ra Riot. After getting much blog love at CMJ and SXSW, the Syracuse chamber pop sextet experienced the sudden death of drummer John Pike in June. But sometimes, the only thing to do in the face of tragedy is to keep busy. They played New York City's Sea Port Music Festival, released their self-titled EP on the Rebel Group in July, and embarked on a tour with Tokyo Police Club. After all, the music on the band's MySpace page is classified as "Healing and Easy Listening."

Ra Ra Riot just remixed "Each Year", the toe-tapping opening track from the EP. It's the best way to remember Pike, as his consistently perky rhythms are what put the ra in riot in the first place. The remix, which adds electronic flourishes, also brings out Mathieu Santos' wiry bassline. Keyboardist/vocalist Wesley Miles sings in a dreamy croon not unlike Sam Prekop, and cellist Alexandra Lawn and violinist Rebecca Zeller add stately, elegant strings that cause frequent Arcade Fire comparisons. What sets them apart from their Canadian counterparts is that Ra Ra Riot is simply into making tunes that stick in your head, not grand statements.