MP3 At 3PM: Birds Of Avalon

As you might expect from a Mitch Easter-produced outfit from Raleigh, N.C., Birds Of Avalon betray a hint of the Byrds' eight-mile-high vocals and even some Polvo-style Tarheel guitar tricks. Which doesn't at all explain why "Your Down Time Is Up" (whose lyrics are not related to your high-speed Internet outages) feels like being trapped inside the cover art for Spirit's Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus. The five-piece recently completed its second LP, Uncanny Valley, due for release this summer. "Your Down Time Is Up" (download) [audio:YourDownTimeIsUp.mp3]