Beirut

While it may sound like an entire Balkan orchestra playing modern songs as mournful ballads and upbeat marches, Beirut is largely the work of one New Mexico native, Zach Condon. Horns, violins, cellos, ukuleles, mandolins, glockenspiels, drums, tambourines, congas, organs, pianos, clarinets and accordions are staples in his music, which builds and breaks the melodies under Condon’s deep-voiced crooner vocals, swaying to the Eastern European beats that sound like they’re being brought to you by a 12-member ensemble.