Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Friday, December 22, 2006

Swirlies - "Upstairs"

Swirlies - "Upstairs": "This is FIRST RATE shoegaze-y noise pop. From the wall of guitar noise to Seanna Carmody's sweet 'ooh ooh oohs' during the chorus, it's a perfect mix of salty and sweet. I am so happy this is now available in Rhapsody. And not that it has anything to do with the song, but Happy Holidays all!"

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Pet Shop Boys - "Jealousy"

Pet Shop Boys - "Jealousy": "An beautifully sad song almost destroyed by its bombastic ending. Most of the song is coolly understated with appropriate touches of piano, much like the mood of walking deserted city streets in the middle of the night, making it one of my favorite Pet Shop Boys songs. That is, until the last minute or so, where overly synth-ed horns double the volume level like a court announcing the presence of royalty. And the harp...the harp! Just press stop around the 3:30 mark and you'll still have a great song."

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Piero Umiliani - "Mah Na Mah Na" (Original 7' Version)

Piero Umiliani - "Mah Na Mah Na" (Original 7' Version): "Who knew that this felt-celebrated staple didn't exactly originate with the Muppets at all? This is the 1968 Italian original. (I believe on The Muppet Show, the song is titled 'Mahnah Mahnah,' but I could be wrong about that.)"

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Regina Spektor- "Fidelity"

Regina Spektor- "Fidelity": "This song is kind of low-key - mostly string plucks and light keys over beats, plus quiet vocals - but it's catchy as hell. And largely by breaking the words 'fall' abd 'heart' into multiple syllables - who would have thought?"

Monday, December 18, 2006

TV On The Radio - "I Was A Lover"

TV On The Radio - "I Was A Lover": "So apparently this is from the Record of The Year. At least according to my friends in the Rhapsody Editorial Group and lots of other folks too. Ii'll admit it's a good record, but it just grinds on me if I make it past the 2/3 mark - way to many of the same themes continue on from song to sound until it burns me out. The first 1/3 of the record, however, is pretty amazing, especially this opening track, which blends elements of trip-hop, Prince and who knows what else into a twisted-but-sultry slow grind."

Friday, December 15, 2006

Deee-Lite - "Fuddy Duddy Judge"

Deee-Lite - "Fuddy Duddy Judge": "When was the last time that there were songs as unabashedly FUN as Deee-lite's? They had simple messages, but great grooves and they played `em like the party would never stop. It's Friday, so groove into the weekend with this one."

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Switchfoot - "Oh! Gravity"

Switchfoot - "Oh! Gravity": "Speaking of power-pop leanings, did what happened to AYWKUBTTOD (see yesterday's post) happen to Switchfoot too? While I've been more familiar with some of their more bland tunes, this is great radio rock with solid pop sensibilities, not unlike OK Go."

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - "Stand In Silence"

And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead - "Stand In Silence": "Maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention, but when did Trail of Dead turn into a power pop-y band? I'm used to them delivering heavy, distorted rockers - but this is ace `90s indie pop. In fact, if it wasn't for the mellow break in the middle of the track, which is also the weakest part, I'd think it wasn't AYWKUBTTOD at all. Hell, it sounds like they've been hanging out with Lilys (circa Services (For The Soon To Be Departed)) and Trunk Federation...or am I pushing it too far with that?"

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Richard Cheese - "People Equals S***"

Richard Cheese - "People Equals S***": "I know that I'm sometimes easily amused, but I think a lounge version of some really vile Slipknot is pretty smooth. If there weren't so many curse-words, you might think this is some classic Sinatra-style number. Good job, Mr. Cheese."

Monday, December 11, 2006

Mahogany - "Supervitesse (Robin Guthrie Mix)"

Mahogany - "Supervitesse (Robin Guthrie Mix)": "Take the underlying beat of Joe Jackson's 'Stepping Out' (I swear!), add some cold Stereolab sheen and a touch of echoed Lilys vocals and you have 'Supervitesse.' It sounds space-age and retro all at the same time."

Friday, December 08, 2006

Michael Penn - "Out Of Its Misery"

Michael Penn - "Out Of Its Misery": "Michael Penn is so underrated. His songwriting is sharp and when it manifests in little rockers like this one, it can't be beat. I love the bass in this song too, as well as Patrick Warren's keyboard touches."

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Mew - "Special"

Mew - "Special": "No surprise that I like this tune - much in the vein of the Delays and the Buffseeds, it's near-androgenous high-pitched vocals laid over melodic yet driving rock."

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Snowden - "Between The Rent And Me"

Snowden - "Between The Rent And Me": "I know I already blogged a song from this album only a few months ago, but I freaking love it and I can't contain myself. This song sounds like rollerskating backwards to me...which I can't explain at all, but it's just what comes to mind when I hear it."

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Blake Babies - "When I See His Face"

Blake Babies - "When I See His Face": "I was kind of irritated by Juliana Hatfield back in the day - she seemed so much like a bratty kid, with her child-like voice. Then 'Universal Heartbeat' got stuck in my head and I started to come around - but it's only recenly that she's started to grow on me more. Especially when listening to understated slower rockers like this one, I realize there's more to her than some alt-rock hits and Evan Dando, but it still helps that she has the Blake Babies to ground her."

Monday, December 04, 2006

Momus - "My Kindly Friend The Censor"

Momus - "My Kindly Friend The Censor": "In honor of Momus responding to my Kahimi Karie post from last week, it's only fair to spotlight a song from the man himself. This song has always been one of my favorites of his. It features suggestive lyrics with the less genteel specifics removed, providing a social commentary while showcasing clever wordplay, all to a shuffling beat. Choice lyric: 'Just thinking of it makes me want to [criminal act]!' Also a highlight - when Momus starts to read off the previously-omitted words from the song against menacing keyboards - before slipping back into the song's main melody, as if to say 'Oops, did I say that?' Fabulous."

Friday, December 01, 2006

Failure - "Undone"

Failure - "Undone": "In honor of the surprise of seeing one of my coworkers wear a Failure shirt to work this morning*, I present one of this underappreciated L.A. band's crunchy, yet hooky and melodic rock songs.

* - because I swear no one outside of Southern California knows them, which is sad. People need to learn to love Failure! They also have one of the best music videos I've ever seen - "Stuck On You", which does the James Bond opening movie credits better than Bond - but the quality of the versions on YouTube are too grainy for me to link to. It kind of ruins the video, so - instead, you can order it here."

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Pavement - "I Love Perth"

Pavement - "I Love Perth": "65 seconds of giddy, smart pop. Previously only on vinyl, this track finally sees the light on the new expanded edition of Wowee Zowee - and it's about time - it's easier to play over and over again without having to move the needle now!"

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Kahimi Karie - "Good Morning World"

Kahimi Karie - "Good Morning World": "You can't possibly top a petite Japanese girl whispering/cooing a song about doing what you want and greeting the world head on - with the right makeup, of course - over a Beck-like pastiche of 60s pop and 90s sampling. Not to mention that this song was also svengali'd by two men - the dirty Scot who wrote it (Momus) and the Japanese producer (Cornelious) who made it sound good. It's the ultimate plastic version of 'I'm Every Woman' and it's commercial-ready!"

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Robbers On High Street - "The Fatalist"

Robbers On High Street - "The Fatalist": "It continues to freak me out by just how much Robbers On High Street are - for a lack of a better way to put it - Spoon. If you told me this song (from a new ROHS online-only EP) came from Spoon's Gimme Fiction, I might buy it. This is in no way a dig at ROHS because I love Spoon and they do a decent job of being Spoon, especially with songs like this...but it's still just a little eerie."

Monday, November 27, 2006

The Aislers Set - "Catherine Says"

The Aislers Set - "Catherine Says": "Welcome back from Turkey Day, y'all. I'm tired from all the driving, but trying to get back in the saddle. To help everyone wake up from their turkey-induced sleep, here's a cheery, girl group-style song that's allegedly about Aisler frontwoman Amy Linton's grandmother or aunt falling and dying alone in a subway station. Still, with the handclaps, you'd never think it was anything less than upbeat unless you gave good listen to the lyrics."

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Rod Stewart - "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"

Rod Stewart - "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy": "As I think I've established by my posts about KISS' "Strutter `78" et al, I do kind of like disco rock. I prefer the guitars over the shimmering keys, but still the same driving four-on-the-floor beat. I also like songs with a third person narrative, which Rod employs with (little) taste here, sounding more like a steamy Danielle Steele scene than anything else...which is not to say that it's not fantastic. In fact, the whole song just sounds kind of...seedy. Oh, 70s Hedonist Rod, where have you gone? We miss you!
Almost as good: Mike Myers as an elderly Scottish dad with Coke-bottle glasses belting this tune out with bagpipe accompaniment in So I Married An Ax Murderer."

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Robert Plant - "Tall Cool One"

Robert Plant - "Tall Cool One": "This song rocks! I know I'm supposed to keep the Led Zep stuff on the top of the pedestal, but there's something really smooth and stylized about this track. Plant just sounds so bad-ass, even if there's some late 80s/early 90s rock gimickry to it...and he grabs - literally - from Zep tracks...but he gets away with it. Score!"

Monday, November 20, 2006

Whitey - "Leave Them All Behind"

Whitey - "Leave Them All Behind": "After making its first appearance on the Making XXX soundtrack two years ago, this track finally sees a formal release. I first fell in love with this song when Cut Copy DJ'd this at SXSW last year, then finally found out who it was when I overheard my co-worker Esra playing the track one month later back in NYC. It's a great slice of energetic rock melded with pulsing keyboards and echoing shoegazer-type vocals, all over a driving beat."

Friday, November 17, 2006

Versus - "Blade of Grass"

Versus - "Blade of Grass": "It's sad that this song has almost 45 seconds of intro that's practically inaudible, because it's what keeps people from discovering the great song behind it. When they kick into the 'ooo's in harmony with the guitars, it's a rush - both beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time."

Thursday, November 16, 2006

P.J. Harvey - "Wang Dang Doodle" (Peel Session)

P.J. Harvey - "Wang Dang Doodle" (Peel Session): "This is raw and rockin' P.J. Harvey at her best. P.J. wails, growls and riffs while drummer Rob Ellis ads in percussive touches and scary falsetto shrieks, while still doing justice to this Howlin' Wolf original. You hear a touch of British when she yells out 'All Night Long!' but it just puts her fingerprint on the tune."

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Buzzcocks - "Ever Fallen In Love?"

Buzzcocks - "Ever Fallen In Love?": "All hail to the original! Pete Yorn may have decimated it and the Fine Young Cannibals did an interesting (if dry) version, but it would be hard to top such amazing punky brilliance (not to be confused with Punky Brewster). Like pop on speed!"

Monday, November 06, 2006

Danger Doom - "A.T.H.F. (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)"

Danger Doom - "A.T.H.F. (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)": "You have to love a song about the Aqua Teen Hunger Force...who I love all the more after last week's new episode - 'Hand Banana.' I would love to describe it, but I don't want to ruin it. Suffice it to say that it might be the best 10 minutes of television that I've seen in months. Trust me, find it somehow...online, as a repeat on Cartoon Network, when it comes out on DVD...I don't care, just find it.
Hand Banana: 'Tonight...you."'

Friday, November 03, 2006

Blondie - "War Child" (Extended Mix)

Blondie - "War Child" (Extended Mix): "I'm not going to sit here and tell you that Blondie's 'last' album (pre-hiatus, anyway) The Hunter is a great album. Nor would I say that it's up there with most of their previous work. However, I think this album is a fascinating portrait of a splintered band trying out new and different directions as it falls apart. The songs on this album are stranger and darker than ever before and - 'Island of Lost Souls' aside (a clear, sad grab at 'The Tide Is High II') - not deserving the drubbing that it usually gets. I would even argue that it is a more consistant listen than its predecessor, Autoamerican. This particular track, 'War Child' (here in an extended version) is full of menace, with a cool sharpness not heard from Debbie Harry since 'Youth Nabbed By Sniper' (from their 2nd record). If you think 'Rapture' is the end of the line for this band, give this a listen."

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Throwing Muses - "Limbo"

Throwing Muses - "Limbo": "A twisted, amazing Muses song, but one I always wish I could tweak a little. The drum/percussion track and the bassline have this amazing groove that really propel the song - but when the jangle-fuzz guitar lead comes in, it kind of overtakes the groove - and that's what I would tune down in the mix. Still, about half-way into the song, when singer Kristin Hersh intones 'Daddy's next door...Daddy's next door...' with just the drum part and the snakecharmer backwards guitar, you do kind of feel like you're being put under a spell."

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Deftones - "Cherry Waves"

Deftones - "Cherry Waves": "As one of my coworkers just said, walking past my desk: 'What is this? It almost sounds like a heavy shoegaze band?' And yet - surprise! - it's the Deftones. This song is not actually that different than some of their previous droning-yet-rock explorations (i.e. 'Minerva'), but is now somehow prettier and spacier than how they've done it before. Maybe we can call it dirge-shoegaze..."

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Marilyn Manson - "New Model #15"

Marilyn Manson - "New Model #15": "With today being Halloween, it seems like all the music-related features put Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson front and center. Instead of joining in on the 'Marilyn is spooky!' movement, I'd rather highlight one of my favorite MM songs from his underrated modern Glam opus, Mechanical Animals. With 'New Model #15,' Marilyn forgets the evil inside and prepares himself to be processed and reproduced for the masses, complete with handclaps and T. Rex swagger."

Monday, October 30, 2006

Stars - "Ageless Beauty"

Stars - "Ageless Beauty": "The whole song is carried by the lush female vocals (even with the hint of Stars' male singer Torquil singing in higher register), but when the vocals start cascading over each other in the chorus, it sounds just like heaven."

Friday, October 27, 2006

Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton - "Our Hell"

Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton - "Our Hell": "I never thought I'd like to hear Metric stripped down to its core, but after hearing some Metric tracks acoustic earlier this year, I realized the songs still held up without the synths. Now Metric frontwoman Emily Haines steps out on her own to present more songs in this low-key vein. Her Metric bravado toned down and replaced with a certain fragility, these songs engage with piano and whispers, but make no less of an impression."

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Beck - "We Dance Alone"

Beck - "We Dance Alone": "It's Beck's usual twisted take on 80s funk, but there's something darker to this track than his previous forays in this direction. I'm not sure if it's his near-mumbled rap or the dark atmospherics that creep in during the last third of the song, but there's definitely a creepy mood in with the funk."

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Olivia Newton-John - "Physical"

Olivia Newton-John - "Physical": "Xanadu was on TV the other day, somehow, and it made me think 'wow, this movie killed the career of everyone in it...and Gene Kelly!' And I thought it was true until I realized that Xanadu pre-dated the mega-hit of 'Physical'...that ONJ had persevered...despite the fact that I swear she's singing "let's get into physical" in this song. WHAT??? Uh...anyway...enjoy, if you will, ONJ's tribute to bangin' and think of her in the video, showering vigorously with all her clothes on..."

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

White Zombie - "Thunder Kiss '65"

White Zombie - "Thunder Kiss '65":
"'I don't try anything, I just do it...wanna try me?'
This song not only samples from classic Russ Meyer (Faster Pussycat Kill Kill), but it's also one of my favorite songs to play on Guitar Hero, which is quite possibly the best video game ever made. It's kind of like Dance Dance Revolution, but with a guitar control - including a whammy bar - instead of a normal controller, plus awesome rock songs to play along with, such as this one. I never cared that much about video games until this one and now I am obsessed with it. I can't wait for GH2, out next month, which apparently includes 'Strutter' by KISS. Strutter!"

Monday, October 16, 2006

Silversun Pickups - "Little Lover's So Polite"

Silversun Pickups - "Little Lover's So Polite": "It's funny - I first saw this band at South by Southwest earlier this year and thought they were nice, but not necessarily impressive. Then I started listening to this record and it started growing on me - but the turning point came this weekend when I heard this song at my optometrist's (!) while getting my eyes dilated (!). Somehow, hearing this tune coming from the main room drove the melody - with the Damnwells-meet-Smashing Pumpkins vocals - into my subconscious and now I love it."

Friday, October 13, 2006

Eddy Grant - "Electric Avenue"

Eddy Grant - "Electric Avenue": "This video made a tremendous impression on me when I was little. The faceless motorcycle marauders, whose engines rev in sync with one of the synth parts; Eddy getting off the couch and falling into a pool of water at his feet; it's all classic. And the song ain't bad neither.

"

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Goldfrapp - "You Never Know (Mum Remix)"

Goldfrapp - "You Never Know (Mum Remix)": "Sorry I'm behind in posting, but I've been on the road - hopefully you all have held in there while I was away...
Check this track out now - it's not in stores until next week, but you can hear it now -
It's Icelandic band Mum's deconstruction of 'You Never Know' by Goldfrapp. It ads Sigur Ros-style atmospherics in place of the original's synths, but its the piano lead in the chorus that provide the stately mood, before kicking into some Stereolab-y swirls and bleeps in the end. And it's all just one of several standout tracks from the new Goldfrapp remix collection, We Are Glitter."

Friday, October 06, 2006

The Monkees - "You And I"

The Monkees - "You And I": "Of all the Monkees, Davy Jones would be the last one you would expect to acutely sense - and call out - the group's waning public fame and support. On this late-period Monkees track, Davy winds up penning a number that not only rocks, but takes sharp stock of the group's lessening status. I'm pretty sure that the guitar solo is an uncredited Neil Young (!), which only adds to the track's rock cred. Totally worth checking out, even for Monkee-haters."

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Debbie Harry - "In Love With Love"

Debby Harry - "In Love With Love": "...and if we're talking dance/cheese, I can't help but add this to the list. Hell, I actually could have rolled this track out during my Freestyle Jams week a few months back, especially since it fits the 7+ minute rule! Blondie's Debby Harry gets her own 808 beat on, matched up with stuttering vocal samples, girl gang 'yeah yeah yeah's and an obligatory latin beat breakdown. Somehow, it's aged well, but only because it's so severly dated that it makes it more charming now."

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Neneh Cherry - "Buffalo Stance"

Neneh Cherry - "Buffalo Stance": "Speaking of 'Buffalo Stance'...I love how she introduces the hi-hat and the tambourine when they're so clearly a drum programme..."

Monday, October 02, 2006

H2SO4 - "Little Soul"

H2SO4 - "Little Soul": "I stumbled onto this track through work when this record came out, several years back. I can't say that I've been to the gym anytime lately, but when I did go, this track was one of my top workout tracks. The song throbs with danceclub energy, with surging synths laid over 808-style pounding drums. I wish this song had a video because, if it did, I'm sure it'd be one of those early `90s bluescreen works, like Neneh Cherry's 'Buffalo Stance.'"

Friday, September 29, 2006

Peaches and Iggy Pop - "Kick It"

Peaches and Iggy Pop - "Kick It": "How can you not love a Peaches vs. Iggy Pop match-up over the simplest drumbeat and a crude guitar lead? And they even reference their own histories and each others' songs, kicking it all to the curb, all in the name of dumb, fun, dirty rock."

Thursday, September 28, 2006

The Cardigans - "Godspell"

The Cardigans - "Godspell": "I had kind of lost track of The Cardigans after Gran Turismo - the long break between records, Nina recording with her husband Nathan Larson (ex-Shudder To Think), etc. So listening to their new record (out this week) wasn't at the top of my list, but I stumbled onto it (thanks to Rhapsody, honestly) and found out that it's damn good. They still have some of the country affectations that seemed to have appeared on their previous record, but this track shows they also mastered moody rock, while still keeping things up-tempo enough and Nina's lovely vocals front and center. I have this track on repeat already."

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Snowden - "Black Eyes"

Snowden - "Black Eyes": "This is my new love. The whole Snowden record is great (thanks to Matt G. for the tip-off), and this song is probably my most favorite. It's blend of the jittery guitar lead, the propulsive drums, the throbbing bass (in a rock, not dance, way), and the light-headed vocals are all over this record, but this is where it shines the brightest."

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Lily Allen - "Smile"

Lily Allen - "Smile": "This song is freaking infectious! It's a lightly skankin' sugar-pop song, but the bitter lyrics (and the even crueler video) take the edge off (or, perhaps, put the edge on). You won't be able to stop yourself from signing along. Britastic!"

Monday, September 25, 2006

The Psychedelic Furs - "Shadow In My Heart"

The Psychedelic Furs - "Shadow In My Heart": "Strip off the glossy production and `80s safe sax and you'd actually have an amazing new wave pop tune through and through. But as it is, you still get glimmers of that shining through, especially in the chorus. Plus Richard Butler is almost always in effect, even when he's kind of not. Would love to hear someone take a stab at this song with a more rock-centric aesthetic."

Friday, September 22, 2006

Julio Iglesias - "Careless Whisper"

Julio Iglesias - "Careless Whisper": "Julio Iglesias takes on Wham's 'Careless Whisper' with safe sax from Dave Koz. Enough said."

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Electric Six - "Night Vision"

Electric Six - "Night Vision": "If you've been following my blog, you'll know that I love the first E6 record and was greatly dissapointed by the second. But now they're back with their third record and, while it may not match the first, they're back in good form again. The guitar hero action of the first record is sadly gone, but the songs are much better crafted than they were on the second. They still have dorky posturing - with lines like 'there are demons in you / there are demons in me / is it too dark for you to see?' in a song called 'Night Vision' - but the Cars-y keyboard lead and the falsetto chorus cannot be denied."

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Human League - "Empire State Human"

Human League - "Empire State Human": "I went to see the Human League last night and it was AWESOME. I got teased by folks for going to see them, but it was a great show because they pick their best songs to play and they have fun doing it - in fact, one of the most fun shows I've been to in a long time. The ever-charismatic Phil Oakey pulled out this track from the archives, while the League girls took a break/costume change, and it couldn't have been more well-chosen. Phil even strapped on a keytar to execute a synth solo at the song's end. I was totally screaming like a little girl."

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Mission of Burma - "Donna Sumeria"

Mission of Burma - "Donna Sumeria": "I don't even know how to explain how (or why) deconstructed rockers Mission of Burma take on Donna Summer. The song title seems like a dumb joke, but when they twist up four-on-the-floor disco with galloping noise rock into what seems like a love ode to Donna...it might just blow your mind."

Monday, September 18, 2006

Starflyer 59 - "Mic The Mic"

Starflyer 59 - "Mic The Mic": "My love for Starflyer 59 is nothing new and this track - from their brand new album My Island - continues that love affair. Still, there's something new here from them - as much as I love them, I'd never consider their music to be very 'feel good', per se - but this track somehow manages that feeling without losing any of the usual SF59 magic. I can't wait to see them live tonight!"

Friday, September 15, 2006

Yo La Tengo - "Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind"

Yo La Tengo - "Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind": "I missed this from Yo La Tengo - the locked groove, the waves of feedback, the driving beat, the way they keep those elements simmering over 10+ minutes... This is what they did for 'Shaker' and 'Spec Bebop' and 'Mushroom Cloud of Hiss' and so many of my YLT favorites and I'm glad to see them return to form now. Plus only YLT can get away with an album title like I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass without making it seem silly, gimicky or trite. All hail Hoboken!"

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Favourite Sons - "Hang On, Girl"

Favourite Sons - "Hang On, Girl": "The vocals are somewhere between Pavement and the Walkmen, the music is somewhere between The Strokes and [fill in hipster band here], but it all adds up to good fun."

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Modest Mouse and 764-Hero - "Wherever You See Fit (DJ Dynamite D Mix)"

Modest Mouse and 764-Hero - "Wherever You See Fit (DJ Dynamite D Mix)": "In its original form, 'Wherever You See Fit' is an epic dirge from two of my favorite bands, 764-HERO and Modest Mouse, in a magical, one-time-only collaboration. In this DJ Dynamite D remix, the sadness goes and is replaced by a bouncy backbeat, somehow changing everything about the original but still turning it into a compelling and solid piece on its own."

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Urge Overkill - "Stalker" (live)

Urge Overkill - "Stalker" (live): "The down and dirty number stuck in the middle of the glossy Saturation - and this live version makes it even rougher. In fact, it sounds like a drunken brawl. I imagine you'll only like this rendition if you appreciate the original...so, basically, all five of you."

Monday, September 11, 2006

Sam Moore - "If I Had No Loot"

Sam Moore - "If I Had No Loot": "Sam Moore (of classic soul duo Sam & Dave) takes on Tony! Toni! Tone!'s swingin' 'If I Had No Loot'* with the help of new gen soul-sters Van Hunt and Nikka Costa. The track is great and Van is awesome, but I kind of wish they had it as a gritty faceoff with just Sam and Nikka, because I know they could tear the roof off this song. Still, it's a fun take on this track.

(* - In the original song, Raphael Saadiq ad libs 'if the shoe fits - then I want you to wear the wig too.' I love that line.)"

Friday, September 08, 2006

!!! - "Me And Giuliani Down By The School Yard (A True Story)"

!!! - "Me And Giuliani Down By The School Yard (A True Story)": "Songs that have a nice groove that go on this long without making things boring are choice. The DFA own that catagory for remixes, but !!! does it with original tunes. Plus a band that doesn't have a name with letters or numbers in it is pretty hot. (BTW, I file '!!!' before the A's in my CD library at home. Just in case you were wondering.)"

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Prince - "Alphabet St."

Prince - "Alphabet St.": "I was tempted to write about Jessica Simpson covering Dead or Alive's 'You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)' on her new record, including gratuitous links to what DoA's Pete Burns looks like now....but I decided that the new (digital) appearance of Prince's 'Alphabet Street' - easily one of his all-time funkiest - would get today's slot instead. He does the 'Prince Scream' a good number of times, Sheila E. lays down the beats, 'Cat' drops the rhymes, driving us - one and all - to Tennessee. Baby, it's the only way!"

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

T. Rex - "Raw Ramp"

T. Rex - "Raw Ramp": "Marc Bolan chucks his outer space come-hithers for something a bit more...well, direct. Not quite raunchy, but certainly not genteel, Bolan turns his young lust into first rate boogie glam."

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Beyoncé - "Green Light"

Beyoncé - "Green Light": "What the hell is going on here? As you may remember from a few weeks ago, I blogged Amerie's '1 Thing' as a guilty pleasure, but one that was in a heavy Beyoncé/Destiny's Child mold. Well, now on the new Beyoncé, we have this track...which bites a vocal element from '1 Thing' wholesale. Is this some kind of mutual-admiration society that I missed the 411 on?"

Monday, September 04, 2006

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Kasabian - "Empire"

Kasabian - "Empire": "Is it me or does this sound like Clinic on steroids? The vocals in the verses certainly sound like them, but the galloping synth-bass, followed by the near-Bollywood 'strings' in the chorus give this song a punch and a strength beyond Clinic's sometimes meek sound. I hope the full-length, coming soon, is at least this good."

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Jackson Browne - "Somebody's Baby"

Jackson Browne - "Somebody's Baby": "Ungh...re-reading yesterday's post, I realize what was supposed to come off as funny comes off more as scary instead. But it also reminds me of another track in the same, straight-forward pop-rock vein - 'Somebody's Baby.' The difference is that this song also doubles as the 'Jennifer Jason Leigh love theme' in Fast Times At Ridgemont High - a.k.a. the song that plays every time JJL's about to get busy. Which means that this song makes me think of somewhat groty teen-sex, but at least it makes me think of awesome 80s teen movies as well."

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Rick Springfield - "Jessie's Girl"

Rick Springfield - "Jessie's Girl": "I have never liked Rick Springfield...not even in the 80s. So imagine my surprise when I stumbled onto this song recently and found that it's a gumball of chewy pop goodness! He may be the dork version of a rock star and is still arguably very uncool...but when the group vocals kick in with 'why can't I find a woman like that?', Rick seduces me like I was on one of his soap operas."

Monday, August 28, 2006

Dinosaur Jr. - "Get Me"

Dinosaur Jr. - "Get Me": "J Mascis spreads his guitar all over this track - almost to the point of overkill - but it's the backing vocals from director Allison Anders' daughter Tiffani in the chorus that take the song to the next level, chiming in with J as he flows into his falsetto. Magic."

Friday, August 25, 2006

Pixies - "Velouria"

Pixies - "Velouria": "I've always found this song to have a strangely magestic and tragic quality about it. Married with the more polished sound of the Bossanova record, the Pixies come off as a less playful band than on previous releases, which only lends more weight to Frank Black's impassioned screams here. When Kim Deal keeps singing out 'V-E-L-O-U-R-I-A' throughout the song's outro, it comes across as being playfully wistful, but also oddly like a memorial. I love this song."

Thursday, August 24, 2006

John Davis - "I'll Burn"

John Davis - "I'll Burn": "So simple, yet so beguiling in its simplicity. John (who would later spend some time with Lou Barlow in Folk Implosion) blends his fey, hushed vocals with simple guitar and percussion, until the keyboards come in with a peppy lead melody."

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Felix Da Housecat with Miss Kittin - "Silver Screen (Shower Scene)"

Felix Da Housecat with Miss Kittin - "Silver Screen (Shower Scene)": "...and if I'm going to blog about Miss Kittin, I have to include my other favorite collaboration of hers. This time, Kittin brings her same drone and the electro-keyboards remain, but new partner Felix Da Housecat adds a floor-shaking bass thump that maximizes the ass-shaking factor. I can't help but picture a room full of people dancing, but with Kittin still all cool and detached, lying on a lounge in the middle of the fray."

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Miss Kittin And The Hacker - "L'homme Dans L'ombre"

Miss Kittin And The Hacker - "L'homme Dans L'ombre": "...but speaking of electroclash and European girls, I can't help but bring up this chestnut. Subsequent records would show that Miss Kittin was bent on dance domination, but on this record, she is a relative unknown in a nurse's outfit, listlessly mentioning that she is afraid to sing in the night (!) - and then repeats her monologue again in French. This is the kind of weirdness that 'alternative' stations would play at 2am in the 80s, when all the normal kids had gone to sleep, but transported into the 21st Century - more by release date, than by sound."

Monday, August 21, 2006

Visage - "Fade To Grey"

Visage - "Fade To Grey": "While electroclash was able to recreate the sound, it somehow never got the same mood as the original synth-pop, with Visage as a key example. The mood was cold, but the posing was real and free of irony, and the European girl speaking in French needed no justification."

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Gaunt - "Hit The Ground"

Gaunt - "Hit The Ground": "Another part of indie rock's appeal is in its simplicity, its off-kilter moments all part of its charm. Gaunt's 'Hit The Ground' embodies this perfectly, following up the pogo theme of yesterday's AoL track. Sadly, after this, Gaunt hopped to a major label to expand their sound - which they did solidly, albeit somewhat diluting their rock power - before their frontman was tragically killed in a car accident. Also good for posthumous exploration: Kryptonite, their one release with Thrill Jockey Records."

Monday, August 14, 2006

Archers of Loaf - "Backwash" (BBC)

Archers of Loaf - "Backwash" - (BBC): "It's funny to think how AoL's frontman Eric Bachmann is all alt-country-ish now, especially when you listen to rough rockers like this track from the `90s. This BBC version of 'Backwash' is indie rock at its finest - melodic, but raw - and damn if it doesn't make you want to pogo."

Friday, August 11, 2006

Wang Chung - "Don't Be My Enemy"

Wang Chung - "Don't Be My Enemy": "Before they jumped the shark by 'Wang Chung-ing tonight', Wang Chung actually made a very catchy, non-cheesy synth-flecked suave pop-rock album in the form of Points On A Curve. 'Dance Hall Days' will always have a special place in my heart (as will the video with the disco ball babe and the suitcase with hot legs), but it's songs like this that make the record hold up. The sharp but jangly guitar hidden under the driving beat layered with tin pan and Eastern-style percussion provides singer Jack Hues with the proper backing to his own Miami Vice episode."

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Kim Carnes - "Bette Davis Eyes"

Kim Carnes - "Bette Davis Eyes": "If you really listen to the track, it's pretty clear how thin and raspy Kim's voice is, but yet this song makes her sound strong and bold. The real magic moment here is in the song's video, where the 80s club kids that Kim seems to hold court over lift their arms over their heads to firmly - but listlessly - match the handclaps in the song...despite the fact that they're synth handclaps, not real ones. Also: Madonna's empty roll-call of the ladies of Hollywood's golden age in 'Vogue' can't hold a candle to Kim's similar invocation here - which actually references many of the same women, just more effectively."

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

R.E.M. - "Star Me Kitten [Featuring W.S. Burroughs]"

R.E.M. - "Star Me Kitten [Featuring W.S. Burroughs]": "William S. Burroughs joins R.E.M. on an alternate-world version of their own 'Star Me Kitten.' It's mainly a curiosa item, with the odd mix of spoken word and off-kilter caterwauling - until Mr. Burroughs starts repeating 'f*** me kitten!' in his battered, old man voice. Whoa..."

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Imogen Heap "Clear The Area" (Rolling Stone Original)

Imogen Heap - "Clear The Area" (Rolling Stone Original Version): "On record, Imogen Heap's music is usually a wonderful blend of all kinds of synthesized noises, all layered on top of one another. Here, her song 'Clear The Area' gets an entirely different treatment, played solely on a mbira, a plucked metal instrument, kind of like a giant playable music box. It gives the music a strange dreamlike quality, while allowing Imogen's voice to take a more prominent space in the tune."

Monday, August 07, 2006

Public Enemy - "Hell No We Ain't All Right"

Public Enemy - "Hell No We Ain't All Right": "Today's post is not so much about this song - thought-provoking though it may be - but more about contrasting PE tracks like this with....Flavor of Love 2, which I saw for the first time last night. For those of you who don't know, FoL2 is a show about Flavor Flav from PE trying to find love with one of 20 women...in a mansion...with a lot of booze. I think it's entirely possible that I bled brain cells during the viewing of the episode. I know there was a knock-down catfight within the first five minutes, then the girls were given nicknames like 'Payshyntz' (translation: Patience) and 'Deelishis' and then...uh, I don't even know. That show made me so stupid that I can't even remember the rest of it. Now I can see why Chuck D of PE is not amused by any of this. This show is so trashy I'm embarassed to have watched it."

Friday, August 04, 2006

Grandaddy - "Chartsengrafs"

Grandaddy - "Chartsengrafs": "This is a rockin' tune that features Grandaddy's signature elements - swirling synthesizers, high-pitched vocals and chord-based riffing - but still feels like plunging down a steep rollercoaster drop, laughing all the way."

Thursday, August 03, 2006

3 New Serge Gainsbourg Covers

Cat Power - "I Love You (Me Neither)"
James Iha & Kazu Makino - "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde"
Faultline, Brian Molko & Francoise Hardy - "Requiem For A Jerk"
: "In conjunction with yesterday's Serge post, I present these three new Serge covers. It's really weird hearing classic Serge tunes with modernized instrumentals and English lyrics, especially given the singers. Cat Power purring through 'I Love You (Me Neither)' ('Je t'aime...Moi Non Plus') is somewhat disconcerting because it seems like she would be holding a knife while singing it, no matter how sweet she sounds. Next, Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha steps up to the mike to tackle 'The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde.' His delivery is a little lacking, but co-vocalist Kazu Makino nails it and the musical update gives the song a different texture. Placebo frontman Brian Molko steps up to take on Serge for a second time, having already covered 'Melody Nelson,' joining Faultine for 'Requiem For A Jerk' ('requiem por un c...'). While his vocals are delivered in his usual shrill tone, the trip-hop+handclaps style applied to the music is fairly effective, plus Francoise Hardy helps out by adding a seductive air."

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Serge Gainsbourg - "Ford Mustang"

Serge Gainsbourg - "Ford Mustang": "I love Serge's experiments with world beats, synths and otherwise, but this is the Serge that I love most. This is from the phase where he has a clear fascination with American pop culture, but which always comes across as vaguely sinister and dirty, along with a twist of dry humor. Here, he marries a shambling tack-piano-style melody with an Italian cinema string section, all the while trading his French lyrics with a Catwoman-like female vocal that consists solely of American brand names and consumer fascinations. It's all about America, but it's oh so French - and so Serge. You can practically picture his cigarette smoke trails swirling around as he sings."

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Jesus and Mary Chain - 3 Pack: "Birthday" + "Rollercoaster" + "Between Planets"

Jesus and Mary Chain - 3 Pack: "Birthday" + "Rollercoaster" + "Between Planets": "I'm so excited that the Jesus and Mary Chain are finally available for digital that I can't contain myself to just one song today. Instead, I offer you three tracks of theirs that I love, even though there are truly many more. When I was younger, it was so exciting for me to discover JAMC because they just seemed so bad-ass and 'adult' that simply listening to them seemed like a rebellious act. Even now, years later, they still just permeate 'cool' through their walls of guitar noise."

Monday, July 31, 2006

Mary Jane Girls - "All Night Long"

Mary Jane Girls - "All Night Long": "This band is the handiwork of dirty funkateer Rick James, so no surprise that the Mary Jane Girls are essentially presented as a singing streetwalker squad. Honestly, all their songs seem to be about making sweet love, kind of like Chef from South Park - but not the kind of forever love, more of the 'now/tonight' brand of love. Still, you can't discount many of their tunes, such as this lowrider classic that will make you slowly bob your head from side to side in time with its warm Summer night breeze."

Friday, July 28, 2006

PJ Harvey - "Long Snake Moan"

PJ Harvey - "Long Snake Moan": "When To Bring You My Love first came out, I was dissapointed because it didn't have the raw, pounding rock power of the first two PJ Harvey albums. As a result, I didn't give enough credit to many of the gems on this album - like this one - that I've now come to appreciate. This song may not have the rough cutting power of the earlier tunes, but it hits with a sledgehammer anyway."

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Amerie - "1 Thing"

Amerie - "1 Thing": "When I first heard this song, I wrote it off as a Beyonce/Destiny's Child derivative, knocking off the frantic chorus of 'Crazy In Love' and the drumline beat of 'Lose My Breath.' Granted, they're probably all from the same production team, but in the end, this song's playful charm overwhelms its formulaic origins and piledrives itself into your head. (And, yes, I am kind of ashamed to like it, but I do anyway.)"

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Feist featuring Gonzales - "Lovertits"

Feist featuring Gonzales - "Lovertits": "Former Peaches companion Feist gives her spin on her pal's tune and, in the process, takes the more agressive original and makes it more smooth and breathy. In other words, less Electroclash, and more Patrice Rushen "Forget Me Nots." You almost forget it's still called "Lovertits"!
Also, check out the original Peaches tune here."

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

The Dust Brothers - "Marla"

The Dust Brothers - "Marla": "I never thought I'd blog about a film score track (even though there are many scores I love), but I have to make an exception for the Dust Brothers' soundtrack to Fight Club. Some of their tracks might be a little schizophrenic-sounding, just like the movie itself, but they've never dull. This track is a perfect example - it starts like a low-key shuffle, in the vein of Air, before shifting into a trippy keyboard swirl accompanied by what sounds like an Indian woman chanting, then changing again. It suggests all sorts of imagery, unrelated to the movie itself, just like good instrumentals should."

Monday, July 24, 2006

KISS - "Strutter '78"

KISS - "Strutter '78": "I put on KISS's Double Platinum over the weekend while I was cleaning the office and was reminded of this 1978 re-make of 'Strutter', which recasts their 1974 Stones-y blues-rock tune for the dancefloor. It's total disco-rock cheese, but the guitar part after the chorus (around when Paul yells out 'Strutter!') is pretty awesome. Of course, I'm totally into the Stones disco tunes (i.e. 'Miss You'), so my affinity for this track should come as no surprise."

Friday, July 21, 2006

Freestyle 101: Debbie Deb - "Lookout Weekend"

Debbie Deb - "Lookout Weekend": "It's almost a full circle, not just ending the week with another Debbie Deb song - but it's almost EXACTLY the same song as 'When I Hear Music.' It's still worth noting because she talks about 'laser rays' and the song is still awesome. In fact, I don't think anyone has done as good a job at remaking their own song as a different song - until Nickelback, which is obviously the negative example of that concept. Plus it's double appropriate as my Friday song...you know, 'look out weekend, cause here I come' and all. I'm sure you get it."

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Freestyle 101: Freestyle - "Don't Stop The Rock"

Freestyle - "Don't Stop The Rock": "More rollerskating flashback - this Freestyle comes with VOCODER VOCALS! It's like when you see one of those 'As Seen On TV!' mail order ads (for an Eggstractor or something) that comes with a bonus egg dish or other trinket - it's the extra little something to sweeten the deal."

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Freestyle 101: Shannon - "Let The Music Play (Original Full 12" mix)"

Shannon - "Let The Music Play (Original Full 12" mix)": "When Debbie Deb hears music, it makes her dance - and Shannon just wants to let the music play. Hopefully by now, since we are now on Freestyle Song #3, you'll all have noticed the importance of electronic elements in Freestyle music, often using programmed beats to simulate a crisper version of percussion elements. Listen closely and, yes, there will be a test on this."

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Freestyle 101: Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam - "I Wonder If I Take You Home"

Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam - "I Wonder If I Take You Home": "Freestyle week continues with this contemporary re-spin of The Shirelles 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow?' It's the same topic, but you couldn't dance to the Shirelles like you can dance to this. Did I mention that most freestyle songs seem to be about seven minutes long? This song is no exception, but the overlapping vocals of Lisa Lisa and her boys keep things interesting. The spoken word section with Lisa and her 'boyfriend' is equally amazing, especially when Lisa appears to ask the listener what she should decide to do."

Monday, July 17, 2006

Freestyle 101: Debbie Deb - "When I Hear Music"

Debbie Deb - "When I Hear Music": "After tunes like this one helped me to party my way into last Friday night and the weekend, I decided to make this week a week-long Freestyle Jam. Apparently, this means way more to Southern Californians and New Yorkers than anyone else - so this will either be a cool flashback or a chance to listen and learn, depending on where you're from. I would attempt to explain 'freestyle' here, but after searching the web for some additional information, I realized there are varied viewpoints on the genre - so, instead, I point you to a good recap of all the various points at Wikipedia.
Today's song, by Debbie Deb, totally brings me back to skating at the roller rink as a kid - but, then again, most of these songs do."

Friday, July 14, 2006

It's Friday, Rock It Out:
Seaweed - "In The Middle"

Seaweed - "In The Middle": "It's been a while, with all of the theme lists I've been running, but it's Friday, which means a little upbeat rock'n'roll to bring you into the weekend. Here's one to pogo to, from Seaweed. It's infectious."

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Motorhead - "Ace Of Spades"

Motorhead - "Ace Of Spades": "Motorhead (remind me how one adds the umlauts - a.k.a. the rockdots - in HTML?) is awesome on their own, but I'm blogging them today as an excuse to show off one of the 'away from computer' messages I set up on my AIM that makes me laff quite a bit:
This is Lemmy from Motorhead. I have intercepted your message so that I can force you to LOOK AT MY MOLE! LOOK AT IT! It gives me my magical rock powers and it will POSSESS YOU!

...I clearly amuse myself too much."

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Gary Numan - "My Shadow In Vain"

Gary Numan - "My Shadow In Vain": "Gary Numan may be known as one of the kings of early `80s cold synth-pop, but he scammed his way into his first label deal (with Beggars Banquet in the UK) with punk demos and his debut album (Tubeway Army) reflects that. His later work revealed his true interests, but for all the supposedly fake punk posing, his tracks like this are still a real blast. I especially love when they chant the song title through the outro of the track, like a futuristic military march."

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Arcade Fire - "No Cars Go"

Arcade Fire - "No Cars Go": "I know that everyone's already on the Arcade Fire bandwagon, but when I hear songs like this (from their debut EP, pre-Funeral), I can't help but think that this band actually deserves the hype. There's just a great energy to their music and a homespun charm to boot. Doesn't hurt that it's catchy too."

Monday, July 10, 2006

Aphex Twin - "Windowlicker"

Aphex Twin - "Windowlicker": "Take a Prince-esque sexy electro-groove, make it stutter about, maybe add a tab of acid for good measure and you wind up with 'Windowlicker.' It sounds like it could be a smooth strip-club number, but the odd sounds layered into the mix make the song sound vaguely threatening at the same time. Also qualifies as one of the most simultaneously funny and disturbing videos ever made."

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Question Song #4: David Bowie - "Teenage Wildlife"

David Bowie - "Teenage Wildlife":
" 'And they say 'David, what shall I do? They wait for me in the hallways.' "
Okay, this isn't as good a question as the previous three, but I'm totally biased for including it. I just love it when artists refer to themselves in songs, either directly (Martin Fry to self in ABC's 'The Look of Love') or more indirectly (Spoon referencing listening to their song 'Mountain to Sound' in the lyrics for 'Lines In The Suit'). It just takes the songs out of the imaginary ether they live in and ads an in-your-face realstic element to them.
(Incidentally, Bowie's answer to the question above is: 'Don't ask me, I don't know any hallways.')"

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Question Song #2: Siouxsie and the Banshees - "Cities In Dust"

Siouxsie and the Banshees - "Cities In Dust":
"'Were you praying at the Lares Shrine?'
Also, I have more question songs ready to go, but feel free to leave me some of your own suggestions as comments too!"

Monday, July 03, 2006

Question Song #1: Human League - "The Lebanon"

Human League - "The Lebanon": "Wow, I'm getting adventurous now - at the same time that I'm filling in the missing blog days (due to my move) with songs about cars/driving/travel, I'm starting this week off with 'question' songs - meaning, songs that involve lyrics with questions, preferably in some less common/expected way. Today's question:
'Who will have won when the soldiers have gone from The Lebanon?'"

Friday, June 30, 2006

S.F. Song: Beulah - "Gene Autry"

Beulah - "Gene Autry": "'When I get to California / gonna write my name in the sand'
I thought that it made sense to celebrate my arrival back in California, and now in SF, with a song about coming back to Cali from SF's own Beulah. I've always loved how they delivered wry lyrics in a deadpan tone, camoflauged in bouncy pop adorned with horns and pretty vocal harmonies. What an amazing band."

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Road Song #7: The Cars - "Drive"

The Cars - "Drive": "Is this too obvious? It's more of a short-drive-in-the-city song than a cross-country car song, but it's The Cars and I haven't blogged them yet here, so it was time. Plus the soft, falsetto chant of 'who's gonna drive, who's gonna drive?' during the choruses is almost subconsciously alluring."

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Road Song #6: Cowboy Junkies - "Lost My Driving Wheel"

Cowboy Junkies - "Lost My Driving Wheel": "In a similar vein to yesterday's post, this is another sleepy, late-night-drive tune. It's always been a late-night song for me, ever since the Cowboy Junkies first covered it on the 1993 compilation Born To Choose. Here's an equally powerful live version for you to road test."

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Road Song #5: Sarah McLachlan - "Ol' 55"

Sarah McLachlan - "Ol' 55": "I know this is a cover (of Tom Waits, I believe, although the Eagles did it too), but I can't help but think Sarah makes it prettier. Granted, I didn't take the 55 heading west, but it still seems like an appropriate song when driving through farmland as the sun is setting."

Monday, June 26, 2006

Road Song #4: Modest Mouse - "Interstate 8"

Modest Mouse - "Interstate 8": "There are lots of good Modest Mouse songs about roads and driving - especially 'Trucker's Atlas' - but this one is probably the prettiest. Here's a live version of it."

Friday, June 23, 2006

Road Song #3: Elastica - "Car Song"

Elastica - "Car Song": "This song covers a lot of the cars I saw on the road, while singer Justine Frischman delivers cheeky lines like 'let's go siesta / in my Ford Fiesta' with a cocked eyebrow. Lots of fun to drive to."

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Road Song #2: Depeche Mode - "Behind The Wheel"

Depeche Mode - "Behind The Wheel": "Another track for the road, this one from Depeche Mode, even if 'Never Let Me Down Again' also comes to mind ('I'm taking a ride with my best friend')."

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Road Song #1: Cake - "Stickshifts And Safetybelts"

Cake - "Stickshifts And Safetybelts": "So, I admit, I am cheating and filling in days in reverse here - but as you may not know, dear readers, I have been in the process of moving to SF. And, now that I'm here, I would like to fill in my missing song days with songs about driving and/or the road, to celebrate the long cross-country drive I just finished. Here's the first song."

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Guided By Voices - "Mute Superstar"

Guided By Voices - "Mute Superstar": "Jagged riffs + handclaps + squaling synths = magic. It's not even a minute and a half long, but some of the best Guided By Voices songs aren't!"

Monday, June 19, 2006

The Black Crowes - "Sometimes Salvation"

The Black Crowes - "Sometimes Salvation": "A surprisingly powerful, slow-burning blues-rock number. Even if the song starts out with elements of so much 90s rock posing, by the time the song's half-way in, Chris Robinson is already burning the house down. Probably one of the best things the Crowes ever did."

Friday, June 16, 2006

Spoon - "I Turn My Camera On"

Spoon - "I Turn My Camera On": "For being such a die-hard Spoon fan, I feel weird blogging about what is (arguably) their best-known song, partially because of its recent use in a Jaguar commercial. But yet I am blogging about it because the crisp drum and bass rhythm (not to be confused with drum'n'bass) and the Stones-y swagger make it sound like what 'Emotional Rescue' would have been if it was recorded about ten years earlier in the Stones' career, minus a guitar lead. It's deceptively simple, which makes little things like the tambourine and the odd keyboard hit give the track a deeper character. And, yes, I love Spoon more than anything. I want to have their babies and I can't believe I've blogged about them as little as I have!"

Thursday, June 15, 2006

a-ha - "The Living Daylights"

a-ha - "The Living Daylights": "Okay, I know I'm going to get teased for this, for several reasons:
1) It's from the guys who are only known for 'Take On Me'.
2) The James Bond franchise had a huge hit with the Duran Duran theme for "View To A Kill." They then picked a-ha to do the theme for the next movie, to try and replicate the huge Duran Duran chart success - and clearly failed.
3) It's kind of cheesy (but as my readers know, this doesn't always stop me).
That said, I've always been drawn to the fact that it is clearly modeled on 'View To A Kill' - yet it takes more of a queue from Euro-synth, where Duran Duran looked more to American rock and funk elements. And, really, there's something cute about how a-ha tries to sound so cool and bad-ass here."

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Shea Seger - "Last Time"

Shea Seger - "Last Time": "From a record that (major label) time forgot, this is a chestnut that really deserves to be re-discovered. From the stuttering snare beats through the 'Nashville' strings juxtaposed with the bouncing bass line, this song involves a kaliedoscope of elements, blended together into a smooth, cool groove. This song should have been wiping the floor of pop fluff like Natalie Imbruglia, but it sadly never happened. Bonus point: I've always been curious about the part at the end when she murmurs '...I'm just real sorry...but I don't think I can tell you that.' out of the blue. Strangely intriguing."

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Steely Dan - "King Of The World"

Steely Dan - "King Of The World": "Simply because I'm 'the king of the world, as far as I know.' That's about all I can say about that today."

Monday, June 12, 2006

DNTEL - "(This Is) The Dream Of Evan And Chan"

DNTEL - "(This Is) The Dream Of Evan And Chan": "Before The Postal Service, there was this DNTEL record, in which DNTEL (Jimmy T.) invited his friend from Death Cab For Cutie (Ben G.) to sing on a track...and created something far more amazing - and yet vastly more unheard - than anything on the Postal Service record. Not that the PS record is bad at all - it's pretty great - but that's just how amazing this track is and that's why it needs to be heard."

Friday, June 09, 2006

Idlewild - "A Modern Way Of Letting Go"

Idlewild - "A Modern Way Of Letting Go": "On this track from The Remote Part, Idlewild takes their more mature and developed sound and matches it back up with their earlier, thrashier sound to make this rawkus, sharp rocker. The throat-shredding way Roddy Woomble shreiks 'go!' at the end of the song still gives me chills."

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Swervedriver - "Harry & Maggie"

Swervedriver - "Harry & Maggie": "There was more oddness going on in Times Square today (as usual) and all I could think was 'I don't wanna know...' - which made me think of this song, which contains that line in the lyrics ('And I don't wanna know / I'm glad I don't know'). There's also so much going on that I need to deal with, that I need to keep myself focused solely on all the various tasks at hand, so it's kind of my theme for the day."

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

The Chemical Brothers - "Out Of Control"

The Chemical Brothers - "Out Of Control": "This track is probably my favorite Chemical Brothers song, as well as the best non-New-Order New Order song (as the song features vocals from NO's Bernard Sumner). This song pulsates with a mean energy for nearly seven relentless minutes - a club classic, or at least it should be."

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Rock Kills Kid - "Back To Life (Rolling Stone Original Version)"

Rock Kills Kid - "Back To Life (Rolling Stone Original Version)": "Being flagged as new wave revivalists, I actually prefer Rock Kills Kid's acoustic turn on this song from their new album. The quiet strum with the still-prominent bass line creates a more delicate and intriguing take on the plugged-in version."

Monday, June 05, 2006

Chef - "Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You)"

Chef - "Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You)": "Listening to an Isaac Hayes collection this weekend, I was reminded of this South Park tune. It's completely ludicrous and crude - I mean, it's half recipe and half blatant double-entendre - but it's strangely potent funk-rock all the same. I just wish there were was more of the backing vocals - wicked 70s falsetto in effect!"

Friday, June 02, 2006

Sonic Youth - "100%"

Sonic Youth - "100%": "Sonic Youth is this Friday's Rock Song. This song freakin' shreds me. It's a blur of Thurston's swagger, Kim's muscular bass, Lee's cutting guitar noise, Jason Lee skateboarding and everything that was 'alternative nation' in the 90s. I miss that."

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Snow Patrol - "You're All I Have"

Snow Patrol - "You're All I Have": "I loved the previous Snow Patrol record...so why is this the only song on the new album that really sticks in my head? (*disclaimer: At least on my initial two listens.) Either way, it's a great song."

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

The Faint - "Your Retro Career Melted (Ursula 1000 remix)"

The Faint - "Your Retro Career Melted (Ursula 1000 remix)": "Ursula 1000 takes the original song and reconfigures it as a Go4-styled funk party, circa `79. I think there's only four lines from the original song in here, but they kept some of the best musical elements and added in this kind of garbage-can/handclap noise that's straight out of the Flying Lizards' cover of 'Money (That's What I Want). You can't beat that.'"

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Rosanne Cash - "Black Cadillac (Rolling Stone Original Version)"

Rosanne Cash - "Black Cadillac (Rolling Stone Original Version)": "There's something simple and powerful about this acoustic version of the title track from Rosanne's latest record. The song is inspired by her father's passing, but the chorus aches so much that you don't even need to know that to feel the pain."

Friday, May 26, 2006

Merge Week - Day 5:
Guv'ner - "Wounded Birds And Vampires Own The Edge"

Guv'ner - "Wounded Birds And Vampires Own The Edge": "It may take a while to learn to love this song, but it's worth it. I too was originally frustrated by how this song takes 10 amazing catchy pop elements and throws them in a blender - but that's the same rickety charm that makes this song so uniquely endearing. And, besides, it has amazing handclaps and amazing handclaps just cannot be denied. I dare you to try."

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Merge Week - Day 4:
Karl Hendricks Trio - "The Worst Coffee I've Ever Had"

Karl Hendricks Trio - "The Worst Coffee I've Ever Had": "Wow, with so much bitterness and bile in the lyrics, it should be unlistenable, but the KHT take it to the next level with some first-rate Built To Spill-meets-Dinosaur Jr. guitar theatrics and driving drums."

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Merge Week - Day 3:
Portastatic - "You Know Where To Find Me"

Portastatic - "You Know Where To Find Me": "This song sounds like people in love in the 70s - in a good way. It's non-movie-style love in a song and it sounds so good."

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Merge Week - Day 2:
Butterglory - "She's Got The Akshun! (Mark Robinson Remix)"

Butterglory - "She's Got The Akshun! (Mark Robinson Remix)": "Mark Robinson of Teen Beat / Unrest / Air Miami fame tweaks the lo-fi original to sound like classic 60s rock-pop layered with some Stereolab-y 'ba ba ba ba's. One of Mark's six great remixes from the Merge 100 celebratory release."

Monday, May 22, 2006

Merge Week - Day 1:
Lambchop - "Love T.K.O."

Lambchop - "Love T.K.O.": "We're getting a ton of the Merge back catalog into Rhapsody this week and, to show my utter glee about it, I'm declaring this Merge Week for my blog. Let's start off with this killer live track from Nashville's own Lambchop. Bands with pedal steel guitar and often-hushed vocals should not be able to take on a Teddy Pendergrass song and make it sound this good. There's a kind of laid-back simmer to the tune and Deanna Varagona's sax lends a sultry air without making it cheesy. (Also worth checking out is Lambchop's cover of Curtis Mayfield's 'Give Me Your Love' on What Another Man Spills, now also in Rhapsody.)"

Friday, May 19, 2006

Dirty Power - "Gone"

Dirty Power - "Gone": "Faithful readers, it's Friday, so you know how this works: Friday deserves a rock song to bring us all into the weekend. And this week, I present 'Gone'. If you don't like this song, you don't really get the rock. I love the lead guitar part in the last minute or so of the song, make sure to check it."

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Way Out"

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Way Out": "I'm going to say it: this new Yeah Yeah Yeahs record does show the band growing musically - which is great...but less interesting somehow. This song, however, still gets stuck in my head as the acoustic strum matched up to their jerky rock sound pulls the melody through."

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

The Raconteurs - "Intimate Secretary"

The Raconteurs - "Intimate Secretary": "Blissfully fuzzed-out power-pop about bunnies and secretaries that you can almost pogo too. (Remember pogoing, kids?) This is the good, dirty side of Brendan Benson and the less serious side of Jack White and, as it turns out, that ads up pretty nicely."

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Editors - "Bullets (acoustic)"

Editors - "Bullets (acoustic)": "I actually think I might prefer this acoustic version to the album version. It seems like the way they perform their songs get Editors publicly beat with the post-punk bat, but this unplugged arrangement reveals the strong song that lays underneath."

Monday, May 15, 2006

Idlewild - "Too Long Awake"

Idlewild - "Too Long Awake": "Wistful melancholy rising out of a sea of feedback-drenched guitar. Man, I love that Roddy Womble."

Friday, May 12, 2006

Radio 4 - "Start A Fire"

Radio 4 - "Start A Fire": "As seems to be my theme every Friday: it's Friday, rock it out."

Thursday, May 11, 2006

ABC - "Tears Are Not Enough"

ABC - "Tears Are Not Enough": "Just one of those songs that I love and I can't really explain why. Just something about the way he bellows 'tears are not enough!!!' before lauching into the falsetto of 'teeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaars!' Blue eyed soul disco magic."

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Liz Phair - "Love/Hate Transmission"

Liz Phair - "Love/Hate Transmission": "I can't help but still love Liz, even after she went pop, went gloss and all that stuff - this song is still a great pop song and I can't slight her for writing it. It's catchy like things on the radio should be and I accept her for that now."

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Ex-Boyfriends - "Willingly"

Ex-Boyfriends - "Willingly": "I just noticed that my friend's band is finally in Rhapsody. It rocks. It will rock your a$$ off. Listen to it."

Monday, May 08, 2006

South - "A Place In Displacement"

South - "A Place In Displacement": "OK, I know this is essentially New Order...OK, it might as well BE New Order outright...but it's still the best of what I like about New Order, so I can't help but enjoy this song anyway."

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Manhattan Transfer - "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference"

Manhattan Transfer - "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference": "OK...I know this should be 'bad' but it's so wonderfully 70s...and thus, arguably, becomes good. Take the Manhattan Transfer, then still in a pop phase, have them cover a lush Todd Rundgren song and you wind up with this. The lead vocals attempt to present the hurt behind the lyrics, but the elevator gloss of the whole arrangement colors a mannequin-like fakeness over the song...which makes it wonderful."

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

OK Go - "Invincible"

OK Go - "Invincible": "I've decided that these guys don't get the credit they deserve - too slick to be indie rock and too quirky to be radio stars, but I'm starting to think they're the Cheap Trick of the `00s - two handsome guys and two geeks playing rockin' power pop? Am I off base here?"

OK Go - "A Million Ways"

OK Go - "A Million Ways": "I can't blog OK Go without adding a link to this song too. So good."

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

The Cure - "Primary"

The Cure - "Primary": "This is not the Cure with the expansive sound that most people think of - this is so stripped for them, yet still so electric, that it sounds basically primal."

Monday, May 01, 2006

Six Finger Satellite - "Rabies (Baby's Got The)"

Six Finger Satellite - "Rabies (Baby's Got The)": "This song is audio mayhem. It's shrill, but rockin', but harsh, but funky. It's Six Finger Satellite."

Friday, April 28, 2006

The Comas - "Invisible Drugs"

The Comas - "Invisible Drugs": "A little gleeful noisepop for you today...happy Friday!"

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Ministry - "Revenge"

Ministry - "Revenge": "I know I blogged Ministry pretty recently, but I had to share my amusement at finding this album in Rhapsody - it's virtually impossible to reconcile this release with anything that Ministry did afterwards. I mean, this is goth-y synth pop at its most pure, so it's hard to imagine that this is from the man who soon would blow up Industrial music. A total guilty pleasure."

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Fat Boys - "Fat Boys"

Fat Boys - "Fat Boys": "Yesterday should have been my friend Joe's birthday, but it isn't anymore. I know this is a funny song to remember someone by, but I'll always remember when he used The Fat Boys as a very loud wakeup call when I was crashing on his couch years ago. I miss him."

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Nada Surf - "Do It Again"

Nada Surf - "Do It Again": "I can't explain this, but I think I just got a postcard from Matthew from Nada Surf... from France. I can't be sure if I'm right either...so, what the hell, just enjoy this Nada Surf song."

Monday, April 24, 2006

Harry Nilsson - "Cuddly Toy"

Harry Nilsson - "Cuddly Toy": "...in honor of this song actually coming up in conversation during a party I was at on Saturday night! To be honest, I prefer the Monkees version (because it's what I grew up with), but I have to tip my hat to the song's writer, Harry Nilsson, with his version instead."

Friday, April 21, 2006

Queen - "Stone Cold Crazy"

Queen - "Stone Cold Crazy": "OK, so it's American Idol that's (disturbingly) brought them back to the forefront again, but since Queen's back (in one way or another), I figure I should highlight one of their more rockin' songs (and my easy personal favorite). I also have a great Trent Reznor remix of this on a promo CD, don't know if it ever saw the light of day in a commercial release, but it takes the greatness of the original and makes it just a little bit sharper."

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Rachael Yamagata - "Collide"

Rachael Yamagata - "Collide": "I have to admit that I first saw Rachael perform this song at a label conference - not even a showcase - but this song still grabbed me immediately. From the slippery piano intro to aching chorus, the song bleeds a dreamy sadness. Pretty and sad."

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Courtney Love - "Mono"

Courtney Love - "Mono": "I've been catching a lot of random Love lately - from an old special on her on CourTV (!) to her appearance on the Pam Anderson Roast on Comedy Central to her selling part of her stake of Nirvana on the news - it just seemed appropriate to pull this song back out. I hate to give her any kind of credit (partially for the aforementioned appearances) but this song actually rocks out. Besides, there are little girls with chainsaws in the video and she gets points for that too. (Although I will ALWAYS question the lyric "I wanna hear you say that I'm so much better than him" because I can't figure who "him" is, if it's not Kurt. Although I do hope it's Billy Corgan or something...)"

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Spank Rock - "Sweet Talk"

Spank Rock - "Sweet Talk": "Sounds like being in the middle of a big party - the frantic guitar pickings, the chanting female vocals, the percussion - all with Spank Rock's rapping leading the rhumba line through the whole thing."

Monday, April 17, 2006

Built To Spill - "Conventional Wisdom"

Built To Spill - "Conventional Wisdom": "Yay! New Built to Spill! My friend Ted played me this in his car last Friday and it reminded me to check out their new album - this is one of the new tunes."

Friday, April 14, 2006

The Damnwells - "While You Can"

The Damnwells - "While You Can": "Continuing yesterday's theme of "new to digital" - very excited to see this EP go up online because it's so solid and it's gone out of print physically. So much of this EP sounds like two people trapped in a doomed relationship with a Replacements-like soundtrack (if the `Mats were more sober and solid) but the guitar twang, loops and horns on various tracks give their sonic palate a deeper texture."

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Primal Scream - "Exterminator"

Primal Scream - "Exterminator": "Yay! Finally available digitally!"

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Ministry - "Stigmata"

Ministry - "Stigmata": "My favorite Ministry song. All the yelling in the song is kind of cathartic - especially with great lines like 'my favorite weapon is the look in your eyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!!!!' I never get tired of it."

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

David Bowie - "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)"

David Bowie - "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)": "It's 26 years old now, so can I finally call this a rock classic? From the chugging acoustic strumming over the metallic guitar riffs up until the end with the most amazingly atonal - yet still wonderful - group hollering, this bridged Bowie's 70s weirdness with his 80s gloss and still sounds like he could have recorded it just yesterday."

Monday, April 10, 2006

R.E.M. - "Crush With Eyeliner"

R.E.M. - "Crush With Eyeliner": "Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore steps in to give R.E.M. a little bonus cool, the video turns the band into Asian hipsters (including a female member!) and R.E.M. jumps as far away from Automatic From The People as they possibly can. I'm back in 1994 reading all about it in SPIN magazine..."

Friday, April 07, 2006

Prince - "Black Sweat"

Prince - "Black Sweat": "From his new album - this isn't the best of Prince by any means, but at least he's sounding more like his old funky, dirty self than he has in years. Welcome back, we missed you!"

Thursday, April 06, 2006

The Who - "A Quick One While He's Away"

The Who - "A Quick One While He's Away": "Back to the Rolling Stones Rock 'n Roll Circus again. When I first heard this track, I wasn't that into it - mainly because I'm not so much a fan of the 'rock opera' scene - but all the different parts of this track are so catchy that it's hard to dismiss them. And then when factoring this all being played live, running from one part to another - well, it's pretty impressive. Also impressive is the Keith Richards introduction that invites you to 'Dig The Who' - outtasite!"

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Al Green - "Love Ritual"

Al Green - "Love Ritual": "I'm sure Al's speaking in tongues for the Lord, but here it sounds like some crazy voodoo - but with all the disco strings, organ and percussion, it's certainly understandable."

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

No Knife - "Riot For Romance"

No Knife - "Riot For Romance": "The kind of menacing song you'd expect from a band named No Knife...except they just wanna riot for romance and what's so wrong with that? Not only that, but the great atmospherics touches on the track, leading up to the big finish, are first rate."

Monday, April 03, 2006

Marianne Faithfull - "Something Better"

Marianne Faithfull - "Something Better": "I watched the Rolling Stones Rock 'n Roll Circus on DVD the other night and my real discovery was this song. I have never been very familiar with early Marianne, but this number has a certain grace and fragility that's truly captivating."

Friday, March 31, 2006

Delays - "Hey Girl"

Delays - "Hey Girl": "One of the songs that gets this band compared to the La's - it's just a pretty, strummy pop-rock song with soaring vocals."

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Frumpies - "Whatshisname Hearts The Frumpies"

Frumpies - "Whatshisname Hearts The Frumpies": "Even though I know it's really not, I group this in as one of my favorite 'riot grrrl' songs, mainly just because of the vocal delivery. That plus I always liked the idea of her screaming out 'IT'S MY BOYFRIEND!!!' over and over, even though she was really screaming 'East Bay Boyfriend!' Still, it's as much fun as you can have in 72 seconds."

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Grace Jones - "Love Is The Drug (Long Version)"

Grace Jones - "Love Is The Drug (Long Version)": "There's something in this long version that ups the ante on both the 'short version' Jones cover as well as the original original by Roxy Music. A lot of it comes from the great keyboards and a lot of it is the magic of Grace herself."

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Team Dresch - "Fagetarian And Dyke"

Team Dresch - "Fagetarian And Dyke": "Another song I'm glad we have in Rhapsody now - a fave of mine from the `90s. Classic indie rock/pop versus colliding into a screamed chorus - sweet and sour together in one."

Monday, March 27, 2006

Kiss Offs - "Dream Date"

Kiss Offs - "Dream Date": "Yay! So happy this album is in Rhapsody now... This is like the punk B-52s - male/female vocal tradeoffs over dirty guitar/organ riffs...but definitely more naughty and at least as fun."

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Metric - "Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT Remix)"

Metric - "Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT Remix)": "'SXSW Week' continues, as it were -I saw Metric do an acoustic set at SXSW and I was very impressed - I didn't think they could do it and they totally pulled it off! This is a great electro/disco remix of one of their songs by MSTRKRFT, who includes half of Death From Above 1979."

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

The Magic Numbers - "Love Me Like You"

The Magic Numbers - "Love Me Like You": "I like this band better live because it's a little rougher, a little less polished 60s pop - but either way, the chorus of this song still gets stuck in my head like crazy. (I'm still picking bands I saw last week at SXSW, can you tell?)"

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Giant Drag - "My Dick Sux"

Giant Drag - "My Dick Sux": "I featured their track 'YFLMD' shortly after I launched the blog, but after seeing them at SXSW, I felt the need to show off another hot and dirty track of theirs...and here it is."

Monday, March 20, 2006

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - "According To Plan"

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - "According To Plan": "I know I just blogged them the other week, but I love this album so much I had to share another song from them! (Plus they were amazing live at SXSW!)"

Thursday, March 16, 2006

The Replacements - "Can't Hardly Wait (The Tim Version)"

The Replacements - "Can't Hardly Wait (The Tim Version)": "This is the version I love, the rough, raw and true version over the slick version that made the record. It's a rockin' dose of heartbreak."

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Michael Nesmith - "Cruisin'"

Michael Nesmith - "Cruisin'": "After recently watching Tapeheads, I thought I should check out another Michael Nesmith-related video project, Elephant Parts. It was a freakshow, but for some reason, this 70s faux-funk-rock tune and its bodybuilder/rollerskate girls video has definitely cheesy appeal. And Mike always was my favorite Monkee..."

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

The Presets - "Girl And The Sea"

The Presets - "Girl And The Sea": "...and if you liked Cut Copy, here are their darker brothers - labelmates and fellow (Australian) countrymen, The Presets."

Monday, March 13, 2006

Cut Copy - "The Twighlight"

Cut Copy - "The Twighlight": "The breakdown in the 3rd minute of the song - all bass and guitar jabs - leading into the guitar breakout around 4:15 is post-punk brilliance."

Friday, March 10, 2006

N.E.R.D. - "Lapdance "

N.E.R.D. - "Lapdance ": "Rock-styled stripper pole action! It's all about the chorus (seriously) and the the white rapper interlude from Lee Harvey about 'the cockpit' (not seriously). Bangin'."

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Peter Gabriel - "Growing Up"

Peter Gabriel - "Growing Up": "Gabriel almost kills this song with the kind of over-production and heft that he slathered on the entire Up record, but this song has a great driving energy to it that even its slickness doesn't matter. I would love it if there was an instrumental remix of this track too..."

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - "The Ghost"

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - "The Ghost": "I love their Britt Daniel-produced debut EP, but this new album blows even that out of the water. This just came out this week, so it's brand new to me...and WOW! This is the kick-off track on the album and if you dig it, it's worth it to listen to the whole thing."