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