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."

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."

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."

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."

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..."

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!"

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."

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.

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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."

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."

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."

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..."

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.'"