Metalocalypse: Dethklok - "Birthday Dethday": "Dethklok has an album out - how awesome is that? If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here. Sadly, it looks like they left off the Dr. Rockso track, but otherwise, I am so stoked."
Britney Spears - "Gimme More": "Down the pop well twice in the week? Yes, it's true.
It's really too bad that Britney debuted this song at the VMAs because it took the teeth out of what would have otherwise been a fairly huevos-y return: 'It's Britney, bitch!'
It's not the kind of thing I would have expected her to get away with - but she would have, if it wasn't for that sleepwalking nightmare of a performance...which is even sadder because you know she wasn't focusing her effort on the singing, so the writhing shouldn't have been that half-assed."
Suede - "Electricity": "I couldn't be happier to announce that Rhapsody will be getting the digital debut of the first, self-titled Suede record on 10/16. Yippee!! To celebrate, here's another great Suede song - killer riffs, more sly sexuality from Brett Anderson and killer falsetto. Aw yeah!"
Jennifer Lopez - "Do It Well": "Occasionally, I trip up from my alt/rock playing field and wind up in a pop rabbit hole. And this time, J.Lo did it to me...because, really, it's a jam, so I have to own up to it!"
Von Südenfed - "The Rhinohead": "The Fall's Mark E Smith + Mouse On Mars = Von Südenfed = Swingin', Bleepy and even Danceable Beats. Who would have thought?"
Spoon - "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb": "Normally, I'd be a little weirded out by Spoon trying their hand at 60s pop, but they seemed to have pulled it off. The echoing tambourine, the horns and the punchy-yet-simple bassline are the parts that reach into the past for me, but it's still a Spoon song through and through."
Stars - "The Night Starts Here": "When I saw Stars live years ago, back in NYC, they would often transform their bedroom synth-pop into live rockers that approximated a dual-gender-fronted New Order, complete with surging bass. Here, Stars finally starts to approximate that full rock energy on a studio track. They still have the lush underpinings they've become known for, but with more of a driving sound put up front."
Michael Penn - "Invisible": "Simple and understated, yet beautiful pop. I've blogged it before and I'll blog it again, but I remain steadfast in my belief that Michael Penn is so completely underrated. This particular gem is from his debut album."
Ned's Atomic Dustbin - "Grey Cell Green": "Deliciously fuzzy Brit-rock, a la Catherine Wheel and Swervedriver. I remember this is what 'modern rock/alternative' radio used to sound like and I miss those days. Maybe it's nostalgia, but it seems like there was great new music coming on the radio all the time, like something new being discovered every 3-4 minutes. I think the fact that it isn't like this today says more about radio than about today's music."
"Doctor Who (theme)": "My other half got me to watch some classic (i.e. 1975) Doctor Who the other day and I've had the theme in my head ever since. It's a little creepy and mysterious and fairly perfect for this kind of sci-fi show."
Suzanne Vega - "Blood Makes Noise (Rhapsody Originals Version)": "I love the original version, with its pots-and-pans clanging noises and Mitchell Froom's excellent keyboards, but this version is strangely compelling as well. In this live take, Suzanne strips the song down to just vocals and bass, but keeps a lot of the song's urgency and sharpness."
Kings Of Leon - "McFearless": "Despite proclaiming that they were under the weather, Kings of Leon still came through to rock the Warfield last night and this was one of the standout tunes."
Queen Of Japan - "I Was Made For Loving You": "Normally, I think dance-y versions of rock songs are bad and should be avoided - but this song flips that concept on its head and makes it work. Queen of Japan recognize KISS' "I Was Made For Loving You" as the stomping club track it really is (and not the faux-rock glam KISS dressed it up as). No longer an awkward Gene/Paul stab at disco-rock, the track becomes dark and sexy and all-around excellent."
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