Charlotte Gainsbourg - "Le Chat du Cafe des Artistes"

Charlotte Gainsbourg - "Le Chat du Cafe des Artistes": "Wow. This song blew me away by the end, even on the first listen. I can hear Beck in it (since he is on the track) and I can hear Charlotte's parents in it (both Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, in different ways), but it's still a centerpiece for Charlotte. The song has a powerful 60s quality - in it's sound and instrumentation - but the strings are the real killer, moody and dramatic, spiraling around Charlotte's cool vocal delivery. Again...wow."

Diamanda Galas - "Sono L'Antichristo"

Diamanda Galas - "Sono L'Antichristo": "I don't really listen to death metal, heavy industrial, or other music that's arguably intentionally torturous and anti-social. You know, the kind of music you might listen to as a middle finger to everyone else. It's just not my bag. Yet, for some reason, I completely love Diamanda Galas, even though I know she gives nightmares to everyone I've ever met (save for one person). Listening to this song is probably horrific for most folks, but it seems to actually put me in a good mood. Maybe not the same way Apples In Stereo put me in a good mood, for example, and not because I'm into the lyrics (which I can largely only gather from the song title) but it does tickle me, none the less. I just think she's amazing for using her voice as a multi-faceted instrument for everything from ballads to (more often) screeching. I'm sure she knows it's challenging for listeners, but I don't think she could get her point across any better any other way...and I hope she doesn't actually care anyway.
Enjoy at your own peril."

Metric - "Help I'm Alive"

Metric - "Help I'm Alive": "I have to admit that I wasn't totally sold on the new Metric when it came out, despite being a pretty big fan of the band for many years. Surprisingly, it was having this song dropped into the mix during Bob Mould & Rich Morel's Blowoff party (a dance event, if you are not familiar) that inspired me to give it a second look. I don't know why it didn't grab me at first, but it's as catchy as many of the songs as Live It Out, their previous album."

Diana Ross & The Supremes - "Nothing But Heartaches"

Diana Ross & The Supremes - "Nothing But Heartaches": "Following up on Friday's post - and tempering the V-Day love song post in between with a Supremes heartbreak book-end...
A little more up-tempo than 'Where Did Our Love Go?', but otherwise matches its smooth + simple + heartbreak = catchy formula. Not to say that it's derivative, so much as just part of the signature Motown/Supremes sound, but the backing "I can't break away!" vocals add additional counterpoint and complexity that keep it from being too one-note."

Shout Out Louds - "Fall Hard"

Shout Out Louds - "Fall Hard"*: "Bouncy and (unfortunately) screaming to be the theme to the next (500) Days of Summer / Garden State / etc. etc. etc. romantic indie movie playing near you, but don't let that deter you from this Stars-ish love song - it's still a keeper.
*Special Sunday posting for you hipster folks needing a new tune for Valentine's Day!"

Diana Ross & The Supremes - "Where Did Our Love Go"

Diana Ross & The Supremes - "Where Did Our Love Go": "This song goes out to the 'ladies' and gentlemen who saluted Motown at the Eagle last night. They did so many songs that I can't even remember if they did this one or not, but I love it so much, I had to pick it anyway. So smooth and so simple, it deceptively made heartbreak so catchy.
This also gives me the opportunity to revive the rumor that, when performing on TV in the 60s, Diana Ross would often spread her arms out wide, purportedly to cover the faces of her fellow Supremes from the camera. No idea if that's really true, but it's a great story."

Goldfrapp - "Rocket"

Goldfrapp - "Rocket": "...Apparently they decided to take a dive into early 80s radio rock. It's hard to get past the Journey/Rick Springfield vibe under the synths from Van Halen's 1984 (or Alan Parsons, depending on your point of view), but they still keep things Goldfrapp-y enough to get away with it."

The Monkees - "P. O. Box 9847"

The Monkees - "P. O. Box 9847": "I love this late-middle-period Monkees, where they still had to kick out pop tunes, but each member's struggle for identity began to introduce strange quirks into the proceedings, as evidenced by the psychedelic touches here. At least their 'personalities' are better manifested at this point by the studio musicians playing under their guide, as opposed to the band straining to present it themselves, as they did on Headquarters - which I also love, but is clearly a labored product for the band.
(Credit to Rhino Handmade's upcoming special edition of The Birds, The Bees and the Monkees for triggering today's post.)"

Modest Mouse/764-HERO - "Whenever You See Fit (Scientific American remix)"

Modest Mouse/764-HERO - "Whenever You See Fit (Scientific American remix)": "I previously extolled the virtues of a different remix of this Modest Mouse/764-HERO collaboration, but I also like this remix, which is closer to the original's dirge-like qualities without it's epic length. It just goes to show that when you have a great original song with lots of elements to work with, plus some good remixers, the possibilities are endless."

Queen Of Japan - "Ma Quale Idea"

Queen Of Japan - "Ma Quale Idea": "For those of you who enjoyed yesterday's post, here's an updated, female-fronted version of the same tune. This version is more new wave dance than disco, but still equally cool and kitschy."

Pino D'Angio - "Ma Quale Idea"

Pino D'Angio - "Ma Quale Idea": "If this song doesn't brighten your day, I don't know what will. This is vintage groovin' Italo-disco, led by what must have been Italy's answer to Serge Gainsbourg - or at least that's what his gruff-meets-come-hither semi-spoken vocals suggest. Dance!"

Grandaddy - "A.M. 180"

Grandaddy - "A.M. 180":
"We’ll sit for days
And talk about things
Important to us like whatever
We'll defuse bombs
And walk marathons
And take on whatever, together
(for D)"

Michael Penn - "You Know How"

Michael Penn - "You Know How":
"Dammit!!!
Michael Penn: A year ago, I was so excited to be part of a Q&A with you that I didn't want to ruin it with potentially awkward personal interaction afterwards by introducing myself to you.
Yet, here I am, listening to your music, yet again, and wishing I had taken that opportunity to offer my services in support of your next release, whatever/whenever that is.
I'm sure you're not surfing around Blogger, killing free time, but just in case - please email me so I can at least offer to help with online marketing, digital sales, whatever, in support of future releases!
(That's what I do for a living, in case anyone missed out on that before.)"

Spoon - "Written In Reverse"

Spoon - "Written In Reverse": "NEW SPOON!!!!"

Frank Black - "Ten Percenter"

Frank Black - "Ten Percenter": "It's been a long week and, yes, I would like to wile awhile.
My mind is like an ocean, my mind is like an ocean..."

The Watson Twins - "Devil In You"

The Watson Twins - "Devil In You": "I love it when singers multitrack their own harmonies (see: Belly - "Star"), which is why I love The Watson Twins being able to achieve the same effect in real time. Here, they apply their sisterly talents to a slice subtly gritty 70s-style adult pop."

Prince - "When Doves Cry"

Prince - "When Doves Cry": "It seems like Purple Rain keeps being played around me lately, both at bars and on cable. Years later, it's fascinating to watch Prince's obvious mystique sandwiched between his non-acting and over-acting, depending on the moment. It often seems like the best acting in the movie is when Wendy chews Prince out in the dressing room - although it's probably just a pretty genuine moment for her. At least it's better than when the apparently poor Apollonia gives Prince - who has largely been a total dick to her - a fancy guitar...and then gets smacked around, simply for joining Morris' group. (OK, I know it's supposed to be a 'betrayal' to Prince, but come on, he got a guitar from the lady! And Morris does put her in some very fine lingerie...on stage anyway. Prince, in return, only gives Apollonia a questionable hoop earing.)
Purple Rain itself aside, this song is classic, even if it has some very 80s elements into it. The group "ooh-oh-whoa"s are solid and nothing can top Prince's "AAA! AAA! AAA!" cries, done as only Prince can."

Rilo Kiley - "Under The Blacklight"

Rilo Kiley - "Under The Blacklight": "Even though the songs are wildly dissimilar as a whole, the vocal melody in the first verse really reminds me of the theme to Dollhouse, even if it's just a split second similarity. (I've just recently gotten into Dollhouse, just in time for it to be cancelled, naturally.)"

Adam Ant - "Desperate But Not Serious"

Adam Ant - "Desperate But Not Serious": "I have a band-aid on my face today (long story), so I'm just going to tell people that I'm starting a new fashion trend, as if I was Adam Ant from back in the day."

The Folk Implosion - "Free To Go"

The Folk Implosion - "Free To Go": "Lou Barlow touches his poppy side with this catchy tune, even if there's still something sad behind the electro-tinged indie rock bounce."