The Police - "Truth Hits Everybody"

The Police - "Truth Hits Everybody": "It's odd - I was looking at the traction The Police have had after their Grammy appearance and subsequent tour announcement - and, despite that this has not historically been one of my top Police tracks, this is the one that's popped into my head. Listening to it now, I'm not surprised my subconscious rescued it for me - this is a supremely rocking tune, sacrificing no melody at the expense of its energy. It even makes me want to tolerate Sting again!"

Peter, Bjorn, and John - "Young Folks"

Peter, Bjorn, and John - "Young Folks": "I had no idea that whistling could be so infectious, but coupled with the bouncing bass line, the maraca swing and the twisted lounge cool, this song will monopolize your mind. I can't even believe how powerful it is."

Pat Benatar - "Heart Breaker"

Pat Benatar - "Heart Breaker": "This song rocks - as do many of Pat's 80s classics - and my pals The Benetards shredded it live last night, so this is for them."

The Broken West - "On the Bubble"

The Broken West - "On the Bubble": "I can't get enough of this record! So, in honor of them playing Rhapsody's SXSW party (oops, did I just spill the beans?), here's another handclap-and-harmony explosion of goodness from The Broken West."

Klaxons - "Forgotten Works"

Klaxons - "Forgotten Works": "I keep hearing about how these guys are supposed to be bringing back raves (2.0?), just more alterna-style. Maybe that's how they are live, but on album they're more of a blend of some Madchester, with a dash of post-punk. They DO make me want to groove, but it's not in a way that makes me want to bust out some glow sticks."

The Shins - "Sleeping Lessons"

The Shins - "Sleeping Lessons": "OK, let's have it. I never really liked the Shins. I didn't hate them, they just never did anything for me. So I didn't rush to hear this new record, but our Editor-In-Chief urged me to give it a shot. Grudgingly, I did and I have to admit it has it's moments. This is one of them - when the drums kick in around 2:25, it makes me giddy the way the Arcade Fire record did when I heard it. "

Brothers Martin - "The Plot That Weaves"

Brothers Martin - "The Plot That Weaves": "Jason Martin of Starflyer 59 is certainly keeping up his prolific streak. Less than six months after the last SF59 album, he teams up with his brother Ronnie Martin (of Joy Electric) on this Brothers Martin release. Here, he kicks out one of his best songs, melding first-rate new wave keys with rock-leaning dream-pop overtures, a la 'No New Kinda Story' (a SF59 highlight)."

Yo La Tengo - "From A Motel 6" (remix)

Yo La Tengo - "From A Motel 6" (remix): "Holy heck, am I excited about this. This mind-blowing remix was a hidden track on a long-out-of-print EP and now it's finally up for the world in Rhapsody. Here, Steve Fisk takes the already stellar original track and gives it a shot of adrenaline, maximizing the careening guitars while preserving the strangely lulling vocals. An A+ to Matador for making this available again!"

Tiger Trap - "My Broken Heart"

Tiger Trap - "My Broken Heart": "This is from my old only-listening-to-girls-from-the-Pacific-Northwest phase. The song is bare bones indie pop, seemingly recorded in some rudimentary way, but the jangly melodies and sweet, sad vocals shine through anyway. It totally makes me feel like a teenage girl crying and writing in her diary."

Robbers On High Street - "Beneath The Trees"

Robbers On High Street - "Beneath The Trees": "Today's post is in honor of Robbers On High Street making a semi-rare (from my understanding) appearance in my new home of S.F. last night. This track was my highlight from that set, which was my first experience with ROHS as a five-piece (instead of four). The song sounds low-key at first, but there's an intensity under the surface - check the 'yeah!' at the 02:53 mark and you'll get a hint of how it was live.

Bonus comment - we were joking at work about making song playlists for gratuitous holidays, such as an Arbor Day playlist. I voted for this song, along with Guided by Voices' "I Am A Tree", naturally."

The Broken West - "Down In The Valley"

The Broken West - "Down In The Valley": "Sweet melodies starred with light fuzz and handclaps, this is a feelgood song without a drop of saccharine. I dare any cynic to try and resist its charms."

Nancy Sinatra - "Sweet Talkin' Candy Man"

Nancy Sinatra - "Sweet Talkin' Candy Man": "Keeping on the Nancy tip for one more day, I have to present this swingin' nugget. The rendition isn't amazing, but is notable because it's a cover from one of my favorite movies, Beyond The Valley of the Dolls. The original is a solid belter in the middle of a psychedelic soup, but Nancy gets points just for taking it on."

Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood - "Some Velvet Morning"

Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood - "Some Velvet Morning": "I loved the Primal Scream cover when I heard it on Evil Heat, so I eventually went looking for the Lee & Nancy original. When I found it, I didn't really like it, finding it somewhat jarring after the Scream's drug-slide version, especially with the tempo changes. Over time, I realized how much bolder the original was with the full (yet subtle) orchestration and Lee's ominous vocals. I still like the Scream version - I think there's humor in their selection of Kate Moss on guest vocal - but it's just not in the same league as the original."

Rick Derringer - "Rock And Roll Hoochie Koo"

Rick Derringer - "Rock And Roll Hoochie Koo": "Somewhat Southern-y and somewhat glammy, this song is so 70s rock, it's sick. The name of this song sounds lame on paper, but when they sing it, it sounds unspeakably cool and maybe a little bit dirty too. Then again, it probably is."

Aqualung - "Pressure Suit"

Aqualung - "Pressure Suit": "It's funny - so far, I've been pretty resistant to the Keane strain of British atmospheric piano-pop...but damn if somehow this tune didn't break me. It's stuck in my head and the chorus is so, so good, I don't even care how polished the song is. In fact, that might even be why it works."

Black Lipstick - "Cat Piss Blues"

Black Lipstick - "Cat Piss Blues": "Yesterday's post, referencing The Kiss Offs, reminded me of the Kiss Offs spin-off, Black Lipstick. Not quite as much male/female vocal interplay as in the KO's, Black Lipstick still keeps all the attitude, just with less frenetic - almost laid back - tunes. Here's their ode to the NBA and drugs...or something like that."

The Prids - "Shadow and Shadow"

The Prids - "Shadow and Shadow": "I love it when different kinds of male and female vocals are contrasted in a song, a la X, The Kiss Offs, etc. Here's another group that pulls it off, with equally rocking results. (Thanks to Chris O. for pointing me in its direction.)"

America - "Always Love"

America - "Always Love": "Is it me or is it kind of freaky to hear America (yes, of 'Sister Golden Hair', etc.) doing Nada Surf??"

Guided by Voices - "Portable Men's Society"

Guided by Voices - "Portable Men's Society": "A darker rocker from Guided by Voices. Not as lo-fi as many GbV tunes, this one features thundering drums and even keyboards, but still features the usual Robert Pollard gift of a hook."

Neil Young - "Bandit"

Neil Young - "Bandit": "A sequel to yesterday's post - if you took the quiet shuffle part of the Califone song and stretched it out to a full-length tune, you'd have 'Bandit.' As a result, its quiet, strummed melodic loop becomes very hypnotic."