American Analog Set - "Hard To Find"

American Analog Set - "Hard To Find": "SXSW coverage starts now! Technically, SXSW Music hasn't even started yet, but since bands are starting to play in Austin, I might as well start too. I just saw Andrew of American Analog Set's new band, the Wooden Birds, at the Onion A.V. Club party at the Mohawk. Their sound was mellow (not unlike AmAnSet), but more twangy than dreamy, but still very solid. Wooden Birds don't have any music out yet, so I'm instead tipping my hat to one of my favorite AmAnSet songs, which is propelled by a mellow, shaker-driven groove, not unlike the Spinanes' "Azure"."

Ex-Boyfriends - "Breathe Without Breaking"

Ex-Boyfriends - "Breathe Without Breaking": "These guys did a great set at the Eagle last night. They're just a three-piece, but their sound is so much bigger and fuller than that. They did a new song last night and I'm looking forward to hearing more from them!"

Longwave - "Satellites"

Longwave - "Satellites": "The searing guitar squall that kicks off the song is a great, modern example of the shoegazer-style rock that I can't help myself but love. The chorus comes off a little soft, given the rest of the song, but the choruses are solid and the aforementioned guitar parts are aces."

Tiger Trap - "Words and Smiles"

Tiger Trap - "Words and Smiles": "Since I referenced them yesterday, I figured I should give them a post too - especially since this song is, in many ways, in the same vein as "Oh No" from yesterday's post. Maybe a little sweeter sounding here, than AGSFB, but off-set by the lo-fi jangle."

All-Girl Summer Fun Band - "Oh No"

All-Girl Summer Fun Band - "Oh No": "My new favorite song! It's almost too sweet to take, with its sugary all-girl vocals, but the song rocks, not unlike classic Tiger Trap. They're totally crushed out and so am I!"

Akinyele - "Put It In Your Mouth"

Akinyele - "Put It In Your Mouth": "For the James Lo.
Oh yeah - not for the easily offended."

Swervedriver - "The Hitcher"

Swervedriver - "The Hitcher": "I know I recently blogged about another bonus track from Swervedriver's Mezcal Head re-issue, but that was a track I had already been familiar with prior to the re-issue. This track, however, is new to me and it quickly possessed me with its gauzy rock, simultaneously upbeat and dreamy, so I had to give `em another post."

The Avalanches - "Since I Left You"

The Avalanches - "Since I Left You": "To steal a phrase from Deee-lite, this is sampladelic, except squared...or probably even cubed, yet still eminently listenable. I hear that after going M.I.A. for a few years, these guys may even come out with a new record soon, which would be swell."

Spinal Tap - "Sex Farm"

Spinal Tap - "Sex Farm": "Two different things just reminded me of this track, so I figured it was worth a blog post. Besides, how could this song not put a smile on your face?"

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Zero"

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Zero": "While the YYY dance makeover initially got an eyebrow raise from me, it's already started to grow on me, popping in and out of my head all week. Am I the only one who hears a little Chrissy Hynde in the vocals, at least in some parts?"

Peaches - "Search And Destroy"

Peaches - "Search And Destroy": "One more from the new War Child compilation -
The Peaches/Iggy Pop mutual admiration club continues with this Peaches take on the Pop classic. Peaches could have easily screamed her way through this (a la "Rock Show"), but she challenges expectations by delivering a fairly cool and calm rendition instead. She gets points for mixing it up, but I still would have liked to hear how she would have turned the punk into rough electro. I also still want to hear more of her and Iggy together after the "Kick It" face-off."

Lily Allen - "Straight To Hell"

Lily Allen - "Straight To Hell":
"Isn't that intro already melded into my brain enough from last year already? And isn't it only a matter of time before someone does a mash-up of this version, throwing M.I.A. into the mix?"

Morrissey - "Bengali In Platforms"

Morrissey - "Bengali In Platforms":
"Am I the only one who thinks Danny Boyle has started to look like present-day Morrissey, just with a frightening smile? Granted, I can see why the man was happy at the Oscars last night, but every time they showed him, I just kept thinking "Scary Morrissey!"
I figured I might as well heighten the irony by using this particular song as I pointed this casual similarity out..."

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - "Inspiration Information"

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - "Inspiration Information": "I still prefer the Shuggie Otis original, but it's hard not to give the lovely Ms. Sharon Jones some love for taking it on for herself. It's just a great song. (As an aside, this is from the new Red Hot compilation, Dark Was The Night.)"

The Breeders - "Lord of the Thighs"

The Breeders - "Lord of the Thighs": "I know this should make more sense in the hands of Steven Tyler, but it's so much more awesome in the hands of Josephine Wiggs, here taking on lead vocals on this "Cannonball" b-side. Steven makes this song sound like a crass boast, but Josephine is calmer and more commanding, like your thighs already know who's boss. But, really, don't they?"

Yo Gabba Gabba! - "Party In My Tummy"

Yo Gabba Gabba! - "Party In My Tummy": "Dear goodness, this show is freaking great. I know it's a kids show, but it's surreal, charming, pro-indie rock and, so help me, the whole thing makes me think of Deee-lite. I'd be hard-pressed to think of any other time I've wanted to DVR a show for six year-olds. (Except for this one creepy episode where Elijah Wood did 'the puppetmaster'. That scared me. Badly.)"

Spent - "Good Luck Line"

Spent - "Good Luck Line": "A totally underappreciated band. I can see why they didn't have legions of fans - having three different vocalists (two male, one female) doesn't breed the most consistency - but catchy songs like this should have made up for it. It's a sugary rush (although not in any kind of fake pop way) that builds up to a rockin' ending, but with zero pretention - which is largely because it's tempered with a bit of bitterness: 'last in your good luck line / first to get fed up'."

The Cramps - "All Women Are Bad"

The Cramps - "All Women Are Bad": "R.I.P. Lux Interior. The world is a much sadder place without The Cramps in it."

Paul Burch - "Isolda"

Paul Burch - "Isolda": "This is such a great song, I cannot believe I haven't blogged about it yet. A bittersweet song of longing - of wanting, but not needing - polished with sweet pedal steel, but naked in the delivery. It's too sad to be a love song - especially since he isn't in love, anyway - but it feels like a broken heart anyway. Understated, but amazing."

Pavement - "Grounded"

Pavement - "Grounded": "'...please! plea! boys are dying on these streets...'"