Wink - "Simple Man" (featuring The Interpreters): "Late 90s electronica DJ meets a British pop-punk-influenced US trio for a relatively pop version of drum'n'bass with vocal sneers. Still sounds like 1999 to me, but I really enjoy it. (Also, this one's for you James Cole.)"
Deerhunter - "Desire Lines" (Rhapsody Original): "In this exclusive, live version, Deerhunter's solid slice of indie rock becomes even more epic, if with some heavy spacey/droning sections, but at least you get the power of their live set, whether you were there in Austin (where this was recorded) or not."
T Rex - "The Street and Babe Shadow": "It's a song that kind of goes nowhere, a looping shuffle of a sort, but Marc Bolan's 'Babe...I do mean, Babe...' always makes it feel like it's about to. At least Bolan's come hither vibe still makes it feel worthwhile."
Miguel - "Strawberry Amazing": "Not quite slow enough to be a 'slow jam', but kinda sexy anyway, this track percolates along a minimal groove, powered by Miguel's cocky-but-earnest vocals (often falsetto, no less). This is some hot, modern R&B. (Thanks to Josh F for getting this for us.)"
Robyn - "Don't F****** Tell Me What To Do": "This week is killing me. This song totally speaks to me right now."
The Decemberists - "Human Behavior" (yes, the Bjork song): "It's awesome to hear such an electronic song worked in a much more acoustic - but entirely analog - fashion, while still preserving all the musical elements of the original. Colin's vocal in place of Bjork's takes a bit getting used to, but the musical arrangement is great. Well done, Decemberists - definitely worth a listen for both Bjork and Decemberists fans."
Telekinesis - "Foreign Room": "Easily one of the best songs I've heard all year, even though it's already been out for a while. It starts out quiet, but when the pounding drums kick in with their simple but powerful beat, it's a complete rush of woozy excitement and confused emotions, like a rollercoaster that's both terrifying and exhilarating. There's so much energy, but it doesn't feel happy like you'd expect, all creating a brilliantly complex power-pop song. Amazing."
Small Black - "Photojournalist (live)": "Live from this year's Rhapsody Rocks Austin party, it's a more party-ready version of SB's gauzy new wave, particularly with the (dare I say it?) funky bass part and the faster tempo. Curious to see if their new music will wind up being more in this direction..."
Shea Seger -"Clutch": "A little too mainstream to be alternative, a little too edgy to be pop and not quite fast enough to be danceable, this tune is a bit of a misfit, but is carried along by an infectious chorus and lots of great little instrumental touches."
Hazel - "Ringing In My Ears": "I had a great time out in SF this weekend, particularly at Honey Soundsystem last night. The only downside is the music was so loud that my ears still haven't stopped ringing - thus this as my song of the day, even if it's a little cheeky to use this great, sad Hazel song just for the title alone."
The Damnwells - "She Goes Around": "I don't love this band like I used to, but I do like this track from their new album - more of the straight forward melodic rock they do so well, but it's the backing vocal countermelody in the chorus and the guitar instrumental between choruses that really sell the track."
Spoon - "The Book I Write": "An understated (and underknown) Spoon track from the Stranger Than Fiction soundtrack, with Britt's vocals (particularly his falsetto) making it worth noting. I also really like the piano and percussion opening - it's got a great sound."
Monarchy - "The Phoenix Alive": "I'm usually a bit wary of this kind of slick synth-pop, but there's good, non-gaudy hooks here plus a bit of drama and presence - something they easily demonstrated at Coachella, where I saw them without having even heard of them before and was won over by their subtle but powerful command of the stage and some really great if stylized dance tracks."
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Coachella 2011
Afghan Whigs - "I'm Her Slave": "Wonderful co-dependent darkness that feels kind of sick to like."
Depeche Mode - "Suffer Well" (M83 Remix): "Two reasons to like this track: 1) It's better than the original (but keeps the best parts of the original) and 2) it's so heavily re-recorded that it's more of a M83 reinterpretation than a remix - and given how long I've been waiting for a new M83 album, I'll take new M83 where I can get it."
Vijay Benedict - "Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki": "More awesome Bollywood disco funk, from the same soundtrack that brough you yesterday's slinky 'Come Closer'."
Salma Agha - "Come Closer": "So good - minimalist bedroom funk, not unlike a Mary Jane Girls demo, in a Bollywood wrapping. You can't fake this kind of awesome."
Twin Shadow - "Tyrant Destroyed": "Talk about a slow burn - I saw Twin Shadow at South By Southwest and thought they were ok. I wasn't really won over, but was intrigued enough to check out their record. First listen, second listen, still okay...but something made me come back to it again. Slowly, their songs have started to pop into my head. The songs may not be that flashy or obviously hooky, but there's something intriguing to their modern reworking of 80s new wave elements - not enough for me to get it out of the gate, but enough to have me coming back until I did."
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SXSW 2011 Recap
Sugar - "A Good Idea": "Why haven't I listened to this more recently? This song is awesome! I miss when radio would play stuff like this...although I don't listen to radio anymore, so I guess it doesn't really matter."
Death Cab For Cutie - "Doors Unlocked and Open": "From their new record, Codes and Keys. At first, it's the same kind of driving rhythm section that recalls 'I Will Possess Your Heart' from their previous album...which initially led me to think, 'Oh, this again?' But then the song pivots to a different groove, still driving, but the vocals play more of a counterpart, mostly in the high range. Nice, but it's really the chorus that blends some of the more classic DCFC melodies with the new, more agressive rock backing - and it really works together. (Thanks, Nick!)"
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