"Holy, Holy, Holy Moses" by Alec Ounsworth

Song: Holy, Holy, Holy Moses (a song for New Orleans)
Artist: Alec Ounsworth (of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah)
Album: Mo Beauty
Also try:  Spencer Krug (Sunset Rubdown, Wolf Parade, Swan Lake), Frog Eyes
Commentary: If anyone's singing can be described as a yelp, I probably like it (cf. Danielson, Spencer Krug, etc.). Alec Ounsworth, lead singer of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, gives an obliquely poignant number "for New Orleans" here that is driven by his voice, without the full band of CYHSY.

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"Master of my Craft" by Parquet Courts

Song: Master of my Craft
Artist: Parquet Courts
Album: Light Up Gold
Also try:  Mallard, Royal Headache, Spooktober, Pavement
Commentary: Sometimes, the album cover draws you in more than it should. I don't regret it. I knew this album was memorable when I heard Andrew Savage say, "Forget about it" on this first track. "Stoned and Starving" is a pretty great song too.

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"Obodo Eyo" by Sir Victor Uwaifo

Song: Obodo Eyo (Ekassa 12)
Artist: Sir Victor Uwaifo
Album: Guitar-boy superstar
Also try: 
Commentary: Sir Victor Uwaifo made up a style based on a traditional Nigerian dance associated with the coronation ceremony for the Obas (kings) of the kingdom of Benin; the style is called Ekassa. This song, Ekassa 12, is a reverent song for the monarch and has lyrics that say 'All hail the king!, His Majesty, the world is yours.' (this information comes from research from the liner notes compiled by the wonderful Miles Cleret of Soundway records)

I first heard Sir Victor Uwaifo a few years back on a weird compilation from Amazon (Wyld Pytch/51 Lex Records Presents: Music From Nigeria) I deleted the rest of the songs, but I kept Ekassa 28. When Ekassa 34 appeared on the Rough Guide to West African Gold, I fell even deeper in love with Uwaifo's riffs in the highlife style. Ekassa 12 (Obodo Eyo) is one of my favs from the Soundways compilation focusing on his Ekassa period in the early 70s.

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"The Top" by Francis and the Lights

Song: The Top
Artist: Francis and the Lights
Album: Modern Promise
Commentary: Apparently my brother knows this guy. New York City, you know. If I had to guess, they have the same tailor. But my brother cannot dance like that. Seriously, these are some rad dance moves. And the ending is cool. Their new EP got a Pitchfork review, so that reminded me of them (i new them b4 they were famous!!!1!), but I like "The Top" way better than their new single, "Like a Dream." (Although, another cool video from Jake Schreier, and more smooth moves).

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"Kindred" by Burial

Song: Kindred
Artist: Burial
Album: Kindred EP
Also try:  Lapalux, Tim Hecker, Nicolaas Jaar
Commentary: The Kindred EP made a splash and it is awesome. Three longish electronic tracks that are totally worth your time.

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"Horse Race" by Air Waves

Song: Horse Race (demo)
Artist: Air Waves
Album: Ad Hoc compilation
Also try:  EMA, Perfume Genius, How to Dress Well
Commentary: "gonna find myself a new ma-a-a-an" Catchy tune (do I use that phrase too much?) The compilation has a few awesome songs, plenty of decent ones, and also a fair amount for which I cared little. I'd say worth $15 for the exposure to new, well-curated songs.

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"Aïtma" by Toumast

Song: Aïtma
Artist: Toumast
Album: Songs for Desert Refugees
Also try:  the other songs off of this album; Sublime Frequencies' Guitars of Agadez series; Tinariwen's Aman Iman
Commentary: The Imuhagh people (also Tuareg; in Saharan North Africa) play a style of music called assouf, which I believe is also called "desert blues" in English (although that might be more of an umbrella term). I also posted a track by Tinariwen, who are featured on this disc, in 2009. "Aïtma" comes off an excellent compilation showcasing a range of talent in the genre. The album is called Songs for Desert Refugees in reference to the ongoing conflict in the deserts of Northern Mali. I'm woefully ignorant of the details of the complexities of the issues of the region, but the proceeds do go to NGOs who work with those displaced and disrupted by the fighting in the region. Join the supporters here. And I do quite recommend the music.

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"Lonesome Traveler" by Gabriel Slavitt

Song: Lonesome Traveler
Artist: Gabriel Slavitt
Album: Selections from Alfalfa
Also try:  Damien Jurado, anti-folk music
Commentary: A friend from high school (to whom I haven't spoken) posted about this dude on Facebook. Since she was a founding member of the uber-local band, the Wonkey Donkeys (this one not the Dorset indie pop group), her taste was trustworthy. I was pleasantly surprised to be drawn in immediately. Magnificently understated vocal harmonies (with a pleasant amount of difference between the voices), a charming and repetitive-to-an-excellent-extent guitar line, and a warm, lo-fi aesthetic all sucked me in with this, the first song I heard. Now I've heard all 3 albums and am groovin'! "Folksy, homespun" (my words) lyrics about things like an "ole bearcat" aren't quite a draw for me, but I get it.
Now I am currently getting sucked into a musical exploration of the tag "american primitive" on bandcamp. Uh oh!

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"Bag" by White Lung

Song: Bag
Artist: White Lung
Album: Sorry
Also try:  Japandroids, Potty Mouth
Commentary: I don't remember what end-of-the-year (2012) list I got this band from, but awesome. One of my happy finds of 2012. 19 minutes is a great length for an album. The Vancouver punk scene must be bumping (since I know like two punk bands total, including White Lung and Japandroids and they're both from Vancouver).

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"Hero" by Kevin Gates

Song: Hero
Artist: Kevin Gates
Album: The Luca Brasi Story
Commentary: I'd heard good things about this album, but "Hero" is the only song to stay in my head after a few times through. The hook is catchy enough when it's coming from Kevin Gates.

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"Easy to Be Around" by Diane Cluck

Song: Easy to Be Around
Artist: Diane Cluck
Album: Oh Vanille/Ova Nil
Also try:  CocoRosie, Kate Bush
Commentary: This was a "jam" of mine in high school that I found among the anti-folk set. Lo-fi aesthetic and generally stripped down music, its overtures of intimacy, and the harmonies, the harmonies. Can't even tell you how many times I've tried to imitate this voice.

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100th post! Danielson, Destroyer, Neutral Milk Hotel

Song: Cutest Lil' Dragon
Artist: Danielson Famile
Album: Tri-Danielson
Also try:  Half-Handed Cloud
Commentary: I have long claimed "Cutest Lil Dragon" as my favorite song. There are many reasons for this: it's catchy, it's weird, and I have a lot of respect for Danielson as an artist. It had to go first here.

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Song: The Bad Arts
Artist: Destroyer
Album: Streethawk: A Seduction
Commentary: Among my many weaknesses is one for multi-part songs. This 7 minute song is too short; each part leaves me wanting more, even the incessant coda of "You've got the spirit, don't lose the feeling". I think of Gertrude Stein's comments on her use of repetition to revive an image (rose) and grin at Bejar's rah-rah finale. I can never tell if Dan Bejar's lyrics are profound or nonsensical and mundane.

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Song: Oh Comely
Artist: Neutral Milk Hotel
Album: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Commentary: I would say this song has been stuck in my head more than any other music, ever. "Your father made fetuses with flesh-licking ladies", in particular, has haunted more moments than I could count.

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"Place to Be" by the Sound Providers

Song: Place to Be
Artist: the Sound Providers
Album: True Indeed
Commentary: Just heard part of this song on a YouTube video. The video wasn't that cool, IMO, but the song was groovy. I'm kind of a sucker for fusion genres, so "Jazz-Hip Hop" was a draw.

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"Golden Arrow" by Darkside

Song: Golden Arrow
Artist: Darkside
Album: Psychic
Also try:  Nicolas Jaar, Tim Hecker, Forest Swords
Commentary: Fresh Nicolas Jaar, with the assistance of some guy named Dave Harrington. Cool album, though.

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"No Wanga Gut" by Tiger

Song: No Wanga Gut
Artist: Tiger
Album: A Me Name Tiger
Also try:  I have no idea. I have no real familiarity with dancehall or reggae music, besides this tape that was apparently my older brother's.
Commentary: When Tiger's voice, occasionally,squeaks in this song, I die. You can hear it better on the tape, but the things he does with his voice here can easily be missed, but man I hope I can incorporate some techniques like this into my band.

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The higher quality audio version:


The music video version:

"Walk on the Wild Side" and "Waiting For My Man" by Lou Reed

Song: Walk on the Wild Side
Artist: Lou Reed
Album: Transformer
Also try:  Velvet Underground, Nico, Joy Division, My Bloody Valentine, Pixies
Commentary: RIP Lou Reed. The Velvet Underground are crucial, so I'm not sure what else to say.

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Song: Waiting For My Man
Artist: Velvet Underground
Album: The Velvet Underground & Nico

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"Feeling Special" by Mykki Blanco

Song: "Feeling Special"
Artist: Mykki Blanco
Album: Betty Rubble: The Initiation EP
Also try:  Kitty (formerly Kitty Pryde),
Commentary: I picked up a few new artists when I read Pitchfork's feature last year about NYC's Queer Rap, but somehow Mykki Blanco didn't sink in. Now after a recommendation from a friend, I'm enjoying Betty Rubble and look forward to Michael next year. This video is fun.

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"Distopian Dream Girl" and "Virginia Reel aroung the Fountain" by Built to Spill

Song: Distopian Dream Girl
Artist: Built to Spill
Album: There's Nothing Wrong with Love
Also try:  Halo Benders
Commentary: A friend introduced me to Built to Spill on a mixtape (okay, CD) with the song "Carry the Zero" in 2003. I quite liked the song, but I didn't fall in love until the promotional mp3 (remember those? what a brief phenomenon) for "Liar" in 2006 made it to my desktop (don't tell Warner Bros. music, they would probably want it back).
Anyway, Built to Spill's weaker songs are better than most other bands' strongest. And it's not because Doug Martsch has a small oeuvre. "Distopian Dream Girl" couldn't quite compete with the popularity of "Car", but the great thing about the BtS catalog is going deeper just uncovers more beauty.

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Song: Virginia Reel around the Fountain (Halo Benders cover)
Artist: Built to Spill
Album: Live
Commentary: It was hard not to do a triple post for Doug Martsch. I try to put some space in between posts by the same artist. So knowing I wouldn't post any Built to Spill or even Halo Benders for a while is hard. (Even though sometimes it seems like Martsch could do better leaving out Calvin Johnson out of the final Halo Benders mixes, they're awesome and all 3 albums are worth many listens.) This song comes from the excellent Live album, which has no weak songs. I'm also refraining from the posting the inerrant Perfect From Now On in its entirety here.

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"Ohio" by Damien Jurado

Song: Ohio
Artist: Damien Jurado
Album: Rehearsals for Departure
Also try:  Jurado's Ghost of David, Richard Buckner, David Bazan, Mark Kozelek, Scout Niblett
Commentary: Damien Jurado is a musician I've been wanting to hear for about a decade now, so when he came to town last month, I was pumped. This song has the emotive instrumentation; the breathy, intimate vocals; and the poignant lyrics that really work well together. If I'm in the right mood, it'll take me pretty close to tears (the Daytrotter, not the album version). Anyway, when he played in a magnificent concert hall for Pygmalion Music Festival, the acoustics and atmosphere really served him well. I was pleased to hear the college dudes behind me say incredulously, "Why didn't they give this guy more than a half hour??"

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Daytrotter version:

Another nice studio version:

Damien Jurado - ohio from bluelinestyle.com on Vimeo.

"Juhannustulilla" by Josefina and Sanfrid Mustonen

Song: Juhannustulilla
Artist: Josefina and Sanfrid Mustonen
Commentary: Google Translate recognizes this as Finnish, but can't translate it. There's something about midsummer fire or something in the song title. Anyhow, there are 2 lovely ditties in this lovely clip from 1913.

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"Nothing is Easy" by Marnie Stern

Song: Nothing is Easy
Artist: Marnie Stern
Album: the excellently-named The Chronicles of Marnia
Also try:  Potty Mouth, the Vivian Girls, Deerhoof, Deerhunter
Commentary: I like the off-kilter rhythms and general carnival feel (reminds of Danielson; add that to the "Also Try" list).

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"Generation" by Liturgy

Song: Generation
Artist: Liturgy
Album: Aesthetica
Commentary: Today's meditation on rhythmic repetition comes to us in the form of relentless riffs. Off of Liturgy's 2011 album, Aesthetica, "Generation" kept my head nodding for over seven minutes.
"The world's best hipster black metal band unsurprisingly crafts a great crossover-friendly black metal album." -Pitchfork

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"Dropla" by Youth Lagoon

Song: Dropla
Artist: Youth Lagoon
Album: Wondrous Bughouse
Also try: 
Commentary: I wasn't that impressed with Youth Lagoon in concert. I liked their 1st album pretty well; found it interesting and listenable. Then their 2nd album was an excellent step forward! Still making good use of that lo-fi sound, but shifting into slightly less catchy and more experimental melodies, Youth Lagoon kills it. Somewhere in a long genre name with many hyphens, I like the Americana- and minimalist- action going on there.

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"The Spins" by Potty Mouth

Song: The Spins
Artist: Potty Mouth
Album: Hell Bent
Also try:  Liz Phair, Speedy Ortiz, White Lung, Royal Headache
Commentary: At Pygmalion Music Festival, the schedule was wrong. The Potty Mouth show that was supposed to start at 10, ended at 10:08. As a result, I only saw 5 minutes of the show (I was 3 minutes late!). It was my favorite song and a half of the whole festival. Damien Jurado (who I love) played in the perfect auditorium for his echoing vocals and Youth Lagoon puts on a rad show, but Potty Mouth sounds even better in person than on their sweet new album, Hell Bent.

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"Reflektor" by the Arcade Fire

Song: Reflektor
Artist: Arcade Fire
Album: Reflektor
Also try:  Do you not know who Arcade Fire is? Okay, maybe try Vampire Weekend or something if you like this.
Commentary: New Arcade Fire. Fun. Seems like they have some fresh sounds too, which is exciting. Also, seems long. It's exciting that it sounds new (new electronic tinge?) and still awesome and still Arcade Fire.

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"Warm in the Winter" by Glass Candy

Song: Warm in the Winter
Artist: Glass Candy
Album: After the Dark 2
Also try:  After the Dark and After the Dark 2 are both excellent
Commentary: You don't even have to like electronic music all that much to like the After the Dark compilations, this song is a rollicking starter for the 2nd. The spoken word over the track may be too much for some people, but I think it goes well here and doesn't detract.

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"All I Know" by Big Sean

Song: All I Know (ft Wiz Khalifa)
Artist: Big Sean
Album: Detroit
Commentary: I should call this blog Cole's Earworms or something, because I just learned that word and mostly I post songs as they get stuck in my head. "All I Know" uses an excellent sample from Bloc Party's "Banquet", which I'm sure helped the catchiness. It also follows the whole mixtape's catchy raps (I'm afraid I don't even know the language one uses to talk about rap music...), especially as in "Woke Up", "I'm Gonna Be", and "Life Should Go On". Smooth.

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"Casper" by Daniel Johnston

Song: Casper
Artist: Daniel Johnston
Album: Yip/Jump Music
Also try:  the rest of the Kids soundtrack, Songs in the Key of Z
Commentary: The other Casper song (besides the friendly ghost) that Daniel Johnston contributed to Kids is this one, "Casper." It's a 1995 movie about what everyone was afraid of happening to "youth" in the city. Adding to a dope soundtrack, Daniel Johnston sings this little ditty about one of the main characters. With lyrics like "Casper lives in a world without promise" and "feeling like a bowl of spaghetti", Daniel Johnston paints his own picture of youthful angst and ennui.

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"Bouchraka Ya Kalbi" by Mohamed Effendi El-Achek

Song: Bouchraka Ya Kalbi (which can be translated as "Be Happy, My Heart")
Artist: Mohamed Effendi El-Achek
Also try:  the Syrian people
Commentary: I'm not trying to make a big political statement about Syria by posting a song from Syria. Or maybe I am... I do like Teju Cole's answer to the question "What's the right answer to Syria?" and he said, "I don’t know man. ... Somehow, we must keep the humanity of the people in Syria before us. Anything thing we do or do not do, or say or do not say, should be about them, not about us. We must live perpetually in hope of a negotiated settlement."

Note: I'm also not tryna romanticize some pristine, untroubled Syrian past by posting a song recorded in 1908.

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"Retrograde" by James Blake

Song: Retrograde
Artist: James Blake
Album: Overgrown
Commentary: Next time I'm hit with something I might say "SUDDENLY I'M HIT", like James Blake...
James Blake has released two excellent albums and you should probably listen to them both in their entirety. Make sure you have speakers that give you some good bass, especially for "Retrograde" here.

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"Open" by Rhye

Song: Open
Artist: Rhye
Album: Woman
Also try:  Miguel, Frank Ocean, Janelle Monae
Commentary: I got Rhye's Woman in the spring with a few other albums and Woman didn't immediately stand out. A few more listens, though, had Michael Milosh crooning album opener "Open" in my head. The whole album's worth some listens too. Nice instrumentation, killer hook.

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"Loose Lips" by Kimya Dawson

Song: Loose Lips
Artist: Kimya Dawson
Album: Remember that I Love You
Also try: 
Commentary: Twice this summer I made connections with people about anti-folk songs I listened to in high school. I don't think I'd ever said the word "anti-folk" or discussed the genre with anyone. Part of me believed it only existed ephemerally in a network of websites frequented by teenagers in the early aughts. And since I'm in 20th grade now, and no longer 9th, I was amused to hear an 8th grader singing Kimya Dawson's 2004 non-hit, "Loose Lips" a month ago. She was insufficiently impressed with my hip knowledge of hip music, but I know I'm "with it". What?!? "Loose Lips" was in Juno? I LISTENED TO ANSTY PANTS BEFORE JUNO! Man, forget Juno.

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"Thy Chosen Bride" by Daniel Higgs

Song: Thy Chosen Bride
Artist: Daniel Higgs (frontman of Lungfish)
Album: Ancestral Songs
Also try:  Lungfish, Danielson, DM Stith, David Eugene Edwards
Commentary: Sort of raga-style banjo noodling and make sure you wait for the vocals. I don't know what draws me to the devout mystic fervor of the likes of David Eugene Edwards, Danielson, and Daniel Higgs, but I find it pretty enthralling.

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"Heartbreaks + Setbacks" by Thundercat

Song: Heartbreaks + Setbacks
Artist: Thundercat
Album: Apocalypse
Also try:  Miguel, Frank Ocean
Commentary: It was the co-production by Flying Lotus that drew me, but it was the slightly off-kilter electro-beat that kept me. Catchy, but definitely fits my criterion of being interesting/different enough to be worth a listen.

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"Catfish" by Waxahatchee

Song: Catfish
Artist: Waxahatchee
Album: American Weekend
Also try:  Liz Phair, Mirah, Microphones, Perfume Genius, Scout Niblett
Commentary: I hate posting the first song from an album, because it looks like I'm not even trying. But this song is an excellent intro to an excellent album. I've been sneaking away from my job all summer to find a quiet place to absorb Waxahatchee's genius. The new album, Cerulean Salt, is pretty groovy too, but I'm a sucker for that lo-fi aesthetic, if you haven't noticed yet.

"When a Fire Starts to Burn" by Disclosure

Song: When a Fire Starts to Burn
Artist: Disclosure
Album: Settle
Commentary: This is one of the songs I played to get the teenagers moving at summer camp this year. It worked.
Note: I don't think the video is particularly sensitive to people's religious practices. However, Christians are not an oppressed class (despite claims to the contrary). So, it doesn't seem like as big as a deal to me to depict vaguely Christian motions in a fictional motivational speech setting.

PS - Summer hiatus is over. Surprise.
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"Glad Girls" by GBV

Song: Glad Girls
Artist: Guided by Voices
Album: Isolation Drills
Also try:  Sebadoh, Superchunk, Steven Malkmus, the Hold Steady
Commentary: I don't know what the story is with this video; not sure if they had the technology to make that vid in 2001 (maybe it was cutting-edge!) Anywho, Robert Pollard's a pretty prolific songwriter, so obviously there's some variation in the quality of his contributions. I like this song (and album) pretty well, but go for Bee Thousand for the peak of critical acclaim. A prototypical turn-of-the-decade (90s-00s), lo-fi indie rock song, "Glad Girls"'ll get stuck in your head.

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"Song about Stalin" by Esslam Yousobof

Song: Song about Stalin
Artist: Ashoug Esslam Yousobof (or Islam Yusufov) and Essmaeel Alikperoff
Also try:  Hmm, I don't know. If you know of anything good in similar musical traditions, let me know.
Commentary: This was probably sung at a time when it was deadly (in what is now Georgia) to criticize Stalin, so I assume it's laudatory. But I'm not posting it because it's about Stalin! Listen to this man kill it with that singing. I love the versatility of the human voice, especially as evidenced by the diversity in world music traditions.
There does appear to be some misinformation on the label: it says "balaban" but I don't hear anything that sounds like a double-reed woodwind. Also, it does seem like it would be some folk instrument, and not a cello or bass viol.

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"World Domination" by Joey Bada$$

Song: World Domination
Artist: Joey Bada$$
Album: 1999
Also try:  Pro Era
Commentary: I like the samples here. Joey Bada$$ has some trill rhymes and a chill sound.

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"Hrissaido" by Marika Papagika

Song: Χρυσαΐδω
Artist: Μαρίκα Παπαγκίκα
Also try:  "а я по лугу" and "Kuk kuger"
Commentary: A prolific Greek Singer of the early 20th century, Marika Papagika has a captivating voice. I discovered her through Jeff Mangum's curation of Yeti 5. So I guess I also can credit to him the opening of "world" folk music traditions for me as well. What a rich and rewarding terrestrial oeuvre has arisen from the revitalization of musics from old 78s, as conveyed by the Internet. Especially after listening to Marika Papagika's funereal, yet angelic, voice, one mourns the Westernizing influences borne on the wings of colonialism.

Also, Tsamiko (Greek: Τσάμικος, Tsamikos) is a traditional Greek folk tune (and accompanying dance), while Χρυσαΐδω is apparently a name.

"Song for Lula" by Phosphorescent

Song: Song for Lula
Artist: Phosphorescent
Album: Muchacho
Also try:  BPB's I See a Darkness, Paleo
Commentary: I've always thought of Phosphorescent as a second-rate Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (who, granted, himself puts out second-rate BPB about half the time). IMO, Phosphorescent's 2013 offering, Muchacho, is a pretty nice folk album with well-written songs (okay, he's had some before) , decent lyrics (if questionable song titles), and interesting electronic touches. Matthew Houck doesn't sound like he's trying to rip off Will Oldham anymore and this album's nice.

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"Trains Across the Sea" by the Silver Jews

Song: Trains Across the Sea
Artist: Silver Jews
Album: Starlite Walker
Also try:  Will Oldham, Uncle Tupelo, Stephen Malkmus, M. Ward, Devendra Banhart
Commentary: David Berman is easier to swallow if you always thought voices like James Taylor's were plain and boring to the point of being unlistenable. Eminently quotable, yet singing with a sort of laissez-faire approach to tonality, Berman has a book of poetry if the voice grates on you. I guess it also takes a certain suspension of disbelief to accept the complete oeuvre with its perfect, American similes ("his sister was like the heat coming off the back of an old TV") and an admixture of bad puns ("come to Tennessee, 'cause you're the only ten I see") and earnest one-liners culled from bumper stickers and "men's room walls." The Silver Jews are part of the strong core of the Drag City catalog, listen up.

choice lyrical sample: "In 27 years I've drunk fifty thousand beers & they just wash against me like the sea into a pier"

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"headz in da cloudz" by the Danielson Famile

Song: headz in da cloudz
Artist: Danielson Famile
Album: A Prayer for Every Hour
Also try:  Half-Handed Cloud, CocoRosie
Commentary: I read about Daniel Smith's 1995 thesis project-cum-concert-cum-family reunion almost a decade after the fact when I was like 14 and thought he was so cool. They dressed up like nurses, a giant tree, and later sailors. And then there's their deranged circus music with the yelping falsetto of Daniel Smith. Music this far left-of-the-dial, but with both evangelical lyrics about Jesus and indie rock cred is a pretty interesting phenomenon (matched only, perhaps, by Danielson's sometime collaborators, Soul Junk). Danielson's something special.
PS - The original performance of the song (not the music video) sounds like it was some *awesome* performance art (ask the Internet for deets).

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"Wishes" by Beach House

Song: Wishes
Artist: Beach House
Album:
Also try:  Youth Lagoon's The Year of Hibernation, Real Estate, Washed Out, Perfume Genius
Commentary: So this music video alone is worth the post. But Beach House is solid. I really enjoy listening to their albums, but when I'm done I look back at the listening experience and have trouble discerning strong and distinct songs. I recommend listening by song or single, rather than through the whole album for them.
But seriously, the music video for this.

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"The Thing" by the Pixies

Song: The Thing
Artist: the Pixies
Album: The Complete "B" Sides
Also try:  The Vaselines
Commentary: So I tend to post songs that get stuck in my head on this blog. Which is why this song makes it, but Surfer Rosa--which I listened to obsessively through most of high school (and now just regularly and alternating with Doolittle)--doesn't. "The Thing" comes off the remarkably solid Complete "B" Sides, but, I guess, it is the Pixies, so no surprise that they have awesome B-sides.
Choice lyrical cut: "I soon forgot myself and I forgot about the brake"

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"Great Ghosts" by Phil Elvrum

Song: Great Ghosts (live in Japan)
Artist: Phil Elvrum
Album: Live in Japan
Also try:  Panda Bear, Bill Callahan, Mountain Goats, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Commentary: Maybe I'm susceptible to solo voice and acoustic guitar, but Phil Elvrum pulls me right in here. He always manages to evoke an individual's intensely personal struggle with immense forces, even if the meaning of every lyric is not transparent. Phil is a remarkable artist with an impressive oeuvre with the Microphones and Mt. Eerie. I figured it was okay to post him again, after 6 years.

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"Harness Your Hopes" by Pavement

Song: Harness Your Hopes (BBC Session)
Artist: Pavement
Album: Brighten the Corners: Nicene Creedence Edition
Also try:  The Silver Jews when Stephen Malkmus still sang, Built to Spill, Das Racist for similarly fun wordplay and tunes
Commentary: I think this version is better than the version from either Terror Twilight or the Spit on A Stranger single. The great thing about the Pavement deluxe re-releases, in my mind, is the inclusion of awesome alternate versions of already awesome songs. It highlights the versatility and talent of Pavement in making original and innovative, but still catchy, pop music.

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"And I in a Meadow" by Konstantin Massalitinov

Song: А я по лугу
Artist: К. И. Массалитинова
Commentary: If you loved "Kuk kuger", you're sure to love this entrancing Russian offering from one К. И. Массалитинова. I believe this to be Konstantin Iraklievich Massalitinov, Soviet composer, choral conductor, and collector of Russian folk songs, although my knowledge of Russian slash my ethnomusicological investigatory skills take me only that far. But you don't have to speak the language to appreciate the interplay between the solo vocalist and the ensemble in this song entitled "And I in a Meadow."

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"Pablo Picasso" by the Modern Lovers

Song: Pablo Picasso
Artist: Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers
Album: The Modern Lovers
Also try:  The Velvet Underground, Pavement, The Vaselines
Commentary: Boston proto-punk from 1972. Recorded the year before Mr. Picasso passed away; hopefully he got to hear this awesome song about how awesome he is.

Choice lyrical sample: "O, be not schmuck, be not obnoxious, be not bell-bottomed bummer or asshole"

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"cool jumper" by Wavves

Song: "cool jumper"
Artist: Wavves
Also try:  Times New Viking's Rip it Off, Vivian Girls, Zach Hill in Death Grips, Best Coast
Commentary: Kills me. This is some cutting-edge post pop-punk. Clearly drawing from the same playbook as pop-punk (their new album sounds so much like Green Day sometimes), Wavves are subverting the paradigm in awesome ways (and that's why it's still "indie", so it's cool, right?). Just look how long this song is! While their earlier albums, Wavves and Wavvves, have the more innovative music, "Cool Jumper" is easy to like and Zach Hill rocks it (it's always a little sad when bands take the Modest Mouse path from ground-breaking to complacent). Anyway, I'm posting this because a new Wavves album comes out tomorrow!

2020 update: I was vaguely aware of vaporwave at the time, but did not know what it was called.

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PS - I was pleasantly surprised by this fan video; I think Wavves would approve.
PPS - It was a total accident that I posted at 4:20, but I think Wavves would also approve (cf. cool jumper art )

RIP Jason Molina

I'm making a double Jason Molina post in honor of his recent passing. Jason Molina was a talented songwriter who made me feel connected to the Midwest. I've come to appreciate his dark musings only lately, never getting into the promotional singles on Secretly Canadian's websites. It was Magnolia Electric Co.'s Daytrotter session that first piqued my interest and Didn't It Rain that first sucked me in. I'm still working my way through the prolific Molina's impressive oeuvre and look forward to discovering more of his work. I should also say that it's musicians' voices that often hook me. I couldn't tell you how many times I've found myself trying to imitate the distinctive warbles that enrich his singing.
Song: The Dark Don't Hide It
Artist: Magnolia Electric Co.
Album: Trials & Errors
Also try:  Will Oldham (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Palace, etc.), Bill Callahan, Silver Jews
Commentary: The "Dark Don't Hide It" was my catchy point of entree to Jason Molina. This is a great live version and Molina does some great variations live.

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Song: Blue Chicago Moon
Artist: Songs:Ohia
Album: Didn't It Rain
Also try:  BPB's I See A Darkness, Mark Kozelek, Cat Power
Commentary: "Blue Chicago Moon" comes in at almost 7 minutes, but Jason Molina uses every second to unfold his bleak, semi-narrative vision. His allowance for hope keeps the experience from despair, but Songs:Ohia sure creates a brooding, pensive mood here.

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"You Oughta Know" by Das Racist

Song: You Oughta Know
Artist: Das Racist
Album: Shut Up, Dude
Also try:  Heems, Kool AD, but really Das Racist were pretty special
Commentary: Can somebody notarize this? (spambots?) I'm calling it, Das Racist reunion tour, 2035. It'll be titled something that is hip, funny, and nostalgic 20-odd years from now, so I can't call that. They should never have broken up. Try to listen to their first four tracks on this mixtape and not love it. I'm surprised at how effective the gibberish-laden hook is in this song. And Kool AD and Heems both kill it in their verses.

"The Recursive Girl" by Fucked Up

Song: The Recursive Girl
Artist: Fucked Up
Album: David Comes To Life
Also try:  Ty Segall's Slaughterhouse, Les Savy Fav, Japandroids
Commentary: When making this post I thought of that festival a couple of years ago that hosted all those bands with 'fuck' in their names. Now I had to be careful when looking up this event: while "FuckFest" might have been what I thought it was called, it would not be productive to search for that on Google... Turns out the Festival of the Fuck bands, held in Fucking, Austria (not to be confused with "F*cking Austria" sans comma), hosted the Fuck Buttons, Fuck, Holy Fuck, and Fucked Up. I bet people were cursing a lot there, that would probably make me uncomfortable.

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"Hill and Gully Ride..." by Lord Composer

Song: Hill and Gully Ride; Mandeville Road
Artist: Lord Composer and His Silver Seas Orchestra
Album: if you don't have the 10", try The Secret Museum of Mankind, Vol. 1 Ethnic Music Classics: 1925-48
Also try: 
Commentary: I first heard this on a mix by Jeff Mangum, and then checked out the Yazoo album from the library. The song is so catchy. Another one of those where I wish I spoke the language (Jamaican Creole) to sing along. I went exploring Mento music after hearing this track. It was fun (and the A-side to this 10" is pretty similar), but the comparative quality of this selection speaks to the excellence of curation by Yazoo.

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"Electric PowWow Drum" by A Tribe Called Red

Song: Electric PowWow Drum
Artist: A Tribe Called Red
Album: A Tribe Called Red
Commentary: Aboriginal music out of Canada. I'm always a big fan of influences from musical traditions that don't get the mainstream play time. This album has some cool synthesis between older and newer musical influences. The internet won't tell me what nations they're from, though. (video apparently by another Native artist)

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"Kate" by DAAP Girls

Song: Kate
Artist: DAAP Girls
Album: DAAP Girls
Also try:  other local Cincinnati bands, Stuart's previous band the Lions Rampant
Commentary: Hot 'n' fresh release from my friend Stuart. I usually avoid friends' stuff because I'm not a huge fan, sorry friends. But I like this track, the music video is cool, plus my dad's painting of Red Cloud appears around 19 seconds.

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"Ngo Mebou Melane" by Paul Pendja Ensemble

Song: Ngo Mebou Melane
Artist: Paul Pendja Ensemble
Album: Black Mirror: Reflections in global music (1918-1955)
Also try:  the other songs on that album, Jeff Mangum's recent podcasts, Secret Museum of Mankind releases on Yazoo
Commentary: One time I had this melody stuck in my head for like a month, but I couldn't remember where I'd heard it and I obviously couldn't look up the lyrics. I eventually found it in my music library and even searched around to determine that the language is Lamnso, which was another adventure (into Bantoid languages). So needless to say, I find this tune rather catchy and the whole compilation pretty stellar. Dust-to-Digital is an excellent label (did you hear the album name Opika Pende at the Grammy's?)

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"Never Stops" by Deerhunter

Song: Never Stops
Artist: Deerhunter
Album: Microcastle
Also try:  Panda Bear, Paleo, Wavves, Seven New Songs by Mt. Eerie
Commentary: Bradford Cox records a lot of material. He releases some of it on albums and some of it is awesome. The whole double album, Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. is pretty awesome. This song has just the right combo of repetition and noise for me to make it a nice poppy rock song that holds my interest.

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"Adorn" by Miguel

Song: Adorn
Artist: Miguel
Album: Kaleidoscope Dream
Also try:  ha, Frank Ocean? How to Dress Well (there! I came up with another one)
Commentary: Apologies for 2 incredible, catchy, stuck-in-your-head-for-days tracks in a row. Oh, and they're R&B, right? I've been singing to myself only in falsetto for weeks, between this and Thinkin Bout You. Just trying to achieve a "flutter" or perhaps "ululation." This song also won a Grammy? Try not to pre-judge. (do you know there is still a New Age category in the Grammys??!?

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"Thinkin Bout You" by Frank Ocean

Song: Thinkin Bout You
Artist: Frank Ocean
Album: channel ORANGE
Also try:  Miguel, Mayer Hawthorne, uhhhh, I don't know much about this whole R&B scene yet
Commentary: I've been meaning to post this song, because I've been singing it so much lately. Then I saw the music video mentioned in a blog post... which is why the music video won't be posted here. Culturally appropriate much? Is it 2013 or not? Yikes. Read more about Native cultural appropriation on this blag, but start out with the corporate & celebrity call-out: Native Appropriations Blog
That's right. Nothing to say about the music.
(Ed. that's Culturally appropriate much with the verb [əˈproʊpriˌeɪt], not 'appropriate' the adjective)
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"San Francisco" by Foxygen

Song: San Francisco
Artist: Foxygen
Album: We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
Also try:  Belle & Sebastian, Devendra Banhart, Nick Drake (again)
Commentary: Pretty catchy tune. Sonically similar to my last post from Cass McCombs. Draws heavily from the past, going back 40 or 50 years to bring us a fresh track (produced by Richard Swift no less) in 2013.

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"County Line" by Cass McCombs

Apologies to all my followers out there who patiently await hawt nü postz so they can post spam in the comments. It's been a busy coupla weeks.
Song: County Line
Artist: Cass McCombs
Album: Wit's End
Also try:  Atlas Sound, Kurt Vile, Daughn Gibson?, Damien Jurado?, Nick Drake
Commentary: A nicely engaging, well-constructed song on a not-outstanding album. The falsetto is a nice touch. The six minutes are quite doable.

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"Heroin" by the Velvet Underground

Song: Heroin
Artist: The Velvet Underground & Nico
Album: The Velvet Underground & Nico
Also try:  Lou Reed, John Cale, Nico
Commentary: One of the greatest songs off of one of the greatest albums from one of the greatest rock bands of all time (with one of the greatest album covers). It's embarrassing to use all those superlatives...

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"Dip into my daddy" by Mt. Gigantic

Song: DIP INTO MY DADDY
Artist: Mt. Gigantic
Album: Old Smiler
Also try:  Pixies, Times New Viking, Wavves, Tune-Yards
Commentary: I spent a lot of time looking for music in the early 2000s, without Google. Free mp3 downloads were abundant (especially single tracks from whole albums). I have no idea how I came across this album, but I still appreciate this track at least. A little chaotic drumming and screaming and still sticks in my head. Accessed from the band's entire ouevre, recently uploaded to the Free Music Archive, an excellent resource in general.

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"Janitor of Lunacy" by Soap&Skin

Song: Janitor of Lunacy (Nico cover)
Artist: Soap&Skin
Also try:  Björk, Nico, Joanna Newsom
Commentary: Austrian singer Anja Plaschg (yes, Plaschg) makes pretty cool music. I was thinking of how much the music reminds me of Nico and found out Anja played Nico in a play. Here's a sweet cover of "Janitor of Lunacy"--not as in, the music is sweet; it's haunting and expansive like the original.

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