Radio Sweetheart Indie

Song of the day: "Fold the Cloth" by Cate Le Bon

2012-01-27T10:26:00.000-08:00

I'm not the first to say that Cate Le Bon sounds like the late great "chanteuse" Nico, nor will I be the last. Whimsical and charming stuff from Wales.

Song of the day: "Aeromancer" by CSLSX

2012-01-26T09:45:00.000-08:00

As a music fan, I make long-term commitment to the artists I really like. The deal is that they will produce music, and I will remain their faithful listener for years on end. So, for example, I fell for Yo La Tengo in 1990 after hearing Fakebook and through good years (like 1997's stellar I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One) and bad (2003's so-so Summer Sun) I've stuck by them. That said, sometimes I want more of a quick musical fling, and that's what I'm expecting from CSLSX. The electro-pop pleasure of "Aeromancer" is exciting and it's new, but I don't necessarily see myself settling down with CSLSX for the long haul. No promises. No demands.

CSLSX - Aeromancer (ft. Mountain Man) by CSLSX

Song of the day: "Please Be My Third Eye" by La Sera

2012-01-25T10:11:00.000-08:00

La Sera is led by Vivian Girls bassist Katy Goodman and it's one side project that is superior to the main act. Melodic and a bit '60s-nostalgic (Goodman released a cover of "Dedicated to the One I Love" last year: http://youtu.be/XUmzpSLUqn0), La Sera will have you tapping your toes all afternoon.

Song of the day: "Vondt i hjertet" by Razika

2012-01-23T10:01:00.001-08:00

Everyone's favorite (well, my favorite anyway) Norwegian girl group.

Song of the day: "Home Again" by Michael Kiwanuka

2012-01-18T09:47:00.001-08:00

London's Michael Kiwanuka has made a stir across the pond (he was shortlisted for the Brits' Critics Choice Award), but hasn't had much impact here in part because up to now, he has released songs 3 at time via that least-loved of music formats, the EP. I think his U.S. fortunes will improve once his full-length album is release in March. With these songs and that voice, how can he miss? Why don't you get on this train ahead of the rest?

Song of the day: "Simple Song" by The Shins

2012-01-13T12:51:00.001-08:00

The Shins released their last album all the way back in 2007. While it's true that singer James Mercer reemerged with Danger Mouse as Broken Bells in 2009, it has still been a long time in the desert for Shins fans. Thankfully, a new album drops in March. Here's a taste.

Song of the day: "Disappearing Industries" by Glass Widow

2012-01-12T09:49:00.000-08:00

Here's what the All Music Guide has to say about this San Francisco trio: "The group's distinctive three-part vocal approach likewise creates an off-kilter moodiness that further complicates what are ultimately rudimentary post-punk tunes. The effect, when it works, can be quite impressive; when it doesn't, it still feels inspired."

Noisy girl-group pop is not a disappearing industry.

Song of the day: "Andrew in Drag" by the Magnetic Fields

2012-01-11T09:29:00.001-08:00

As New York Magazine notes, the English language is rife with words that Stephin Merritt can rhyme with "drag" to humorous effect.

The Magnetic Fields - Andrew in Drag by MergeRecords

Song of the day: "Get Outta My Room" by Giant Peach

2012-01-10T09:23:00.000-08:00

Diary of a teenager in the '80s: "I like to flex my muscles to the beat of Duran Duran stuck in my head." Listen here.

Song of the day: "Cold Hands" by Pants Yell!

2012-01-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

Warm heart.

Cover version of the week: "This Will Be Our Year" by Memoryhouse

2012-01-03T09:36:00.000-08:00

A perfect song for the New Year and an absolutely smashing cover by Memoryhouse. Love all that mellotron.

Here's the Zombies original:

Song of the day: "Guns and Ammunition" by The White Album

2011-12-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

NPR has a nifty list of their favorite Bandcamp bands. One of the gems on the NPR list is this trio from Copenhagen. Turn me on dead man.

<a href="http://thewhitealbum.bandcamp.com/track/guns-and-ammunition">Guns And Ammunition by The White Album</a>

Song of the day: "I'm Gonna Try" by Shimmering Stars

2011-12-27T09:39:00.000-08:00

I'm looking at a bunch of best of lists to help me catch up on any music I missed this year, such as Tim Sendra's on the All Music Guide. That's where I found this fine '60s throwback from Canada's Shimmering Stars. The band's influences include the Everly Brothers and Del Shannon as well as "anxiety issues" and "anti-socialness."

Holiday cover of the week: "Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day" by Wye Oak

2011-12-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

Brenda Lee is better known for that holiday romp, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." As the title suggests, "Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day" has a decidedly more melancholy vibe. Wye Oak ups the rock quotient a bit, but retains Lee's wistful tone.

Here's the original:

Song of the day: "Cheap Gold" by Frightened Rabbit

2011-12-22T09:41:00.000-08:00

Frightened Rabbit wants us to have ourselves an anguished little Christmas. Listen here.

Song of the day: "Post Apocalypse Christmas" by Gruff Rhys

2011-12-21T09:27:00.001-08:00

The Super Furry Animals lead singer offers a jaunty little ditty about holiday festivities after the bombs have fallen. How can you go wrong with lyrics like these: "Even through a nuclear winter, here comes Santa on his reindeer."

Gruff Rhys - Post Apocalypse Christmas by PIASGermany

Best Songs of 2011

2011-12-18T13:24:00.000-08:00

The rules: To make it interesting...

I won't include any songs from my top list of the 10 Least Boring Albums of 2011. They've gotten enough attention already!
I will describe each song using 5 words or less, employing bad puns and strained and largely irrelevant pop culture references when possible.

Bandana Splits: Sometimes

Boogie woogie indie girls.

Battles: Ice Cream

Cherry Aguayo.

The Black Keys: Stop Stop

Greenlit.

Black Lips: Go Out and Get It

Get got.

Comet Gain: Clang of the Concrete Swans

Hide your hate forever.

Diego Garcia: You Were Never There

Absence makes heart grow bitter.

Dirtbombs: Sharivari

Shari is so vari...

Dirty Beaches: True Blue

Drowned Orbison.

Dum Dum Girls: Bedroom Eyes

Bedroom eyes on Hynde legs.

EMA: Milkman

Does a body good.

Girls: Honey Bunny

Love you too, Honey Bunny.

Grouper: She Loves Me That Way

Taken by the tide.

Hospitality: Betty Wang

A chocolate on your pillow.

Michael Kiwanuka: I'm Getting Ready

The value of preparation.

Moon Duo: Mazes

Get lost in it.

Razika: Taste My Dream

See how they run.

Real Estate: It's Real

Location, location.

Slow Club: Two Cousins

Slow and steady wins.

Surfer Blood: I'm Not Ready

I beg to differ.

Thao & Mirah: Eleven

This one goes to 11.

Tune-Yards: Gangsta

Danger crawling out the wood.

Kurt Vile: In My Time

Everybody must get stoned.

Chad VanGaalen: Peace Is on the Rise

Waking dream.

Least Boring Albums of 2011

2011-12-15T17:09:00.000-08:00

Do you like "boring" music? I know I do.
Last month, the A.V. Club noted that 2011 is "the year of boring"--meaning that this year's most critically acclaimed music was almost invariably called the b-word by a large segment of music writers and the listening public. So, what does boring mean exactly? Here, I'll defer to the A.V. Club (after all, I'm not a member of the Club, and membership has its privileges):

Any kind of music can be boring depending on the listener. No song is inherently not-boring. . . because boring is obviously based on subjective perception. This makes boring music hard to pin down. In a sense, all music is boring. The same, however, can’t be said about “boring” music. “Boring” is its own genre. It is a code word that instantly conjures artists with clearly definable attributes. “Boring” music is slow to mid-tempo, mellow, melodic, pretty in a melancholy way, catchy, poppy, and rooted in traditional forms. It is popular (or popular-ish). It is tasteful, well-played, and meticulously produced. . . . It is “easy to like”—or more specifically, “easy for white people to like”. . . . It is critically acclaimed (perhaps the most critically acclaimed music there is), and yet music critics relish taking “boring” musical artists down a peg more than any other kind of artist.

I'll admit that I've fallen into this trap more than once myself. I'm immediately suspicious of music that is too popular or too well loved. And, I am perhaps a bit too eager to want to take much praised music down a notch or two. For example, Bon Iver's self-titled second album is one of the most critically acclaimed releases of the year. Metacritic averages out reviews from 43 publications, giving it an 86 [which Metacritic considers "universal acclaim"]. Pitchfork, perhaps the most popular (and, therefore, most despised) source for indie music criticism online, put "Bon Iver" at the very top of its Top 50 albums of the year. But, to my ears, Bon Iver's opus (I only just managed to stop myself from using scare quotes on that last word) is overly polite, exhaustingly produced and just plain boring--or, as AV would put it "boring."

With that in mind here are my top 10 albums of the year, with notes on their boringness.

10. Humor Risk by Cass McCombs

"Boring?" This is almost a perfect 10 of "bordom" as defined by the AV Club. Mid-tempo? Check. Melodic? Check. Pretty in a melancholy way? Check. Tasteful, well played and rooted in traditional forms? Check, check and check!
Boring? Hardly! Baltimore's Cass McCombs produced not one, but two impressive albums this year. The first, Wit's End, was somber and quietly affecting. But Humor Risk is even better, employing occasional irony ("Love Thine Enemy" he sings, but he doesn't seem to believe it) and seemingly unassuming melodies that don't let go of you.

9. Strange Mercy by St. Vincent

"Boring?" St. Vincent was specifically cited by the A.V. Club as an example of a "boring" artist. Moreover, Annie Clark is a guitar virtuoso and if the Sex Pistols taught us nothing else, it's that knowing how to play one's instrument is a strike against you. And besides, Clark is also classically good looking--how "boring" is that?
Boring? Clark has a delightfully twisted sensibility, as when she sings, "Best find a surgeon/come cut me open." And, her songs take twists and turns--tempo changes, odd instrumentals--that are chaotic but always manage to hold together.

8. Anna Calvi by Anna Calvi

"Boring?" Brian Eno calls this young Spanish/English singer-songwriter (A singer-songwriter in this day and age? Need I go on?) the "best thing since Patti Smith." Do we really need another, ponderous, "arty" singer?
Boring? There is a note of menace to Calvi's compositions. I'm sure I'm not the only one to suggest that she'd write the perfect theme for a James Bond movie (James Bond? Okay, that is boring.) We're talking Shirley Bassey, not Sheena Easton.

7. Cape Dory by Tennis

"Boring?" (Here I consult a thesaurus, so that I don't drive you away with all by b-word references.) Husband and wife teams? Tedious. Tweeness? Insipid. '50s retro production? Cloying.
Boring? If loving twee is wrong, I don't want to be right.

6. Veronica Falls by Veronica Falls

"Boring?" The Scottish indie scene is so late-90s. And surf guitar? Please.
Boring? Veronica Falls references the past (e.g. My Bloody Valentine noise and '60s beach pop), but isn't captive to it. They create something new and invigorating.

5. Tell Me by Jessica Lea Mayfield

"Boring?" With her lazy country drawl, Mayfield even sounds bored. And, enough with celebrity producers [the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach] already.
Boring? Mayfield's tales of the disappointments of love and sex are as old as pop music, but she breathes new life into an old formula. The choice of Auerbach as producer was key because he took what would have otherwise been simple folk songs (check out Mayfield's acoustic performances on YouTube) and turns them into something stranger.

4. Dancer Equired by Times New Viking

"Boring?" The only thing more dull than a highly produced, virtuosic performance is a low-fi, messy one.
Boring? Times New Viking's first few albums were nearly drowned in tape hiss, but on Dancer Equired they clean things up just enough that you can actually hear how good the melodies are. They raise the standard of rough-around-the-edges rock to a level not seen since the mid-80s glory days of New Zealand's Fly Nun label. Besides, you've got to love a band that appreciates a good font pun.

3. Scandalous by Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears

"Boring?" Whether it be Amy Winehouse, Adele or Sharon Jones, the proponents of "neo-Soul" are just reusing decades-old ideas.
Boring? Are you a fan of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and James Brown? Have you ever wished that there was one more classic, gritty late-60s Stax artist out there? Then, this is your lucky day. While there is very little to tip you off that Scandalous was recorded in 2011 rather than 1968, that's hardly a bad thing with music as good as this. "Booty City" may well be the most fun three minutes of the year.

2. Unknown Mortal Orchestra by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

"Boring?" UMO's Ruben Nielson recorded many of these songs in his basement, and it sounds that way. Call us back when you've booked a studio little man.
Boring? While some home recorded projects can be unnecessarily limiting, and some neo-psychedelia too self-consciously spacey, Nielson avoids these pitfalls and creates fun, danceable and appealingly off-kilter tunes that I returned to again and again this year.

1. Wild Flag by Wild Flag

"Boring?" Remember how great Asia, The Firm, and Power Station were? No? That's because the entire concept of the "supergroup" is the most tiresome in the history of rock. Just a bunch of huge egos trying to play over each other and relive past glories.
Boring? Are you kidding? With members from Sleater-Kinney, Helium, and the Minders, Wild Flag proves that the whole can in fact be greater than the sum of its parts (I know...cliches are boring.). It's true that Wild Flag sometimes repeats the glories of its component bands. "Racehorse" sounds a lot like a Sleater-Kinney tune and "Black Tiles" is definitely Helium infused (as if there's something wrong with that). And occasionally, as on "Glass Tambourine" you can hear all the parts working as as cohesive whole. And, once you've seen them live, you realize that this is the most exciting music to come out this year. Well, at least I did.

Song of the day: "Butterfly" by Delicate Steve

2011-12-15T10:54:00.000-08:00

I don't typically pick all-instrumental tracks for my songs of the day, but this Delicate Steve tune is at points breezy and exciting and the video well worth watching even with the sound down.

Song of the day: "Into the Trees" by Still Corners

2011-12-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

This London quartet really plays up its psychedelic roots on their new video.

Song of the day: "Chains of Love" by Ryan Adams

2011-12-12T09:37:00.001-08:00

Ryan Adams' new album, "Ashes & Fire" is good, but live acoustic versions of the songs from that album are even better.

Song of the day: "Sunny Guy" by Paul Brill

2011-12-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

New York singer-songwriter Paul Brill's new song goes down like a tall glass of Wilco with a T-Rex chaser.

Song of the day: "Gold on the Ceiling" by The Black Keys

2011-12-08T09:47:00.001-08:00

Seven albums in with three Grammys to their name and still The Black Keys don't suck. How is that even possible? The new album, El Camino, dropped on Tuesday and it's great.

Song of the day: "Swimsuit" by Oregon Bike Trails

2011-12-07T09:25:00.000-08:00

I can only tell you two things about Oregon Bike Trails:

1) They're from Santa Monica, California.

2) Their music is catchy as all get out.

Isn't that enough?

Cover version of the week: "Baby It's You" by Anna Calvi

2011-12-06T09:28:00.000-08:00

The Shirelles original is already a melancholy affair, but Anna Calvi's is even more stark, slowing things down and replacing the "sha-la-la's" with delicate guitar work.

Check out the original here: http://youtu.be/dJ9lGjZQ46I.

Adele's more orthodox cover is also worth a listen.

Song of the day: "You Yes You" by tUnE-yArDs

2011-12-05T09:23:00.000-08:00

The quirky, herky-jerky thrills of Ms. Merill Garbus and company.

Song of the day: "What Faces the Sheet" by Woods

2011-12-03T07:56:00.001-08:00

Delightful stuff from this decidedly '60s-retro Brooklyn outfit.

Song of the day: "Mazes" by Moon Duo

2011-12-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

Get lost in it.

Song of the day: "Feeling You Got" by El Rego

2011-12-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

Benin's Theophile Do Rego was an important figure in the Afro-funk scene of the late '60s/early '70s, and he's now getting his due with a smoking new compilation from Daptone Records.

Cover version of the week: "Strange Powers" by The Shins

2011-11-30T10:57:00.000-08:00

This one contrasts nicely with the Magnetic Fields' original. Sardonic Stephin Merritt is able to get away with worldly images like "under more stars than there are prostitutes in Thailand" in a way that eludes the bright-eyed-bushy-tailed tenor of the Shins' James Mercer. And, the Fields' patented buzzy arrangements are replaced by airy acoustic guitars.

Here's the original:

Song of the day: "Raymond Chandler Evening" by Robyn Hitchcock

2011-11-29T09:45:00.001-08:00

What's your favorite rainy day song?

Song of the day: "She Loves Me That Way" by Grouper

2011-11-28T09:16:00.000-08:00

Grouper is a one-woman ambient powerhouse (I know, a contradiction in terms) from Portland, Oregon. Liz Harris' delicate tunes remind me of the Cocteau Twins at their best. (If, at this point, you ask, "Who the hell are the Cocteau Twins?" I'd suggest that you need a strong dose of 1984's Treasure stat!)

Song of the day: "Buy Nothing Day" by The Go! Team

2011-11-25T07:52:00.000-08:00

According to the LA Times, a Wal-Mart shopper used pepper spray "to gain preferred access to a variety of locations in the store....She was competitive shopping." I think I'll stay home.

Song of the day: "Slashed Wrists This Christmas" by Gruff Rhys

2011-11-23T10:44:00.000-08:00

There's nothing that brings out the Scrooge in me faster than the canned Christmas music playing non-stop in stores this time of year. Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys feels my pain and has recorded a somewhat twisted antidote to all this faux holiday cheer. The "Athiest Xmas EP" will be released next month, and here's a wryly depressive preview. Listen here.

Song of the day: "We Bros" by WU LYF

2011-11-22T09:26:00.000-08:00

This song--and especially this video--should be the the unofficial (there wouldn't be an official one, would there?) theme of Occupy Wall Street. Perhaps overly earnest and heavy handed, but exciting and with its heart in the right place.

Song of the day: "Secretary Song" by The Go! Team

2011-11-21T09:35:00.001-08:00

I regularly trade CD mixes with 2 other music fanatics. Our taste overlaps, but there are some differences: one of us has a tendency toward folk/roots rock, another likes slightly more experimental/out there stuff, and a third gravitates toward poppy, hook-filled tunes. Guess which one is me. Here's a clue...

Song of the day: "Lyin' Girl" by Reigning Sound

2011-11-19T09:36:00.000-08:00

Sometimes art and commerce can work together just fine. Scion, the Toyota brand aimed at the youngsters, wants to increase its street cred, so it offers free garage rock zines and mp3s. Garage rock...get it? Anyhow, they're currently offering a new ep by talented neo-garage band Reigning Sound. Play it with the windows rolled down. Listen here.

Song of the day: "Short Version" by Wild Flag

2011-11-17T09:55:00.000-08:00

Wild Flag's debut album is just great, but you really have to see them in concert to fully experience the "wild" part. They played a set at SXSW earlier this year and NPR has six songs online. "Shorter Version" starts at 3:30.

Song of the day: "Mary" by Yellow Ostrich

2011-11-16T10:51:00.001-08:00

A tremendous folk-pop tune with a surprise punchline at the 3 minute mark. The interpretive dance-filled video captures it perfectly. Don't bury your head in the sand for this one.

Yellow Ostrich - "Mary (Alternate)" from stereogum on Vimeo.

Song of the day: "Lulla" by Tinariwen

2011-11-15T09:25:00.000-08:00

Seeing this group of nomads from the southern Sahara perform late tonight at the 930 Club. Some shows are worth staying up for.

Song of the day: "Secret Mobilization" by Deerhoof

2011-11-14T10:01:00.000-08:00

"This is not based on a true story," sings Satomi Matsuzaki at the beginning of this song. Still, I wasn't sure this was accurate until the extraterrestrial drives off in the Volvo at the end.

Song of the day: "Origins" by Tennis

2011-11-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

Husband-and-wife team Tennis released their first album in January. "Cape Dory" was a breezy, nostalgic recounting of a 7 month sailing trip that they took after they got married. "Cape Dory" was great, but this new single suggests that there are even better songs in store. Tennis, anyone?

Song of the day: "The Same Thing" by Cass McCombs

2011-11-09T09:55:00.001-08:00

Singer-songwriter McCombs has released 2 albums this year. "Wit's End," which came out in April, was a somber affair, but "Humor Risk," which dropped yesterday, is poppier and all the better for it. He should risk humor more often.

Song of the day: "It's Real" by Real Estate

2011-11-07T09:19:00.001-08:00

4 our of 5 dog lovers recommend Real Estate to their friends who like jangly indie rock.

Song of the day: "The Last Line" by Tammar

2011-11-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

A drone-y good time.

Song of the day: "Forcefield" by Beck

2011-11-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

The year was 1994 and the name "Beck" was on everyone's lips because of a song called "Loser." If you'd asked me at the time, I would have predicted he'd be a one-hit wonder. And yet, a few months later he released the amazing "One Foot In The Grave," featuring this haunting track.

Cover version of the week: "When You Were Mine" by John Heart Jackie

2011-11-02T09:51:00.001-07:00

A minimalist but heartfelt take on this Prince standard from 1980's "Dirty Mind." Extra credit to vocalist Jennie Wayne for not conventionalizing the gender in the lyrics by changing the she's to he's. Listen here.

Song of the day: "I'm Not Ready" by Surfer Blood

2011-11-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

Beg to differ...Surfer Blood *is* ready.

Song of the day: "Mood and Dress" by Laughing Man

2011-10-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Searching far and wide for new and interesting music, I sometimes miss what is right under my nose. Laughing Man is a DC trio whose first album came out last year. Don't be surprised if lead singer Brandon Moses' voice quivers and quavers its way past your eardrum and into your brain's pleasure center.

Song of the day: "Lonely Boy" by The Black Keys

2011-10-27T09:17:00.001-07:00

Some have said that all The Black Keys stuff sounds the same. While I might dispute that, I'm not sure that this would be such a bad thing in the Keys' case.

Song of the day: "Sometimes" by the Bandana Splits

2011-10-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

The video, costumes and harmonies suggest a latter day Andrews Sisters but this very catchy tune is as much a child of the '60s as it is of the '40s.

Song of the day: "Life" by Chocolate Genius

2011-10-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

Marc Anthony Thomas has been releasing soulful music under the Chocolate Genius moniker since 1998. His grim, jazz-inflected "Life" was also the last thing you heard when watching "Breaking Bad," season 2.

Song of the day: "Green Aisles" by Real Estate

2011-10-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

Is there something in the water in New Jersey (something else, I mean). 3 decades ago, Hoboken's The Feelies set the standard for low-key, trancey melodicism. (Another Hoboken band, Yo La Tengo, is also gently droney in its quieter moments). And now, their is the Garden State's new favorite sons, Real Estate, offering a similar mellow, melodic aesthetic. Their 2nd album is out today.

Cover version of the week: "Life on Mars?" by Seu Jorge

2011-10-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

This is my idea of what a good cover is all about: familiar yet distinct. Bowie's song is instantly recognizable, even in Portuguese. But, while the original was a proudly over-the-top production with a full orchestra, Jorge's cover is model of restraint--just an acoustic guitar and an amazing voice.

Here's the original:

Song of the day: "Kiss Your Lips" by Allo Darlin'

2011-10-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

A twee band needs a twee name, and perhaps even a twee naming story. Explains Allo Darlin's singer Elizabeth Morris: "I used to work near the market sellers in Soho. Every day I'd walk past and the old guys would yell out 'Allo darlin'' as they ashed into their fruit bowls. Seemed like it was our name."

Take 5: Five Songs About the Slammer

2011-09-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

I've been watching "Breaking Bad" of late. The DEA is on our hero's tail and it's only a matter of time before Walt ends up in the big house. With that in mind, here are five great songs about clink.

[Lists like this--and there are a lot of them online--almost invariably include Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues." Far be it from me to diss the Man in Black, but I picked 5 different songs.]

54-46 Was My Number by Toots & the Maytals
An autobiographical song about the consequences of Toots' tokes.

Neko Case: Prison Girls

I love your long shadows and your gunpower eyes.

Sam Cooke: Chain Gang

Never before has hard labor sounded so good.

Dum Dum Girls: Jail La La

When it's time for Dee Dee's phone call, she finds she can't remember anyone's number.

Zombies: Care of Cell 44

"Good morning to you. I hope you're feeling better baby," sings Colin Blunstone, and at first you think you're listening to your typical love song--albeit one with fantastic Beach Boys harmonies. Then comes the kicker: "We'll get to know each other for a second time. And then you can tell me 'bout your prison stay."

Song of the day: "Keys" by White Denim

2011-09-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

White Denim goes all over the place on their latest album. There nods to prog rock, classic rock, and psychedelia. But they save the best for last with this good-natured, melodic folk tune.

White Denim - Keys (live) by BlastroNetworks

Song of the day: "Art of Almost" by Wilco

2011-09-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

Keep Wilco weird.

Song of the day: "Bedroom Eyes" by Dum Dum Girls

2011-09-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

The new video from Dee Dee and company looks like Josie & the Pussycats and sounds like the Pretenders.

Song of the day: "Get It While You Can" by Howard Tate

2011-09-25T12:14:00.000-07:00

The All Music Guide says Howard Tate is "highly regarded by soul music cultists and virtually unknown by anybody else." It's time for you to join the cult. Here he is doing the original version of the heartbreaking "Get It While You Can," later performed by Janis Joplin.

Have a soulful Sunday.

Song of the day: "I'm Getting Ready" by Michael Kiwanuka

2011-09-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

Kiwanuka, the 23-year-old son of Ugandan immigrants has been causing quite a stir in the U.K., where he opened for Adele on her last tour. Truly lovely.

Song of the day: "Jungle" by Ganglians

2011-09-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

On their MySpace (remember MySpace?) page, Ganglians claim to sound like a combination of Milton Bradley and capers. Does this mean they commit crimes via Twister? Or perhaps they sell all the unripened flower buds that they've collected during Life to the orphanage at the end of the game?

Or maybe, just maybe, I'm reading too much into this.

Song of the day: "Was It Worth It" by Summer Camp

2011-09-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

I love the idea of the Black Cab Sessions. Artists perform as best they can in a moving cab. The limitation breaks some bands, and reveals hidden strengths in others. The UK's Summer Camp often relies on cheesy keyboards and drum machines, but here it's all down to Elizabeth Sankey's kick ass vocals.

Summer Camp from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

Song of the day: "Ashes and Fire" by Ryan Adams

2011-09-19T09:16:00.000-07:00

Adams has always been an exciting performer, but consistency has never really been his bag--until now. All of the promotional tracks for his upcoming album, "Ashes & Fire," sound great! Here's the title track.

Sincerest Form: 5 Songs Indebted to Motown

2011-09-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Motown's heyday ended four decades ago, but artists continue put additions on the house Berry Gordy built. Some prime examples:

"Town Called Malice" by The Jam
This song, especially the bass and drum opening, is Paul Weller's homage to (some would say rip off of) of the Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love," though the angry pun in the title and "message" lyrics harken back to the band's punk past. Weller would soon go on to full-on Soul with the Style Council.

"If Looks Could Kill" by Camera Obscura
Another tribute to Holland-Dozier-Holland-penned girl group hits.

"Postcard to Nina" by Jens Lekman
The blue-eyed soul of the Rascals' "Groovin'" (not on Motown, but close enough!) is the touchstone here, though there weren't many songs from the Motown era with first lines like this one: "Nina I can be your boyfriend, so you can stay with your girlfriend."

"If It's True" by Yo La Tengo

Duets were big in Motown . Think Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell on "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" or "Ain't Nothing But the Real Thing." YLT's Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley don't have the vocal chops for that and sound more like Lou Reed and Mo Tucker, but they're charming nonetheless.

"When You Were My Baby" by The Magnetic Fields

Merge Records' head (and Superchunk frontman) Mac McCaughan perfectly described The Magnetic Fields' early sound as "lo-fi Motown -inflected Yaz."

Song of the day: "Honey Bunny" by Girls

2011-09-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

This has been a tremendous week for new releases: St. Vincent, Wild Flag, plus the new Girls album, featuring this surf-tastic opening track. Be cool, Honey Bunny!

Cover version of the week: "I Can't Go For That" by Bird and the Bee

2011-09-14T11:09:00.001-07:00

Last year, this duo produced an entire album of Hall & Oates covers and here's one I can definitely go for, especially when they sing that bridge: "I would do almost anything that you want me too-oo-oo." Plus, the very pregnant Inara George manages to shake it quite nicely here.

Song of the day: "I Want to Fall in Love" by NYC UFOs

2011-09-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Just came across a fabulous *free* 2010 album from the Massachusetts-based (go figure) NYC UFOs. I want to believe!

I Want To Fall In Love by NYC UFOs

Song of the day: "Holy Holy" by Wye O

2011-09-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

Extra credit to this fine Baltimore duo for lip syncing convincingly while while on stomach-churning carnival rides.

Song of the day: "Betty Wang" by Hospitality

2011-09-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

This winsome (using my trusty thesaurus today) Brooklyn quartet just signed with the fabulous Merge indie record label. Listen here.

Song of the day: "Romance" by Wild Flag

2011-09-07T09:49:00.001-07:00

A worthwhile "supergroup" is as rare as a square pie chart or a bright pink Volvo and yet Wild Flag--featuring musicians from Sleater-Kinney, Helium, and the Minders--is even more than the sum of its parts.

Song of the day: "Hooray for Tuesday" by The Minders

2011-09-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

The adjective "Beatlesque" was made for The Minders.

Song of the day: "Miranda" by Surfer Blood

2011-09-01T09:26:00.000-07:00

Big hooks from Surfer Blood's upcoming "Tarot Classics" ep. Can tunes about Carrie, Charlotte, and Samantha be far behind?

Song of the day: "Come on Over" by Veronica Falls

2011-08-31T09:38:00.000-07:00

VF describes their sound: "We love bands like Beat Happening, Velvet Underground, Galaxie 500 and Felt, but we also love over-emotionalism. We all originally bonded over the sinister sides to love songs from the '50s and '60s." The Velvets' influence is obvious from the first few seconds. And they name check "Crimson & Clover" for a taste of the sweetly sinister '60s.

Song of the day: "The Holograms" by Fol Chen

2011-08-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

I love this song, but the video, featuring the wonderfully-named actress Isabelle Albuquerque in multiple roles, is a bit of a mystery.

Song of the day: "Cruel" by St. Vincent

2011-08-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

2011 is shaping up to be St. Vincent's year. After two critically-acclaimed albums, she's getting mainstream attention with the cover of Spin, plus TV appearances on the Late Show (tonight!) and elsewhere. Her new album, Strange Mercy, drops on 9/13 and if the early tracks are any indication, it's going to be fantastic.

Song of the day: "Irene" by Caetano Veloso

2011-08-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

The New Yorker has a playlist for Hurricane Irene and I have to quibble with some of the choices. (The Carpenters for "The Storm of the Century"? Please.) Let me suggest this playful tune instead. Caetano named "Irene" after a criminal's "laughing" machine gun.

Enjoy and, if you're in Irene's path, stay safe.

Song of the day: Tenere Taqqim Tossam" by Tinariwen

2011-08-20T09:07:00.001-07:00

Music from a group of south Saharan nomads, here with an able assist from TV on the Radio's Kyp Malone. Though with no fixed address, they'll be visiting DC in October!

Song of the day: "Living With Ghosts" by Smoke Fairies

2011-08-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

It's like a Black Keys tune sung by English choir girls.

Song of the day: "Come to the City" by The War on Drugs

2011-08-18T10:10:00.000-07:00

This Philly band is often compared to Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, and even The Boss, but in this anthemic track off their new album, I hear shades of U2's "Bad," particularly when frontman Adam Granduciel sings "Woo hoo!" It's kind of appropriate that the U2 song was about addiction. Just say yes to The War on Drugs.

Cover version of the week: "Different Names for the Same Thing" by Frightened Rabbit

2011-08-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

Death Cab for Cutie tour mate Scott Hutchison (the leader of Frightened Rabbit) turns a somber piano-based ballad into melancholic guitar pop. Somber or melancholic? They're different names for the same thing.

Listen to the Death Cab original:

Song of the day: "Taste My Dream" by Razika

2011-08-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

This weekend, the New York Times highlighted this Norwegian all-female quartet. Far be it from me to be so indie that I ignore good suggestions from the mainstream media! Razika's ska is delightful and I especially like this track with the "Lady Madonna" reference front and center. Listen here.

Song of the day: "Everybody's Going to the Love-In" by Bob Brady & The Con-Chords

2011-08-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

If you're on the lookout for unsung soul from the '60s and '70s, check out Clifton's Corner, a new feature on the Aquarium Drunkard blog (http://tinyurl.com/3huke8h). Each week DJ Soft Touch picks out 10 obscure nuggets for your listening pleasure, like this one with the Smokey Robinson falsetto.

Song of the day: "Grown Man"

2011-08-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

Jessica Lea Mayfield, a 21-year-old singer-songwriter with mournful lyrics and an arresting drawl, was discovered by the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. Auerbach produced her new album, released earlier this year and, while the synth-pop version of this song is appealing, I prefer this stripped down live version:

Here's the studio version:

Cover version of the week: "Don't Stop Believin'" by Petra Haden

2011-08-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

Stereogum reports that this Journey anthem is now 30 years old! Let's put that in perspective. My wife made an "I [heart] Journey" ashtray in her elementary school art class--back when making an ashtray was considered an appropriate kids' craft project.

While many bands have covered this song over the years, Petra Haden's a capella cover version is a true standout.

Song of the day: "Dressed in Black" by Balkans

2011-08-08T10:37:00.001-07:00

I'm assuming that cutting off the heads of all the performers in this Atlanta indie band's video is a statement of some sort (down with the cult of personality?!), but I suppose they could just have a rotten photographer. Regardless, the song pops along nicely.

Song of the day: "Who Knows" by Marion Black

2011-08-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

While everyone who listens to soul music is familiar with Motown and Stax, the Numero Group's "Eccentric Soul" series presents an alternative history of R&B, featuring great songs from obscure labels and artists. Here is Marion Black off of Columbus, Ohio's Capsoul label. Wishing you a soulful Sunday.

Song of the day: "The Heart Is Willing" by A.A. Bondy

2011-08-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

NPR notes that this song has "a sense of the macabre. But the question of whether this is an unrequited love song or something a bit more sinister is left unanswered." Bondy's new album drops Sept. 13. Listen here.

Song of the day: "An Argument with Myself" by Jens Lekman

2011-08-04T09:14:00.001-07:00

When arguing with yourself, you can be assured of having the last word! Listen here.

This song will be on Jens' new EP, out in September. And he's touring this fall.

Song of the day: "Kiss Me Quick" by Asi Mina

2011-08-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

I don't know much about experimental Polish artist Asi Mina, just what is written on her badly-translated Last FM profile (which asserts, "To her joy, a bottomless pit"--nothing wrong with that). But I do know that this is an awfully charming 1 minute 38 seconds. Listen here.

Song of the day: "Our Deal" by Best Coast

2011-08-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

This has been a song of the day before, but I'm posting again because of the Drew Barrymore-directed video. If you love "West Side Story" or dig "Kick Ass'" Chloe Moretz, or have a crush on your Cousin Maeby, this one is for you.

Get More: MTV Supervideo, Music, Best Coast

Song of the day: "Gangsta" by tUnE-yArDs

2011-08-01T09:21:00.001-07:00

What's a boy to do if he'll never be a gangsta?

Song of the day: "Breakthrough" by The Funkees

2011-07-31T16:25:00.000-07:00

The U.K. indie label Soundway is "dedicated to re-releasing lost and forgotten recordings from the world's most vibrant musical cultures." This Funkees (and funky!) track comes from the 2010 compilation, "The World Ends: Afro-rock and Psychedelia in 1970s Nigeria"

Song of the day: "Two Cousins" by Slow Club

2011-07-30T07:29:00.000-07:00

Tremendous! Everybody dance...

Song of the day: "Surgeon" by St. Vincent

2011-07-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

St. Vincent's "Actor" was easily one of my favorite CDs of 2009 and, if this first cut is any indication, "Strange Mercy," which comes out Sept. 12th will top my list again this year.

The series of teaser videos promoting the album are also entertaining. Check them out here.

Song of the day: "All My Friends" by LCD Soundsystem

2011-07-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

My 9-year-old nephew's musical taste has gone off the rails in recent months. However, he's obsessed with LEGOs, so I'm hoping that this all-LEGO remake of LCD's "All My Friends" video will prove to be an entry drug into a world of better tunes.

Here's the original:

Song of the day: "Money" by The Drums

2011-07-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

The Drums are so money and they don't even know it--okay maybe they do.

The Drums - Money from Tim Heinrich on Vimeo.

Song of the day: "You and Who's Army?" by Radiohead

2011-07-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

I saw the amazing, gut-wrenching film Incendies this weekend. It uses this Radiohead song to powerful effect.

Song of the day: "Alien Observer" by Grouper

2011-07-21T10:49:00.001-07:00

With the mercury set to top 100° in DC today, I went with one of the chilliest songs I could think of. Paradoxically, it does not leave me cold.

Song of the day: "Helpless Dancer" by The Who

2011-07-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

AV Club has an entertaining feature called "24 songs about dancing that you can't dance to."

To that list, I'd add The Who's "Helpless Dancer," which with its jerky rhythm and flamenco flourishes is impossible to cut the rug to. Check out the actual dancing in this video and you'll see how out of place it is.

Another candidate is Liz Phair's "Dance of the Seven Veils," the most disconcerting slow dance ever.