Top Ten Songs of the Week 11/1/10
Our weekly, Kasey Kasem-inspired luddite DIY version of a podcast is a little late again, sorry, we’ll try to have next week’s for you on Tuesdays like we usually do. Every week, we try to mix it up, offer a little something for everyone: sad songs, funny songs, upbeat songs, quieter stuff, you name it. We’ve designed this as something you can do on your lunch break if you work at a computer (and you have headphones – your boss won’t approve of a lot of this stuff). If you don’t like one of these songs, you can always go on to the next one: every link here will take you to each individual song. As always, the #1 song here will appear on our Best Songs of 2010 list at the end of the year.
1. The Toneballs – Chelsea Clinton Knows
Characteristically incisive lyrical rock from Dan Sallitt’s jangly post Blow This Nightclub crew. They slayed with this a couple of weeks ago at the Parkside.
2. Annabouboula – Opium Bride
Psychedelic Greek rebetika surf/dance rock with sultry female vocals. They’ve got a long-awaited new album out and it’s great.
3. The Del Lords – When the Drugs Kick In
The legendary 80s Americana rockers’ first new song in 20 years, and it was worth the wait.
4. The Visitors – Living World
The New Race garage-punk classic recorded live 2008 via thebarmansrant.
5. Para – Roboti
Quirky, catchy Slovakian 80s flavored rock. They’re at Drom 11/17 at 9.
6. Copal – Shadows
One-chord jams don’t get any cooler than this hypnotic, trippy violin/cello Middle Eastern dance-rock vamp. From their excellent new album. They’re at Drom tonight at 10 if you’re in the mood to get out of the rain and dance.
7. Meg Reichardt – Frozen Toe Blues
The Roulette Sister and Chaud Lapin on a rare solo jaunt doing a typically irresistible oldtimey blues number.
8. Jeremy Messersmith – A Boy, a Girl and a Graveyard
This is the Tattooine guy, Elliott Smith style.
9. Cee-Lo Green – Fuck You
We couldn’t let the year go by without at least giving this one a mention. C’mon, you know you love it.
10. Buffalo Springfield – Burned
From the initial reunion show by the 60s psychedelic pop/Americana rock legends – this is with Neil on vocals, live via Leftsetz.
Top Ten Songs of the Week 10/18/10
This is sort of our weekly, Kasey Kasem-inspired luddite DIY version of a podcast. Every week, we try to mix it up, offer a little something for everyone: sad songs, funny songs, upbeat songs, quieter stuff, you name it. We’ve designed this as something you can do on your lunch break if you work at a computer (and you have headphones – your boss won’t approve of a lot of this stuff). If you don’t like one of these songs, you can always go on to the next one: every link here will take you to each individual song. As always, the #1 song here will appear on our Best Songs of 2010 list at the end of the year.
1. Norden Bombsight – Altercation
Nightmarish, twisting, turning art-rock anthem, another killer cut from their Pinto cd.
2. Randi Russo – Battle on the Periphery
A 2006 classic, newly streaming on hew new bandcamp site, where you can hear 25 more of the intense rock siren’s songs. Her forthcoming album Fragile Animal promises to be as wild and intense as her 2002 classic Solar Bipolar.
3. LJ Murphy – Another Lesson I Never Learned
Radically yet subtly reworked version of one of the literate, NYC noir rockers’ songs that topped the charts here in 2007. Scroll down for the video
4. Victoire – Cathedral City
Lush, swirling, psychedelic, atmospheric title track to Missy Mazzoli’s art-rock band’s deliriously enjoyable new album.
5. Los Shapis – El Aguajal
Classic surfy Peruvian chicha rock number from the early 70s, re-released on the Roots of Chicha 2 compilation.
6. The Moonlighters – I’m Still in Love with You
Charming, romantic oldtimey harmony swing: cool video by Nina Paley of Mimi & Eunice fame.
7. Benjamin Verdery plays Couperin’s Mysterious Barricades.
The pianist has a Carnegie Hall gig coming up and this is typical.
8. The Mast – Wild Poppies
Smart, edgy, jangly, minimal Randi Russo style literate rock from rocker Haale’s band.
9. Spectrals – Peppermint
The Smiths gone noir – the swishy singer is kind of annoying but the surfy guitar is delicious.
10. The Giving Tree Band – Red Leaves
More tasty retro acoustic Americana from these guys.
Top Ten Songs of the Week 10/11/10
This is sort of our weekly, Kasey Kasem-inspired luddite DIY version of a podcast. Every week, we try to mix it up, offer a little something for everyone: sad songs, funny songs, upbeat songs, quieter stuff, you name it. We’ve designed this as something you can do on your lunch break if you work at a computer (and you have headphones – your boss won’t approve of a lot of this stuff). If you don’t like one of these songs, you can always go on to the next one: every link here will take you to each individual song. As always, the #1 song here will appear on our Best Songs of 2010 list at the end of the year.
1. Norden Bombsight – Snakes
Still can’t get enough of their careening art-rock intensity. This might be the best track on their most recent album Pinto, which you’ll see when we do our 50 Best Albums of the year list.
2. Los Neuronautas – Congregacion
Hypnotic tuneful minimalist post Joy Div rock from this Queens band.
3. The Whispering Tree – Go Call the Captain
Title track from their excellent new Nashville gothic album.
4. The Thrift Store Cowboys – Scary Weeds
Southwestern gothic 6/8 ballad, totally Walkabouts – Amanda Shires’ vocals channel Carla Torgerson.
5. Kelli Rudick – Blood & Honey
Stately 6/8 twelve-string guitar instrumental – art-rock dirge meets the baroque
6. Jonny Rumble – Crapola
Catchy snarling anticonformist rock smash.
7. Francis Cabrel – Encore et Encore
We had a list of 2000 or so songs that didn’t end up making the cut for the alltime best 666 songs list that we just finished this past summer. This is one of them, from back in the 80s: “Tu t’arranges pour eviter le miroir.”
8. Jessica Pavone – Cast of Characters
Alternately explosive and ambient violin/guitar rock instrumental – characteristically fun and intense.
9. Elizabeth & the Catapult – I Can Always Dream
Dark intelligent NYC indie pop, live on Daytrotter.
10. Jordan Reyne – The Brave
Rustic New Zealand gothic. Pretty cool Blair Witch video too.
Top Ten Songs of the Week 9/27/10
This is sort of our weekly, Kasey Kasem-inspired luddite DIY version of a podcast. Every week, we try to mix it up, offer a little something for everyone: sad songs, funny songs, upbeat songs, quieter stuff, you name it. We’ve designed this as something you can do on your lunch break if you work at a computer (and you have headphones – your boss won’t approve of a lot of this stuff). If you don’t like one of these songs, you can always go on to the next one: every link here will take you to each individual song. As always, the #1 song here will appear on our Best Songs of 2010 list at the end of the year.
1. Norden Bombsight – Raven
Macabre art-rock menace from the Brooklyn band’s brilliant album Pinto – the possibly only song ever to immortalize West Haven, Connecticut.
2. Ana Popovic – You Complete Me
Balkan blues guitar genius. Can’t believe she isn’t better known in the US – amazing stuff
3. Hot Rize – Diamond Joe
The bluegrass classic – the band are back together with a new guitarist after a ten year hiatus
4. The Thrift Store Cowboys – 7s and 9s
Southwestern gothic, Wilco meets the Walkabouts.
5. Open Ocean – Daydreaming
The Cocteau Twins visit Twin Peaks, Washington. They’re at the Convent of St. Cecilia’s, 21 Monitor St. in Greenpoint sometime on 10/23.
6. Jessica Pavone – I Must Have Done Something Karmically to Deserve This
Catchy/abrasive/ethereal violin rock groove – dynamics central.
7. Kyle Eastwood – Andalucia
Clint’s jazz bassist kid – music runs in the family. That’s Jim Rotondi on trumpet.
8. The Salesmen – She’s So Punctual
Funny retro new wave hit by these subversive, theatrical Pac NW rockers.
9. Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds – Just My Eyes
Country swing with a Memphis soul tinge. They’re at the big room at the Rockwood on 10/23.
10. Darker My Love – Backseat
Perfect Rutles-esque Beatles ripoff.
Top Ten Songs of the Week 9/20/10
This is sort of our weekly, Kasey Kasem-inspired luddite DIY version of a podcast. Every week, we try to mix it up, offer a little something for everyone: sad songs, funny songs, upbeat songs, quieter stuff, you name it. We’ve designed this as something you can do on your lunch break if you work at a computer (and you have headphones – your boss won’t approve of a lot of this stuff). If you don’t like one of these songs, you can always go on to the next one: every link here (except for #1 this week) will take you to each individual song. As always, the #1 song here will appear on our Best Songs of 2010 list at the end of the year.
1. Klezwoods – Cuperlika
Centerpiece of the Balkan/klezmer/Middle Eastern band’s titanicallly good new cd Oy Yeah. Put it up on the web somewhere guys, you’ll sell a lot more records!
2. Serena Jost – Stay
Characteristically stark and compelling solo cello art-rock song from her forthcoming cd.
3. Band of Outsiders – Graveyard
Absolutely off the hook post-Velvets guitar madness, live at the Parkside this year. They’re at Bowery Electric on 9/23 at 10 opening for Richard Lloyd.
4. Ninth House – Down Beneath
Frontman Mark Sinnis was making this video in a cemetery in upstate New York when he noticed that the seemingly random grave he’d chosen to lie on belonged to one Mary Ann Larson, who died on Sinnis’ birthday in 1853. Coincidence? The band play the cd release show for their new one on 9/24 at at UC 87 Lounge, 87 Ludlow St. at 11.
5. Amy Bezunartea – Doubles
Hang with this – it’s worth your 3 minutes. Not your average girl with acoustic guitar, described by her label (Jennifer O’Connor’s project Kiam) as “kind of Joni meets Magnetic Fields” but better. Free download.
6. Zikrayat – Ish-Showq Mihayyarni
Classic obscure 50s Egyptian film music from the movie ‘Aziza’ starring Naima Akif, live at Galapagos last year. The song starts about 1:20 into the clip. They’re at Moustache (Lex and 102nd) at 8 PM on 9/24.
7. The Poludaktulos Orchestra – Rajkos
Brass band intensity – the missing link between Greece and Serbia, with Klezwoods’ amazing guitarist.
8. Gertrude Michael – Sweet Marijuana
Via night of the purple moon – precode movie music from 1934.
9. Amanda Thorpe – River Song
The dodgy sound reflects the crappy venue this was recorded at, but Thorpe’s voice transcends it – a classic that sounds as good as it did a couple of years ago.
10. Los Incas Modernos – Terremoto
An early Peruvian surf band – you can get lost in this stuff on youtube.
Top Ten Songs of the Week 9/13/10
This is sort of our weekly, Kasey Kasem-inspired luddite DIY version of a podcast. Every week, we try to mix it up, offer a little something for everyone: sad songs, funny songs, upbeat songs, quieter stuff, you name it. We’ve designed this as something you can do on your lunch break if you work at a computer (and you have headphones – your boss won’t approve of a lot of this stuff). If you don’t like one of these songs, you can always go on to the next one: every link here will take you to each individual song. As always, the #1 song here will appear on our Best Songs of 2010 list at the end of the year.
1. Botanica – Who You Are
The lure of comfort and complacency punctured with vivid, characteristically savage skill by this era’s greatest art-rock band, the title track from their shockingly diverse latest album. Click the link and then on the music player in the upper righthand corner of the page.
2. Serena Jost – A Bird Will Sing
Intriguing solo version of the title track to the art-rock siren’s forthcoming album. In case you’d rather hear the finished version sooner than later you can always contribute to her kickstarter campaign.
3. Brass Menazeri – Da Zna Zora
Wild live version of a Serbian folksong by the blazing Bay Area brass band.
4. Gamelan Dharma Swara – Tour Medley 2010
New York’s own community gamelan orchestra went on competition tour to Bali this past summer: this is a series of hypnotic, beguiling excerpts from those performances, including Tabuh Pisan Bangun Anyar, the rarely played Kebyar Legong, Sikut Sanga and Sudamala. Scroll down to the “listen” link on the left side of the page. They’re playing the Fat Cat on 10/24 at 8.
5. Matthew McCright – Dance Prelude #3
Scroll down to hear the Minnesota pianist have a great time with a ragtime song that sounds like vintage Scott Joplin – but it’s a brand new piece by Daniel Nass. He’ll be playing this possibly at Merkin Hall on 9/25 at 8.
6. The Black Angels – The Sniper/Bad Vibrations
Deliciously rever-drenched, dark garage stuff from their new album Phosphene Dream, recorded live at a secret show at the Orensanz Center last week.
7. Carl Wayne – Midnight Blue
A rare b-side from 1983 – the late frontman of the Move finds the inner pop gem in a song bastardized in its only previous appearance on ELO’s Discovery album.
8. The Mike Baggetta Quartet – Olive Tree
The noir-tinged jazz guitarist and his combo in warm lyrical mode.
9. Radio I Ching – untitled
This is free jazz legend/impresario Dee Pop’s latest crazy project – this is a dark and twistedly cool dub reggae tune.
10. Christian Marclay compositions streaming live at the Whitney
In case you’ve gotten over to the Whitney Museum recently (we haven’t), they’re doing a Christian Marclay retrospective there year and streaming it live. The next one is at 1 PM on the 15th and features accordionist Guy Klucevsek.
Top Ten Songs of the Week 9/6/10
This is sort of our weekly, Kasey Kasem-inspired luddite DIY version of a podcast. Every week, we try to mix it up, offer a little something for everyone: sad songs, funny songs, upbeat songs, quieter stuff, you name it. We’ve designed this as something you can do on your lunch break if you work at a computer (and you have headphones – your boss won’t approve of a lot of this stuff). If you don’t like one of these songs, you can always go on to the next one: every link here will take you to each individual song. As always, the #1 song here will appear on our Best Songs of 2010 list at the end of the year.
1.Tom Warnick & the World’s Fair – No Longer Gage
From his new album The Great Escape, this is the lurid, creepy tale of 1800s Vermont railroadman Phineas Gage, who took a blasting rod through the skull and lived – but was never the same. The song relates what happened.
2. Serena Jost – Great Conclusions
Characteristically smart, majestic art-rock from the New York cellist/chanteuse. She has a kickstarter campaign going on in case you feel like assuaging your bourgeois guilt and contributing to the fund for her next album.
3. Clinic – I’m Aware
Free download – 60s psychedelic chamber pop from their shockingly mellow forthcoming album Bubblegum
4. Bobtown – Shadow of the Mountain
Click on the video with the vinyl record for a fun oldtimey treat.
5. LJ Murphy – Nowhere Now
Casually intense live version of a standout track from his classic 2006 album Mad Within Reason. He’s at Theatre 86 St. Mark’s at 7 on Friday the 10th.
6. The Snow – Handle Your Weapon
A soul song for a would-be suicide from this magnificent art-rock crew’s latest album I Die Every Night.
7. The Dixons – Thanks a Lot
Real oldschool Bakersfield country music from 1964 – except that this is Brooklyn 2010. Unbelievable. They’re at Union Pool on 9/8 at 10.
8. Garfunkel & Oates – Worst Song Medley
Even if you try to hide from top 40 radio you’ll recognize some of these from the supermarket. And they are awful. And the two girls singing them are hilarious.
9. The Giving Tree Band – Circles
Cool bluegrass/roots kiss-off song – a lot like M Shanghai String Band.
10. Bad Cop – I’m in Lust with You
Completely sick unhinged noise guitar madness. Not for fans of melody. They’re at Don Pedro’s on 9/25 and look like they’d be a lot of fun.
Top Ten Songs of the Week 8/31/10
This is sort of our weekly, Kasey Kasem-inspired luddite DIY version of a podcast. Every week, we try to mix it up, offer a little something for everyone: sad songs, funny songs, upbeat songs, quieter stuff, you name it. We’ve designed this as something you can do on your lunch break if you work at a computer (and you have headphones – your boss won’t approve of a lot of this stuff). If you don’t like one of these songs, you can always go on to the next one: every link here will take you to each individual song. As always, the #1 song here will appear on our Best Songs of 2010 list at the end of the year.
1. Paula Carino – The Great Depression
One of the sharp literate janglerocker’s catchiest songs, from her new cd Open on Sunday, strong contender for best album of 2010.
2. Bern & the Brights – Sleepless Aristotle
Propulsive, fun, artsy guitar-and-violin rock from this unique band – it’s a live showstopper.
3. Tin Pan – Brooklyn of Old
Oldtimey anti-gentrification rant – absolutely brilliant.
4. Kuan – J
Groove-driven noiserock from Austin. Cool stuff.
5. The Spytones – Vendetta
Surf/spy instrumental menace from Finland. They’re at Otto’s on 9/4 at 10.
6. Darker My Love – She Lives in a Time of Her Own
Garage rock – as the title would imply, not the lite stuff.
7. The Devil Makes Three – For Good Again
Original bluegrass – funny as hell, recorded live on Daytrotter.
8. The Romany Rye – Brother
Genuinely pretty Neil Young-style Americana rock with a killer guitar solo – another Daytrotter session.
9. The Blaggards – Theme from a Summer Rental
Twisted surf cover of another theme you might know.
10. Alice J Austin – Everybody Loves a Narcissist Especially You
Like the first New Pornographers album – funny and cool.
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