George Thorogood and the Destroyers - 'I Drink Alone'

Here's a throwback Thursday post, inspired by a nightcap of rye whiskey (and by my fellow contributor Steve's closet favorite radio station, 95 KGGO).

There's something about pop culture that takes what's inherently cool, and then twists it and repackages it until it doesn't seem cool any longer.  A cliché.  That was always my relationship with George Thorogood and the Destroyers' biggest hit, "Bad to the Bone".

Granted, that song came out a whole year before I was born, but I grew up feeling like it was an "ode to being cool" that was really just pretty corny.

It's the type of song that's reserved for Harley Davidson rallies... no, not a Hell's Angels gathering, but more like an aging gang of American flag bandana-wearing financial planners who take a weekend to ride to Sturgis and drink one Michelob Ultra, because it has fewer calories and is still rather refreshing.

I even had a pair of boxer shorts as a kid that my mom bought from Pamida (anyone still with me?) that was covered in cartoonish skeletons and had a waistband that read, "Bad to the Bone".

You get my point.  But apparently I didn't get my own point recently when I found myself completely and utterly sucked in by one of G.T. and the Destroyers' other singles, "I Drink Alone".

There I was, cruising down a stretch of rural highway, when I quite randomly decided to switch to some classic FM rock radio.

I'd heard the song before, but I'd forgotten just how cool it actually was.  The dirty, blues-rock vibe of the song is undeniable.  Thorogood's voice has that distinctive grit and wail that really nails it on this song. The lyrics are simple, but witty and funny and delivered to perfection.  And then there's that saxophone solo. Seriously, what else do you need?  By the end of the song, I felt like I was Patrick Swayze doing flying kicks in Roadhouse.  It was invigorating.

The moral of this story is that much of what surrounds us deserves a fresh lease on life.  Take something old and look at it in a new way. You might be surprised how much you enjoy it.

Here's the video for "I Drink Alone" by George Thorogood and the Destroyers:

SOHN - 'Artifice'

I'm certainly a fan of London-based record label 4AD.

Artists such as Bon Iver, Iron & Wine and The National are some of the label's biggest acts to-date, but it's also been credited for breaking out lesser-known indie and electronic artists.

4AD started as a side-label to Beggars Banquet Records in 1979, and was popularized for releasing breakout albums by Bauhaus, Cocteau Twins and the Pixies in the 1980s.

But in recent years, the label has really hit a stride, signing some of independent music's brightest and most creative artists.

One artist on the label that deserves mention is SOHN.

An English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer, SOHN relocated to Vienna, Austria in 2010 to join the growing electronic music scene.  By 2012, he was signed to Aesop records, and a year later, to 4AD.

His debut album, Tremors, was released in April 2014 and features the lead single, "Artifice".

"Artifice" is a deeply atmospheric chillout session, played at dance-club pace.

It's layered with vibrant jungle rhythms, a haunting backdrop of electronic blips and keys and soulful vocals.

Fans of 4AD label-mates Purity Ring, Twin Shadow and Grimes should definitely give SOHN a chance.

The mysterious video for "Artifice" may be viewed below:




Visit sohnmusic.com for more information on this artist.

Artist Spotlight: Paul Sprawl

Paul Sprawl is an artist I learned about through another musical connection about a year-and-a-half ago, and his sound caught my attention right away.

Growing up listening to my father's Michael Hedges records, I've long felt a kinship to fingerstyle guitar.  The harmonic tapping of two hands on the neck of the guitar, drumming against the wood body of a hollow acoustic - there's a strange power I've always felt calming and beautiful.

Years later, I became a big fan of Minnesota guitarist Billy McLaughlin and his fingerstyle approach. I've been fortunate to see him play in intimate settings on several occasions and have been continually inspired by the magnetic quality of his live performances.

So, when I learned of Sprawl - another Minnesota-based musician with an incredible talent for fusing fingerstyle, experimental acoustic and bottleneck blues - I jumped at the opportunity to see him perform live.

Paul Sprawl is a California native, who's lived all over the U.S. and most recently settled in the Twin Cities.  He's been performing and writing music since the late '60s, but finally quit his temp job to pursue music full-time in the late '90s.  Choosing the life of a troubadour, Sprawl tours cross-country and internationally, with a staggering work ethic and commitment to his art.

The name "Sprawl" is somewhat perfect for a guitar style which blends technical accuracy with loose jams and unexpected twists.  Occasionally, his songs can start to spin outward and grow abstract, but then he'll suddenly bring them back inward.  His baritone vocals and bluesy harmonica reach through pockets and bring a distinctly American sound to the listener, like a campfire song held in an art gallery.

Sprawl has released nine independent albums, including 2011's stellar Dream Zoo - an album that finds his sprawling guitar technique tightened into more concise pop songwriting structures.  There's a sense of darkness sweeping down echoed halls, like the lyric, "Dreams are kept in cages, People buy tickets, They come to look and listen" from the title track, "Dream Zoo".  It's an album that's set perfectly for an introspective late-night drive down a forgotten highway.

I've met Sprawl on two occasions now and his conversations are well in tune with his songwriting sensibilities.  Both times, I've felt drawn in to his performances in the same meditative way as he seems to be playing - as if the music is light pouring out from some dark place within.

For more information on this artist, please visit: PaulSprawl.com

Dandelion - 'Weird-Out'

Dandelion emerged with 'Weird-Out' just as grunge was beginning to die off.  In many ways, the tune comes across as a blatant Nirvana rip-off.  (Maybe it's the double tracking of the vox track?)  Yet, there is something just a little bit different about the arrangement that distinguishes the song from the Cobain led troupe.

Dandelion never really went anywhere after the modest success of 'Weird-Out' wore itself out.  Indeed, the band found themselves the subject of ridicule in a Beavis and Butthead episode.    Nevertheless, Dandelion is surely a band that epitomizes the 1990s alternative music scene, especially when you consider the band's other singles: 'Under My Skin' and 'Waiting for a Ride'.  The video for 'Weird-Out,' for instance, features Gen-X slackers, dressed in t-shirts and jeans, vocalizing in shoe-gaze style whilst jamming out hard on the guitars.  The music is Pixies-inspired, the exuberance muted, and a slowed down Punk beat serves as backdrop--characteristics most grunge music shared with each other in that time.

Watch the video for 'Weird-Out' in the player below:

Morcheeba - 'The Sea'

This one is an oldie, but a goodie.  'The Sea' was featured on Morcheeba's 1998 release, Big Calm.  It's trip-hop all chilled out, and is--once again--another song well suited for a lazy Sunday.

Watch the video for 'The Sea' below:

In the Valley Below - 'Peaches'

'Peaches' contains catchy electro loops and a dainty chorus.  It's the perfect song for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Watch 'Peaches' by In the Valley Below in the video player below (wow, that's a mouthful):

Jagwar Ma - 'Uncertainty'

Industrial rock sprinkled among nineties shoegaze, Jagwar Ma presents a clamorous single with 'Uncertainty.'  Slightly detached, yet surprisingly focused, the recording is quite compelling.

Watch the video to 'Uncertainty' in the player below:

Future Islands - 'Seasons (Waiting on You)'

If Fine Young Cannibals had recorded a single in 2014, 'Seasons (Waiting on You)' would have been it.  The track is defined by synth, driving drum and bass, and a soothing vocal.

Watch the video for 'Seasons' by Future Islands in the player below:

Bear Hands - 'Giant'

"I am loving you more."

Bear Hands sets forth a catchy electronica-infused drum and bass single with 'Giant.' The track has gained greater airplay on regional indie stations as of late.  Of course, that's mostly due to its infectious chorus.

Watch the video for 'Giant' by Bear Hands in the player below:

Rixton - 'Me and My Broken Heart'

Here's some more British blue eyed soul for ya:

'Me and My Broken Heart' is infectious, to say the least.  Part Bruno Mars, part Maroon 5, Rixton sets forth a stylish summer crossover hit with the single that seems to be blowing up everywhere.

Watch the video for 'Me and My Broken Heart' below:

Ed Sheeran - 'Sing'

'Sing' is a pleasing blend of folk and hip-hop by UK redhead Ed Sheeran.  Pharrell Williams lends his Midas-Touch to the bridge, joining Sheeran's soulful chops in near perfect unison.  Sheeran does a great job rapping some of his lyrics as well.

Watch the video to the exciting 'Sing' below:

Jesse McCartney - 'Superbad'

Jesse McCartney reinvents his boyish image in the new video epic, 'Superbad.'  Smokin' stogies and sippin' down scotch, the Leo-lookalike's babyface doesn't entirely sell the new Don Draper playboy image.  But it's nevertheless an okay start to a potentially new dynamic career.

On the other hand, the vocals and underlying audio are great.  Jesse's voice has matured, and the end product is one worthy of JT or Michael Jackson.

Watch the official video for 'Superbad' below:

Ariana Grande - 'Problem'

If you liked it when Amerie belted "It's the One Thing That Got Me Trippin!," then you'll really like 'Problem' by Ariana Grande.

The tune has been climbing the charts lately, but despite its popularity, it's thankfully not pure saccharine like the rest of the Top 40.  Instead, 'Problem' is an amalgam of thumpin' bass, Jay-Z-inspired lyrics in the bridge, careless whispers, and some catchy hot sax (see Late Night with Jimmy Fallon).

Stream 'Problem' in the video player below:

Big Data - 'Dangerous (Featuring Joywave)'

'Dangerous' requires some patience, but the wait is well worth it.  Steady bass and drum slowly lead the song toward a metaphorical head butt at around the 2:10 mark (see video below).  From there, the track seduces its listener into a raucous crossover dance party that they don't ever want to end.

If you like the neo disco of LCD Soundsystem and the indie vocals of Of Montreal, then 'Dangerous,' by Big Data, is right up your alley.  Watch the official video in the player below:

Beck - 'Waking Light'

'Waking Light' is a soothing ode that caps Morning Phase, Beck's first studio album in six years.  It features beautiful orchestrals and luscious space-inspired vibes. 

All in all it's a very well put together song.  In fact, I've been playing the tune several times a day since Morning Phase was released last week.

Stream 'Waking Light' in the video player below:

Bruno Mars - 'Gorilla'

Ooh I got a body full of liquor / With a cocaine kicker

Bruno Mars absolutely slayed his Halftime Show at the SuperBowl tonight--with help from The Red Hot Chili Peppers nonetheless.

Despite his amazing showing, he neglected to perform one of my favorite B-Mars tunes: 'Gorilla.'  This is not to take away from his near-perfect performance tonight, but is merely a lament.

Watch the official video for 'Gorilla' below:

Speedy Ortiz - 'Everything's Bigger'

'Everything's Bigger' is phenomenal female fuzz.  The song's bridge is amazing, containing double-tracked vocals that march up and down the sharp chords.  It's lively, yet refined--loud, but graceful.

Stream 'Everything's Bigger' by Speedy Ortiz in the SoundCloud player below:


Speedy Ortiz - "Everything's Bigger"

Shiloh - 'Simple Little Down Home Rock n' Roll Love Song for Rosie'

Before Don Henley rose to fame in The Eagles and beyond, he was a member of Shiloh.  Kenny Rogers produced their one and only self-titled album for Amos Records.

One of the notable tracks off the record is 'Simple Little Down Home Rock n' Roll Love Song for Rosie.'

Stream this forgotten track in the YouTube player below:

Jake Bugg - 'Lightning Bolt'

Jake Bugg is a 19 year old from Nottingham.  Similar to his fore-bearers of fifty years ago, Bugg reintroduces to American audiences stripped down and back-to-basic versions of their own music.

'Lightning Bolt' is a folk-rock sensation that is sneaking its way up the charts of various American radio stations.  Upon first listen, it's easy to confuse the tune with a Greenwich Beatnik tune from 1960.  The song makes no apologies for its retro stylings and is a testament to the enduring quality of the basic components of rock and roll:  driving beats, simple chords, and a catchy chorus.

Stream 'Lightning Bolt' in the SoundCloud player below:

Fuzz - 'What's in my Head'

Not since I first heard Mad Season's album have I felt affected in quite the same way.  

'What's in my Head' is the new sludgy single from Fuzz, Ty Segall's latest project.  (Side projects seem to be par for the course for Mr. Segall).  The tune presents a potent mix of psychedelia and grunge, delivering a visceral anthem of a chorus just before the one minute mark.

Is it 1968 or 1991 or today?  Who cares!  Stream this brilliant track in the video player below:

Sun Kil Moon - 'Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes'

I've been a fan of Sun Kil Moon, aka Mark Kozelek, since I first heard "Carry Me Ohio" in about 2003.  That feeling was only reinforced for me when his LP of heartachingly understated Modest Mouse covers, called Tiny Cities, was released in 2005.

Kozelek just released a new track off his forthcoming 2014 album, Benji.  It's called "Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes" and, boy... it. is. raw.

The lyrics and title refer to Richard Ramirez, the infamous serial killer, who incidentally died from cancer in June of this year, while awaiting execution on death row.

The song starts with Kozelek's haunting guitar and leads into a nearly stream of conscious-like paranoid reflection on the scariest parts of growing up and growing old.  Soon, Kozelek's vocals start to pile on top of one other in staggered, unnerving layers.  By the time the drum finally kicks in during the last third of the song, it feels like a wave of relief crashing against the rocks.

Fleetwood Mac - 'Silver Springs'

"Time cast a spell on you / you won't forget me;  I know I could've loved you; but you would not let me."

The signature line from Fleetwood Mac's 'Silver Springs' encapsulates the legendary divide that developed between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.  The two had dated and performed together in the band for years, before breaking off the relationship.  They nevertheless remained band mates following the split.

Stevie penned 'Silver Springs,' and she intended it for inclusion on the band's seminal album, Rumours.  But, due to the varying tensions between she and Buckingham, the track didn't make the cut.  It was instead released as the B-Side to 'Go Your Own Way,' another song that memorialized the pain and hurt between the two.

'Silver Springs' starts off slow.  But at about the 2:30 mark, the single builds into one of the most memorable choruses performed by Fleetwood Mac.  Further, it showcases the delicate grace of Stevie Nicks' vocals.

Stream 'Silver Springs' by Fleetwood Mac below:

Dent May - 'Born Too Late'

Dent May's 'Born Too Late' features sentimental lyrics set to a campy back beat.  But don't let the Hipster jade fool you; this single is quite rich, despite all its irony.

Stream 'Born Too Late' in the music player below:

Mayer Hawthorne - 'Her Favorite Song'

Blue-eyed soul at its smoothest, Mayer Hawthorne delivers restrained sensuality with his single 'Her Favorite Song.'   If you like Pharrell, Robin Thicke, and Daft Punk's latest album, you'll really dig this melody.

The music video is below:

Steve's Songs of the Summer: 2013 Edition

Summer is winding down, and before we know it, another year will soon be in the books.  It's sad, but it's true.

In terms of pop culture, Summer is the defining era of each year.  Whether it's the Summer blockbuster, or the Summer beach read, Summer--for whatever reason--is the season that each year's cultural worth is judged by.  The kids are out of school.  And the business types who go on vacation are a little more relaxed.  When one thinks back to the good times in their life, summers undoubtedly rush to the front of the line.

The one mandatory pop culture discussion point is the Song of the Summer (hereinafter referred to as "The Song").  The Song is indelibly associated with carefree feelings, and it provides the soundtrack to the warm weather atmospheres of the year.    For example, the Summer between my freshman and sophomore year of college was defined by Eminem's The Eminem Show.  Indeed, I still remember 'Without Me' blaring in the background in the sticky evenings as all of us cooked steaks on the grill.

In honor of The Song, I'm proud to present my favorite Songs of the Summer 2013:

Daft Punk - 'Get Lucky'

This tune hit the beginning of Summer 2013 like a gauntlet.  Taking no prisoners with its discotheque sounds, 'Get Lucky' was Daft Punk's first non-soundtrack album since 2007.  With throwback bass beats and the smoldering smoothness of Pharell Williams, 'Get Lucky' saved even the very worst of dance parties in Summer 2013.



Vampire Weekend - 'Diane Young'
When Vampire Weekend first hit it big a few years ago, I was never much of a fan.  Their associations with J-Crew and the Ivy League never really inspired me.  But when the band released 'Diane Young' this summer, I found myself hooked.  The foursome had finally found the sound us Midwest kids could relate to.  With the Peter Frampton flavored modulated-chorus of "Bay-bee, bay-bee, bay-bee, ..." the band struck a special chord with me. And the undersigned was a huge fan of the band's performance of the single on SNL, which you can watch below.  (FYI - 'Ya Hey' is another excellent song from Modern Vampires of the City):

Phoenix - 'Trying to Be Cool'
'Tell me that you want me, tell me that you want me."  The seminal lyric from 'Trying to Be Cool' serves as one of the most memorable hooks from Summer 2013.  Combine that hook with the all-too-tasty keyboard distortions that buttress the song, and you have yourself a bonafide French Invasion  (not to be confused with the British Invasion).  'Trying to Be Cool' was also performed on SNL in 2013, which is the version featured below.

San Fermin - 'Sonsick'
'Sonsick' busts the mold of the traditional Summer song in many respects.  It's not breezy.  It's not the happiest.  But it has an infectious chorus that affects you vicerally.  It also features a nice array of horns.  During the Summer of 2013 I tended to hear this song on satellite radio at times I least expected to, and it hit the spot EVERY time.  

Temples - 'Shelter Song'

In the same vein as Tame Impala, Brit acid band Temples delivers trippy rhythms and simple, but wonderful, melodies borrowed from The Beatles.

Stream 'Shelter Song' in the SoundCloud player below:

Television - 'Marquee Moon'

If you've ever wondered why the music of The Strokes or Vampire Weekend sometimes sounds too familiar, Television may provide your answer.

Television emerged out of the New York post-punk scene in the late seventies.  It released the ground breaking Marquee Moon in 1977.  Although not commercially successful at the time, the album was decades ahead of its peers and was widely influential.  Indeed, Marquee Moon could be released on Matador Records today and sound just as relevant as anything else being released.

The title track, coming in at over ten minutes, is nevertheless tight and well crafted.  And the climax at the 8:23 mark is well worth the wait

Stream 'Marquee Moon' by Television in the video player below:

Alpine - 'Gasoline'

'Gasoline' is a seductive and ethereal single from Australian group Alpine.  Addictive looping and dreamy vocals add to this tune's charm offensive, as well.

Check out the video for 'Gasoline' below:

The Nazz - 'Hello It's Me'

Before Todd Rundgren was Todd Rundgren, he was one part of The Nazz, a psychedelic outing formed with Carson Van Osten and others in 1967.

'Hello It's Me' was popularized by Rundgren, the solo artist.  But Rundgren had authored the song years prior, and The Nazz recorded it, reaching No. 71 on the Billboard charts.  (The solo version, on the other hand, reached No. 5 in 1973).

Stream both The Nazz version and the Rundgren solo version of 'Hello It's Me' in the respective players below:

Daft Punk (Feat. Julian Casablancas) - 'Instant Crush'

If you like Daft Punk, and you like auto-tuned Julian Casablancas dropping catchy hooks, then you are in luck. Stream the collaboration, entitled 'Instant Crush,' between these two artists in the video player below:

Parquet Courts - 'Borrowed Time'

'Borrowed Time' by Parquet Courts is bouncy and jocular, and definitely worth a few spins this summer.

Stream 'Borrowed Time' in the SoundCloud player below:

Cayucas - 'High School Lover'

'High School Lover' is infectious slacker rock at its best.  Coming in at three and a half minutes, it's the pogo tempo that really sells this song.

Stream 'High School Lover' by Cayucas in the SoundCloud player below:

Phosphorescent - 'Song for Zula'

Phosphorescent is Matthew Houck.  And Houck has hit it big with his breakout single 'Song for Zula.'

'Song for Zula' is one of those epic songs that only get better with time.  Indeed, I think each time I spin this track, I find myself a little more touched.  Be prepared for this song to begin pervading the scores of hip indie flicks and the background music of foreign car commercials--badges of honor for the alternative bands of today.

Stream the wonderful 'Song for Zula' in the SoundCloud player below:

Haim - 'I'll Try Anything Once'

This is a skillful cover of "You only Live Once" by singing sisters Haim, although this deviation is entitled 'I'll Try Anything Once.' 

Stream the Strokes cover in the YouTube player below:

Kurt Vile - 'Wakin on a Pretty Day'

The new single from Kurt Vile comes in at a whopping nine and a half minutes.  But it doesn't feel quite that long.

The tune features a leisurely pacing; with just the right balance of volume and tempo, of guitar and vox. 

Stream 'Wakin on a Pretty Day' in the SoundCloud player below:

Django Django - 'Hail Bop'

Art popsters Django Django hit indie radio pretty hard in 2012 with their goofy, but infectious,  ''Default.'  Now, they've dropped 'Hail Bop,' a much more serious -- and more focused-- foray into driving electro pop.

Stream the robust 'Hail Bop' in the SoundCloud player below:

The Lonely Note on Spotify

We've just created a new Spotify playlist featuring all the great songs we've posted over the years.  Go to Lonely Note Radio to begin streaming today!

Local Artist Spotlight: Trouble Lights

Rural Iowa might not be the first place you'd expect to find intelligent, electronic-based dance music.  

Then again, it probably isn't the first place you'd expect to find unique ethnic cuisine, sustainable living and a school for transcendental meditation.

But there it is: Fairfield - nestled in the cornfields of southern Iowa.  It's a small town of less than 10,000 with a diverse and rich arts and cultural scene and home to the Maharishi University of Management (a school started by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the famed guru of The Beatles). 

Director David Lynch has held annual "Weekends for World Peace and Meditation" at the campus since 2005, featuring world-renowned musicians and speakers.  

Last spring, Lynch's foundation website heralded a new music video from a Fairfield duo called Trouble Lights, and since then, the band has burst onto the local music scene. 

The video, for the song "Safe With Me" (directed by Geoff Boothby), was heads above other videos I'd seen for local artists.  In fact, the professionalism and appeal of the song and video had me do a double take as to why I'd never heard of this group before.

Trouble Lights is the project of vocalist Adrien Daller and musician Philip Rabalais.  It's highly-charged electronic pop music with powerhouse diva vocal melodies from Daller, who studied musical theatre in the UK before returning home. The resulting sound falls somewhere between the classic pop of The Eurythmics and the dark theatricality of Lady Gaga.

The group recently released their debut album, The Endless Prom, on Maximum Ames Records (home to Leslie Hall, The Poison Control Center, Christopher the Conquered and more)

Below is the music video for Trouble Lights' latest single, "Ready".  It's a steam-powered, head-on-collision of dance grooves.  Once the chorus hits with the "Whoa-oh-oh"s, the party is full speed ahead. 

Watch it here:




For more on Trouble Lights, visit their official website.

And be sure to check out these other Fairfield, IA artists:  Greg Brown, Jefferson County Green Band, Surgery, Utopia Park and Little Ruckus.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - 'Swim & Sleep (Like a Shark)'

'Swim & Sleep' by Unknown Mortal Orchestra weaves an unforgettable guitar hook throughout its entire production, and the effect really sells the song.

Chill out and stream 'Swim & Sleep' in the SoundCloud player below:

Foxygen - 'Shuggie'

'Shuggie' by Foxygen reminds me of some of the quirky--yet brilliant--singles that gained radio traction in the mid-1990s. Songs like 'Girl Like You' by Edwyn Collins, and even 'Whoever You Are' by Geggy Tah spring to mind. Perhaps it's because 'Shuggie' borrows heavily from the prevailing musical themes of the sixties while managing to shapeshift halfway throughout the tune?

In any event, watch the video the intriguing 'Shuggie' below:

Bear in Heaven - 'Sinful Nature'

'Sinful Nature' is some fine chilled-out synth rock.  The seductive introduction pulls one in, while the subsequent chords and verses hypnotize its listener.

You can stream 'Sinful Nature' by Bear in Heaven in the SoundCloud player below:

Ty Segall - 'Thank God for Sinners'

Taking a page from the Elephant 6 recording collective, Ty Segall revives lo-fi garage rock in his recent single, 'Thank God for Sinners.'  It's half slow burner; half fuzzed out space jam.  The guitar work inspires, and the melody is tasty.

Stream 'Thank God for Sinners' in the SoundCloud player below:
 

The Rosebuds Cover Sade

Anyone who knows me knows I have a major soft spot for Sade.  

Sade's ultra-chill, smoothed-out R&B struck a chord with me very early in life.  Back in 1985, I would bob and sing along to "Smooth Operator" from the child booster seat in my parents' van.

So, when I heard that indie-rock act, The Rosebuds had covered her 1992 album, Love Deluxe, in its entirety - and released it for free -  I was delightfully curious to say the least.   

One listen to the opening track, "No Ordinary Love", and I realized what a beautiful tribute this is.  To cover an entire album so effortlessly, and with the depth of emotion found here must truly be an act of love and respect from the artists.

According to The Rosebuds' bandcamp page, they covered the album to commemorate its 20th anniversary:

"To say this album is a constant influence to The Rosebuds and the records we've made over the years would be an understatement. We’ve always been fans. Ivan’s been covering Sade songs since I’ve known him--he sings them in the house, he sings them while driving, he sings them with or without a guitar in hand, he sings them when he doesn’t even realize he’s singing aloud. It’s the language he hears music in."

You can download The Rosebuds' LOVE DELUXE below, and I whole-heartedly encourage you to do so.

Wild Nothing - 'Paradise'

Eighties college radio lives on in Wild Nothing's 'Paradise.'  Atmospheric stoicism rules the day on this track, with colorful synth effects interacting quite wonderfully with Jack Tatum's vocal production.  Listen to this one on headphones if you want to catch all the sonic nuances.

Stream 'Paradise' below:

Alt-J - 'Fitzpleasure'

Dub-popsters Alt-J have produced a dynamically raucous tune of a song in 'Fitzpleasure.'  This is one of those singles you just can't quite put your finger on, as it spans many different genres in a short four minutes.  Nevertheless, the final product is rich and inspiring.

Stream the video to 'Fitzpleasure' below:

Pinback - 'Proceed to Memory'

Dirge rockers Pinback are back with a solid single, 'Proceed to Memory.'  This is one of those songs that builds up kind of slow but smoothly morphs into a likeable head-nodder.

Stream 'Proceed to Memory' in the SoundCloud player below:

Juxtaposition: Glenn Frey vs. Taylor Dayne

Maybe it's just me, but is Taylor Dayne's "Tell It To My Heart" a dance club reincarnation of Glenn Frey's "The One You Love"?

I know that sounds like the most absurd hypothesis ever, but humor me for a second...  

Several years back, I was on a caffeine-fueled roadtrip in the middle of the night and heard "The One You Love" on a schmaltzy soft-rock FM station.  I remembered the song from my childhood, but couldn't remember the name of the song or the artist.  The melody rang tinny in the back of my conscious for nearly two years before I realized it was by former Eagles songsmith, Glenn Frey (say it with me now: The "H" is "O").

The only reason I held onto this smoother-than-smooth, yacht-rockin' heartbreaker for so long was because it reminded me eerily of Dayne's dancefloor megahit from the early '90s.

Even if you don't buy into my crackpot theory, give the videos a watch, because they are both pretty spectacular relics of their respective times.

Glenn Frey - "The One You Love"

Taylor Dayne - "Tell It To My Heart"

Tame Impala - 'Elephant'

Tame Impala maintains 'I Am the Walrus' aesthetics on its newest single from most recent album, Lonerism.  'Elephant' has crunch, distant vocals, and perhaps most importantly, a driving beat that never drops.

Stream 'Elephant' in the SoundCloud player below:

Grizzly Bear - 'Yet Again'

Grizzly Bear has returned with a new album and a very solid single.  'Yet Again' is textured and atmospheric.  It's a tightly wound studio production that carries very well over to radio.

Stream 'Yet Again' in the SoundCloud player below:

Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti - 'Only In My Dreams'

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti is known for the quirky, but 'Only In My Dreams' is a lovely tune of a song.  The recording lacks none of the psychedelia inherent in most of the Ariel-led collective's previous offerings, but it is probably one of the more palatable singles they've produced thus far.  So tasty!

Watch the video to 'Only in my Dreams' below:

Forgotten Gem: Blur - 'There's No Other Way'

In keeping the 90s Britpop hit parade alive, today we present the video to Blur's 'There's No Other Way.'

'There's No Other Way' was Blur's second radio single, was released in 1990, and reached Number 5 on the U.S. Modern Rock charts.  (The single reached the overall Number 8 slot in the band's native Britain).  Contrary to the band's later work, 'There's No Other Way' was emblematic of the Manchester-based "Baggy" or "Madchester" subgenre of raucous dance-influenced music popularized by other Britpop bands such as The Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses.

The video to the single is entertaining, showing an angry Gen-Xer (Damon Albarn) sitting at the family dinner table, brooding and scowling the entire time.  Juxtaposed with the peppy melody, the video's visuals sharply depart from the happy-go-lucky feel of the immediate musical surface.

Blur, of course, went on to record a number of mega hits in the next two decades following the release of 'There's No Other Way,' and they went on to rival Oasis for the crown of European Kings of Rock in the 1990s.  And following the dawn of the new millennium lead vocalist Damon Albarn established Gorillaz, and the rest, as they say, is history.

You can watch the video to 'There's No Other Way' in the video player below:

Forgotten Gem: Pulp - 'Help the Aged'

"Funny how it all falls away"

Jarvis Cocker's band, Pulp, followed up its breakthrough album, Different Class, with This is Hardcore.

'Help the Aged' is a tender slow burner featured on Track Four of Hardcore that oscillates between benevolence and stark truths.  "You can dye your hair, but it's the one thing you can't change," sings Cocker, in reference to the one constant none of us can escape:  our own mortality.

Structually, 'Help the Aged' slyly begins as the usual ballad, but steadily marches toward a bombastic melody with a stunning hook.  It doesn't hurt that the lyrics are stirring and poetic.

Watch the video to 'Help the Aged' below, and while you do remember, "Help the aged.  Because one day you'll be older too."

Zedd - 'Spectrum'

Electronic dance music has become a dominant force in the pop and rock music scenes as of late. The cult followings of Deadmau5 and Skrillex by today's youth are a partial testament to that.

'Spectrum' by Zedd is another electronic dance tune that balances house beats and catchy hooks with a likable vocal. Check out the video to 'Spectrum' below:

Sky Ferreira - "Everything is Embarrassing"

Sky Ferreira's latest single, "Everything is Embarrassing", is one sumptuous slice of indie electropop.  The lyrics are memorable, the beats are fresh and the hook is undeniably classic.

"Everything is Embarrassing" is to be featured on Ferreira's upcoming, October 2nd EP, "Ghost".  The EP is intended as a lead-up to her debut album, "I'm Not Alright", which is scheduled for released late this year.

For more on Sky's music, visit:  www.skyferreira.com

Forgotten Gem: Ash - 'Burn Baby Burn'

In 2001, I played Ash's 'Burn Baby Burn' incessantly on my portable music device.  Not quite emo, not quite punk, not quite grunge, 'Burn Baby Burn' was a thrash guitar-laden anthem incorporating power pop vocals, all within a strict three-and-a-half time limit.

By contemporary standards, 'Burn Baby Burn' might sound like an All-American Rejects rip-off.  But back in 2001, the tune seemed innovative to me, and I remember it garnering some decent radio airplay here in the States.

For old times sake, you can watch the video to 'Burn Baby Burn' below:

Forgotten Gem: Ween - 'Freedom of '76'

Ween was panned for not taking rock music very seriously.  But in 1994, when the duo released Chocolate and Cheese, critics took another look.  Was it possible to successfully fuse humor with decent songwriting?  The album seemed to answer that question in the affirmative.  

'Freedom of '76' is a track from Chocolate that, on the face of it, is a quasi-parody of seventies soul, but that serves as a solid chillwave predecessor in the end.

Stream 'Freedom of '76' in the player below:

Ween - Freedom Of '76 .mp3

Gotye - 'Somebodies: A YouTube Orchestra'

By now there have been countless covers made of Gotye's impressive 'Somebody That I Used to Know.'  Gotye, himself, seems to be reluctantly impressed, and just posted this video mashup of many of the renditions in the video below:

Sponsored Post: Little Caesars Pizza - 'Fishing'

Check out this humorous spot from our most recent sponsor, Little Caesars, in the video below:

Forgotten Gem: School of Fish - '3 Strange Days'

Lighter and fluffier than their grunge counterparts, School of Fish delivered the power pop-tastic '3 Strange Days' in 1991.  And unlike their alternative rock contemporaries who were digging deep into the songbook of punk, School of Fish reached all the way back to Woodstock, implementing psychedelic guitar licks and power hooks.

After '3 Strange Days,' School of Fish faded from the radar.  Tragically, singer Josh Clayton-Felt died of cancer in 2000 at the age of 32.

Watch the video for '3 Strange Days' below:

Forgotten Gem: Liz Phair - 'Supernova'

On the heels of her breakthrough Exile in Guyville, Liz Phair released follow-up Whip-Smart just a year later.  'Supernova' was the sophomore album's flagship single, but it oozed of perfunctory pop hooks and formulaic production value when compared to the Exile collective.

Nevertheless, for as much as 'Supernova' seemed to mimic the alternative radio shtick of the time, it sounds refreshingly underground by today's standards.   Modern "Alternative" often sounds too polished, and modern "Indie" often gets lost in its own digital abstraction.  'Supernova,' on the other hand, is a back-to-basics ode to garage punk and songwriting.  It stands on its own merits.  And for that, I find 'Supernova' quite endearing.

Check out the video to 'Supernova' below.  (Try not to laugh too hard at all the nineties tropes):

Joss Stone - 'The High Road'

Joss Stone killed it on Jimmy Fallon Thursday night when she belted her silky smooth rendition of Broken Bells' 'The High Road.'  Dare I say, I enjoy this version better than the original.

Although I wasn't able to locate the Jimmy Fallon video clip for posting here, I've done the next best thing and embedded the SoundCloud stream to Joss' studio cut of 'The High Road' below:

Forgotten Gems: Archers of Loaf - 'Harnessed in Slums'

The Archers of Loaf may not have garnered the same level of indie-rock stardom as many of their early-'90s counterparts, but that didn't stop the influential Chapel Hill, NC band from making a lot of noise.

With a sound as angular and pop-centric as Pavement, but owing equal credit to the pure noise of Sonic Youth and the raw energy of the Pixies, the Archers strutted the line between melody and discordance like few of their contemporaries.

While the band's 1993 debut, Icky Mettle could still be considered their best and most important album, I have an affinity for their follow-up, Vee Vee.  On Vee Vee, the band plowed straight ahead with such a genuine lack of restraint that songs come off as contorted and misshapen, yet strangely and perfectly balanced.  "Harnessed in Slums" is a great example of the group's ethos, and an often overlooked indie-rock gem.

Watch the video for Archers of Loaf's joyfully raucus, "Harnessed in Slums" below:

Natalie Duncan - 'Sky is Falling'

Upcoming pop songstress Natalie Duncan advances torchy, bluesy jazz with her slow burner, 'Sky is Falling.'  Delicately searching, Duncan brings forth a credible sense of melancholy amidst a backdrop of optimistic expectation.  Her first album, Devil in Me, is set to drop July 24.       

In the meantime, watch the music video to 'Sky is Falling' below:

Childish Gambino - 'Heartbeat'

Like most folks, I first encountered Donald Glover as "Troy," the jock character on NBC's groundbreaking comedy, Community.  On the show, Glover plays a goofy, silly guy who's into playing in imaginariums and treating the "real world" with genuine contempt.

I had heard for awhile that Donald Glover had a side project rapping under his alter-ego, Childish Gambino, but I was never real motivated to listen to his stuff because of typecasting:  I couldn't separate the serious rapper allegedly portrayed by Childish Gambino from the totally not-very-serious character of "Troy" from Community.

This all changed when I had the pleasure of catching at random the video to 'Heartbeat' on CoolTV, the only television station that actually seems interested in playing music videos right now.  When I watched the vid I was, surprisingly, pretty darned impressed.

Unlike the absurd "Troy," Childish Gambino in 'Heartbeat' lays down lyrics with a distinct viciousness not replicated by other rappers.  Certainly, the overall cadence is akin to Kanye, but the emotional delivery is undoubtedly reminiscent of Mr. Slim Shady, himself.  The hook is auto-tuned enhanced, but the artificiality is mitigated by the mean lines Glover drops all throughout the song.

Stream the video to 'Heartbeat' by Childish Gambino below:

Father John Misty - 'Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings'

'Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings' has really struck a chord with me as of late.  Sung by J. Tillman--pseudonym Father John Misty-- the tune is wistful and soothing and folksy and generously proclaims "Jesus Christ" all throughout.

You can watch the video for 'Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings' below:

The Wombats - 'Jump Into the Fog'

'Jump Into the Fog' has steadily earwormed its way into the playlists of many alt-rock radio stations as of late.  To be sure, the looping keyboard riff has a lot to do with it.  But the song is also solid, containing a manic melody.

Check out the video to 'Jump Into the Fog' by The Wombats below:

Glenn Mederios - 'Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You'

Sometimes, the perfect prescription for a lazy Sunday is a schmaltzy love ballad. In 1987, Glenn Mederios had a hit with his rendition of 'Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You.' The corresponding video is heavy on slow motion, horse riding on the beach, playful water fights, and, perhaps most importantly, uncomfortably long centershots of the vocalist belting out the tune's prolific chorus.

 Watch the video below:

Behind the Sample: Nancy Sinatra and Robbie Williams

In the final moments of last night's Mad Men season finale, Don Draper sits down in the lounge and orders an old fashioned.  Just moments afterward, a couple of young and attractive females proposition the show's protagonist, asking if he's alone.  Before we can discover the Ad Man's answer, the scene blacks out, and Nancy Sinatra's 'You Only Live Twice' saunters in the background, carrying the show out on a hopeful--albeit muted--note.  Will Don continue living the virtues of his new life with second spouse Megan?  Or will he revert to the not so virtuous ways of his past?

As I was taking in this final scene, I had that all too familiar nagging feeling.  I knew I'd heard this song before, even though I never really had.  Thankfully, it only took me a few moments of self reflection to realize that 'You Only Live Twice' featured the same sampling as the late-nineties smash 'Millennium' by Robbie Williams.  In 1999, I probably heard Robbie Williams' take on the sampling only a few hundred times.  Conversely, I had never encountered Nancy's version, even though it was the theme song to one of the Sean Connery Bond films.  Nevertheless, I felt a little sheepish having not realized until this moment that the most iconic part of 'Millennium' was borrowed from another song 22 years its senior.  

Below, I've posted videos to both songs.  Listen to the two of them in succession to discover the music behind the sample:

    

Carly Rae Jepsen meets Third Eye Blind

"Here's my number. So call me maybe." Carly Rae Jepsen meets Third Eye Blind. Enough said. Watch the mashup below:

The Men - 'Open Your Heart'

The Men are a post-punk group from Brooklyn.  Their latest single is 'Open Your Heart' from the album of the same name.  True to form, the track's melody consists of Blitzkrieg beats and assertive guitar.   Some clever vocal bridgework provides a tight, but inviting, framework for some rewarding listening.

Stream 'Open Your Heart' in the SoundCloud app below:

 

Yuck - 'Chew'

After taking 2011 by storm (at least in the world of Indiedom), Yuck returns with its newest material in the form of 'Chew.'  The band continues its Ode to the Nineties tradition it successfully established last year by including a fair share of fuzz and reverb.

Stream 'Chew' in the Soundcloud app below:

Fiona Apple - 'Every Single Night'

The great Fiona returns after a long hiatus. Her latest single is entitled 'Every Single Night' and features the controlled delicacy she has always been adored for.

Stream the track in the Soundcloud app below:

Caught On Tape: Nirvana on Top of the Pops (1991)

One of the best television performances from any band would have to include the mockery that was Nirvana's 1991 appearance on the British show, Top of the Pops.

Following the incredible breakthrough of Nirvana's single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the band was thrown into a whirlwind of unexpected fame and attention. The single catapulted the band from indie-rock heroes to crossover alternative pop culture icons.

The band's audience changed overnight from seedy punk rock clubs to arenas full of teenage girls and jocks - something frontman Kurt Cobain allegedly sought to rectify later with the band's less-accessible, but equally magnificent follow-up album, In Utero.

In the wake of newfound fame and success, the band was asked to perform on Top of the Pops - a chart-toppers countdown program, which featured pop stars miming their hit singles to an audience.

Cobain's general distaste for corporate puppetry influenced the band to use the opportunity as a platform for poking fun at the show's formula.

When Nirvana aired on Top of the Pops, Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic barely attempted to mime their guitar parts over the pre-recorded backing track. In fact, Novoselic spent most of the song wildly spinning and throwing his bass above his head and catching it.

Cobain took advantage of the show's live microphone to sing the entire song in a monotone, Ian Curtis-style vocal.

The hilarious resulting video has since become a cult favorite amongst Nirvana fans and serving as a great reminder that the band's troubled late-frontman, Kurt Cobain, also possessed a keen sense of humor.

2:54 - "Scarlet"

This cold and lusty breath of atmospheric shoe-gaze goes by the name of "Scarlet". It's by 2:54, a British band, helmed by two sisters. There's a certain fragile carnality and heartaching adolescent angst behind the sleek veneer and dense rhythms of Cocteau Twins-meets-Mogwai post-rock.

You can watch the equally cool and ethereal video to "Scarlet" below:

2:54's self-titled debut album is due out on May 28, via Fiction Records. Visit the band's official site here for more information.

Bonus: listen to the band's latest single, "You're Early", via SoundCloud.

Grimes - "Oblivion"

Grimes, aka: Claire Boucher, is a Montreal-based artist who's been making waves all over the blogosphere as of late. And for good reason.

Grimes' latest music video is for "Oblivion", a track off her LP, Visions.

"Oblivion" sounds like Blondie's "Heart of Glass" thrown into a blender with Abba and Nine Inch Nails. If that seems like a strange cocktail, it's surprisingly not. The result is a rather eerie and unsettling, yet relentlessly poppy dance track.

In the video, Grimes is shown bouncing around (albeit somewhat out-of-place) to various testosterone-laden circumstances -- an arenacross show, a football game, a mosh pit, a locker room of half-toweled dudes... All the bare-chested revelry is an interesting complement to Grimes' quietly pristine vocals.

Watch the new video to "Oblivion" below:

Duncan Sheik - 'She Runs Away'

Duncan Sheik was one of the "Sheikiest" balladeers of the nineties. His mega hit, 'Barely Breathing,' moved millions of copies and provided millions more young ladies with romantic inspiration.

'She Runs Away' never escaped the shadow of 'Barely Breathing' on Duncan's self-titled disc, but it was nonetheless an enchanting groove.  Soft strings interpose the chorus, while Sheik's pleading vocal hooks and steel guitar seal the deal.

Take a trip to a time of pre-9/11 bliss and watch the video to 'She Runs Away' below:

Super Bowl Ad: Samsung feat. The Darkness

By far my top candidate for best Super Bowl commercial this past weekend was this Samsung stunner featuring The Darkness and their infamous mid-aughts hit, 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love.'  (This commercial is also my candidate for worst segue ever, but it still works).

See for yourself how great this ad is below:

Gotye - 'Somebody That I Used to Know'

Gotye is one of the big "new acts" of 2012.  Born in Belgium and raised in Australia, Gotye--aka Wally De Backer--presents a contemplative and layered joy of a song.  The call and response, in particular, really sells this one.

Watch the video to 'Somebody That I Used to Know' by Gotye below: