June ’05 Mix

June 30, 2005

1) Sing Me Spanish Techno – Twin Cinema – New Pornographers

Twin Cinema doesn’t have the overstuffed melodic content of the previous two records, but there are still hooks aplenty, including a slightly off-key chorus that describes every New Pron song ever: “Listening tooooo long to one song…”

2) Car Radio – Series of Sneaks – Spoon

Spoon is generally so laid back, I prefer their punchy stuff. I love how the title is pronounced “cuhradio.” cuh-razy.

3) Summer Holiday & Me – Less Sophistication – The Jessica Fletchers

I’m not sure if the proper adjective is “KINKSY” or merely “KINKY,” but the Davies should file for some sort of violation. One of those dumb rock songs that is destined to be in an ipod or car commercial soon.

4) 10:1 – Descended Like Vultures – Rogue Wave

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

5) Which Side Is Mine – Vagenius – Vagenius

There’s one riff in here that sounds like Foreigner’s “Double Vision.” It might just be me, but the moment I hear it I start singing Foreigner, and that’s just really fucked up.

6) Massive Cure – She Like Electric – Smoosh

Tweenpop rock from the northwest sounds like baby-Quasi. Stunningly competent for a pair of kids.

7) One In Every Crowd – Lovers, Lead the Way! – Viva Voce

Viva Voce is one of the lesser known husband/wife indie duos, putting together some great shoegazy material. This track sounds like Mazzy Star with drums that actually rock.

8) Staying Fat – EP – Bloc Party

This popped up on random, and I just wanted to point out how the alternating verse vocal is completely lifted from Sleater-Kinney’s “Oxygen.” As a result, it’s a pretty good song. (Steal from the best, yo)

9) 9×3 – Ex Hex – Mary Timony

Timony opened for the S-K this month, and I couldn’t quite get riled up by her material, although there’s lots of neat stuff working here. Timony’s guitar work is splendid, but her vocal melodies are meandering, particularly on the chorus.

10) I Want To See The Bright Lights – I Want To See The Bright Lights – Richard and Linda Thompson

This ended up becoming the Sleater-Kinney cover song this month. The original is just a masterpiece, with a beautifully longing vocal that’s textbook Linda Thompson.

11) Bridges and Balloons – The Believer – The Decemberists

It’s nice to finally get a clean recording of this. Joanna Newsom’s original sounds like the best song Colin Meloy never wrote. It’s a funny little thing.

12) Chicago – Illinois – Sufjan Stevens