Song of the Day

**2/3/10

The Dead Milkmen - Punk Rock Girl

--------------Happy humpday, everyone! Hope you're all enjoying whatever abysmal or wonderful weather is floating around your stratosphere at the moment. 'Round these parts it's surprisingly sunny, which prompted me to break into some sunny punk rock to gear up your rears for the weekend to come.

The Dead Milkmen may have been around for three years or so, but any fans of cute little punk rock ballads the likes of The Ramone's "I Want You Around" and Blink's "Rock Show" will love "Punk Rock Girl." Jumpstart your weekend-itis with The Dead Milkmen album, Beelzebubba, from 1988.

http://www.myspace.com/joejackofdmm

Song of the Day

**2/1/10

Talib Kweli - I Try

------------I try to vary the music that I walk around town to everyday, but today I found myself listening to Common's entire catalog. Since I don't like to repeat artists on this blog, I handed my hip-hop driven mind to Pandora to point me in a similar direction. Kweli came on, and I'm more than satisfied.

After a night of glitzy and glamorous playtime at the Grammys, I wanted something a little more pensive (and an album that's a bit mature for music turnaround) to welcome the new month and a new year of music. Talib Kweli teams up with Mary J. Blige on the stark confessional, "I Try," with razor-sharp rhymes slicing through thoughts on heritage, and the status quo of music. The Beautiful Struggle, is the Brooklyn emcee's 2004 project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUMvqAtAFL4

Song of the Day

**1/31/10

O'Brother - Providence

--------------Today, I'm going to keep my musings of music rather short, mostly because I have a ton of laundry to do before the Grammy's tonight. O'Brother is a band I learned about from a friend in my building, and I have to say I'm feeling the minor mood "Providence" gives off. Experimental, reeling and thoughtful, O'Brother sounds like Radiohead on Redbull with a little more aggression. If you like what you hear, they're currently on tour with Manchester Orchestra, The Features and Billy Clyro. Listen to "Providence" and also the track "Ascension" from The Death of Day.

http://myspace.com/obrothermusic/

Song of the Day

**1/28/10

Little Boots - New In Town

-------------Little Boots with a big, stomping beat. "New In Town" is very devil-may-care, flirty and tons of techno-fun.

This song is wonderful. If you're tired of brushing your teeth with a bottle of Jack, "New In Town" has strutted onto the dance floor. Try very, very hard not to sit still while you listen. Get "New In Town" from Little Boots stateside EP, Illuminations.

http://myspace.com/littleboots/

Song of the Day

**1/26/10

The Maine - Daisy

--------------If I saw an actual daisy growing out of the ground right now, I'd build a shrine around it. With snow blanketing all walking surfaces (and making a clumsy blogger battle with the threat of broken limbs every morning), a little floral freshness would be nice. Until it warms up, I'll go with The Maine's "Daisy," a rare cut from the bouquet of this Tampa band's first EP, Stay Up, Get Down.

You're probably bobbing your head to this song's sunny beat and wondering why "Daisy" didn't make it onto the full length. If only I could answer that (John O'Callahan can't sing it anymore because it's too heartbreaking?), but for now, just enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPUQByIEhDQ

Song of the Day

**1/25/10

Never Shout Never - Can't Stand It

-----------It's been a big week for music, and it's not even Grammy night! Red Hot Chili Peppers welcomed Josh Klinghoffer as the band's new guitarist, Take Action tour kicked off and Death Cab reassured us they're working on an album this year.

All of this, and Never Shout Never released what is love? for a cool $7.99 (plus the governer's wages) at Target. "Can't Stand It" is too freaking adorable for words - there is clapping, a smiling horn section and disgustingly "super-duper cute" lyrics.

If you hate everything that has to do with love at the moment, do not listen to this song. It will gross you out, I promise you that. But if you're up for it, take a listen to "Can't Stand It" from what is love?

http://myspace.com/nevershoutnever/

Song of the Day

**1/24/10

Motion City Soundtrack - Her Words Destroy My Planet

-----------I'm sure most of you remember the adorably inaccurate but positively heart-warming adventures of Little Foot, Sarah the triceratops, Petri, Ducky and Spike. Yes, I am referring to The Land Before Time, and why not remember those lil' guys while listening to My Dinosaur Life, Motion City Soundtrack's newest album?

This album is perfect when you're munching on Tree Stars at parties or cruising around the great valley with friends. It's MCS's best effort to date. "Her Words" is a backhand to the heartbreaker and Justin Pierre's attempt to stall the extinction of his heart. Too bad selling your Xbox, taking Japanese and sending letters isn't enough. Best of luck to you, Justin.

http://myspace.com/motioncitysoundtrack/

Song of the Day

**1/23/10

fun. - Benson Hedges

------------It's probably the most perfect day (Saturday, in case you woke up too early, accidentally thinking you missed class or had work) for fun. All types of fun. Including the band, fun. For anyone who was heartbroken by the disbanding of The Format, Nate Ruess, Jack Antonoff and Andrew Dost bring the oh-so-indie sounds back to a new life. Ruess is a lot more ambitious with vocals and the music? Well, I'll just let you listen.

The gospel praises at the beginning of "Benson Hedges" might scare you if you're in a library or have your earbuds plugged in at top volume, so listen with caution. I care about your lil' eardrums, god bless! "Benson Hedges" speaks highly of fun.'s answered prayer for an admirable first effort, Aim and Ignite.

http://www.myspace.com/fun

Still Some Hope

While you may not dig the fact that Ke$ha has hold of a bottle of Jack and the top of the Billboard charts (hater$, that's all ya'll are), rest assured there are worse things floating around and the numbers reflect that.



Heidi Montag, the blonde decathalete of plastic surgery and dry shampoo of The Hills and I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here!, is/wants to be/attempted to be/ an artist? She *giggle* released an album sold less than 1,000 units in its first week...



Ouch.



Just something to warm your hearts while you enjoy Contra and Transference.

Corey Smith at Legends - January 20, 2010

Alright, before you stop reading my blog forever, I know Corey Smith is not my traditional keg of Budweiser. But sometimes you've gotta shove your pride into your Converse high-tops and take the music like a man, a man with more patience than a Buddhist monk and a saintly tolerance for the most bro-tinged "COOOORREEEEEYYYYY" hoots.

Though I felt like the red-headed step child, I got some photographs out of the deal and a resurgence of hate for covers. These songs are now burn wounds thanks to the show:

AC/DC - You Shook Me (All Night Long)

Journey - Don't Stop Believing

Tom Petty - Free Fallin'

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

A final note: If I see anyone 'round these parts with a "Let Me Love You on a Back Road" t-shirt, I'll be the one shaking my head disapprovingly.