Caribou – Melody Day

I used to wish that I was alive in the 60’s so I could have made awesome music. Caribou make me realize that I’m just a pussy for not doing it.

The Evangelicals – Midnight Vignette

I’ve been going crazy. I only have six classes a week, so I’ve been listening to NPR like mad. Then I waste so much time that I don’t make good lessons. Oh, me… Only I can take all the time in the world and deliver something worse than if you gave me five minutes.

Anyway, behold the fruits of my labor!

There is something glammy about it, and it makes me love it. Frankly, I’ll take anything glammy. I just want it to come back so desperately.

Streetlight Manifesto

Let us up this ska war of attrition with a little Streetlight Manifesto. After Less Than Jake began to suck, all my ska friends gravitated to Streetlight. Pretty much everything they do rules, but its the last two minutes that really sell this particular song. I know how you feel about sax, but I don’t care; this is good, tasteful, god-fearing sax.

See Also: A Better Place, A Better Time; Forty Days; One Foot on the Gas, One Foot in the Grave.

Yassassin and Candidate

Bowie is a treasure trove of great songs. I always think I know all the greats, and then I uncover another diamond. Just got Lodger (after two years of wanting it) and the album is pretty damn good.

Could you imagine ska-ing this song up? Oh, it’d be fun.

Also, I got Diamond Dogs too. Didn’t want to, but I figured I might as well. On it was a bonus, and it’s cool. Ignore how demo-sounding it is. Polished, this song could have been classic.

Reel Big Fish

I’m not a big ska fan, but I’m not big enough of a fucker to hate Reel Big Fish. I don’t think they’ve covered song I didn’t like.

Of course, I know what you’re thinking. How can anyone improve on Phil Collin’s cover of Another Day in Paradise, and I’m, frankly, inclined to agree, but this is pretty damn good anyway.

The Microphones – The Moon

Does this count as twee? does it matter? LoFiForever!

Tokyo Jihen – OSCA

So, I know the Japanese girl voice just isn’t my bag (too much yowling cat) but this song rocks, and it demonstrates just how effective a good baseline can be. If only all people realized how necessary it is to push an ok song to a damn good one.

I present to you, from Tokyo Jihen, with it’s lead singer, the talented Shiina Ringo, and four dancing girls who love to flash their panties: OSCA

Okinawan Rock

I’m not a big JPOP fan –there is something about their chord progressions that feels meandering and meaningles– but I do love me some Okinawa rock. Honestly think it’s the perfect blend of European and Japanese sensabilities, as opposed to trying to mimic European music.

It could be that Okinawans are exposed to American music a lot more since a large percent of their population American, or it could be just a happy coincidence. In any case, the Capital B-side presents Okinawan Rock.

Technically, The Boom (awesome name, ya?) isn’t Okinawa, but the song is done in the style and was written in Okinawa. Ignore the 90s-tastic bits.

This is Kina Shoukichi who is probably the most famous Okinawan singer of all time. Reminds me a bit of American Pie, actually. In any case, the Lennon’s dig him, so that puts him pretty high up in the cool book.

[http://youtube.com/watch?v=BAj1yeK5q7U&feature=related]

Take Shelter from the Ash- Six Organs of Admittance

We all know I obsess over repetativeness, which means I should not, by any means, like ragas. However, I like this one, as indeed I like most. I’m like Spitzer, railing against the things I secretly love, just with… you know… less prositutes and more melody. I figure that since you can like Bon Iver, and you try something else that is ventures in the realm of folk.

It’s hard not to dig a distort solo over an acoustic background.

Also, NPR just featured them on their song of the day website.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88565709

Black Kids

Hey, the Black Kids did a video!

I’m not sure about the cheerleaders, but hey! Powdered-wig ray-gun fight!