Justify My Love: Cold Day, Warm Pop
This week has been defined by two things for me: Randy Newman and sweet girl pop. And, in one extremely rare instance, the place where those two things collide. We usually sneak some mp3s into the bottom of our articles, but today I felt like flipping the script. So how about an occasional column called Justify My Love, where the staff posts some music that really has their toes tingling? Be prepared to sneak those iPod headphones under your earmuffs and run through the streets. Also, hit up the comments to let me know what you loved and hated, and any suggestions for further listening. Enjoy!
1. Architecture in Helsinki – Living Without You (Randy Newman cover, live at WOXY, unreleased)
It’s almost too good to be true: the gang from AiH covering a Newman classic. As far as this band goes, the song is incredibly restrained and beautiful, with that trademark Australian quirk that makes the band so endearing. I had to convert this file from wma, so the quality might not be perfect, but the song itself comes damn close.
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2. Tender Forever – No One Will Tell No One For Sure (from Wider, out now on K Records)
A lovely girl named Laura turned me on to Tender Forever this summer in Berkeley, Califiornia, and I was immediately smitten. Cute voice, smart electronic beats, clever lyrics, twee sensibility–what else do you need? The rest of the album is also stellar. December releases are total bummers, since they don’t get anywhere near the press they deserve. This is certainly true here.
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Download: No One Will Tell No One For Sure
3. Thao Nguyen & The Get Down Stay Down – Bag of Hammers (from We Brave Bee Stings and All, out Jan. 29th on Kill Rock Stars)
Thao is like the twee Cat Power (that voice! ahh…). She’s from Arlington, VA, and is soon going to be touring with Xiu Xiu around the whole country, including a stop in Ames. I’m thinking road trip.
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