I Need Another World

Hold On-Hot Chip

Pretty snazzy in its original form-"Hold On" is one of the danciest tracks off of Hot Chip's latest record Made In The Dark. If this band had come out in the 80's....or in some alternative insanely cool universe....they remind me so much of the OMD if they got beat up by ELO.

Not surprisingly, Ewan Pearson, like he did for Cortney Tidwell's "Don't Let The Stars Keep Us Tangled Up" last year, turns "Hold On" into 9 minutes of dance floor beauty. Again, like the aforementioned track, you want it to go on and on and on.

L.E.S. Artistes-Santogold.

I know....could i lag farther behind. Well, I didn't write on my blog for ages. Frankly, the moment I heard this song, I thought an ESG song sung by Dale Bozzio of the Missing Persons (since I am all about band vs. band clashing analogies). Yeah, that good. Early runner for single of the year. Avoid the Switch mix...typically too loud and banging, ruining all the Lower East Side nuances of the song.

Say So-Uh Huh Her

One of the songs that if you heard in a car, you'd roll down the windows and let the wind rush across your face. Stunningly beautiful gorgeous pop. Despite being named after a PJ Harvey track, it reminds me a bit more of a Go-Go's track...with maybe the Cocteau Twins on the chorus. No, not a fight between the two...

Humpty Dumpty-Aimee Mann

OK...this is kind of a dedication. Like if this was a radio show, I'd dedicate this song to my friend Lisa. Basically I've been missing her alot lately--we've been talking alot via email and text, but neither of us can get out to see the other. Anyways, she can listen to this song...and she'll get it. Its not a song that necessarily reminds me of our college days together (that'd be either Nirvana, "Fascination" by the Human League or...gulp....Colour Me Badd).

When I hear Aimee Mann, I always think that if Lisa wrote music, this is who she'd be. Vocally yes, but sentiment and lyrics even more. And frankly, that is a huge huge compliment. Anyways, love you Lees.

Another World-Antony & the Johnsons

Made me weep each of the three times I listened to it. Although I adore Antony, I didn't think that any of the songs on his last record matched "I Fell In Love With A Dead Boy" or "Cripple And The Starfish". I loved them all, but I wanted an out and out torch song.

And I've missed his Nina Simone/Jeff Buckley voice so much. Sure, hearing him duet with Bjork is amazing. And his work with Hercules & Love Affair is superb.

But this. Oh this. Utterly and completely gorgeous. Reminds me a bit of "Song Of The Siren" by This Mortal Coil, which is the highest compliment imaginable. When he sings "I need another world, this one's nearly gone. Still have too many dreams, never seen the light", I utterly choke up.

Ethereal sadness, yet oddly hopeful. I think that might be a humpback whale song 3 minutes in. Slays me.