"Friend of Mine" The National

I don't know much about The National. Just that this cd has been steadily growing on me for months now.

"Friend of Mine" The National

"The Ice Storm" The Go! Team

More exclamation marks! The Go! Team's debut cd "Thunder, Lightning, Strike" was one of my favourite albums of last year. Their music is difficult to describe but I can invoke the following references with some confidence: sonic youth, broken social scene, afrika bombata and sesame street. They were kind enough to release a new ep recently and it's just as good. This song is kind of an anomaly for them, in that there's no singing or rapping or even shouting and also no driving drum line. What it does have is the same joyful optimism that characterizes all their songs. Put it on repeat and write your first novel.

"The Ice Storm" The Go! Team

"The Fire In Which You Burn" Company Flow

Company Flow and El-P’s various off-shoots kept me interested in hip hop through the late 90’s and early 2000's. When this album finally made it’s way to my delicate west-coast ears it sounded so hard I started riding the underground part of the skytrain with it blasting in my headphones just to feel down. It was the first time I realized that some dudes could just make a hip hop record in their basement and it could kill anything else out there. I even love the tinny production and tape hiss. It sounds as fresh now as it did when it was released almost ten years ago, which isn't saying much for the state of the genre. El-P’s verse on this track is still my favourite in any song, ever.

"The Fire In Which You Burn" Company Flow

"Hounds Of Love (Phones' Wolves At The Door Remix)" The Futureheads

I have to admit to being a bit of a sucker for these indie rock dancefloor remixes. The Futureheads CD is amazing and I should really be posting a song from that album but this remix is so damn catchy, I'm powerless against it. Phones' is the guy (guys? girls?) who did the disco version of Banquet on the Bloc Party remix album. That track can get people on the floor like nobody's business. The trend is definitely teetering on the edge of annoying, but probably only because of the lazy contributions made by every dude with a laptop and a pair of chucks. These remixes shouldn't be relied on to get people dancing to rock songs (not now, just when we were learning to dance to real drums again) but if they stand up on their own I'm all for them.

"Hounds Of Love (Phones' Wolves At The Door Remix)" The Futureheads

"Chewing Gum" Annie

Honestly, I can’t delineate my appreciation of Annie’s sparkly pop from my school-boy crush on her. But I think I really like it. This song is silly but the production is really interesting and Annie’s little Norwegian voice is super hot, especially when she talks to herself. If this song doesn't grab you, try getting a crush on her by visiting her website. I recommend the video section.

"Chewing Gum" Annie

"Proposition 61" The Most Serene Republic

I saw these kids (and I mean kids) play their first Vancouver show at the Media Club last year and despite the terrible sound and noisy crowd I suspected I was hearing something great. Then I picked up the CD and found that I was right. All dreamy, weird and layered indie rock. Then I dragged some friends out to a little club in LA on a monday night to watch them systematically dismantle the icy silverlake hipster-stares until every face wore a smile. I felt proud. Best Canadian album of last year.

"Proposition 61" The Most Serene Republic

"Notorious" Turbulence

I suppose I owe my new-found interest in dancehall, however indirectly, to Geordie. He hipped Matt to this track. And Matt to me. And now it's my favotite song to drop at a party, especially parties with my stoner friends, who take surfing trips to Tofino and work in the film industry. They love this shit. It's all positive and about god and everything. Bo!

"Notorious" Turbulence

"Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood" my!gay!husband! vs Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!

Holy Exclamation Marks! Local DJ extraordinaire my!gay!husband! puts a little bang into this Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! song. Nothing too intrusive, just a few dance-floor accents in case you weren't jumping around your kitchen enough whilst listening to this album. If you're already familiar with CYHSY save this one for your next living-room party. If not, this will serve as a fine introduction.

"Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood" my!gay!husband! vs Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!

"Give the Drummer Some" Ultramagnetic Mc's

Kool Keith was cooler before he got so cool. Ultramagnetic can stand with Eric B and Rakim, 3rd Bass, BDP and any other late 80's sample-driven New York hip hop you care to mention but, somehow, they seem to have gotten lost in the shuffle. This song makes me want to grow a cameo and learn how to drop the needle.

"Give the Drummer Some" Ultramagnetic MC's

"Modern Art" Art Brut

In my lifelong quest to avoid any endeavour which could result in my life acquiring some meaning, I have started this MP3 blog. Enjoy...

I discovered this Art Brut album about a week ago, found it a little on the silly side (it's called "Bang Bang Rock and Roll" which could go either way) but something stuck and now I can't stop listening. I know I'll forget all about it in another week but in the meantime...rock out.

Hit this link and download the file from yousendit.com...

"Modern Art" Art Brut