Listen Up!

Hello readers. Did you miss your favorite bloggodocio yesterday? Just because I have other matters to attend to (ogling Parker Posey's pic in this week's New York Magazine is time-consuming!), doesn't mean I don't care. You are my bread and butter. My gin and tonic. My Salt-n-Pepa.

I was talking to my lovely and talented friend/colleague Bridie Harrington last night, and she practically tore her slept-upon-while-wet hair from her head begging me to advise her, by way of all of you, some new music to check out. Now, listen, I may not be four steps ahead of everything like the big fancy-shmancy, in-good-with-record-companies music sites or blogs, but I like to think myself relatively on top of things. Also, I'm not in the habit of gobbling up the leaked new Radiohead tracks and whatnot, mostly because my own personal computer is currently in storage until I find a new apartment, and the computer I'm using at the house I'm staying at (my dad's--I'm super-hip) has processing speeds slightly above that of the Apple II E. So while I can't tell you how great the new songs from the album that Neko Case is going to release in 2009 are, I can tell you what I'm listening to right now, and I can implore you to give it a listen.

And please, if you like this blog, the least you can do is forward the link to Rupert Murdoch.

So, here's some shit you'd be a total fucking asshole not to check out.

Von Sudenfed -- Tromatic Reflexxions
Mark E. Smith from The Fall pins the guys from electro duo Mouse On Mars to the dance floor with his knees, while they counter-attack with tentacles of squiggly synths and crunchy hammer-fisting beats. It's a supergroup that works so well precisely because it shouldn't. Highlight: "Family Feud"
www.myspace.com/vonsudenfed
Or read this stunningly well-crafted article about them.

Dan Deacon -- Spiderman of the Rings
This Baltimore madman makes a candy-coated mess of sugary Casio melodies and roller-coaster drum loops for those who've proudly jettisoned their attention spans.
Highlight: "Wham City"
www.myspace.com/dandeacon

Chris Garneau -- Music For Tourists
Beautiful, layered and deeply-emotive piano ballads. Garneau's voice barely breaks the volume of a whisper, but these are some of the most powerful songs you'll hear this year. Take a seat, Vanessa Carlton.
Highlight: "Black and Blue"
Chris Garneau's homepage
A Pulitzer-worthy live review

Datarock -- Self-Titled
This Norwegian duo throws a surprise party for Devo and Kraftwerk in a disco hall, and we all get cake. Word is they released this album by themselves two years ago or so, and it's just now getting attention. "Computer Camp" has a chorus that cribs "Summer-Lovin'" except it's about...computer camp. If you can't get into that, you're dismissed from this blog.
Highlight: "Bulldozer"
www.myspace.com/datarock

Joan As Police Woman -- Real Life
Former Dambuilder and Jeff Buckley band mate Joan Wasser makes an absolutely beautiful and stunning new album. Expertly written, introspective lyrics are pushed along by bouncy pianos and jangly guitars. Antony (of Antony and The Johnsons), another former band mate, makes a guest appearance. Do not miss this album. Don't be all cherry-picking from iTunes, either. Buy the whole thing.
Highlight: Hard to pick one, here. Either "Feed the Light" or "Christobel"
www.myspace.com/joanaspolicewoman

The Snake The Cross The Crown -- Cotton Teeth
I don't think I could say anything about them that would be better said than what this brilliant and probably quite sexy reviewer had to say about it.
Highlight: "The Great American Smokeout"

That's it for now, folks. Get listenin'.