Ep. 2, A: Asobi Seksu, "New Years"

From the album Citrus

Asobi Seksu web site
Asobi Seksu on MySpace

Pay attention to local live-music venues — you never know who might roll through town. These guys opened for Appleseed Cast at The Picador not too long ago, and I totally missed it. (And how were they not headlining that bill?)

Ep. 2, B: Black Kids, "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You"

From the EP Wizard of Ahhhs

Black Kids web site
Black Kids on MySpace

If Vampire Weekend is the current blog buzz, these guys can't be far behind. And like Vampire Weekend, I'm shedding my usual cautious approach to these blogger darlings and loving them. Go to the band's official site (linked to above) and get this EP.

Ep. 2, C: The Cure, "Jumping Someone Else's Train"

From the album Boys Don't Cry

The Cure web site
The Cure on MySpace

Songs from the Cure's first album (which is technically Three Imaginary Boys, which was slightly modified [including the inclusion of this song] and released as Boys Don't Cry here in the U.S.) don't get much play aside from "Boys Don't Cry," and I really dig the bass line on this song.

Ep. 2, D: Descendents, "Good Good Things"

From the album I Don't Want to Grow Up

Descendents web site
Descendents on MySpace

As a wordsmith, it always bugged me that these guys went with the secondary spelling of the word descendant. (I thought I should add to the mounting evidence of my geekdom.) — cwc

Ep. 2, E: Elliott Smith, "Son of Sam"

From the album Figure 8 (2000)

Elliott Smith's Myspace (it has a ton of his songs).

DJ comments: Elliott Smith is a great listen if you're having a rainy day and need music to keep you depressed — the man fatally stabbed himself in the heart in 2003.

You may have heard him on the following soundtracks: Good Will Hunting, American Beauty and Royal Tenenbaums.

Ep. 2, F: Leslie Feist, "Mushaboom"

From the album Let It Die (2004)

Feist's Website

DJ Comments: You probably know Feist from her most recent Grammy-nominated album The Reminder. This song is from her first album Let It Die, an essential break up record for any ladies out there. Guys should enjoy the album simply because Feist is a hot Canadian chick with a guitar.

Ep. 2, G: Gorillaz, "Dirty Harry"

From the album Demon Days (2005).

Gorillaz Website and Myspace.

DJ Comments: It's the Gorillaz. You should know this by now.

Ep. 2, H: Headlights, "Cherry Tulips"

From the album Some Racing, Some Stopping.

Headlights Website and Myspace.

DJ Comments: Some Racing, Some Stopping was released on February 19. You heard it here first, folks.

Ep. 2, I: INXS, "Need You Tonight"

From the album Kick

INXS web site
INXS on MySpace

In junior high, I had a tie-dye INXS shirt. Make sense of that! — cwc

Ep. 2, J: The Jesus & Mary Chain, "Just Like Honey"

From the album Psychocandy

JAMC's Sub Pop web site
JAMC on MySpace

Most people think of Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanssen when they hear this song. I'm just glad a lot of people got to hear this song in 2002/2003, as it seems timeless to me.

Ep. 2, K: Kings of Leon, "Red Morning Light"

From the album Youth and Young Manhood

Kings of Leon web site
Kings of Leon on MySpace

Yes, I know this song is used in a car commercial. So was "Pink Moon." As is "The Funeral." Some advertisers have taste, what can I say....

Ep. 2, L: The Long Blondes, "Lust in the Movies"

From the album Someone to Drive You Home

Long Blondes web site
Long Blondes on MySpace

Our friend Eric is going to see these guys in April. Jealous....

Ep. 2, M: Minus the Bear, "Pachuca Sunrise"

From the album Menos El Oso (2005).

Minus the Bear Website and Myspace.

DJ Comments: MTB played at The Picador in 2007. Being that I was obsessed with this band during my frosh and sophomore years (2004-2006), my undies were a little wet after the show. (TMI! — cwc)

I suggest checking out the song titles if you have not listened to MTB's music before. My favorites include "Hey! Is that a ninja up there?," "I'm totally not down with Rob's alien," "Lemurs, man. Lemurs," and "Monkey!!! Knife!!! Fight!!!"



Letter of the Day update: M was one of our two Letters of the Day, so we played "Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse." Check out the video.

Ep. 2, N: Neutral Milk Hotel, "Holland, 1945"

From the album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998).

Neutral Milk Hotel's Website.

I always think my speakers are blown when I listen to this song. There is quite a bit of distortion built into the beginning.

Ep. 2, O: Of Montreal, "Lysergic Bliss"

From the album Satanic Panic in the Attic

Of Montreal's Website (flash) and Myspace.

DJ Comments: I love this song because it's all over the place. I love the different progressions -- my favorite being the last 1:30 of the song.

If you're going to buy an Of Montreal album, I suggest going for Satanic Panic in the Attic. Some of the others lack the sound quality and production value.

This video is for the song "Disconnect the Dots," the lead-in song on Satanic Panic.

Ep. 2, P: Page France, "Weatherman, Section Three"

From the album Pear & Sister Pinecone

Page France's Website and Myspace.

I immediately connected with this band when I visited its Myspace page. The quote next to the band's picture said, "there's a circus where my head should be." Feel you on that one, brothers.

Ep. 2, Q: Q-Tip, "Let's Ride"

From the album Amplified

Q-Tip web site
Q-Tip on MySpace

I got my hands on this album awhile back, only to discover it was a "clean" version. I guess the silver lining is that I can play it on a Friday afternoon.

Ep. 2, R: The Raveonettes, "Do You Believe Her"

From the EP Whip It On

The Raveonettes web site
The Raveonettes on MySpace

These guys released an album this week, Lust Lust Lust. I heard one song awhile ago, "Dead Sound," which wasn't bad. I've listened to the new disc a couple of times since Tuesday. First listen...eh. Second listen was better. This won't reach the depths of suck (relatively speaking) that their last album, Pretty in Black, reached, but I don't see a complete bounceback either. But we still have Whip It On to, um, whip out. — cwc



Letter of the Day update: I'm obviously quickly warming up to the new disc, as we played "Dead Sound" in honor of our second Letter of the Day, R. Check it....

Ep. 2, S: Stars, "What I'm Trying to Say"

From the album Set Yourself on Fire

Stars web site
Stars on MySpace

The video I'm embedding is pretty cool, even though I've never watched a second of Veronica Mars.

Ep. 2, T: Tricky, "Makes Me Wanna Die"

From the album Pre-Millennium Tension

Tricky's web site
Tricky on MySpace

I still have Tricky's debut, Maxinquaye, among the greatest albums of all time. But I'm picking a song off PMT because it completely spotlights the vocals of Martina Topley-Bird, who is releasing a new single in a couple of weeks. It will get play on the Soup. Until then, enjoy the cool dynamic of a slow beat, Topley-Bird's wail, and Tricky's seemingly prompting whisper. — cwc