Most Serene Republic tix claimed

Nick Szlemp was our second caller. Good job, dude.

Ep. 4, A: "Anyone Else But You," Michael Cera and Ellen Page

From the Juno soundtrack

Juno's MySpace page

DJ comments: Finally saw the movie. Loved it. Worth the hype. Moldy Peaches, maybe not so much, so here's the superior Cera/Page version. — cwc

Ep. 4, B: "Birthday," The Bird and the Bee

From the ep One Too Many Hearts

The Bird and the Bee web site
The Bird and the Bee on MySpace

DJ comments: Greg Kurstin (the bee) and Inara George (the bird) are pretty cool: they gave away a single on iTunes for a week (it was a Christmas tune). Who can't get behind the idea of free stuff, especially when it's good electro-pop? — cwc

Ep. 4, C: "Carnies," Martina Topley-Bird

Single from the forthcoming album The Blue God

Martina Topley-Bird web site
Martina Topley-Bird on MySpace

DJ comments: Back when Tricky's Maxinquaye came out in 1995, if you'd told me that in 2008 I'd be paying more attention to that album's female vocalist than the musical mastermind behind the tunes, I'd have told you "youz crazy." — cwc

Ep. 4, D: "Dimension," Wolfmother

From the album Wolfmother

Wolfmother's web site
Wolfmother on MySpace

DJ comments: My friend Sam piqued my interest in this band a while back when he described them as such: "Imagine a bunch of dudes locked in a fallout shelter for like 20 years with nothing but Black Sabbath records, then they emerge and hear the White Stripes on the radio." While the scenario seems unlikely, when you hear their music, you might find it downright plausible. Bottom line: Sam rules. — cwc

Ep. 4, E: "Electricityscape," The Strokes

From the album First Impressions Of Earth

The Strokes website
The Strokes' MySpace page

DJ comments: I know I haven't picked up a Strokes album in a few years. I'm actually not sure that I'd ever listened to this song before making this week's playlist. — BJ

Ep. 4, F: "Fairest Of The Seasons," Nico

From the album Chelsea Girl

Nico's fan website

DJ comments: Was there anything Nico didn't do? She was a singer-songwriter, model, keyboard player, actress, Velvet Underground contributor and Andy Warhol muse. (Not bad for a post-war German chick.) Also, this song was featured in the Royal Tenenbaum soundtrack. — BJ


You have one of two mediocre video choices here.
1. The weird one that kept shaking me awake last night:


2. The "artsy" video where someone matched the song with blurry pictures of flowers. I get it — fairest season. Still not great. I guess that's not stopping me from posting it anyway.

Ep. 4, G: "Girl from the North Country," Bob Dylan

From the album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Dylan's website
Dylan's Myspace page

DJ comments: There's just something great about Dylan during the winter months.
I saw Bob a few years ago when he and Willie Nelson played baseball fields. I heard he had "burnt out" shows and good shows. I definitely saw the burn-out. They may as well have tied him upright to his keyboard -- you couldn't tell if he was singing or just trying to make noises into the microphone. Even though the show wasn't great, it was still Dylan. — BJ

Ep. 4, H: "Heart + Soul," Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

From the album Take Them On, On Your Own

BRMC's website
BRMC's Myspace page

DJ comments: If you like these guys, they're playing the Midwest in late April and early May. — BJ

Ep. 4, I: "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo," A Tribe Called Quest

From the album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

A Tribe Called Quest's web site
Tribe on MySpace

DJ comments: I saw these guys back in 1994, when Lollapalooza was a traveling festival with eight bands on the mainstage. They were third or fourth to play (The Boredoms, L7, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Tribe, the Breeders, George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars, Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins) and were by far the best act in the first half. I miss stuff like this and De La Soul. OK, enough Memory Lane stuff. — cwc

Ep. 4, J: "Judy Is a Punk," The Ramones

From the album Ramones

Ramones' web site

DJ comments: Animated or early days, your choice of videos below. Based on the 1974 CBGB's clip, I can see why people might have been a bit skeptical of the Ramones. But in the studio? ¡Muy bien! — cwc

Ep. 4, K: "Kate," Ben Folds Five

From the album Whatever and Ever Amen

Ben Folds' web site
Ben Folds on MySpace

DJ comments: Ben brought down the house (er, IMU Main Lounge) Sunday night. He played a good deal of new material, which sounded almost as hot as the stuff from the Ben Folds Five era. This tune is one of many gems on Whatever and Ever Amen. If only we could play Folds' version of Dre's "Bitches Ain't Shit." — cwc

Ep. 4, L: "Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken," Camera Obscura

From the album Let's Get Out of this Country

Camera Obscura's web site
Camera Obscura on MySpace

DJ comments: How can you not love this song (or the video, for that matter)? — cwc

Ep. 4, M: "Mess With Time," Built To Spill

From the album You In Reverse

Built To Spill's website
Built To Spill's Myspace

DJ comments: Their Myspace looks like a 13-year-old boy designed it. Couldn't find an appropriate video for the song so I included a different BTS track from You In Reverse. — BJ

Ep. 4, N: "No Regrets," Aesop Rock

From the album Labor Days

Aesop's MySpace page

DJ comments: I have this friend who's madly in love with Aesop. I really think she would sacrifice a foot for one night with this man. She's just one of many in the Aesop cult following. — BJ

Ep. 4, O: "On a Neck, On a Spit," Grizzly Bear

From the album Yellow House

Grizzly Bear's MySpace page
Grizzly Bear's website

DJ comments: The album is called "Yellow House" because it was self-recorded in one of the member's mother's yellow house on the East Coast. The band played at The Picador last year — the album has since become a favorite of mine to return to. — BJ

Ep. 4, P: "Pressed Against the Sky," Toadies

From the album Hell Below - Stars Above

Toadies' MySpace page

DJ comments: You may remember this 90s band from their Platinum-selling album Rubberneck or their song "Possum Kingdom." I know I have a few grand memories involving the band. A few years ago my brother and I were driving to a funeral and he played "Pressed Against" for me. It's been with me ever since. — BJ

There was no video for "Pressed Against the Sky," but I decided to include the band's video for "Tyler."

Ep. 4, Q: "Quicksand," Dinosaur Jr

From the ep Whatever's Cool With Mehttp://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6365356051065416584&postID=1925073533487988365
Blogger: Alphabet Soup on KRUI 89.7FM - Edit Post "Ep. 4, Q: "Quicksand," Dinosaur Jr"

Dinosaur Jr. web site
Dino Jr. on MySpace

DJ comments: This is pretty much a hybrid David Bowie cover. J Mascis doing Bowie...it's tough to get more natural than that. — cwc

No "Quicksand" video on YouTube, aside from some random dude performing his rendition, so let's include a song that was a "Buzz Clip" back in 1994-95. J Mascis plays golf. I bet I could school J on the links.

Ep. 4, R: "Road," Nick Drake

From the album Pink Moon

Nick Drake's web site
Nick Drake on MySpace

DJ comments: You can't go wrong with any of the tracks on Pink Moon. No video with this one: Drake wasn't exactly a profilic performer, and the only "films" on YouTube that use this song aren't my cup of tea. — cwc

Ep. 4, S: "Skinny Love," Bon Iver

From the album For Emma, Forever Ago

Bon Iver web site
Bon Iver on MySpace

DJ comments: Not quite Vampire Weekend-esque in terms of blog buzz, but still rather hyped. Worthy? You decide. And if you like, get a live dose in the UI Black Box Theater on April 5, the final night of the Mission Creek Midwest Fest. — cwc

Ep. 4, T: "Traffic in the Tropics," Baby Calendar

From the album Gingerbread Dog

Baby Calendar web site
Baby Calendar's MySpace

DJ comments: Darn it if these guys aren't somewhat catchy. — cwc

Ep. 4, U: "Us," Regina Spektor

From the album Soviet Kitsch

Regina Spektor's website
Spektor's MySpace

DJ comments: It's contagious! — BJ

Ep. 4, V: "Volcano," Damien Rice

From the album O

Damien Rice's website
Damien Rice's MySpace

DJ comments: I once read an article stating that the only good track on O was "Blower's Daughter." I disagree. This album came out when I was a senior in high school, and I reviewed it for my school's newspaper. "Volcano" was my suggested track to hear.

One other thing -- Rice's drummer is awesome. — BJ

Ep. 4, W: "What'd I Say, Parts I & II," Ray Charles

From the album The Very Best of Ray Charles

The Ray Charles website

DJ comments: This song was released almost 50 years ago in 1959. Rolling Stone ranked it #10 of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Not bad for a song improvised to fill up the final 10 minutes of a set. — BJ

Ep. 4, X: "X|Y," Pinback

From the album Blue Screen Life

Pinback's website
Pinback's Myspace

DJ comments: If you're going to listen to Pinback, buy Blue Screen Life. It's by far my favorite of the San Diego-based band's collection. — BJ

Ep. 4, Y: "Your Blood," Destroyer

From the album Destroyer's Rubies

Destroyer's Myspace

DJ comments: Continuing my love for Canadian musicians, Destroyer is a Vancouver band whose lead singer is none other than Daniel Bejar. Bejar's other work includes collaboration with the New Pornographers, and formation of Swan Lake with members of Wolf Parade and Frog Eyes.

Destroyer is about to release a new album. Trouble In Dreams is set to release on March 18. — BJ

Ep. 4, Z: "Zombie," The Cranberries

From the album No Need to Argue

The Cranberries online community

DJ comments: I needed a Z. I probably wouldn't have used this song under any other circumstances. Not to say this isn't a good song, but I'm so burnt out on it. I listened to the Cranberries waaaaay too much in high school. — BJ