Playlist: September 2009

It's been so long since I've done a monthly playlist, I felt I owed it to you. So here's a fine selection of tunes to finish off your September. New and old, urban and rural, 'Mericans and Limeys, side projects and comebacks, solos and duets; it's a full spectrum of awesome. Enjoy.

Monsters of Folk - Losin' Yo Head
The indie rock supergroup released their first original album this week, and after a few run-through listens, here's the single that pops out at me. It's upbeat, full sounding, and raucous with a great melody. Jim James takes the lead vocals on this one while M.Ward, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis back him up with a bar band sound.

Pearl Jam - Speed of Sound
No, E.V. & Co. did not cover a Coldplay song (thank god). They did however released a new album, Backspacer, this week as well. "The Fixer" is the typical rockin' single, but I think this is the best, and most surprising track. It's a down-tempo, anthematic, Nashville-style shuffle. Mature but not cheesy; this isn't like a latter-day Eagles track, it has a certain amount of gravitas.

Jay-Z - Empire State of Mind
As I said before, I am not a hip-hop fan. I don't try to be, and I certainly shy away from saying anything authoritative about it. But, this song fuckin' rules. Great hook. Here's the download after I YouTube teased you.

Artic Monkeys - Crying Lightning
I cannot say I love the newest album by these young Brits, Humbug, but I do quite fancy this song. The whole EP was produced by Josh Homme, Mr. Queens of the Stone Age himself. As a result, much of the Monkey's signature brit-pop sound is replaced with a laid-back stoner-rock vibe...only with English accents. Which is odd. But this is the best of the lot.

Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson - I Don't Know What To Do
I've already given you the lead single off their Break Up record, "Relator," but I couldn't let you leave without hearing this great track. A dreamy roots rock duet with a set of realistic lyrics; one of those half break-up, half make-up songs.

The Replacements - Seen Your Video
While visiting DC, my cousin brought be into his world where they listen to the Replacements all weekend (it's pretty awesome). This timeless rocker is a response to the superficiality of MTV at the time (the mid to late 80's). An extended yet tight rock instrumental with a few shouted lyrics is unpalatable to a video crowd, but perfect on vinyl and for an army of indie-punks. The Hold Steady certainly took a big listen to these guys.

Swingin' Medallions - Double Shot of My Baby's Love
I heard this song on Hawaiian oldie's radio, but at first I thought it was some kind of 90's novelty song. It sounds decidedly Stax, but with background sounds of a frat party, and lyrics like "She loved me so long and she loved me so hard/I finally passed out in her front yard" it didn't sound like something that could have seriously come from the 60's. But there it is, a real R&B song, and I love it.

Talking Heads - Right Start
During a drunken night/early morning of friends surfing my iTunes and looking for something to dance to, my buddy exclaimed "Where the hell is all your Talking Heads?" And I had no good answer. Sure, I had Stop Making Sense, but I did not have anything further. So I dug deep into their discography the next day, finding a re-issue of Remain in Light. Not only did it have the usual track listing, but it featured a few studio outtakes, including this one of "Once In A Lifetime." It's an early jam establishing that thumping bass and sonic atmosphere, but with a funky guitar line replacing the lyrics. It's a badass groove in this incarnation.