SONG OF THE MOMENT: Local Natives - Wide Eyes

Probably the best opening track of 2010 so far. The ploy is as follows: music fans, listen up.

SONG OF THE MOMENT: Fela Kuti - Gentleman (Edit Version)

This 'track' from legendary Nigerian protest singer is jazzy and angry and smart. Check out Fela Kuti: Best of the Black President if you like this sound.

Gentleman - Fela Kuti

Or for the You tube version see here

SONG OF THE MOMENT: She & Him - Gonna Get Along Without You Now

Zooey Deschanel gingerly swaggers through "Gonna Get Along Without You Now," sounding like she's on her way to a picnic and she'll step all over you to get there. You pissed her off, so it's actually quite pleasant to her back on top of the world: ."uh huh (uh huh), hm hm (hm hm)/Gonna get along without you now."





Here's a link to the original (1952!) if that's more your style.

SONG OF THE MOMENT: Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill

Damon Albarn's take on dreamy sentiment makes me giddy inside. Even when he closes with the straight faced "Up on Melancholy Hill sits a manatee/Just looking out for the day when you're close to me..."

SONG OF THE MOMENT: Yeasayer - O.N.E.

Scoop the song below or check out the video (which makes the band look not very cool) here.

O.N.E. - Yeasayer

SONG OF THE MOMENT: Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer

Give credit to this song for making something so downtrodden (lethargy) sound so goddamn desirable. If these four minutes don't make your whole summer job plan (whether to get one or to keep yours) seem downright foolhardy, than you're missing something. 'I hope you enjoy working for the man, because we'll be down be the shore just spinning about....'

SONG OF THE MOMENT: Four Tet - "She Just Likes to Fight"

An absolutely gorgeous instrumental closer off the recent There Is Love in You. Here, with 'plants-in-slow-motion' based video--presumably fan-made:

SONG OF THE MOMENT: Solilliquists of Sound - "Bulletproof"

This poetic take on MLK Jr.'s life, courtesy of the relatively unknown and decidedly eclectic Solilliquists of Sound, reaches goosebump-inducing heights as the protagonist is given his own chance to speak.