Moonface- “Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips” from Heartbreaking Bravery (Jagjaguwar)
I’m not the world’s biggest Spencer Krug fan. Through the years, I’ve had the occasional Wolf Parade or Sunset Rubdown album on my iPod, but they tended to (literally) get lost in the shuffle. But it’s impossible not to respect a guy as prolific as Krug (he’s had more bands and side projects than most artists have albums) or one who whips up such creative names as Frog Eyes and Fifths of Seven in addition to the aforementioned. Still, it wasn’t until I stumbled upon the YouTube video for his recent Moonface tune “Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips” that Krug got his hooks into my brain. His trembling voice, which vaguely reminds me of an un-glam David Bowie, floats over rumbling guitar and builds to a crystalline synth-fueled release that grabs you by the shoulders and shakes. The repeated invocation of Stevie Nicks’ name adds a vintage touch, and while it might not sell me on Krug’s entire oeuvre, this song stands out as the perfect track for a mixtape. – Josh Goller
Fiona Apple- “Every Single Night” from The Idler Wheel Is Wiser than the Driver of the Screw, And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do (Epic)
Full disclosure: I hated “Every Single Night” when I first heard it. The plinky-plink music box interlude and bizarre chanting chorus caught me off-guard. I had been expecting the sound I was accustomed to from Extraordinary Machine which, while not poppy, was a more tamed and polished album than its predecessors Tidal and When the Pawn…. “What the fuck is she mewling about?” was my 6 a.m., pre-vanilla latte reaction.
Several weeks later, with trepidation in my heart, I pressed play again. And I got it. If “Every Single Night” is indicative of what we can expect from The Idler Wheel…, then Apple is returning to her poetic roots. “Every Single Night” contains plenty of Fiona’s signature flourishes, with her soulful, crooning riffs, emotional vibrato and bizarre, unforgettable wordplay. The first verse contains the line “These ideas of mine percolate the mind, trickle down the spine” — how often do you get to hear “percolate” as a verb in a non-coffee context? Reminded me fondly of “To Your Love”: “My derring-do allows me to dance the rigadoon around you.” These quirky lyric tics will do nothing to satiate her critics, but “Every Single Night” isn’t for them. It’s for her die-hards, those of us who love every letter of her 23-word album title. And for that we wish her a guttural, multi-octave “Welcome ba-aaack!” – Tabitha Blankenbiller
A$AP Rocky- “Goldie” (RCA)
If you listen to hip-hop in 2012 and don’t enjoy the music of A$AP Rocky, you’re probably not a fun person to be around at parties. While much has been made about the Harlem upstart’s heavy Houston and Memphis influence, his most defined regional trait is a Manhattanite level of excess. It was present in the hip-hop’s late-‘90s shiny suit era as well as the mid-‘00s Diplomat movement, and now is worn on Rocky’s sleeve with an unapologetic smile. While the overall feeling of fun carries “Goldie,” Rocky’s infectious vocals and casino-smooth flow sound perfect over a driving beat that’s sparse enough to knock but lush enough to illuminate. “Goldie” is not only my favorite song right now, it’s also the alarm tone on my phone. I haven’t had a bad day since. – Chaz Kangas
Jack White- “Sixteen Saltines” from Blunderbuss (Columbia/Third Man)
NEWSFLASH: Jack White is still awesome. “Who’s jealous who’s jealous who’s jealous who’s jealous of who?” he asks in the paranoid quasi-stalker collar throttle of “Sixteen Saltines.” The lyrics are so fucking clever and direct, and the negative space between isolated call-and-response licks make the subsequent fractious clatter all the more rallying. It’s hard to pick a best track from the sublimely satisfying Blunderbuss, but this one sure pulls a rip cord. Who’s jealous? Maybe everyone, or at least they should be. – Stacey Pavlick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8divth3epgM
