What I've been listening to this week

Those Darlins - Those Darlins
These ladies played the Pike Room the night of the Nine Mile Overpass Tanker Truck Explosion (7/15: Never Forget) and I’m going to just run with the idea that their presence in Pontiac is the reason nobody died, because why not? They’re like a super fun mix of Wanda Jackson, Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers and the Exciters. Their song “The Whole Damn Thing” has been stuck in my head all week. It is about getting drunk and eating an entire chicken by yourself. Like you haven’t been there (I actually haven’t been there).

Wye Oak – The Knot

I’ve long been a fan of sad bastard music so it’s really no surprise that I’ve been listening to this record so much. Squalling feedback- drenched guitar interspersed with glacially paced haunting melodies ala Low, Red House Painters, Pale Saints etc. Jenn Wasner has that matter-of-fact-yet-longing alto voice like Georgia Hubley or Jennifer O'Connor that I’m a sucker for. Wye Oak is a nice break from the Dan Deacon wackiness I typically associate with Baltimore. Then again, I don’t know that much about them – maybe they wear neon dinosaur masks and pass out roller skates to audience members during live performances.

Discovery – LP
I am still not sure if I like this record on its own merits, or because it reminds me so much of Auto-Tune the News. But oh, how I love Auto-Tune the News. If Ron Paul did a guest spot on LP, it could easily push it into my top ten of the year. I’d even settle for Katie Couric. Without that, it does sound like white kids covering Montell Jordan and R. Kelly songs, but there's nothing really wrong with that. Let the kids have their fun.

Olden days record bonus!

Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman

The dread-sporting lesbian prophet Tracy Chapman once said, “Poor people gonna rise up, and get their share.” She also said, “I don’t want no one to squeeze me - they might take away my life,” which seems a little misguided and paranoid, but it’s the first part that’s got me thinking. I’m typically not one for “protest music,” but “Talkin' Bout a Revolution” is probably more relevant today than in 1988 when Ms. Chapman originally thought “finally the tables are starting to turn.” Today honest, hardworking people are losing their jobs or doing more work for less pay and being kicked out of their houses as they watch CEOs of failed companies get set up for life despite their reckless fuck ups. Maybe she was on to something with this whole, "whispering isn’t the best method of revolutionary communication" thing.