"Johnny Cash" by Sons And Daughters

from Love The Cup

Kinda like a Scottish version of X. Rockabillyish guitar and shuffling drums, male/female vocals. Nifty stuff! They were even better live when they opened for Franz Ferdinand a few months back.

"Goody Goody Gumdrops" by 1910 Fruitgum Co.

from Best of The Bubblegum Years

The kids love this song, the whole comp actually. My daughter made me play this track four times in a row in the car. Great rainy-day dance party music. Do ya think in 30+ years, future hipsters will be digging The Wiggles?

"Guns of Brixton" by The Clash

from London Calling

Just picked up the 25th anniversary edition of London Calling which includes the elusive Vanilla Tapes as well as a DVD on the making of this classic album. The Clash were one of the few bands that could a do great variety of styles equally well, from punk & rockabilly to funk, reggae and more without sounding like wanna-be white boys. Guns of Brixton is one of my all time favorite Clash songs off one of my all time favorite albums.

"Somebody Told Me" by The Killers

from Hot Fuss

I guess you could probably dismiss this as next-generation-post-Strokes-MTV2-rock, but damned if this song doesn't just get stuck in my little brain every time I hear it. It's catchy, has a good beat and fun 80's synth sounds, I like it...so there.

"Avant Garde Music" by Ballboy

from A Guide For The Daylight Hours

The opening lines to this opening song cracks me up. The girl who works at the record shop/well she says that I am not avant garde enough/ well so what? she only works in a record shop/ she only works in a record shop/and I dont give a fuck what she says or thinks about me.
I dunno why but I think that's very funny and says a lot about a certain kinda person whom you may find working at your local record or video shop. Anyway Here it is a live version of the song.

"Green Arrow" by Yo La Tengo

from I Can Hear The Heart Beating as One

Under heavy sedation AND Riding in a car, through the desert with "special" chocolate-toffee brownies is when this chill track sounds the best. Whoever thought of using crickets on this sleepytime jam is a freaking genius.

"Common People" by Pulp

from Different Class

I got on the Pulp bandwagon WAY after the fact, apparently this was a sorta hit. Great story of a rich Greek gal who wants to live like
"common people". breathy & propulsive, great hi-energy track for a friday morning!

"Everywhere With Helicopter" by Guided By Voices

from Universal Truths and Cycles

A big riff rocker with unusual vocal style. Everywhere with Helicopter

"all" by Thelonious Monk

from Monk In Paris Live at the Olympia

from 1965. Monk backed with a fine band. this is some top-notch shiznit. nutty, intricate and bouncy. I can only imagine how rad this would have been to see live as it was going down.

"all of 'em" by Sinatra/Jobim

from Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim

Classic summertime chill-out album.