Pop

Well, I'm having some serious work-focus difficulty today (in addition to the wealth of posts today, here's another clear signal--I just cleaned out the cat box), so I'm gonna fiddle around with one of the stated subjects of this blog that I've neglected of late--good pop music.

First off, if you have the iTunes software on your PC (Mac or Windows, it doesn't matter), get thee to the iTunes Music Store (hence to be referred to as iTMS) and download the free single of the week--Love Me Like You Do by the Magic Numbers, one of my fave acts and albums of the last year. (If you don't have an iTMS account set up, now might be a good time to do so, as you can also download free podcasts, such as fake news updates from The Onion and real news shows from NPR and its affiliates--like my fave On the Media from WNYC). The catch to this download is you gotta do it by Monday, when its free status goes away.

As far as tune news, there's some comings and goings on the music scene. Split Enz--fronted by brothers Tim and Neil Finn--is reforming for some concerts Down Under (via Billboard). Mrs. F and I saw the Finn Brothers come through Seattle a few summers back touring with their last album, Everyone Is Here (found at iTMS and Amazon) and it was one of the best shows I've been to--great singing and stage presence, and some rocking versions of Enz favorites. If only Oz were a little closer, or my Mom were still there to give me a good reason to visit.

On the sadder flip side, I just learned that Grandaddy is calling it quits (story at Spin). If you're not familiar with the band, they blend a lo-fi Neil Young edge (both with the mix of acoustic/electric fuzz guitars and high, light voice) with a spacey synthesized soundscape. I just put in their last album, Sumday (iTMS and Amazon), into the car stereo rotation this last week, not realizing it would be an aural eulogy. They do have a new album coming out in the next few months, but won't be supporting it.

I don't really have a new Fave album of late. I have been listening a bit to the debut album by Electric President (iTMS and Amazon), which combines the acoustic/synthy ethos of Grandaddy with more twee-ish singing (a la The Postal Service), as well as the latest by My Morning Jacket (Z) and The Arcade Fire (Funeral), but they haven't completely grabbed me. So, instead of highlighting one or two albums, I thought I'd put together a playlist of what I have been listening to the last month.

• Funny Little Frog by Belle and Sebastian (it's been played quite a bit on the BBC's Blue Room show--or caned, as DJs Chris Coco and Rob DaBank might say--and it's nice, bouncy stuff; it'll be released in the next month)
  
  
• Goods by Mates of State (iTMS or Amazon; suggested by Facade Friend Kat, it's one hell of a catchy tune--the group consists of a husband/wife team on just keyboards and drums)
  
  
• Bowl Me Over by Acid Casuals (a laconic spin-off from Super Furry Animals, it'll be available in the UK in the next few weeks; another Blue Room fave)
  
  
• Big Noise (From Winnetka) by Kyle Eastwood (a regular on my local KPLU NPR jazz station, it includes father Clint doing some whistling and some muscular bass)
  
  
• Nature Anthem by Grandaddy (iTMS; a simple, mantra-like tune included on their Artist's Choice compilation)
  
  
• Wonderafrica by Sebastian Tellier (iTMS; quirky synth pop from France--you should also check out "La Ritournelle" on his Politics album)
  
  
• Never Alone in New York by Groovecatcher (a lil' something I picked up on iTMS cos it sounded chill, yet groovy)
  
  
• Para Don Alonso (Yam Who? Rework) by Madrid de los Austrias (iTMS; a nice flashback to my acid jazz days of the mid-90s; from the This Is How We Lounge 2 comp, th rest of which is a bit suspect)
  
  
• Marvin's Not in Love, Parts 1 & 2 by Go Home Productions (another Blue Room fave of late, it's one of the best mash-ups I've heard--combining the sultry sounds of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" with the ethereal "I'm Not in Love" by 10cc; GHP's "Rapture Riders" mash-up of Blondie's "Rapture" and The Doors' "Riders on the Storm" is also quite tasty--and available via the iTunes store in the UK [frustratingly not accessible to US accounts] and one or both are destined for my summer compilation)
  
  
• Dilruba and Allahi Allah remixes by Niyaz (iTMS; I'm a sucker for percussive Middle Eastern/Persian music, and these get electro-fied by Junkie XL and Midivel Punditz)

Speaking of comps, I've also loaded my second year-end compilation that's more pop-oriented into an iTunes iMix, with folks ranging from Kronos Quartet/Asha Bhosle and Madeileine Peyroux to LCD Soundsystem and Royksopp.

What are you listening to these days?

[UPDATE - 2:25pm PST] You can listen to the whole Belle and Sebastian album over at AOL.