What We're Listening To

Because you know you're interested, and because we occasionally run out of/come up with dumb ideas (ex. "Lil' Wayne Lyric of the Day")... we present "What We're Listening To." Basically, every week (probably Wednesday), Audra and I will put together a list of 10 or so songs that we've really been enjoying. These aren't necessarily great songs (see below) but nevertheless, they're the ones we can't get out of our head and/or always hear on the radio (but don't change the channel). Take a listen!

Neko Case: People Got a Lot of Nerve
First heard this as an acoustic version and immediately fell in love with it (see lyric: "I'm a man man man man-eater... but you're still surprised when I eat ya"). I'm still a bigger fan of her's when she's playing with New Pornographers, but this track off her new album Middle Cyclone is pretty fantastic.


The Love Language: Lalita
Gotta give credit where credit is due: not sure where my brother heard about these guys, but I like them. They're from North Carolina, but more importantly... they sound like they're from North Carolina.


Phoenix: Lisztomania
The opening track off of Phoenix's forthcoming Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which we can all agree is an awful name for an album, is a high-tempo introduction for those unfamiliar with the band's sound. Very representative of their past work, "Lisztomania" serves as a smooth transition into their new work.


The-Dream: Rockin' That Shit
ATL represent! Before doing (extremely minimal) research about The-Dream, I had no idea he grew up in Bankhead and went to Grove Park Elementary. That's crazy. But not as crazy-good (see what I did there?) as this single off his new album Love vs. Money. Did you know that he wrote Rihanna's "Umbrella?"


Dirty Projectors and David Byrne: Knotty Pine
This is on the Red Hot compilation Dark Was The Night (I'm not going to stop talking about it), and it's one of the few original songs on an album of mostly covers. David Byrne wrote they lyrics, Dirty Projectors wrote the music, and all of us get to listen. Nice arrangement we all have.


Soulja Boy: Turn My Swag On
Yes, some may say Soulja Boy is single-handedly responsible for the demise of rap in the past 2 years, and I would be hard pressed to disagree with them. But the child can still produce a catchy hook that I want to listen to in the car with my windows down.


Lily Allen: Fuck You
If Lily Allen isn't the cutest little thing ever! Seriously, this song is hilarious on so many levels it makes me giddy just thinking about it. I also love the fact that she lets her British accent come through... so many British musicians sound like they have American accents when they sing. Although I have a feeling I know what she'd say to that...


Passion Pit: Sleepyhead
I heard this song for the first time yesterday on an XM radio station. Apparently it's been out for a while, but it definitely got me pumped up when I heard it. Don't stop listening right away... the beginning has some weird cuts and samples, but the rest of the song is a combo of trippy, trance-ish, freak-out mania. Admit it: you're interested.


LMFAO: I'm In Miami Bitch
First heard this song on the Hip Hop Decathalon episode of America's Best Dance Crew and it kind of reminded me of the early 90s sounds of Tone Loc and 2 Live Crew. This is totally something I would have put on my Spring Break mix back in high school but, since I'm an "adult" now, a blog post will have to suffice.