Track-Fu

I like long weekends. Probably because I'm kind of lazy, which has something to do with why you're getting this today instead of Sunday.

1. Nightwood - Blind Assasin

Nightwood are from Montreal, and they are all cool right now. This track makes me think a bit of The Kills or older PJ Harvey stuff, with a fairly sparse arrangement and a dark undertone. It's a cool track and I'm looking forward to seeing them on Thursday.

TWM Presents: Nightwood w/ Books Elusive & Tom Boyfriend @ Rancho Relaxo, $5 Thursday May 22

2. John Elliot - Seacruts

Joel Elliott doesn't sound like your typical guy with an acoustic guitar. He plays it almost frenetically, singing along with a voice that's more John Frusciante and Jeff Buckley than Jack Johnson. Nice surprise.

JOEL ELLIOT CD RELEASE, w/ Terror Lake, Ghost Hands and Dwarf Star @ The Press Club, $5 Friday May 23

3. The Submarines - Brightest Hour

This is a pretty song. I was a bit worried that The Submarines would prove to be to twee for my liking, but this has a nice amount of sweetness without going overboard. Kind of like the Cardigans. I really like the instrumentals as well.

THE SUBMARINES @ Drake Hotel, $12 at RT, SS, HS, TM Saturday May 24

4. Jewish Legend - Friends

Jewish Legend are playing with my local band nemesis, Huckleberry Friends, so I have an eyebrow cocked in suspicion. They are kind of fun though. I was suspecting it was ironic, but now I'm thinking maybe it's not ironic. I like it better that way.

BLOOD ON THE WALL w/ Jewish Legend, Huckleberry Friends @ Sneaky Dee's, $10 at RT

5. Scarlett Johansson - Falling Down

So Scarlett Johansson released an album of Tom Waits covers. I know. She's got an alright voice, though her range is very limited (on this song, at least) and she sometimes sounds like she's doing that shout-singing thing they're always yelling at people for on American Idol. But she just doesn't have the character that Waits' voice has, I don't think. I also suspect it may be somewhat ProTools'd. And I feel like everything in this song is the exact same volume, which makes it sound kind of flat. And annoying. In the end, this plays more like a vanity project than a serious endeavor.

6. Dosh - If You Want To You Have To

Dan and some friends are going to see Dosh tonight. I'm staying home, because I get up early. Now, regular readers know how I feel about songs with no singing, but I like this track -- it's fast-paced and there's lots going on, so my limited instrumental-only attention span can handle it.

7. Gnarls Barkley - Going On

Gnarls Barkley went away for a while, which was probably smart of them. The rest of their first album was overshadowed somewhat by the popularity and awesomeness of "Crazy", but I felt like it acquitted itself well on the whole. I like this song too -- good beat, crazy Cee Lo, catchy chorus. Not every song can be a killer.

8. An Horse - Company

I should make An Horse lose for bad grammar! But no, that wouldn't be fair. Also, I actually like this song. It reminds me a bit of Liz Phair circa Exile in Guyville, particularly in the verses. I'm enjoying this 90s girl-rock throwback feel we have capping the ends of the list this week.

Winner

Lots that I liked on this list, actually, and it was a close match-up, but the first track got it.

Loser

Dear Famous Girls: YOU CAN'T SING.

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