1. Tim Armstrong - Into Action
   I’ve always liked Rancid’s Tim Armstrong and he always seems to be doing something interesting. This is the first single from his debut solo album, and it’s lots of fun.
2. Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up to Dry
   Pitchfork described Cold War Kids vocalist Nathan Willett as a “Jeff Buckley zombie,” which is a pretty funny mental picture…especially considering I killed Jeff myself. This song’s bassline will get into your head until you put the track on repeat on your iPod.
3. Shiny Toy Guns - You Are the One
   I can’t say that I’m upset about the rise of 80’s-sounding synthpop bands following the success of The Killers. The band is from L.A. and makes some really solid electronic-influenced music. I’ve got to spend some more time checking out the rest of their debut album.
4. Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby
   The first single from the Chiefs’ second album isn’t as frantic and driving as “I Predict a Riot,” but the title-repeating chorus definitely gets into your head. A solid effort from a good band.
5. The Bravery - Time Won’t Let Me Go
   Speaking of bands following up on the success of (mainly one single from) their first albums, the Bravery is finally back. Much like “Ruby” above, this track doesn’t come near the brilliance of “An Honest Mistake,” but it’s a decent, somewhat downtempo, pop track.
6. Bloc Party - I Still Remember
   Bloc Party got their big break after the lead singer managed to get Franz Ferdinand lead singer Alex Kapranos to take a copy of their first record at a Franz concert in 2003. Has that tactic ever worked before?
7. Kings of Leon - On Call
   This track is much less twangy than I’m used to from the Kings, and I really dig it. As an aside, when my friend Todd and I saw them a couple years back, I thought they looked like the redneck Ramones.
8. Amy Winehouse - Rehab
   This is one of those bizarre crossover tracks that will get a bunch of airplay in lots of places. Winehouse is huge in the U.K., and not just because she heckled Bono at last year’s Q Awards by shouting, “Shut up, I don’t give a fuck!”
9. !!! - Must be the Moon
   The hardest band to Google is back with another infectious track that will make you want to get up and dance no matter where you are. Today it made me dance on the Metro in D.C. The other people on the train didn’t seem to enjoy it as much as I did.
10. Nine Inch Nails - Capital G
    Trent spends his entire new concept album skewering a futuristic version/extension of the Bush administration, but on this track he doesn’t pretend to hide who he’s talking about. “Traded in my God for this one / And he signs his name with a capital G.”

This entry was posted on Monday, April 30th, 2007 at 2:24 pm and is filed under Tracks. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.