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The Dodos make lemons into lemonade, squeezing an old song until it’s new and delicious. Okay, sort of like lemons into lemonade. Also, as a friend pointed out, they occasionally sound like Adam and the Ants. What’s not to like?

fools

Broadcast was once a quintet and now they’re a duo. The quintet was a little too stereolab-light for me, but I’m a big fan of Broadcast the duo.

Tears in the Typing Pool

Nobody is more committed to their music than Selda. She’s been imprisoned by the Turkish government for extended periods over the last few decades, yet she keeps on coming. Inspirational.

Ince Ince

This Year’s Model. A band at its height, perfectly recorded.

(I don’t want to go to) Chelsea

I’m amazed by the popularity of this band, much like I was amazed by the popularity of Black Dice. Both seem to work and re-work the same song for entire albums. That song is usually really good, but still.

sweet love for planet earth

Seems like someone should tell The Jesus and Mary Chain that their wallets have been stolen.

aly, walk with me

I think in classic rock radio talk they call this a double shot, sometimes a twofer.

diamonds and rust
the ballad of sacco and vanzetti

There’s something undeniable about Christian Fennesz.

good man

There are at least five known bands who are (or were) called The Dragons and probably dozens more waiting to be discovered. Impossibly, I still think that it’s a great name. Can’t say that this album (BFI) completely killed it, but it definitely has grown on me. For your listening pleasure, The Dragons, the ones that sound like early-Chicago + Stereolab.

cosmosis

The okie in me is dying to say this first: I’m gonna tell you what, that Sean Thackery sure can blend the shit out of wine, which is to say that Sean Thackery works ancient texts on wine (apparently he’s familiar with seven languages) to help create a special blend called Pleiades. Though the varietals may vary from year to year in this wine, a core list generally appears: syrah, sangiovese, mourvèdre, barbera, carignane, petite sirah and viognier. Thackery blends to taste and doesn’t keep records of what he puts in (or so he says). A very thin tightrope, indeed. The wine itself is juicy, complex, and subtle, with a mouthfeel that defines balance. If you can find it, buy it. ($22). **