Hangin' Out In 100b

Thanks to the crispy, crispy, credit crunch, I’ve had to drastically change the way I buy music. I – and I think it’s no different for my fellow 100b chums – pick and choose and whittle down, and I mean waaay down, the list of albums. So the ones I select for the Merry Month are the best ones I’ve heard, but aren’t necessarily the best of what came out. On the other hand, singles have become really important to me these days.

OK, so first up my pick for best album:

The Dead Weather, Horehound

Some of the best things happen when great things merge: Lennon & McCartney, ice cream & bananas, Asterix & Obelix (oh man, I used to love that comic), M&M…s, ebony & ivory etc. So too is the teaming of the two most prominent band members of The Dead Weather, especially, a thing of beauty. We are not shy of our love for both The White Stripes and The Kills, and when I first heard of the supergroup my brain could not comprehend that much awesome. Horehound has provoked praise and criticism in equal measures and, after listening to it, I can see why. On their own, the two bands make their own special kind of magic but have an equally dark, sensual power. Combined, they’ve created a seperate sound that may not be to your liking if you were expecting something resembling either band. Like the bands that bore its members, The Dead Weather are raw, oozing with sex, and play stripped-down and dirty rock, but nonetheless bring something new and exciting to the table.

July had some really amazing singles. I tried to make it a more aesthetically pleasing list of five, but I couldn’t bring myself to scrap one from the list.

Here are my six favorite singles of the month:

Ah Patrick Wolf, he is my style icon. Hm, that makes me sounds about fourteen. Oh well, I never said that my thoughts went any deeper than “I wonder if my pink nail polish clashes with my shoes?”. I just love that he is as fearless and creative in the way he dresses as in his music. The Bean has listened to his new album and loves it; I haven’t had the pleasure yet, but I’m already mighty impressed with what I’ve heard. This single is extravagant and gets the blood pumping with its nervy rhythms and string section and sweeping gospel choir. For full effect, check out the visually stunning video.

I was gonna save this band for a New Band Day post, but I don’t wanna. This song is a big old raucous mess with a poppy disposition and an infectious enthusiasm. The boy/girl vocals combine a catchy chorus with some high-energy story telling. It’s still unpolished, but they have an endearing quality that’s hard to resist. Learn more about the band at their MySpace.

San Francisco’s Girls are ready for greatness with their debut single “Hellhole Ratrace”. It’s pretty and melancholy but doesn’t wallow in self-pity. The lead singer’s Elvis Costello-y voice, sweetly repeats that he wants someone to dance with. This is a mellow song that’ll stick in your brain for days. The lonely voice, bells and the lazily picked electric guitar turn into a beautiful wave of sound towards the end. I started out a bit indifferent, but by the time the hand claps began I was in.

This song is freaking brilliant, and perfect for summer. Those of you who have been following Voluntary Butler Scheme will probably know it. I even mentioned it in a fangirlie post about the band last year and really nothing’s changed. It’s still more fun than most new bands ever hope to be, but makes it seem so easy. It’s part Jackson Five, part I’m From Barcelona, and all kinds of fun.

Short but sweet and slowly turning into my favorite single of the month. “Fortune Teller” has a strong rhythm and a singer who sounds strangely detached. It seems to stop in the middle of the song, which made me listen to it again and again, like there was a mystery to solve. It’s definitely intriguing and I like it more the more I listen to it. The New York band started making music only a year ago and their debut album came out a little over two weeks ago. Learn more here.

The Boy Least Likely To – When Life Gives Me Lemons, I Make Lemonade

If anything, you have to watch the video. It’s exactly as adorable as the song. It’s classic Boy Least Likely To. Cute, quirky and catchy, but never ever over the top. Their songs are like a puppy with antlers, you wanna hug them to death, but they have an edge and a weirdness that keep you fascinated and utterly delighted.