Monday Music Roundup

Hey kids, happy start-o-the-week to you:

"Nothing I Can Do"
Ben Taylor
I am love, love, loving the warm and good way that this song by Ben Taylor makes me feel. All the warm-fuzzies that accompany listening to James Taylor hold true for his son as well. I highly recommend this song from the 2005 CD Another Run Around the Sun. Ben Taylor is on tour right now (including SXSW). As for the Rocky Mountain stops, do I want to drive up to a major city? Or would I be as happy dancing around to this song at my house on the hardwood floors with the sun streaming through the windows? Ah, yes, I think so.

"Sleep Song"
Rooney
The thing about this song that first caught my ear about this new Rooney song is the drumbeat, which I do think I will have to learn. It's not complex but pleasant (and if you expect complex drumming from me, you shall be disappointed). This song has a hypnotic and loping feel to it. It dates back from before the quintet signed with Geffen, and was featured on the soundtrack of the 2005 film The Chumscrubber. The Los Angeles-based Rooney is releasing their sophomore album on March 21.

"Shocker in Gloomtown"
(Guided by Voices cover)
The Breeders
Ah, The Breeders. They make me feel 15 again, yearning to be in a kick-ass girl band. Between The Breeders, The Pixies, Throwing Muses and Belly, I spent a lot of time in high school listening to Kim & Kelley Deal and Tanya Donelly. Here they cover all fast-and-furious 1:17 of a Guided by Voices song, with their trademark clean and thick riffs. From the 1994 Head to Toe EP. Thanks Jennings! Also see Ten Cool Breeders Songs That Aren't Cannonball.

"I've Been Thinking"
Handsome Boy Modeling School,
feat. Cat Power
To put it straight, this is one of the sexiest things ever laid down on record. It skitters and lolls, like a twisting flame, with teasing guitar licks. Love it, listen to it on repeat. From 2004's White People. Thanks B.

"Speed Of The Sound of Loneliness"
Amos Lee
The beautiful, pure voice of this beautiful man shines here on a stripped-down cover of a John Prine tune. While nothing extraordinary, it is lovely in its simplicity and sadness. I hunted this down after I saw Amos Lee perform it live last fall in Boulder (well, in between trying to prevent my drunk-on-Jager sister from TOUCHING PEOPLE'S HAIR.)