Song of the Week

Athletes of the world, unite! Your call to arms? Cut Copy's infectious single, "Need You Now." The Australian electro-crooners' third album, Zonoscope, delivers wide-lens, cosmopolitan dance rock that will make you happy. Or ready to throw the javelin. (The D Man is also a big fan of the cover art by the late Japanese photomontage artist Tsunehisa Kimura, who provided classic covers for another great Australian band, Midnight Oil).

Song of the Week

Check out the video for "Lotus Flower" from Radiohead's The King of Limbs, downloadable tomorrow. One youtube comment said the video was Radiohead's version of "Single Ladies." (If they don't win an award, maybe Kanye can intervene). No doubt Thom Yorke channels some crushing R&B-style vocals over strange and groovy beats from the greatest session band in the world. Imagine if Sam Cooke got to sing with Greenwood and company? As for the dancing, Thom Yorke channels himself, and seems to give only the slightest of winks. Who says this band doesn't have a sense of humor?

(More than) Five Things

The D Man recently enjoyed another great road trip to sunny SoCal. The music was solid as always. We led things off with Iron & Wine's latest release (a natural extension for Sam Beam into a warmer realm of 70's-era folk-pop), hit the night stretch with The xx (easily one of the best late-night driving albums from the last several years), and enjoyed the starry-eyed splendor of Jonsi's Go (how did that album not squeeze into my Top Ten?).

The next morning, we cruised to Ryan Adams & The Cardinals III/IV, wound through the Virgin River Gorge to Band of Horses' Infinite Arms, and throttled through the open desert to the sounds of Ivy and Josh Rouse. The descent into California materialized with Beach House and Camera Obscura. The streets of San Diego called for Admiral Fell Promises and "Half Moon Bay" delivered acute atmosphere. A drive up the coast was assisted by The Drums. Ditto for the drive back down.

The way home was littered with long stretches of blessed silence, more Ryan Adams and Josh Rouse, R.E.M., an aborted album or two, and finally the soothing sounds of the kings.

• So Arcade Fire won Album of the Year. The Grammy's finally got it right after apparently reading The D Man's Music. Whatever happened, it was cool that more than 95% of the viewing audience had never heard a song from The Suburbs. Hopefully a few of them will be smart enough to pick up the album.
• Radiohead releases album number eight, The King of Limbs, by digital download this Saturday. The cover artwork is phenomenal. Fans can pick up the CD or vinyl in May. Check out a solid list of the band's greatest songs. Some of the The D Man's personal favorites are not even on the list, which tells you how impossibly dense the band's catalog is. The D Man agrees with the placement of "Idioteque," of course.
• Panda Bear's "Last Night at the Jetty" is pretty cool.
• The Strokes fourth album, Angles, could revive the band's short-lived reign as the it guitar band of the early 2000s. Check out first single "Under Cover of Darkness."
• Enjoy a solid fan video to accompany "Downtown," a track from Destroyer's ridiculously cool Kaputt.

Song of the Week

James Blake is being hailed as a godsend. After spending a few minutes with the mesmerizing video below, it is easy to see why. The young British composer is creating minimalist, R&B-influenced, electronic music that is both melodic and striking. On "The Wilhelm Scream," Blake's searing vocals sound like a wounded Rick Astley (in the coolest sense possible), and the repeating lyrical hook is impossible for listeners to shake loose. Blake's production skills may be the most intriguing aspect of his ascendancy--he is lightyears ahead of the game, showcasing a reverence for subtlety, texture, and space. You can also check out his fantastic video for his cover of Feist's "Limit to Your Love" here. After releasing several promising EP's last year, Blake drops his debut tomorrow. The D Man suggest you pick it up.

The White Stripes

The White Stripes are calling it quits. The D Man understands the decision (going out on top, completing the canon, moving on to other pursuits), and has always admired the way the duo handled their creative business. But I feel a twinge of sadness knowing that they are leaving behind their special brand of guitar theater with, notably, great music still waiting in the wings.

Jack White is a recent saviour of sorts for authentic, red-blooded rock-n'roll and is undoubtedly one of the greatest guitarists of all time. His uncompromising vision and varied approach to rockmaking will long be a touchstone of artistic integrity. If you're wondering, The D Man's favorite Stripe record was probably the mammoth Elephant (my best of 2003). And while I loved the classics De Stijl and White Blood Cells, I fell hard for the band's final full length, Icky Thump. Enjoy a live version of one of my sneaky favorite Stripe songs, where Jack holds court and duels with a seventh son. Or something like that.