Electronic trash can-lid bass rock rave death dance - "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" Skrillex

"Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" Skrillex

Now I know you won't all be fans, BUT hear me out! Skrillex was the first music I heard on my very first day at Coachella - memorable shit for more than that reason! The music was industrial and dancey and spastic and extremely effing loud. It's non-stop head bobbing. Didn't think much of it until last week, when I saw that Skrillex was nominated for a bunch of Grammys. Jigga say whaaa? This track is Legend of Zelda meets Transformers meets Lawnmower Man meets a dance party. Give it a listen on great headphones.

Side note: If you want another cool Skrillex song and an INCREDIBLE video, check this out: First Of The Year (Equinox). Oh, and he has a new album out, Bangarang. Not mad at this one bit. Yo, I'm buying up all these albums!

Blues rock hammer vintage yellow - "Dead and Gone" The Black Keys

"Dead and Gone" The Black Keys

Ok, so I'm pretty sure we all agree that El Camino isn't as fantastic as Brothers; however, the new Black Keys album has a few solid brain-jilting hits including this post's feature: "Dead and Gone." This was the first song I heard on the new album (after "Lonely Boy"), and it made my head bob, foot tap, and mind tingle. I appreciate it's incessant beat, chanty chorus, and vintage recording quality. It's extremely catchy.

When to play it: On a happy morning.

How you'll move: Hopping and skipping around your bedroom in your tighty whities.

Side note: Another album favorite is "Little Black Submarines." This is some blues folk Led Zeppelin fusion shit.

Running wild savage explosion - "What The Water Gave Me" Florence + the Machine

"What The Water Gave Me" Florence + the Machine

Everyone loves Florence + the Machine, I get it. It's awesome and trendy like Arcade Fire's more mature beautiful aunt. Aunt Florence. But I still wasn't a die-hard until I randomly decided to purchase her new album in its entirety (and by randomly I mean after seeing everyone I ever met for one second listening to it on Spotify and posting it on Facebook). When I gave the album a first listen, I was also starting to read The Hunger Games. If you've read the book, you know it's about a crazy fight to the death in the woods. So I have to admit, my posting is tainted. Either this song DOES remind me of running wildly through the woods and jumping gleefully off a cliff into a rushing waterfall, OR I was reading too much fiction at the time. Either way, this song is incredible. It makes me feel alive and scary and powerful and big and small. The accompanying video is fantastic.

How you'll feel: Like Katniss Everdeen.

How you'll move: Combo hippie sway and cotton-eyed Joe crescendo foot stomp.

Side note: I need to blog about a few other songs from the album, so stay tuned!

BREAKING DAWN WEEK! Funky cowboy rock churn - "I Didn't Mean It" The Belle Brigade

"I Didn't Mean It" The Belle Brigade

It's my favorite time of the year! Twilight movie soundtrack release time! Ok so I'm a few days behind, but I made it, and I'm ready to reveal some album highlights. Today's jam is a rock pop White Stripes-meets-an-old-timey-cowboy-bar-piano hit! The foot-stomping lyrical repetition is gratifying, the bass is strong, and the classic rock electric guitar solo pops ya out of nowhere. Love it.

How you'll feel: Like a badass sexy cowboy in a dusty saloon.

How you'll move: A hip switch lip snarl combo.

Side note: This is a brother and sister duo (I found that out AFTER my White Stripes reference, so I wasn't far off!); they released their first album this year. Oh, and I'm excited to hear your response to the band and their performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Airy wings of rusty light love - "The Circle Married The Line"

"The Circle Married The Line" Feist

Holy eyes-closed smile this is my new warm soft sweater on the brisk music landscape of my life. I'm a simple Feist fan, not an enthusiast by any means, so I casually downloaded her new album, riskily "going for it," ending up so glad I did. "Metals" is thoughtful and deliberate, each song is a little gem. I love it - feels more folk than her hits, more personal than "Mushaboom" (listen to "The Bad in Each Other"). If "1,2,3,4" was a rainbow and "Intuition" is chest-warming liquor by candles then "The Circle Married The Line" is when you dream you're a flying bird and wake up happy. The sound is full; the album deserves a listen on your best headphones. At the very least, Leslie Feist's voice is simply beautiful.

When to play it: Lying happily in a sea of pillows; quitting your job and smiling and running down a sunny warm street to catch your true love before he gets on a train to leave forever!

Side note: Pretty sure you can sign up to hear the whole album streaming here. Funny enough, YouTube really isn't featuring any songs from the album yet, as it's a brand new release, but my chosen song had a great live performance video via KCRW.

Funky funky Cialis dance theme - "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" S.O.S. Band

"Take Your Time (Do It Right)" S.O.S. Band

God, they do NOT make songs like this anymore! So happy I heard this in a store last week, because I can't say S.O.S. Band would've been on my radar otherwise. Now I don't know if this song is about a woman encouraging her impotent boyfriend to "give it another shot" or a wife begging her husband to try bases 1 through 3 before hitting home, but I don't care, because it's amazing. This song is funky as shit, dance-worthy, and the lead singer's voice unleashes a fantastic growl that makes you feel like your very own disco sex tiger. And I don't know if that's a bass or a synthesizer, but any song with a tangible "bow wow wow" sound is good with me. YOU ARE WELCOME!

How you'll move: Hip bumps with your dancing neighbors.

When to play it: At your rollerskating birthday party while wearing an afro wig; any dance party with a worthwhile crowd.

Side note: Wikipedia told me that S.O.S. Band hits "are notable for popularizing the use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine (and its distinctive cowbell sound) in popular music." Touché S.O.S. Band, touché.

Bass drumming ominous play folk - "Can't Come Down" Sam Phillips

"Can't Come Down" Sam Phillips

Wowie wow wow! My first non-Beyonce inspiration in weeks! Heard about Sam Phillips on My Old Kentucky Blog, but apparently she's singer/songwriter extraordinaire, been around for ages. I'm not a huge "lady with a guitar" fan, but this sound is fulfilling; it makes me forget. We've got a booming bass drum, a hand-clapping toe-tapping head-shaking tempo, and a fun mixture of major and minor tones, all with a few instruments. Her voice is solid. Just solid. This is two minutes of pure musical enjoyment (sounds much better in Bose headphones on my iTunes then in this link, btw).

When to play it: When drinking a beer and smoking a cigarette by candlelight on your dark porch on a summer night.

How you'll move: Relaxed eye-closed toe-tap or aggressive finger-snap head bob.

Side note: Although this track is from '08, Sam Phillips' latest "thing" is "The Long Play," a year-long subscription program offering five EPs and a full-length album release, only available on her Web site. The latest release is "Solid State." I highly suggest you lend your ear to the streaming tracks on the site. Listen to "Throw Yourself Away" and "When I'm A Camera." I'm THIS close to buying the latest album in its entirety! THIS CLOSE!

Rich chill-inducing roar of love - "I Care"

"I Care" Beyonce

I love Beyonce, you love Beyonce, we ALL scream for ice cream! Oops. Well, you get the point. When I gave her new album a listen, I listened to "I Care" first, and it blew me away. It's not a kitschy hip-hop song, it's not a contrived sappy R&B song, and it's not an empty electronic pop song. The music is rich, her voice is moving. It feels just like the part of an argument where your boyfriend or girlfriend has done something wrong and smugly says, "What's the big deal? Who cares?" and you scream out "OH YEAH? WELL I DO!"

When to play it: Anytime!

Side note: Give "Start Over," "End of Time," and "I Was Here" a listen, too. If "4" isn't the spawn of Prince's family tree, I don't know what is!

Squinting gut wrenching R&B countdown - "10 Seconds" Jazmine Sullivan

"10 Seconds" Jazmine Sullivan

A month? ONE MONTH? I need to get it together. The peoplez need their song recommendations, the peoplez need the mind-blowing jamz. I'm letting down my peoplez! Hopefully my hit of the day will be an acceptable apology gift. This song is an R&B/pop/soul sensation. Not much better in the world than a song about cheating and heartbreak sung by a soulful scorned woman. Throw in some keyboards, some horns, and some empowering lyrics, and we got a hit. As you probably know, I'm not a lyrics snob, but the highlight of the song is a poetic punch in the gut in which Jazmine sings like she has one breath left for her threatening rant: "I called up my Mama-she called up my cousins-and they ain't never liked you from the beginning so listen-I'm giving you only 10 seconds to go..." There is something oh-so-satisfying about the "yeah, well my family always hated you!" statement. Sing it grrrl.

How you'll feel: Like an angry Lifetime movie wife (even if you can't relate).

How you'll move: A squinting wrenched-over-in-pain finger-pointing sway.

Side note: This song is off Jazmine's latest album, "Love Me Back," and I highly recommend these other gems: "Love You Long Time" and "Holding You Down" (you must add all three to your iTunes).

Timeless funk love, moved to close your eyes - "Ex-Factor" Lauryn Hill

"Ex-Factor" Lauryn Hill

When listening to a Lauryn Hill track 13 years after its release, absolutely nothing is lost or dated. I rediscovered the amazingness of "The Miseducation..." in 2010, and "Ex-Factor" has quickly jumped to a five-star rating on my iPod, the designation only given to my absolute favorite songs. This song is polished and beautiful, funky and dynamic, emotional and telling. This is an effing song! Now I'm not much of a lyrics snob, but this song tells a story everyone can follow - two people in a toxic relationship, can't seem to break away from one another, the push and pull of knowing someone is bad for you but loving them anyway. "I know what we got to do, you let go, and I'll let go too." Did I mention the electric guitar solo at 4:30? This song makes my brain explode; it must be celebrated.

How you'll move: Eyes-closed swaying.

When to play it: Lounging in bed on a grey Sunday evening; drinking red wine by candlelight on a Friday night; when you're trying to break up with someone you've been "on and off" with for too long (crying and dramatic hand gestures will help).

Side note: Give "Everything is Everything" and "Doo Wop (That Thing)" a re-listen as well. And remember The Fugees? WTF! Now this is the JAM!

SPECIAL EDITION - return of the blog and new Fleet Foxes album

Featured song: "The Plains/Bitter Dancer" Fleet Foxes

Holy magical faraway land journey, music masterpiece! Fleet Foxes new album, "Helplessness Blues," dropped today, and while it's not as horse-trotting upbeat as their debut, it is some fantastic shimmering, Lord of the Rings, magic forest shit! These songs are well-crafted imagination babies of harmony. Their sound is even more other-worldly ambiguous-time period, cross-culture than before. These songs put most current pop music to shame - this is melody, this is talent, this is instrumentation, this is hard work, this is heartfelt, this is cohesive, this is a brain explosion. This is the point of "Music Blog: Name TBD."

Go buy the album.

When to play it: When you have a substantial period of quiet time to listen in great headphones without interruption.

How you'll move: You'll lie like a peaceful corpse for most of it.

Side note: Wikipedia says, "The incredible care Pecknold [the lead singer] put into the album was painstaking, creating turmoil in his personal relationships. In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Pecknold admitted that his girlfriend of five years found the stress this album placed on their relationship too much, and ended things. Upon hearing the completed album, she realized that Pecknold's efforts were worth it and they are working it out." This album even turns a woman scorned! Incredible!

Notable mentions:
--Check out the insane brass seizure about 7 minutes in to "The Shrine / An Argument" (also give a listen to what sounds like a musical saw)
--"Blue Spotted Tail" brought a genuine tear to my eye
--"Bedouin Dress" is a Harry Potter celebratory wedding dance

Catchy shimmy pop wonder - "Second Chance" Peter Bjorn and John

"Second Chance" Peter Bjorn and John

I'm back, my music-loving babies! I started a new job, and "Name TBD" has fallen to the wayside. However, the good mind-blowing jams are still rolling in, and I have a lot to share! I heard this song on my NPR music podcast, and it blew my mind upon first listen. Peter Bjorn and John have a new album dropping next week, but the first single is available on iTunes. This song is fun, catchy, and dance-worthy. It's a delicious head bobbing, finger-snapping, sing-a-long morsel - great from beginning to end. I haven't loved cowbell this much since Will Farrell on SNL.

How you'll move: Forward and back shoulder shimmy.

When to play it: Honestly, when can you NOT play it?

Side note: This video rocks!

Pimp cane street walk turned indie pop - "Round and Round" Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

"Round and Round" Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

Ok ok, I'm a year behind on realizing the awesomeness of this song. Ariel Pink has been around for a while, but his latest project with band Haunted Graffiti kicked off in 2010. Pitchfork raved, laughed, cried... Haunted Graffiti is 2010's Jesus! I tried to listen to a few songs, and I couldn't get into it. "Round and Round" fell into my lap a week ago, and I can't stop. So. Damn. Good. This song starts off as a pimp's sidewalk strut beat and turns into a poppy vintage sitcom theme song (I keep seeing "WKRP in Cincinnati"). I'm a pimp, I'm a hippie, I'm dynamic. Either way, I'm not me for a few minutes, and that is awesome.

When to play it: Pimp strutting down the sidewalk on a sunny summer day (bell bottoms encouraged); lying on your roof with blanket, beer, oversized sunglases, and goofy grin.

How you'll feel: Relaxed.

Red wine honey blanket plead - "I've Been Loving You Too Long" Otis Redding

"I've Been Loving You Too Long" Otis Redding

This song feels like a warm red wine blanket all over your body. Your mind explodes at 0:24 seconds and again at 1:00 min. The song starts sweet and loving, then the minor tones creep in, and before you know it, it's an ominous painful pleading. An "I love you... don't leave me" switch; such a simple song, such a dynamic feeling. Otis Redding was making this music when he was my age and younger... genius!

How (what) you'll feel: A sponge squeeze on your heart.

When to play it: On a rainy Saturday night, home alone with a glass of wine, lying on the couch.

Rocking sex trio 80s dance jam - "Nasty Girl" Vanity 6

"Nasty Girl" Vanity 6

I heard this song at a bar recently, and it blew my mind. I hadn't heard this in years! It wasn't easy to find the name/band on my phone - it kept coming up as Prince! The reality is that this is Prince-assembled lingerie-wearing 80s dance move-performing sex trio Vanity 6. This song has so many amazing components: sick dance beats, a super catchy sing-a-long worthy chorus, a synthesizer break down, and a talking interlude including the phrase "I need 7 inches or more." I mean... this is amazing. This song makes me want to dance. These are the original envelope-pushing no pants-wearing pop stars!

How you'll feel: Like letting your hair down for a few minutes.

When to play it: When you're DJing at a dark crowded art bar on Friday.

Side note: I CANNOT find this on iTunes, and it's driving me insane! If anyone knows where I can download this song, please let me know!

Beat boxing electronic hip hop dance fight explosion - "Neckbrace" Ratatat

"Neckbrace" Ratatat

New York electronic music duo Ratatat has been making beats since their debut album in 2004, and every album has a hit. From "Seventeen Years" to "Lex" to "Mirando" and now "Neckbrace." I may not pick up all the albums, but when a good Ratatat single comes out, it's mine! It's electronic without lacking melody, it's clean without being too simple, and it's indie dance without being messy or lo-fi. This song makes me feel awesome and bad ass.

How you'll move: Pigeon-headed neck-bobbing.

When to play it: Hipster dance party; walking down the street to dance fight your worst enemy.

Side note: Highly recommend having the aforementioned tracks in your party music arsenal.

Black and white rainy piece of love glass - "Letter to Hermione" David Bowie

"Letter to Hermione" David Bowie

I heard this song on a Ricky Gervais podcast; it's one of his favorites of all time. I've never heard a Bowie song like this. This song makes me feel like I'm in a vintage black and white movie, sadly walking down a rainy sidewalk, a broken-hearted man peering out of a rain splattered cafe window. This song is pretty and sad, simple and rich, short but powerful. I don't have a lot of favorite "love songs"; I think this made the cut.

When to play it: A grey rainy afternoon.

How you'll move: I don't think you will; eyes-closed sing-a-long only.

Side note: I think the length and content of this post is relative to the song. This song is a track on "Space Oddity."

Hazy saloon sweat lurch - "Pretty Babies" Karen Elson

"Pretty Babies" Karen Elson

I heard this song on the Tom Ford "secret" fashion show video on The Huffington Post Web site (I guess the "live" show was the secret?). The show was antique and European, set to Karen's delicate voice, the dreamy guitar, and old-timey organ. This song makes me imagine The Great Gatsby's Daisy lounging on a sweaty pale yellow afternoon or sassy burlesque dancers writhing in a dusty saloon. It's a decent jam.

When to play it: On a lazy summer afternoon while bathed in faded sunset light.

How you'll move: Eyes-closed swaying in your vintage house dress.

Side note: Karen Elson - model, musician, Jack White's wife, yada yada yada...

Toe tapping funky bass love maker - "Never Too Much" Luther Vandross

"Never Too Much" Luther Vandross

There are so many great things about this song: funky bass, smooth vocals, catchy lyrics (never too much, never too much, never too much, never too much...). This song makes me want to sing and dance down the sidewalk, pointing at strangers and lip syncing the words to happy couples.

How you'll move: Funky swaying with passionate singing.

How you'll feel: Plain old happy.

When to play it: When you need a smile, a slow dance, and/or a good time.

Pop lock and drop a shit - "Kids" Sleigh Bells

"Kids" Sleigh Bells

Now THIS is a shitty song... no, I'm kidding, it's awesome! No... wait... I listened again. It's shit. However, this is a blog about songs that move me not songs that I'm nominating for a Grammy. I heard this song on a commercial for some horrendous MTV show glamorizing teen drinking, sex, and drug use; it's called "Skins." No comment. This song has erotic grunting, indecipherable lyrics, and annoying vowel sounds, but that beat makes me want to throw on a face mask and dance battle with the Jabberwockies or bounce in my low rider. Either one.

How you'll feel: Dumber, guilty.

How you'll move: Neck-breaking head bobbing.

Side note: Wikipedia calls Sleigh Bells "pop noise"; that sounds pretty damn accurate.