Annie
“Heartbeat”
Anniemal (679/Big Beat)
One of those Euro-dance pop tracks so bubble gummy that your jawline gets sore just from hitting “play.”
The Sword
“Barael’s Blade”
Age of Winters (Kemado)
Without Death From Above 1979 to deliver a shot of fierce rock this year, this Austin, Texas, group will take a lion’s share of the responsibility of ravishing the crowd with a charging metal onslaught.
Chromeo
“Needy Girl”
She’s in Control (Vice)
There’s something Miami about this pimp Montreal electro-funk duo that slaps a digital edge on bootyshaking “sexxx jams.” These guys would’ve been huge in the ’80s, but we’re lucky they’re throwing their sick dance party now.
The Streets
“Blinded by the Lights”
A Grand Don’t Come For Free (Vice)
A beat poet, a UK hip-hop phenom, or an observational humorist? Mike Skinner (he is The Streets) is all three, sculpting his tracks into riveting, real-time narratives about his life in the British working class.
Boredoms
“Bore Now Bore”
Pop Tatari (Reprise)
A freakout hurricane of punk-gone-trippy distortion out of Osaka, Japan, is scheduled to touch down in Union Park and you’ve been warned — not to miss it, that is. A rare opportunity to pay homage to pioneers of the experimental noise set.
Jon Brion
“Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometimes” by Beck
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind O.S.T. (Hollywood)
Exhibit A of producer/instrumentalist Jon Brion’s genius: Kanye West’s “Late Registration.” Exhibit B: his delicate treatment of The Korgis’ one-hit wonder, as covered by Beck. Check out the lush and haunting strings arrangement.
Roky Erickson
“Red Temple Prayer (Two-Headed Dog)”
Live in Dallas 1979 with the Nervebreakers (Last Call)
Who knows how much acid Roky Erickson was on when he wrote this one, but the pioneer of psychedelia would not have influenced Patti Smith or ZZ Top had he not been “working in the Kremlin with a two-headed dog.”
Bloc Party
“Like Eating Glass”
Silent Alarm (Vice)
These diligent youngin’s from the UK shot into the Stateside indie-rock pool with their self-titled EP in ’04 (Dim Mak) and have continued to make torrential waves with their fiery new-waved anthems.
Lady Sovereign
“Blah Blah”
Blah Blah EP (Island)
All hail the gritty princess of Brit-hop. She sure is little and cute, but she’ll rip through massive rhymes with a stunning ferocity.
Lupe Fiasco
“Kick, Push”
Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor (Atlantic)
The buzz for this skateboarding South Side emcee has built ever since this brassy, head-nodding track was released last August as a teaser to his anticipated album.
Ghostface Killah
“The Champ”
Fishscale (Island Def Jam)
The Wu-Tang impresario swings a right hook at the haters and wanna-bes, and swings the right hook with an urgent Rocky-inspired riff.
Jose Gonzalez
“Save Your Day”
Veneer (Mute)
This Swedish singer-songwriter with Argentinean blood delivers smooth, earnest gems that have swept everyone from NPR to “The O.C.” gently into his pocket.
The Constantines
“Love in Fear”
Tournament of Hearts (Sub Pop)
A highlight at the CMJ ’05 Showcase, these Canadians prove that they can make a Rhodes electric piano sound intense.
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Fauzia Arain and Kevin Pang
