What We're Listening To: The Hallmark Can Suck It Edition

TNG Music Editor Rocky submits this post for your listening pleasure.

Happy Tuesday, everyone! You're just in time for my least favorite week of the year: V-D week! (That's "Valentine's Day" for those of you not into crude, unbecoming jokes.) Have you figured out how you're going to prove your enduring love to your significant other yet? Thankfully, as a single person, my only responsibilities this weekend are to crack open a Malbec and whine (HA!), so perhaps I should shut it. But I remember being coupled in years past, and feeling all pressured. Is it still like that? If so, why do we this to ourselves? I mean what would happen if V-D died the quick, bloody death it deserves? Would that mean the death of love? Fie! A pox on thee, Hallmark! Anyway, something that's neither here nor there to ponder at a later date for, once again, it's time for a fresh installment of What We're Listening To, TNG's weekly rundown of the music we love (but not necessarily like that). On the menu this week, weve got: Bruce Hornsby, Neko Case, Chloe March, The Guggenheim Grotto, Alphabeats, My Dear Disco, Dixie Chicks, Lucinda Williams and The Ting Tings! Below the fold, all of that plus our weekly mixtape! Enjoy!



Bruce Hornsby and The Range—The Way It Is

The Way It Is is one of those rare ‘80s albums where every song is as good as the big hit, in this case Hornsby’s social justice anthem, “The Way It Is.” I have to put in a huge plug for the gorgeous, lyrically masterful, “The River Runs Low,” which is never heard outside this album and which is one of the few songs with the power to make me cry. Hornsby has released multiple live/hits albums that include older songs, often in alternate versions, but “The River Runs Low” is nowhere to be found. It’s a damned shame: this ballad of a hopeful but trapped young man desperate to escape his dying small town and follow a lost lover (“With a little cash I could get around / You know I’d come out there and find you”) is more heartbreaking than “Mandolin Rain,” more evocative than “Every Little Kiss,” and vastly subtler in its protest than “The Way It Is.” Those great songs all became deserved hits, but “The River Runs Low” is buried; to hear it, do anything you have to. - Philip

Neko Case—"Maybe Sparrow"

If you have never listened to this song before: do. it. now. The notes are, as the song says, hung so effortless, and Neko's warbling never fails to undulate through my entire body every time I listen. - Maggie



Chloe March—Divining

Electronic dreampop with dashes of jazz and artsong. One woman band March crafts an ethereal song cycle based around water imagery, using the intricate minimalism of Steve Reich, layers of sparkling keyboards and her deep, sensual alto. Ms. March is a more pastoral Kate Bush. It's the sort of music that would accompany movie version of Wuthering Heights (as directed by Peter Greenaway). - Craig

The Guggenheim Grotto—Happy The Man

In addition to having a fun name, The Guggenheim Grotto, a band made up of three cute and talented Irish lads, make delightful pop-folk music. Recently I've been obsessed with "Fee Da Da Dee" off of their forthcoming album Happy the Man, which puts a clever and catchy spin on the "live in the moment, don't worry about the future" trope, and the romantic-almost-to-the-point-of-being-corny "Told You So" off of their 2007 EP of the same name. Either way, their earnestness is endearing and totally worth a listen. - Jolly

Alphabeat—This Is Alphabeat

This newish Dutch band has a great euro-pop style that is very remincsent of the 1980s. They don't seem to get much playtime here in the US, but after I heard their hit "What is Happening?" I looked them up. "Facination" and "10,000 Nights of Thunder" are also excellent tracks. Consider it highly recommended. - Matt


My Dear Disco—Dancethink LP

First off: My Dear Disco is playing at the next Homo/Sonic and I think everyone get a good base on their music before that happens. Second off: they rock. Led by queer singer Michelle Chamuel, the 7-piece michigan band replicates a Daft Punk-style sound in the most old-fahioned way possible: With all of its band members onstage playing the notes live. It'll be fun. Which is why you should come check them out at the Black Cat on Feb. 21st. - Zack

Dixie Chicks—Taking The Long Way

Genre-defying. Brave. Fucking brilliant. - Corey






Lucinda Williams—"Can't Let Go"

Lucinda Williams embodies the music of Louisiana while maintaining a timeless voice and classic dialogue. She is an artist who may not reach the celebrity of other blue grass artists, but will always be respected as a inventive singer/songwriter. - Allison



The Ting Tings—"Great DJ"

At the moment, I'm not really in the mood to think, because if I let my mind wander where it wants to go, I'll just end up sad or angry and, as is often my wont, pulling something foolish and Blair Waldorf-esque . Therefore, musically speaking, all I need is something poppy and sugary, something good for grabbing a friend and a drink and dancing around like an idiot. This is song is perfect. The bass drum booms and races like a (coked-up) heartbeat and the hook is so charmingly insipid, you can't help but sing along at the top of your lungs. So what do you all say we press play, raise our adult beverages toward the sky and let out a hearty "Fuck you!" to all the ex-boyfriends of the world? - Rocky

And without any further ado... THE MIXTAPE!

Click me!

So... as you can probably tell from my entry this week, I'm in a bit of a mood. Just a little ex-boyfriend drama that's put me in a bit of a funk. Nothing too serious. But it did get me thinking about breakup songs and that wonderful ability they have to heal a broken heart by twisting that metaphorical knife deeper and deeper. What's your favorite? I have many and most of them are by my personal goddess of everything beautiful and clever and lovely, Ms. Fiona Apple. So for the first of this week's bonus songs, I went with "Oh Well," from her latest album Extraordinary Machine. As always, her lyrics are amazing and I love how well she plays the weary, resigned ex all, "You should probably stop sucking, but either way, I'm gonna stop caring." Brilliant. The second was a bit tougher, so I turned to my friend, Juliana, who's much, much smarter than I. Her favorite break-up song is "Too Hurt To Cry" by Candi Staton and, I must say, it's a smooth, sad oldie that gets you right there. Good work, Jules! Hopefully, you're not feeling either of them too much today, but if you are, obviously, it all gets better in time. Except for this Saturday. Watch out for this Saturday... Now what's that down below? Why it's the playlist! Let's take a peek!

The Ting Tings - "Great DJ" (Rocky)
Lucinda Williams - "Can't Let Go" (Allison)
Candi Staton - "Too Hurt To Cry" (Rocky/Jules)
Alphabeats - "What Is Happening?" (Matt)
Neko Case - "Maybe Sparrow" (Maggie)
Dixie Chicks - "Voice Inside My Head" (Corey)
Bruce Hornsby - "Every Little Kiss" (Philip)
My Dear Disco - "White Lies" (Zack)
The Guggenheim Grotto - "Told You So" (Jolly)
Fiona Apple - "Oh Well" (Rocky)

For more on Craig's pick, Chloe March, click here.

...And with that, I shall take my leave. I'll see you here again next week. Until then, godspeed and watch out for that mangy V-D! (OK, I'll stop now. I promise.) Much love!