What We're Listening To: We're Baaaaaack Edition

Compiled by TNG's new music contributor, Rocky.

Good news, everybody! "What We're Listening To," is back! This is our weekly column where we take some time to share with all of you the music that's currently floating our boats here at TNG. In today's edition: Belaire, Howlies, Rick Astley, Niyaz, Arcade Fire, Bodies of Water, The Shaky Hands and the GMC! Check it all out below the fold and, with any luck, you just might find yourself a favorite new band.

Belaire—Exploding Impacting

I'm not sure how I stumbled across Exploding Impacting, the first full length album by Belaire, but I'm really into it. The band mixes danceable beats with jangly pop guitars, synths and dreamy vocals to create a sound that's retro but at the same time refreshingly unique. Check out "You Really Got Me Goin'" on their MySpace page. And if you were unlike me and arrived at the Tilly and the Wall show on Saturday on time to see the openers, you might have actually had a chance to see them live. - Michael


Howlies—Sea Level (Aug. 12)

Howlies join Deerhoof and Black Lips as the latest indie sweetness out of Atlanta. I was hooked by the "ooh-ooh-ooh-aah!!" charged chorus of garage-rock "Sea Level", and stuck around for the girl-group sounding "Aluminum Baseball Bat," and its circa-'55 slow dance quality. "Chimera" has much more of a modern feel to it; one friend likened it to Jesus & Mary Chain. Howlies also remind me of Radio Birdman and the Shirelles. They play The Red & The Black Aug. 22nd. - Coach


Rick Astley—Greatest Hits

While I’ve been on the road driving to Ithaca, NY and on into Canada, I’ve needed lots of musical stimulation to keep me going. And who’s at his poppy best more than Rick Astley on Greatest Hits? Not only is this CD the only thing I’ve ever won in my life (loooong story…), but it’s a great representation of Astley’s career beyond the two hits (“Never Gonna Give You Up” and “Together Forever”) that he’s known for. His ballads were often strained because of attempts to make him sound like even more of a lover-man than his natural singing voice already does. But Greatest Hits mixes these in deftly with the more up-tempo numbers. On a par with the two huge hits are “My Arms Keep Missing You” and one of the best ‘80s pop songs you’ve never heard of, “Take Me to Your Heart.” Top it all off with his deliriously cheesy pre-fame freestyle duet with Lisa Carter, “When You Gonna,” and this is all wonderful fun. C’mon, get Rick-rolled! - Philip


Niyaz—Nine Heavens

Chances are you've heard Azam Ali's beautiful voice at one point or another. Her Arabic/Persian/Indian vocal stylings are heard on the soundtracks of the movie '300' and the Dune miniseries. With Niyaz, she's joined forces with world electronica artist Axiom of Choice and producer Carmen Rizzo. The first half is drenched in electronic beats and sounds, with traditional Persian instruments like the oud, mixed with Ali's regal vocals, sung in Farsi. The second half is comprised of stripped down, acoustic versions of the first. Songs like "Beni Beni" and "Allah Mazare" are sinuous and sensuous otherworldly tunes that you can dance to. - Craig


Arcade Fire—Neon Bible

I've been revisiting Arcade Fire's "Neon Bible." I listened to it almost non-stop when it first came out last year, but haven't much since then. Favorites include the title track and "Ocean of Noise." The whole album puts me in a mellow sort of mood, like I could lounge around all day hanging out. Also recent listens — Brandi Carlile's "Closer to You" and The Decemberists' "Crane Wife 1 and 2." - Ms. Cavanaugh


Bodies of Water—A Certain Feeling

A man and woman trade gospel-inspired vocals over honest-to-god rock instrumentals. The guy's voice has a stadium quality like Bruce Springsteen, but the girl's is tinny like a black-and-white cartoon from the '20s. By the time the trumpets come in on the first track, it's like I'm pumping my fist in the confessional of the world's rockingest church. - Zack



The Shaky Hands—Lunglight (Sept. 9)

Some things will always be satisfying: gummy bears, a BJ, and fast-paced Brit-pop with "ooh ahh" backing vocals. You might think its Franz Ferdinand or The Young Knives, but that won't be important when you're jumping around to it. Check out a preview here. - Zack



Griznar Music Collective—"Golden Arches"

I guess this should technically be classified under "What I'm Always Listening To," but I thought for my first post I'd go ahead and share this with everyone since I love it so much. GMC is a collection of artists and musicians out of SoCal. There are a ton of folks involved, so their style is pretty fluid, but I'd say in general it's a mix between CCR, Arcade Fire and marijuana. Like if the Talking Heads spent a few years off the grid on a commune and then returned to civilization and made an album. Very acoustic and "everything but the kitchen sink" in terms of instrumentation, but danceable, clever and fun. I caught their show last fall at the Velvet Lounge when they opened for Donny Hue and The Colors. (Excellent show, by the way. I highly recommend checking both bands out the next time they roll through.) By far, the highlight for me was this song. Not only does it rock so hard you guys, but it promotes healthy eating habits and the dismantling of the corporate state! Most importantly, however, it has one of the most infectious pop hooks you will ever hear in your life. I mean everyone immediately lost their shit and actually danced and sang along at a rock show in DC! That hardly ever happens! And no matter what sort of mood I'm in, "Golden Arches" always makes me feel about 1,000 times better. Who doesn't like that, right? Unfortunately, "Golden Arches" is not yet available on iTunes, but it is available to preview and download here on their MySpace, along with a few others. (I also highly recommend, "I've Got a Secret.") Check it out and if you aren't singing along and playing drums on your desk by the end, you are a much stronger person than I. - Rocky