Erasure - She Won't Be Home

She phones her mum
Says this time she cannot come
Don't worry I'm with friends this Christmas
Dad gets upset
But in time he soon forgets
Here comes another lonely Christmas

And I wanted to say to you
How much I want to be with you
I wanted to say to you
How much I need to be with you
Christmas time comes once a year
She knows this time he won't be near

This song from 1989's Crackers International doesn't come up much (or ever) on the Christmas radio stations or playlists, but that makes it more of a surprise and delight to hear, despite the sad bassoon and longing lyrics. 

Alternate happy, cheesy, early 80s Christmas Eve song by The Waitresses:

RIYL: Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, Yaz, OMD, Eurythmics

Upcoming Shows

The Fame Riot - Heart Stray

She's running out of breath this time
(oooooh)
I know what I want but it's bringing me down
Said, I know what you want and it's bringing me down
Said, I've got this song racing through my head
'Cause I know what you want when you know when I'm there

I heard this song when it was first released on Spotify, liked it, but was kind of sitting on it, waiting to see what else might come from this band. Oh, but these gender-bending clean-but-glam brothers (Liz and Shazam) from Tacoma, Washington don't want to be called a band. Their website and Facebook page have the same description: "The Fame Riot is not a band; it's a religion. The two brothers are at the forefront of a shift in musical style and culture, drawing influence from the last 4 decades of rock, pop, electronica, disco, and everything in-between." Well then. I'm not one for religion but I do get down to this song, and imagine their live set is tremendously entertaining. 

RIYL: Chromeo, Empire of the Sun, Adam Lambert, Lady Gaga

Upcoming Shows

Constantines - Young Lions

Oh young lions
This is your kingdom
Every beast has its poison
Every lion has its victim

One of my all time favorite concert memories ever was watching Constantines rock the hail out of Sasquatch Festival. They just kept going through a massive hail storm that shut most of the action that day down completely. Check it out here if you're interested.

Their 2003 album, Shine a Light, put out on Sub Pop, has been a go-to of mine ever since it came out and, while it's bright and sunny and warm here today in Austin, for some reason I got to thinking about that show. Thus today's cut. Enjoy.

RIYL: The Walkmen, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Sloan, The Hold Steady, Cymbals Eat Guitars

Upcoming Shows

Mutemath - Changes

Stay where you like
They won't care
You pay for the right
But what is there?
When every place in the world
Is all built up
Every space in the herd
Is all filled up

So yesterday Kerri covered one of our favorites, TøP, and although she didn't pick the song I would have ("Ode To Sleep" FTW) she did a great job. With one teensy, weensy, oversight: she missed the great collaboration that dropped the night before. TøP teamed up with their tour-mates Mutemath to reimagine some of their hits. It's wonderful and you can read more about it here. It also sounds like they had a great time on tour. If you've never seen TøP or Mutemath, do yourself a big favor and do it, they're both amazing live. Seriously, I can't really think of two better live acts.

I've been a fan of Mutemath from the beginning, and have listened to them grow and change over the years. They've covered a lot of musical ground and have done it with style, talent and a unique polish that works like steel thread that ties it all together. They're latest work has swung towards the electronic and groovy, but still sounds like Mutemath, as is clearly evident in today's MIS "Changes".

RIYL: Joywave, Minus The Bear, Pinback, Colony House, Manchester Orchestra

Upcoming Shows

Twenty One Pilots - Trees

I know where you stand
Silent in the trees
And that's where I am
Silent in the trees
Why won't you speak
Where I happen to be?
Silent in the trees
Standing cowardly

I can feel your breath
I can feel my death
I want to know you
I want to see
I want to say hello

TØP is a favorite band of both Keith and I, so it's been nagging at me all year to pick a song. Of course, they broke out to HUGE commercial success this year, so it's not like they need us highlighting their work... But I have gotten absolutely sick of hearing only "Ride", "Stressed Out", and "Heathens" on the radio. "Cancer", their latest single, is lyrically powerful and interesting-sounding as all their work, but it's such a slow, downer (Tyler does like to be sad). So! I decided to go back to their 2012 LP, Vessel, which I've been listening to on vinyl almost daily lately. I went with "Trees" because the pace and power of the song completely win me over, despite not being on the same page with the religious undertone. It still starts on a minor chord, but I dare you not to dance! The guys say this is one of their most favorite tracks as well, as it seems to magically give them a second wind at the end of a live set (and if you've seen them live, you know they need a magical reserve of energy).

RIYL: Beastie Boys, Panic! At the Disco, MGMT, Gorillaz

Upcoming Shows