It’s been a while since we’ve paid a visit to my Library of Tunes. Let’s say hello to the new arrivals.
“Nashville” by Gospel Gossip. This local band deserves all the airplay they’ve been getting on college radio over the summer months. They excel at infusing their with the experimentalism of punk and the tunefulness of pop. This song is awash in guitars and feedback, but it has a power pop sensibility that reminds me The New Pornographers. If there’s any justice in the musical world, Gospel Gossip will be playing on David Letterman within a year.
“Black Magic” by Magic Wands. This male-female duo somehow manages to sound bigger than the sum of their parts. That could be clever editing, but I have no problem using clever editing in the service of darkly atmospheric songs like this. I have no idea what they’re going on about when they sing “White light, my time has come”, but I don’t care.
“Dreaming” by Blondie. I know, I know, this song is almost as old as me. But Debbie Harry has one of the sexist voices ever, even when she’s singing about traffic and cups of tea. It’s a song so brimming with hope, but touched with a bit of world-weariness. I can’t help but smile whenever I hear it.
