That Look That Says Exactly What You Think Of Me

Nellie McKay “Cupcake” – Nellie McKay has an obvious gift for melody and a lovely singing voice, but too often gets caught up in a sort of cringe-inducing preciousness that is on the outermost perimeter of what I can tolerate from an artist. The theatre camp cabaret affectation is fine with me because it’s clearly her gift as a musician, but her lyrics tend to be strangely long on forced wit and short on humor, making her political music come closer to that of The Capitol Steps than, say, Jon Stewart rocking out at the piano bar. “Cupcake” makes the most of her gifts and hems in her faults, presenting an elegantly crafted tune that’s one part old school AM radio ballad and two parts musical theatre as she stumps for gay marriage in the context of a traditional love song. (Click here for the official Nellie McKay site.)

Ladyfuzz “Monster” – Is there an aural equivalent of squinting? If there is, then do that with this song, and you can sort of get the feeling of an imaginary rocking Portishead song with beats jacked from that first UNKLE album. I love the keyboard spazz-out on the break – it’s like mayhem breaking out in a novelty shop. (Click here for the official Ladyfuzz site.)

Chow Nasty “Ungawa” – Chest-beating Tarzan party rock! This is some fun stuff, and that chant is a crazy earworm that will burrow through your skull if you don’t watch out. I’m glad that we have these guys, because God knows there’s a tiny little gap in the world ever since The Make-Up broke up a few years ago. (Click here for the official Chow Nasty site.)