The Useless and The Vague

Andrew W.K. “Don’t Call Me Andy” – It’s not such a weird thing for Andrew W.K. to try his hand at what is essentially a beefed up girl group song, if just because there isn’t a huge stylistic leap from Phil Spector’s Wall Of Sound to his own pummeling WALL OF ROCK. The entire song sounds as though it is being run through a studio filter called the POWER SWOON, and the resulting track feels like the sweetest thing he’s penned since “She Is Beautiful,” even if most of the song is just the guy begging you not to use the diminutive version of his name. (Click here for the Andrew W.K. website.)

Diving With Andy “Andrew” – As the delicate, pastoral arrangement and sweet melody simulates an overwhelming sense of infatuation, the lyrics provide tension as the singer’s overactive superego attempts to talk herself out of the crush. By the end of the song, it seems clear that her insecurities have tripped her up if just for that one day, though the feelings have yet to disappear. (Click here for the Diving With Andy website.)

Oh, Yeah: I have a list feature in the new issue of the British magazine Plan B, which is a fine publication featuring a couple of my favorite UK writers – Miss AMP and Kicking K, as well as the somewhat legendary Everett True. CSS is on the cover, and it comes with a cd featuring Sonic Youth, The Gossip, Animal Collective, Electrelane, Love Is All, Chicks on Speed, Black Dice, and others.