It Happens In New York

Ursula 1000 featuring Cristina “Urgent/Anxious” – This is Cristina’s first new recording since she abandoned the record industry to become a full-time theatre critic following the release of her classic second album in 1984. Though she had apparently flirted with the possibility of working with some other producers on new material, nothing had actually materialized until she collaborated with Ursula 1000 last year. Judging by her performance on this track, time away from the recording studio has not done much to dull her wit or allure. She remains pop’s droll queen of high class decadence, and her voice still sounds remarkably youthful. On this track, she seems to be revisiting her bored, self-destructive character from “What’s A Girl To Do?” twenty-two years later as she’s putting on a confident front while she’s being eaten alive by her anxiety and narcissism. (Click here to buy the new song from Ursula 1000 and here to buy Sleep It Off from Ze Records.)

Elsewhere: NPR’s All Songs Considered has Belle & Sebastian and The New Pornographer’s entire sets from their show in Washington, DC available for download right here. The New Pornographers set is a bit of an anomaly in that Kathryn Calder was too ill to sing on that night, forcing them to play an entire setlist of songs that did not feature lead female vocals.