Anyone Could Be Your Brand New Love

The music I've been crushing on lately:

1. Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago

I can't get over what I've heard of this album, and I've been like a morphine addict for the title track since Saint Bob over at NPR played it a few weeks ago. This song is note perfect. I am beside myself every time I hear it. I want to approach strangers on the street and make them listen.

Bon Iver (or "good winter" if you say it in French) is Justin Vernon, who apparently tucked away for three months in a remote cabin in the woods of Northwestern Wisconsin to make this album after his band broke up. All isolation should sound this good. 

You can check out Bon Iver at the Rock and Roll Hotel on February 19th. In the meantime, listen to Skinny Love here.

2. Lucinda Black Bear: Capo My Heart and Other Bear Songs

Here's an anti-valentine, of sorts. The whole album is about a breakup. Think Neil Young, but darker. Listen here.

3. Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend

Am I going to be listening to this band in a year? Is this the next false prophet? Do I feel some shades of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah-hype and inevitable letdown coming on in this music? Yeah. Probably. A little twee, as Jason said. But I'll give the Columbia boys a break. And apparently, they put on a decent show at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Well played gentlemen, well played.

4. Superchunk: Seed Toss
Like a fine wine, this album has improved with age. It's well worth the price of admission for Brand New Love, which is a originally a Sebadoh song that's been covered countless times by other bands, including Death Cab for Cutie. But I like Superchunk's version the best. I can't post it here. So you'll have to settle for this:

Speaking of covers...

5. Eels: I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man (cover)

After a raging debate over on Jodi's blog on the merits of Little Red Corvette vs. I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man that divided the sexes, I went seeking answers. And I found this cover.