Tuesday Turntable 3.10.09

This weeks our theme is Scream at the Top of Your Lungs, or, more specifically, should it apply to you, Finals week. Yes, that dreaded five days of doom that has kept me from writing any of the concert reviews I have heretofore promised. Soon, Soon!

Really, these songs' purpose in life is pretty simple - dance and scream the lyrics as loud as present company would allow until all those little stress-demons have been exorcised by the power of great music.

First we have "I'll Believe in Anything," in my opinion Wolf Parade's best. The most fun thing about this song is singing it adopting the odd singing accent of lead singer Dan Boeckner. It's harsh yet invigorating rhythm is another great draw.

Up to bat now is "Colossal" by Wolfmother. (very wolfy Turntable. What big ears you have, Wax Cylinders!) I think this song was more deserving of the acclaim Wolfmother received for "Mother," but perhaps this tracks' outstandingly obvious desire to be a Led Zeppelin song turned off some of the critics. In any case, the lyrics of this song make you feel like a very mystical and very RAWK gypsy, and I'm sure Wolfmother would have it no other way.

"Without MSG I am Nothing" by low-fliers McLusky has been one of my favorite songs for a few years now, because I can't find anything more hilarious and fun, lyric wise, and the 'goo'-yelping that is part of the verses is totally addicting. I have always been meaning to find more McLusky thanks to this song, but I harbor the suspicion that it must be hard to top.

"Blue Orchid" by The White Stripes. I'm hardly introducing anyone to anything new here, but I don't think I'll really be hearing any complaints. The video of this song is the best indication of its character. It has Jack White as the head of a house of freaky marionettes, including Meg White, robotically banging on the floor with giant spoons. A highly recommended YouTube experience.

To bring us down from the '11' we've been cranked up to without losing this Turntable's energy comes "Heavy Metal" from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!'s debut album. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! always sounds like they are enjoying themselves like crazy, especially on songs like this that engage every auditory nerve.

To listen to this Turntable without having to stay on Wax Cylinders, click the Pop-Out Player button below the playlist. If your pop-up blocker is reluctant to allow this, try holding the control key when you hit Pop-Out Player.