Random 10 for May 23, 2008

1. Ian Dury & the Blockheads, “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.” The late Ian Dury was truly one of the most beloved characters to come out of the pub rock/punk/new wave era, and for sheer lunacy, I highly recommend the song “Blockheads” as a tonic for clearing out cobwebs and excising frustration. As it is, “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick” is pretty good for it, too, though I’ll be damned if I know what he’s talking about. I have my suspicions.

2. Art Brut, “Direct Hit.”

3. Dave Sardy feat. Liela Moss, “Giant.”

4. The Dirtbombs, “Indivisible.”

5. Coldplay, “Viva La Vida.” My favorite Chris Martin song since “The Scientist” in 2003, and it is the finest realization of the band’s sonic goals to date. Yes, I’m a big sucker for opulence. Once their flirtation with Brian Eno ends, Martin ought to have Wayne set them up with Dave Fridmann. Pardon the iTunes ad, but it’s all we’ve got so far, other than my curiously acquired song.

6. Air, “Radio #1.”

7. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan, “The False Husband.”

8. Violet Vector and the Lovely Lovelies, “When I Say Can you Dig It (You Say Yeah We Can).”

9. Ween, “Dr. Rock.”

10. Jill Cunniff, “Lazy Girls.” Her solo debut, City Beach, was not as thoroughly satisfying as it might have been if Gabby Glaser and Kate Schellenbach were still around to supply some rough edges, but “Lazy Girls” is a perfect summer song in the vein of “Ladyfingers.” Did I just write “in the vein of ‘Ladyfingers’”? It’s been a long week.