Random 10 for May 19, 2009

Doves - Kingdom of Rust

1. Doves, “Kingdom of Rust.” Why is it that Kingdom of Rust is so below the radar? It’s been four years since Some Cities, and absence should have made the heart grow much fonder. Pursue it, love it, wallow in its Northern Soul misery.
2. Jarvis Cocker, “Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time.”
3. Jon Brion, “Her Ghost.”

4. Kanye West, “Good Life.” While we’re on the subject of things that went relatively unnoticed, “Good Life” should have been a massive hit, but thanks to a volley of unkind words between MTV and ‘Ye, not so much. I mean, hell, it’s got T-Pain on it. Isn’t there a law or something?
5. Ween, “Mister Richard Smoker.”
6. The Appleseed Cast, “Raise the Sails.”
7. Colourmusic, “Yes!”
8. Martha Wainwright, “The George Song.”
9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Dragon Queen.”

New Frontier - Donald Fagen
10. Donald Fagen, “New Frontier.” If I had to select the Top 10 videos of my youth, this is definitely near the top, partly because of my abiding love of Steely Dan but mainly because it captures the graphic style and iconography of early ’60s nuclear scare so beautifully. This was directed by Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel (sister of Ian Dury and the Blockheads member Chaz Jankel), the team that went on to create “Max Headroom.”