Open Letter to Pop

Slow summits and crescendos, Black magic and ecstasy, This Week's Soundtrack travels far and wide.

This Week's Soundtrack chases a beat from Brooklyn to Scandinavia, from crescendo to motorik, from poptimism to horrorcore. 

1.  “I Should Live in Salt” - The National: Carl Wilson's recent article at Slate.com, “Why I Hate the National,” asks questions about pop music the way Bywater residents at coffee shops discuss gentrification, aware that they're existing within the problem.  It's impressive to watch a writer take apart his dislike for a thing with such journalistic diligence, asking if it's wrong to hate a band for its fans, if “rock has died...and gone to graduate school,” and if “poptimism” will save us. Trouble Will Find Me is the sixth album by The National, released last week.
2. “Night Time Made Us” - The Pastels: From Slow Summits, this Glasgow band's first full-length album in 16 years.
3.  “Better Than Better Then Ezra” - Baak Gwai: Tuscaloosa band, played the Circle Bar last Saturday.
4. “Week of Pines” - Georgia Ruth: From her new album out this week, of the same title by this Welsh harpist/vocalist.  
5.  “Wave Mother” - Neu!: From a band who defines the motorik (4/4, or Krautrock) beat, that holds up the previous track.
6. “Ultima” - Xenia Rubinos: From her new album Magic Trix. The Brooklyn musician refers to it as “musica para todos los muchachos gauchos nachos”.  For all the nacho cowboys.
7.  “Beat (Health, Life, & Fire)” - Thao & The Get Down Stay Down: Music from another culture-straddling fiesty female, who has shown up on the Dear New Orleans compilations.
8.  “Jackie Junior (Junior Boys Remix)” – Sally Shapiro: A remix from the Swedish-Italian DJ's first album, Disco Romance, in 2007.  
9. “This City's Local Italo Disco DJ has a Crush on Me” - Sally Shapiro: From her new album Somewhere Else, collaborating with Electric Youth (of Drive Soundtrack fame).
10. “The Best Thing” - Electric Youth
11. “System of Unlimited Love” - When Saints Go Machine: Danish group's new album Infinity Pool.
12. “Hot Sun” - Club 8: More Swedish pop, from their new album Above the City. 
13. “Physical Attraction” - Cedric Congo: A new Mad Professor collaboration.
14. “Ahulakamine Hulan” - Bombino: New music from the Tuareg guitar hero whose new album, Nomad, was produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. While the Tuareg are traditionally a nomadic people in Saharan Africa, they are currently experiencing a cultural tragedy under the Islamic Fundamentalist occupation of Mali, in the violent harassment and censorship of their musicians.  "Music is our mineral wealth."
15. "The Ailry Lift" - The Brand New Life: Afro/Worldbeat Jazz group from North Carolina, Brand New Life has played with New Orleans own Rebirth Brass Band on tour.  They play The Howlin' Wolf Den on Wednesday.
17. "Declaration of War" - Geto Boys: "Horrorcore" veterans, play The Howlin' Wolf Friday with Mobb Deep.
18. "Black Magic" - Jealous Monk: New single from this New Orleans duo. They'll be on the bill for an all New Orleans musicians' tribute to the Beastie Boys at House of Blues Friday.
19. "Open Letter to NYC" - Beastie Boys: Their version of the hometown song.
20. "O' Be Joyful" - Shovels & Rope: Cliche aside, this Charleston pair are the epitome of a "dynamic duo," and their live show is a raucous good time. It is in fact one of their missions in music to get people on their feet, dancing. They play Tipitina's on Tuesday.
21. "Just Beneath the Surface" - Dawes: New music from Los Angeles folk rock band, Stories Don't End, released in April.  They play with Shovels & Rope on Tuesday.
22. "Bar Tabs" - Some Dark Holler: Played Chickie Wah Wah last Saturday.
23. "Fun Times at Whiskey Bar" - Caddywhompus: New Orleans experimental noise-pop from New Orleans, playing with The Lost Bayou Ramblers at Tipitina's Friday.
24. "Alive with the Glory of Love" - Say Anything: From their 2004 release …Is A Real Boy.  They're currently on tour with 2012's record Anarchy, My Dear, and play Tipitina's on Sunday.
25. "Give Up the Ghost" - Coliseum: New music from Louisville punk band, their fourth full-length album Sister Faith.  They played the Circle Bar last Friday, before heading on to three more months of US/European dates.
26. "Ecstasy" - Iceage: Danish punk band, touring new album You're Nothing, and coming to Siberia on Tuesday.       

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