You Know You're Right by Nirvana

This one almost certainly breaks my rules, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to post a Nirvana song. Somehow I missed hearing You Know You're Right until now. This may be the last time I hear a Nirvana song I've never heard before and like it.

http://www.xakep.ru/post/16588/-x-nirvana_-_you_know_youre_right.mp3

There Was An Accident by Ghetto Pony

This time Ghetto Pony graces us with a slow moving, muted sort of song. There was an Accident rides the same rhythm and progression all the way through. The dynamics come from adding and taking elements from the mix.

http://zebox.com/ze/audio/ghettopony_-_there_was_an_accident.mp3

Kosmonaut by Ugress

Kosmonaut is the perfect lead track for the Ugress EP of the same name. It's odd, high energy industrial/techno beat sets the tone for the next three songs.

http://www.ugress.com/media/mp3/kosmonaut/Ugress-KosmonautEP-01-Kosmonaut.mp3

Earth Is The Right Place For Love by Uncle Owen Aunt Beru

When I listen to Earth is the Right Place for Love, I'm reminded of Everyone in the World is Doing Something Without Me by The Future Sound of London. It's a strange, haunting tune, opening up a strange album.

But then, the Birdsong netlabel seems to be home to many strange albums. They also make their albums available in vorbis.

http://ia341031.us.archive.org/1/items/birdsong026/01_Earth_is_the_Right_Place_for_Love.mp3
http://ia341031.us.archive.org/1/items/birdsong026/01_Earth_is_the_Right_Place_for_Love.ogg

Take Your Medicine by Cloud Cult

Fans of Arcade Fire should give Cloud Cult a listen. Take Your Medicine captures their charm pretty well. It's lushly orchestrated indie rock, with emotional, often sappy lyrics.

http://www.cloudcult.com/takeyourmedicine.mp3

Hey Ruth Song Fight

Four years ago the Hey Ruth Songfight happened. There we a lot of good entries in that fight. This week I'll pick my favorites. Try to guess which I voted for.

Hey Ruth by Josh Woodward

Josh Woodward rounds out this week of Song Fight picks from four years ago. His entry is told from the perspective of a stranger trying to intervene in an abusive relationship.

Edit: I actually prefer the remake for Crawford Street.

http://www.songfight.org/music/hey_ruth/joshwoodward_ruth.mp3
http://www.joshwoodward.com/mp3/crawford/JoshWoodward-CrawfordStreet-10-HeyRuth.mp3

Hey Ruth by State Shirt

State Shirt manages to make most of his songs sound epic, but his Hey Ruth entry packs intense drama into a rock song. It explodes the last few seconds of a mother caught in a fatal car wreck across five and a half minutes.

http://www.songfight.org/music/hey_ruth/stateshirt_ruth.mp3

Hey Ruth by Tony Hightower

Tony Hightower's entry is all high school melodrama. He delivers it better than I could have possibly imagined.

http://www.songfight.org/music/hey_ruth/tonyhightower_ruth.mp3

Hey Ruth by The Sober Irishman

If I'm not mistaken, The Sober Irishman's take on Hey Ruth was made in about an hour. The song is rough around the edges. That, and Sober's gravelly voice are what I like so much about it.

http://www.songfight.org/music/hey_ruth/soberirishman_ruth.mp3

Hey Ruth by Roymond feat Sudharshan

Roymond's entry to the Hey Ruth fight just tripped me out with it's passages of Indian singing and plodding melodic movements. The whole effect overcomes the sometimes awkward lyrics and is easily recommended.

http://www.songfight.org/music/hey_ruth/roymondfeatsudharshan_ruth.mp3

Hey Ruth by Puce (Jimmy Lincoln!)

For some reason Puce decided to submit his entry as Jimmy Lincoln! in this fight. It sounds vaguely Linkin Park-like, but with much better lyrics and singing. The eternal scream in the middle of the song is worth listening to on its own.

http://www.songfight.org/music/hey_ruth/jimylincolnexclamationpoint_ruth.mp3

Hey Ruth by Jim Tyrrell

Jim Tyrrell's entry has plenty to love: some great rhymes, a bouncy upbeat rhythm, and oddly depressing lyrics to starkly contrast that bouncy upbeat rhythm.

http://www.songfight.org/music/hey_ruth/jimtyrrell_ruth.mp3

Kissing The Lipless by The Shins

Listening to the Shins often makes me want to listen to the Beatles, and I'm not quite sure why. They have a solid contemporary pop style that still sounds vaguely retro to my ear. They do this with skill and style that makes listening to Kissing the Lipless more fun than actually kissing without lips.

http://subpop.com/assets/audio/2385.mp3

The Engine Driver by The Decemberists

The Decemberists get a lot of points from fans and critics for putting interesting narratives to accessible pop tunes. The Engine Driver tells his tale of love and yearning.

http://www.killrockstars.com/bands/decemberists/audio/TheEngineDriver.mp3

Do You Like Me by Fugazi

Do You Like Me starts with distorted garage noise, then jumps to a fast fun punk rock song. Fugazi make the whole thing work wonderfully together.

http://www.dischord.com/media/mp3/01DoYouLikeMe.mp3

It Is Pitch Dark by MC Frontalot

Fans of Zork know how bad it is to find yourself someplace where It is Pitch Dark. As the Front warns, you are likely to be eaten by a grue.

http://frontalot.com/media.php/358/MC_Frontalot_SFTF_%2807%29_It_Is_Pitch_Dark.mp3

Nattöppet by Detektivbyrån

The Aurgasm archives are full of beautiful pieces of music. Nattöppet is a pretty bit of playful percussion.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Detektivbyran%20-%20Nattoppet.mp3

Kaybyn by Sleepy Town Manufacture

The Latatoo EP has some nice remixes and a few B-sides from Sleepy Town Manufacture. Kabyn is a pretty little B-side with a nice beat.

http://www.archive.org/download/mtk094/mtk094-stm-latatoo-ep-04-kabyn.mp3

The 11th Hour by Rancid

And Out Come The Wolves... really put Rancid in the mainstream and in my speakers. The 11th Hour is the second song on that record and really nicely sums up the general feel of the whole album.

http://www.rancidrancid.com/music/the_11th_hour.mp3

Kompressor Does Not Dance by Kompressor

This monster must have some sort of conspiracy worked out with some DJs to crush helpless ravers. All because Kompressor Does Not Dance.

http://www.songfight.org/music/dont_dance/kompressor-dontdance.mp3

When I Close My Eyes by Natacha Atlas

Like me, most Americans have probably never heard of Natacha Atlas, but she had at least a moment of fame in France. When I Close My Eyes blends exotic Mediterranean styles with a European pop sensibility that makes both aspects of her music much more enjoyable.

http://static.cissme.com/streaming/bgroup-us/dl/mantra/atlan/atlas16cd-2.mp3

I Can See The Pixels In Your Eyes by Mickey Eats Plastic

I Can See the Pixels in Your Eyes starts with a lumbering bass melody, then picks up pace with some nifty percussion and electronic effects.

http://www.mickeyeatsplastic.com/music/tasty/i%20can%20see%20the%20pixels%20in%20your%20eyes.mp3

Kick Start by 16-15 puzzle

It's another iteration of the Nur Ein competition, and the qualifying round has already finished. 15-16 Puzzle turned out delightful song informing you that Kick Starts with 'K'.

http://www.newzeromusic.com/ne3/15-16puzzle_ne3_ks.mp3

Grace by Bobby McFerrin and Yo-Yo Ma

Strange vocal noises, minimal percussion, and occasional string swells meander about throughout Grace.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Bobby%20McFerrin%20&%20Yo-Yo%20Ma%20-%20Grace.mp3

Zanzibar by Ken Flagg

Ken Flagg knows how to make pretty, sayppy songs. I have to admit, I find the romantic dreaminess of Zanzibar incredibly charming.

http://www.kenflagg.com/music/05-Zanzibar.mp3

Streetbeat Heat by Podington Bear

Podington Bear brought out the old school synths and drum machines last July. Streetbeat Heat went out to his poppers and lockers. It might get the rest of you moving too.

http://podingtonbear.com/podcasts/JulyOriginal/StreetbeatHeat.mp3

Morning on Bourbon by The Seamus Collective

The other song that was vying for my vote on this weeks Song Fight was The Seamus Collective's take on Morining on Bourbon. It's one of those rock songs with a busy mix that always seems to grab my attention.

http://www.songfight.org/music/morning_on_bourbon/seamuscollective-mob.mp3

Let's Get Naked by ADD

ADD has a great idea: Let's Get Naked. Well, ADD does a slow, tender take on that idea, but he doesn't let that ruin his good idea.

http://www.actdead.com/mp3s/add-letsgetnaked.mp3

Painting By Numbers by if:then:goto

There's something early-Radiohead-like about if:then:goto, and Painting by Numbers embodies that something as much as any of their songs. It's excellent indie alternative rock.

http://one.dot9.ca/2/releases/026/one022_04-if_then_goto_-_painting_by_numbers.mp3

First Of May by Jonathon Coulton

Jonathon Coulton and I agree about the importance of spring. So unless you're someplace so south that it's fall right now, I recommend taking Jonathon's advice this First of May and "Celebrate spring with a crazy little thing called fucking outside".

http://www.jonathancoulton.com/mp3/First%20of%20May.mp3