Neuschwanstein Dungeons by Ninja 9000

Neuschwanstein Dungeons is quite different from the most of Ugress's other Ninja 9000 work. It's still got the 8-bit sound effects, but it uses them to create a sinister mood rather than a bumping dance tune.

http://www.uncannyplanet.com/ninja9000/bitescape/Ninja9k-BE-03NeuschwansteinDungeons.mp3

Collection Of Stones by We Vs. Death

The new album A Black House, A Coloured Home has We Vs. Death adding singing to their music. Collection of Stones steps even farther afield, trading in their typical post rock sound in for a more sparse, more traditionally structured song.

http://www.beepbeep.nl/wp-content/music/we-vs-death/a-black-house/05%20-%20We%20vs.%20Death%20-%20Collection%20of%20stones.mp3

If I by Piers Faccini

If I is lively folk music, driven by Faccini's forceful singing and excellent guitar work.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Piers%20Faccini%20-%20If%20I.mp3

Morning Wood by Ghetto Pony

I could take or leave Peter Jarecki's croon, but Ghetto Pony's inventive blend of sampled beats with more conventional rock instrumentation always satisfies. They give us wonderful doses of indie pop like Morning Wood.

http://zebox.com/a4/ghettopony_-_Morning_Wood_Demo07-16-06.mp3

Playing Stellenbosch With The Boys by The Walt

Gotta love the Creative Commons. Beep! Beep! Back up the truck loves the creative commons, so most of the music there is free to grab and remix. The Walt's bass heavy punk is just some of the good stuff you'll find there. Playing Stellenbosch with the Boys stutters about its four minutes, but it does it with infectious energy and conviction.

http://www.beepbeep.nl/wp-content/music/the-walt/ep%202006/04%20playing%20stellenbosch%20with%20the%20boys.mp3

Polygon by Sleepy Town Manufacture

The chiming, clunking percussion stands out in Polygon. It also has a solid beat, a sinister repeating low end, and a nice synthesized melody topping it all off.

http://www.archive.org/download/mtk126/mtk126-stm-cd2-for-me-02-polygon.mp3

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Fish-Men by The HP Lovecraft Historical Society

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fish-Men near Innsmouth. If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to view the musical rendition and take the warnings of drunkards seriously.

http://www.cthulhulives.org/Solstice/mp3s/Fish-Men.mp3

Rattlechaser by Xploding Plastix

Rattlechaser builds up a smoky jazz mood before exploding with rattling drums, then downshifting again.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Xploding%20Plastix%20-%20Rattlechaser.mp3

Lastic Man by Abstract Avenue

I don't know what to say about Lastic Man. It's got interesting rhythm changes made with fun electronic noises and something like a nice melody hanging around in there.

I know I like it better in vorbis.

http://www.archive.org/download/lego002/lego002_06-Lastic_Man_vbr.mp3
http://www.archive.org/download/lego002/lego002_06-Lastic_Man.ogg

I Say Fever by Ramona Falls

Ramona Falls is a side project of Brent Knopf from Menomena. I Say Fever is a punchy indie rock single from the record Intuit. It also comes with a spectacular music video directed by the same man who did the video for Menomena's Evil Bee.

http://fensepost.com/main/audio/091113-ramona_falls-i_say_fever.mp3

Once Tomorrow by Josh Woodward

Once Tomorrow is some delightful pop, lead by a banjo and followed by electronic organ swells. It's ear candy all the way through.

http://www.joshwoodward.com/mp3/Breadcrumbs/JoshWoodward-Breadcrumbs-09-OnceTomorrow.mp3

Massive Attack by Podington Bear

Another track from Homage Fromage, this time an homage to Massive Attack. I don't really hear Massive Attack in the quick paced percussion or the slow string interludes, but I like what I hear.

http://podingtonbear.com/podcasts/MayOriginal/MassiveAttack.mp3

Young Folks by Dawn Landes

Dawn Landes transmutes Peter Bjorn's Young Folks into a bluegrass tune. The male/female back-and-forth adds a nice touch to the sweet lyrics.

This post got removed because of a DMCA notice. Rather than challenge the notice, I recommend you just visit Aurgasm's post and click their link to download this song.

Take On Me by ADD featuring John Benjamin

ADD recruits John Benjamin to add some cello and turns the 80's synth-pop classic Take On Me into slow, beautiful, acoustic emotional outpouring.

http://actdead.com/mp3s/add-takeonme.mp3

Too Goth To Rock by Duboce Triangle

I'm not sure what I like about Too Goth to Rock. In part, it must be distorted guitars. And the absurd 80's throwback goth rock melody in the chorus, as the singer proclaims "Here's another fine example of what I never want to be."

http://www.songfight.net/covers/songs/dubocetriangle_joneric_toogothtorock.mp3

Gettin' All Sweaty by Puce

Jack Shite did an homage to Beck's Debra. At least that's what Puce heard, and he took Gettin' All Sweaty even farther in that direction. Just listen and try not to laugh or summon Beck's absurd falsetto.

http://www.songfight.net/covers/songs/puce_jackshite_sweaty.mp3

Umbrella by Mechanical Bride

Mechanical Bride reinterprets an R&B hit as a lush, piano and strings folk song. Umbrella is deftly decorated with subtle effects and has an intense emotional weight.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Mechanical%20Bride%20-%20Umbrella.mp3

Goodbye Horses by Brad Sucks

I have to admit I'm not familiar with the Q Lazzarus song, but I do like Brad Sucks' take on Goodbye Horses. It's catchy pop/rock that sounds way too shiny and polished to just be a demo.

Update: Brad released a cleaned up version. The links have been changed to his newer, shinier rendition.

http://media.bradsucks.net/covers/Brad_Sucks_-_Goodbye_Horses.mp3

Put Cindy Back On The Bus by Abominominous

My favorite part of Abominominous's take on Put Cindy Back on the Bus is the drum's thump. It has a tone that just sounds different than I'm used to. The dirty, lo-fi rock cover takes King Arthur's tune in an excellent new direction.

http://www.songfight.net/covers/songs/cattlebatbrianf_abominominous_putcindy.mp3

Don't Die by State Shirt

A slow and moody song, Don't Die is the title track of State Shirt's first album. It's bridge swishes around some weird noises that sound like cat yowls and other pet calls.

http://www.stateshirt.com/audio/dontdie/09%20Don%27t%20Die.mp3

Out In The Black by Imaad Wasif

Sometimes I just need a good bit of pleasing pop, and Out in the Black hits that spot nicely. It's sensitive singer and solid guitar driven composition doesn't sound totally unique these days, but it resonates well.

http://killrockstars.com/bands/imaadwasif/audio/outintheblack.mp3

New Mountain Lion by Uncle Owen, Aunt Beru

New Mountain Lion starts with a tinny guitar and distant vocals, then suddenly shifts to a more full sound, with electronic distortion tearing into the recording. The thread holding the two parts together are the bird calls chirping throughout.

http://www.archive.org/download/birdsong026/17_New_Mountain_Lion.mp3

Nada Parecido Com Voce by Ana Martins

Nada Parecido Com Voce reminds me of some song or other from the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack, which just may be because before Aurgasm, that series was my only exposure to several styles of world music. Ana Martins' song is slow and relaxing bossa nova.

http://aurgasm.us/music/kyle/Ana%20Martins%20-%20Nada%20Parecido%20Com%20Voce.mp3

Air by Slumber Party

Air is as short and breezy as its name. It's three minutes of sweet pop with a rougher production than you'll hear from any radio hit.

http://killrockstars.com/bands/slumberparty/audio/Air.mp3

Your New Dress by A Far Off Land

A Far Off Land's entry in the Your New Dress fight is a slow, tinkling tune made to lull you into pleasant dreams.

http://www.songfight.org/music/your_new_dress/faroffland_ynd.mp3

Calm Down by Optimus Rhyme

Early Optimus Rhyme has something you don't get in their later stuff: turntable scratching. Calm Down and become an ally in the battle against the Wackacons.

http://www.optimusrhyme.com/musicplayer/05_Optimus_Rhyme_Calm_Down.mp3

Your New Dress by Lonbobby.

It's been a few listens, and Your New Dress has started to grow on me. Auto-tune is overdone, but distinct style of electronic music still sits at the top of Song Fight's offerings.

http://www.songfight.org/music/your_new_dress/lonbobby_ynd.mp3

Budos Theme by The Budos Band

The bass drives Budos Theme for me. The rest is beautiful ornamentation for that super funky bass.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Budos_Band_-_Budos_Theme.mp3

One In Six Children Will Flee In Boats by Frog Eyes

I love Carey Mercer's bizarre singing. It's the big draw in One in Six Children Will Flee in Boats, while the other instruments seem to mellow the whole thing out a bit, until they tear themselves apart at the end.

http://www.absolutelykosher.com/MP3s/oneinsixchildrenwillfleeinboats.mp3

Baby Steps by General Fuzz

Baby Steps is a complex composition that moves effortlessly from one section to another. It makes excellent use of the work of two guest guitarists to create a relaxed, atmospheric sound.

http://www.generalfuzz.net/mp3/Cool%20Aberrations/baby%20steps.mp3

Wrong Time Capsule by Deerhoof

Wrong Time Capsule is a tight combination of rocking musicmanship and cute Japanese girl vocals.

http://killrockstars.com/bands/deerhoof/audio/WrongTimeCapsule.mp3

El Asalto by El Circulo De Willis

El Asalto has just about everything that makes El Circulo de Willis so damn interesting. It's a fusion of jazz and post rock, with enough changes in melody, tempo, rhythm, and instrumentation to make its nearly 7 minute run time seem tight.

They've also made the EP Cuadrado available in superior sound formats: vorbis for compact file size and a mammoth FLAC for full cd quality listening.

http://www.archive.org/download/Cuadrado/5Asalto_vbr.mp3
http://www.archive.org/download/Cuadrado/5Asalto.ogg
http://www.archive.org/download/Cuadrado/5Asalto.flac

Do You Love Me? by Amanda Jenssen

Did Amanda Jenssen ever get to be a smash hit pop star? Maybe Do You Love Me? came around just a bit too late to cash in on the Amy Winehouse wave. But the overblown pop production and excellent singing make it a winner here.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Amanda%20Jenssen%20-%20Do%20You%20Love%20Me.mp3

White Nightmare by Daniele Torelli

In all likelihood, White Nightmare will not fill you with dread, horror, or crippling anxiety. The soft 4/4 beat and slowly shifting melodies will probably lull you into a relaxed trance before they send you to nightmareland.

http://esaurito.yue.it/torelli_songs/daniele_torelli-white_nightmare.mp3

If I Only Knew by Jeff Hanson

If I Only Knew is quite a bit different from Jeff Hanson's other tunes over on kill rock stars. It's a full production, with banjos and brass and thumping drums and oohs and ahs galore.

http://krs5rc.com/krs/bands/jeffhanson/audio/IfOnlyIKnew.mp3

Noil by Sleepy Town Manufacture

Noil is one of my favorite ambient tracks by Sleepy Town Manufacture. It's full of rolling noises, rhythmic squeaks and squawks, tied together by a fading electronic melody.

http://www.archive.org/download/mtk126/mtk126-stm-cd1-for-you-10-noil.mp3

Shrink To Fit by Milemarker

Shrink to Fit has great, bratty punk rock vocals with plenty of catchy hooks to keep toes tapping and fists shaking.

http://www.jadetree.com/mp3/Milemarker_Shrink.mp3

Terapolis Nightclub Fantasy by Ugress

Ugress gives phenomenal dance. Terapolis Nightclub Fantasy skitters into oblivion for a second near the end, then comes back, and that's just the highlight of quick dance track that's solid throughout.

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/53181797/Terapolis%2BNightclub%2BFantasy.mp3

The Objects Don't Need Us by Phon°noir

If the The Objects Don't Need Us, does that mean they will continue making beautiful noises without us around to appreciate it?

http://aurgasm.us/music/kyle/Phononoir%20-%20The%20Objects%20Dont%20Need%20Us.mp3

Violet Wants It Her Way by Brother Machine

A sweet little pop song running just under a minute and a half, Violet Wants It Her Way has Hope singing beautifully with the Brother Seth mainly backing her up.

http://www.songfight.org/music/violet_wants_it_her_way/brothermachine_violet.mp3

Girlfriend Is Worse by Ex-Models

Girlfriend is Worse is a deliciously short, sweet rock song that made it into overplay at oddio a few years back.

http://www.acefu.com/MP3s/ExModels-GirlfriendIsWorse.mp3

Recognition by if:then:goto

A good lot of The Standard Model album by if:then:goto sounds vaguely like some blend of early Radiohead and the Beatles. Recognition is one of those songs. It runs through five minutes of layered pop.

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/42147649/recognition.mp3

Limelight by Podington Bear

Limelight has a lot of the Pod Bear's signatures all over it. It's a fun, catchy, bass driven tune, though it is a bit formulaic. Until you get near the end, where it takes a bit of a left turn into a lovely lulling outro.

http://podingtonbear.com/podcasts/AprilOriginal/Limelight.mp3

She Could Let Me Down by ADD

She Could Let Me Down is a quiet ADD song. Like several of his other songs, some of the lines ramble on for longer than it seems they should, and I love it.

http://actdead.com/mp3s/add-shecouldletmedown.mp3

Aviva Pastoral by Nathan Larson

You may have already heard Aviva Pastoral when you watched bunnies melt. But the song is quite gorgeous on its own.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Nathan%20Larson%20-%20Aviva%20Pastoral.mp3

Flyswatter by Lucky 7s

Flyswatter is just an all around lovely jazz piece. It's one of my favorites by the Lucky 7s.

http://lucky7s.org/audio/elastic_9606/flyswatter.mp3

Grey Snow by Josh Woodward

Josh Woodward recently put out a new album called Breadcrumbs. Grey Snow is a beautiful take from that album that manages a nice surprising change of pace about halfway through.

http://www.joshwoodward.com/mp3/Breadcrumbs/JoshWoodward-Breadcrumbs-07-GreySnow.mp3

Out Of It by Brad Sucks

The title song of the new Brad Sucks album, Out of It, has an unusually upbeat vibe for a Brad Sucks tune. It has the relaxed pop-rock sound he continues to perfect with his new releases.

http://media.bradsucks.net/albums/ooi-128/09_-_Brad_Sucks_-_Out_of_It.mp3

Sky Is Upon You by Richard Youngs

If you want your songs poppy and easy to digest, Sky Is Upon You will leave you behind quickly. It's mostly ambient guitar work meandering along other effects warbling in and out.

http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/skyisuponyou.mp3

Pachad by Yael Naim

Pachad plays around on the piano for a bit, but once it gets going it becomes more somber, with strings and various percussion adding texture to the affair.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Yael%20Naim%20-%20Pachad.mp3

This Is On The Stairs by Neurowaxx

Neurowaxx put the vocals from This is Old by State Shirt over the music from Passing on the Stairs by The Starry Tide. This Is on the Stairs puts the undulating, slow ascending, fast descending bassline at the front of the mix, and it was a winning move in my book.

http://ccmixter.org/content/Neurowaxx/Neurowaxx_-_This_is_on_the_stairs.mp3

Cuckoo by Lisa DeBenedictis, remixed by Marco Raaphorst

Lisa DeBenedictis does such lovely singing for Cuckoo that nearly anybody can make something nice with it. But Raaphorst pairs it with simple electronic pop that highlights and complements the melody beautifully.

http://www.melodiefabriek.nl/audio/mp3/Marco_Raaphorst_-_Cuckoo.mp3

I Want To Shout Out (Shouda Louda Mix) by DJ Vadim, remixed by 7OOP3D

There's little motivation for recommending this mix of I Want to Shout Out beyond making you get up and dance. So listen and move yourself.

http://ccmixter.org/content/7OOP3D/7OOP3D_-_I_Want_To_Shout_Out_(7OOP3D_Shouda_Louda_Mix).mp3

My Violent Heart (Let Me In) by Nine Inch Nails, remixed by Halo 33

Halo 33 tends to put Reznor's lyrics in the front of his remixes, which seems like a dangerous game to me, but it works really well for his Year Zero mixes. For My Violent Heart he puts Reznor whispering over a slow piano and bass line.

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/102171842/My%2BViolent%2BHeart%2B%255BLet%2BMe%2BIn%255D.mp3

An Apology (Lonely Robot Voice Mix) by Canasta, remixed by Schnable

If you don't like robot voices, wait for the end of Shnable's An Apology remix. The long instrumental outtro is worth it.

http://audio.canastamusic.com/WeWereMixedUp/06%20An%20Apology%20(J.%20Schnable%27s%20Lonely%20Robot%20Voice%20Mix).mp3

Nerdcore Hiphop 2006 by MC Frontalot, remixed by Badd Spellah

It's a classic song that named a genre, but I don't really like the original. Badd Spellah came along and created the best mix of Nerdcore Hiphop I've managed to run across.

http://frontalot.com/media.php/272/mc_frontalot_-_nerdcore_hiphop_2006.mp3

The Sweetest Sin by Loveshadow

This is exactly what ccMixter was made for. The Sweetest Sin builds from a Trifonic loop to create a catchy dance tune with a sexy singer who just can't ditch a lover who's no good for her.

http://ccmixter.org/content/Loveshadow/Loveshadow_-_The_Sweetest_Sin.mp3

Un Homme Sous Influence by Daphné

Un Homme Sous Influence is a slow, sweet, beautiful french pop. It slows and builds with a pulse, expertly mixing in tingling percussion and string flourishes.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Daphne%20-%20Un%20Homme%20Sous%20Influence.mp3

Welcome To The New Crusade by Piracy Undermines Creative Expression!

A ridiculous sample and a sweet synth bassline are Puce's Welcome to the New Crusade. Because videogames corrupt our children.

http://www.songfight.org/music/welcome_to/piracyunderminescreativeexpression_wt.mp3

Detached Reality by General Fuzz

If you've been listening you know about what to expect from General Fuzz. I doubt Detached Reality will win anyone over; it's not his best. But it is solid, pretty melodic electronic music.

http://www.generalfuzz.net/mp3/General%20Fuzz/02%20detached%20reality.mp3

Ring Them Bells by Panna Cotta Army

Ring Them Bells is not a terribly sophisticated song, but it is a terribly catchy one. It keeps it interesting and fun by keeping to a 3 minute running time and employing a variety of instruments with some nice shifts in instrumentation.

http://www.songfight.org/music/ring_them_bells/pannacottaarmy_rtb.mp3

Revolve by His Boy Elroy

Apparently mixing up tracks from the Wired cd is a popular project over at CC Mixter, no doubt do to a contest asking participants to do just that. His Boy Elroy seems to have a knack for these contests, since Revolve is on the all time hot list.

http://ccmixter.org/contests/freestylemix/hisboyelroy/freestylemix_-_hisboyelroy_-_Revolve.mp3

The Bing Bang by Tiny Creatures

A rumbling beat, a droning tone, and muffled, high pitch voices roll around The Bing Bang. Typical birdsong experimental silliness from Homunculus.

http://www.archive.org/download/birdsong024/08_the_bing_bang.mp3

Dig A Hole by The Apartment

If I were planning to Dig a Hole and wrap my seed in a hole, I would also probably be afraid if it won't come up.

http://www.gondolamusic.com/mp3s/ThreeForks/csr005-02-the-apartment-dig-a-hole.mp3

Twice by Little Dragon

Twice is an absolutely gorgeous piece. The slow repeating piano and the vocal melody set a somber mood, highlighted by strings and electronics moving in and out in the background.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Little%20Dragon%20-%20Twice.mp3

Welcome To by Merisan

Sometimes a simple repeating chord sequence and a pretty voice are all you need. Even the guitar solo in Welcome To shows the restraint every good pop tune needs.

http://www.songfight.org/music/welcome_to/merisan_wt.mp3

Capsaicin by The Cow Exchange

Another catchy tune with silly lyrics from The Cow Exchange ("that voice in your head is just an iPod"). Capsaicin wins.

http://www.songfight.org/music/capsaicin/cowexchange_capsaicin.mp3

Ice by Sleepy Town Manufacture

Ice is six minutes of moody atmospheric electronics from Sleepy Town Manufacture.

http://www.archive.org/download/mtk126/mtk126-stm-cd2-for-me-07-ice.mp3

Transformer by Marnie Stern

Transformer is fast, frantic rock. If you like it, you might check out the album it's from, This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That.

http://krs5rc.com/krs/bands/marniestern/audio/Transformer.mp3

New Planet by The John Benjamin Band

The benefits of sapiosexuality: find yourself a New Planet and all the girls will want to go out with you. That's John Benjamin's plan, but he quickly realizes astronomy is hard.

http://www.songfight.org/music/new_planet/jbb-newplanet.mp3

Something New by Evils That Never Came

This is my plea to Evils That Never Came: give us Something New. Unless they make more music, this will be the last song to post. It's also the last song on their album June, and a good song to wrap it up with.

http://www.evilsthatnevercame.com/audio/mp3_256k/

Fire Bomb by Lemon Party

It's just too damn bad Lemon Party doesn't keep making music. They put six of my favorite songs into the Song Fight archives. Fire Bomb is a great example, so full of ideas brought together wonderfully.

http://www.songfight.org/music/firebomb/lemonparty_fb.mp3

Imagination Of A Watermellon by The Matinee Orchestra

Imagination of a Watermelon makes me think of childhood. It's a playful, reassuring sort of tune, and it ends with the sounds of a rainstorm. Who wants to play in the rain?

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/The%20Matinee%20Orchestra%20-%20Imagination%20Of%20A%20Watermelon.mp3

Fire/Sign by The Gossip

Fire/Sign is fun, unsophisticated rock. A catchy, repetitive hook, a good bassline, and an aggressive voice is all you need.

This post got taken down with a DMCA notice, which really does not make sense because it's hosted on their record label's web page. So go to kill rock star's music page and search for "Fire / Sign" and you'll be right on top of a link to the song.

Pythagorean Theorem by Podington Bear

Everyone loves the Pythagorean Theorem. It tells you how to find the distance between two points in a Cartesian coordinate system. And for Podington Bear, it's full of lush instrumentation and a satisfying build.

http://podingtonbear.com/podcasts/September/PythagoreanTheorem.mp3

I Know Better by ADD

I screwed up and posted the same song twice, so for those who go through the archives of this site, here's a simple tune for you. I Know Better.

http://www.archive.org/download/JeffFalIKnowBetter/dirtywater_08_iknowbetter.mp3

Ring Them Bells by MC Milk-Plus

This week's Song Fight has a rare anomaly in the Song Fight community: competent rapping. MC Milk-Plus delivers a nice beat, clear recording, and a good lyrical flow on Ring Them Bells. Too bad he couldn't come up with a decent name. Seriously, you can be a rapper without including "MC" in your name.

http://www.songfight.org/music/ring_them_bells/mcmilkplus_rtb.mp3

The Parade by Josh Woodward

The Parade seems to belong on an album called The Simple Life. It's a pretty song, and wasting a day away watching balloons and confetti seems like the simple life to me.

http://www.joshwoodward.com/mp3/TheSimpleLife/JoshWoodward-TheSimpleLife-104-TheParade.mp3

Feel Free! Plastic Surgery! by Brad Sucks

Brad Sucks just can't measure up to all the celebrities he wants to be. He has found a way to Feel Free! Plastic Surgery! It's a demo for his forthcoming album, Guess Who's a Mess. If you're hunting for something to remix, you can download the sources there.

Update: Links have been changed to refer to the album version of the song.

http://media.bradsucks.net/albums/gwam/03_-_Brad_Sucks_-_Feel_Free_Plastic_Surgery.mp3

Dorval by Julia Kent

Beautiful strings dominate Dorval, but it's the sparse, sparkling percussion that adds that extra bit of warmth.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Julia%20Kent%20-%20Dorval.mp3

God Bless Creative Commons by Chupathingy

There's a story to this tune. God Bless Creative Commons for helping to bring so much musical joy.

http://8bitcollective.com/items/music/God%20Bless%20Creative%20Commons.mp3

Cassettes by State Shirt

Creative musician types still have time to get in on State Shirt's next album. He's taking any sort of audio clips you want to submit and mixing them into a song, adding only his lyrics and vocals to the work. Cassettes is the first song he's recorded for this. He promises to use everything he receives on the album.

http://www.stateshirt.com/audio/collaboration/stateshirt_cassettes.mp3

Virtual Devices by Meme

Virtual Devices appears on a record called Eudaimonia. If there's any better tools for reaching that hallowed state than virtual devices, they probably radically alter brain chemistry and are illegal in the United States.

http://www.locarecords.com/music/MEME-Virtual%20Devices.mp3

Bad Habit by Dresden Dolls

Dresden Dolls do immature self destruction just the way it should be done. Bad Habit holds up your worst impulses to laugh at them and come to terms.

http://www.dresdendolls.com/media_site/downloads/BadHabit.mp3

Things Are What You Make Of Them by Bishop Allen

Get cutesy pop galore from Bishop Allen, featuring one of those people who brought us The Spark and OkCupid. For a long while my roommate's Pandora radio couldn't get enough of Things Are What You Make of Them. But I mostly didn't mind that.

http://www.bishopallen.com/media/audio/Things_Are_What_You_Make_Of_Them.mp3

Close Calls by Miranda Sound

Miranda Sound appear to be no more. But you can still get some of their catchy alt-rock tunes from their sharp looking website. Close Calls stands out from that lot.

http://www.mirandasound.com/audio/Miranda_Sound_-_Close_Calls.mp3

Between The Rain by Evan + Lonbobby

Evan's saxophone makes Lonbobby's Between The Rain really evoke images of the rainswept nighttime city streets.

http://www.songfight.org/music/between_the_rain/evan+lonbobby_rain.mp3

On Vacation by The Robot Ate Me

The Robot Ate Me is still a great band name, and their music is adorable pop joy. On Vacation encourages you to abandon your duties and enjoy yourself.

http://killrockstars.com/bands/therobotateme/audio/OnVacation.mp3

Middle Distance Runner by Sea Wolf

Middle Distance Runner is beautiful pop folk tune. It's not mind meltingly groundbreaking, you might find something to resonate with.

http://aurgasm.us/wp//uploads/sea-wolf-middle-distance-runner.mp3

Wave Goodbye With Your Little Hand by We Vs. Death

I really like We vs. Death, but the strings in Wave Goodbye With Your Little Hand take it to a whole other level. This tune is epic.

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/7562387/Wave%2BGoodbye%2BWith%2BYour%2BLittle%2BHand.mp3

Mambo Fatale Rendezvous by Ugress

A big part of what makes Ugress some of the best electronic dance music is its delightful variety. Mambo Fatale Rendezvous is brief, but crazy fun.

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/39536549/Mambo%2BFatale%2BRendezvous.mp3

Ray Squared by General Fuzz

General Fuzz is great music to relax to. Ray Squared has a beautiful melody, and it builds up and winds down nicely.

http://www.generalfuzz.net/mp3/General%20Fuzz/05%20ray%20squared.mp3

Ninja Gang by Boltoph

I can't really love Boltoph's lyrics, but everything else about Ninja Gang sounds great to me. The laid back guitar line over the hip-hop beat just fits right.

http://www.songfight.org/music/ninja_gang/boltoph_ng.mp3

Cash Machine by Two Ton Boa

I had the pleasure of seeing Two Ton Boa open for the Dresden Dolls. They had two bass players, no guitar, and an odd looking drum set. Using just a bass and relatively low female singer to carry the melody makes songs like Cash Machine stand out from the crowd of heavy rock songs out there.

http://killrockstars.com/bands/twotonboa/audio/CashMachine.mp3

A Girl Like You by Mexican Institute Of Sound

A Girl Like You starts with the sort of beatboxing and repeating guitar line you might hear on a recent Tom Waits song. But then it throws in lots of other instruments and electronic effects, with a female singer over the whole thing. It's a strange, irresistibly toe-tapping experience.

http://aurgasm.us/music/andrew/Mexican%20Institute%20of%20Sound%20-%20A%20Girl%20Like%20You.mp3

Habitual Ritual by Revolution Void

Habitual Ritual a relaxed journey filled with keys, a sax, and turn table scratching. Fine modern jazz.

http://www.archive.org/download/revoid_2004_04_04.flac16/revoid_2004_04_04_t03_vbr.mp3

Cry 4 Help by Har Mar Superstar

Kill Rock Stars is not a place you'll typically find anything as funky as Har Mar Superstar's Cry 4 Help. If you've got any groove in you, it'll get you moving.

http://killrockstars.com/bands/harmarsuperstar/audio/Cry_4_Help.mp3

Accelerator by A Kid Named Ace

All of A Kid Named Ace's songs are super cute, and Accelerator is one of his best. The ending just brings a tear to my eye.

http://www.songfight.org/music/accelerator/akidnamedace_accel.mp3

Fortnight by Sleepy Town Manufacture

Fortnight has some subtle touches. For example, worked into part of the beat is a pop that sounds like the crackle of a record player. It changes the mood of what would otherwise feel like a heavier, more aggressive piece.

Also available in ogg vorbis at about half the file size.

http://www.archive.org/download/sute016/06_Fortnight.MP3
http://www.archive.org/download/sute016/06_Fortnight.ogg

Jumpers by Sleater-Kinney

Jumpers is loud, energetic, and dynamic. Perfect for making you jump around.

http://subpop-public.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/audio/2382.mp3

Chance At Greatness by Canasta

Canasta tries to convince you to be satisfied with the ordinary, everyday life, and throw away your Chance at Greatness. Their hooky orchestral pop makes a pitch for mundanity sound more compelling than it has any right to.

http://audio.canastamusic.com/FindTheTime/Canasta-FindTheTime-ChanceAtGreatness.mp3

Hakol Kashura (Everything's Alright) by Habanot Nechama

Hakol Kashura (Everything's Alright) is built around a repeating guitar lick, with layers of Hebrew language vocals, various percussions, and lead guitars laid over it.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Habanot%20Nechama%20-%20Hakol%20Kashura%20(Everything%27s%20Alright).mp3

Better At Rapping by MC Frontalot

Typical self-deprecating lyrics meets atypically minimal production, as the Frontalot dreams of being Better at Rapping. Fortunately, his self-effacing tendencies come in creative packages that often succeed in getting a laugh.

http://frontalot.com/media.php/500/MC_Frontalot_-_Better_At_Rapping_%28CP08_Version%29.mp3

Sometimes It's Hard To Keep Yourself Moving by Forkbomb

Good news for me. Puce is back to songfighting under the name forkbomb. He's part of the current fight, Somtimes It's Hard to Keep Yourself Moving.

http://www.songfight.org/music/sometimes_its_hard_to_keep_yourself_moving/forkbomb_sihtkym.mp3

Driver Education by Amy Ray

Amy Ray has a peppy fun rock tune called Driver Education that came to my attention for being featured on Oddio Overplay's Tunes in Overplay back in June of 2005.

http://www.daemonrecords.com/amy/Driver%20Education.mp3

Climbing The Mountain by Podington Bear

This song was put out in the first month of Podington Bear's year long project to make a new song three times a week. It was the start of Climbing The Mountain.

http://podingtonbear.com/podcasts/JanuaryOriginal/ClimbingTheMountain.mp3

You Are In Love With Me by ADD

The narrator of You Are in Love with Me is obviously in love with whoever he's addressing, but his sad circumstance is only made worse by the fact that he can't say anything that makes the title seem like anything more than wishful thinking.

http://actdead.com/mp3s/add-youareinlovewithme.mp3

Our Love Violates Corporate Policy by Hostess Mostess

Hostess Mostess is at his best when he's doing simple guitar based pop, and that's just what you get with Our Love Violates Corporate Policy. It took him second place in a Song Fight sporting some terrific cover art.

http://www.songfight.org/music/our_love_violates_corporate_policy/hostessmostess_olvcp.mp3

Pushin On by Freddie Cruger featuring Linn

This Aurgasm song is aimed at the wage slaves who find a way to keep Pushing On, helping them along with a funky bassline to nod their heads to.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Freddie%20Cruger%20-%20Pushing%20On%20(feat.%20Linn).mp3

Revolution Now by Josh Woodward

Revolution Now rocks my eardrums, even if it never explains what this revolution is about.

http://www.joshwoodward.com/mp3/TheSimpleLife/JoshWoodward-TheSimpleLife-105-RevolutionNow.mp3

Waste Of TV by Brad Sucks

I find TV pretty uncompelling since the advent of this medium we're using here now, so when he calls himself a Waste of TV, it's even more self deprecating to my ears than his usual fare.

http://media.bradsucks.net/albums/gwam/05_-_Brad_Sucks_-_Waste_of_TV.mp3

Highway by State Shirt

Highway is a mournful, nostalgic indie rock tune State Shirt did for a Song Fight way back in 2001. It also appears on his 2004 album, Don't Die.

http://www.songfight.org/music/highway/stateshirt_highway.mp3

A Thing For Me by Metronomy

A Thing For Me looks like it was great fun to shoot. They find plenty of variations on ball bouncing off the lyrics and they do it all with an enthusiasm to match the joyful pop song.

http://www.motiongraphics.it/video08/dicembre/metronomy.mov

Swimming Pools by Thao Nguyen and Get Down Stay Down

Thao and her backing band Get Down Stay Down make catchy indie folk. Swimming Pools tempers its band playing footage with public mischief and strange weather.

http://krs5rc.com/krs/bands/thao/video/swimmingpools.mov

Dumb Animals by The Handsome Furs

Handsome Furs make excellent music for passing dark nights contemplating how we are all just Dumb Animals.

http://subpop-public.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/video/3253.mov

The List by Metric

Unfortunately the video for The List is your basic live-footage-of-band-playing-the-song. But the song is some fine indie pop, so give it a listen if you haven't heard it.

http://www.gangassets01.com/metric/metric_list_h.mov

Muppet Face by Xiu Xiu

Muppet Face is probably more of what I expect from a Xiu Xiu video than any other Xiu Xiu video I've ever seen. Callous soldiers, human dismemberment, and Jamie Stewart's singing.

http://www.noperformance.com/downloads/muppetface_web_small.mov

The Tears And Music Of Love by Deerhoof

Kill Rock Stars wants to advertise just how much fun Deerhoof are live, so they offer a super high quality video of them performing The Tears and Music of Love.

http://krs5rc.com/krs/bands/deerhoof/video/DEERHOOFTEARS.mov

Basin Street Blues by Kid Koala

The video for Basin Street Blues makes the tune feel more like it was designed as a soundtrack for the animated short than the other way around. It's a somber, chopped up mourning for the poor man with no brain.

http://www.monkmus.com/videos/basin_street_blues.mpg

Versatile Flying Objects by Kalahar Surfers

Versatile Flying Objects flings piano and organ melodies over electronic beats, odd samples, and assorted percussion. Versatile indeed.

http://www.africandope.co.za/downloads/audio/cd011/kalahari_surfers-versatile_flying_objects.mp3

You Can Never Hold Back Spring by Tom Waits

Everything about You Can Never Hold Back Spring makes it feel like a part of the soundtrack for some old-time black and white movie, from Tom Waits' singing to the brass band backing him, to the white noise of a recording made on out-of-date equipment.

http://www.anti.com/media/download/529

Unconcious Alliance by General Fuzz

The mood over at Messy's Place is upbeat and friendly, so join General Fuzz there for an Unconcious Alliance.

http://www.generalfuzz.net/mp3/Messys%20Pace/unconscious%20alliance.mp3

Calabria by Enur featuring Natasha Saad

Aurgasm has the long, tragic story of Calabria. The song itself is designed to get heads bobbing and bodies moving.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Enur%20feat.%20Natasha%20-%20Calabria.mp3

The Freedom by Swan Lake

I once had the pleasure of hearing Dan Bejar performThe Freedom solo. It's a special song, whether stripped naked or slowly dressed up with the rest of Swan Lake.

http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/thefreedom.mp3

I Ghosts I by Nine Inch Nails

Ghosts is a pretty varied album, but even still, I Ghosts I is a pretty good example of what you're getting into. Haunting ambience, an overall trippy experience.

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/176780466/1%2BGhosts%2BI.mp3

Live The Future (Collapse Edit) by Ninja 9000

There's a terrific irony about a song making heavy use of the C64 called Live the Future, but it's still excellent advice, and the song should make you dance your pants off.

http://www.uncannyplanet.com/ninja9000/bitcollapse/Ninja9k-BC-02LiveTheFuture.mp3

Regasu by Mayra Andrade

Regasu is a rich, melodic song, with beautiful arrangement and a wonderful voice singing in the Cape Verdean Portuguese Creole.

This got pulled with a DMCA notice. Rather than challenge this, I just suggest you go to Aurgasm page where this song is posted and click their link at the bottom of the post.

Sincerity Machine by Tony Hightower

Tony Hightower didn't keep at song fighting for too long, sadly. Songs like Sincerity Machine are catchy toe-tapping fun, even if they only once won him a fight.

http://www.songfight.org/music/sincerity_machine/tonyhightower_sm.mp3

2X2 by If:Then:Goto

I find If:Then:Goto's album titles interesting. 2X2 is from Art Vs. Science. It weaves its melody around a thumping electronic beat, a slow moving bass line, and the occasional sound of the rain.

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/75429703/2X2.mp3

Oopon by Sleepy Town Manufacture

Oopon is a relaxing tune with an interesting fast beat and some beautiful melody. Great for chilling out.

http://www.archive.org/download/mtk208/mtk208-stm-02-oopon.mp3

Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy by The Pink Mountaintops

The Pink Mountaintops have constructed a slow, tense guitar ditty just to let you know that you are thier Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy.

http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/rocknrollfantasy.mp3

The Tube by Daniele Torelli

This here is a live performance of The Tube, with a fat bass line to go with Daniele Torelli's atmospheric electronics.

Get it in an ogg format.

http://esaurito.yue.it/torelli_songs/daniele_torelli-the_tube_(live).mp3
http://esaurito.yue.it/torelli_songs/daniele_torelli-the_tube_(live).ogg

Happy Machine Ankle by Brother Machine

The tragic tale of a cyborg girl whose only human part was her ankle Happy Machine Ankle (or, Dipped in the Digital River Styx) won Brother Machine one of the silliest-titled song fights ever.

http://www.songfight.org/music/happy_machine_ankle/brothermachine_hma.mp3

Other Places I Have Lived by Deshead

Other Places I Have Lived reminisces with some bitterness on past love and dwells impulses that keep a body from staying in one place.

http://www.songfight.org/music/other_places_i_have_lived/deshead_opihl.mp3

Worrisome Heart by Melody Gardot

Melody Gardot's vocal jazz is perfect music to relax to. It'll soothe any Worrisome Heart.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Melody%20Gardot%20-%20Worrisome%20Heart.mp3

Under Sea Farm by The Apartment

The Apartment imports a host of exotic noises, including conga drumming, fluttering wind instuments, and samples of chanting children to construct their Under Sea Farm.

http://www.gondolamusic.com/mp3s/slicecon/17%20under%20sea%20farm.mp3

Into The Unknown by Podington Bear

Into The Unknown is a brave piano tune, a perfect soundtrack for any moment you face uncertainty with willful resolution.

http://podingtonbear.com/podcasts/JuneOriginal/IntoTheUnknown.mp3

Towering Inferno by ADD

Don't let the Towering Inferno catchy melodrama eat you in your sleep.

http://www.archive.org/download/JeffFalPleaseLetYourFaithPatienceBeMine/plyfapbm_03_toweringinferno.mp3

Magic Carpet by Randomajestiq

Artkillah is an EP of some rough, aggressive electronic music. Magic Carpet is one of the more relaxed tunes, but it's still got an aggressive beat.

http://www.archive.org/download/kahvi181_Randomajestiq_Artkillah/kahvi181e_randomajestiq-magic_carpet.ogg

Non-Threat by The Walt

There's a delicious irony to naming a noisy, energetic rock tune Non-Threat. The four and a half minute running time might wear you out, but the way the bass sticks out in the mix makes for a happy worn out.

http://www.beepbeep.nl/wp-content/music/the-walt/The%20Walt%20-%20Something%20we%20did%20not%20have/non-threat.mp3

Jesus On The Intercom by Eight Legged Oedipus

Eight Legged Oedipus gives us a fat funky bassline when he tries to talk to Jesus on the Intercom.

http://www.songfight.org/music/jesus_on_the_intercom/eightleggedoedipus_joti.mp3

Alright Alright by Duboce Triangle

Alright Alright, this song is senseless. It's also not terribly inventive, but it's catchy, enthusiastic, and has a charming rough production.

http://www.songfight.org/music/alright_alright/dubocetriangle-alrightalrig.mp3

Boom by Anjulie

Seduction hits with a Boom, and when you hear the sixties pop vibe paired with Anjulie's hot voice you'll know just what she means.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Anjulie%20-%20Boom.mp3

This Meeting by Brad Sucks

This Meeting is one of my favorite of the demos Brad Sucks has been putting out this year. It's a slow rock song with some interesting new sounds in the mix.

http://media.bradsucks.net/demos/Brad_Sucks_-_This_Meeting_(demo).mp3

Prep School by State Shirt

State Shirt brought the rock to the Prep School fight. And for some reason he spelled his name backwards when he did too.

http://www.songfight.org/music/prep_school/trihsetats_ps.mp3

Conduciendo Amebas by El Circulo De Willis

Conduciendo Amebas moves around in pacing and volume and ends with a burst of energy to close out their four track demo.

Get it in a better package with vorbis.

http://www.archive.org/download/CDWMaketaMayo2003/4ConduciendoAmebas_vbr.mp3
http://www.archive.org/download/CDWMaketaMayo2003/4ConduciendoAmebas.ogg

Skinny Love by Bon Iver

For Emma, Forever Ago is one of the most quietly beautiful records I've heard in some time. If you like Skinny Love, the rest won't disappoint either.

http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/skinnylove.mp3

Hope You're Okay by The Sober Irishman

Today, a sober reminiscing on lost love. Hope You're Okay, a sentiment I hope to share someday.

http://www.songfight.org/music/hope_your_ok/soberirishman_hyo.mp3

Undercover by Worm Is Green

Ethereal female vocals over downtempo electronic beats make Undercover an excellent chillout song.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Worm%20Is%20Green%20-%20Undercover.mp3

Dust by Josh Woodward

Dust is a dark, quiet tune. It spikes briefly like it might just try to rock, but then quickly goes on its gloomy way.

http://www.joshwoodward.com/mp3/ht/JoshWoodward-03-Dust.mp3

Other Places I Have Lived by HANK.

Other Places I Have Lived is simple rock music with a fun vibe running through it. It's also part of a Song Fight with some stupidly amusing cover art.

http://www.songfight.org/music/other_places_i_have_lived/hankperiod_opihl.mp3

She says:"Now that you think the world is ending you seem much happier". This time I'm fighting back by Cherly KaCherly

Guitars do a jittery, halting dance around what sounds like improvised percussions in She says:"Now that you think the world is ending you seem much happier". This time I'm fighting back.

As usual, I recommend the vorbis version.

http://www.archive.org/download/birdsong028/10_Cherly_KaCherly-Drop.mp3
http://www.archive.org/download/birdsong028/10_Cherly_KaCherly-Drop.ogg

Flow Tater by General Fuzz

There's so many cool ideas adrift in Cool Aberrations. Each tune has General Fuzz collaborating with at least one other musician. Flow Tater has a flutist playing gorgeous melodies over the electronic beats.

http://www.generalfuzz.net/mp3/Cool%20Aberrations/flow%20tater.mp3

What A Horrible Thing To Say by Lonbobby

Lonbobby's robot voice proclaims "there is no God" in What a Horrible Thing to Say. I don't see what's so horrible about that.

http://www.songfight.org/music/what_a_horrible_thing_to_say/lonbobby_wahtts.mp3

Sun A.M. by Moonbabies

Moonbabies pack all sorts of pop tricks into Sun A.M.. Lovely singing lightly touched with effects, sparkling guitars, and twinkling keys make for a sophisticated song loaded with earworms.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Moonbabies%20-%20SunAM.mp3

Praymantis by Ghetto Pony

Ghetto Pony knows how to construct a dirty pop song. Using turntables and tapes to make the beats for a guitar and bass, Praymantis is a slow, paranoid indie rock mess.

http://zebox.com/a4/ghettopony_-_Praymantis_Demo12-19-05.mp3

Armada Of Evil Intentions by Ugress

Armada of Evil Intentions is not just an awesome name. It sets a sinister ambiance without failing to be catchy or exciting.

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/39536328/Armada%2Bof%2BEvil%2BIntentions.mp3

Southern Anthem by Iron And Wine

Southern Anthem almost sounds slightly fuller than the rest of Iron and Wine's early music. It's still got that charming, stripped down slow folk sound.

http://subpop-public.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/audio/2421.mp3

Unstick by Bitch

The provocative lyrics and very vocal-centered mix of Unstick makes it sound like a song most musicians would back with an acoustic guitar and maybe some drums. But the sudden in-and-out string arrangements prove that most musicians would have made the wrong decision.

http://killrockstars.com/bands/bitch/audio/Unstick.mp3

Baby Food by Portable Folk Band

"I'm not trying to be loud and obnoxious / Like cicadas fornicating in the forest". That line alone is good reason to listen to Baby Food.

http://www.archive.org/download/PortableFolkBandintroducestheRoyalPostalBazaar/portable_folk_band__introduces_the_royal_postal_bazaar__10__baby_food.mp3

Sweet Salvation by Bernadette Seacrest and Her Yes Men

With retro vocal jazz, sultry singing, and lyrical images taking you through smokey night clubs, Sweet Salvation captures an old noir vibe.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Bernadette%20Seacrest%20And%20Her%20Yes%20Men%20-%20Sweet%20Salvation.mp3

O Nei by Sleepy Town Manufacture

I've listened to a lot of Sleepy Town Manufacture, but Inspired by You stands above the rest of their work as a consistently breathtaking album. O Nei finds beautiful ambiance around distorted pitch shifted vocals.

http://www.archive.org/download/sute016/03_O_Nei.MP3

Come Down Where You Ought To Be by Humboat

Just what we need: encouragement to aim a lot lower. Come Down Where You Ought to Be is a lullaby to a child advising that he aspire to be a janitor rather than an astronaut or a physicist.

http://www.songfight.org/music/come_down_where_you_ought_to_be/humboat_cdwyotb.mp3

Counting The Paces by Brandon Patton

Life's hardships are like Counting The Paces in the dueling ring, where the best you can do is beg the other guy not to shoot.

http://www.brandonpatton.com/media/Brandon_Patton_-_Should_Confusion_01_Counting_The_Paces.mp3

Crime In The Pale Moonlight by Flanger

It's hard to imagine anyone following this blog not listening to Aurgasm, but you may have missed Flanger. Crime in the Pale Moonlight channels downtempo jazz through your speakers.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Flanger%20-%20Crime%20in%20the%20pale%20moonlight.mp3

Fieldfire by We Vs. Death

Fieldfire has the same post-rock ebb and flow and the same horn flourishes of We Vs. Death's other work. It's a formula that works well for the length of their album, We Are Too Concerned.

http://www.beepbeep.nl/wp-content/music/we-vs-death/we-too-are-concerned/08%20Fieldfire.mp3

The Great Salt Lake by Band Of Horses

Band of Horses have four pretty rock songs available over at their Sub Pop page. The Great Salt Lake shows enviable pop craftsmanship.

http://subpop-public.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/audio/2464.mp3

Fall Back Down by Rancid

If you haven't already heard Fall Back Down on the radio, it's cheesy, sentimental punk rock. It's perfect in its cheesiness.

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

Clouds, Rain, Sun by Podington Bear

Podington Bear builds from quiet, stormy ambiance to a simple celebration in Clouds, Rain, Sun.

http://podingtonbear.com/podcasts/FebruaryOriginal/CloudsRainSun.mp3

Zoo Station by ADD

ADD covered the entirety of Achtung Baby, and my pick of that crop is the very first song, Zoo Station.

http://actdead.com/mp3s/addab_01_zoostation.mp3

Take On Me by Minimatic

The Ahas hit has inspired quite a few good covers. Electronic music producer Minimatic dresses Take On Me up as a bossa nova tune with a pretty voice.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Minimatic%20-%20Take%20On%20Me%20(With%20A%20Martini).mp3

I Know My Rights by The John Benjamin Band

The JBB gives us a rocking live-sounding cover of Caravan Ray's I Know My Rights. It's got enough energy and machismo to play alongside AC/DC.

http://johnorama.com/songs/covers/pals/caravanray_i-know-my-rights.mp3

Rate Of Decay by Puce

When Puce decides to do a cover, he frequently chooses the nerdiest song an artist has to offer. Rate of Decay covers a closed system's slow slide towards disorder, and adds a fat bassline.

http://www.songfight.net/covers/songs/puce_stevedurand_rateofdecay.mp3

Don't Fix It by Hostess Mostess

Don't sell your only chance at glory for a song. 15-16 Puzzle's advice, as portrayed by Hostess Mostess: Don't Fix It.

http://www.songfight.net/covers/songs/hostess_1516puzzle_dontfixit.mp3

Smooth Criminal by J.Viewz

A good cover sounds fresh and new while at the same time highlighting the excellent songwriting of the original artist. J.Viewz do just that with their downtempo remake of Smooth Criminal.

Get a gander at a live performance.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/J.Viewz%20-%20Smooth%20Criminal.mp3

Heart And Soul by Brad Sucks

Brad Sucks vowed to put out a new demo every month for 2009, then failed. To make up for it, he picked an embarassing apology song to cover: Huey Lewis's Heart and Soul.

http://www.bradsucks.net/music/covers/Brad_Sucks_-_Heart_and_Soul_(cover).mp3

Idiot Heart by Sunset Rubdown

Dragonslayer is a fantastic new album that sounds even better live. Amongst Sunset Rubdown's discography, I consider Idiot Heart a middle-of-the-road song. Which leaves it merely excellent, just shy of mind melting.

http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/idiotheart.mp3

Life Isn't Everything by State Shirt

A lot of people just don't get why I'd want to live indefinitely, but State Shirt sums it up in a single line: Life Isn't Everything, but it's all we have.

http://stateshirt.com/audio/dontdie/03%20Live%20Isn%27t%20Everything.mp3

Come Down Where You Ought To Be by Quimby

Second guesses and regrets, delivered with a beautiful, clear voice: Come Down Where You Ought To Be.

http://www.songfight.org/music/come_down_where_you_ought_to_be/quimby_cdwyotb.mp3

Daisies by Uncle Owen Aunt Beru

Daisies is a relaxingly sweet folk tune. With a simple melody, rough recording, and recorded murmurs in the background, it isn't for everyone, but it's got a simple charm for folks with ears for it.

http://www.archive.org/download/birdsong026/13_Daisies.mp3

Frannie by Josh Woodward

Frannie is a quiet acoustic song about an old couple still in love.

http://www.joshwoodward.com/mp3/crawford/JoshWoodward-CrawfordStreet-13-Frannie.mp3

Drama by Bitter:Sweet

Bitter:Sweet is full of lush, intricate orchestration, and in this case, loads of Drama.

http://aurgasm.us/music/kyle/BitterSweet%20-%20Drama.mp3

Scorch by Macromantics

Scorch is a weird track to find on kill rock stars, first of all because it's a rap song. It also has a poppy enthusiasm that's just infectious.

http://killrockstars.com/bands/macromantics/audio/scorch.mp3

Sliding Forward by General Fuzz

General Fuzz give some of the best downtempo electronic music to be found on the web. Sliding Forward is a perfect trip into a relaxing anything.

http://www.generalfuzz.net/mp3/Messys%20Pace/sliding%20forward.mp3

Cleo by Built To Spill

Built to Spill cover a lot of musical ground in Cleo, with quiet verses and a jangly-guitar rocking finish. My favorite parts are when they sing two different lines over top each other.

http://www.uprecords.com/mp3/builttospill_cleo.mp3

High Times by Elliott Smith

It's not a good sign when you find an Elliott Smith song resonates with you. But that's when songs like High Times can be a comfort.

http://redirect.iodalliance.com/download_track.php?id=C04BA3A85260C1DADDF5E0E8FD77AC1510489DCD3F8AE3B557E67B5D8C7FA666367E9F3A8BEB64D21B4B73937412D648

Mes Oreilles by Amylie

Mes Orelles is some of the finest in French pop. It moves through changes in rhythm, tempo, and instrumentation without ever forgetting a catchy hook.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Amylie%20-%20Mes%20Oreilles.mp3

Shame Of The Otaku by MC Frontalot

Even if you're not enamored with his incredible nerdiness, MC Frontalot still puts out great productions that are pure ear candy. Shame of the Otaku hooks with a lovely Japanese chorus.

http://frontalot.com/media.php/492/MC_Frontalot_-_Final_Boss_03_Shame_Of_The_Otaku.mp3

Muscle'n Flo by Menomena

Friend and Foe is one of those albums I can never seem to get too much of, and Muscle'n Flo is a delicious introduction to that record. If you've never seen Menomena perform I recommend viewing a YouTube video of them playing Muscle'n Flo in a guy's basement. They're fun to watch.

http://www.box.net/shared/static/avxpluhnc1.mp3

Sekat Alegna by Ugress

A famous sample can go either way in a song, but Sekat Alegna cuts them up with amazing grace. It makes me wonder, what is it that Angela takes?

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/53182021/Sekat%2BAlegna.mp3

Run Free by Raised By Wolves

Raised by Wolves is so clearly amateur, and that's part of what I like about Run Free. It puts together some unusual instruments into a quietly adorable song.

http://www.songfight.org/music/run_free/raisedbywolves-run%20free.mp3

Hi Tech Sisters by Sleepy Town Manufacture

Things start off with a really cool muted rhythm in Hi Tech Sisters. The track develops the sort of subdued beauty you're used to if you listen to Sleepy Town Manufacture.

http://www.archive.org/download/mtk126/mtk126-stm-cd2-for-me-05-hi-tech-sisters.mp3

Sane As Sane Can Be by Cloud Cult

Sane As Sane Can Be is just a great Cloud Cult song. It's cute and tender early, and then about halfway through it rocks you senseless. This band just can't fail to be adorable.

http://www.cloudcult.com/Sane-As-Can-Be---Who-Killed-Puck.mp3

The Distance by Dntel featuring Arthur and Yu

The Distance is full of folky touches, layered over each other with electronic effects that just make it an irresistibly cute tune.

http://subpop-public.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/audio/3252.mp3

Break My Heart In Two by Raise High The Roof Beam

Full disclosure: I used to know some of the guys in Raise High The Roof Beam. Despite an pretentious sounding band name, they make fun, utterly unpretentious folk-pop songs like Break My Heart in Two.

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/152843601/Break%2BMy%2BHeart%2BIn%2BTwo.mp3

Las Delicias by Martinibomb

Martinibomb want you to party. Las Delicias likes to pause for a few moments before erupting in a fountain of beats.

http://www.archive.org/download/csr016/csr016_03_martinibomb_-_las-delicias.mp3

Courage by Matthan Minster

Here's a sleepy little acoustic tune about the poisons the character uses to give himself the Courage to face his day.

http://www.songfight.org/music/courage/matthanminster_courage.mp3

Waiting by Cibelle

Driven by a fat bassline, Waiting mixes folk, electronic, and Brazilian musical styles.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Cibelle%20-%20Waiting.mp3

Square Root Of Two by Daniel Bautista

I haven't yet sampled many of the tracks Daniel Bautista is offering, but the beautiful clear guitar work of Square Root of Two makes me think that I should.

http://www.danielbautista.com/music/bautista/maderaybronce/06.squarerootof2.mp3

Time Ran Out by ADD

I like ADD best when he's catchiest, and Time Ran Out is one of his catchier tunes. Don't let the crazy noises at the beginning get you thinking this is some experimental noise track. It's pure pop.

http://actdead.com/mp3s/add-timeranout.mp3

Accelerator by Brother Machine

Brother Machine took a lot of the songs off his web page, but there's still a good selection of song fight entries. Accelerator is a super catchy pop tune you may find yourself humming uncontrollably.

http://www.songfight.org/music/accelerator/brothermachine_accel.mp3

Moodswing by Podington Bear

Considering the title, Moodswing is an odd piece of work. If there's a change in mood, it's from playtime to naptime.

http://podingtonbear.com/podcasts/JuneOriginal/Moodswing.mp3

Sua Jos Aattelen by Emma Salokoski Ensemble

Sua Jos Aattelen is a lively piano waltz with a beautiful Finnish singer.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Emma%20Salokoski%20Ensemble%20-%20Sua%20Jos%20Aattelen.mp3

Rama by Abstract Avenue

Ten minutes is a long time for one song, but Rama finds an awesome groove and works around it. The keys add a jazzy feel to the whole event.

This song also comes in a highly recommended vorbis format.

http://www.archive.org/download/lego002/lego002_12-Rama_vbr.mp3
http://www.archive.org/download/lego002/lego002_12-Rama.ogg

Man Of The Year by The John Benjamin Band

John Benjamin has written a good many sensitive pop songs. In there you'll find Man of the Year, an early song fight entry.

http://www.songfight.org/music/man_of_the_year/jbb-moty.mp3

So Fast by Julie Doiron

Quiet folk songs aren't too hard to find, but a quiet folk song as good as So Fast is a rare treasure. Jagjaguar picked it as the sample to promote Julie Doiron's album Lonliest in the Morning.

http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/sofast.mp3

Target by The Rhombus

The theme this week is targets, and Rhombus gives us a simple guy and guitar song as their Target, but with a dirty, distorted production.

http://www.therhombus.org/Target_demo.mp3

I Am A Target by State Shirt

Inspired by the Slap Chop video remix, State Shirt created I am a Target for a Song Fight. It's a melancholy built around samples from the original Slap Chop infomercial. There's also a nice hi-def video to go along with it.

http://www.stateshirt.com/audio/unreleased/stateshirt_iamatarget.mp3

Gentlemen by if:then:goto

Layers of sounds, percussion over electronic swirls over guitars and organs and drums make a typical if:then:goto song. Gentlemen, enjoy a listen.

http://homepage.mac.com/maximumjack/.Music/gentlemen.mp3

Said The Spider To The Fly by The Paper Chase

I love a song with lots of crazy sounds and melodramatic singing. Said the Spider to the Fly has all that: boot stomping, clattering percussion, piano banging, guitars, and an earnest spider talking to a fly.

http://www.killrockstars.com/bands/paperchase/audio/SaidTheSpider.mp3

Ships by Josh Woodward

Ships is a short and simple piano tune by Josh Woodward. I'm not sure why it starts with 12 seconds of silence.

http://www.joshwoodward.com/mp3/TheSimpleLife/JoshWoodward-TheSimpleLife-201-Ships.mp3

Accelerated Lifestyle by Revolution Void

Take turntable scratching, relaxed keys and bassline, and some lively drum rhythms, mix in some electronic effects, and you've got an Accelerated Lifestyle.

http://www.archive.org/download/revoid_2004_04_04.flac16/revoid_2004_04_04_t09_vbr.mp3

Five Nights In Britain by Sonofsupercar

If you want excellent recording and sparkling production you'll want to pass on Five Nights in Britain. The distorted screaming justifies the labeled genre, "sucky internet recordings". The guitar melody on the verses grab my ears.

http://www.songfight.org/music/five_nights_in_britain/sonofsupercar_fnib.mp3

Spaces by General Fuzz

The tracks on Inner Sunset tend to run long without feeling like they're too long. Spaces manages this by putting beautiful piano playing over electronic beats.

http://www.generalfuzz.net/mp3/Inner%20Sunset/02%20spaces.mp3

Happily Ever After by The Walt

If what you want is super energetic indie-punk, turn to The Walt. They will leave your ears ringing Happily Ever After.

http://www.beepbeep.nl/wp-content/music/the-walt/The%20Walt%20-%20Something%20we%20did%20not%20have/happily%20ever%20after.mp3

Make Believe by Ghetto Pony

Ghetto Pony kids have no intention to keep it real. I suggest you Make Believe with them.

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

My Only Swerving by El Ten Eleven

My Only Swerving drifts relaxingly through five minutes of guitars layered over varied percussion and orchestral swells.

http://aurgasm.us/music/El%20Ten%20Eleven%20-%20My%20Only%20Swerving.mp3

A Scary Thing by Lonbobby

If you don't like robot-voice auto tune then Lonbobby is A Scary Thing. Otherwise he's one of the best electronic musicians on Song Fight, winning a crowded fight quite handily with today's song.

http://www.songfight.org/music/a_scary_thing/lonbobby_ast.mp3

Sleepwalking by The Worldly Self Assurance

Song Fighting super band The Worldly Self Assurance put together something interesting. They have some awkward lyrics and amateur singing, but they put together such interesting arrangements that their flaws don't really matter much. Sleepwalking is an ethereal mix of strings and droning guitar.

http://www.newzeromusic.com/ne3/thewsa_ne3_sw.mp3

Kick Start by Frankie Big Face

If you don't like the word 'baby' in song lyrics you should avoid Kick Start. If you can get past that, it's got a delightfully dark synth-pop sound to enjoy.

http://www.newzeromusic.com/ne3/frankiebigface_ne3_ks.mp3

Goblin Road Trip by Ninja 9000

Ugress has a side project aimed at 8 bit C64 music called Ninja 9000. Goblin Road Trip may not be entirely composed on an 8 bit synthesizer, but it has the sound and spirit of those glory days of videogames.

http://www.uncannyplanet.com/ninja9000/bitescape/Ninja9k-BE-01GoblinRoadtrip.mp3

Alleluia by Odawas

Alleluia is the sound of a slow dramatic walk into some vast frontier, where one faces one's destiny, pensive and alone.

http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/alleluia.mp3

Eyes Like Heaven by Sleepy Town Manufacture

Eyes Like Heaven is an ambient piece that's as beautiful and dreamy as its title. It is For You.

http://www.archive.org/download/mtk126/mtk126-stm-cd1-for-you-12-eyes-like-heaven.mp3

See Somebody by Evils That Never Came

See Somebody is another indie rock track from Evils That Never Came. It's all hooks, fancy bridges, and catchy choruses.

http://www.evilsthatnevercame.com/audio/mp3_256k/Evils%20That%20Never%20Came%20-%2006%20See%20Somebody.mp3

E18 by Detektivbyrån

Detektivbyrån has E18 and four other songs available for download on their website.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Detektivbyran%20-%20E18.mp3

Sad Life by Dirk Sharkson

Dirk Sharkson didn't have much competition in the Sad Life song fight, but his entry is good enough to take a win from a strong field of contenders.

a href="http://www.songfight.org/music/sad_life/dsharkson_sl.mp3

Model Home by Brad Sucks

The recent demos Brad Sucks has been putting out sound more electro dance than usual. Word on his webpage is that Model Home is part of a concept album he's cooking up.

http://media.bradsucks.net/albums/gwam/06_-_Brad_Sucks_-_Model_Home.mp3

Clown Towne by Xiu Xiu

It's pretty safe to say that if you don't like Clown Towne, you don't like Xiu Xiu. The song is so very, very Xiu Xiu, and it's one of their best.

http://i.listentokrs.com/bands/xiuxiu/audio/ClowneTowne.mp3

Soft Orange Glow by Eddiebangs

If I were one to feel guilty about liking a song, Soft Orange Glow would be a guilty pleasure. Cheesy classic rock + sappy lyrics = shamefaced enjoyment?

http://www.songfight.org/music/soft_orange_glow/eddiebangs_sog.mp3

A Million Cheap Tricks by Smolik featuring Maya Singh

A Million Cheap Tricks is lushly orchestrated downtempo pop with the voice of a beautiful singer that makes the whole thing feel like a dream.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Smolik%20-%20A%20Million%20Cheap%20Tricks%20(feat.%20Maya%20Singh).mp3

New York by ADD

New York is a dark song with a synthpop feel. It's unrefined performance and production make it feel like a relic from 25 years ago, cast out to the world and forgotten.

http://www.archive.org/download/JeffFalPleaseLetYourFaithPatienceBeMine/plyfapbm_06_newyork.mp3

Don't Stop by Atmosphere

For a man who was never given a mission, Slug manages to make a whole lot of music with Atmosphere. His approach to rap music: Don't Stop.

http://rhymesayers.com/radio/get.php?web=Dont_Stop.mp3

Weeblewobble by Podington Bear

Weeblewobble an oddball. It starts with a little tooting fanfare and adds a procession of sounds that each sound eager to simply entertain.

http://podingtonbear.com/podcasts/MarchOriginal/Weeblewobble.mp3

The President Is Dead by Okkervil River

Okkervil River manage to news that The President is Dead and turn it towards memories of a beautiful day in a simple life.

http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/thepresidentsdead.mp3

Waiting For The Kill by Elizabeth And The Catapult

Some things just belong together, like pop song structure with jazz arrangements and a good good girl Waiting for the Kill.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Elizabeth%20&%20The%20Catapult%20-%20Waiting%20For%20The%20Kill.mp3

Georgia's Hand by Eight Legged Oedipus

Eight Legged Oedipus writes my favorite love songs ever, with topics like lovesick ninja's and leper couples. And he's great at being creepy. Georgia's Hand sings the narrator's admiration for 15 year old Georgia.

http://www.songfight.org/music/georgias_hand/eightleggedoedipus_gh.mp3

Alice by Tom Waits

Tom Waits reminds me just how creepy it is to be Louis Caroll with his love song for Alice.

http://www.anti.com/media/download/607

Tu Mois Aussi? by Urbs

Tu Mois Aussi? is beautifully layered, with strings mingling with piano, voice samples, and loops. It's a complex arrangement that's still relaxing and natural.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Urbs%20-%20Tu%20Moi%20Aussi.mp3

Accelerator by State Shirt

Accelerator suddenly slows down and picks up a few times. Along with the lyrics, this makes the song feel epic despite lasting only three and a half minutes. It doesn't have the punch of Anomaly but it's loud, dynamic, and rough.

http://stateshirt.com/audio/metal/stateshirt_accel.mp3

E by Meme

E encourages questionable behavior with the simplest justification: I'm bored, sounds good. And the song does sound good.

http://www.locarecords.com/music/E.mp3

It'll Come by Belleruche

Turntable Soul Music is the perfect description for Belleruche. If It'll Come leaves you needing more, you can stream all their songs over at their website.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Belleruche%20-%20It%27ll%20Come.mp3

Blood On The Mountain by Star Pimp

With a name like Star Pimp, you have to expect something trashy. Trashy and interesting. Blood on the Mountain delivers unpolished alt-rock; the singer sounds barely in tune, the song structure and music are simple, and something about it is more charming than it should be.

http://i.listentokrs.com/bands/starpimp/audio/BloodOnTheMountain.mp3

I Want To Get Better by Puce

I Want to Get Better was Puce's first Song Fight win. It's pretty cheesy, but when he hits that high note and the horns come in, I never fail to smile.

http://www.songfight.org/music/i_want_to_get_better/puce_better.mp3

Methylchloroisothiazolinone by Josh Woodward

Methylchloroisothiazolinone makes me feel like a teenager again. It's the kind of hard electronic rock I used to devour. It still scratches an itch today.

http://www.joshwoodward.com/mp3/DirtyWings/JoshWoodward-DW-10-Methylchloroisothiazolinone.mp3

Acclimate by General Fuzz

Every track on Cool Aberrations is a collaboration. General Fuzz starts by helping you Acclimate to the album with a beautiful ambient track.

http://www.generalfuzz.net/mp3/Cool%20Aberrations/acclimate.mp3

A Hand At Dusk by Swan Lake

Now's a good time to check out Jagjaguar's music page. There's a new album by Swan Lake out, and A Hand at Dusk makes a moving impression.

http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/ahandatdusk.mp3

Autopilot by Julie Feeney

It's a shame Julie Feeney's album 13 Songs is so expensive. After listening to Autopilot I am left wondering why I don't have more of her music, but a price tag above $30 will do it.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Julie%20Feeney%20-%20Autopilot.mp3

Mother And Father And Me by We Vs Death

Mother and Father and Me goes through many changes during its six minute playing time. It start out rough and aggressive, but slows down and relaxes quickly. It picks up and relaxes again several times, weaving different instruments in and out deftly.

http://www.beepbeep.nl/wp-content/music/we-vs-death/we-too-are-concerned/07%20Mother%20And%20Father%20And%20Me.mp3

The Shelton With Sunspots by Thornberry

The Shelton with Sunspots is an epic rock song with some impressive production. It's hard to believe Thornberry wrote, recorded, and produced the whole thing in about a week.

http://www.songfight.org/music/the_shelton_with_sunspots/thornberry_tsws.mp3

Tomoko by Hafdis Huld

Fair warning: if you listen to this, you might find yourself suddenly proclaiming that it's hard to hang out with Tomoko several times over the next few days.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Hafdis%20Huld%20-%20Tomoko.mp3

The Streetwalker by Ugress

Late at night The Streetwalker passes casually through foreign and industrial sections of the city.

http://www.ugress.com/media/mp3/sophisticated_wickedness/Ugress-SWEP-05-TheStreetwalker.mp3

Saint Peter by The Sober Irishman

The Sober Irishman may have escaped one of Ireland's most popular addictions only to fall into another. But the gospel-goodness of Saint Peter provide a silver lining to widespread Catholicism addiction.

http://www.songfight.org/music/saint_peter/soberirishman_sp.mp3

So Soft by Sleepy Town Manufacture

Lyrics are slightly different for Sleepy Town Manufacture. The lyrics on So Soft remind me a bit of Underworld, but more melodic and less rhythmic. The beat to the song sounds aggressive, especially against the laid back lyrics and spacey melody.

ogg vorbis

http://www.archive.org/download/sute016/07_So_Soft.MP3
http://www.archive.org/download/sute016/07_So_Soft.ogg

We Were Not Meant To Be by Donovan Tann

It's obscure songs about obscure comics! We Were Not Meant To Be refers to T-Rex's beliefs regarding racoons and cephalopods.

http://www.songfight.org/music/we_were_not_meant_to_be/donovantann_wwnmtb.mp3

Es Tu Vida by Hello Stranger

Es Tu Vida rocks with a fat bassline and catchy pop production.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Hello%20Stranger-%20Es%20Tu%20Vida.mp3

Strhaff Tak by Sibot

Strhaff Tak has an Aphex Twin nonsense name and a hip-hop soul. The movements on the low end are a simple joy to my ears.

http://www.africandope.co.za/downloads/audio/misc/sibot%20-%20strhaff%20tak.mp3

Thanks For The Add by Brad Sucks

Brad Sucks is apparently working out a new album, and the demos he says will be on it, such as Thanks for the Add, hint at a more electronic dance-y Brad.

http://media.bradsucks.net/albums/gwam/08_-_Brad_Sucks_-_Thanks_for_the_Add.mp3

By The Light by Mike "Sport" Murphy

Mike Murphy brings back the good old days with a piano waltz By the Light. With some bird chirps and strange noises to add a touch of nonsense.

http://i.listentokrs.com/bands/sportmurphy/audio/ByTheLight.mp3

Farewell Your Heart by Sol Seppy

Farewell Your Heart is simple, direct, muted, dark, awkward, and gorgeous.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Sol%20Seppy%20-%20Farewell%20Your%20Heart.mp3

We Are Postcards by Brother Machine

Brother Machine tells us all about the postcards of the real world in We Are Postcards. I'll take boarded up broken windows over a sunny beach any day.

http://bromachine.msspro.com/music/across%20the%20pond%2028%20we%20are%20postcards.mp3

What's Happening To Me? by ADD

Please Let Your Faith and Patience Be Mine is the most consistently excellent ADD album. It's full of over-the-top melodrama like What's Happening To Me?, and even the songs that don't quite come together for me still have something interesting going on that keeps me listening.

http://www.archive.org/download/JeffFalPleaseLetYourFaithPatienceBeMine/plyfapbm_04_whatshappeningtome.mp3

Now That I'm Free by Outlines featuring RZA

Can a song called Now That I'm Free sound like anything but an expression of joy? Of course it could, but Outlines is so bursting with energy that anything else seems like it'd be a mistake.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Outlines%20-%20Now%20That%20I%27m%20Free.mp3

Reckoner (P Bear remix) by Radiohead, remixed by Podington Bear

Podington Bear subtly alters Reckoner in his remix. It's a light touch that's an excellent match for an excellent song.

http://podingtonbear.com/podcasts/2009/Reckoner.mp3

Super-Sprøde (Kodomo Remix) by Freezepop

For his mix of Super-Sprøde, Kodomo distorts, twists, and cuts up Freezepop's super cute pop sound.

http://www.trnd.com/tunes/01/02_freezepop_super-sprode_kodomo_remix.mp3

Hellomusic by Melodium, remixed by Ochre

Hellomusic is a delicious mixture of acoustic strings and electronic bleeps. It wears an epic 7 minute running time as it builds up and falls apart upon itself.

http://ia300117.us.archive.org/2/items/moulin014/2_hellomusic_ochre_remix_vbr.mp3

Artsy by The Grouch, remixed by edIT

It's rare that a remix makes a good song better, but edIT's version of Artsy does just that. The original sounds good, but edIT fits it with a beat that just jumps.

http://aurgasm.us/music/edIT%20-%20Artsy%20Remix%20(feat.%20The%20Grouch).mp3

The Good Soldier (All Good Soldiers mix) by Nine Inch Nails, remixed by Halo 33

Among Nine Inch Nails remixers Halo 33 seems to get all the attention. One listen to All Good Soldiers makes it pretty obvious why. His remixes are really different from the originals, but they sound distinctly like NIN songs. It's like he transmutes one NIN song into another.

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/149892614/All%2BGood%2BSoldiers.mp3

A Brand New 39 by Zucchini Drive featuring No Surrender, remixed by Mickey Eats Plastic

A Brand New 39 starts out with very TV on the Radio like singing and then moves on to more hip hop style chorus. Behind it all is a bumping Mickey Eats Plastic beat. This song is a joy to listen to.

http://www.mickeyeatsplastic.com/music/reworks1/05-a_brand_new_39%5Bmep%20rmx%5D.mp3

Fell Out Of The Sky (Alalala mix) by State Shirt, remixed by Khidir

There are quite a few elements of Khidir's Alalala mix of Fell Out of the Sky that I don't like, but somehow the whole is just too damn interesting for that to really matter. It's utterly different from State Shirts original, with layers of subtlety underneath and so many moments that make me wonder why that I can't help but appreciate it.

http://ccmixter.org/content/khidir/khidir_-_Fell_Out_of_the_Sky_(alalala_remix).mp3

Know Your Onion! by The Shins

Most people know what to expect from The Shins, so you already know what Know Your Onion! is about. It's a classic pop sound.

http://subpop.com/assets/audio/3108.mp3

Music Is Ruling My World by Kutiman featuring Karolina

Kutiman puts some funk into my music collection while warning me that Music Is Ruling My World.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Kutiman%20-%20Music%20Is%20Ruling%20My%20World%20(feat.%20Karolina).mp3

Start Over by MC Frontalot

MC Frontalot tells the tale of Little Red Riding Hood to a pack of incredulous kids. They have him Start Over twice before he gives up and demands that they commence napping.

http://frontalot.com/media.php/78/mc_frontalot_-_start_over.mp3

Mandy Goes To Med School by The Dresden Dolls

Every song on the subject leads me to the same conclusion: don't trust musicians with surgery. Don't let the fact that Mandy Goes to Med School fool you.

http://www.dresdendolls.com/media_site/downloads/liveandunreleased/2006-05-13.MandyGoesToMedShcool..mp3

Border Blaster by Josh Woodward

Border Blaster is told from the perspective of an illegal immigrant. It's very sympathetic to the immigrant, which I find particulary interesting since Josh Woodward comes from Ohio. Ohio has a large manufacturing economy so not only do Ohio workers have to compete with immigrants for jobs, but they've lost more jobs than most other parts of the US recently.

http://www.joshwoodward.com/mp3/JoshWoodward-BorderBlaster.mp3

Grin by Maz Plant Out

I've found some really excellent music over at Loca Records. All those David Meme songs I've posted, for instance. Grin by Maz Plant Out is one of my favorite. It's got noises layered over a simple note progression with distorted singing.

http://www.locarecords.com/music/Grin.mp3

Courage by Jim Tyrrell

My own experience suggests a huge lot of the music on the internet falls into one of two categories: repetitive electronic dance or folky acoustic of the sort you hear at every open mic in the neighborhood. Jim Tyrrell's Courage fits pretty well into the latter. If I heard this at an open mic, it'd be a surprisingly good night.

http://www.songfight.org/music/courage/jimtyrrell_courage.mp3

Cream by General Fuzz

General Fuzz has so much good downtempo electronic music, it can be intimidating to sort through. I didn't pick Cream as a place to start because it's my favorite. It makes a great starter because it's short, pretty, and accessible.

http://www.generalfuzz.net/mp3/Cool%20Aberrations/cream.mp3

Sometimes You Hear It Coming by Deceptikon

Sometimes You Hear It Coming is ambient hip hop chillout music.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Deceptikon%20-%20Sometimes%20You%20Hear%20It%20Coming.mp3

Rick Flare Instrumental by The Real Estate Agents

I've recently been opening up songs in my browser's movie player applet while I had music playing in another application, forgetting that my browser starts playing the song right away instead of waiting for me to start it. The result: a cacophony that sounds like oddly structured experimental music. It's a challenge to sort out while it's playing, a challenge I enjoy.

Rick Flare Instrumental is a great track to try this with. Start it out of sync with itself or with some other song and enjoy some confusion. By itself it sounds like so many repeating loops fighting with each other for your attention.

http://www.africandope.co.za/downloads/audio/misc/real_estate_agents-rick_flare_instrumental.mp3