Once in a while you come across a song for the first time and you can't stop listening to it, over and over. Not in the way a song can go bad on you ("Hey Ya," "Crazy"), but in the way you still love it months and hundreds of listenings later. My current obsession is Dirty Mags by Blueboy.

I was late to the Twee Pop party, and only recently discovered Blueboy, and the label they recorded for, Sarah Records. Sarah was known for it's stable of Twee and Indie Pop bands, and Blueboy was no exception to this. Dirty Mags is a stand-out from this understanding, it's vibe and tone and carries a more harder, brit-pop, shoegaze sound. Dirty Mags was the lead track on a three song EP released on Sarah in 1995 shortly before the label shuttered.

Blueboy - Dirty Mags

More story and song lyrics after the jump.

While watching a movie on cable (would you think less of me if the film was Dodgeball?) I nearly freaked out for a song I hadn't heard in years, The Sugarhill Gang's version of the 60's classic Apache. Of course, I immediately pulled my Sugarhill cd out and played it loud.  I had always known it was a cover, but not much else, so I did a little research.  It's interesting to look and listen to the evolution of the song Apache.

Originally recorded by The Shadows, Cliff Richards' original backup band, Apache was an instrumental hit that the bands solo career. They never achieved as great success as with Apache and played for Richards until 1968 and stayed active until disbanded in 1990.

The next incarnation for the song was by The Incredible Bongo Band.  TIBB was a revolving-door group of studio musicians led by bongo player Michael Viner. Their funky version of The Shadows' Apache become one of hip-hop's earliest breakbeat staples and one of the most sampled tracks in hip-hop history. First-generation hip-hop DJs Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash came to rely on its percussion breaks to get block parties moving.

Label mates to Grandmaster Flash, Sugarhill Gang, completely reworked Apache and forged memorable grooves exploring the funk side of rap/hip-hop. Sugarhill Gang was named after their record label, Sugarhill Records (founded by Sylvia Robinson), Sugarhill Gang is known today mainly today for their groundbreaking sampling (Chic's Good Times) hit Rapper's Delight.

Lastly, a decade later, in 1992, the band Senseless Things reworked the tune for Ruby Trax: The NME's Roaring 40, the must-have British indie covers project (and benefit for The Spastic's Society). This version is sadly not good and bespeaks what was wrong with 90's music and included here for evolutionary purposes more than anything else.

The Shadows - Apache (1960)
The Incredible Bongo Band - Apache (1973)
Sugarhill Gang - Apache (Jump On It) (1982)
Senseless Things - Apache (1992)

Here is a the catchiest song you'll hear all month. It's from the Chicago quartet, The Changes, self-produced debut full-length album, Today Is Tonight on Drama Club Records.

The Changes - Water Of The Gods

Why do some records perfectly capture a season?

The eponymous debut from Beach House, is the first new record this year that sounds like autumn to me. Quiet and thoughtful, sparse, but with enough layers to keep the listener tuned in, this duo from Baltimore saunters through nine melancholic tracks led by Victoria Legrand's haunting vocals. The lilting waltz of Auburn and Ivory is the sonic equivalent of a slow walk down a country road under grey skies, accompanied with the smell of burning leaves and the memories of abandoned love.

I hope that Beach House is able to secure a venue in Seattle on November 10, as I would certainly brave the weather for a chance to see them pull these songs off live.

Beach House - Auburn and Ivory

I only recently discovered London band Spearmint and went back and found most of their eight albums. I really wanted to like them, but found myself skipping way more track than I should. So, dispite the fact I have menmtally pigeon-holed them as a inconsistent, song-by-song band, I decided to blog them for the song Julie Christie! alone. This song is a beautiful perfect thing and was the second single off of their 2001 album, A Different Lifetime. Take a listen.

Spearmint - Julie Christie!

The band has had line-up changes over the years and this surely contributed to the quality of their music.

Spearmint Website

Sweden has been the source of some very tasty pop of recent couple years including bands like, The Concretes, The Shout Out Louds, Jens Lekman, and The Legends. Add to this list Peter Björn & John.

Formed in 1999 in Stockholm, Peter Björn & John is made up of members Peter Morén on vocals, guitar, and harmonica; Björn Yttling on vocals, bass, vocals, and keyboards; and John Eriksson on drums, percussion, and vocals.

Peter Björn & John - Young Folks

From their 2006 release, Writer's Block, the song Young Folks features Victoria Bergsman of The Concretes sharing vocals with Peter on a decidedly lo-fi, sixties baroque pop gem, that lyrically shares some innocent observations of relationships with those of fellow Swede, Jens Lekman.

Peter Björn & John Website

Once again I am infected by an extremely catchy tune.

In this case it's the first single, Again & Again, from the new duo, The Bird and the Bee. It's a beautiful trifle of 60's French Pop and Brazilian rhythm wrapped around a jangly Indie Pop center.

There full-length debut is due at the end of this month. You can find further information about them at their MySpace page and on their soon to be relaunched website.

The Bird and the Bee - Again & Again

Sometimes you can hear so much honesty in a singer's voice or a song writer's words that no matter how awkward they are, how unconventional they sound, there is a deep and intense immediate love for them. Daniel Johnston, Jeff Magnum of Neutral Milk Hotel, and Joanna Newsom are all prime examples of this, people who draw us in deeper than the melodies their vocal chords create. Pulled in to these tiny fragile worlds like egg shells, the songs take on a quality so much bigger than the sum of their parts.

Adrian Orange (aka The Thanksgiving) is like this as well, the first moments of his voice strike you with a discomfort that eventually settles into awe. Twisted and awkward ballads push their way around your brain, asking you to decode their puzzles on the way to your heart. Expertly crafted pop songs that take you inside relationships full of teenage love, immediate and destructive.

Working with Phil Elverum has helped guide Adrian's hand well, and on Bitches is Lord you can hear the craftsmanship he's achieved while still being able to look forward to his future releases. There is a lot more to come from this young man.

Adrian Orange - While You Live

Two wonderful gems from Norway this week:

Susanna and the Magical Orchestra have released a covers record of some 80's standards, as well as some off the wall choices. Susanna's quiet voice is layered over harpsichord to re-invent these songs as dark and brooding Norweigian blues, trapping pop songs in icey cabaret prisons. Finish half a bottle of wine, and then check out her version of AC/DC's It's A Long Way To The Top.

Susanna and the Magical Orchestra - It's A Long Way To The Top

We also have Norwegian Grammy winners the White Birch. I'm thoroughly convinced that anyone who listens to the full of their album will be hooked. Combining Icelandic production values with Kings of Convenience vocal stylings, and wrapping it all up in a pop manner that invokes early Cold Play (when they were relevant), the White Birch have created what I believe to be one of the most perfect indie pop records ever.

White Birch - Seer Believer

Contributor DJ Toast has posted a new pocast. It includes songs by Peter Björn & John, Camera Obscura, The Concretes, Johnny Boy, The Lost Patrol, The Bird and the Bee, Lush, Shout Out Louds, Spearmint, Stereolab, Stars, Lush, Elastica, Throwing Muses, The Ettes, The Long Blondes, The Pipettes, Henri Fabergé and the Adorables.  It clocks in at 57 mins., 41 secs.

Weekend Without Make-Up Mix

Subscribe Via iTunes

The North Carolina band The Rosebuds just released their third full-length, The Night of The Furies. Between the recent albums the band reduced ranks from a trio to the orginal duo of Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp. Besides personnel changes, the band's sound on the new release has swapped the somber atmospherics of their prior release, Birds Make Good Neighbors, for a synth-pop optimism.

Check out Get Up Get Out from the new album, and Outnumbered, from their second album.

Online Resources - Website, MySpace, Blog, iTunes.

Rosebuds - Get Up Get Out
Rosebuds - Outnumbered

Interestingly, The Mary Onettes sound brings a darkly intense perspective to Swedish Pop. Without a doubt you can hear the influences of Joy Divison, Echo & the Bunneymen, The Cure, and The Stone Roses echoing throughout this record, yet they maintain a fresh voice in a fusion of the their influences and their current country's music Pop movement.

The band was formed in Jönköping, Sweden seven years ago and survived two failed record deals and two EP's before releasing this intriging album on Labrador.

Online Resources: Website, MySpace, iTunes

The Mary Onettes - Lost
The Mary Onettes - Slow

This song is the jam of summer.

The French duo of Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay are best known through their remix of Simian's track Never Be Alone, released as We Are Your Friends by Justice vs. Simian.

On June 11th, (July 10th in the US) Justice will release their debut full-length to be called, †. For now, enjoy the 2007 Summer Jam, D.A.N.C.E. Hopefully, it doesn't get as overplayed as Gnarls Barkley's Crazy did.

Online resources: MySpace, iTunes.

Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Original)
Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Extended)
Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Tittsworth Remix)
Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT Remix)

Ending a two year drought with a so-so remix/covers record left Stars fans with a slightly bitter taste in their mouth. Fortunately the band is now releasing details regarding their upcoming record In Our Bedroom After the War. Leading this new information is what hopefully will be the first single off of the record, "The Night Starts Here". Yes, boys and boys, the night certainly does start here. Back and forth duet with Torq and Amy, bringing us right back to where we know and love Stars. If this single is any indication, this will truly be the follow up to 2003's Heart.

Head home after work today, put this song on repeat and get all dolled up for the town, Stars want you to come out and play.

Stars - The Night Starts Here