Sleater-Kinney - The Woods

I know that many of the regulars here both owned and loved this album before I even heard it, but I had to recommend it this week. I've had it awhile, but it never really grabbed me until I began last week to wrap my head around the fulfillment of my life goal of being a roller derby announcer. I've decided that 'Entertain' needs to be on any Derby mix ("Don't drag me down / I'm not falling down"), and 'Modern Girl' is such a fun, bitchy song that I actually WANT it to be in my head for six hours every day.

Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

Accordion/violin/horn small-European-tavern indie-gypsy greatness.  You won't want to mosh, but you might want to twirl.

They Might Be Giants - Here Come the 123s

Technically, children are the primary audience, but some of these songs stand on their own as well as any other album.  Upon a few listens, probably not as good as Here Come the ABCs, but I've had "Seven" in my head all day.

Also, this doesn't seem to be available on streaming services, but Rhapsody & Amazon sell DRM-free mp3s.  I'll go out on a limb and blame Disney.

Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings

I saw Dan Deacon at First Avenue a few nights ago.  He set up his kit on the floor, a yard or two away from the stage, and was surrounded by people hovering over him and waving their arms and dancing around like freaks.  My friend Liz said, "It was like being at the Rec Center, where there are a lot of kids just running around just to freak out.  Sometimes there's a ball or something, but mostly they're just there to jump around." 

(A few pics from the balcony: http://picasaweb.google.com/pvanhaaften/DanDeaconShow )

Electronica.  The track "Wham City" is worth listening to at max volume.

Los Campesinos - International Tweecore Underground

"and the last time that you tried listening to music
and reading fiction at the same time,
you never finished the chapter,
but you finished the song with your chin on your knees like you belong"

This cd is a single.  That lyric is from the title track. Also, from the second song, "C Is The Heavenly Option" (which is a cover of another band, Heavenly, whom I also adore),

"My girlfriend's getting sick of me,
Should I A: change your personality
Should I B: put her love to the test
Should I C: kiss her until she is obsessed
If you’re an A you will see you get chucked and end up unhappy.
If you’re a B you will find that’s cool but hey don’t be too unkind.
If you’re a C will end up like me, and love will ball you over"

The first song is good, the second almost had me dancing on my sketchy bus this morning.  Also seek the single for "We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG72H5PcGg0 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTbj0Wyx12Q

Jim Noir - Tower of Love

Heard the song "Tell Me What To Do" on The Current.  Listening to this album the last few days.  I like it, though I can't tell yet if I'll like it even more as I listen more.

The White Stripes - Icky Thump

Recommending this here because it's new, and I didn't know it existed until recently.  So far, I think I don't like it as much as their previous albums "Get Behind Me Satan" and "Elephant", but time will tell.

Pela - Anytown Graffiti

I also recommend their EP, All in Time.  The song "Episodes," from the EP, was in the beginning of an episode of Scrubs and I liked it so much that I tracked it down.

I would describe them as sort of in the Interpol family, but more melodic and also more rockin'. 
Here is their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/pela

Also, most of the things I recommend are available on emusic for those who subscribe. 

I highly recommend these guys.

Akron/Family - Love is Simple

These guys sound like Phish would sound if Phish spent all day in the backwoods, drinking moonshine, listening to John Zorn, and reading Derrida.  The song "Ed is a Portal" is one of my favorite songs ever.

Kashmir - No Balance Palace

Continuing the Danish trend, this band is one of my recent hang-ups. 

They produce the kind of understated intensity that I've been craving lately.  I'd recommend the tracks "Kalifornia" and "She's Made Of Chalk" as samples.