The Army Had Half A Day

Chin Up, Chin Up “Virginia, Don’t Drown” – This song seems to simulate the effect of listening to mid-period Cure after spending half an hour going around and around on a sit-and-spin. After about three minutes of twirly, shimmering guitars and half-whispered, semi-intelligable vocals, the song kicks into an outro hook that sounds as though it is angling to make it onto the soundtrack of an episode of The OC. (Preferably the inevitable episode in which Seth and Summer get back together.) (Click here to buy it from Insound.)

The Long Blondes “Polly” – Clearly, this band has a thing for Grease. If you were planning on throwing one of those faux-prom parties, this would be an ideal pick for the slow dance. It’s always a bit sad when someone writes a perfect song in a genre a few decades too late to get a proper hit out of it. (Click here to buy it from Rough Trade.)

Also: I have one extra ticket for the Pixies show on Monday. If you’re interested, send me an email. I’ll take the best offer. I imagine that the market for Pixies tickets in NYC is a bit saturated at this point, so feel free to lowball me at first, but understand that Cashy McHugewallets will beat out your offer if he comes a-callin’.