Sometimes The Dam Just Breaks

Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins “Born Secular” – In a recent interview, Bono claimed that his favorite music was about people either running to or away from God. This song seems frozen in place between the two, like a deer in His divine headlights. This is amazing stuff – I’d say that it’s the best song Lewis has ever done, but I’m still pretty stuck on “I Never” from More Adventurous. The forthcoming LP is very good too, even the Travelling Wilburys song with Conor Oberst on guest vocals! I know that seems totally impossible, but it’s true. (Click here for Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins’ MySpace page.)

The Howling Hex “No Numbers” – The latest album from Neil Michael Hagerty floats by in a strange haze, like a half-forgotten dream buoyed to the memory by a handful of vivid details. This track in particular benefits from a liberal usage of reverb and trumpet, making the song sound like a field recording of Hagerty jamming on a subway platform. Sorry to bring Bono into this post a second time, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t seem as though Hagerty is just about to start singing “One Tree Hill” every time he gets on the mic. (Click here to buy it from Drag City.)