Borat! He is the image for this post because, well, look at him. He is quite the beacon for excitement! Anyhoo, you’ve seen this sort of post format on many blogs, surely, just a big mess of songs. All the bands that you have to listen to to fulfill a position as a mugger (my term for music blogger), you will not like them all. However, even if I end up not liking the band, there are many instances where they only have one song that I like, or at least they only offer up one song that I like (OR I’ve only heard one song, it’s the only one they offer, and it’s great). These songs here, they are those. If you don’t enjoy any of them, there is either something wrong or something terribly right with you.

BOAT – Last Cans Of Paint – (MP3, 2.8 MB)

Here’s a song that mixes repetitive nu-indie melodies and the lo-fi amblings of indie yore and manages to make a quite enjoyable song out of it.

Cezanne – In Snow

This one is a lot of the lo-fi, fuzzy ambling of indie yore, though the singing reminds me of Kurt Cobain. Not a song to get worked up over, but definitely not one that sounds like it came out this year, let alone decade.

Hint Hint – Long Branch, New Jersey – (MP3, 5.8 MB)

Ah, here is something of a crazy tune. It combines the experimentation of post-rock with the non-suckiness of rock, not to mention some slurred vocals. Mmm, slurring.

Lauren Hoffman – Love Gone Wrong – (MP3, 3.9 MB)

Lauren Hoffman is awesome, and this song reminds me of Dido’s debut album, mostly during the chorus. Most of her songs are not like this one, but are still good in their own right (especially Another Song About The Darkness, though the version of it on KRS’ compilation album was better [in my opinion]).

Liz Janes – Wonderkiller – (MP3, 4 MB)

This starts off as a slow ballad, and then kicks into high gear about a third of the way through. That is the formula for an epic song, and even though this one’s only three and a half minutes, it somehow retains that epicness.

Luigi – Mariposa – (MP3, 2.9 MB)

Female-fronted rock… that is just about all you need to know to enjoy this song. It even has some hooting! You don’t hear that in songs much, and perhaps for a good reason, but this song makes it work.

Malajube – Etienne D’Aout – (MP5, 5 MB)

Here’s a slow burner that stays a slow burner the whole way through. The singing’s in French, as this is a Canadian band, so I hope you are not all about the lyrics. It took me a few minutes to appreciate, but it’s a rather lovely song.

Megan Palmer – Angelo – (MP3, 4.6 MB)

This song was on songs: illinois some time ago and is one of the main reasons they’re on our blogroll in the first place. “I tried to call you Angelo, you wouldn’t pick up a phone, you wish I said that I didn’t need you, but baaaaaby, I’m not that strong!” Awwwww!

Sparrow House – When I Am Gone – (MP3, 4.1 MB)

3hive hit the nail on the head when they posted this song and picked up on the huge Elliott Smith inspiration. Lots of acoustic melody and a piano solo. It really does sound like it could be by Mr. Smith, and even the lyrics are quite excellent. I wish the whole EP was like this song.

The Spinto Band – Oh Mandy – (MP3. 4.2 MB)

I dedicate this song to my “sister” for being a dickhead to her, especially since her name is Mandi (close enough). The majesty of song saving the day again. Everyone loves pop romps, right?