You know what sucks? A gum infection caused by a crowning wisdom tooth. You know what doesn’t suck? This song! Though I think I will have to add that segue to the list of things that suck, because it was equally as painful as the aforementioned infection.

Anyway, enough of my body related woes. Here is City and the Sea with some perfectly agreeable pop rock, with more than a passing resemblance to the energetic stylings of the late 90s. Which doesn’t seem like it was that long ago, except it was nearly 20 friggin’ years ago.

Oh my good golly gosh: Megan Washington is releasing a new album in September. Happy days! To say I was smitten with her undeniable talent is perhaps the biggest understatement of the year, but I shall carry on regardless. Here is a song off her upcoming album, There There (incidentally, the name of my favourite Radiohead song). It feels a lot more mellow and, dare I say, heartfelt than her peppy debut, but I sure as hell want to listen to it as much as anything else she’s released.

No embeddable stream unfortunately, but you can listen to the new song here.

So, here’s something adorable! The Tallest Tree, comprised of Armando and Dawn, formed when Armando fell in love with Dawn after his band, the Oats, was playing in Canada. And they wrote songs when they were visiting each other! Good gracious, that is genuinely a lovely story. They are married now, and are hopefully going to continue making charming little indie rock ditties like this one. Now, excuse me while I go deal with my crippling loneliness!

If yesterday’s song was the soundtrack for a grown-up romance (no, not the smutty kind), then perhaps this is the version for all you young whippersnappers out there. With your skinny jeans and odd haircuts. Two things I totally don’t have.

Anyway, the Savoys come from the musically rich country that is Canada with a soothing, dreamy spot of shoegazing. Now, if you’ve been paying attention, you will know I am partial to a good dose of shoegazing every now and then (I mean, it has its own tag on this site). To that end, this hits the spot quite swimmingly. So pardon me while I go drift away!

It’s Sunday night. Chilly outside, but you’re rugged up inside your swank, tastefully decorated abode. There’s a quietly crackling fire, and a glass of wine in your hand. Perhaps your sweetie is giving you a loving look. What’s missing? A corking soundtrack, is what! As per usual, Zero 7 delivers for this situation and many others with another beautiful composition with some of my favourite singing/lyrics ever:

Likufanele, likufanele,
igama obizwa ngala,
Obizwa ngala.

The internet informs me that it’s sung by the Philani Mothers, who are a group of South African nurses. The language is Zulu/Ndebele and roughly translates to “The name you are called suits you”, which I think is just wonderful. Alternatively, some say it could also mean “In the firelight, your eyes are stars of summer in the firelight”, which is equally wonderful. Either way, kick back and let the good times flow.

So, it turns out this album is an utter delight. I’m still listening to My Silver Lining like the plane’s going down, but this song is also getting some significant airplay in my mind’s radio station. If I thought I was getting Neko Case vibes in My Silver Lining, then it’s off the charts in this one. Completely sublime. Well done, you incomparable pair of Swedes!

I am so darn glad that the app Shazam exists. There are about 500 million classic songs that I know perfectly… provided you don’t ask me the name of the song, or the artist that performed it. I am just the worst at trivia nights. “I KNOW THIS SONG! IT’S… IT’S… oh balls.” As you might imagine, this song was one steeped in mystery, but it was made doubly worse by the fact that I had no bloody idea what he was singing. I still don’t! But it’s darn good: some classic 70s rock, right on the cusp of the transition into the world of 80s synth and glam.

You know what we’ve never had on either/or? Alternative country! Ah, wait, wait. Damnit. Ok, you know what we’ve never had on either/or? MORE ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY!

I’m surprised I hadn’t posted this song already, because I rather like it – simple, but with very catchy hooks, and eminently hummable. I’m now wondering why the hell I haven’t checked out more stuff from these folks, but I’m assuming it’s the same reason as any other time: because I am a pillock.