Essential 11 for September 2010

Here's the picks for this month -- the jury's still out on the new Kings of Leon single

1. Boy -- Ra Ra Riot Lots of bassy action.
2. Haul Me Up -- Richard Thompson This song from his new live album is getting mostly public radio airplay and deserves more. This old man can really shred.
3. Beg, Steal or Borrow -- Ray LaMontagne Now I'm begining to see what the fuss about this guy was about. Ye olde country rock suits his songs very well and the pedal steel work by the Pariah Dogs take the instrument to places I've never heard before.
4. Tell 'em -- Sleigh Bells Humongous beats, squalling guitars and engelic voices. What's not like?
5. Giving It All Away -- Dead Confederate The band has been pidgeonholed into the grunge bin -- I don't quite buy it -- more like an 80's indie band covering Crazy Horse. But they know how to write a song and play their guitars.
6. Shameful Metaphors -- Chevelle One of hte more tradiontally structued songs from their consistenly excellent Sci Fi Crimes album
7. Mixtape -- Tifft Merritt Haunting song about unrequited love from a singer songwriter who deserves to be heard by more than her Public radio/Lost Highway fan base.
8. My Best Theory -- Jimmy Eat World Crafted for maximum airplay, but really with this band you don't mind because they have the knack for the big chorus
9. Lasso -- Phoenix More of the same -- not that I mind at all
10. Digging for Something -- Superchunk After several years of silence they show the kids how indie's done.
11. The Longest Highway Home -- The Reason Getting well deserved airplay on CFNY, just try not to sing along with this one.