Essential 11 for November

Here we are with 11 of the newest coolest songs you should be demanding your radio station play -- well 9 of these are new. Two of them are actually a year old and are just now getting the airplay they deserve

1) Down By the Water -- The Decembrists with Guests Gillian Welch and Peter Buck who contriubutes his own Byrds like guitar work.
2) Money Grabber -- Fitz and the Tantrums No, not punk rock. This is yet another neo-soul band, a genre that I am usually not impressed with -- Nostalgia is a trap best avoided. And yet -- a little songcraft, a good beat and lyric goes a long way and this one's got it all.
3) 1983 -- Neon Trees Speaking of nostalgia, this band evokes a cotton candy version of the Cure. I mean that in a good way. I happened to prefer The Cure when they did the pop as opposed to crafting their doomy masterpieces.
4) Holiday -- Vampire Weekend This one isn't making much of an impact, but I love the video -- 17th Century fops carousing and beating up surfer dudes.
5) People Say -- Portugal the Man This is certainly their most accessible music, but listen closely to the lyrics if you think this band has gone soft. For some reason it's catching on after a year's hibernation.
6) New Low -- Middle Class Rut Another two man band. This was a regional hit last year -- big on the West Coast-- that's getting a new life now that they've released their debut album.
7) Paris (Ooh La La) -- Grace Potter and the Nocturnals The best song off a really disappointing album from a really awesome live band. I'm still waiting for the magic to be transferred onto CD. This lot little rocker is the exception.
8) Faith -- Alejandro Escevedo A really blistering number from his new album
9) Back Down South -- Kings of Leon The second single is as close to a ballad they get -- reflective, wistful and warm.
10) Machine Gun Blues -- Social Distortion More of the same for these veteran punkers. More is what we need given the recent shortage of punkers.
11) We Used to Wait -- Arcade Fire This haunting number is slowly catching on -- WRNR, CJZN and now WFNX have picked up on it, Built on a single minor key piano chord repeated over and over.