Daft Punk — “Doin’ It Right” (feat. Panda Bear)
Candidly, I’m lukewarm on the new Daft Punk album, Random Access Memories. What I am not lukewarm on is the current season of “Mad Men,” and what I am rabidly in favor of is Ken Cosgrove tap-dancing. When this video came to my attention, I acquired a permanent case of Tom Haverford face. As it turns out, Don Draper’s magic works as well on French robot-disco as it does on film projectors and Jaguars and sexually naive secretaries. (But really, Kenny did the heavy lifting, as usual.)
Vampire Weekend — “Unbelievers”
Since Vampire Weekend are the musical equivalent of horn-rimmed glasses, their exceptional Modern Vampires of the City often feels as alive with imagery as a good book. Such is their way. With the pretentious aplomb of an entire college’s creative writing department, the band’s process of brewing disparate musical influences and gluttonously esoteric lyrics can whisk your mind to any number of times and places. For my favorite track on the album, “Unbelievers,” that place is a cheap nickelodeon the coast of France in the 1960s. There are bicycles, striped shirts, and copies of “The Communist Manifesto.” Somebody is naked. The bread is stale, and the wine is actually grape juice because you can’t read the label. (It’s in French. You’re in France.) It is summertime, and it is perfect.
(Look up the album version, but also enjoy this Misfits-tastic live version from Jimmy Kimmel’s show.)
The Royalty — “Saint Bowie”
I think I like this song better than most David Bowie songs. Oops. I still haven’t come to grips with the fact that I like the “Moulin Rouge” version of “Heroes” better than the original. I’m sure this all says something troubling about my tastes.
(Again: Look up the studio version. Or don’t. I’m not your mom. OR AM I.)
