The Flaming Lips performing on the Virgin stage at the Virgin Festival
ROCK
- In Our Bodies Out of Our Heads Flaming Lips, from Gummy Skull EP; streaming at youtube.com
What is that, a lava-lamp guitar? The psychedelic Oklahomans worship the wah wah and blow our impressionable gummy-skulled minds
FOLK
- Masters of War Bob Dylan, from Bob Dylan in Concert: Brandeis University, 1963 (Columbia/Legacy); preview clip streaming at itunes.apple.com.
In the spring of 1963, The Times They Are A-Changin', not yet an anthemic song, only referenced the switch to daylight savings. But the times absolutely were changing, as witnessed by this bluntly severe folk-blues condemnation of moneyed warmongers - a new song applauded mightily by an aware audience.
ROCK/POP
- Red Hunting Jacket Little Scream, from The Golden Record (Outside Music); preview clip streaming at itunes.apple.com.
Though she recorded her album with members of Arcade Fire and the National, here Montreal's Laurel Sprengelmeyer sounds more like a heavenly Kate Bush and a windmilling Tommy-era Pete Townshend. That said, it's quite Sprengelmeyer-ish (!) in its brash flourish.
ROCK
- Be Comfortable, Creature Explosions in the Sky, from Take Care, Take Care, Take Care (Temporary Residence); streaming at explosionsinthesky.com.
A serene melody winds its way through interesting instrumental traffic. Comfortable postrock adventurism from the Texan cloudburst chasers.
ESSENTIAL VIDEO
RAP
- Make Some Noise the Beastie Boys; streaming at youtube.com
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the seminal rap-rock album Licensed to Ill, the hip-hop threesome fight for their right to party by merely making a brief appearance in a cameo-crazy vid of inside jokes and Hollywood A-listers. Love the Will Ferrell-cowbell reference.
Brad Wheeler