Andy Capp — Pop A Top

This is one of my favorite tracks from John Peel’s treasure chest of 7-inch singles. A light, bouncy affair, quite different from most of the other material in the collection.

Andy Capp — Pop A Top

Darlings — If This is Love

OK, so I’m getting kind of tired of hearing about Brooklyn. At some point the place is bound to reach critical mass, collapsing into a black hole of hype, cheap beer, and irony. The thing is, though, that a lot of these bands are actually really, really good. Darlings are positively delightful. Darlings MySpace.

The Darlings — If This is Love

C86

Chocolate Bobka has the original NME C86 cassette available for download. All I can remember about 1986 is the Challenger exploding over and over on television, so I hope I can be forgiven for missing out on this the first time around.

Afrirampo — Afrirampo

One of my favorite songs ever. The band’s description of themselves is better than anything I could do:

2 young Japanese girls rock duo from Osaka JAPAN!Naked rock!!!!! Naked soul!!! Red red strong red dress!! Freeeeeeeeedam
paradice rock! Jump! With improvisation.
Sooo fantastic & wild performance !
wowowowowowowowowwoooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Afrirampo Official Site

Afrirampo — Afrirampo

Land of the Loops — Multi-Family Garage Sale

It’s hard to explain what this song does to me, but it probably has something to do with being 16 years old and riding shotgun through the suburbs in my best friend’s Buick LeSabre. I’m firmly convinced that there is an alternate universe in which Alan Sutherland is a superstar. Land of the Loops MySpace.

Land of the Loops — Multi-Family Garage Sale

Dum Dum Girls — Jail La La

I think there’s only really one Dum Dum Girl — a librarian from Los Angeles named Dee Dee. Melodic as all get out, with just enough noise to give you something to grab hold of. Dum Dum Girls MySpace.

Dum Dum Girls — Jail La La

Madison Electric — V-Neck

I haven’t been able to find out very much about Madison Electric, but I kind of like the idea that they just recorded a few perfect songs and then disappeared. There’s something to be said for that — for saying all you have to say and then moving on.

Madison Electric — V-Neck

Henry’s Dress — You Killed a Boy for Me

A very fine song. Reminds me of “I Could Be Dreaming” off Tigermilk.

Henry’s Dress — You Killed a Boy for Me

Manhattan Love Suicides — Never Far From You

Damn, this song is good. Manhattan Love Suicides MySpace.

Manhattan Love Suicides — Never Far From You

Dandelions — The College School

Tres Williams and Kitsy Christner were 10 and 11 years old when they recorded this song. For my money, this is right up there with Belle and Sebastian’s “My Wandering Days Are Over” and Sgt. Pepper for band-origin songs. There’s more information on these two at Swan Fungus.

Dandelions — The College School