Today's featured shit

An excellent use of keyboards, In Silico swing every which way they can on “Pendulum.” “Propane Nightmares” must be about when Hank Hill goes on vacation, and Buck Strickland goes and fucks up the store, but there’s no way to tell because the music is mixed too high for the lyrics to be understandable. It’s OK. This music is designed to be played between bands at clubs. It’s really great stuff, promise. The nice thing is that you’ll know right away whether you like it.

These songs are all really long. “Midnight Runner” exemplifies the distinct mid-90s feel of the entire album. Remember when industrial was popular? That. However, it uses drum machines in a more… maybe not jungle… but definitely not in the clove smoking way that Assemblage 23 would inspire. The random keyboard in this track has a distinctly Bemani feel and makes me want to take the glow sticks out of the time capsule.

“Different” offers more of the same, but that’s fine. The music strokes very well. The lyrics are more audible on this track, and it paints a fun story. All in all, more electronic goodness. My girlfriend says there is a complete lack of rage, almost as if Dave Grohl were singing. I like that.

Yes, Virginia, there is a genre called “nerdcore.” He is it, and it is him, slim with a tilted pocket protector.

A little bit of everything, like when Homer Simpson ate sushi for the first time, is what you get on “Final Boss.” “Socks On” sounds like a serious song with a sound-alike Beyonce, so if you want to play something with a beat, give this a shot. It plays both kinds of music: rhythm and blues.

“The AM Radio Skit” is cute. It’s just them talking, but it has Schaffer the Darklord in it. Get a load of the Darklord. You know you want to.

“Listen Close” is your standard clever lyrics rap song. There are several of these on here, actually. It’s not just Eminem without swearing. There is some real intelligence here.

I enjoy and recommend “Wallflowers” because it goes on about Margaret Thatcher. Nothing is hotter than her, especially in this song. Plus “whom” is used correctly in the lyrics, as opposed to the use of “her” in the previous sentence. Did I mention there is a track called “Tongue-Clucking Grammarian”? There is. “Cluck U” may be long gone next to the SCU campus, but at least they saved the tongue.

This compilation has something for everyone. I keep listening to “Passenger” by Brazos, and I keep thinking something happened to Ben Folds’ ability to write lyrics. They’re just not that inspiring. But most of the tracks are pretty good.

Lucky Dragons’ “To Lilly at Age 15 20 25” is much better than Martina McBride’s “This One’s for the Girls.” You know, she sings little secret messages to women of different ages. I’d much rather listen to Lucky Dragons. It’s got great synths that blend in the background and do what danceable music should do: repeat. I am sure Lilly is going to be just fine.

The Wingdale Community Singers sing in multipart harmony and really sound like a community of singers. Perhaps when the folk singer/songwriter takes a break in December at the farmers market these guys can take her place, singing Christmas carols or holiday songs or whatever they’re called these days.

The Muslims have nothing to do with Barack Obama, natch, but “Inside Job” reminds me of a calmed down Billy Idol with keyboards in the background. I would totally dance with myself if this song were playing. It’s just so damn catchy.