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Song of the Day #2,230: ‘Someone Else’s Heart’ – Squeeze

east_side_storySurprisingly, this is only my third Squeeze song since I started the Song of the Day series more than six years ago. I would have expected better representation from a band for which I hold a great deal of affection.

The reason, I’m sure, is that I have only one Squeeze album in my iTunes library — 1981’s excellent East Side Story. I have enjoyed other Squeeze albums over the years, including the underrated Play and a greatest hits collection that my principles prevented me from purchasing, but East Side Story has always provided my Squeeze fix.

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Song of the Day #2,229: ‘Just One of the Guys’ – Jenny Lewis

jenny_lewis_the_voyagerWhen I ordered those four new albums a week ago, I didn’t expect my runaway favorite to be Jenny Lewis’ The Voyager.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Jenny Lewis. Her first two solo albums, Rabbit-Fur Coat and Acid Tongue, are sharp, melodic and ambitious. But neither really grabbed me and shook me the way this latest record has.

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Song of the Day #2,228: ‘All You Can Carry’ – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

tom_petty_hypnotic_eyeWhen it comes to old school guitar-driven rock-n-roll, you can’t get much better than Tom Petty. Through 38 years and 16 albums, he has delivered the goods consistently and expertly.

His latest record, Hypnotic Eye, is performed (as all but three of his albums have been) with The Heartbreakers, and the band’s familiarity with each other and the material shines through on every track. This is as beautifully seasoned as a rock band gets.

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Song of the Day #2,227: ‘Knock Knock Knock’ – Spoon

spoon_they_want_my_soulAnother great find from my recent musical shopping spree, Spoon’s They Want Me Soul is a tight, expertly crafted song cycle — which seems to be par for the course for these guys.

I own only three of the band’s eight albums, but all of them are similarly sparse and effective. Meaty, metronomic drums lay under stabbing electric guitars and front man Britt Daniel’s raspy vocals. It’s a simple sound but somehow one they’ve made their own.

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Song of the Day #2,226: ‘Ultraviolence’ – Lana Del Rey

lana_del_rey_ultraviolenceAfter a fairly long drought when it comes to new music, I recently picked up four new albums that have received a lot of high praise. I’ll feature a song from each the rest of this week.

I didn’t “get” Lana Del Rey until the third time I listened to her new album, Ultraviolence. And during that third listen, I got her completely.

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