The Appleseed Cast’s Mare Vitalis is an album I listened to quite a bit the year I got it. I can’t even remember when that was. But for some reason, I didn’t then consider it one of the premiere albums of that year. I have continued to listen to the album over the years, and it continues to stand up. I really don’t know what it is about this album that causes me to keep coming back to it. But whatever, I love it. Here are the two best songs.

I recently heard Martin Rossiter’s album, The Defenestration of St. Martin, released in December of 2012. It’s a beautiful, sparse record, mostly piano and vocals.

As I thoroughly enjoyed it, I decided to look up this Martin fellow, only to find that this was his first solo record, and that he used to be the lead singer of a 90′s Britpop band called Gene.

Gene’s highest charting single was a reissue of For The Dead, which peaked at number 14. It seems they were plagued with constant comparisons to The Smiths. I feel your pain, Gene.

This song is my personal favorite of theirs.

Here’s a video from Toy that is more than a little indebted the most unsung and under-appreciated band of all time, Neu! When our last album, “Psychic Dissonance” came out, a lot of british “scribes” said we were stealing these dudes’ thunder. Sorry, my limey pals, that thunder has and forever will belong to Neu! But there’s plenty of room for all of us to steal from their considerable genius.

That’s how my favorite new Candidate song goes. Until then, another inspiration playlist.

This marks the 2nd time James has made the Inspiration Playlist. I’ve always said that I didn’t like James. I suppose I am a liar.

Half of these came from a 2013 SXSW playlist.

Inspirado for 3.19.13

Song For Zula – Phosphorescent
Born To Kill – The Thermals
Robert Raimon Roy – Robert Raimon Roy
The John Wayne – Little Green Cars
Amanaemonesia – Chairlift
Carnation – The Jam
Destiny Or Circumstance – Ian Brown
The Game – Echo And The Bunnymen
Seven – James
One To Another The Charlatans

Thank you, Daniel Yonts.

I feel like this song sounds a bit like Muse, from back when I was familiar with Muse’s work, and a bit like that ever dreaded word, “emo.” On a side note, I loved emo. I don’t know if I still do. I might. I also never quite understood the criticism. Is the point that people should not have feelings? The absence of feelings is sociopathy or psychopathy. Is that a tacit embrace for a world of psychopaths. We already have enough of those slowly robbing us of our money and dignity in seats of power. I don’t think we need to make more. This went in a weird direction. Why do I always get sick on Saturdays? Enjoy the video.

This isn’t the sort of thing to which I normally listen. I’ve also been told I’ve missed the boat by 30 years or more. No worries. Hopping on bandwagons makes me feel pretty good.

This new Iceage joint is off the chain. There. I said it. Listen.

Iceage – You’re Nothing

At the very least, listen to the first track.

I know most of our fellow Lexingtonians have already heard it, but here’s the link for those that haven’t. Matt Duncan released his first full length album in January, and of course it’s filled to the brim with spectacular tunes. Many of them (The Keys, Rube Goldberg Machine, I Don’t Know, and Idle Hands) were already favorites of mine from seeing him play live so many times in Lexington, so it was exciting to hear how Matt arranged and recorded the parts for the album.

Matt arranged and played horns on “NYC” from our most recent album. He also played with us last month at Rockwood Music Hall in Brooklyn, but sadly he didn’t jump up on stage unannounced to play a ripping sax solo during our set.

Stream his album below, then download it for a mere seven bones or buy the record for $14. I promise it will be one of your favorites of 2013.