I feel a wee bit previous about this week’s top new tune since it isn’t released until March 22nd. But fuckit, I can’t avoid it any longer! The tune is ‘Sixteen Military Wives’ by the wonderful Decemberists. It’s from their new album, ‘Picaresque,’ which is coming out on Kill Rock Stars. The album is gorgeous, being entirely like a four-course-meal in the famine that is the current indie pop scene. Yes, it has real songs on it, not vague restructurings of Gang Of Four b-sides. Do you remember songs? I’m hoping the sheer poppiness of this album brings The Decemberists all the fame / money / left-handed potrzebies they desire. I also hope that they one day do a cover version of Split Enz’ ‘Six Months In A Leaky Boat,’ a rollicking, nautical tune which they were born to do. But that’s another matter. Put your order in for the album now unless you hate all pop music ever.

The best old tune was ‘Big Decision’ by That Petrol Emotion. Formed out of the ashes of The Undertones, TPE were a classic ’80’s indie band. Not “indie” in the way it’s mis-represented by the coke-addled hacks at Q and Mojo but in the true sense: TPE were political, experimental and confrontational. Today’s corporate chart schmindie is a poor relation, it merely follows whatever template sells. One week angular guitars, the next bleeping synths, the week after, angsty mockney dirges. TPE had brains, soul and better pop songs than today’s gutless, whining whores.

Agitate, educate, organise:

These Arms Are Snakes – Big News
Her Space Holiday – Something To Do With My Hands
Sweatshop Union – Union Dues
Killswitch Engage – Breathe Life
Starbuck – Moonlight Feels Right
Death From Above 1979 – Romantic Rights
Vive La Fete! – Touche Pas
Swollen Members – Flawless
A Life Once Lost – Cavil
Camera Obscura – Keep It Clean
Brooks – Roxxy
Less Than Jake – Sleep It Off
The Decemberists – Sixteen Military Wives
Zongamin – Serious Trouble
Agnostic Front – Fall Of The Parasite
Denim – Middle Of The Road
Big B – Tweakers
Minor Threat – Minor Threat
The Soft Pink Truth – Out Of Step
Adam Green – Emily
Remembering Never – The Glutton
Brave Captain – Weaponized
Pigeon John – Pay Back
That Petrol Emotion – Big Decision
Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci – Young Girls & Happy Endings
AFI – File 13
Vessel – As She Explodes
The Smashing Pumpkins – 1979
Dor – In Your Grill
The Dillinger Escape Plan – Panasonic Youth
The Bens – Xfire
Format – Damn Right
The GC5 – One For Eugene
Minister2bad – Woe Is Me
Of Montreal – Chrissie Kiss The Corpse
Monkees – The Door Into Summer
Slicker Meets The Aluminium Group – Next Time
Tortoise – It’s All Around You
A Tribe Called Quest – Jam
The Velvet Underground – Pale Blue Eyes
Andrew Bird – Action/Adventure