City Weekly is asking locals what’s playing on their iPods and assorted digital toys'brand-new tunes, classic favorites, etc.'right now, and why. This week, Egos doorperson/booker and music lover Dominique LaJeunesse ticks off nine favorite tracks: “I don’t know if these are pithy enough, but damn it I tried!”
nnThe Eels, “Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living)”
nn(2005, Vagrant.com)
nn“Mark Oliver Everett sings of self-deprecation with a touch of optimism so fine that it will make you feel petty about how much you hate yourself.”
nnPeaches, “Set It Off”
nn(2002, XLRecordings.com)
nn“This is one of those songs that no matter how low I turn it down in my car, the windows and mirrors are vibrating. Peaches’ lyrics are so ‘louche’ that I often times find myself sheepishly looking around at traffic.”
nnJedi Mind Tricks, “Blood In Blood Out”
nn(2003, Babygrande.com)
nn“Deceptively happy beats under hip-hop lyrics of humor and violence. It makes that longing for the days of N.W.A. not sting so badly.”
nnMelt Banana, “Shield for Your Eyes, a Beast in the Well on Your Hand”
nn(2003, A-Zap.com)
nn“This song is so fast, with a high-pitched lead singer. Plus, this band knows how to play their instruments impeccably. Plus, they’re from Japan!”
nnSigur Ros, “Svefn-G-Englar”
nn(1999, Sigur-Ros.co.uk)
nn“A sure deterrent to road rage. I can put it in on the way home from work and just focus on the ambient calmness. And guys, save yourselves the embarrassment of wondering aloud how hot the singer is. It’s a man. And he’s pretty hot.”
nnOkkervill River, “Red”
nn(2002, Jagjaguwar.com)
nn“When I’m in one of my folk/rock/alt-country feel-sorry-for-myself phases, I’ll put in this song. It’s so pretty and sounds like warranted crying.”
nnGrandaddy, “Now It’s On”
nn(2003, V2Records.com)
nn“No matter what, I will always fall back on this CD. This song is a great mixture of electronic/pop/rock, which could be taken as serious and heartfelt one moment, or absurd and funny the next, depending on my mood.”
nnImogen Heap, “Loose Ends”
nn(2005, ImogenHeap.co.uk)
nn“For some reason I hold female singers to a higher standard than males. When I heard this song I instantly fell in love with it. She has one of the most flawless voices and ranges. I almost peed myself when I found out they were coming to Salt Lake in October. Almost.”
nnThe Pixies, “Broken Face”
nn(1992, 4AD.com)
nn“Duh, it’s the Pixies.”
