Two Keys, Twisted and Turned

Shuffler don't fail me now! Happy Hannukah!







"Snakes in the Grass," The Essex Green
A little neo-psychedelia from the Brooklyn outfit's third album, Cannibal Sea (2006). Sasha Bell takes the reins on this one.

"My Lady Story," Antony & the Johnsons
It only makes sense: Nina Simone last week, Antony right on her heels. This is a song from the gorgeous I Am a Bird Now, which won the 2005 Mercury Prize. Expect a new album in spring '08. Here's bonus footage of Antony's performance in the Leonard Cohen documentary, I'm Your Man. He was the best thing about that show.

"Side of the Road," Beck
Beck goes acoustic on the aptly titled Sea Change. Nice album, but did he have to sound like Eddie Vedder's kid brother?

"Iron Man," Black Sabbath
This is one of those songs where I would kill to have been in the studio when the band was making it. Here's a live version recorded in Paris. How Bill Ward made all that noise with just one bass drum is beyond me.

"Peking Spring," Mission of Burma
It's hard to find a more fiery group than this one. But, then, Mission of Burma have always played it that way. Simply put, this is one of the greatest post-punk songs ever slapped onto vinyl. The band has described it as emerging "Athena-like" from the head of bassist Clint Conley. Check out this vintage 1979 clip from an MoB gig in Boston.

What's on your player?