This week we welcome the first of many guest contributors to our Song of the Week feature. Kari Wethington, the local music editor for Cin Weekly was kind enough to contribute this week, check out our picks below……

Mike Taylor - The Veils - “Not Yet”, from the CD Nux Vomica

After The Veils well received debut album was released in 2004, the London-based band split due to creative differences. Lead vocalist and main songwriter Finn Andrews (son of XTC’s & Shriekback’s Barry), returned to his native New Zealand to regroup, literally, reforming the band with two high school classmates.

Last year saw the UK release of Nux Vomica, the band’s sophomore release, which finally hit US record shelves this week. Even though the band may have technically shrunk, there’s a very big sound to the record and with Finn’s vocals taking more center stage, it’s easy to draw comparisons to bands like The Waterboys or even Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Check out the opening track, “Not Yet” which echoes elements of both bands: Mike Scott’s vocals mixed with the Bad Seeds dark noir. The result sets The Veils up as something much more substantial than a latter-day Britpop band that their debut disc had them pegged as.

The Veils - Not Yet (live via Music Is Art)

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Matt Shiv - The Clientele - “Bookshop Casanova”, from the CD God Save The Clientele.

Alasdair MacLean has one of those voices that can just make me stop whatever I’m doing and get lost in the music when I hear it. On the band’s new single, a lush string arrangement is layered onto a Donna Summer-esque disco backbeat. OK, this is not exactly “Bad Girls”, but it’s nice to hear them pick up the pace a little bit. “God Save The Clientele” is released through Merge Records on May 8th.

The Clientele - Bookshop Casanova

Joe Long - St. Vincent - “Now Now”, from the CD Marry Me.

Annie Clark is St. Vincent, and it is about time she burst out of the shadows and into the spotlight. Clark has already played supporting roles for the likes of Sufjan Stevens and The Polyphonic Spree, and is now very poised to join the ranks of other great female folk / pop singers.

The album from St. Vincent, titled Marry Me is out July 10th from Beggars and the first song to see the light of the web, Now Now is more than just a teaser, it’s an introduction to the beautiful vocals and complex sound of Annie Clark.

St. Vincent - Now Now

Kari Wethington - Mark Ronson - “Oh My God” feat. Lily Allen from the CD Version.

British super producer/DJ Mark Ronson has worked with everyone from Christina Aguilera and Ghostface Killah to indie pop star du jour Lily Allen.

On his latest disc, Version (out now in the UK), he again teams up with Allen, as well as Amy Winehouse, Kasabian, Robbie Williams and more.

In this sample track, “Oh My God,” Ronson and Allen cover fellow British cool kids the Kaiser Chiefs, from the band’s 2005 release Employment. Replacing the original guitars and post-punk drama with bright horns, a funk-fueled beat and Allen’s softly sassy vocals, the song is reinterpreted here as less rock, more dance-party jazz.

This irresistible song, and others from the disc, would make great additions to any summer soirée’s playlist.

Mark Ronson feat. Lily Allen - Oh My God(stream)

Take a look back at our previous Song Of The Week Installments.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 27th, 2007 at 11:36 am and is filed under MP3's, Music, Song Of The Week. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.