Flaming Lips and Dave Fridmann - "Tubthumping (Remix)". I remember reading about this online when it was released as a single, and I didn't know what to think of it. On the one hand, it's a blatant cash-grab by Chumbawumba's label; on the other, I can't understand why the anarchosocialist Chumbawumba would go along with it. Maybe they're just very hungry. I suppose there's also the attraction of hearing what the Flaming Lips might do to your song, but why this, why now? It's all very peculiar.

But then, the peculiarity of the situation doesn't take away from either the shambling pop majesty of the original "Tubthumping," or the stepping-home-from-the-pub pile-on of this remix. It's not incredible - the original Chumbawumba strings and horns aren't good enough for this to be great - but that Flaming Lips synthesizer sound (like a hounddog being pulled through a black hole, or something) is special.

The Hidden Cameras - "Boys of Melody". Inspired by alex's post, here's a succulent taste of the Hidden Cameras. In concert, their best song was certainly the shake-it-baby anthem "Ban Marriage," but "Boys of Melody" slipped through in second-place. The genuineness of Joel Gibb's delivery, his comfortable earnesty, makes it fun to listen to even when it's just Joel and a harp. All the better, then, that the Cameras throw in xylophone, strings, harmonies, and as much volume as "gay church folk music" can handle. The silly angelic choir at the end makes me smile every time: it's so full-throttled and proud.