Takes a bit to get going, but we close with a couple outstanding songs.
The Might Be Giants, "Can You Find It?"
This song, from Here Come the ABC's, really doesn't make any sense without the accompanying video. I mean, to the extent it makes sense. Or that anybody cares.
Johnny Socko, "Next Big Thing"
I think this is some kind of meta-commentary on trend hopping in music? From...a third-wave ska band? OK, Johnny Socko.
Consolidated, "Butyric Acid"
Consolidated were lumped in with the industrial dance scene, due to their use of those types of noises in their beats, but they were just as often a rap group as they were a dance music outfit. All of which avoids talking about what they were really known for, which is their confrontational approach to politics. They were socialists, proud of it, and centered their lyrics on their political views. They also peppered their records with recordings of people getting upset with them for discussing politics. Which kind of baffles me. Why would you subject yourself to Consolidated if you didn't want to hear their political views? There's really nothing else to them. Don't do that to yourself! I liked that they were explicitly political, personally.
Unfortunately, their music was often pretty stiff. I ended up buying several of their records mostly based on their occasional good tune and hope that maybe they'd get better, but they never really did.
Japandroids, "Fire's Highway"
Anthemic punk rock from Canada (yes, more), the Japandroids had a well-deserved breakthrough with Celebration Rock, which this song comes from. They're not really doing anything new or different, but I still find it irresistible. This is probably the album I'd recommend from them.
Burning Airlines, "Sweet Deals on Surgery"
Fuck yeah, art punk! It's our old friend J. Robbins, of Jawbox, Office of Future Plans, and Channels, but this time with Burning Airlines, my favorite of his various bands. This album in particular, Mission: Control, is a masterpiece of this style of angular punk rock - thoughtful, interesting, but plenty energetic as well.