Listen Up

So all of you true music fans know that Tuesday is new release day in the CD sales biz, and, we here at the Outfield will try to pass on the best of the best when we see it. This Tuesday, the new eponymous album from Weezer (lovingly labeled "The Red Album" by most fans and critics) is the big release. We would be remiss if we didn't point out that the crazy folks over at Circuit City are offering the disc up for the low, low price of $5.99. You just can't beat that. So do your best to ignore the horrible customer service that Circuit City offers and let them help you with your cheap shit.

To celebrate the release of the new Weezer disc, I thought I would give you a little "Pork & Beans" – the first single off of The Red Album. I know what you are saying – didn't they just do an entry about this song and video? Well yes, yes we did. HOWEVER, I just can't get the song out of my head. And for those of you who know me, you are aware that is a massive space to have a tune bouncing around in. To make things more interesting, I am also serving up a side portion of other songs that I either can't get enough of, can't seem to get away from, or a mixture of both.

Let's start out with our "Pork & Beans" appetizer:

For the second course, let's serve up a couple of Apples -- Apple iTunes songs that is. If you own a TV, then you know you cannot escape these two songs. This first song is one of the new tracks from Mr. Gwyneth Paltrow's band, Coldplay – "Viva La Vida". I think it's catchy and extremely well done, plus it shows a nice evolution from the band. Hopefully you will agree. To the rest of you, it's probably how you know that I am gay.

Coldplay – "Viva La Vida"

The other apple is a nice sweet European variety, courtesy of the wonderfully named The Ting-Tings. This is a band that my wife insisted that I invented just to confuse her. The surprise was on her when she actually recognized the song and had to admit that she liked it. Who knew the power of The Ting Tings?

The Ting Tings - "Shut Up and Let Me Go"

This next song is EVERYWHERE. Plus, this is another band that my wife insisted was a figment of my overactive imagination – The Flobots. Viva the genre of intellectual, white boy rap!

The Flobots – "Handlebars"



One of the bands that consume the bloggers is The Black Kids. And, you might easily assume, they are not black. Well, not all of them. But they sound very British and very 80's retro (too bad the are young and from Jacksonville FLORIDA). I defy you not to find yourself envisioning the happiest Robert Smith you can when you hear this and try to keep your toes from tapping.

The Black Kids – "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You."

Speaking of Robert Smith, this is my favorite Cure song in a long, long time. I have grown to appreciate them more in my old age, and this song just rocks. This is a live version of a song that I have never heard on the radio or seen on the TV outside of "Later…with Jools Holland."

The Cure – "alt.end"

This next song comes from the next hottest thing to come out of the British soul scene. And unlike Amy Winehouse, she really is black (and mostly drug free, I would imagine). Her name is Estelle and she is joined on this track by Mr. Kanye West (maybe you've heard of him?)

Estelle – American Boy

Last but not least, let's go back to the tried and true, one of the absolute best bands in the world – Pearl Jam. This is an absolute killer cover of the Thin Lizzy classic "The Boys are Back in Town". After all, the boys will be back in town in less than two weeks when Slick and I catch them headlining Bonnaroo.

Pearl Jam - "The Boys are Back in Town"