Tapes 'n Tapes - "Lines"

The paranoid wanderer narcissist believes that cities are just government conspiracies to put as many people and obstacles in the way to their destination as possible. The newlywed solipsist wonders to himself, while making love, whether he has masturbated to the point of breaking skin. The pathetic sympathetic pet store owner imagines every time she flips the closed sign that these are actually her pets for the night. The self-inflated and widely hated culinary teacher's assistant believes that cooking for anyone but yourself is worse than prison. Tapes 'n Tapes are convinced unconditionally of their cause, they've made plans, they've written letters and drafted schematics. T-squares, ledgers, levels and chalk, "Lines" is nose-to-the-grindstone homework music. I'm impressed. [Buy]

Sloan - "Cheap Champagne"

Sloan, I only have room for so many bands in my life. I can't give myself to every single one, there'd be no me left. There are a ton of unlistenable bands in the world, and there's even more mildly listenable bands. There's a bit less listenable bands, and the smallest group is very listenable, or great, bands. But even though it's the smallest group, it's still a very big number. Too much for me to hold them all in my heart. So you and me, Sloan, we never got together. But whenever I see you, and I see you, around or whatever, I always know that if I'd lived my life differently, we might have been something. Canada's Queen? [Pre-Order]