My Brightest Diamond - "We Were Sparkling"

Goth - but not like PVC and black lipstick, nor like the barbarian sackers of Rome. Goth like Aristotle's and Goldielocks's favourites: the temporal middle-dwellers - E. A. Poe, Goya, and the bad dudes who built the gargoyles and stained glass of Notre Dame.

Soft - but not like an old teddy bear, nor like an enormous cotton ball. Soft like an overripe apple, or brown, slushy snow underfoot.

Slow-unfolding like a The For Carnation song.

Again, like a The For Carnation song: An already eerie atmosphere, defined by the round tone of a plucked guitar, becomes frightening through the subtle use of well-placed chimes and metallophones.

Like, pretty sweet. [Buy]

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Timber - "Criminals"

What "Criminals" lacks in melodic movement, it makes up for in slight and fine increases in harmonic density. Timber knows how to build pretty sounds one on top of the other to make something just a little bit more than pretty. Neither hot nor cold, "Criminals" is the temperature of bodies - a middle ground pleasing to the Greek philosopher and fairy tale character alike. [Info]