Again, sorry today's post is so late: I just turned in the final paper of my university career.

To make up for my tardiness -- an extra-special three-song cavalcade to kick-start all of our week-ends.

First up, Chris Lee - "Cossacks of Love". One of the breeziest, most joyful rock songs of last year - a chuffed guitarline, handclaps, and Lee's gladfly voice. It takes a moment for the song to really sink its teeth in; I'm always put off by the bassline in those opening seconds - it's like the bassline for a song I don't like, somehow. But by the time we're rushing into the chorus, whiteblue wind in our hair, all is forgotten. I'll avoid the "cossacks" and "tedious gangsters" of love, just so long as Lee keeps singing - excited, euphoric. Joycore in the kindest, creamiest, most middle-aged way.

Outkast ft. Sean Paul - "Hey Ya! [remix]". A straightforward remix of "Hey Ya!" dropping Sean Paul and a bullhorn into the midst of the Outkast beat-turned-riddim. Spizzazzz didn't like it ("Terrible!"), but I don't really see much to hate, unless you hate "Hey Ya!"/Sean Paul to begin with (which I don't). Not as good as the original, certainly, but this version's got some dancehall. Which is very pleasant on a Friday evening.

(n.b. This is actually the weakest of the three OutKast rehashes I've heard this month. The other two are Will Young's live r&b version of "Hey Ya" - really nice and slow, with blue piano and purple backup singing [it sort of falls apart at the end with a bongo breakdown, but-], - and the Benny Benassi remix of "Ghettomusick," which Mark sent my way, and which will appear on StG if there's any interest. It will make you dance like an electric motherfucking flower.)

Finally, Hanson - "Underneath". Listen up, indie kids - you're allowed to like Hanson, now. That's right: they quit Polygram and released the new one on their own label, 3CG. Come, you repressed indie rocker! Rise and embrace the pop ambrosia that is Hanson - the sweet vocals, the sugar-hooked melodies, the divinely inspired bridges. But wait! You think that they've already peaked? That they can do no better than they already have? That 2004's Underneath, as well as its title-track, will necessarily be a load of recycled dung?

Well, you are mistaken! Not only is "Underneath" a glittering, ringing, awesome pop-rock ballad, not only does it have a bracing piano and brotherly harmonies, Coldplay guitars and strident strings, but it was co-written by Matthew Sweet. That's right: the teenaged brains behind "MMMbop" united with the mind behind Girlfriend. It's like an insane pop superhero crossover, and the best part is that this isn't a clumsy career-grab by Sweet (or Hanson): it's a jubilant, catchy hit. It's like "MMMBop" for when it's pouring outside; Treble Charger without the grit; like singing to the storm in a smiling, unabashed way. (And it's also not the lead-off single.)

Other things:

Icepeople downloads includes music recorded by cabin-feverish ne'er-do-wells in Antarctica. Not all the links work, but you can download the complete album of "McMurdo [Station]'s Other Band," in mp3 format. It's good-natured folk-pop, with a few instrumentals. Particularly good are tracks 16 (guitar, bongos, and a solemn saxophone), and 15 (a shuffling ode to amphetamines: "I don't have a bad time / I don't need to come / for I have become an amphetamine bum. / If you don't like sleeping and / don't want to screw / then you should take lots of amphetamines, too." Then they go into an enthusiastic "ampheta-pheta-pheta-...-phetamines" chorus.). Oh yes, and track 3 is fun cuz it's a sad-sack guy-with-guitar, singing "every day it's colder and colder / and darker and darker / until it's gone," but it's true because he's in Antarctica. (Many thanks to my sister for the head's up!)

Also, be sure to peep the new (and really excellent) group mp3blog, music (for robots). great variety - hardcore, dance, hiphop, indie and more. with an ear to the ground in the fluxblog way. (I'll probably be posting a different track by The Killers, next week.)

TTIKTDA has had a great week, as well. The horn theme at first seems kind of stilted, but Keith's picked some great tracks to share. The must-haves: orchestral ska by the Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution (no really, it's good), the delirious, sweet Long Winters cut, gypsy-punk by Gogol Bordello, and the insane, riotous Giddy Motors song.

Other tracks of note: Vincent Gallo (sleepy Badly Drawn Boy alt.folk) and Architecture in Helsinki (indie pop) at new (ish). [no permalinks (!!!) so you gotta scroll down.]

Oh right - I see that Said the Gramophone is listed on kinja now, and I'd like an icon to go with our listings there. Art's not my forte, though, so I'm hoping someone out there has a little more ability and wants to give it a shot. If you're game, send me a 32 x 32 pixel image, and I'll dropload the winner something good from my vaults (I've got the new Streets and Badly Drawn Boy, f'instance). Thank-you in advance!