The Songs We Can't Escape

THE DANDY WARHOLS
"The World the People Together"

Do aging alt-rock heads sit around these days waiting for new Dandy Warhols albums to drop? Really? Anyway, this is like sunshine acid/post-Woodstock Spacemen 3 jangle-pop or something, and as useless as I generally find these fools, I probably won't excise this from my Windows Media Player once I'm finished typing.

BURNING STAR CORE
"No Memories, No Plans"

N.E.R.D. feat. SANTOGOLD and JULIAN CASABLANCAS
"My Drive Thru"

I'd be willing to bet my annual salary that none of these three have ever worked an actual fast-food drive-thru: By all accounts, Julian and Santogold grew up loaded; Pharrell was probably too busy arranging primitive beats in his bedroom. But yeah, the song: Hate this flashy, hyperactive mess. Seriously, why are these people—all of whom are talented in different ways—even working together?

JAMES JACKSON TOTH
"Nothing Hides"

No more of that preacher/junkie Wooden Wand bullshit for Toth: He's got Steve Fisk producing for him now and the songcraft's sharp, shapely, and distinctly '70s. This is sort of like being in a wood-paneled incubator—in a good way.

VALET
"We Went There"

Wander half-aware into one of Portland's Honey Owens's ethereal, depthless puddles, and you're hopelessly lost in the skuzzy guitar, undulating tambourines, and mellow vibes a mere 30 seconds later. Divine.