Sterfish: "Nothing Like This" from Ruff Draft by J. Dilla

The title of this song really describes it. Every time I listen to it, it amazes me just how unusual it is. Despite a rough, gritty sound filled with distortion, it is really a sweet love song. Dilla doesn't quite rap on this song and he doesn't quite sing either. The beat has Dilla's always excellent drums but features a trippy, warped beat that reveals itself to (possibly) be country in origin by the end.

It sounds like it shouldn't add up to a great song at all but in Dilla's hands, it does. Maybe that's why I like it so much. It defies a lot of conventions. It's sad that, as far as I know, Dilla never made another song quite like it.

Pico: "Korn Dutch" from Live In Tokyo by Lettuce

Nothing works better at getting a Friday afternoon attitude on a Monday morning than some James Brown inspired funk-jazz jams. And who better than to provide those jams than a supergroup consisting of Soulive's keyboard player and guitarist along with John Scofield's drummer from Uberjam, Adam Deitch? It's played live, which is how jam music is meant to be played. "Korn Dutch" contains just enough interesting chord changes to take the tune beyond the generic and offers plenty of solo space. Eric Krasno in particular rips on guitar. The JB-like horns add the cherry to the sundae.

Mark Saleski: "Bad Reputation" from Bad Reputation by Joan Jett

You might be shocked to learn that TheWife™ has a favorite television show: American Chopper. The only way this can be explained, since neither of us gives one hoot about motorcycles, is that she thinks one of the Teutels is hot... I do NOT want to know which one. Seriously.

Anyhoo, the show has been using "Bad Reputation" in a promo. I'd seen it a bunch of times and my weakness for old power pop/punk took hold.

Honestly, this song, in all of its Runaways/Ramones goodness, just can't be turned up too loud.

Mat Brewster: "Knockin' On Mine" by Paul Westerberg from 14 Songs

I got this album from the $3 bin from my favorite local record shop back in high school. It stayed in heavy rotation in my car for months, and started my long lived love affair with the Replacements. The record starts with a flash and a bang on this song, and I must admit I spent many years after owning it, trying not to be first to laugh, as to prove I, as Paul sings, "didn't get the joke."

It's been ages since I gave it a listen, but for whatever reason I pulled it off the shelf earlier this week, and it's been making me all nostalgic and happy ever since.