The New Pornographers - "Wish You Could See Me I'm Killing It"

Carl Newman has the ability to sketch the briefest of stories in his lyrics, suggesting so much while saying so little. Ever since The Former Site Of came out in March, I have focused on this song, which gives us a glimpse of a man struggling to buy flowers. Why? The answers are there in the words, but not entirely. And that chorus kills me every time.

Bob Dylan - "Sugar Baby"

Happy 25th anniversary to Love & Theft and this incredible closing track.

RJD2 & Supastition - "Back Talk"

Old-school hip-hop, complete with a glorious amount of scratching and hard beats. Hell yeah. Happy Labor Day.

Tool - "Sober"

Between this video and The Nightmare Before Christmas, the mid-1990s were a great time for stop-motion animation.

World News - "Everything Is Coming up Roses"

"Everything Is Coming up Roses" sounds a little Band of Horses. It sounds a little Quivers. Those chiming guitars and the deceptively openhearted vocals -- which are singing some fairly downbeat lyrics, if you pay attention -- get me every time.

Grace Ives - "Neither You Nor I"

Grace Ives has released several singles off her recent album Girlfriend. But this is the song I find myself returning to. (Maybe it's because of the track's low-key Bjork vibes.)

Donna Lewis - "I Love You Always Forever"

After this weekend, expect a lot of new YouTube comments for this video to say things like "Who else is here after seeing Teenage Sex and Death in Camp Miasma?"

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - "Falling Slowly"

In the 20 years since "Falling Slowly" first debuted, how many people have used it as their first song at their wedding? I haven't seen Once in forever, and so I haven't thought about "Falling Slowly" in quite some time. Yes, it's still deeply affecting. Rest in peace, Glen Hansard. 

Lola Young - "Messy"

Men are truly the worst.

Genesis Owusu - "Pirate Radio"

Kofi Owusu-Ansah has had it with Elon Musk, incels, Kanye fans, you name it. And he's got something to say about it.

Sugar - "Believe What You’re Saying"

Sugar are going back on tour after decades of inactivity. So let's celebrate with a song from File Under: Easy Listening that always got to me.

Vince Staples - "Only in America"

America the beautiful, I'd like to take a look at you. 

Muna (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) - "Silk Chiffon"

Let's end the week with a love song.

Perfume Genius - "It's a Mirror"

I'll be out of town this weekend. Hopefully nothing that occurs in this video will happen to me while I'm gone.

Queen - "Radio Ga Ga"

Growing up in the Midwest, I must have heard Queen hits like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Will Rock You" approximately 10 million times. But "Radio Ga Ga," which itself was a hit, came to me later in life. And because it doesn't feel overplayed, it retains its charm, funkiness and heart. Also, dig that Metropolis-inspired music video. 

k.d. lang - "Constant Craving"

Recently, inspired by a colleague getting ready to celebrate his 50th high school reunion, I started thinking about the songs that defined my high school years. Not the best songs, but the songs that left an impression. Somewhere in the mix has to be this k.d. lang track, which probably remains her most enduring. I haven't listened to it in forever, but when I popped it on right now, it still soared.

Sonny Rollins - "St. Thomas"

Rest in peace to the Saxophone Colossus.

Florence + the Machine - "Free"

People will often ask me, "What does Susan do while you're out of town for two weeks at Cannes?" Well, this year, she wrote a great piece about the D Line, and she went to a Florence + the Machine concert. Trust me, she's hardly missed me.

Shocking Blue - "Venus"

The opening night film at this year's Cannes, The Electric Kiss (La Vénus électrique), ends with "Venus," because of course. I've had it rattling around in my head ever since.

Us3 (featuring Rahsaan, Gerard Presencer) - "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)"

Dig that Herbie Hancock sample, everybody.