Ah Summer. The temperatures were higher, the credit card bills were higher, an unusually high number of people were injured from a supposedly non-contact sport, and it was difficult to find time to listen to new (to me) music. Here is a short list of some that I liked.

Cansei de Ser Sexy - Let’s Make Love and Listen Death From Above
Let’s! At Dante’s in Portland, Thursday, October 12. (As a public service, and to be fair and balanced: Architecture In Helsinki and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah will be playing at the Crystal Ballroom on the same night.)

Colder - To The Music
Klee - Gold
Munk - Disco Clown
Kind of cool, but not quite danceable. So, like, Hipster-Electro?

The Decemberists - Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)
My current favorite from their new album, which will be out in October. They will be playing at the Crystal Ballroom on October 17 and 18.

The Divine Comedy - To Die A Virgin
A song about not wanting to die a virgin from his new album. It’s kind of amusing. “[guy] You’d lose it riding a bicycle. [girl] I never knew that! I must be careful. I’m going to get a bicycle in London.” Or, “You told me on our first date / What you’d do on my birthday / Hooray! It’s my birthday…” And stuff.

I’m From Barcelona - We’re From Barcelona
They are not. But they do have some good, cheery, pop songs.

Kelis - Bossy (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke remixes)
I didn’t like the single, but the two remixes by Alan Braxe & Fred Falke are pretty good.

The Pipettes - Because It’s Not Love (But It’s Still A Feeling)
Their full length album is finally out. Quite a few songs on it are from their EPs and vinyls, but with different production.

Ratatat - Lex
Their second album is basically more of the same. The sound is maybe slightly less soft and warm. Nothing as good as “Seventeen Years” though.