Stephen Malkmus and his band were often too weird for their own good…they hit it big with Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, but made a quick about-face with the wild Wowee Zowee a year later…their fourth album wasn't so 'out there,' but is still a very creative set…over the past few years, Matador Records has been releasing heavily expanded versions of each of Pavement's albums, with Brighten The Corners: Nicene Creedence Edition arriving soon…  

DeVotchKa - "Dark Eyes" from SuperMelodrama

Recorded long before their smash, How It Ends, this song from the eclectic group's debut album is far from being new…the Russian folk song was first published in 1843, and has been sung to me by my Ukrainian-born great-grandmother from the day I was born…it's been covered in all styles, from folk to lounge to gypsy swing, and DeVotchKa's version is a lovely addition to those ranks…

Okkervil River - "Calling And Not Calling My Ex" from The Stand Ins
Lead singer and songwriter Will Sheff is one creative guy…last year, he took his band, Okkervil River, to the top of many people's best-of lists with The Stage Names…a continuation of sorts, The Stand Ins brings more folksy, baroque country-pop, with an emphasis on wordy lyrics…Sheff's rockier side comes out here and there in the music, but the album (like the band's others) concentrates more on expression than bombast…

Syd Straw - "Heart Of Darkness" from Surprise

You may remember her from 'The Adventures Of Pete & Pete,' or from The Golden Palominos or the incredible Stay Awake album…Syd is a very unique voice in the alternative country community, and she's got some pretty famous friends, too…this, her first album, featured Michael Stipe and Richard Thompson, and she employed The Skeletons to be her band for her second album…she's also done a lot of backup singing for everyone from Pat Benetar to Leo Kottke…some résumé!…  

The Sisters Of Mercy - "Marian" from First And Last And Always

Sure, Nick Cave is my favorite gothy-type singer, but Andrew Eldritch is a close second…The Sisters Of Mercy only released three albums, but each one is a brooding masterpiece…being the only original member remaining, Eldritch has recently taken The Sisters out on his own, though it's unclear as to whether this stage of the band will ever record…on top of those three albums, there are a few covers out there, like Nouvelle Vague's cover of this song on their first album…