Nothing but faith to keep me warm

I was walking down a city street a few days ago (no, D'luv, not that kind of walking on streets) when my iPod, on shuffle, turned up the following song. I know it's already got a pop classic kind of status, but something about the timing and atmosphere was just so right--late night, big city, streets empty of traffic but with just enough people on the sidewalks to get you wondering where the night is going to take each of them and you--that I fell in love with it all over again. This may be more a case of "let's appreciate this song" than me introducing you to a song you don't know but might like, but either way, I need to get this out of my system.



In My Pocket--oh, Mandy Moore, as Adem has asked, why on Earth would you ever forswear a back catalogue that includes a song like this? If this is the result of the Western exoticizing of Eastern cultures, bring it on--rarely is a song this tantalizing, this slinkily invigorating--striking just the right balance of danceable forwardness and taunting come-hither-ness--this able to get under your skin and into your head, or, to get more to the point, this perfect. Maybe it's not a song very much suited to (American) radio, but I bet it'd be a killer getting ready to go out song...or dance around the house by yourself with no other concerns song--take your pick.

To buy Mandy Moore's self-titled album, go here (physical) or here (digital).

Next up: something Swedish, I imagine--many dance music.

Animal, mineral, physical, spiritual

Let's keep up with the poppy happy music. Mandy Moore is someone who I keep meaning to catch up on, because the only full album of hers I've heard is the self-titled one. I went through a period where I couldn't get "Yo-Yo" out of my head (and trust me, trying to remember the carbon cycle when all you can think of is "it's broken/I can't let that hope in/I know what you want" is not so easy!) and she's had some great singles, so I'm not sure why I've never gotten around to looking for more. I'm not sure about the concept of cover albums, which her fourth album, Coverage, was, but if it led to a song like this, I guess I can't say too much.

Drop The Pilot--before anyone asks, I haven't heard the full Joan Amatrading original; if I had, I might not enjoy this cover so much...and I do enjoy it a lot. I have no idea what it's about--does anyone know? I mean, I could guess for some of it, maybe, but "drop the mahout"? And what does a mahout have in common with a pilot and a monkey? I mean, if a monkey was in charge of driving or controlling something, I might be able to come up with some sort of theory--"don't stick with who you're with now, be with me instead!" (and I'll just leave it at that)--but it's not, at least that I can think of. Once the song starts, though, you probably won't be thinking about that for too much longer--it's so happy and upbeat that that doesn't matter too much.

To buy Mandy Moore's album Coverage, go here (physical) or, if you live in the U.S., you can get it from iTunes.

Next up: maybe that American album, or one from Australia.