THE ALMOST-WERES THAT JUST-WEREN'T-QUITE

A couple days ago, I posted the tracks I'd been most enjoying during the 2nd 4th of '05. Today, I share a few of the tunes that just missed the cut.

Electric Six is a Detroit band, so I feel the need to shower them with a bit of favor. It's almost impossible to take these guys seriously - and "Dance Epidemic" is no "Danger! High Voltage!" - but what the hell. It's catchy in a sublimely stupid way, and that's just fine for summer Saturday nights both south AND north of 8 Mile. [Their album title, Senor Smoke, by the way, refers to former Detroit Tigers reliever Aurelio Lopez, who was the 8th-inning set-up man for their 1984 championship team.] [I knew you wanted to know that, so that's why I told you.]

Maria Taylor is a member of both Azure Ray and Now It's Overhead, and her solo album, 11:11, is currently available from Saddle Creek Records.

And yes, I'm as surprised as anyone that I'm including a Wallflowers song here. But it's a decent one - perhaps even above "bland." And poor Jakob has to drag a pretty big shadow around with him. So let's show the man a little pity, shall we?

"Sweet Illusions"/Ryan Adams & the Cardinals [from the LP Cold Roses, 2005]
Sweet Illusions-mp3 [left-click]

"Dakota"/Stereophonics [from the LP Language. Sex. Violence. Other?, 2005]
Dakota-mp3 [left-click]

"Dance Epidemic"/Electric Six [from the LP Senor Smoke, 2005]
Dance Epidemic-mp3 [left-click]

"Song Beneath the Song"/Maria Taylor [from the LP 11:11, 2005]
Song Beneath the Song-mp3 [left-click]

"Nearly Beloved"/The Wallflowers [from the LP Rebel, Sweetheart, 2005]
Nearly Beloved-mp3 [left-click]