Norah Jones, “The Story” (Live on Letterman) [Live]
With its loop-de-loop bass and creeping vocal line, this truffle from the My Blueberry Nights soundtrack finds Norah getting as sinister as she’s going to get. Which is to say, not very.
Various Artists, “Beatles Gone Global” [Mixtape]
The Beatles get a mixtape that compensates for the goofy German version of “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”: artists from around the globe reinvent the Fab Four’s impeccable pop.
Robyn, “Who’s That Girl” (Styrofoam Kid Remix) [Remix]
Remember “Show Me Love?” From the Nineties? That was her then. Listen to this and get a better idea of her now, as fierce machete-swipe synths criss-cross in front of the Swedish pop star’s cotton-candy voice.
The Rosebuds, Remix Album [Remixes]
North Carolina duo’s songs get turned inside out courtesy of remixes by members of the Cure and Bon Iver (among others). When you are a small band from the South, you take the remixers you can get.
Josh Ritter, “Snow is Gone” [Live]
All you need to ease you swiftly into summer: Ritter’s big, broad strum, a cheering audience and lyrics about birds and sun and warm, warm weather. By the time the whole band kicks in, we’re ready to call in sick for the next six months.