Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 47: Do you think the girls here ever wonder how they got so pretty?

Good evening.

What you're about to witness -- the latest installment of "Don't Tell a Soul" -- is a mix tape of the "awesomest" caliber.

I only wish I were kidding.

ANYWAY, to encourage the consumption of music that doesn't suck, I have provided -- wherever available -- links to free, artist-sanctioned MP3s of the songs.

So long, and farewell!
Matt

p.s. This edition's "cover art" is my little homage to the Pretty Girls Make Graves album "The New Romance."

(Questions or comments? E-mail mperrine [at] duluthbudgeteer [dot] com.)

1. New Pornographers - "Myriad Harbour"
I am simply in awe -> these crafty Canadians never cease to amaze. ("My Rights, Versus Yours" MP3 available here.)

2. Beck - "Fume"
Best sing-along song of all time, hands down. (Yes, that means you, "The Wheels on the Bus." Your days entertaining preschoolers are over!)

3. Mott the Hoople - "All the Young Dudes"
A classic, through and through. David Bowie is such a kind fellow, dontcha think?

4. Muse - "Knights of Cydonia"
I'm so excited for "Guitar Hero III," I may vomit.

5. Dizzee Rascal - "U Can't Tell Me Nuffin'"
Dizzee's a visionary. Mainstream American rappers could learn a lesson or two.

6. Girl Talk - "Touch 2 Feel"
Sampling the Amps' "Tipp City"?! I adore thee.

7. Aesop Rock feat. the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle - "Coffee"
I said it all here. In short: it's good, damn good. (Some free Aesop MP3s here.)

8. Dropkick Murphys - "I'm Shipping Up to Boston"
Though I never saw "The Departed," my buddy Suoja informs me that it is, indeed, worth my time. (p.s. Lots of free DM MP3s at Epitaph.)

9. The Exit Radio - "Life is Just a Second"
A little pop/punk never hurt nobody, now did it?

10. John Vanderslice - "Time to Go"
This is a (relatively) hard charger in the key of the Doves' "Pounding." Bravo, J.V.!

11. The Bee Gees - "I Started a Joke"
I first became aware of this bittersweet classic in "Zoolander" -- via a Wallflowers cover, no less....

12. White Hot Odyssey - "Permanent Juvenile"
If you miss the mighty K.C.'s bloody yelps, dig in. Oh, and ... there's no easy way to put this, but this guy's regular singing voice could easily be mistaken for early Danzig. (So, I guess do with that what you will.)

13. Steve Miller Band - "Space Intro"
Have you ever fallen asleep to this? I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.

14. The White Stripes - "Walking with a Ghost" (Tegan and Sara cover)
It's as if this song was explicitly written for the Stripes -- too dead-on of a cover to believe anything else.

15. Brenda Weiler - "Noise and Sound" (listen here)
Wow, here's one to melt your pretty little heart right down to its core. (Recently I had the pleasure to cover Weiler's upcoming show at Beaner's and review her new album, "End the Rain," where this little gem came from.)

16. Gomez - "Do One" (live)
Recommended if you like the Black Crowes, space and ... golden-era Soundgarden?

17. Alaska! - "Kiss You"
These guys are cool. I want them to play my next garage party!

18. Super Furry Animals - "Aliminium Illuminati"
I'm not entirely sure how I landed on this terrific, somewhat-obscure EP side, but it's definitely worth seeking out.

19. Mark Eitzel - "In Your Life"
One of the reasons this American Music Club solo side sounds so damn sunny is because it ... was produced by R.E.M.'s Peter Buck? Your call. (p.s. Some American Music Club MP3s here.)

20. Aidan Hawken - "Late Night with Christina"
I first discovered Aidan's music after he completely owned the "Weeds" theme, "Little Boxes," when he covered it for the show's second season. (Listen to it here.)

21. Urge Overkill - "Back on Me"
22. Letters to Cleo - "Here & Now"
This is slightly embarassing, but both of these can be found on the "Melrose Place" soundtrack, which I recently picked up at Disc-Go-Round for a buck ... a whole buck.

23. Jumprope - "Memory" (listen here)
R.I.Y.L. Syrup USA, Dealership and the sweetest boy/girl "vox" this side of Imperial Teen.

24. Jay Reatard - "I Know a Place"
This song reminds me of a carnival, and in no way is that depressing. (p.s. Snag this song's 7-inch for only four bucks here.) (p.p.s. If you're going to be in Minneapolis later this month, Jay's going to be at First Avenue Sept. 30. -- info here.)