[This weekly feature is a snapshot of what the Stranger Dance staff can't get out of our collective head each week. On any given week, we might be digging a new local act, an old jazz chestnut, the newest Japanese electro-folk or whatever else we've got on the turntable/iPod that week.]

This week’s picks are a little more aggressive than you’ll normally find around here. Of course, aggressive is a pretty relative term – you won’t find any Brazilian death metal – but we’ve got some post-hardcore, gangsta rap, the angriest song Spoon ever recorded. Judging by his pick (a new cut by Kid Cudi), it looks like Vague Panther was the only well-adjusted staff member this week.

Stranger Jay: Spoon – “Towner”

There are a lot of bands I love that I only want to hear when I’m in a certain mood – one thing I love about Spoon is that they cover a lot of territory. I’ve been pretty grumpy this week, and this track from their first full-length release (1996’s Telephono) was just what the doctor ordered.

Far from the sophisticated minimalist pop of their later records, “Towner” is a wonderfully spastic and cluttered mess. Their Pixies influence is also on full display with spiky guitars, distorted shouted vocals and wide dynamic swings.

Scooter: Ice Cube – “Check Yo Self [Remix]“

I thought I’d honor the fact that Cube is coming to the Fillmore in August with one of his classics as my pick this week. Given his new occupation as family-friendly actor, I don’t think lines like, “this ain’t no fuckin’ motion pitcha” hold the same weight as they did 15 years ago, but we’ll have to see. “Check Yo Self” is still the shit though and a central part of his early ’90s trilogy (Amerikkka’s Most Wanted, Death Certificate, The Predator).

Uncle Corey: At the Drive-In – “Relationship of Command”

Again, I’m going back a few years for this feature. I think everyone knows the story of At The Drive-In: small band turns into buzz band, turns into exploding band, turns into The Mars Volta … and some other crappy band. I love “Relationship of Command” and especially love the opening track. This is a go-to whenever I want loud, non-punk music.

I’m a sucker for a great scream and Cedric Bixler-Zavala has one of the best – which, consequently, he completely abandoned in The Mars Volta. This song is raw power and vocals, and it makes me want to punch a fucking wall. That’s a good thing.

Vague Panther: Kid Cudi – “Is There Any Love” [f. Wale]

I feel like there has been tons of buzz for Kid Cudi recently, but all I could find was his Day ‘n’ Nite EP on iTunes. Which is just ok in my book. But leave it to my new favorite music publication, Fader, to pick up the slack and post a sick MP3 featuring Wale that might just change my mind about his upcoming release. Keep it vague.