[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.]

We’re apparently in a “now” kind of mood around here this week as all of our picks come from 2008 releases (we normally have at least one cut from the archives each week), with songs from A.C. Newman, Girl Talk, Madlib, and a brand new cover from Eddie Vedder & Corin Tucker. Enjoy.

Stranger Jay: A.C. Newman – “There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve”

A.C. Newman may very well be the most underrated songwriter in business today. Best known as the lead singer/songwriter for Canadian indie-rock supergroup, The New Pornographers, Newman is a master of the pop song, able to consistently craft songs that are instantly accessible and (more importantly) stand up to repeat listens. This song is more of what we’ve come to expect: big hooks, strong arrangements and great melody. Brian Wilson, Ray Davies and Alex Chilton should all be proud.

This track comes from Matador Records’ excellent (and free) Fall Sampler, Intended Play. His second solo album, Get Guilty, is scheduled to be released on Matador Records on January 20, 2009.

Vague Panther: Madlib – “No More Time? (The Change)”

It’s no secret I’m a Madlib fan. So of course my selection this week is off of the recently released additions to the Beat Konducta series (Volumes 5 & 6) called “No More Time? (The Change)”. For me, messing around with beats is a hobby, but the reason I love it is because of the challenge it presents – they’re kind of like a haiku in that their short, to the point and hopefully, beautiful.

And that’s why I can’t get enough of Madlib. He’s so good at capturing a general feeling or mood in under two minutes that it’s not really just about listening to the song its more about “how the fuck did he make me feel that?” Enjoy this great little bass groove.

Uncle Corey: Girl Talk – “No Pause”
Girl Talk – “Set it Off”
DJ Kool – “Let Me Clear My Throat”
I don’t really know what exactly Girl Talk does. Mashup artist? No. DJ? Not really. I do know, however, that it’s great stuff. What he does isn’t really all that special, it’s more how he does it – serious, heavy-duty mixing using a dizzying amount and variety of songs, and doing it really, really well. Very cool stuff and I’ve been listening to it non-stop this week – thanks to friend of the blog Jeremy for turning me on to it. It was really hard to pull out any specific songs, so here’s a couple of songs that have a couple of great verses in the mix, including DJ Kool’s “Let Me Clear My Throat” and Eminem’s “Shake That.”

Also, I included “Let Me Clear My Throat” which is just an awesome song and has kind of a cool sample history. Those of you who watched “Yo! MTV Raps” back in the day, may remember that sax loop from “The 900 Number” – aka, The Ed Lover Dance. That sax solo comes from “Unwind Yourself” by Marva Whitney, who had a short run in the late ’60s performing with James Brown. Useless information, but I love that stuff.

Scooter: John Doe – “The Golden State”

Legendary punk icon, John Doe, played a surprise solo set at an Obama fundraiser I attended a few weeks back and treated the audience to an intimate and impassioned performance. One of the highlights of the show was, “The Golden State,” a song from his 2007 release, A Year in the Wilderness. While he is largely unknown outside of his involvement with X, Doe is one of San Francisco’s most gifted songwriters and I highly recommend that you check out his solo stuff if you get a chance.

Oh, I almost forgot. As your resident Pearl Jam devotee, I feel obliged to let you know that Eddie Vedder and Sleater-Kinney’s, Corin Tucker, recorded a gorgeous cover of “The Golden State” for Doe’s new EP (out this week on Yep Roc Records). Check it out here: