Songs You Need to Download Now!
Go to SPIN.com for samples and links to these tunes, vid clips, and more

1 Cass McCombs “CRICK IN MY NECK” Apparently, the dreamy pop-droner suffers from spinal soreness. On the plus side, we got this sighing, jangly lament out of it.

^{2 Schoolyard Heroes} “^{DUDE, WHERE’S MY SKIN?}” ^{Lead banshee Ryann Donnelly makes a line} like “Take off your skin and dance with me” sound kind of hot on this shred-heavy Halloweencore anthem.

3C _w3alvin Harris “ACCEP TABLE IN THE 80S” The first single from this squeaky U.K. beat-geek pays homage, ith lyrics and insidious synth squiggles, to the ripping electro-funk of the Reagan, or rather, Thatcher era.

4 Black Lips “KATRINA” Not sure if this is about the natural disaster that flattened New Orleans, but the _{South’s lowest-fi punk terrorists tear the roof off this mother, regardless.}

^{5 Louis XIV} “^{GUILT BY ASSOCIATION}” ^{They’re from San Diego and easy to mock—just like STP! But this} baroque glam-rock cut—complete with British accent and harpsichord—should bring these faux royals some love.

^{6 Spanish for 100} “^{LIMERANCE BE}” ^{In the tradition of fellow smarty-pants Northwesterners Modest} Mouse and Death Cab for Cutie, this foursome prove as handy with a muscular hook as they are with a thesaurus.

^{7 Jens Lekman} “^{FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE DRIVE-IN BINGO}” ^{Sweden’s wryest songsmith sings about} moped-cruising and waiting for somebody to call “B¹⁶” over a plinky track reminiscent of the Happy Days theme.

^{8 Parts & Labor} “^{THE GOLD WE’RE DIGGING}” ^{This Brooklyn trio mix frenetic guitar squalls, digital} chirps, and a kajillion bpm while never sounding anything less than tuneful. Pogo or hum, take your pick.

9C _j9elebration “PON Y” A profoundly odd seduction song, for sure. Katrina Ford squeaks and growls over a azzbo shimmy to get her point—she wants to jump on your saddle, boy!—across.

10 ^{The Stabilisers} “^BELINDA” ^{These mod English garage rockers craft a hurtling ode to the flushed} _{rush of infatuation that’s as goose-bump-inducing as its subject matter.}

^{11 Cassius} “^{TOOP TOOP}” ^{Before the Daft Punk high wears off, here are some more Frenchies delivering} frivolous dance music. The duo’s first single since ’02 is a blast of nonsensical disco-ska. We say: Whoot, whoot!

^{12 The A-Sides} “^DIAMONDS” ^{While the guitars shimmer and the Hammond organ vamps, singer Jon} Barthmus croons wistfully about wanting to be timeless, like the titular gemstone. For a minute, he nearly is.

13^1S _ro3mall Sins “ON THE LINE” Brandishing an impressively flamboyant quiver, Thomas D’Arcy makes doomed mantic obsession sound like an appealing proposition on this throbbing neo-new-wave romp.

14 ^{The Wombats} “^{KILL THE DIREC TOR}” ^{These Liverpudlian brats shine with trampolinelike guitars} _{and fiendishly chipper ooh-oohs—and by name-checking Bridget Jones and romcoms in three minutes.}

15 EPMD “BLOW” On this boot-stomping blast, the duo sound just as fresh as when they first stormed the _{battlefield back in ’ 88. Don’t get them mad, or they’ll} “_{Barack O-bomb-ya.}”

Dude N Nem
“Watch My Feet”

This Chi-Town snap duo rip the haters in this semi-ironic debut clip, which features all the vintage Nikes, bejeweled T-shirts, and rapping from an ice-cream truck you can handle. Like any great hip-hop song about a dance—in this case, a Midwestern phenomenon called “the Juke”—it keeps the focus on the manically moving lower extremities.

Beastie Boys
“The Rat Cage”

Like some sort of bootleg pinhole-camera-shot film noir unearthed from the ¹⁹³⁰s, this dreamy clip is a far cry from “Sabotage” or “Intergalactic” but matches the tone of the Beasties’ pithy dub instrumental perfectly, with nary a fake mustache nor funny hat in sight. This is a good thing; it would be a little sad to keep watching these guys throw pies and wear space suits.

Horse the Band
“New York City”

Horse might look sweet and new-wavey, but they unleash a jagged, ear-bleeding screamo assault. There aren’t many references to Manhattan in this clip, but it does act as a fitting tribute to ’⁸⁰s computer technology, the decapitated, and hot chicks who hang out in phone booths. Plus, you’ll learn a valuable lesson about extension cords from dudes wearing sweatbands.

Killswitch Engage “Holy Diver” In a video that draws from both Faster Pussycat and Renaissance faires, Killswitch Engage have a grand medieval time rescuing mutton-chopped princesses and brandishing big, shiny swords as they tear through Dio’s headbanging classic. Let it be knownst: Metalcore bands should wear robes and crowns, as it’s more entertaining than watching a jester while drinking a flagon of mead.