Fingertips

THIS WEEK'S FINDS
week of Dec. 28-Jan. 3


"Dirty Diesel" - Paul Westerberg
It's a train song, and come to think of it, it makes perfect sense. Having (barely) survived his rough-and-tumble days leading the Replacements, Westerberg has emerged against the odds as a traditionalist, of the Keith Richards school, holding down his own particular, goofy corner of the rock'n'roll fort. And there sure does seem to be something endlessly inspiring about trains to the traditionalists of the world. The song itself is a bluesy chugger, not all that earthshaking, but well worth hearing for Westerberg's casually brilliant guitar work, and that endearing voice of his.

"The Soldiering Life" - the Decemberists
Not enough rock bands bring to mind Al Stewart anymore; this Portland, Ore.-based outfit gets points for that right off the bat. There's a fragile, 19th-century jauntiness to this song that seems particularly poignant given the harshness of the lyrical tableau. And just when you're not sure exactly if this is going anywhere, it breaks into a full-bodied chorus that's downright memorable. There's something here that recalls the Auteurs, as well, for those who know of that distinctive band's work. Give it a chance, I think it'll grow on you.

"Staring at the Sun" - TV on the Radio
These guys seem to be one of the hot NYC bands of the moment (or maybe their moment has already past; you know how insatiable they are for the latest and greatest in NYC). Critics are throwing all sorts of labels at them, most beginning with the word "post": post-punk, post-electronic, post-indie, post-whatever. What I know is that any band that begins a song with this lovely a series of wordless harmonies (think Brian Wilson-meets-21st-century-Brooklyn) is worth spending a little time with. Even the lyrics caught my ear ("We were all weaned, my dear/Upon the same fatigue"), and usually lyrics are the last thing I notice. All in all, it's an odd little song, just a groove, a vibe, and a half a melody, but it's fetching, and the singer is darned good. TV on the Radio is a Brooklyn-based duo with one five-song EP to their name, which came out this summer. See what you think.