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music: essential tracks

David Byrne, formerly of the new wave band Talking Heads, performs in Macedonia's capital, Skopje, in 2009.BORIS GRDANOSKI/The Associated Press

POP

Who
David Byrne & St. Vincent, from the forthcoming Love This Giant ; free download here

Who, you ask? Why, it's the intriguing collaboration of Talking Heads' David Byrne and his fellow adventurer Annie Clark, the inquisitive singer-songwriter. The pair answers an existential question with a happy-horn intro, a chic-chugging rhythm and queer punch, and the sweet coo of Clark.

FOLK-ROCK

Waves
Skydiggers, from Northern Shore (Latent); streaming here

"Hi, hello, it's me again." That's how Skydiggers opens up its first album of new material in four years. An accordion-dappled beauty in ¾ time is a relaxing homecoming with a gentle melodic ripple.

POP

Strange Weather
Metric; streaming here

Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw of the synth-sleek art rockers Metric strip down to just piano and vocals for a concise, elegant cover of a Tom Waits song about lovers, strangers and the universality of odd meteorology and awkward conversations.

POP

Here Today
Jodie Marie, from Pet Sounds Revisited (Mojo); streaming here

On a CD that comes with the June issue of Mojo, the Wales-based retro-pop singer adds a touch of Winehouse strut to a summery tune about the perils and fleetingness of love. Like romance, Brian Wilson's craft is just so easy to succumb to.

JINGLES

Rufus Does Gum
Rufus Wainwright; streaming here

To his fans, there is only thing better than Rufus Wainwright: Two of him. A light-hearted medley of gum jingles includes a minty duet of Rufuses – a double pleasure, waiting for you.

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