I've been listening to Rubik, Clem Snide, and Gang Starr.

Just after 2009's odometer flipped into 2010, Rubik's Dada Bandits record started popping up randomly on my iPod pretty often. Before I knew it, I was smacking myself in the head for totally sleeping on this record as one of the best of 2009. Stylistically scattered in the best possible ways, this Finnish band manages to write sweeping anthems (see the attached "Wasteland") as well as lush, solemn numbers and fuzzed out rockers. Somehow taking all the atmospheric qualities of, say, Sigur Ros and combining them with the proggier tendencies of Mew, Rubik is by far one of my favorite musical discoveries of the past year.

The new Clem Snide record (The Meat of Life) has totally taken my ears by storm lately, as well. I found myself driving south down the Alaskan Way Viaduct the other night in need of some sort of sad, soothing sounds, and Eef Barzelay and company made a perfect soundtrack to millisecond peeks into people's windows along the waterfront. Melodically, the songs are nothing new, but the band seems to be toying more with dynamics than ever before, and Mr. Barzelay certainly does have a knack for writing the perfect quirky folk-pop song about finding serendipity in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Clem Snide - Walmart Parking Lot from Clem Snide on Vimeo.

There was a bit of a scare earlier this week after Guru from Gang Starr had a heart attack and went into a coma at age 43. Of course, the internet blew up with rumors of his demise. Thankfully, one of the coolest and jazziest MC's around is recuperating and will hopefully be back to making music soon. For now, let's show some respect and appreciation for a phenomenal MC and hip hop legend.