Ice Ice Baby

>> Featured Artist: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Just more than a month after being awarded a Toastie for "Best Band Name," Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin cashes in with an even bigger mention from Mister Toaster, who is reportedly "moderately excited" by the band's fortcoming appearance at Black Cat with Chin Up Chin Up on February 22.

While "House Fire" on barely got out of the nineties in the best-songs-of-2006 countdown, its the most accomplished No. 89 song The Toaster Talks has ever seen. And comparisons to Weezer aside, there's a depth to SSLYBY that Rivers Cuomo never really attempted - perhaps we're confusing depth for a minor chord progression.

But those minor chords make the poppy chorus all the more sweet. But we'd be remiss not to mention the subtle harmonies that lace this song's more delicate moments.

>> Album Lookout: Or Give Me Death

Aqueduct - To Be Released: Feb. 20, 2007 Barsuk

Discovered in the lonesome months of winter 2003 by DJ Bryan and his mix CD ruffians, Aqueduct made good with Mister Toaster with "Heart Design." Now back with a new LP fresh for a new winter, Aqueduct - the work of one-man-and-a-drum-machine, Oklahoma-native David Terry - is touring with Of Montreal and ready to make another splash on our hearts.

The Toaster had a hard time choosing a song to feature on these pages, but "Living a Lie" seemed to be appropriately Valentine's Day-themed. It also seems most representative of Aqueduct's charm - the hook-drenched electrona-pop with clever lyrics. And we couldn't get enough of all those crazy drum beats. (They're everywhere.)

>> Reverting to: 1970

Though this song will always be a Jesse and the Rippers song to us, the Beach Boys claim to have "the rights" to it. Bastards.

Just the line "If every word I said could make you laugh, I'd talk forever" shows the genius of Dennis Wilson and his oft-forgotten songwriting. Brother Brian called "Forever" (featured here is the a cappella version from Hawthorne, CA) "a rock and roll prayer."

We strive for the separation of church and blogs, so we'll settle for calling it a great song.