By Paul V.

Singled Out

IAMX - The Negative Sex -Recall Import

The latest effort from Sneaker Pimps' Chris Corner is a near-perfect thrust of dense, pulsing new wave synths and propulsive, emotive vocals—sort've like a Goth-esque Muse dropping beats at your favorite neon-lit dance club at 4 a.m. Go check it out at www.myspace.com/iamx.

Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere - Downtown/Atlantic

By now, this disc's lead track “Crazy” is probably (hopefully) planted deeply inside your brain as one of the freshest, most unique, badass singles of the year. If not, where the hell you been hiding? This collaboration by über-producer Danger Mouse and ex-Goodie Mobber Cee-Lo sounds astounding and confounding in equal doses. Cee Lo's falsetto Stax-gospel rubbed by sandpaper vocals are a standout, and the music is best described as kaleidoscopic R&B soul funk recorded at a circus funhouse. It borders on schtick at first listen, but deeper inspection reveals undeniable charms—a combination of gritty grooves and summer-breeze melodies that sound timeless and familiar yet completely forward thinking. Danger Mouse employs nearly every sliced up sample and aural trick imaginable, from horror movie strings (“The Boogie Monster”), to digital new wave (a cover of the Violent Femmes' “Gone Daddy Gone”), to drum 'n bass pinball blips (“Transformer”), to Motown inspired swing (the delicious “Smiley Faces”), to infectious trip-hop (the smasheroo “Who Cares?”). There are also some dark forces going on: “Just A Thought” touches on suicidal tendencies, and “Necromancing” tries to get jiggy with corpses (yes, you read that right). No matter, though—you probably won't hear another record this year that sounds this inventive yet oddly off-kilter—and this will most likely make the new OutKast arrive with a resounding yawn. Sexy, smart, and sophisticated Gnarls' debut experiment should prove to be the hip soundtrack to summer '06.

Neil Young - Living With War - Reprise

Well, it's about time—someone with backbone and conviction attempts to write an album of protest songs and social commentary. And it comes not a moment too soon, as our beloved democracy is being raped and murdered as we speak. And it took an old-school progressive hippie like Neil Young to fire the first shot. This CD's main point is to highlight the existence of people the neo-cons refuse to acknowledge—folks that are patriotic, supportive of the troops, seeking the progress of America, yet completely disagreeing with this criminal of a president. Young is at his grungy, rockin' best here, stomping in the dirt with his messages about patriotism, consumerism, family strength, racial inequality, and most importantly—love of country. He kicks out the proverbial jams with the album's centerpiece, "Let's Impeach the President." It's a blistering indictment of our commander-in-thief, borrowing a page from Michael Moore by letting Bush destroy himself with his own words. In the song's midsection, Bush's own contradictory, juxtaposed statements create an incontrovertible pastiche of lies while background singers chant, "Flip... Flop... Flip... Flop..." The CD is worth buying for this one song alone, and even if Neil Young's music sounds terrible to your ears, buy it anyway. Give it to your younger brother or sister, or your neighbor. Young expresses what most Americans are feeling right now—and what the corporate media refuses to concede. Now it's your turn.

Dirty Sanchez - Dirty Sanchez - Hypnotic

Oh my, kiddies, brace yourself. You're about to be hurled headfirst into the deliciously decadent world of Dirty Sanchez. These Hollywood scenesters (Jackie Beat, legend; Mario Diaz, of “Hotdog” fame; and DJ Barbeau, from “Miss Kitty's” and loads of other nightclub gigs) prove there's no rest for the wicked, packing all the mascara, sweat, attitude, fashion, glitz, hangovers, and hedonism possible into one crotch-grabbing package. With their tongues planted firmly in cheek (and perhaps a few brown locations?), the trio gives Giorgio Moroder and Miss Kittin a run for their electroclash money, groping enough synthesized beats and porn star lyrics to make anybody shake what their momma gave them. Jackie Beat's scathing social commentary and brilliant wordplay gets unleashed on fab tracks like “Dinner Party,” “Youth In Asia,” and the queer-is-the-new-hetero “(We Hate) Youth And Beauty.” Ouch! And while I prefer the original version of the must-have “Fucking On The Dance Floor,” it's revved up John B. guitar-heavy update here makes for some perfect post-punk pyrotechnics (and the lyrics remain genius. Period). Mario holds his own when it comes to being the bad-boy boaster on tracks like “Really Rich Italian Satanists” and “Amber On A 3-Way Call,” and Barbeau clearly knows his way around infectious synth lines and percolating squiggles. Think of Dirty Sanchez (and/or Jackie & Mario) as the dripping wet, explicit, new millennium version of Sonny & Cher, 'cause there's a trannie beat going on here, baby.

Catch Paul V. spinning tunes in Silver Lake: Dragstrip 66 (second Sat. each month at The Echo), Spit (third Sat. each month at Faultline), and “TVOD” Wed. at Faultline. Tune in for his “Smash Mix” on Indie 103.1 FM Fridays at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.dragstrip66.com.