Since I have nothing better to write about, my four favorite songs so far this year:

The Raveonettes - "Blush" - The whole album, "Lust, Lust, Lust," is definitely my favorite so far this year.  I have yet to succeed in getting it out of my head, but this song sticks out more than the others.  Seeing them live definitely helped change the album listening experience; it's best listened to turned up to 11 while sinking into a bit of a trance.

Titus Andronicus - "Titus Andronicus" - Gotta like a song with the chorus "your life is over!" screamed out by a guy who sounds like he's got more than just a few screws loose.  The frantic, crazed, messy recording gives it an immediacy that something more polished never could.  I really wish these guys would tour out here (they're playing in New York and DC, apparently . . . and in DC they're playing with Times New Viking, who is absolutely unlistenably loud and jarring recorded but is probably kicks all sorts of ass live.

The Kills - "Sour Cherry" - Though really anything off of "Midnight Boom" could qualify, this might be my favorite track off the album.  "Alphabet Pony" is a very close second.  The song itself makes absolutely no sense, yet still manages to be 100% awesome; their songs remind me of the musical equivalent of "Kubla Khan" in that they manage to have a stream-of-consciousness feel while still hanging together.  I can't wait to see them on Saturday at Slim's.

The Mountain Goats - "Autoclave" - A sad, lonely song that manages to hit exactly the right notes of despair.