Best of 2007, Pt. 4

October
Eileen Barton - If I Knew You Were Comin', I'd've Baked a Cake
Granted, the opening is a little grating (and shrill. Don't turn up the music till she's finished saying "look who's here!!") but once it gets rolling, this novelty song from 1950 is an addictively bouncy little swing tune.

Also, I like to bake cakes, so it makes a nice soundtrack for me. :D

Dave Brubeck - Blue Rondo a La Turk
A West Coast jazz classic from 1959, it's a musical breath of fresh air.

Yannick - Ce Soires La
A French, and even more disco, cover of the Four Seasons' "Oh What a Night." Of all the earworms I found this year, this one's the earwormiest.

And of course, this year's favorite Halloween carols:

The Atomic Fireballs - Man With the Hex
From the '90s swing revival - thanks for this one, Chris!

I Monster - The Blue Wrath
From the Shaun of the Dead soundtrack.

The 5 Jones Boys - Mr. Ghost Goes to Town
A scratchy, satisfying old doo wop tune.

Jonathan Coulton - RE: Your Brains
I think we've all had to deal with zombies in the workplace.

November
Evelyn Evelyn - Have You Seen My Sister Evelyn?
Amanda Palmer of Dresdon Dolls & Jason Webley are Evelyn Evelyn, and Webley explains their music like this: "...sounds like something the Andrews Sisters might have recorded if they had grown up in the circus listening to new wave music." That's a pretty good description, though at least this song I'd just call vaudeville.

Patrick Wolf - Pumpkin Soup
As melancholy and evocative as "Magic Position" was happy and cheerful.

Mika - Lollipop
Speaking of happy and cheerful, this is awfully joyous-sounding. Until you listen to the lyrics and realize that they're actually pretty bitter.

Nina Simone - I'm Going Back Home

Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am
I first heard this in an Old Navy commercial and fell in love with it. It's sweet and very romantic and right at home in the autumn.

Amy Winehouse - Cupid
Ok, last one (for this year, anyway), I promise.

December

Celia Cruz - Yo Vivire
Cruz's cover of "I Will Survive." I got this and the above "Ce Soires La" at one of my favorite music blogs, "Copy, Right?"

The Pierces - Secret
I first heard this during the debutante ball scene of Gossip Girl and had to have it.

The Puppini Sisters - Crazy In Love
Their signature take on Beyonce's hit.