Happy Valentine's Day

How about a round of applause for those photo editing skills? That's what I'm talking about. It's true....Pop Headwound is for lovers. Always has been, always will be. And by “always will be” I mean for the rest of the day today, or until I want to pass along some more new music, whichever comes first. As much as I enjoy a blistering anti-establishment punk-rock manifesto or a swirling haze of cool 60s-pop-inspired indie-rock harmony, where it’s at today is with pure heart-on-the-sleeve balladry. Not the hair-band “power” kind, and not the Hallmark card cheesiness kind, but the kind where a singer has something real and true to say to the woman he loves, and in doing so speaks for all us uneloquented meatheads too self-absorbed to give the girl what they want and need. Something we cannot find the words to express or the courage to muster. The kind that’s the musical equivalent to a big hug, an ear and shoulder at the end of a long day, or some unexpected flowers. This is a somewhat random selection of my favorite love songs. Love, babe, is where it's at. I said remember that.

MP3 :: Lover’s Waltz - AA Bondy
(from American Hearts. Buy here)

This is from Bondy’s fantastic 2007 solo debut - one of my favorite albums of last year - and soon to be reissued by Fat Possum.
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MP3 :: Moonlight Kiss - Bap Kennedy
(from Lonely Street. Buy here)

“Moonlight Kiss” and the rest of Lonely Street isn’t as raw and spontaneous as the better Domestic Blues (a true lost classic of the Americana genre, even if he is Irish), but this song is completely beautiful.
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MP3 :: Tougher Than The Rest - Bruce Springsteen
(from Tunnel of Love. Buy here)

My favorite Bruce song. Well, this and “Thunder Road”. And “Highway Patrolman”. And “Atlantic City”. And “Incident On 57th Street”. And…..
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MP3 :: I’ll Be Your Mirror - Clem Snide
(from Beautiful EP. Buy here)

Eef Barzaley covers Nico from her Velvet Underground days and reveals what a devastatingly beautiful song this is if sung by someone who can, you know, sing.
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Stream :: True Too - Earl Pickens
(unreleased)

A really great new song from Earl - check out the original post here
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MP3 :: Kathleen - Josh Ritter
(from Hello Starling. Buy here)

Name me a better opening line than “all the other girls here are stars you are the Northern Lights”
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MP3 :: Reason To Believe - Kelly Willis
(from Easy. Buy here)

I don’t only listen to guys.
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MP3 :: Into Your Arms - The Lemonheads
(from Come On Feel The Lemonheads. Buy here)

I wonder how many mixtapes for girls this song has ever been on?
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MP3 :: Constellations - Matt Singer
(from All Us Heathens. Buy here)

Matt proves he does sincere love songs just as well as cynical love songs or funny story songs.
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MP3 :: My Favorite One - Paul Basile
(from Warehouse Songs Volume One compilation. Info here)

Basile is a Brooklyn local I’ve mentioned on here a time or 2. Here he is showing he can handle a vulnerable, honest folk ballad as well as anyone.
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MP3 :: Picture In A Frame - Tom Waits
(from Mule Variations. Buy here)

“I’m gonna love you til the wheels come off….oh yeah”
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