David Sylvian - Red Guitar

Amanda Palmer - Guitar Hero

The lead singer of the Dresden Dolls is becoming a media darling, and it's things like this video that show you way. Impeccable song writing, a powerful style, and a unique but accessible look.

Mission of Burma - That's When I Reach For My Revolver

Powerful post-punk (or is it power-pop?) song. I don't know why, but I didn't hear this track until just a couple of years ago, and now it's completely stuck in my head. Bastards.

Rain Tree Crow - Blackwater

This was an attempt to get the seminal New Wave band Japan back together in 1991, which was only somewhat successful. They released this, a truly gorgeous album, but nothing else.

Beauty such as this is rare to find in this world, so enjoy it when you can.

VAST - Pretty When You Cry

Surprisingly powerful. It was actually a well enough known song, apparently, to have a really bad Skinemax movie made using this as a title.

Jim Carroll Band - People Who Died

This is a great song, brutal in its simplicity and honesty. But it's far from the best track on his Catholic Boy album, which has been called the last great punk record. I only feel bad that it took me so long to listen to the whole album.

Similarly, while the movie of The Basketball Diaries is really a great film, the original book is so much stronger. Truly one of the great punk poets, along with Patty Smith, Lou Reed, and John Doe.

Alphaville - Romeos

Placebo - 20 Years

A pair of Poe

Electic Six - Gay Bar