Say what you will about them being a trite, meticulously-marketed boy band, but they released easily one of the biggest and best pop albums of the year.
Two songs I am addicted to at the moment. First, "Vagabond" by American independent folk and world music band, Beirut:
Next, "Stray Italian Greyhound" by American independent folk musician Vienna Teng:
I am greatly enamored with any song by Miss Teng not only for sound but for creative use of meter, lyrics that are poetry — no matter what some literature professors may think of lyrics in general.