In which we tell you about awesome things that you must look into and enjoy.

LISTEN TO DULL TOOL BY FIONA APPLE

I even made it easy for you! Press play. This song is off of the This is 40 soundtrack, and I definitely don’t want you to have to sit through that epic need-of-an-edit to be able to enjoy this song. Dull Tool could’ve been on Apple’s last album thematically, and you know we here at PopFilter loved that album (check out the 2012 music wrap up episode of the podcast). The upbeat melody and Apple’s gorgeous voice belies the heart-wrenching story of the song, which parallels the plot of This is 40 without the copout happy ending. It maps out the death of romance and passion in a relationship, and how couples can just slowly wither away next to each other in silence. Everyone in a relationship should be forced to listen to this song, and accept that truth is better than comfort. Judd Apatow got it right by putting it in his movie; he just didn’t get the full message.-MG

THE MOUSE AND THE MASK

About eight years ago, producer Danger Mouse and rapper MF Doom were like, “You know what we should do? Make an Adult Swim concept album!” Thus the duo (under the moniker Danger Doom) embarked on The Mouse and the Mask, one of the raddest–if seldom discussed–albums of the aughts. The tracks feature collaborations with a familiar cast of characters–well, familiar to viewers of Cartoon Network’s bloc Adult Swim, the late night programming of choice for the alt-inclined among Generation Y. Master Shake, Space Ghost, Brak, Harvey Birdman, Stormy, Uncle Grandfather, and the Mooninites all drop in on The Mouse and the Mask, intertwining their verbal hilarity with MF Doom’s narratives, the absurdity of which characteristically stretches to Ionesco proportions. From the Sealab 2021-inspired track “No Names”:

“Catch a rapper by his toe and smack off his tattoos/ That’s gonna leave a bruise/Leave ’em grievin’ blues like believin’ in evening news/They must be eatin’ glue/Heave it all back, and we even Steven Sue/Sprinkle lyrics like seasoning beef stew/and sneezin’ all in it after breathin’ in the flu/Get a clue, his reasoning is askew/As to all the feverin’ and heavin’ up goo.”

As if the album didn’t contain enough awesome already, it also features guest performances by Ghostface Killah, Cee-Lo Green, and Talib Kweli.

But enough about the specs; why is this album essential to your collection? Simply put, it’s multi-purpose. The choice in loops shows some impeccable taste on the part of Danger Mouse, who samples Keith Mansfield, Don Harper, and Richard Demaria while still producing tracks with a minty-fresh sound that is appropriate for many occasions–parties, driving, lounging, jogging, chores. My point is, I’ve never been able to dance with a broom so easily until hearing these beats. This album contains tracks that infuse something as mundane as walking down the street with fun and style. Don a pair of headphones and play the track “Space Hoes” next time you find yourself on foot. You will feel devastatingly cool. I promise. Plus, after being forced to live with family and coworkers who “just don’t get” Adult Swim’s programming, it’s awesome to know that some talented artists love Aqua Teen Hunger Force as much as you do.-EW