The doctors said that after heart surgery, I might react to things more emotionally than before. For the most part, that hasn't been true.

However, there's a song by Portugal. The Man that may be the greatest song ever recorded (at least for today): "People Say" from their wonderful and flowing 2009 album The Satanic Satanist, the line "all the soldiers say it'll be alright, we can make it through the war if we make it through the night" hits me a strange and powerful way.

I can't help thinking about the denial of hopelessness conveyed by it. I tear up a little bit. Part of that is because I am reminded of the last scene from Black Adder Goes Fourth, and that I am a sap.

This may be the greatest song ever recorded (at least for today), and can be quite earwormy.

It orignally showed up on their 2003 album Gallowsbird's Bark in a slightly different form - less electronic and a bit mellower - but this version is from the 2005 release, EP

This may be the greatest song ever recorded (at least for today).

It's called "off Road" - you can find it and mildly odder tracks on United Future Organization's self titled 1994 album at a significantly more listenable sample rate.

This may be the greatest song ever (at least for today).

Seriously, there is nothing wrong with what April Smith and the Great Picture Show do on this thing. You know when you get an earworm, and no matter how much you normally dig it, you really want it to go away?

That does not apply to "Colors." It gets stuck in my head, and I'm okay with it; it makes my day better.

I love the old-timey style, the accordion, the strangely makeshift sounding percussion, and even kazoo.

On their album Songs For A Sinking Ship, it's easy to see how they can cite The Beatles, Queen, Edgar Allen Poe and Wes Andersen as influences: there's a darkness in their wit, and cleverness in their gloom, all with something strangely upbeat supporting their sound.