“Espionage” – Preoccupations. Going back to their days performing as Viet Cong, this band has always mined the dark, post-punk sounds that came straight from Joy Division. I wasn’t crazy about this song at first, but it’s really grown on me in recent weeks.

“Living” – EERA. Another dark and brooding song. I must be drawn to this stuff because it’s been so damn cold for the past few days after our spring preview of late February.

“My Enemy” – CHVRCHES with Matt Berninger. This sounds nothing like what either of these artists have done in the past. I think it’s a nice change of pace for both of them.

“Western Cold Wind” – Joana Serrat. I guess I have to have one song like this each week: the folksy, Americana-ish, atmospheric song by a female artist. This one is a little different as Serrat is from Spain, but sings like she’s from Texas.

“This Corrosion” – The Sisters of Mercy. Our flashback song of the week, released as a single in 1988. There was a DJ on KLZR in Lawrence, KS back in the early 90s, after the station had switched to a local DJ, alt-rock format, who would play the full album version of this song – all 10+ minutes of it – in the wee hours of the morning. Something about that chorus was good for cranking up when you got home after last call. Hey now, hey now now.