There’s something off-putting about seeing Crystal Castles on Jimmy Kimmel Live with giant Bud Light banners visible from every angle. But Alice Glass’ performance more than makes up for the overly prominent corporate shilling. I was secretly hoping that they might have performed “Not in Love” with Robert Smith, but no such luck. This will have to do. Alice Glass is quickly becoming one of my favorite people.

Highly revered for her time in the short-lived X-Ray Spex, Poly Styrene has flown way under the radar since her teenage punk days. Known for her brash banshee wail, Styrene sang on one of the finest punk rock records of all time, Germ Free Adolescents. After suffering a nervous breakdown from constant gigging by age 21, Styrene has had little to say musically, the occasional album and X-Ray Spex reunion notwithstanding. In 2011 she plans to release a solo album produced by Killing Joke’s Youth, which is being preceded by an “alternative Christmas single” called “Black Christmas.” If you’re going into this expecting anything even remotely like her punk rock days, you might as well not bother clicking play. It’s a mid-tempo reggae-tinged jangle that features guest vocals from her daughter, Celeste.

I’ve liked everything I’ve ever heard by Deerhunter, so it’s embarrassing how long it took me actually to purchase a record. And Halcyon Digest is easily my favorite album of the year. This performance of “Helicopter” is outstanding. This song is mesmerizing. Can’t get enough.

If you went back in time to any college radio station in the US in the mid ’90s and said “Walmart is going to use a Jim O’Rourke track in a commercial” I dare say you would have been laughed at. Not sure who’s laughing now. Is there anyone who hasn’t had their music used in a commercial?

Somehow, I missed this back in 2008. Doesn’t come close to the brilliance of the original.

Released in early October, the oOoOO EP released on Tri Angle Records has been rocking my world as of late. See also the previously released NoSummr4U.