Sounding like the love child between Stevie Wonder and Elton John, All This Wandering Around by Ivan & Alyosha is the kind of happy tune to get you out of bed in the morning and forget all about your crippling debt and deadbeat family. So in a way, this song is a hero…

There is more than a bit of controversy about this next song, but that shouldn’t detract for its overall sonic goodness. This video of Young and Unafraid by The Moth & the Flame was “stolen” from the band and posted by a magazine and subsequently racked up millions of hits. The argument boils down to whether this theft is actually a PR stunt or genuine. The master detectives/dicks at reddit have weighed in and roundly pronounced them guilty, but we’ll let you decide for yourself whether the song redeems any possible marketing stunts.

Let’s pick it up a bit with the new Penguin Prison.  Show Me the Way is now your go-to tune when you pile all your friends into your rusted Honda and hit the road to the beach or mountains. You’re welcome. This kind of pop always has a half-life akin to child stars, so enjoy it while you can.

Kickin’ it old school is pretty much a way of life here at FactoryTwoFour. We like our vintage cars, classic fashions, and 70’s soul music. We’re not sorry. And you can keep your Curtis Mayfield’s and Isaac Hayes, because we’ve got William De Vaughn. This slow jam will bring you home every time and let those on the curb know you dig the scene with the gangsta lean.

Every once in a while, you need to just chill the hell out and let your mind wander. Few musical acts are as good at facilitating the zen state of mind as Zero 7. For their latest drop Last Light, they’ve teamed up with one of our favorites Jose Gonzalez. This song is a slow build but it pays off those who stick with it.

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You need more Texas blues in your life. That’s just a fact. Lightnin’ Hopkins was the undisputed master of this very unique sound, and his utterly smooth guitar picking coupled with his gravel-road delivery created “The Texas Sound” that so profoundly grabs your soul. His catelogue is deep and steller, but to pick just one song leads to the inexorable Jailhouse Blues.

Keeping it old school, the Beta Band cranked out some vicously good tunes, but also a lot of total weirdness. For that reason, it’s not fair to say they are “underrated” or “overlooked”. No, they made some great music and a lot of not-so-great music. But if you are willing to take the time to sort through the not-extensive catalogue to find those gems, it is very worth the journey. Or you can just wait for someone like to us to tell you which tracks to grab.

Stepping out of the Way-Back machine and back into the present, we have this delightful little spring roadtrip song from Alvvays. Filled with sunshine and soaring melodies, “Archie Marry Me” is your prescription for window’s down motoring this warming season. It’s lightweight, non-filling, and slightly frivolous – like a perfect fling. You’ll forget this song in 2 weeks, but for now it just hits the spot.

The Helio Sequence’s new “Stoic Resemblance” is what would happen in Beck ever had a good day. Not that he would. This droning and methodic pop tune harkens back to 50’s surf tunes of old without becoming overtaken with nostalgia. Instead, they layer their wandering guitars underneath abrasive cymbals and a steady beat to make one hell of a song.

Finally ending back on a classic note, I positively DARE you to put this New Order song on and not feel like the king of the world when the lead guitar comes in over the drums during this stellar intro. Go ahead, try. You just failed. Because its a great song that gets you ready to go kick ass and chew bubblegum. You’re welcome.

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