The Ironclads::: photo by Abbey Simmons 

I know that it makes me a bad music blogger, but to be honest with you, I spent much of the month of May listening to two bands  basically on repeat: The Ironclads  and Nurses.

Much of my May was spent (unsuccessfully) trying to decide what my favorite song  is from The Ironclads  debut album: The Space Between the Maps. Every time I see the Ironclads (probably five or six times in the last three months) I leave with a new favorite song, which I then find myself singing and screaming along to in my head (and aloud) for the next week or so. It’s an enviable problem for a band to have,  in my opinion.

On a 12 track album, there are six songs in a heated brawl for the best.  Initially, I was certain there was no better song right now than the ridiculously catchy “Alamogordo;” but then I got stuck on hook heavy “Bullet Train;” then I moved on to the  f-word laden and slightly heart-breaking  anthemic “Fuckin’ A” (”the only heroes are the heroes that die, man”), then it was back to the first Ironclads song that hooked me, the ill-fated astronaut tale of “Cape Canaveral,” while the last Ironclads’ song to enchant me is the surprising pop sensibilities and sweetness of “Step to the Sea.”  After 40 or 50 listens each, I still can’t decide which song is my favorite, though I’ll happily listen another 40 or 50 times to try to come to a conclusion.

Mark my words, The Space Between the Maps will be featured highly and heavily on Sound on the Sound’s Best of 2009 lists. In it’s transversing of sounds, tempos, and styles, the album reminds me of the early Saddle Creek records that led me away from my hippie/folk leanings and straight into the arms of independent rock and music. Without a doubt,  The Ironclads are the  most pleasant surprise out of the Seattle scene this year. And if you haven’t caught one of their frenetic,  sing-and-scream-along live shows yet — you need to remedy that as soon as you possibly can. There’s an intoxicating buzz and energy in the room when The Ironclads take the stage, which makes you feel like you’re in the fold of something special. I cannot recommend them or their album highly enough.

When I haven’t been listening to The Ironclads, I’ve been playing PDX band Nurses a ton. Josh found a recording of one of their live shows, and it’s listened to at least once daily. Just like the Ironclads, there’s been a large debate going on at SOTS HQ about which Nurses song is the best. And like the Ironclads, we can’t decide on a single track, because they are all just so damn good, and freaking catchy to boot. Nurses specialize in dreamy experimental pop songs, a description which does little justice to the band’s unique style and sound. The lead singer of Nurses has a voice that is reminiscent of the Cave Singer’s Peter Quirks vocals, but he’s singing danceable tunes instead of dirges.  Sound on the Sound is planning a trip down to Portland to catch these guys live, because we simply can’t wait for them to travel north to Seattle.  To get a delicious taste of Nurses, I recommend taking a listen to “Lita” or “Technicolor,” which shows off the expansive experimental pop of the band to a tee. You should have “Technicolor” stuck in your head for the next few days at the very least.

Honorable Mentions: I listened to a couple other bands in May, I swear:

* Pearly Gate Music (go and listen to “Gossamer Hair” right now)
* Akron/Family
* Shane Tutmarc
* Bon Iver  (his set at Sasquatch was the highlight of the festival for me)
* The Traditionist
* “Take It In” by Wye Oak