The Bicycles are my new favorite thing. Their new album, The Good, The Bad and the Cuddly is a genre-jumping ball of fun and delight. Guests on the album range from Jay Nunes (the Meligrove Band), Mike Olsen (Hidden Cameras) and Gentleman Reg.

MP3: The Bicycles – Cuddly Toy (The Monkees)
With “Cuddly Toy,” I picture Matt Becket of The Bicycles sitting down his significant other for an important talk, only to be tossed an acoustic guitar and break into a Monty Python-esque musical moment. As the name implies, this is a saccharine-soaked song of sweetness. Where it differs, however, is that The Bicycles aren’t your average pop saps. As my mental image of the song shows, this is one that teaches a harsh lesson. You see, with love and loss, you always tend to assume that no one could know what you’ve been through. But “Cuddly Toy” is both a sweet tune, and a harsh reality that plenty have been where you are, and plenty more will soon be.

BONUS MP3: The Bicycles – B-B-Bicycles

The Bicycles

For those of you in the Lexington area, don’t forget that LYLAS are playing an in-store at CD Central at 2PM today. I’m pretty sure they’ll be on WRFL immediately following, but no promises on that one.

I’m also headed to see Sound Team / Cold War Kids tonight in Cinci. Should be a good day.

I totally forgot to point out the great Bill Doss interview over at Optical Atlas. Seriously, if you like the E6 bands, there’s not a better place on the internet for you.