Vacations and other deadlines have conspired to make me late this month, kids — apologies for the delay.

In keeping with the theme (and in an effort to finally wrap up our September lists), I’m going to make this quick: my goal was to assemble a list of songs that were just short enough to leave you wanting more, songs that made you skip back & listen to them again right away. Here we go:

1. Ten Minute Turns, “Stars Burn OUT”
   A perfect combination of dusky atmosphere, foot-tapping melody, and a stirring build in voices and instruments to the song’s end.
2. Beastie Boys, “Super Disco Breakin’”
   Hello Nasty got off to a hell of a start with this 2-minute shot of city-street adrenaline. Features one of my favorite Beasties lines ever: “Sometimes I like to brag/Sometimes I’m soft spoken/When I’m in Holland I eat the pannenkoeken.”
3. Willie Nelson, “I Never Cared For You”
   From Willie Nelson’s 1998 collaboration with Daniel Lanois, Teatro. Lanois hypnotically transforms Willie’s devastating country oldie with a spare but atmospheric arrangement, a Latin-informed beat, and lovely & haunting harmony vocals from the unparalleled Emmylou Harris. Worth multiple listens.
4. Blur, “Song 2″
   Before it became a staple of touchdown and goal celebrations in sports arenas, it was the breakout single in the US from Blur’s self-titled 1997 album.
5. Elastica, “Generator”
   I didn’t discover Elastica until after frontwoman Justine Frischmann had broken up with beau Damon Albarn (yep, from Blur) and the band was about ready to implode. The tension in the band’s ranks made for some explosive, intensely catchy punk songs, and this is my favorite of the bunch from their swan song The Menace.
6. The White Stripes, “Hotel Yorba”
   This garage-folk number from White Blood Cells introduced me to and got me hooked on the White Stripes. Don’t think Jack White’s been ever catchier.
7. The Two Man Gentleman Band, “Rabbit Foot Stomp”
   Some practical advice from the 2 Gents. Great, now I’m hungry, too.
8. Florence And The Machine, “Hospital Beds”
   This Cold War Kids cover (I’ve never actually heard the original) was one of the first FATM songs I heard, and I was instantly captivated by Florence’s voice. The song ends just as it reaches fever pitch, too, which left me wanting much, much more.
9. Bill Withers, “Ain’t No Sunshine”
   When evaluating songs for this list, I was shocked at how short this classic is. Never gets old.
10. Eels, “Ant Farm”
    Picking a favorite of Mark Oliver Everett’s short, memorable pop songs was tough, but Lisa Germano’s violin vaulted this heartfelt folk ballad to the top of that long list.
11. Ramones, “I Remember You”
    Punk balladry at its best. I saw U2 cover it in NYC shortly after Joey’s death, too — a magic moment.
12. Blink-182, “What’s My Age Again”
    Early-twenties confusion never sounded so fun.
13. Sam Cooke, “Wonderful World”
    I think this may be my favorite pop song of all time. Really.
14. The Pipettes, “I Love You”
    This song’s Spector-like economy and punch actually defined my personal criteria for this month’s challenge: it ends just as the song feels like it’s come to a boil, and it continues to get loads of repeat listens.

Download: Ten Minute Turns, “Stars Burn OUT” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Beastie Boys, “Super Disco Breakin’” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Willie Nelson, “I Never Cared For You” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Blur, “Song 2″ (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Elastica, “Generator” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The White Stripes, “Hotel Yorba” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Two Man Gentleman Band, “Rabbit Foot Stomp” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Florence And The Machine, “Hospital Beds” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Bill Withers, “Ain’t No Sunshine” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Eels, “Ant Farm” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ramones, “I Remember You” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Blink-182, “What’s My Age Again” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Sam Cooke, “Wonderful World” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Pipettes, “I Love You” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download everything in a handy ZIP file:

Download: “Short Cuts (ZIP)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

In honor of the Selective Service Twitter feed (@selectivesrvice), I’ve decided to write up my violent songs in 140 characters or less. Let’s see how I do:

1. Tenacious D, “Karate Schnitzel”
2. Tenacious D, “Karate”
   2 parts of a whole, really: missing leftovers beget violence and some of my favorite over-the-top threats ever.
3. Carl Douglas, “Kung Fu Fighting”
   “So, it’s just you 57 cops against Kung Fu Joe? Master of kung-fu, karate, ju-jitsu, and all kinds of other shit you ain’t never heard of!”
4. Florence and the Machine, “Kiss With A Fist”
   ’09’s best British import doesn’t have a full album out yet, but their singles are outstanding. Garage-rock tough love.
5. Johnny Cash, “A Boy Named Sue”
   Shel Silverstein via the Man in Black live from San Quentin. Oddly was Cash’s biggest Billboard hit: was #2 for 2 weeks in ‘69.
6. The Sounds, “Hit Me!”
   Stripped-down, rocking sadomasochism courtesy some of my favorite Swedes.
7. Ronnie Wood, “Knock Your Teeth Out”
   Keef’s drinking partner is an okay solo artist, too. Features Charlie on drums & longtime Stones backing vocalist Bernard Fowler.
8. Ramones, “Beat on the Brat (Live)”
   Nobody did 2-minute blasts of power chords better. This live version (recorded in ‘76) was nicked from the ‘01 Leave Home reissue.
9. Fight Like Apes, “Lend Me Your Face”
   Another ‘09 UK import that I hope is destined for US shelves, the Apes specialize in frenzied, funny, synth-fueled rawking.
10. Ash, “Kung Fu”
    Brit pop-punks add arse-kicking sound effects & pay tribute to Jackie Chan. In fact, it appeared on the soundtrack to “Rumble in the Bronx.”
11. Guns N’ Roses, “Get in the Ring”
    That’s a looooooooooong enemies list, Axl.

The songs are just as short and sweet as my tweet-descriptions, hence the 11 tunes. Enjoy the ass-kickery!

Download: Tenacious D, “Karate Schnitzel” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Tenacious D, “Karate” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Carl Douglas, “Kung Fu Fighting” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Florence and the Machine, “Kiss With A Fist” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Johnny Cash, “A Boy Named Sue” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Sounds, “Hit Me!” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ronnie Wood, “Knock Your Teeth Out” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ramones, “Beat on the Brat (Live)” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Fight Like Apes, “Lend Me Your Face” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ash, “Kung Fu” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Guns N’ Roses, “Get in the Ring” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Better late than never, right? Oh, and in response to Mandel, my post has with 100% more Cypress Hill than his (see the bonus at the end of the download links).

1. Tom Waits, “What’s He Building In There?”
   This intensely creepy and odd monologue is one of my favorite things about Mule Variations. The curious-neighbor-paranoia of the narrator totally makes me think of the crap-tastic Tom Hanks movie “The Burbs.”
2. Rockwell, “Somebody’s Watching Me”
   I know Michael Jackson is only here as a guest vocalist, but somehow the song feels like it’s really just about him.
3. Faith No More, “Midlife Crisis”
   What an odd choice for a lead single from Angel Dust, FNM’s dark follow-up to their multi-platinum hit The Real Thing. Mike Patton’s guttural, unhinged vocals (”My head is like a lettuce/Go on and dig your thumbs in”) completely scared away the MTV crowd, and the band was better for it.
4. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, “Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!”
   Way to go, Sam, shoehorning a song from your newest obsession onto this month’s playlist. Not really: yes, the song is a cheeky modern updating of the biblical Lazarus story, but in Cave’s version, Larry (Laz) is driven mad, Howard-Hughes-style, by the modern world. “Mirrors became his torturers,” indeed.
5. Ramones, “Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment”
   Nurse Ratched would be proud.
6. Deltron 3030, “Madness”
   Nicked from the Del/Automator/Kid Koala hip-hop/sci-fi collaboration Deltron 3030, we find Del rapping paranoiac over futuristic strings. When did the violin become the official instrument of the mentally deranged? Was it “Cuckoo’s Nest”?
7. Violent Femmes, “Crazy”
   It would have almost been to easy to toss Gnarls Barkley’s classic “Crazy” onto this list, so I went the extra mile & tracked down this excellent, mandolin-fueled cover by Violent Femmes. Gordon Gano’s jittery vocals only add to the unhinged feeling the tune creates.
8. Eels, “My Descent Into Madness”
   One of the best numbers from their amazing Electro-shock Blues album, the song finds E getting inside the head of his sister Elizabeth, who spent some time in a mental health institution before her death. Dark stuff, but the cascading violin sample (again with the crazy strings!) is worth the price of admission alone.

Download: Tom Waits, “What’s He Building In There?” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Rockwell, “Somebody’s Watching Me” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Faith No More, “Midlife Crisis” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, “Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ramones, “Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Deltron 3030, “Madness” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Violent Femmes, “Crazy” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Eels, “My Descent Into Madness” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Bonus Track!
(It’s really the best version of the song)

Download: Richard Cheese, “Insane in the Brain” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)