Each Friday I pick a song–new, old, borrowed, blue–that’s been on my mind and in my ears, and write a short post about it.

This week your song is “Permanent Smile” by Smog:

I have a minor obsession with songs that employ what is essentially the “Be My Baby” drumbeat.  You know, like “Just Like Honey” by the Jesus and Mary Chain.  I like Bill Callahan’s take on it here in part because he slows it down a whole lot, and in part because, along with the vocals, he makes it the primary instrument in the mix; the rest of the music, even the bass that’s playing along with the drums, is way back there, and when the song hits its abrupt finish–only the drums are left.