httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raT433AMiV8

Inspired by Stacey Clemence: a selection of songs from Cake, Pavement, and Beck that capture the eccentric spirit of the West coast music scene of the 1990s, and feature an agreeably quirky amalgam of guitar hero and bohemian sensibility.  What they also have in common are irresistible sing-along choruses.

First up, the cuddly, the adorable, Cake, with “Shadow Stabbing”, a nifty little song about the claustrophobia of writing.  Above is a fan-produced video, and Cake seems to inspire a lot of those.

Next up, straight outta Stockton, the uncute, uncuddly Pavement — one of the most revered of all indie bands — with “Stereo”.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnrM4UjaQmY

Finally, yes, of course, this last video was a mainstream hit for Beck, but, for a mainstream hit, it remains pleasantly weird almost twenty years later: “Soy un perdedor / I’m a loser, baby / So why don’t you kill me?”  C’mon, you know the words!  Sing along!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgSPaXgAdzE