The Slip: "Children Of December"

Apparently, The Slip used to be on more of a prog-jazz kick, but “Children of December” is straight indie rock. No chaser, either. The track is all clanging, jittery strumming and bleary-eyed electronic tweaks until it slows dramatically down to waltz time, then swigs another cup of coffee and gets on the move again. Sure, there’s that bass, which does ape Jaco Pastorious-style string bends, but find me a jazz vocalist singing this: “All the parents of the children of December have it clutch because their birthdays are the hardest to remember / when you’re born on Christmas, the day before New Year’s, they can sing happy birthday but but but nobody hears.” It’s more Arrested Development than Ella Fitzgerald, and more importantly, catchier than anything else with guitars coming out this month.