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This Time, Let's Make Shiny Toy Guns Super-Famous

[caption id="attachment_61090" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Shiny Toy Guns, startled by Times Square"][/caption]

Way back in 2006, I stumbled across the debut album by Shiny Toy Guns and fell in love. What was this bewitching blend of electronica, rock, and Pure Moods-appropriate elegance? How could one band veer from a sassy banger like "Le Disko" to an epic, emotional anthem like "Don't Cry Out?" How did they do it?

To be honest, I didn't wait around to find out. Seasons change, new albums arrive, and the heart gets distracted. After six months of passion, I kind of forgot about the band. Along with my own fickle attentions, I blame the fact that they changed lead singers (replacing Carah Faye Charnow with Sisely Treasure) and never quite got the radio and television attention they deserved.

But that's in the past! Because I just heard "Waiting Alone," the new single from Shiny Toy Guns' new album III, and I am ready to rekindle the flame. And hey, look! Charnow's back as the lead singer! And the compelling mixture of somber emotion and catchy dance beats is still in place!

(If you like the song, you should also check out the ambitious video.)

So this time, let's not repeat my mistakes, okay? Let's pay attention to Shiny Toy Guns and keep them in our hearts and maybe give them a big hit. If we've got room for Gotye and Ellie Goulding, then we've certainly got room for them.

And just for fun, here's "Don't Cry Out," which was one of my favorite songs of 2006. Until today, I haven't listened to it in, oh, 5 years, and it's like rediscovering an old friend. Keep your ears open for the middle section, when the song suddenly changes from a garage-rock anthem to a swirly, trippy soundtrack for late-night dancing.

Previously: Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City should NOT have done this

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Mark Blankenship tweets as @IAmBlankenship. He wonders what other great songs he's forgotten about.

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