Hit Parade

It's leftfield songs such as Smith's that fall into the secret weapon category: Musical bombs kept tightly under wraps in order to make a grand entrance during conference week. Often these are the truly fresh offerings that keep those of us actually interested in the music pumping out of the clubs marathon-style, year after year. I don't know about you, but that's the main reason I brave long lines, streets jammed with impossibly superficial people, and the most meat-headed nightclub security in the country (bless their peanut brains). The DJs keep bringing those tunes.