A selection of “Findings” from the back page of Harper’s Magazine, June 2008.

Scottish scientists found that women are instinctively attracted to the faces of men who want long-term relationships, whereas men are instinctively attracted to the faces of women who want one-night stands; French bio-statisticians declared Caucasian women to be more attractive than Caucasian men; a computer learned to identify beauty in Caucasian women; and a team of European sexologists reported that 40 percent of Italian couples were not having sex, due in part to Italian men’s declining sex drive and growing predilection for prostitutes and cybersex. (The Bar-Kays, “Sexomatic [12" Mix]” [download])

Students exposed to subliminal Apple logos were found to answer questions more creatively than subjects exposed to subliminal IBM logos.

Marine biologists revealed that male Abdopus aculeatus octopuses may strangle to death rivals in defending the females whom they have seduced by swimming in a feminine manner, and paleontologists discovered that sexual reproduction first appeared about 600 million years ago among tube-shaped creatures living in spats on the seafloor. The gonorrhea bacterium was determined to be the strongest organism in existence. (Yeasayer, “Germs” [download]) (more…)

As we approach summer, I find myself somewhat unimpressed by 2008 as a new release year. Granted, the second half of the year is almost always stronger than the first, and 2007 was no exception. But 2008’s best releases, so far, don’t feel quite as important as last year’s.

Of all the releases from last year that I loved, Yeasayer’s All Hour Cymbals has carried over into this year the best. Were I to rearrange my Top 10, it would make it to the top three, at least.

Those unconvinced or unfamiliar need only listen to “Ah, Weir.” Reaching only the 1 minute 21 second mark, it’s one of the more powerful, memorable moments of music to cross my ears in the past year.

Yeasayer, “Ah, Weir” (download)

Though there are no words in it, to call “Ah, Weir” an instrumental would, technically, be incorrect - the band members use their voices only to hold specific notes, acting as an accompaniment of sorts to the swaying of synths and percussion, their gorgeous harmonies undulating with the music. It’s the soundtrack of drifting out to sea on a raft, of driving into a sunset, of standing still while wind rustles pushes everything around you. It’s hard to ignore and even harder to forget. And it’s just a minute and a half long interlude.