Stop me if you’ve heard this before.

Ok, I’m not getting any younger and as the years pass, I look to new acts to give me an occasional reminder of my youth. I expect a mainstream pop act to use a sample of a song I grew up singing along with every once in a while. It’s a wise business move if done properly. First, choose a timeless sample from a recognizable and respectable song regardless of era or genre. Preferably a small musical hook that isn’t the chorus. Rhianna’s sampling of Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” for her smash “SOS” is a great example of sample selection. Second, integrate said sample into a worthy original creation that resonates on its own. Though laughed at by many, MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This,” shot him to fame and eventual bankruptcy on the pilfering of Rick James’ “Superfreak.” While I wait for the next sample-based original song to hit, I have found myself discovering less blatant pieces of not-so-distant singles in modern songs. Please, somebody sample "Love My Way" by the Psychedelic Furs. Please?

Architecture in Helsinki’s new single “Do The Whirlwind” sounds like it was bought at Spoon-man, Britt Daniel's garage sale. AIH: How much for “I Turn My Camera On?” Spoon: Just take it. It's served its purpose. They took it home, applied a fuzzy gloss, and called it the . I can’t tell if it’s a sped-up and distorted sample of the original or AIH doing their best to ape it. Regardless, I’m sticking with the original on this one. I will no be doing the whirlwind anytime soon.

Pharrell and Chad Hugo, aka The Neptunes; aka friends of Shay; aka NERD returned recently with Seeing Sounds, their third album. (On a personal note, the album is so-so. They still have “it.” They just don’t always use “it.” Call me crazy, but I want another “Bobby James.”) “Kill Joy” drops percussion on 311’s “Homebrew” groove and tweaks it just enough to avoid sounding identical to the 14-year-old title track of my 1994 summer soundtrack. I knew every word of every song on Homebrew and believe me, there were a lot of words. “Kill Joy” is ok enough but I won’t be listening enough to memorize it.

Though not a sample, I couldn’t help but hear a melodic nod to Queen’s “Radio Ga Ga” in the new NERD (yes, them again), Santogold, and Julian Casablancas’ joint collabo for Converse, “My Drive Thru.” Pharrell and Chad don’t let the Ga Ga go but for a few seconds before pulling back into a Neptunes-slammer of a track, designed to make you move. For all the high-profile production they have done for others, their only song to break Billboard’s Hot 100 was 2004’s “She Wants To Move,” which hit 43. “Spaz” from Seeing Sounds will be the next. It’s on TV in the newest Microsoft Zune ad and should be blasting from a car near you. It is worth the $4.50 a gallon to cruise around with Shay singing “Spaz if you want to” over one of the best sounding songs of the year.