Welcome to the latest edition of Pitchfork's Guest List. Each week, we ask one of our favorite artists to fill us in on what they've been up to lately: which tracks they can't stop spinning, what books they can't put down, and what new bands they've caught on tour. This week it's Greg Saunier from Deerhoof, who reveals ?uestlove as the inspiration for all his beats, contends that Numbers are actually a freak-folk troupe, and parses his cellphone ringtone note for note.

>> Favorite Songs of the Past Year

The Roots: "In the Music"
In 1996 our friend Brandon told Satomi and me, "You have to see this band," and brought us to the Roots. Since then my whole drum sound has just been a crappy ?uestlove imitation. They were and are a devastating band. We're taking a day off on our Japan tour so we can see them play in Nagoya, can't wait!

Psapp: "Hi"
Somehow 97.3% of the CDs we get from people on tour end up in John's suitcase, and Satomi and I never hear them. What's that got to do with Psapp? Well, in July the three of us got together around John's stereo to brainstorm about our new album. I said "I want to sound like this" and played "Hi", which I'd just found on iTunes and thought was awesome. Within 3 thumb-piano plucks, John whips out the Psapp CD and says, "I got this from Psapp, they were at our last show in London, I've been listening to it like crazy and been meaning to play it for you!"

Juana Molina: "Malherido"
Ironically Satomi was on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Argentina when I stumbled upon Juana Molina. I was struggling with our Friend Opportunity mix, and JM appeared out of nowhere, the perfect sonic role model. Now she's on tour with our friends in Vetiver and I'm begging Andy to give her a copy of Friend Opportunity!

Pedro the Lion: "Let Down" [Radiohead cover, from Tour EP]
Few, other than Radiohead, have attempted Radiohead covers. And hearing the majesty of RH's recordings only surpassed by the majesty of their concerts, well this would seem to make it more daunting still. And yet, to me this totally stripped-down version stands up goosebump-for-goosebump; maybe this means RH's songs are actually very simple, indestructible, like atoms, for peace?

The Beatles: "I Am The Walrus" [from Love]
Doesn't go into mono when King Lear comes in!

>> Favorite Older Songs at the Moment

Oumou Sangare: "Kayini Wura"

Mad Virgins: "I Am a Computer"

Little Richard: "Rip It Up"

Napalm Death: "Remain Nameless"

Bob Marley: "Positive Vibration" (Live at the Roxy version)

>> Favorite New Band

Chris Corsano/ Spencer Yeh/ Paul Flaherty
All emotion in music comes from melancholy-sounding chords. At least that's what jewelry commercials and primetime dramas want you to believe. But that theory was roundly disproved when this completely chordless trio took the stage at All Tomorrow's Parties and induced all manner of tears, chills, and shaking. Now when you hear Spencer do his crazy vocal improvisations into the microphone, you might think to yourself, "This guy must have the loudest snore on Earth." You would be correct. I have no official affiliation, but I did "sleep" in the same room with him once.

>> Favorite Song Ever

Of course, Voivod: "Jack Luminous"

>> Best Recent Show

Numbers, Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco
Joanna, Devendra and Vetiver have been deservedly praised for their breathtaking contributions to music culture, but to me the unsung heroes of the San Francisco new freak-folk explosion are Numbers. Numbers? Folk? Even though their songs masquerade in a stiff, slicing, synthesized disguise, they are timeless and poignant, and in concert, transcendent.

>> Last Great Film I Saw

"The Alternative Factor" ["Star Trek: The Original Series", Episode 27]
Apparently the "heavy" in this episode was played by a last-minute substitute [Robert Brown-- Ed.] when the intended actor didn't show up. One of the most bizarre performances I've ever seen.

>> Last Great Book I Read

Kevin Phillips: American Theocracy
Puts our dependence on oil and our religious fanaticism into a sorely missing historical perspective. Even though Phillips is a Republican, his scathing critique of our government and his amazing writing style make this one most rewarding.

>> Favorite Piece of Musical Equipment

Human voice.

>> Best Music Venue

Shinjuku Loft, Tokyo
Not much bigger than my living room, but enough PA power to fill up a football stadium.

>> Favorite TV Show at the Moment

Tavis Smiley
The most prepared host on TV.

>> Favorite Video Game at the Moment

The last time I played a video game, my favorite game was Qix. That was in 1982.

>> Favorite Radio Station

KPFA 94.1 FM, Berkeley
Our radio is from Japan and doesn't tune into any of the right frequencies. But when we rent a car to tour in California, I love KPFA (Pacifica), especially the world music shows. Although I always hated that word "world music," as if everything else wasn't from the world!

>> My Ringtone

It's one of the ones that comes with the phone. It's low C quarter-note, middle G dotted eighth-note, low C sixteenth-note, low C eighth-note, another low c eighth-note, middle G quarter note, all played staccato. I love the look on Satomi's face when we hear that sound, and she starts searching frantically through her bag.