Saturday, January 30, 2010

I love this song because

a) The kids recorded the album in their dorm room
b) The song references a television show which aired before they were born
c) These lyrics "this whimsy has put me to sleep"

Thursday, January 21, 2010

& The Rest.

It was pointed out to me that my single act of laziness (not learning how to post the music from Lala on this site) was depriving others of their acts of laziness (just clicking on a link I provide instead of searching for each individual song) and that the sacrifice of the one (me) for the good of the many (you) is the way to go.

Well I figured out how to get 30 of the 40 onto a playlist. As my Granny used to say, "3/4 of a sacrifice is better than none."

Enjoy.



21. No Moon At All by Julie London (1:53)

“What a perfect chance to park and there’s no moon at all”

Oh, Julie, I'm blushing.


22. Now And Always by Rockpile (1:57)

A pleasant little guitar part backing a guy talking about how he is so afraid his current situation is going to last forever. He talks about punching the wall and wanting to commit suicide. It’s a pretty song, though.


23. Judy Is A Punk by The Ramones (1:33)

So many Ramones tunes to choose from in so little time. I chose this one because the background vocals stick in my head.


24. Look To Tomorrow by Now Time Delegation (1:10)

Man, I like her voice.


25. Teenage FBI by Guided By Voices (1:39)

Sometimes you need someone to tell you why you do the things that you don't want to do when you're a teenager. Someone with powers of deductive reasoning. Someone with all the resources that the FBI has, only for teenagers. But, more likely, you would end up in some Teenage Gitmo.


26. Love Is All Around by Hüsker Dü (1:48)

I like the part where I see Bob Mould spinning around in the street and tossing his hat into the air. He's gonna make it after all. You know?


27. Three Girl Rhumba by Wire (1:23)

Pink Flag is one of those albums with 20 or so songs, 18 or so less than 2 minutes long.


28. Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing by Minutemen (1:31)

The Minutemen specialized in short songs. Punk because they only sound like themselves not because they sound like other punks. I think the Minutemen actually confused a lot of punk kids, because they didn't fit the mold.


29. Bombed by Mark Lanegan Band (1:09)

"When I'm bombed, I stretch like bubblegum." I believe Mark has had extensive experience being bombed.


30. Her Majesty by The Beatles (0:23)

When I sing along, I always sing the last note of the guitar.


31. Come On Now by The Kinks (1:49)

The Kinks were in a hurry. This was also written as So Tired Of Waiting For You.


32. Karate by Tenacious D (1:07)

In 1:07 they mention Tieneman Square, pubic hair and Motherfucker a couple times each.


33. Man by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (1:50)

Seriously, who doesn’t have a man that makes them want to kill or die or whatever. Am I right? High-five!

34. The Wind by Cat Stevens (1:42)

I think this is used in commercials now. To sell cars or banks or something. If you learn just one thing from this song, it should be that swimming upon the Devil’s lake is a mistake you should not repeat.


35. The Happy Prole by Quasi (1:42)

We need the money so we’ve got to play it dumb. But if you play it long enough, that’s just what you become.


36. What Can I Do? by Antony & The Johnsons (1:41)

Antony and Rufus Wainwright, two singers that have annoyed independently, now do so in tandem. Call me crazy, but they are both awesome.


37. Thinkin' Man's Girl by The Swinging Neckbreakers (1:54)

You can tell he's a thinking man, because he says things like, "Your face and your figure are top shelf." What a Smartypants.


38. Just You, Just Me by Ray Charles & Betty Carter (2:00)

Betty Carter has a weird voice. I can’t sing along with it. It’s like she’s trying to invent a new way to sing. Try playing a piano duet with Thelonious Monk.


39. Road Rage by Rotten Apples (1:31)

This almost went to Boss Hog. They had a yelling part I enjoyed. I suspect Rotten Apples are not as good as I would like, but I so relate to the sentiments in this song. "If it weren't for me we would both be dead."


40. Your Mouth Is Open And Your Eyes Are Shut by Sultans (1:20)

GHOST SHIP by the Sultans is 13 songs in less than 22 minutes. I had a hard time choosing just the one.


11 through 20 with slightly less particular order

11. Happiness Is A Violator (For Condoleezza Rice) by Joan As Police Woman (1:54)

This is the only Joan As Police Woman song I like, so far. It's not her, it's me. It's a little bit her.


12. Where Eagles Dare by The Misfits (1:59)

“An omelet of disease awaits your noontime meal

Her mouth of germicide seducing all your glands”

No, seriously. He says that.


19. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths (1:51)

I never really got the feeling he really wants that thing he said he wants.


13. England Swings by Roger Miller (1:55)

This was one of my possible directions when I was putting together my “Song About A City “ theme. Then I remembered that England isn’t a city.


14. Tame by The Pixies (1:56)

The bridge is a duet of rhythmic breathing. You’re welcome.


16. Career Opportunities by The Clash (1:53)

It was hard in England back then. Not like now, but kids these days still complain. Whatcha gonna do?


17. Watcha Gonna Do About It by The Small Faces (1:59)

Speaking of Watcha gonna do...


20. You're Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl) by The White Stripes (1:50)

I have no idea what any of this means, but I like it a lot. Let's dance.


18. In The Valley by Marty Robbins (1:51)

It was either this or El Paso, but El Paso is, you know, like 4 or 5 times longer.


15.Silver Bullet by The Briefs (1:08)

In the center square of downtown Detroit there is a statue of Bob Seger. In one hand he holds an old record he has just taken down of the shelf. In another hand he holds something like a rock. In a third hand that no one has bothered to explain to me he holds naked pictures of your Mama. Ooh! Burn!


1 through 10 in no particular order

1. It's Not Unusual by Tom Jones (2:00)

Grandpa and Grandma had a rec room with a full bar in it. On one side of the door Grandpa had a blue velvet painting of a bare-breasted Polynesian girl. On the other side Grandma had a black and white poster of Tom Jones singing in a tuxedo. I miss that painting, but do have some Tom Jones playing every once in a while.


2. Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie by Black Flag (1:47)

At my old job, Mike would reminisce about Black Flag shows he would see where Henry Rollins would punch the faces of people in the front row. "It was so cool", Mike would say. Being a born again Christian, Mike was conflicted.


3. Cat Walk by Beat Happening (1:59)

I put this song on a mix tape for Carol when we first started dating. This is the only song I think she liked. I’ve listened to that tape a couple of times. This is the only song I think I like.


4. If It's In You by Syd Barrett (1:57)

I like the part when Syd starts singing and then stops because he came in too early. I do that, too.


5. Surrender by Elvis Presley (1:55)

When Carol and I visited Graceland, we met a man named Jesse. Jesse said he was “Elvis’ real Pappy.” He told us a long sordid story about his one night stand with Grace Presley. He went on to tell us about being in the CIA and being one of the “original Top Guns.” Jesse really started to creep us out after a while.


6 Reno Dakota by The Magnetic Fields (1:05)

Pantone 292 really is quite a nice blue. Soft and quiet.


7. If It Were Left Up To Me by Sly & The Family Stone (1:59)

“If it were left up to me/ It would take more than a notion”, but I always thought they said it would take more than an ocean.


8. My Funny Valentine by Elvis Costello (1:30)

This was my introduction to Elvis Costello. In college, I found Miles Davis’ version at the library, but I couldn’t hear the melody in it. I was disappointed. It was another 3 years before I could listen to Miles again.


9. I'm In Love With A Girl by Big Star (1:48)

I tried putting together a Makeout CD. This was on it. The CD was really hard to do, and it never really came out the way I wanted it to, but children by the millions sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round. The CD was titled GLOBAL WARMING, but I'm thinking of changing it to PARTYING WITH DON HART.


10. Bloodstains by Agent Orange (1:53)

Joe and I went to see Agent Orange at the Washington Performance Hall. I was driving up 14th and had Joe keep a lookout for the cross-street, Fir Street. We passed it twice before finding it because he was looking for Fur Street. When the band played Bloodstains all the kids in the balcony jumped down to the dance floor. It was raining punks.


2 Minute Warning

Some person might choose to post a top 40 of something and along with each entry say a little something. Say something about how the music moved him, or accompanied him through significant moments in his life, or perhaps even reveal something about his innermost feelings and goals and desires.
Rest assured I am not that person. Ask anyone who knows me. I reveal nothing.
Although, that lack of revelation may reveal more than I know.
Also, I have no idea how Pat did that connecting-streaming-music-to-this-site thing he did. It really is quite mystifying. I would ask him how to do it, but, something else those who know me will tell you, I don't like asking people how to do things. If I did, I might be expected to do those things.
Trust me, it's just easier this way.
I am gonna do that 10 at a time thing, though. I enjoyed that.

A moment of silence in our cafeteria

And I heard a few bars from maybe Bread's best selling hit "I Want to Make it with You."
Then I thought, "Did that one even come up at club Tuesday?" Yes, Larry. We talked about Bread.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Marcy is

Listening to the new Vampire Weekend album while toying with the concept of leaving the house at some point.


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Upcoming Music Club: Genre Slam

So where does one send one's genre choices? Because, even though it is not a race, one has won and is prepared to send in one's selections. Kind of awesome, I think.

Monday, January 11, 2010

I'm a sucker for a montage...

http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-top-25-pop-hits-of-2009-all-in-one-terrific-ma,36650/

Friday, January 8, 2010

"Yacht-punk"??

"The key to enjoying Contra, Vampire Weekend's second collection of blissfully erudite yacht-punk... "

http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-01-05/music/operation-ivy-league-on-vampire-weekend-s-vastly-bewildering-contra?src=newsletter

I love the idea of this category! What defines it? Can you guys think of other examples of yacht-punk? Marcy and I just came up with a few this morning:
The Decemberists?
Tom Tom Club?
Cake?
They Might Be Giants?
Ben Folds Five (but NOT Ben Folds solo)?

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Who defines the genre?

Itunes? It's so subjective, right? Is R&B and Soul interchangeable? Who wants to swap? You can save the group from more D'Angelo!