Song of the Week 3/2/12

The Figgs - "Do Me Like You Said You Would"

Oh my, this may be the funkiest song The Figgs have ever done. Mike Gent's guitar tone pays homage to Keith Richards from the mid-70s, while it echoes some classic Al Green. The first time I saw them perform this was just about a year ago at The Rock Shop in Brooklyn, and the crowd just ate it up.

The Day Gravity Stopped is due out April 17th. I suggest you get it.



Song of the Week 2/24/12

The Shins - "Simple Song"



I'm really looking forward to this new Shins album. "Simple Song" is my favorite song that James Mercer has done since "So Says I." I hope the rest of Port of Morrow holds up to this track.

Song of the Week 2/17/12

Suzanne Vega featuring Joe Jackson - "Left of Center"

One thing I love about doing the RT 20 Podcast is when guests bring up songs that have slipped through the cracks in my brain. Jason Fry did just that with this song from Pretty in Pink. I remember playing it in college, but somehow never had a copy of the song in my own collection. I, of course, have rectfied that now.

Yeah, Ms. Vega was attractive back then. (And still was when I interviewed her a few years ago.)

Song of the Week 2/10/12

Scorpions - "Rock You Like a Hurricane"



Damn, this is such a flithy song. I had no idea until Bunnie England opened with it last night. Who knew Germans were so dirty?

Party Like It's 1999 2/3/12

Wow.

Just wow.

I am amazed and overcome with the amount of folks that came out on Friday night. Y'all are awesome.

Our next edition at the Bell House will be coming in early March. Details to follow!

Here's the playlist of what you heard and danced and rocked your asses off to:

AC/DC - “Money Talks”
Bad Religion - “American Jesus”
Jellyfish - “The King Is Half Undressed”
Pulp - “Common People”
Oasis - “Live Forever”
New Order - “Regret”
Morrissey - “The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get”
The Verve - “Bittersweet Symphony”
Jesus Jones - “Right Here, Right Now”
Depeche Mode - “It’s No Good”
Garbage - “Special”
Nine Inch Nails - “Closer”
Local H - “Bound for the Floor”
Pearl Jam - “Given to Fly”
Presidents of the United States of America - “Peaches”
Fastball - “The Way”
Marcy Playground - “Sex and Candy”
Dishwalla - “Counting Blue Cars”
Joan Osborne - “One of Us”
Alanis Morissette - “Ironic”
Natalie Imbruglia - “Torn”
Meredith Brooks - “Bitch”
Sugar Ray - “Fly”
Third Eye Blind - “Semi-Charmed Life”
Chumbawamba - “Tubthumping”
Ace of Base - “The Sign”
NSync - “I Want You Back”
Boyz II Men - “Motownphilly”
Salt N Pepa - “Shoop”
TLC - “No Scrubs”
2Pac and Dr. Dre - “California Love”
Blackstreet and Dr. Dre - “No Diggity”
Heavy D and Da Boyz - “Now That We Found Love”
Montell Jordan - “This Is How We Do It”
Britney Spears - “…Baby One More Time”
Backstreet Boys - “Larger Than Life”
The Cardigans - “Lovefool”
Hanson - “Mmmbop”
Spice Girls - “Wannabe”
Christina Aguilera - “Genie in a Bottle”
La Bouche - “Be My Lover”
Aqua - “Barbie Girl”
Dee-Lite - “Groove Is in the Heart”
Will Smith - “Getting Jiggy With It”
Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy and Mase - “Mo Money Mo Problems”
Coolio - “Gangsta’s Paradise”
Mariah Carey - “Always Be My Baby”
Mary J. Blige - “Real Love”
En Vogue - “Don’t Let Go (Love)”
Destiny’s Child - “Say My Name”
Bell Biv Devoe - “Poison”
Real McCoy - “Another Night”
Snap - “Rhythm is a Dancer”
Sir-Mix-A-Lot - “Baby Got Back”
Kris Kross - “Jump”
House of Pain - “Jump Around”
Ol’ Dirty Bastard featuring Kelis - “Got Your Money”
Lauryn Hill - “Doo Wop (That Thing)”
Janet Jackson - “(Love Will Never Do) Without You”
No Doubt - “Just a Girl”
Blink 182 - “What’s My Age Again”
Nirvana - “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Alanis Morissette - “You Oughta Know”
Sublime - “Santeria”
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - “The Impression That I Get”
The Offspring - “Come Out and Play (Keep ‘Em Separated)”
Weezer - “Buddy Holly”
Beastie Boys - “Sabotage”
Green Day - “Basket Case”
Lit - “My Own Worst Enemy”
Eve 6 - “Inside Out”
Veruca Salt - “Seether”
Semisonic - “Closing Time”
Spin Doctors - “Two Princes”
Britney Spears - “(You Drive Me) Crazy”
Backstreet Boys - “I Want It That Way”
Wilson Phillips - “Hold On”
Mariah Carey - “Fantasy”
Robin S - “Show Me Love”
Madonna - “Vogue”
NSync - “Tearing Up My Heart”
Notorious B.I.G. - “Hypnotize”
Warren G. and Nate Dogg - “Regulate”
Arrested Development - “Tennessee”
Naughty By Nature - “Hip Hop Hooray”
Michael Jackson - “Black or White”
Pras featuring Michel, Mya and ODB - “Ghetto Superstar”
Snoop Dogg - “Gin and Juice”
Mr. Big - “To Be With You”
Pearl Jam - “Daughter”
PM Dawn - “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss”
Prince and NPG - “Diamonds and Pearls”
Lisa Loeb - “Stay”
R. Kelly - “I Believe I Can Fly”

Song of the Week 2/3/12

Chumbawamba - "Tubthumping"



Oh my. This is fun song to spin for room of people just digging every song you play. Wow. What a night at Party Like It's 1999.

Song of the Week 1/27/12

Nada Surf - "When I Was Young"

I first heard this song back in late October when I was one of the fortunate people (thanks Ken!) to get an early advance of The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy. I was riding on the F train back to Brooklyn and -- I shit you not -- I felt woozy when I got up off of the seat right after this song finished. It just bowled me over. Months later, I'm still processing the gut reaction I had to this tale about looking back on one's life. I'm sure I'll dedicate an entire page of the RT 20 analyzing this epic track and how much Doug Gillard's :50 second solo slays me and touches me at a molecular level. (Gillard is the secret weapon of this entire album. My goodness, what an amazing, tasteful guitarist.)

For now I just want you, dear reader, to listen to it. First, here's the moving (literally and figuratively) video:



Second, here's the band's release show on Tuesday. After they played "When I Was Young," I yelled "Fuck yeah!" And yes, you can hear that on the webcast. (The songs starts at 31:10. You can hear my yell at 36:32)



Third, go buy this album. It's fantastic.

Song of the Week 1/20/12

Buffalo Springfield - "I Am A Child"

I need to vary my Starbucks trips -- or they need to freshen up their selections -- as I heard this song three days in a row in three different Starbucks. Bizarre.

I really wish that Buffalo Springfield reunion tour of 2011 had gone on longer.