Song of the Week 9/25/09

The Avett Brothers - "I And Love and You"


Two months ago I heard this song on WFUV. It stopped me in my tracks when I heard this line:

"Brooklyn, Brooklyn, let me in/Are you aware the shape I'm in/My hands they shake, my head it spins/Brooklyn, Brooklyn, let me in."

I was instantly sold. I downloaded the song as soon as I got into work and have listened to it at various times in my home borough. Last week the full Avett Brothers album showed up in the mail, and I was surprised that the entire disc lives up to the immense promise of its title track. Rick Rubin, you've done it again. (But please stop the Chili Peppers from making any more albums.)

Song of the Week 9/18/09

The Gravel Pit - "Closer to the Wall"



This new Pit track (their first in five years) comes from the deluxe iTunes version of Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy, a fantastic tribute album that includes Thom Yorke, Michael Stipe and a ton of other great acts. Proceeds from the album will go to the former Miracle Legion and Polaris frontman, who lost his wife suddenly last year and is raising their young twins by himself. It's a very worthy cause, so I encourage everyone to check out the deluxe iTunes version and buy a track or 41. And I highly encourage you to purchase "Closer to the Wall," which features everything I love about the Gravel Pit--masterful drum and bass work from Pete Caldes and Ed V., muscular guitar playing from Lucky Jackson and Jedidiah Parish's bigger than life voice.

BONUS: Here's the Pit playing "Closer to the Wall" at a gig this summer.



And here's the Pit backing up Frank Black at the Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy concert September 20th in Brooklyn.

Song of the Week 9/11/09

Jim Carroll Band - "People Who Died"

After a weekend of thinking about loss, another one comes today with the great Jim Carroll. This song has always been one of my favorites of the early 80s. I didn't want to put the 1995 Basketball Diaries re-recording up, so this live version will have to do.

Song of the Week 9/4/09

Sonny & Cher - "I Got You Babe"

Seriously, what took us so long to add this to the song list? It is the perfect karaoke song. (Well, unless you're the guy singing both parts in rehearsal. Then it kind of sucks.)

Have a great wedding David and Melanie.

BONUS: I remember watching this back in high school. 22 years later it's still cool. Letterman really was the best in the mid to late 80s.