Justin Timberlake - "Mirrors"
Yes, I was one of the close to a million people that bought The 20/20 Experience last week. I thought "Mirrors" sounded great on SNL and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and I dug Futuresex/Lovesounds, so this wasn't a guilty pleasure purchase. I finally was able to give it a spin on Friday, and while much of the album could have used a sturdy editor, it's still pretty good. And "Mirrors" is by far the best track.
What I didn't expect out of my early Friday evening at the office was to hear Rita Houston spin "Mirrors" as the opening track of her WFUV show The Whole Wide World. That was shocking, to say the least. But good music is good music and her show is pretty diverse -- and it sounded great going into Phoenix's "Entertainment."
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Modern Needs 3/15/13
I had the awesome pleasure of guest DJing at Lee Greenfeld's Modern Needs Friday night at Last Exit on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. It's an all-vinyl event, which means I got to dig out some gems from the home catalog. Thanks so much to Lee for having me along for the ride and to the old Magnetic Field crew (and other friends) that spent their evening with us. Check out the playlist below.
(Please note: The two gaps below mark when Lee took over spinning tunes.)
(Please note: The two gaps below mark when Lee took over spinning tunes.)
T. Rex -
“Jeepster”
Thin Lizzy -
“Jailbreak”
Graham Parker and The
Rumour - “Discovering Japan”
The Replacements
- “Can’t Hardly Wait (Single Mix)”
Big Star - “Back
of a Car”
Buffalo Tom - “Sodajerk”
Sugar - “Gee
Angel”
The Godfathers -
“Birth, School, Work, Death”
Nada Surf -
“Blankest Year”
The Raspberries -
“Go All the Way”
The Monkees -
“Last Train to Clarksville”
Young Fresh Fellows
- “Taco Wagon/Picture Book”
The Beach Boys -
“Sail on Sailor”
World Party -
“Ship of Fools”
The Motels -
“Only the Lonely”
The Zombies -
“This Will be Our Year”
Marshall Crenshaw
- “Someday, Someway”
Billy Bragg -
“Greetings From the New Brunette”
Big Country - “In
a Big Country”
The Cars -
“Magic”
Crowded House -
“Something So Strong”
Duran Duran -
“New Moon on Monday”
The Go-Gos -
“This Town”
The Pretenders -
“Back on the Chain Gang”
The Waitresses -
“I Know What Boys Like”
The Tubes -
“She’s a Beauty”
Talk Talk - “It’s
My Life”
The Thompson Twins
- “Hold Me Now”
Missing Persons -
“Destination Unknown”
Social Distortion
- “Ball and Chain”
Ramones - “I Just
Want to Have Something to Do”
Black Flag - “TV
Party”
Cheap Trick -
“Dream Police”
The Smithereens -
“Behind the Wall of Sleep”
The Knack - “My
Sharona”
Billy Squier -
“My Kinda Lover”
Men at Work -
“Overkill”
The Replacements
- “I’ll Be You”
Superchunk -
“Learned to Surf”
The Figgs -
“Ginger”
Elvis Costello and
The Attractions - “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
Hoodoo Gurus -
“Death Defying”
Madness - “It
Must Be Love”
Haircut One Hundred
- “Love Plus One”
Joe Jackson -
“Fools In Love”
Split Enz - “Six Months in a Leaky Boat”
Blondie -
“Rapture”
Talking Heads - “This
Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)
The Cure - “Why
Can’t I Be You”
The Buggles -
“Video Killed the Radio Star”
Urge Overkill -
“Sister Havana”
Wilco - “ELT”
Pixies - “Here
Comes Your Man”
The Soft Boys -
“The Queen of Eyes”
Public Image Limited
- “Seattle”
Squeeze - “Black
Coffee in Bed”
The English Beat
- “Janette”
Scruffy the Cat -
“My Baby, She’s Alright”
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Party Like It's 1999 3/9/13
I expected a big crowd, but never the biggest in Party Like It's 1999's history. I'm still amazed by it three days later. Here's the playlist from that fateful night:
Bad Religion – “A Walk”
Blink 182 – “Dammit”
Sugar – “A Good Idea”
Alice in Chains – “Them Bones”
Foo Fighters – “My Hero”
Metallica – “Enter Sandman”
Pearl Jam – “Daughter”
Oasis – “Don’t Look Back in Anger”
Radiohead – “Paranoid Android”
Dandy Warhols – “Not If You Were The Last Junkie on Earth”
Spacehog – “In the Meantime”
Edwyn Collins – “A Girl Like You”
Garbage – “Stupid Girl”
Jesus Jones – “Right Here, Right Now”
White Town – “Your Woman”
A3 – “Woke Up This Morning (Chosen One Mix)”
Moby featuring Gwen Stefani – “Southside”
Depeche Mode – “Personal Jesus”
Beck – “Loser”
Letters to Cleo – “Here and Now”
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – “The Impression That I Get”
Spin Doctors – “Two Princes”
No Doubt – “Just a Girl”
Alanis Morissette – “Ironic”
LFO – “Summer Girls”
Len – “Steal My Sunshine”
Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre – “No Diggity”
Notorious B.I.G. – “Juicy”
2Pac and Dr. Dre – “California Love”
Ginuwine – “Pony”
Destiny’s Child – “Bills, Bills, Bills”
TLC – “No Scrubs”
Ace of Base – “The Sign”
CeCe Peniston – “Finally”
Janet Jackson – “Go Deep”
Color Me Badd – “I Wanna Sex You Up”
Mariah Carey – “Fantasy”
Montell Jordan – “This Is How We Do It”
Bell Biv Devoe – “Poison”
Kris Kross – “Jump”En Vogue – “Free Your Mind”
C and C Music Factory – “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)”
Quad City DJ’s – “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)”
La Bouche – “Be My Lover”
Culture Beat – “Mr. Vain”
Aqua – “Barbie Girl”
Spice Girls – “Wannabe”
Britney Spears – “…Baby One More Time”
N’Sync – “I Want You Back”
Backstreet Boys – “I Want It That Way”
Chumbawamba – “Tubthumping”
The Proclaimers – “I Wanna Be (500 Miles)”
Barenaked Ladies – “One Week”
Third Eye Blind – “Semi-Charmed Life”
Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Beastie Boys – “Sabotage”
Green Day – “Basket Case”
Ricky Martin – “Living La Vida Loca”
Sir Mix A Lot – “Baby Got Back”
Naughty By Nature – “O.P.P.”
Onyx – “Slam”
Coolio featuring L.V. – “Gangsta’s Paradise”
Snoop Dogg – “Gin and Juice”
Skee-Lo – “I Wish”
Jay-Z – “Can I Get A…”
Eiffel 65 – “Blue (Da Be Dee)”
Robyn – “Show Me Love”
Jennifer Lopez – “If You Had My Love”
Janet Jackson – “Love Will Never Do (Without You)”
Warren G. and Nate Dogg – “Regulate”
En Vogue – “Don’t Let Go (Love)”
Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men – “One Sweet Day”
Duran Duran – “Ordinary World”
Seal – “Kiss From a Rose”
Bad Religion – “A Walk”
Blink 182 – “Dammit”
Sugar – “A Good Idea”
Alice in Chains – “Them Bones”
Foo Fighters – “My Hero”
Metallica – “Enter Sandman”
Pearl Jam – “Daughter”
Oasis – “Don’t Look Back in Anger”
Radiohead – “Paranoid Android”
Dandy Warhols – “Not If You Were The Last Junkie on Earth”
Spacehog – “In the Meantime”
Edwyn Collins – “A Girl Like You”
Garbage – “Stupid Girl”
Jesus Jones – “Right Here, Right Now”
White Town – “Your Woman”
A3 – “Woke Up This Morning (Chosen One Mix)”
Moby featuring Gwen Stefani – “Southside”
Depeche Mode – “Personal Jesus”
Beck – “Loser”
Letters to Cleo – “Here and Now”
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – “The Impression That I Get”
Spin Doctors – “Two Princes”
No Doubt – “Just a Girl”
Alanis Morissette – “Ironic”
LFO – “Summer Girls”
Len – “Steal My Sunshine”
Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre – “No Diggity”
Notorious B.I.G. – “Juicy”
2Pac and Dr. Dre – “California Love”
Ginuwine – “Pony”
Destiny’s Child – “Bills, Bills, Bills”
TLC – “No Scrubs”
Ace of Base – “The Sign”
CeCe Peniston – “Finally”
Janet Jackson – “Go Deep”
Color Me Badd – “I Wanna Sex You Up”
Mariah Carey – “Fantasy”
Montell Jordan – “This Is How We Do It”
Bell Biv Devoe – “Poison”
Kris Kross – “Jump”En Vogue – “Free Your Mind”
C and C Music Factory – “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)”
Quad City DJ’s – “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)”
La Bouche – “Be My Lover”
Culture Beat – “Mr. Vain”
Aqua – “Barbie Girl”
Spice Girls – “Wannabe”
Britney Spears – “…Baby One More Time”
N’Sync – “I Want You Back”
Backstreet Boys – “I Want It That Way”
Chumbawamba – “Tubthumping”
The Proclaimers – “I Wanna Be (500 Miles)”
Barenaked Ladies – “One Week”
Third Eye Blind – “Semi-Charmed Life”
Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Beastie Boys – “Sabotage”
Green Day – “Basket Case”
Ricky Martin – “Living La Vida Loca”
Sir Mix A Lot – “Baby Got Back”
Naughty By Nature – “O.P.P.”
Onyx – “Slam”
Coolio featuring L.V. – “Gangsta’s Paradise”
Snoop Dogg – “Gin and Juice”
Skee-Lo – “I Wish”
Jay-Z – “Can I Get A…”
Eiffel 65 – “Blue (Da Be Dee)”
Robyn – “Show Me Love”
Jennifer Lopez – “If You Had My Love”
Janet Jackson – “Love Will Never Do (Without You)”
Warren G. and Nate Dogg – “Regulate”
En Vogue – “Don’t Let Go (Love)”
Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men – “One Sweet Day”
Duran Duran – “Ordinary World”
Seal – “Kiss From a Rose”
Saturday, March 09, 2013
Song of the Week 3/8/13
Duran Duran - "Save a Prayer"
On Thursday I was searching through Amazon's MP3 store for bargains. I came across the expanded edition of Rio for 5.99 and knew I had to buy it because it had the U.S. remixes of the title track and "Hungry Like the Wolf." I listened to the 29 tracks in the collection over the past two days and found myself comparing the album version of "Save a Prayer" and the Arena version that was a U.S. single (and the version I liked best as a teenager). This morning I put VH1 Classic on and wouldn't you know that they played the studio "Save a Prayer" video.
(They followed it up with the the's "This is the Day," which was *awesome*. I had no idea that Wix from Paul McCartney's band plays in the the. But there he is, jamming on the accordion.)
Here's the studio version:
Here's the live version that was a single in 1984:
On Thursday I was searching through Amazon's MP3 store for bargains. I came across the expanded edition of Rio for 5.99 and knew I had to buy it because it had the U.S. remixes of the title track and "Hungry Like the Wolf." I listened to the 29 tracks in the collection over the past two days and found myself comparing the album version of "Save a Prayer" and the Arena version that was a U.S. single (and the version I liked best as a teenager). This morning I put VH1 Classic on and wouldn't you know that they played the studio "Save a Prayer" video.
(They followed it up with the the's "This is the Day," which was *awesome*. I had no idea that Wix from Paul McCartney's band plays in the the. But there he is, jamming on the accordion.)
Here's the studio version:
Here's the live version that was a single in 1984:
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Song of the Week 3/1/13
Husker Du - "Hate Paper Doll"
I raved about the Copper Blue show the Bob Mould Band did last September in the 2012 RT20, but that didn't prepare me for how powerful the trio would be at Bowery Ballroom Tuesday night. They opened with five Copper Blue songs in a row, playing with an intensity that was stunning for a 52 year-old man. The highlight was the trio of songs they did from Husker Du's Flip Your Wig. I never thought I'd ever see Mould sing "Hate Paper Doll." And I never thought it could sound SO much better that the studio version. Just hearing the drums not sound like tin cans was a huge plus.
On Wednesday night SNL/Portlandia star Fred Armisen joined the band for that same trio of Flip Your Wig songs. This video captures just how great that block of tunes can sound on stage.
I raved about the Copper Blue show the Bob Mould Band did last September in the 2012 RT20, but that didn't prepare me for how powerful the trio would be at Bowery Ballroom Tuesday night. They opened with five Copper Blue songs in a row, playing with an intensity that was stunning for a 52 year-old man. The highlight was the trio of songs they did from Husker Du's Flip Your Wig. I never thought I'd ever see Mould sing "Hate Paper Doll." And I never thought it could sound SO much better that the studio version. Just hearing the drums not sound like tin cans was a huge plus.
On Wednesday night SNL/Portlandia star Fred Armisen joined the band for that same trio of Flip Your Wig songs. This video captures just how great that block of tunes can sound on stage.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Song of the Week 2/22/13
Aimee Mann - "Labrador"
I've gotten turned on to a lot of comedians (and felt like I've learned some fascinating things about life in general) listening to the WTF with Marc Maron podcast. But in the two plus years I've been listening I've never had a song get stuck in my head from a guest's live performance. That changed with Aimee Mann's stripped down take on "Labrador" from her Charmer album.
Why I never picked up this album after seeing the "Labrador" video last fall I'll never be able to explain.
I've gotten turned on to a lot of comedians (and felt like I've learned some fascinating things about life in general) listening to the WTF with Marc Maron podcast. But in the two plus years I've been listening I've never had a song get stuck in my head from a guest's live performance. That changed with Aimee Mann's stripped down take on "Labrador" from her Charmer album.
Why I never picked up this album after seeing the "Labrador" video last fall I'll never be able to explain.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Song of the Week 2/15/13
Supertramp - "Cannonball"
I've slowly been replacing the cassette albums I had from the early 80s to early 90s. This week I ordered Supertramp's first post-Roger Hodgson album Brother Where You Bound. It hasn't held up that well because of the dated production, but the first single "Cannonball" takes me back to spring 1985 within the first 10 seconds.
I've slowly been replacing the cassette albums I had from the early 80s to early 90s. This week I ordered Supertramp's first post-Roger Hodgson album Brother Where You Bound. It hasn't held up that well because of the dated production, but the first single "Cannonball" takes me back to spring 1985 within the first 10 seconds.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Party Like It's 1999 2/15/13
Thanks to all that came out Friday night! Our next one is Saturday, March 9th! Here's the playlist!
Sheryl Crow - “All
I Wanna Do”
Amy Grant - “Baby,
Baby”
Annie Lennox - “Walking
on Broken Glass”
Donna Lewis - “I
Love You Always and Forever”
Jennifer Page - “Crush”
The Cure - “Friday
I’m In Love”
Tom Cochrane - “Life
Is a Highway”
Smash Mouth - “All
Star”
Squirrel Nut Zippers
- “Hell”
The Brian Setzer
Orchestra - “Jump Jive n’ Wail”
The Mighty Mighty
Bosstones - “The Impression That I Get”
Ricky Martin - “Living
La Vida Loca”
Blackstreet featuring
Dr. Dre - “No Diggity”
2Pac and Dr. Dre
- “California Love”
Snoop Dogg - “Gin
and Juice”
Notorious B.I.G.
- “Hypnotize”
Monifah - “Touch
It”
Michael Jackson -
“Remember the Time”
Janet Jackson - “If”
Destiny’s Child -
“Say My Name”
Aaliyah - “Are You
That Somebody?”
TLC - “No Scrubs”
En Vogue - “Don’t
Let Go (Love)”
Salt-N-Pepa - “Shoop”
Mariah Carey
featuring ODB - “Fantasy (Remix)”
Ginuwine - “Pony”
Lauryn Hill - “Doo-Wop
(That Thing)”
Adina Howard - “Freak
Like Me”
Kriss Kross - “Jump”
Snap - “The Power”
Fatboy Slim - “Praise
You”
House of Pain - “Jump
Around”
Chumbawamba - “Tubthumping”
Nirvana - “Smells
Like Teen Spirit”
Rancid - “Time
Bomb”
Weezer - “Buddy
Holly”
Spin Doctors - “Two
Princes”
The Cardigans - “Lovefool”
Hanson - “Mmmbop”
Spice Girls - “Wannabe”
Christina Aguilera
- “Genie in a Bottle”
Ace of Base - “The
Sign”
Jamiroquai - “Virtual
Insanity”
Prince and the New Power
Generation - “7”
Bell Biv Devoe - “Poison”
Boyz II Men - “Motownphilly”
Digital Underground
- “Humpty Dance”
Notorious B.I.G.
featuring Puff Daddy and Mase - “Mo Money, More Problems”
MC Hammer - “U
Can’t Touch This”
Michael Jackson -
“Black and White”
James - “Laid”
No Doubt - “Just
a Girl”
No Doubt - “Spiderwebs”
Beastie Boys - “Sabotage”
Sir Mix-A-Lot - “Baby
Got Back”
L.L. Cool J - “Mama
Said Knock You Out”
Next - “Too Close”
Pras featuring
Michel, Mya and ODB - “Ghetto Superstar”
Busta Rhymes
featuring Janet Jackson - “What’s It Gonna Be?”
Fugees - “Killing
Me Softly”
Seal - “Kiss From
a Rose”
R. Kelly - “I
Believe I Can Fly”
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Song of the Week 2/8/13
Duran Duran - "New Moon on Monday"
I usually close my Sunday nights out by listen to the Classic Countdown with Dick Bartley on CBS-FM. They do two set of countdowns that are two hours apiece and set a decade apart. I especially love when they do 1974 and 1984. Those were both formative years for my music fandom, so hearing up to 25 songs from February of each year was a treat.
I had totally forgotten about "New Moon on Monday." After hearing it on the countdown, I downloaded the deluxe version of Seven & The Ragged Tiger and listened to that song eight times this week.
I usually close my Sunday nights out by listen to the Classic Countdown with Dick Bartley on CBS-FM. They do two set of countdowns that are two hours apiece and set a decade apart. I especially love when they do 1974 and 1984. Those were both formative years for my music fandom, so hearing up to 25 songs from February of each year was a treat.
I had totally forgotten about "New Moon on Monday." After hearing it on the countdown, I downloaded the deluxe version of Seven & The Ragged Tiger and listened to that song eight times this week.
Monday, February 04, 2013
Song of the Week 2/1/13
The Reigning Monarchs featuring Jed Parish and Norah Jones - "Ghost Town"
One of the reasons I love Brooklyn so much is that sometimes a great moment will come out of nowhere. Another fine example of this took place Saturday night. Heather and I decided, on a whim, to go to The Bell House to check out the Starfish Circus show. I knew that I was interested in hearing The Reigning Monarchs because USA Mike from Letters to Cleo was their lead guitarist. I quickly discovered when talking to the sound man Jeff that their drummer for the evening was Pete Caldes from The Gravel Pit and The Gentlemen. Then during the Monarchs opening set Caldes' Gravel Pit bandmate Jed Parish came out with Norah Jones to sing on a cover of The Specials' "Ghost Town." I was stunned, surprised and incredibly happy.
One of the reasons I love Brooklyn so much is that sometimes a great moment will come out of nowhere. Another fine example of this took place Saturday night. Heather and I decided, on a whim, to go to The Bell House to check out the Starfish Circus show. I knew that I was interested in hearing The Reigning Monarchs because USA Mike from Letters to Cleo was their lead guitarist. I quickly discovered when talking to the sound man Jeff that their drummer for the evening was Pete Caldes from The Gravel Pit and The Gentlemen. Then during the Monarchs opening set Caldes' Gravel Pit bandmate Jed Parish came out with Norah Jones to sing on a cover of The Specials' "Ghost Town." I was stunned, surprised and incredibly happy.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Song of the Week 1/25/13
Busta Rhymes featuring Janet Jackson - "What's It Gonna Be?!"
One of the great things about Party Like It's 1999 is when a song I really liked in the 90s that had slipped through the cracks gets requested. This Busta and Janet collaboration is a perfect example. I remember this song practically burning up the TV screen when I first saw this video. And I can honestly say that I think it's held up rather well, unlike some rap collaborations from that decade.
One of the great things about Party Like It's 1999 is when a song I really liked in the 90s that had slipped through the cracks gets requested. This Busta and Janet collaboration is a perfect example. I remember this song practically burning up the TV screen when I first saw this video. And I can honestly say that I think it's held up rather well, unlike some rap collaborations from that decade.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Party Like It's 1999 1/18/13
Well, the first PLI99 of 2013 was off the charts crazy. Hopefully that will set a tone for the rest of the year. The next edition is February 15th at The Bell House with an 11:00 p.m. start in the Main Event Hall. Here's what you heard this month:
Tom Petty - “You
Don’t Know How It Feels”
The Black Crowes
- “Jealous Again”
Soul Asylum - “Runaway
Train”
Sugar - “If I Can’t
Change Your Mind”
The Wallflowers -
“One Headlight”
The Verve - “Bittersweet
Symphony”
Radiohead - “Karma
Police”
Smashing Pumpkins
- “Today”
Matthew Sweet - “Sick
of Myself”
The Rentals - “Friends
of P”
Stroke 9 - “Little
Black Backpack”
Veruca Salt - “Seether”
Garbage - “Special”
Hole - “Celebrity
Skin”
Tracy Bonham - “Mother
Mother”
Matchbox Twenty -
“3 A.M.”
Rusted Root - “Send
Me on My Way”
Sister Hazel - “All
for You”
Goo Goo Dolls - “Slide”
Gin Blossoms - “Hey
Jealousy”
The Proclaimers -
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”
The Cardigans - “Lovefool”
Natalie Imbruglia
- “Torn”
Len - “Steal My
Sunshine”
Madonna - “Ray of
Light”
Mariah Carey - “Fantasy”
Heavy D. and Da Boyz
- “Now That We Found Love”
Montell Jordan
- “This Is How We Do It”
Blackstreet featuring
Dr. Dre - “No Diggity”
Ginuwine - “Pony”
L.L. Cool J - “Around
the Way Girl”
Skee-Lo - “I Wish”
Notorious B.I.G.
- “Hypnotize”
Pharcyde - “Passing
Me By”
Snoop Dogg - “Gina
And Juice”
MC Hammer - “U
Can’t Touch This”
Dee-Lite - “Groove
Is in the Heart”
Toni Tony Tone - “Feels
Good”
Bell Biv Devoe - Poison”
Boyz II Men - “Motownphilly”
Soul 4 Real - “Candy
Rain”
Janet Jackson - “Love
Will Never Do (Without You)”
Madonna - “Vogue”
Robyn - “Show Me
Love”
Pras featuring
Michel, Mya and ODB - “Ghetto Superstar”
Salt-N-Pepa - “None
of Your Business”
TLC - “Waterfalls”
Destiny’s Child -
“Bills, Bills, Bills”
Backstreet Boys -
“As Long As You Love Me”
Spice Girls - “Wannabe”
Britney Spears - “…Hit
Me One More Time”
NSync - “tearing
Up My heart”
Hanson - “Mmmbop”
Chumbawamba - “Tubthumping”
Blink 182 - “All
the Small Things”
Nirvana - “Smells
Like Teen Spirit”
Green Day - “Basket
Case”
Third Eye Blind -
“Semi-Charmed Life”
Sugar Ray - “Fly”
Sublime - “Santeria”
Alanis Morissette
- “Ironic”
Smash Mouth - “All-Star”
Ricky Martin - “Living
La Vida Loca”
Lou Bega - “Mambo
No. 5”
Eiffel 65 - “Blue
(Da Be Dee)”
Ace of Base - “The
Sign”
Mary J Blige - “real
Love”
Next - “Too Close”
Mark Morrison - “Return
of the Mack”
Kris Kross - “Jump”
2Pac and Dr. Dre
- “California Love”
Usher - “You Make
Me Wanna”
Will Smith -
Getting Jiggy Wit It”
Puff Daddy - “It’s
All About the Benjamins (Remix)”
Warren G. and Nate
Dogg - Regulate”
Prince and the New
Power Generation - “7”
Savage Garden - “Truly
Madly Deeply”
P.M. Dawn - “Set
Adrift on Memory Bliss”
Extreme - “More
Than Words”
Song of the Week 1/18/13
Lionel Richie - "All Night Long (All Night)"
I swear, I heard this song three times this week on CBS-FM. There's something wrong about that.
I swear, I heard this song three times this week on CBS-FM. There's something wrong about that.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Song of the Week 1/11/13
Paul F Tompkins - "Skyfall"
When I wrote about Adele appearing at the Golden Globes for work, I didn't think of her version of the James Bond theme. I thought about this one, and how it perfectly straddles the line between comedy and heartfelt performance. Enjoy!
When I wrote about Adele appearing at the Golden Globes for work, I didn't think of her version of the James Bond theme. I thought about this one, and how it perfectly straddles the line between comedy and heartfelt performance. Enjoy!
Monday, January 07, 2013
Song of the Week 1/4/13
Kelly Clarkson - "Catch My Breath"
I scrolled through the cable channels Tuesday through Thursday nights and again on Sunday night looking for something to entertain me. And every single time I hit MTV Hits, this video for the newly-blonde Clarkson was on. Pretty weird. Also, pretty good song.
(Oh, hey, I'm doing these SOTWs again. And I promise to fill in the missing ones from 2012 this year. Really. I mean it.)
I scrolled through the cable channels Tuesday through Thursday nights and again on Sunday night looking for something to entertain me. And every single time I hit MTV Hits, this video for the newly-blonde Clarkson was on. Pretty weird. Also, pretty good song.
(Oh, hey, I'm doing these SOTWs again. And I promise to fill in the missing ones from 2012 this year. Really. I mean it.)
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Party Like It's 1999 12/28/12
Our next edition of Party Like It's 1999 is Friday, January 18th, 2013! We closed 2012 last Friday with a quirky night of tunes and out of left field requests. Here's what you heard:
Black Sheep - “The Choice Is Yours”
Brand Nubian - “Slow Down”
De Le Soul – “Ring Ring Ring”
Beastie Boys – “Pass the Mic”
Rage Against the Machine – “Killing in the Name Of”
Metallica – “The Memory Remains”
Faith No More – “A Small Victory”
Soul Coughing – “Super Bon Bon”
Cake – “The Distance”
Oasis – “Don’t Look Back in Anger”
Garbage – “I Think I’m Paranoid”
White Town – “Your Woman”
Daft Punk – “Around the World”
Lo-Fidelity All-Stars – “Battleflag”
Filter – “Take a Picture”
Urge Overkill – “Sister Havana”
Soul Asylum – “Without a Trace”
Third Eye Blind – “Never Let You Go”
Savage Garden – “I Want You”
Adam Ant – “Wonderful”
Cranberries – “Dreams”
Collective Soul – “Shine”
Lenny Kravitz – “It Ain’t Over Til Its Over”
Fastball – “The Way”
Dishwalla – “Counting Blue Cars”
Better Than Ezra – “Good”
Toadies – “Possum Kingdom”
No Doubt – “Spiderwebs”
En Vogue – “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)”
Dr. Dre and 2Pac – “California Love”
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg – “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thing”
Blackstreet and Dr. Dre – “No Diggity”
Notorious B.I.G. – “Hypnotize”
Notorious B.I.G. – “Juicy”
Mark Morrison – “Return of the Mack”
Will Smith – “Getting Jiggy Wit It”
Montell Jordan – “This Is How We Do It”
Wreck-N-Effect – “Rump Shaker”
Puff Daddy featuring Notorious B.I.G., Lil' Kim and The Lox – “It’s All About the Benjamins”
TLC – “No Scrubs”
Warren G and Nate Dogg – “Regulate”
Chaka Demus and Pliers – “Murder She Wrote”
Boyz II Men – “Motownphilly”
New Kids on the Block – “Step By Step”
Backstreet Boys – “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”
N’ Sync – “I Want You Back”
Britney Spears – “(You Drive Me) Crazy”
Destiny’s Child – “Bills, Bills, Bills”
Aaliyah – “Are You That Somebody?”
Naughty By Nature – “O.P.P.”
House of Pain – “Jump Around”
Blink 182 – “All The Small Things”
Green Day – “Basket Case”
Lit – “My Own Worst Enemy”
Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Smash Mouth – “All Star”
Weezer – “Say It Ain’t So”
Alanis Morissette – “Ironic”
No Doubt – “Just a Girl”
Ini Kamoze – “Here Comes the Hotstepper”
Lou Bega – “Mambo No. 5”
Britney Spears – “…Hit Me One More Time”
Usher – “U Make Me Wanna”
Ginuwine – “Pony”
Adina Howard – “Freak Like Me”
Brandy and Monica – “The Boy Is Mine”
Next – “Too Close”
Janet Jackson – “Go Deep”
Des’ree – “You Gotta Be”
Christina Aguilera – “Genie in a Bottle”
Color Me Badd – “I Wanna Sex You Up”
Salt-N-Pepa – “Shoop”
Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue – “Whatta Man”
Coolio featuring L.V. – “Gangsta’s Paradise”
Lauryn Hill – “Doo-Wop (That Thing)”
A Tribe Called Quest – “Find a Way”
Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy and Mase – “Mo Money, Mo Problems”
Ace of Base – “The Sign”
Spice Girls – “Say You’ll be There”
Faith Evans – “Love Like This”
Backstreet Boys – “I Want It That Way”
Weezer – “Undone (The Sweater Song”)
Semisonic – “Closing Time”
Counting Crows – “A Long December”
Lisa Loeb – “Stay”
Black Sheep - “The Choice Is Yours”
Brand Nubian - “Slow Down”
De Le Soul – “Ring Ring Ring”
Beastie Boys – “Pass the Mic”
Rage Against the Machine – “Killing in the Name Of”
Metallica – “The Memory Remains”
Faith No More – “A Small Victory”
Soul Coughing – “Super Bon Bon”
Cake – “The Distance”
Oasis – “Don’t Look Back in Anger”
Garbage – “I Think I’m Paranoid”
White Town – “Your Woman”
Daft Punk – “Around the World”
Lo-Fidelity All-Stars – “Battleflag”
Filter – “Take a Picture”
Urge Overkill – “Sister Havana”
Soul Asylum – “Without a Trace”
Third Eye Blind – “Never Let You Go”
Savage Garden – “I Want You”
Adam Ant – “Wonderful”
Cranberries – “Dreams”
Collective Soul – “Shine”
Lenny Kravitz – “It Ain’t Over Til Its Over”
Fastball – “The Way”
Dishwalla – “Counting Blue Cars”
Better Than Ezra – “Good”
Toadies – “Possum Kingdom”
No Doubt – “Spiderwebs”
En Vogue – “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)”
Dr. Dre and 2Pac – “California Love”
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg – “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thing”
Blackstreet and Dr. Dre – “No Diggity”
Notorious B.I.G. – “Hypnotize”
Notorious B.I.G. – “Juicy”
Mark Morrison – “Return of the Mack”
Will Smith – “Getting Jiggy Wit It”
Montell Jordan – “This Is How We Do It”
Wreck-N-Effect – “Rump Shaker”
Puff Daddy featuring Notorious B.I.G., Lil' Kim and The Lox – “It’s All About the Benjamins”
TLC – “No Scrubs”
Warren G and Nate Dogg – “Regulate”
Chaka Demus and Pliers – “Murder She Wrote”
Boyz II Men – “Motownphilly”
New Kids on the Block – “Step By Step”
Backstreet Boys – “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”
N’ Sync – “I Want You Back”
Britney Spears – “(You Drive Me) Crazy”
Destiny’s Child – “Bills, Bills, Bills”
Aaliyah – “Are You That Somebody?”
Naughty By Nature – “O.P.P.”
House of Pain – “Jump Around”
Blink 182 – “All The Small Things”
Green Day – “Basket Case”
Lit – “My Own Worst Enemy”
Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Smash Mouth – “All Star”
Weezer – “Say It Ain’t So”
Alanis Morissette – “Ironic”
No Doubt – “Just a Girl”
Ini Kamoze – “Here Comes the Hotstepper”
Lou Bega – “Mambo No. 5”
Britney Spears – “…Hit Me One More Time”
Usher – “U Make Me Wanna”
Ginuwine – “Pony”
Adina Howard – “Freak Like Me”
Brandy and Monica – “The Boy Is Mine”
Next – “Too Close”
Janet Jackson – “Go Deep”
Des’ree – “You Gotta Be”
Christina Aguilera – “Genie in a Bottle”
Color Me Badd – “I Wanna Sex You Up”
Salt-N-Pepa – “Shoop”
Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue – “Whatta Man”
Coolio featuring L.V. – “Gangsta’s Paradise”
Lauryn Hill – “Doo-Wop (That Thing)”
A Tribe Called Quest – “Find a Way”
Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy and Mase – “Mo Money, Mo Problems”
Ace of Base – “The Sign”
Spice Girls – “Say You’ll be There”
Faith Evans – “Love Like This”
Backstreet Boys – “I Want It That Way”
Weezer – “Undone (The Sweater Song”)
Semisonic – “Closing Time”
Counting Crows – “A Long December”
Lisa Loeb – “Stay”
Friday, December 28, 2012
Where’s the Paper? 2012, the Year of Obstacles and Misfortune
So you
might be wondering why, for the first time ever, you received the RT 20 in an email. Well, there are a
multitude of reasons. Let’s break it down Top 5 list style!
1) I’m a lot less angry now.
Anger and
its frequent bunkmate, sarcasm, were the pillars of what I wrote each year from
1994 until about 2009. But I have mellowed in that regard (and being in a solid,
stress-free relationship for two years has certainly made that possible). So I
found it harder to tap into wherever my creative engine now resides in my body.
2) I wrote a ton of crap this year.
When I went
through all the stories I wrote for the day job this year to compile our Year
in Review, I realized that I wrote close to 3,000 pieces of copy this year.
THAT. IS. A. LOT. Which led to…
3) I’m battling carpel tunnel.
I can
pinpoint its start to mid-June when my job launched a new web platform into
which we upload our copy. There are many more clicks with a mouse than the way we
used to upload stores for the previous nine years, and that put quite a load on
my right wrist. I now own four different wrist guards so I am protected
wherever I go. But -- as any sufferer can tell you -- rest is the best
medicine. My wrist was back to 100% after our lengthy vacation to California in September. But when Sandy pummeled the area, I ended up
writing three to four times what I normally would to fill in for those that had
no power for almost two weeks. Add extra copy for Year in Review because of the
extremely poor time management by another co-worker and my wrist hasn’t been
right for a while.
4) I spent my free time in the fall
working on Sandy benefits.
Hurricane Sandy (fuck that bullshit of calling it Superstorm Sandy, seriously) really devastated this area of the
country that I love dearly. The images I saw in the days after it hit and
hearing how friends and people I’ve known for many years lost almost everything
inspired me to organize two benefit shows in November. All the efforts I put
into to promoting them paid off as between the two of them close to $1700 was
raised. It’s not a lot of cash in the overall picture of how much money is need
to get various areas back on their feet, but it exceeded my wildest
expectations
5) I spent the rest of my free time
in the fall plugging and working on various aspects of my book.
Yes,
nothing like burying the lead. My first book, co-edited with my dear friend Mike Faloon, is called Fan Interference: A Collection of Baseball
Rants and Reflections. The book, due out in June on Blue Cubicle Press,
collects the best of Zisk, the
baseball zine Mike and I have been publishing for 13 years. It’s a project that
has been a very long time coming. And
getting this list done put a hold on my editing our latest draft, so I’m glad
to have this done.
Well, there
you have it. This year’s list might not have jokes about “Gangam Style,” The X Factor or Limp Bizkit, but hey, at least it’s done. Hope you get a chuckle or
two out of this year’s truncated version. I’m shooting for a traditional
version in 2013.
2012's Top 20 Albums
20) Band of Skulls - Sweet Sour (Electric Blues/Vagrant)
England’s Band of Skulls made some pretty
cool bluesy rock on Sweet Sour that
makes me think they’ve listened to a lot of Jack White’s catalog. And that’s
not a bad thing if they can make albums that can rock as hard as this one.
On the Web: BandofSkulls.com Best Tracks: “Sweet Sour,” “Wanderluster,” “The Devil Takes Care of
His Own”
19) Brendan Benson - What Kind of World (Readymade Records)
Benson
doesn’t quite approach the heights of his past two solo efforts on What Kind of World. And that’s okay,
because even on his worst day The Raconteurs
singer-guitarist can come up with great hooks that will be stuck in your head
for days.
On the Web: BrendanBenson.com Best Tracks: “What Kind of World,” “Pretty Baby,” “bad For Me”
18) Joseph Arthur - Redemption City (Lonely Astronaut)
Arthur has
struck (or perhaps rediscovered) a new creative vein in the past couple of
years. He's gone back to working solo making his own albums (leaving band work
to his supergroups Fistful of Mercy and
RNDM) and that seems to have
refocused his songwriting. Redemption
City is a lose sequel to 2002’s Redemption’s
Son and it captures Arthur at his best, laying down stream of consciousness
lyrics over loops and subtle keyboards and guitars. Best of all? He gave it
away for free through his website. (I did throw a few bucks in his online tip
jar. I mean, making 24 songs can’t be cheap.)
On the Web: JosephArthur.com
Best Tracks: “I Miss the Zoo,”
“Wasted Days,” “Surrender to the Storm”
17) The Avett Brothers - The Carpenter (American/Universal)
This
follow-up to I And Love And You isn’t
a stone cold classic like that 2009 album. The
Carpenter is another solid roots offering from Seth and Scott Avett and
it features yet another fantastic song with a title that starts with pretty
girl.
On the Web: TheAvettBrothers.com Best Tracks: “Pretty Girl From Michigan,” “Geraldine,” “Live and Die”
16) Blonds - The Bad Ones (Gluck Music)
Jordy Asher and Cari Rae record music that Lana
Del Ray would make if she had an ounce of talent. In other words, they make
music that is influenced by 60s girl groups yet retains a modern edge. And they
weren’t manufactured in a lab like Ms. Del Ray, which is a plus.
On the Web: Blonds.Bandcamp.com Best Tracks: “Heartstrings,” “The Bad Ones,” “Falling”
15) Arkells - Michigan Left (Heavy Plaid)
This
Canadian quintet was one of the more pleasant surprises to hit my mailbox this
year. Their second album is chock full of hooky songs that I found myself
humming days later. And they did a song called “Kiss Cam!” This should be
played at ballpark across the land immediately.
14) Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Psychedelic Pill (Reprise)
Two quirky
albums from Neil Young and Crazy Horse in the same calendar year? What year is
this, 1979? The 27 minute opening song “Driftin’ Back” has some of the lamest
lyrics Young has ever written. (Getting pissed about MP3s, Neil? This isn’t
2000 and you’re not Metallica.) But
the lengthy jam segments make up for it. “Walk Like a Giant” clocks in at only 16 minutes and there’s not a wasted
minute in that glorious tune about realizing your time is running out.
13) Jack White - Blunderbuss (Third Man/Columbia)
The solo
debut from the guy behind The White
Stripes, The Raconteurs and Dead Weather contains elements that
made all those bands fascinating to hear. I think it’s fair to say that Blunderbuss comes across like Jack White's Greatest Hits You Haven't Heard
Yet.
On the Web: JackWhiteiii.com
Best Tracks: “Sixteen Saltines,”
“Weep Themselves to Sleep,” “Trash Tongue Talker”
12) Ryan Monroe - A Painting of a Painting on Fire (RCM Records)
Monroe is a member of Band of Horses which, I must admit, I didn't know he was in the
band until I read the press release that came with the album. Monroe created an album that was much
better than the one his band did this year. I also nominate Monroe for album title of the year.
On the Web: RyanMonroeMusic.com Best Tracks: “Doritoys,” “A Painting of a Painting on Fire,”
“Turning Over Leaves”
11) Bahamas - Barchords (Brushfire Records/Universal)
This album takes
a mellow path like Jack Johnson (not
surprising since the group is signed to Johnson's label) but Bahamas mastermind Afie Jurvanen doesn't make me think I should be in Hawaii. The guitar tones on this album are
some of the coolest sounding ones I’ve heard in years echoing 60s surf guitar masters.
I don’t want to sell this whole album as a sleepy beach nostalgia trip…even
though there is a song called “I Got You Babe,” which should be titled “Not That I Got You Babe (As It Sounds Like
Neil Young’s Zuma).”
On the Web: Bahamasmusic.net
Best Tracks: “Caught Me Thinking,” “Okay,
Alright, I’m Alive,” “I Got You Babe”
10) Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits (Merge)
I was
disappointed with Spoon's last
album, Transference, as it seemed
frontman Britt Daniel was just
rehashing previous efforts. Perhaps Daniel felt that way himself, as this side
project with Wolf Parade’s Dan Boeckner seems to have
reinvigorated his knack for hooky songs presented in a minimalist way.
On the Web: DivineFits.com
Best Tracks: “My Love Is Real,”
“Would That Not Be Nice,” “The Salton Sea”
9) First Aid Kit - The Lion’s Roar (Wichita
Recordings)
Sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg wrote interesting songs with great harmonies on
their first album The Big Black and the
Blue. This second album has all those elements are still in play, but
producer Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes) gives the duo's songs some
well deserved production heft. The title track deserves to be played at an
ear-shattering volume on top of a huge mountain because, well, it's that epic.
On the Web: ThisIsFirstAidKit.com Best Track: “The
Lion’s Roar," “King of the World,” “Blue”
8) Delta Spirit - Delta Spirit (Rounder)
Delta Spirit
strip out some of their American and alt-country influences on their third
album, aiming for a sound that sounds a bit more contemporary. They don’t
always hit the mark, but when they do on tracks like “Empty House” and “Tear It
Up” it’s exciting and captures the energy of their phenomenal live shows.
7) Young Fresh Fellows - Tiempo de Lujo
(Yep Roc)
Any year
that has a new album from my favorite Seattle quartet can't be that bad. (Well,
okay, maybe that’s not exactly true of this year.) There’s something that
happens when Scott McCaughey, Kurt Bloch, Jim Sangster and Tad
Hutchinson get together. It’s a smart-yet-silly kind of fun music that is sorely
lacking these days. Reportedly the 12 songs on this album were recorded in one
12 hour session at Bloch’s studio. If that is actually the case (these guys
like to cloak the truth in some, at times bizarre, wordplay so I’m doubtful)
that makes this album all that more impressive. And they wrote a song about Dr.
Zizmor from those subway ads!
On the Web: Facebook.com/theminus5 Best Tracks: “Cleflo and Zizmor,” “A
Fake Hello,” “Margaret”
6)
Shovels and Rope - O’ Be Joyful
(Dualtone)
My friend Jim Flammia sent me this debut from the
Charleston, South Carolina duo. Jim is a publicist I’ve known
for 15 years, and he and I share a similar taste in music. Yet I wonder if he
knew exactly how much I would love this album when he dropped it in the mail.
The first time I heard Cary Ann Hearst
and Michael Trent sing together on the
album opener “Birmingham” I knew that there was something
special going on here. The gritty guitars, clanging old drums, and raw
harmonies -- it’s a stunning combination that produces some of the best rootsy
music I’ve heard in ages.
5) Hospitality
- Hospitality (Merge)
I have to
give props to my friend Bill Pearis
for hipping me to Hospitality with a mix he sent me in 2011. Amber Papini has one of the most
distinctive voices I’ve heard in years (apparently she taught herself to sing
via repeated listenings of the Psychedelic
Furs' Talk Talk Talk, which is so
crazy it has to be true) and the album is wisely built upon putting her voice
front and center. Papini is also fascinated with doors, keys and locks, as half
the songs on her use some combination of those words. Hospitality is probably
too quirky for mainstream acceptance, but in a perfect Steve-led world they’d
be big stars. (And the Yankees would never make the playoffs.)
On the Web: Facebook.com/HospitalityLives
Best Tracks: “Friends of Friends,” “Eighth Avenue,” “Sleepover”
4) Frank Ocean - Channel Orange (Def Jam)
Frank Ocean made headlines when he wrote a
lengthy blog post about how the first love of his life was a man. In the world
of R&B and hip-hop, that's a huge leap of faith believing that your
audience won't turn upon you. His bravery is reflected in Channel Orange, an album that demands you give it some real focus
to catch its true greatness. Ocean is an incredible singer and he bares his
soul through his raw lyrics. It’s incredibly compelling. And I’d rank his
performance of “Bad Religion” backed by The
Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
as the best TV appearance of the year.
On the Web: FrankOcean.com
Best Tracks: “Bad Religion,”
“Thinking About You,” “Pyramids”
3) Bob Mould
- Silver Age (Merge)
When I
interviewed Bob Mould about his book See
a Little Light in 2011 he mentioned that when he started writing songs
again he wanted to do something fun after digging through his past for two
years. Who knew that he'd come up with his best album in two decades? Mould and
his band of the past four years (bassist Jason
Narducy and Superchunk/Mountain Goats drummer Jon Wurster) are the closest he’s come
to the power of Sugar and this album
echoes Copper Blue in many aspects.
Mostly because it fucking rocks.
On the Web: BobMould.com
Best Tracks: “The Descent,” “Star
Machine,” “Keep Believing”
2) The Figgs
- The Day Gravity Stopped (Stomper)
How many
acts can say they recorded one of their finest albums 25 years into their
career? Neil Young? Bob Dylan? Van Morrison? Bob Mould?
Whoever you believe should be on that list, it's a short one. The Figgs have done
just that -- and with a double album. Side one -- “On the Grounds of Stately
Homes,“ “Chased,” “The Lovely Miss Jean,” “Inspector R.T” and “Brain Be Gone” --
is easily one of the Top 3 sides of an album the band has ever recorded. A fine
example of a great band learning to age gracefully.
On the Web: TheFiggs.net
Best Tracks: “On the Grounds of
Stately Homes,” “Do Me Like You Said You Would,” “Chased”
1) Nada Surf
- The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy
(Barsuk)
This may be
the first Nada Surf album that captures the essence of their concerts -- the
heartbreak, the joy, the longing and most importantly, the rocking. The band
really lets it rip from the opening track “Clear Eye Clouded Mind” and doesn’t
let up throughout, taking advantage of their touring fourth member Doug Gillard. He joined the band in
2010 when they toured behind their covers album and eventually became an
integral part of their sound. His stint with Guided By Voices produced some of that band’s best work and he’s
seemingly done the same magic for the songs of frontman Matthew Caws. Gillard’s sharp solos aren’t that flashy, yet they’re
perfectly constructed and improve each track. (The brief solo in “Waiting for
Something” is a work of guitar art.) Caws isn’t writing about heartbreak and
despair anymore, but as someone else who’s found some serenity in his life, I
really appreciate how he’s been able to take the next step with his art without
having to tap into a reservoir of pain. (Ooh, that’s a good name for an album.
Don’t steal it.)
On the Web: NadaSurf.com
Best Tracks: “When I Was Young,”
“Waiting for Something,” “Teenage Dreams”
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