Middle-aged Dummies are back and bursting at the "themes" to get going! Full theme ahead! (4 Viewers)

[Yambag]

Note- this band only existed in our sleep deprived minds over 5am coffee sessions, but we were fully ready to make this happen.

If those kind of bands count for inclusion in the pantheon of great things, I'd like to nominate our tenth grade band Sex and Pancakes and our college band The Dar Dars/HTM/BGF (we couldn't decide) along with all the other legendary 5 A.M./classroom bands that never got off the ground because nobody had the requisite chops.

My high school "band" was Enema. Two guitars and a drum machine. We actually entered Spin's Worst Band in America contest as our song creation consisted of: 1) Choosing a topic, 2) Playing whatever riff we could muster and 3) Freestyling lyrics. I think I still have about 5 cassettes worth of recorded material.

 

[krista4]

Btw, the #24 playlist is great.

I'd better listen to the #25s before I fall impossibly behind.

 

[KarmaPolice]

#24: GENTLEMEN'S DUB CLUB - EYE OF THE STORM

Safe to say I've fallen for this group as well. This is what I randomly stumbled on as I was looking for reggae and reggae-adjacent music that I actually clicked with. Leave it to me to land on group of pasty Brits in the 2010s for the genre (or dub subgenre), but here we are. This is another group that I bumped pretty far up the queue for doing more and more listening. I was listening to a couple albums in prep and was getting grumpy that I picked the wrong song as I listened and like other stuff more. But, that is why we have....

Recommended listening: If you liked this at all, seriously anything that I have come across is as good if not better. As for albums, I seem to like Down to Earth and Dubtopia the most so far. Last night I was listening to Down to Earth and I liked them getting a little more guitars in there. A couple of their more listened to songs on Spotify are great too - High Grade and Rudeboy stand out here. They sound great through the headphones too. Very fun albums to listen to.

Next: one more dub track. This time we actually get some Jamaicans.

 

[Yo Mama]

World’s Worst Superheroes #24

Mr. Moustache
Artist - Nirvana (1989)

Strengths - Always popular with the ladies; he’s been able to buy alcohol without a fake ID since he was 14

Weaknesses - Looks like he is a soap opera actor’s evil twin; frequently called into HR for unwanted advances in the workplace; often mistaken for an adult film star


There Goes My Hero

Situation - You just robbed a bank, but your normal getaway driver has the cops on his tail like a cheap suit. He can’t dump them. You need a new driver.

[bank alarms blaring]

You - “Where’s that new driver?”

Mr. Moustache: [rolls up with panache]. “You rang?”

You: [hops in] “Oh good, you wore a disguise.”

Mr M: [twirls his epic Soup Strainer]. “What disguise?”

You: “Sweet car, what is this? A thunderbird? ‘78, ‘77?”

Mr M: [admires his beautiful Lip Toupee in the rearview mirror]. “Nah man. This is a 1976 Firebird Trans-Am with a modified 1977 front end. Midnight black with a golden phoenix on the hood. It’s got a 6.6 liter engine with 180 horses under there so buckle up!”

You: “Let’s go!”

Mr M: [one last check of his magnificent Dirt Squirrel, steps on gas, tires smoking]. “Woo-hoo!!!”

Cletus: [over CB radio]. “Bandit, this is Snowman. You’ve got ten smokies on your tail, over!”

Mr M: [combs his luscious Taint Tickler and laughs]. “10-4 good buddy!”

You: “They’re gonna catch us, turn here!”

Mr M: [nervously pets his bushy Face Caterpillar]. “But that’ll take us past a . . . “

You: “Just do it!”

[an alarm goes off from Mr M’s ankle bracelet, his car’s engine automatically shuts off and the doors auto-lock]

Buford T.Justice: [walks up smiling, twirling his baton] “Now Mr. Moustache, you know you’re not supposed to be within 500 feet of a schoolyard. You’re coming’ with me!”

 

[Yo Mama]

My google search history is probably hilarious after these writeups.

 

[El Floppo]

El Floppo – Mallet Rock

Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye, Kimbra

My 24... Loved this song at first listen.

Such an odd pop song, highlighted by single mallet glockenspiel playing the theme off the bat and returning throughout with string machine and keyboard counterpoints.

 

[El Floppo]

World’s Worst Superheroes #24

Mr. Moustache
Artist - Nirvana (1989)

Strengths - Always popular with the ladies; he’s been able to buy alcohol without a fake ID since he was 14

Weaknesses - Looks like he is a soap opera actor’s evil twin; frequently called into HR for unwanted advances in the workplace; often mistaken for an adult film star


There Goes My Hero

Situation - You just robbed a bank, but your normal getaway driver has the cops on his tail like a cheap suit. He can’t dump them. You need a new driver.

[bank alarms blaring]

You - “Where’s that new driver?”

Mr. Moustache: [rolls up with panache]. “You rang?”

You: [hops in] “Oh good, you wore a disguise.”

Mr M: [twirls his epic Soup Strainer]. “What disguise?”

You: “Sweet car, what is this? A thunderbird? ‘78, ‘77?”

Mr M: [admires his beautiful Lip Toupee in the rearview mirror]. “Nah man. This is a 1976 Firebird Trans-Am with a modified 1977 front end. Midnight black with a golden phoenix on the hood. It’s got a 6.6 liter engine with 180 horses under there so buckle up!”

You: “Let’s go!”

Mr M: [one last check of his magnificent Dirt Squirrel, steps on gas, tires smoking]. “Woo-hoo!!!”

Cletus: [over CB radio]. “Bandit, this is Snowman. You’ve got ten smokies on your tail, over!”

Mr M: [combs his luscious Taint Tickler and laughs]. “10-4 good buddy!”

You: “They’re gonna catch us, turn here!”

Mr M: [nervously pets his bushy Face Caterpillar]. “But that’ll take us past a . . . “

You: “Just do it!”

[an alarm goes off from Mr M’s ankle bracelet, his car’s engine automatically shuts off and the doors auto-lock]

Buford T.Justice: [walks up smiling, twirling his baton] “Now Mr. Moustache, you know you’re not supposed to be within 500 feet of a schoolyard. You’re coming’ with me!”

I just knew this was going to be a good one

 

[krista4]

World’s Worst Superheroes #24

Mr. Moustache
Artist - Nirvana (1989)

This was one of the write-ups I was most excited to see, and I'm not disappointed!

 

[El Floppo]

I actually laughed out loud when this song came up on the play-list... Knew immediately who's it was and couldn't wait for the writeup.

 

[krista4]

I didn't find a lot of new-to-me songs to love in the #25s, though that's in part because I already knew a lot of the songs. Highlights:

- Celeste's "Stop This Flame" was very good, which most of you know is a high bar for me with female singers.
- "Railroad Man" by Eels and "One Day Like This" by Elbow reminded me that these are two artists I really should know more stuff from, because I always like what I hear.
- I could probably listen to "Mapendo Mapendo" on a loop indefinitely and be happy.

 

[Raging weasel]

Btw, the #24 playlist is great.

I'd better listen to the #25s before I fall impossibly behind.

Me too,about an hour in to the 25's

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Round 24 - Sleepless Nights - Közi
As KP indicated, my original selection disappeared from Spotify, so we have "Sleepless Nights" instead. The playlist should be correct.

Közi is from Japan and plays a variety of music styles and instruments.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

There are more synoyms for mustache than I realised.

 

[jwb]

jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

Cortez the Killer - Gov’t Mule

Do you like guitars? I like guitars. And this song has guitars. It's also the first of several live numbers on my list.

I mentioned earlier that a good system can really give you a sense of the entire band, especially in live music. That's the main reason I picked this one. Warren Haynes and the gang doing one of my favorite Neil Young tunes. Neil always had fun with this one, but the Mule takes it to another level. it starts off slow and deliberate, and while it never reaches a metal like speed-shred, it sneaks up on you, and by the time we hit the 6:40 mark or so, you realize you're in a full-fledged guitar jam, with two of them trading back and forth. Like I said on most of my playlist, play this one loud. The guitars just wail, the keyboards soar on the side, the bass rumbles... this is a tight band playing fairly loose, which is a Mule (and Neil) signature.

 

[Chaos34]

Chaos34 - Post Surf Rock Surf Rockish (80s fwd)

Spy School Graduation Theme - Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet

Yeah I'm way behind. I didn't write up the last two but they were no big deal. I'm on a mini-ski vacation and it's cold here. Surf revival doesn't fit in. Maybe some ambient Norwegian metal, but I digress. I didn't want to let Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet go un-written-up though. As revival goes, I think they were about as good as it gets. Three Canadian musicians all with serious chops. The bass player is the standout. He unfortunately passed on a few years ago.

Childhood friends with the Kids in the Hall guys, they gained some recognition for the show's theme song "Having an Average Weekend." Humor was a part of what they did, and something I enjoy, though it isn't always obvious with instrumentals. The rebellious "We're Not a F****ing Surf Band" being a favorite example.

If asked to recommend a surf revival album, I'd recommend the one from which this track is pulled: "Sport Fishin': The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook". It's engineered by Steve Albini so you know it sounds great. it also displays a distinction between surf rock and spaghetti western. When the drummer gets to trottin' and gallopin', that's not surf rock, that's spaghetti western. The guitar gonna be reverbin' regardless, and this bass player was a killer. Fortune Tellin' Chicken and They Don't Call Them Chihuahuas Anymore are the songs that got the most attention, but that's boring so I offered a deep cut from a band you probably haven't heard of (tho Ollie did when I sent Krista my list). Spy School Graduation Theme has a noir-ish atmosphere, sounds delicious through a good system, let's each musician groove a bit and that's why I chose it.

 

[Yo Mama]

There are more synoyms for mustache than I realised.

Yeah, that was one of my google search tabs that I had open. I was surprised one made it through the language filter.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

There are more synoyms for mustache than I realised.

Yeah, that was one of my google search tabs that I had open. I was surprised one made it through the language filter.

Yep. Your search history is shot to hell. And because I can't type, I accidentally got the c-word through the filter.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Songs in D Minor​

24 - Chvrches - Forever​

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

Lyric - And you will never see my side
And I will always think I'm right
But I always regret the night
I told you I would hate you 'til forever

Source - https://musicstax.com/track/forever/5VJJE6CH2Re3GCcOuubmIB
https://www.hooktheory.com/theorytab/view/chvrches/forever

Sadness Quotient - 4/11 - Lauren is always bitching about an ex.

Comment - My former MAD artist gets a run out. Quite often its my favorite bands with the only song they have ever recorded in D Minor getting a look in

Next Up - Speaking of which, another fave band with a song of theirs I dont really care for either.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Batman​

24 - Goo Goo Dolls - Lazy Eye​

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

Relevant Lyric - Lose yourself in no one's life
Trapped in nowhere's empty light
Words like fists they tear you down
Crash before they hit the ground

Batman Vibe Score - 2/10

Where to Find - Batman and Robin Soundtrack

Quick Hit Comment - As usual, very catchy. Hopefully it gets better from here

Next Up - When you think of Batman, you will not think of this song. Ever. Go Go

 

[Eephus]

Btw, the #24 playlist is great.

I'd better listen to the #25s before I fall impossibly behind.

I thought you said earlier that the countdown would be paused on Super Bowl Sunday so I took things easy over the weekend.

It turned out I wasn't as far behind as I feared because I listened to part of the #25s while cooking.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Btw, the #24 playlist is great.

I'd better listen to the #25s before I fall impossibly behind.

I thought you said earlier that the countdown would be paused on Super Bowl Sunday so I took things easy over the weekend.

It turned out I wasn't as far behind as I feared because I listened to part of the #25s while cooking.

I figured that was where the confusion was. Krista had said it would every other day unless the playlist was due to be released on Sunday, then we would skip that day and release Monday. The playlists fell on Saturday/Monday this rotation though.

 

[Eephus]

Btw, the #24 playlist is great.

I'd better listen to the #25s before I fall impossibly behind.

I thought you said earlier that the countdown would be paused on Super Bowl Sunday so I took things easy over the weekend.

It turned out I wasn't as far behind as I feared because I listened to part of the #25s while cooking.

I figured that was where the confusion was. Krista had said it would every other day unless the playlist was due to be released on Sunday, then we would skip that day and release Monday. The playlists fell on Saturday/Monday this rotation though.

Glad somebody reads the posts

 

[KarmaPolice]

Round 24 - Sleepless Nights - Közi
As KP indicated, my original selection disappeared from Spotify, so we have "Sleepless Nights" instead. The playlist should be correct.

Közi is from Japan and plays a variety of music styles and instruments.

And I told Mrs R that her timing was impeccable. I was literally on the phone with Mrs KP while she drove talking about struggling with a playlist title/pic match. I hung up, and 5 minutes later I was looking at the playlist listening to King Diamond and I get her PM with her song change, so Sleepless Nights it was!

 

[KarmaPolice]

Btw, the #24 playlist is great.

I'd better listen to the #25s before I fall impossibly behind.

I thought you said earlier that the countdown would be paused on Super Bowl Sunday so I took things easy over the weekend.

It turned out I wasn't as far behind as I feared because I listened to part of the #25s while cooking.

I figured that was where the confusion was. Krista had said it would every other day unless the playlist was due to be released on Sunday, then we would skip that day and release Monday. The playlists fell on Saturday/Monday this rotation though.

Glad somebody reads the posts

It was a short one, so that I read.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Batman​

24 - Goo Goo Dolls - Lazy Eye​

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

Relevant Lyric - Lose yourself in no one's life
Trapped in nowhere's empty light
Words like fists they tear you down
Crash before they hit the ground

Batman Vibe Score - 2/10

Where to Find - Batman and Robin Soundtrack

Quick Hit Comment - As usual, very catchy. Hopefully it gets better from here

Next Up - When you think of Batman, you will not think of this song. Ever. Go Go

I was surprised how excited I was to see this one pop up. I hadn't thought of those Batman soundtracks when you posted your category, but when Kiss From a Rose popped up I thought of 2 other tunes from those movies I remember loving but not hearing for awhile. This was one.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

New-to-me songs from the #25s that caught my ears:

Eephus – Single (Named) Ladies

Stop This Flame – Celeste

She sounds like Adele, another one-named female artist that should make this countdown unless she is inexplicably omitted like Beyonce. Great arrangement, too.

Charlie Steiner – songs from Mad Men

The Infanta - The Decembrists

I liked this better than some of their MAD 31 songs.

simey – train songs

Railroad Man – Eels

Really liked the vibe of this one.

Dr. Octopus – guitarists I’ve seen live

Cumberland Gap - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Jason Isbell)

He's hit-and-miss for me because I'm iffy on his voice, but I really liked this one.

Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Dr. Greenthumb - Cypress Hill

Infectious.

Mrs. Rannous – umlauts

Sex On The Beach - Yächtley Crëw

They get this whole "genre" down perfectly. Which reminds me, one of the future theme ideas I have is "songs that sound like Steely Dan but aren't", but that would piss off Krista.

Don Quixote – Afrobeat

Mapendo Mapendo (Spotify) - The Mighty Cavaliers (Kenya)

Love the horns here.

scorchy – songs by Manchester(-ish) artists

One Day Like This – Elbow

This sounds like a cross between The Verve and Sting.

titusbramble – Grand Theft Auto, specifically the 3D era

Change - Conor & Jay (III - Head Radio)

The guitar and bass work is pretty impressive for what's ostensibly a simple pop song.

John Maddens Lunchbox – Batman

Revolution (Spotify) – REM

My hunch is that this was an outtake from Monster, and Google proves me right.

Mister CIA – Texas Places in Song Titles

Nuevo Laredo - Doug Sahm

Boppin'.

landrys hat - favorite Side 2 Track 1s from my record collection

Brain Cycles - Radio Moscow - Brain Cycles (2009)

Oh, this is badass. I know nothing about this band and that needs to change.

Chaos34 - Post Surf Rock Surf Rockish (80s fwd)

Dreaming - Seapony

Blondie crossed with the Smiths, with an indie-pop haze.

krista4 – Chicagoland

Leave the City – Magnolia Electric Co.

If the Rolling Stones used trumpet on their country songs...

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Batman​

24 - Goo Goo Dolls - Lazy Eye​

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

Relevant Lyric - Lose yourself in no one's life
Trapped in nowhere's empty light
Words like fists they tear you down
Crash before they hit the ground

Batman Vibe Score - 2/10

Where to Find - Batman and Robin Soundtrack

Quick Hit Comment - As usual, very catchy. Hopefully it gets better from here

Next Up - When you think of Batman, you will not think of this song. Ever. Go Go

I was surprised how excited I was to see this one pop up. I hadn't thought of those Batman soundtracks when you posted your category, but when Kiss From a Rose popped up I thought of 2 other tunes from those movies I remember loving but not hearing for awhile. This was one.

Curious on the other one
I got stuck with soundtrack songs when i realised how awful a lot of the rap songs about Batman were.
The intent was to make Batman the focus not a bunch of songs that were loosely connected to Batman soundtracks.
Oh well, As usual Eephus was right in his theory about this

 

[Raging weasel]

The 25's
Known and liked songs
Raindrops Keep Fallin on my Head- had this as a 45 when I was 8-10ish
2000 Miles
The Dogs of War
Sir Duke- often my fav by Stevie
Under My Thumb
So You want to be a Rock and Roll Star
Round and Round- one of my fav bands of this era
In the City
Goody Two Shoes
Sharp Dressed Man

New to me likes
Stop This Flame
Cumberland Gap
Sex On the Beach
Mapendo Mapendo
Living Color
Sex Farm
Brain Cycles
Locust Laced
Love on a Real Train
Famous Last Words

 

[Eephus]

Batman​

24 - Goo Goo Dolls - Lazy Eye​

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

Relevant Lyric - Lose yourself in no one's life
Trapped in nowhere's empty light
Words like fists they tear you down
Crash before they hit the ground

Batman Vibe Score - 2/10

Where to Find - Batman and Robin Soundtrack

Quick Hit Comment - As usual, very catchy. Hopefully it gets better from here

Next Up - When you think of Batman, you will not think of this song. Ever. Go Go

I was surprised how excited I was to see this one pop up. I hadn't thought of those Batman soundtracks when you posted your category, but when Kiss From a Rose popped up I thought of 2 other tunes from those movies I remember loving but not hearing for awhile. This was one.

Kiss From a Rose may not recover from Seal's Super Bowl commercial for whatever it was for.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Batman​

24 - Goo Goo Dolls - Lazy Eye​

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

Relevant Lyric - Lose yourself in no one's life
Trapped in nowhere's empty light
Words like fists they tear you down
Crash before they hit the ground

Batman Vibe Score - 2/10

Where to Find - Batman and Robin Soundtrack

Quick Hit Comment - As usual, very catchy. Hopefully it gets better from here

Next Up - When you think of Batman, you will not think of this song. Ever. Go Go

I was surprised how excited I was to see this one pop up. I hadn't thought of those Batman soundtracks when you posted your category, but when Kiss From a Rose popped up I thought of 2 other tunes from those movies I remember loving but not hearing for awhile. This was one.

Kiss From a Rose may not recover from Seal's Super Bowl commercial for whatever it was for.

Second-worst ad of the night after whatever the hell that tongue thing was.

 

[Raging weasel]

Batman​

24 - Goo Goo Dolls - Lazy Eye​

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

Relevant Lyric - Lose yourself in no one's life
Trapped in nowhere's empty light
Words like fists they tear you down
Crash before they hit the ground

Batman Vibe Score - 2/10

Where to Find - Batman and Robin Soundtrack

Quick Hit Comment - As usual, very catchy. Hopefully it gets better from here

Next Up - When you think of Batman, you will not think of this song. Ever. Go Go

I was surprised how excited I was to see this one pop up. I hadn't thought of those Batman soundtracks when you posted your category, but when Kiss From a Rose popped up I thought of 2 other tunes from those movies I remember loving but not hearing for awhile. This was one.

Kiss From a Rose may not recover from Seal's Super Bowl commercial for whatever it was for.

Second-worst ad of the night after whatever the hell that tongue thing was.

Not sure what the second worst was but the tongue thing was definitely the worst by a lot.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Please don't make me look up Super Bowl ads on Youtube.

 

[kupcho1]

The only halfway decent thing about the entire Super Bowl broadcast (other than Kendric's set) wer Eugene Levy's eyebrows.

 

[Zegras11]

Steppin' Out

Joe Jackson · Night And Day · Song · 1982

open.spotify.com

"Steppin' Out" is a song by English musician Joe Jackson, originally included on his 1982 album Night and Day. The song, inspired by Jackson's time in New York City, was his highest-charting single in America, where it peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached the same position in Jackson's native UK.

Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Joe Jackson · Look Sharp! · Song · 1979

open.spotify.com

I'm The Man

Joe Jackson · I'm The Man · Song · 1979

open.spotify.com

Look Sharp!

Joe Jackson · Look Sharp! · Song · 1979

open.spotify.com

 

[Yo Mama]

Steppin' Out

Joe Jackson · Night And Day · Song · 1982

open.spotify.com

"Steppin' Out" is a song by English musician Joe Jackson, originally included on his 1982 album Night and Day. The song, inspired by Jackson's time in New York City, was his highest-charting single in America, where it peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached the same position in Jackson's native UK.

Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Joe Jackson · Look Sharp! · Song · 1979

open.spotify.com

I'm The Man

Joe Jackson · I'm The Man · Song · 1979

open.spotify.com

Look Sharp!

Joe Jackson · Look Sharp! · Song · 1979

open.spotify.com

Definitely in the top 10 songs of this era for me. Love it.

 

[Ilov80s]

Theme: 31 Best Albums of 1984

24. Stranger Eyes by The Cars

Album: Heartbeat City
Released: March 13

Roilling Stone declared 1984 the greatest year in pop music and fitting that it also marked the return of The Cars. 1980's Panorama and 1981's Shake It Up seemed to lack the hit making touch of their two 70s releases. The Cars' sound may have been one of the biggest driving forces for the emergence of an 80s sound but heading into 1984, it sure looked like they were ultimately going to be left behind in the 70s. Funny to think about that now with hindsight. Heartbeat City produced 5 top 40 hits and cemented the band as MTV 80s era stars deeply widening their audience base. Though creatively, it would also be a sort of last stop for the band.

I went with Stranger Eyes because it rules. It's one of the 3 Ben Orr songs on the album. It's got some killer keyboard work and apparently was used for the original Top Gun trailers but never ended up on the soundtrack. Too bad because this would have fit beautifully into a shot of Maverick racing into dusk on his bike or one of those Super Hornets owning the ocean sky.

Stranger Eyes

The Cars · Heartbeat City · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

 

[KarmaPolice]

#25s musings

Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head This is the song from Spider-man 2, right? Kupcho knocking the playlist openers out of the park.
Quite the intro to The Last Act of Defiance. I remember having this album and The Toxic Waltz, but nothing else. Added to the album listen queue.
I don't know, man - Dr. Greenthumbs sounds like a great superhero! This was a fun one from Cypress Hill.
My friends and I had the soundtrack to This is Spinal Tap, but I never saw the movie until much later. I'd like to say I knew it was a fake band, but I am not so sure. Big Bottom and Sex Farm is a fantastic 1-2 punch.
Loved seeing Brain Cycles on the playlist!! Radio Moscow was on my original list for this theme, but was a tough cut at the end. My choice was the song right after this one on the album - 250 Miles. The first 3 albums are good, but I haven't heard anything besides that.
The Mrs got me to bump up Sleigh Bells in the listening with Locust Laced. Not one I had encountered from them and I loved it.
Round and Round - oh heeeeellll yeah. Love Ratt and this tune. One of my favorites of the genre, and one I think actually had some talent as well. I'd love to see a Ratt MAD31. I am sure they have some great underrated tracks.
I've been digging the surf tracks, but not sure I've posted about them yet. Dreaming was yet another great track from this theme.

 

[Mister CIA]

Mister CIA – Texas Places in Song Titles

Nuevo Laredo - Doug Sahm

Technically not in Texas. They *were* on their way to Laredo (back in the day), but Mr. Mustache was driving that night and well, of course.

 

[Eephus]

Single (Named) Ladies #24 - Eve feat. Gwen Stefani - "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (2001)
Full name: Eve Jihan Jeffers (first name mononym)

Eve hails from Philadelphia where she worked as a stripper before getting into music. She started off as a singer but soon discovered a talent for rapping. She raised her profile as a guest artist on a number of hits before dropping her first solo album which went to #1.

"Let Me Blow Ya Mind" was the second single off her follow-up album Scorpion. The lyrics defiantly reject critics who thought her initial success was a flash in the pan. Eve was right because the single reached #2 on the main US charts and earned Eve her first Grammy award The record was produced by Dr. Dre and Scott Storch and bears Dre's trademark deep bass and plinking piano lines. Gwen Stefani of No Doubt features on the chorus.

The video opens with Eve and her friends rolling up to Stefani's Plymouth Barracuda at a red light. They convince her to leave the car in the middle of the road and join them in an ATV and motorcycle caravan. They eventually crash a stuffy party of rich people where Gwen takes over the microphone while Eve holds court at the bar. The hostess complains even though her guests are getting down to the song. Eve and Gwen get hauled off in a paddy wagon and get their mugshots taken before Dr. Dre arrives with a bagful of cash to bail them out.

 

[scorchy]

Single (Named) Ladies #24 - Eve feat. Gwen Stefani - "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (2001)
Full name: Eve Jihan Jeffers (first name mononym)

Eve hails from Philadelphia where she worked as a stripper before getting into music. She started off as a singer but soon discovered a talent for rapping. She raised her profile as a guest artist on a number of hits before dropping her first solo album which went to #1.

Was hoping to see this one. Great timing given the Iggles and all.

 

[Eephus]

Single (Named) Ladies #24 - Eve feat. Gwen Stefani - "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (2001)
Full name: Eve Jihan Jeffers (first name mononym)

Eve hails from Philadelphia where she worked as a stripper before getting into music. She started off as a singer but soon discovered a talent for rapping. She raised her profile as a guest artist on a number of hits before dropping her first solo album which went to #1.

Was hoping to see this one. Great timing given the Iggles and all.

If I had done more planning, I could have placed a Kendrick song today.

 

[titusbramble]

GTA #24 - Calyx - Quagmire (MSX FM, III)

We'll be sticking on GTA III for another pick, and at least another couple after this, and we go to MSX FM, a drum and bass station in a continual mix hosted by MC Codebreaker, adding in his own freestyling throughout playing more or less himself. It's pretty frenetic with around a dozen individual tracks featured in the 25 or so minutes the station loops through in the game, there's many you only hear for a minute or so. I'm picking the first one you hear if you search for the station on Youtube, Calyx still being around today and it's just about the pick for me. I guess when they were making the game, the use of licenced music was still in its infancy, what you hear on the station is all from one mix CD by DJ Timecode. In a fun bit of promotion, the station often references a phone number which you can call "to get through to the MSX crew" - at the time of the game, in a weird bit of breaking the fourth wall, if you recognised that it sounded like a genuine UK number and called it, you got through to a voicemail that references the game, as it was actually owned by Codebreaker at the time. Not that anyone would be silly enough to call a phone number referenced in some music, obviously

 

[scorchy]

krista4 – Chicagoland

Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night – The Hold Steady

Artist connection to Chicago (1-5 scale): 2 - I'm giving the band a 2 because, while they're not from Chicago, when they stopped doing big tours they did "residencies" in Chicago, Brooklyn and London for several years. And one of the residencies helped celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Empty Bottle, and they continue to play there even though they could be at larger venues. Anyone with a soft spot for the Empty Bottle automatically gets at least a 2.
Song connection to Chicago (1-10 scale): 4 - Frankly I have no idea what this song is about, but the Nelson Algren references give it a 4. Algren's last residence is a historical landmark, with a plaque and everything, that I often walk by on my way to my neighborhood farmers market.
Total: 6

Nelson Algren talking to Paddy in this song is a reference to Dillinger Four's "Doublewhiskeycokenoice" and Patrick Costello, who wrote the lyrics to "Double" and is D4's sort of spiritual leader.

Nelson Algren came to me and said, "celebrate the ugly things/the beat up side of what they call pride/could be the measure of these days" - P Costello

THS signal activated

I'll pick where rock left off:

In the same verse that rock references, "the Dead End Alley" is Paddy Costello's house in Minneapolis where D4 set up camp and played shows. The "told him what to celebrate" line goes back to Doublewhiskeycokenoice where Nelson Algren said "Celebrate the ugly things."

I've had the good fortune to see THS twice at the Empty Bottle. The last time, this group of fans who had driven down from Winnipeg for the three-night run kept buying Mrs. Scorchy booze. Seems they were all impressed because the night before at Thalia Hall, she had drunkenly taken a swing at some drunken frat boy that was drunkenly elbowing and spilling beer on everyone. Not her proudest moment, but most everyone else seems to have gotten a kick out of the take-no-#### older lady.

 

[scorchy]

Theme: 31 Songs from 31 Manchester(ish) Artists
Song: Dreadlock Holiday
Band: 10cc
From: Stockport, Greater Manchester

I don't have much to say about 10cc other than any list of Manchester-ish artists would seem incomplete without them. And that members Godley and Creme had a top 15 U.S. hit in 1985 with a terribly annoying song that resulted in a favorite Beavis and Butthead video moment.

On a separate note, there's now only one more song on the playlist where I don't own a physical copy. No 10cc cds or vinyl in this house. The other song made the top 10 but any of you who remember my musical blindspots will likely pick it out immediately.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I got stuck with soundtrack songs when i realised how awful a lot of the rap songs about Batman were.

I sent you an IM on this.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Zegras11 – New wave

Steppin' Out - Joe Jackson

I wondered if this was in the mallet rock section at first. Had to check.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Please don't make me look up Super Bowl ads on Youtube.

That's okay. I can help.

 

[Mt. Man]

#, Please # 24
Song: 1999
Artist: Prince
Year: 1982

(Official Music Video) Prince - 1999
(Live version) Prince, Prince and The Revolution - 1999 (Live in Syracuse, NY, 3/30/85)

4 Lines:
War is all around us
My mind says prepare to fight
So if I gotta die
I'm gonna listen to my body tonight, yeah

Number Theory:

A major inspiration for the song was a documentary about Nostradamus, where it was predicted that terror would strike the world in 1999. The next day, Prince talked about the documentary with his bandmates, imagining that there would be quite the party before this (potential) horrific event. Of course, songs about world-ending events were decently common in the 80s. Probably enough to do a Top 31, even. Though this one is notable for having a more positive vibe, or at least choosing to enjoy things while they last.

If I was ranking these songs in a normal (that is, “worst” to “best”) order, this would be near the top. I can’t say for certain it would be #1 as there are some big songs to come, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I mean, not to take away from the “Significant Digits” category, but this song (and album) charted in 4 different years. 1982, 1983, 1999 (duh?) from a rerelease, and then in 2016 after Prince’s death.

Significant Digits:
Off album#: 5
Track #: 1
Charted in 10 countries. Let’s just do U.S. Hot 100: 44 (1982), 12 (1983), 40 (1999), 27 (2016)

Artist crossover with other playlists: 8
(Known: 5) Van Halen (x2) currently in the lead!

–
Next on the countdown, a year that some M-ADs, like the artist, could be nostalgic about.

 

[rockaction]

Songs where artists let out excessive vocalizations of the “ahh,” “ooh,” “dee,” etc. variety.

I hope this exercise isn't just a bunch of frustration for you guys, but I'm enjoying the creativity in the guesses!

I didn’t submit a list, or listen to any of these yet, but just from the titles so far, it uncannily describes stages of my marriage.
(We will know for sure if #1 is I Feel Free by Cream.)

Also: “exercise in frustration” is pretty apt as well.

I missed this when I wrote "narrative arc for a divorce" as a guess. Holy smoke. Sorry to hear that, Rustoleum.

 

[zamboni]

Umlaut tragedy: Plane owned by Vince Neil crashed in Arizona. Vince wasn’t on it but one passenger was killed and three (including his girlfriend) were hurt.

Plane Owned by Motley Crue's Vince Neil Crashes in Scottsdale

A plane owned by by Motley Crue singer Vince Neil was involved in a fatal runway crash in February 2025.

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