Middle-aged Dummies are back and bursting at the "themes" to get going! Full theme ahead! (12 Viewers)

[simey]

I agree that this format works better for artists - I enjoyed this one and discovered some great songs but like @Eephus I had trouble keeping the context of what the themes were so it was more like just some random playlist.

Also I’m sorry about yesterday- I feel it’s a little selfish of me to try and control others for my own benefit but I was in the end I think my point was valid. Like I said I should have just waited and saw how long the playlists would be and then just make my decision on whether I’d want to participate.

I was not trying to criticize I was just trying to offer a different perspective to those that get a little antsy. I clearly understand the other side as well.

I agree with some of what you said yesterday.

As for other MID morning ramblings, I like k4s pace.

I also think this format worked well for the non-artist centric rankings we did that were the American Artists, British Isles Artists, Around the World Artists and Covers. As matter of fact, the concept started with Dr. O showing the one he did with his friends of the Top 155 songs by American Artists according to 5 Middle-Aged Idiots, and then k4 fine tuned and created one for here, and did the geography trio. Those were fun, and the artists-centric rankings came after those. It is hard to remember some of the themes matched to the songs in this "Theme" one, but a few are obvious. Theme matching can be hard, especially when there are 35 of them.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I make earnest attempts to listen to the playlists, but get bogged down by certain artists or how to report it and give up.
Ideally Id like to listen to a whole artists playlist from #31-#1, but we don’t have that until the end and we are off again on another adventure. There are so many artist playlists I should get back to and listen.

I revisit a few MAD artist playlists once in a while - recent ones I went through again were: Frank Black (which blew me away in real time); Nina Simone; Roger Clyne; Silver Jews/Purple Mountains; Damon Albarn and Dinosaur, Jr. - so I feel like we really get something out of those threads.

I missed one round during my hiatus from this site - but I love love love this exercise.

 

[Mt. Man]

#, Please # 9
Song: 25 or 6 to 4
Artist: Chicago
Year: 1969

(Youtube Version) Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4 (Official Audio)
(Live version) Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4 - 7/21/1970 - Tanglewood

4 Lines:
Staring blindly into space
Getting up to splash my face
Wanting just to stay awake
Wondering how much I can take

Number Theory:

I should probably just copy the review from Pip’s Invitation (see below) here. But I might as well try to do my own homework, as it were. Anyway, though there have been some theories that this song is about drugs or has some secret code, the inspiration could scarcely be simpler. Robert Lamm wrote a song about, well, writing a song in the middle of the night. I probably don’t need to tell you that that time was 3:35 AM. Or was it 3:34?

The sparse lyrics follow that, starting with the idea that the narrator is “waiting for the break of day/ searching for something to say”. Though I can certainly identify with those lyrics, and equally the idea of forcing yourself to stay awake through the night, there’s no doubt that the strong music performances here are what set this song apart. Right from the start, with the opening riff from Terry Kath, there’s a powerful, upbeat tone that grabs your attention. Iconic of course by now, sometimes intimidated if not quite repeated.


Significant Digits:
Off album#: 2
Track #: 2 (of side 3)
Charted in 10 countries. Including appropriately topping out at #25 (Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders), #6 (Norway) and #4 (US Billboard Hot 100)
#1 In the Chicago M-AD Countdown from Pip’s Invitation

Artist crossover with other playlists: 22
(Known: 17)

–
Next on the countdown, there’s no wizardry to why this song sets a (gold) standard.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I also think this format worked well for the non-artist centric rankings we did that were the American Artists, British Isles Artists, Around the World Artists and Covers. As matter of fact, the outline/thought for this format started with Dr. O showing the one he did with his friends of the Top 155 songs by American Artists according to 5 Middle-Aged Idiots, and then k4 fine tuned and created one for here, and did the geography trio. Those were fun, and the artists-centric rankings came after those. It is hard to remember some of the themes matched to the songs in this "Theme" one, but a few are obvious. Theme matching can be hard, especially when there are 35 of them.

The "theme" thing may work better as the traditional drafts we used to do.

There were some great playlists here but it's far less likely I would go back and revisit one of them.

 

[simey]

I revisit a few MAD artist playlists once in a while - recent ones I went through again were: Frank Black (which blew me away in real time); Nina Simone; Roger Clyne; Silver Jews/Purple Mountains; Damon Albarn and Dinosaur, Jr. - so I feel like we really get something out of those threads.

I missed one round during my hiatus from this site - but I love love love this exercise.

I don't think many listened to my Ray Charles playlist or Jerry Jeff Walker. I enjoyed creating the playlists, though, and I still listen to them.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Jerry Jeff Walker

I was gone for this one

 

[Don Quixote]

I revisit a few MAD artist playlists once in a while - recent ones I went through again were: Frank Black (which blew me away in real time); Nina Simone; Roger Clyne; Silver Jews/Purple Mountains; Damon Albarn and Dinosaur, Jr. - so I feel like we really get something out of those threads.

I missed one round during my hiatus from this site - but I love love love this exercise.

I don't think many listened to my Ray Charles playlist or Jerry Jeff Walker. I enjoyed creating the playlists, though, and I still listen to them.

I especially enjoyed the Jerry Jeff Walker one. I don’t think I even knew his name beforehand, but really enjoyed the tunes.

 

[simey]

Jerry Jeff Walker

I was gone for this one

That's when you ran away from home.

 

[simey]

I especially enjoyed the Jerry Jeff Walker one. I don’t think I even knew his name beforehand, but really enjoyed the tunes.

That makes it all worth it. I'm sure JJW is up above (or down below j/k!) smiling.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I make earnest attempts to listen to the playlists, but get bogged down by certain artists or how to report it and give up.
Ideally Id like to listen to a whole artists playlist from #31-#1, but we don’t have that until the end and we are off again on another adventure. There are so many artist playlists I should get back to and listen.

I revisit a few MAD artist playlists once in a while - recent ones I went through again were: Frank Black (which blew me away in real time); Nina Simone; Roger Clyne; Silver Jews/Purple Mountains; Damon Albarn and Dinosaur, Jr. - so I feel like we really get something out of those threads.

I missed one round during my hiatus from this site - but I love love love this exercise.

I revisit a few MAD artist playlists once in a while - recent ones I went through again were: Frank Black (which blew me away in real time); Nina Simone; Roger Clyne; Silver Jews/Purple Mountains; Damon Albarn and Dinosaur, Jr. - so I feel like we really get something out of those threads.

I missed one round during my hiatus from this site - but I love love love this exercise.

I don't think many listened to my Ray Charles playlist or Jerry Jeff Walker. I enjoyed creating the playlists, though, and I still listen to them.

Great post by Doc above, and i do the same. Ray Charles was one i have revisited lately.

 

[El Floppo]

Posted this is in the unathletic loser kids thread, but will post here since you're all a nice cross section of my FFA life and friends...

My son was in his final HS Musical over the weekend. He was the wolf in Into the Woods.

My wife, as she always does, posted a clip on IG for friends and family on Tues with a couple hashtags including show name and "musical theater".

She looked last night to see who'd checked in of our usual 50-100 folk... 45,000 views. This morning 55k. No idea what happened, but this is our first taste of viral.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Posted this is in the unathletic loser kids thread, but will post here since you're all a nice cross section of my FFA life and friends...

My son was in his final HS Musical over the weekend. He was the wolf in Into the Woods.

My wife, as she always does, posted a clip on IG for friends and family on Tues with a couple hashtags including show name and "musical theater".

She looked last night to see who'd checked in of our usual 50-100 folk... 45,000 views. This morning 55k. No idea what happened, but this is our first taste of viral.

Whoa. Congrats!

 

[simey]

Ray Charles was one i have revisited lately.

Your daughter put "Hit the Road Jack" on her playlist, and was intrigued by "Every Saturday Night." I like that girl.

 

[krista4]

I also think this format worked well for the non-artist centric rankings we did that were the American Artists, British Isles Artists, Around the World Artists and Covers. As matter of fact, the concept started with Dr. O showing the one he did with his friends of the Top 155 songs by American Artists according to 5 Middle-Aged Idiots, and then k4 fine tuned and created one for here, and did the geography trio. Those were fun, and the artists-centric rankings came after those. It is hard to remember some of the themes matched to the songs in this "Theme" one, but a few are obvious. Theme matching can be hard, especially when there are 35 of them.

simey as the voice of reason as usual.

Did people just not like the #9s or something (I know simey wouldn't have)? Pages upon pages of this tedious discussion and very little discussion of the music!

I don't really get conflating zegras's artist countdowns with the Middle-aged Dummy countdowns. The only similarity is that he chose to have people select 31 songs. Otherwise, these are all unrelated and not really similar in concept. As simey wisely pointed out, the Middle-aged Dummy countdowns arose from trying to do what Dr. O had done with his middle-aged idiots. Then we expanded from the US and did the British Isles and then the rest of the world, because it made sense. A lot of people participated in those that don't do the artist countdowns, and some newcomers have been doing the artist ones. Later we had a covers one because there had been talk of it, and then this arose because people seemed interested and I volunteered to run it because it seemed (and is) much easier to do than the prior M-aD countdowns because there is no tabulation and no math.*

I've always had a "come one, come all" approach to the M-aD countdowns and will continue not to put any limits on number of participants. We had around 50 participants in one, I think! Where I have made an adjustment is that, unlike Dr. O's middle-aged-idiots countdown and the early M-aD countdowns, I'll post every other day instead of every day. I also don't expect to change that, if we do any more of these. But again, Middle-aged Dummy countdowns have nothing to do with zegras's artist countdowns, and some might prefer one or the other. We can and do have both.

*JML and titus, "maths."

 

[krista4]

As for the #9s, I thought this was a particularly strong playlist.

My biggest WOW was Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets' "Different Kind of Blue." I've loved the surf-ish theme, and this one is my favorite so far. Will be hard to beat.

I haven't shouted out a lot of the umlaut songs, but King Creosote's "Bats in the Attic" made me sit up and take notice. I actually googled the guy and everything! Very interested in listening to more.

I know nothing about Shakira other than she's darn purty and her hips don't lie (I think I have that right), so I didn't realize how talented she is. "Inevitable" was lovely.

The Fly Bi Nights' "Found Love" sounded like it could be on the surf playlist, and that's a compliment.

Based on band name alone, I figured Rizzle Kicks came from ditkaburgers. Enjoyed both their song and the one actually chosen by ditka in this round, "Ugly Heart" by G.R.L.

The playlist also contained more than the usual number of already-known favorites, including some that became favorites in prior countdowns.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Ray Charles was one i have revisited lately.

Your daughter put "Hit the Road Jack" on her playlist, and was intrigued by "Every Saturday Night." I like that girl.

She has good taste when we can get her off the weird Minecraft music. She does really like @kupcho1's #8 coming up tomorrow. She got an accidental preview on her bedroom speaker last night and came out to add it to her playlist.

 

[KarmaPolice]

As for the #9s, I thought this was a particularly strong playlist.

My biggest WOW was Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets' "Different Kind of Blue." I've loved the surf-ish theme, and this one is my favorite so far. Will be hard to beat.

I haven't shouted out a lot of the umlaut songs, but King Creosote's "Bats in the Attic" made me sit up and take notice. I actually googled the guy and everything! Very interested in listening to more.

I know nothing about Shakira other than she's darn purty and her hips don't lie (I think I have that right), so I didn't realize how talented she is. "Inevitable" was lovely.

The Fly Bi Nights' "Found Love" sounded like it could be on the surf playlist, and that's a compliment.

Based on band name alone, I figured Rizzle Kicks came from ditkaburgers. Enjoyed both their song and the one actually chosen by ditka in this round, "Ugly Heart" by G.R.L.

The playlist also contained more than the usual number of already-known favorites, including some that became favorites in prior countdowns.

This is mostly the reason for my lack of posting on the #9s. There was a lot of great music, but also a lot I know and a handful of previous MAD31 artists. Great playlist, but not many new discoveries.

 

[Zegras11]

(Live version) Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4 - 7/21/1970 - Tanglewood

Top 5 YT music video for me

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I reserve the right to do two lists, with the OPs permission, if the circumstances warrant it, if we are short of lists, but will just do one for the interim.
Let others have a turn.

Maybe I should do two lists: Bagpipes and ocarinas. Or maybe hurdy-gurdies. Washboards? Is there anouther instrument that sounds like a dying cat?

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

The themes are fun, and a lot of thought put into them as always. However, we are at the #8s and I still have trouble associating songs with the MADers. WIth artists it's easy and now those artists are "your" artists in my head.

I could change my FBG name to Mrs. Rännous. Would that help?

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I like this theme thing running intermitantly. We get some one-off songs we wouldn't otherwise get.

 

[Chaos34]

My biggest WOW was Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets' "Different Kind of Blue." I've loved the surf-ish theme, and this one is my favorite so far. Will be hard to beat.

Hey, that's good to hear. I fell way behind on lists, still on #12, and way behind on writeups, think 13 was the last one, but I did just catch up with the thread. That other music thing (ai project) has taken all my music time lately. The kid I'm doing it with is tenacious, ai gets better every day, and I'll take all the attention I can get. She'll be here soon, so I won't get far today either, but...

Los Straightjackets may need a little write up, but Nick Lowe sure doesn't. Way back in the Biden era I mentioned what made me think of my theme. I just heard a new song on Prime and put it on a playlist. I looked over the playlist and thought, hey, there's a fun theme for me. This is that song. I'm a fan of Los Straightjackets, a bigger fan of Nick Lowe, and Kind of Blue is desert island album #1 for me. So seeing LS ft. NL doing Different Kind of Blue, well there's a no brainer.

I'm gonna make a sincere effort to catch up on listening after about 4pm. I have a big kitchen project, so I'll be listening and doing that. Might just catch all the way up. As for missing a few writeups, oh well.

I'll tell a little about the Growlers song. Black Memories from the 10s. I had a nice moment picking it. I was alone here, music was loud, listening to my favorite Growlers song and a voice from behind me yelled, "The Growlers!" Jeez, talk about a jump scare. My butt launched me from this chair. The kid doesn't knock and scared the poop out of me. Then she laughed. I didn't know she liked The Growlers too, and we've talked about music since she was 5. I asked, "You like The Growlers?" She said they were her jam. I thought about that and asked her if she knew why. Yup. She said because I'd played that surf sh** her entire childhood.

So we talked about their catalog disagreeing on what song I should pick for this. Black Memories wasn't in the discussion. They have much better much surfier songs. She did mention it was on her broken heart playlist she listened to too much after a failed relationship.

where are you going
come back with my heart

Aww and ouch. So I picked it.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I reserve the right to do two lists, with the OPs permission, if the circumstances warrant it, if we are short of lists, but will just do one for the interim.
Let others have a turn.

Maybe I should do two lists: Bagpipes and ocarinas. Or maybe hurdy-gurdies. Washboards? Is there anouther instrument that sounds like a dying cat?

Bob Dylan's voice?

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I reserve the right to do two lists, with the OPs permission, if the circumstances warrant it, if we are short of lists, but will just do one for the interim.
Let others have a turn.

Maybe I should do two lists: Bagpipes and ocarinas. Or maybe hurdy-gurdies. Washboards? Is there anouther instrument that sounds like a dying cat?

Bob Dylan's voice?

Oh, wait. Yoko Ono. Amiright?

 

[El Floppo]

Posted this is in the unathletic loser kids thread, but will post here since you're all a nice cross section of my FFA life and friends...

My son was in his final HS Musical over the weekend. He was the wolf in Into the Woods.

My wife, as she always does, posted a clip on IG for friends and family on Tues with a couple hashtags including show name and "musical theater".

She looked last night to see who'd checked in of our usual 50-100 folk... 45,000 views. This morning 55k. No idea what happened, but this is our first taste of viral.

still going... up to 63k at lunch

 

[KarmaPolice]

I reserve the right to do two lists, with the OPs permission, if the circumstances warrant it, if we are short of lists, but will just do one for the interim.
Let others have a turn.

Maybe I should do two lists: Bagpipes and ocarinas. Or maybe hurdy-gurdies. Washboards? Is there anouther instrument that sounds like a dying cat?

Bob Dylan's voice?

Oh, wait. Yoko Ono. Amiright?

Oh god, they never did a duet, did they?

 

[KarmaPolice]

I like this theme thing running intermitantly. We get some one-off songs we wouldn't otherwise get.

Agree. It also gave me way to use artists i wouldn't consider for a full artist 31 - like Royal Blood.

 

[MrsKarmaPolice]

MrsKarmaPolice – Animal Kingdom

Reptile - Nine Inch Nails

I have seen NIN live 4 times and I'm looking forward to seeing them again this summer. At the first NIN show, Trent Reznor came out and stood behind me and my sister to watch the opener. When we saw him there was a frantic search for a writing utensil to ask for his autograph. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in our efforts and never approached him. That's what happens with introverted, people pleasing sisters.

 

[Chaos34]

I jumped ahead. The 10s aren't just rockin'; they're killing. Great playlist through 9 going into some afrobeat. Maybe just caught me in the right mood, but this is my favorite so far.

 

[jwb]

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

Halleluwah - Can - Tago Mago (1971)


rockaction - Songs that state the genre they’re in

Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker) - Parliament

This was a great 1-2 punch. Really liked that Can tune.

 

[Don Quixote]

I like this theme thing running intermitantly. We get some one-off songs we wouldn't otherwise get.

Agree. It also gave me way to use artists i wouldn't consider for a full artist 31 - like Royal Blood.

Definitely the case for me with the Afrobeat list. For most of them, I could probably only give you a handful of songs, tops. And that’s what it has to be because many of them put out an album or two and then sort of disappeared/faded. Maybe I could go deeper with someone like Fela Kuti, but most of his songs are around 15 minutes in length and I don’t think a 31 song deep dive on Fela Kuti would work well with this format.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

New-to-me songs from #11 that caught my ear:

Yambag – Metal songs from 1988-1992 that became the gateway into the world of music for a young Yambag

Elimination - Overkill

Dr. Octopus – guitarists I’ve seen live

She Calls Me Kingfish - Christone "Kingfish" Ingram

Mrs. Rannous – umlauts

Sell Your Soul - Kill Cheerleadër

KarmaPolice – songs from artists not on shuke’s list

Dust - Kadavar

Mt. Man – Number, Please

37 Stitches - Drowning Pool

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

Spaceman - Nilsson - Son of Schmilssom (1972)

rockaction - Songs that state the genre they’re in

Rock N' Roll (Could Never Hip Hop Like This) - Handsome Boy Modeling School

higgins – Instrumentals with places in the title

Salvador Once More - Frank Gambale

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

Bullet - Reverend Horton Heat

 

[Ilov80s]

Theme: 31 Best Albums of 1984

9. Somebody by Depeche Mode


Album: Some Great Reward
Released: September 24

Thier international breakout. In retrospect, it's kind of mid tier Mode but it has 3 songs that are quintiessential to the band. If someone asks, what is Depeche Mode? A quick play of People are People, Master and Servant and Blashemous Rumours answers that question pretty succinctly. Depeche Mode seemed to sometimes find themselves in a tough spot musically. Too dark for pop fans, too electronic for fans of heavier music. Were they too catchy? Too slick and electronic? Or was it all too morose and edgy? Any qualms had at the time, Depeche Mode answered them churning out dark electronic hit after dark electronic hit with an unmistakable sound. All that said, I chose a song that is very much not what one thinks of with Depeche Mode. Somebody is a quietly painful piano ballad with one of the most stirring vocal deliveries the band ever recorded and just a little electronic touch to make sure it's waves haunt our ears. The ending almost sounds like the start of a horror movie. Martin Gore bared all on this record. No really he did, recorded his performance of Somebody in the nude.

Somebody

Depeche Mode · Some Great Reward (Deluxe) · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

 

[-OZ-]

Theme: 31 Best Albums of 1984

9. Somebody by Depeche Mode


Album: Some Great Reward
Released: September 24

Thier international breakout. In retrospect, it's kind of mid tier Mode but it has 3 songs that are quintiessential to the band. If someone asks, what is Depeche Mode? A quick play of People are People, Master and Servant and Blashemous Rumours answers that question pretty succinctly. Depeche Mode seemed to sometimes find themselves in a tough spot musically. Too dark for pop fans, too electronic for fans of heavier music. Were they too catchy? Too slick and electronic? Or was it all too morose and edgy? Any qualms had at the time, Depeche Mode answered them churning out dark electronic hit after dark electronic hit with an unmistakable sound. All that said, I chose a song that is very much not what one thinks of with Depeche Mode. Somebody is a quietly painful piano ballad with one of the most stirring vocal deliveries the band ever recorded and just a little electronic touch to make sure it's sound waves haunt our ears. The ending almost soundlike the start of a horror movie. Martin Gore bared all on this record. No really he did, recorded his performance of Somebody in the nude.

Somebody

Depeche Mode · Some Great Reward (Deluxe) · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

When I was a freshman in HS, my two best friends thought we could get DM back to being popular by requesting somebody constantly. They were trying to be influencers long before influencers were a thing. We failed, but we’ll always remember somebody fondly. It was one of their wedding songs. Love it.

 

[KarmaPolice]

MrsKarmaPolice – Animal Kingdom

Reptile - Nine Inch Nails

I have seen NIN live 4 times and I'm looking forward to seeing them again this summer. At the first NIN show, Trent Reznor came out and stood behind me and my sister to watch the opener. When we saw him there was a frantic search for a writing utensil to ask for his autograph. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in our efforts and never approached him. That's what happens with introverted, people pleasing sisters.

Without me??

 

[Dr. Octopus]

MrsKarmaPolice – Animal Kingdom

Reptile - Nine Inch Nails

I have seen NIN live 4 times and I'm looking forward to seeing them again this summer. At the first NIN show, Trent Reznor came out and stood behind me and my sister to watch the opener. When we saw him there was a frantic search for a writing utensil to ask for his autograph. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in our efforts and never approached him. That's what happens with introverted, people pleasing sisters.

When @KarmaPolice leaves the thread you can tell us the rest of the story.

 

[MrsKarmaPolice]

Theme: 31 Best Albums of 1984

9. Somebody by Depeche Mode


Album: Some Great Reward
Released: September 24

Thier international breakout. In retrospect, it's kind of mid tier Mode but it has 3 songs that are quintiessential to the band. If someone asks, what is Depeche Mode? A quick play of People are People, Master and Servant and Blashemous Rumours answers that question pretty succinctly. Depeche Mode seemed to sometimes find themselves in a tough spot musically. Too dark for pop fans, too electronic for fans of heavier music. Were they too catchy? Too slick and electronic? Or was it all too morose and edgy? Any qualms had at the time, Depeche Mode answered them churning out dark electronic hit after dark electronic hit with an unmistakable sound. All that said, I chose a song that is very much not what one thinks of with Depeche Mode. Somebody is a quietly painful piano ballad with one of the most stirring vocal deliveries the band ever recorded and just a little electronic touch to make sure it's waves haunt our ears. The ending almost sounds like the start of a horror movie. Martin Gore bared all on this record. No really he did, recorded his performance of Somebody in the nude.

Somebody

Depeche Mode · Some Great Reward (Deluxe) · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

I adore Depeche Mode. Martin Gore is a gift. I've seen them live more than any other band - every tour since Violator with the exception of this last tour. Ticket prices were crazy. They don't play this live much. They did on the Exciter tour and it elicited the most fangirl scream to ever leave my mouth. Somebody was the wedding song for my sister and brother in law. I was a touch jealous she got to use it first, but it was all good. Radiohead was a better fit for Mr. & Mrs. KP.

 

[simsarge]

krista4 – Chicagoland

Love Song for a Schubas Bartender – Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s

I'm way behind in my listening and posting.

Artist connection to Chicago (1-5 scale): 3 - Maybe should have been a 4. The band formed and released their first few records in Indianapolis, but moved to Chicago in 2009 and haven't looked back.
Song connection to Chicago (1-10 scale): 6 - I was so excited for a possible "10" on this one when I saw the title. Schubas is the venue where I've seen more music shows than any other. Possibly more than all other venues combined. I've seen my friends play there; I've seen my enemies (Marty Willson-Piper) play there. I've been there on first dates, second dates, 100th dates. It's a small, perfect venue that hosts up-and-comers, already-theres. Locals and out-of-town tours. It's where my friend Thomas used to host Hoot Nights before he took them to Ireland. It's the ****ing best.

Unfortunately, the song doesn't really seem to be about Schubas, and it gets a 6.
Total: 9

The band name made me smile. The song made my ears cringe
But then again I am a MAD

 

[MrsKarmaPolice]

MrsKarmaPolice – Animal Kingdom

Reptile - Nine Inch Nails

I have seen NIN live 4 times and I'm looking forward to seeing them again this summer. At the first NIN show, Trent Reznor came out and stood behind me and my sister to watch the opener. When we saw him there was a frantic search for a writing utensil to ask for his autograph. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in our efforts and never approached him. That's what happens with introverted, people pleasing sisters.

Without me??

It was just a few years before we met. You had Mach.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Posted this is in the unathletic loser kids thread, but will post here since you're all a nice cross section of my FFA life and friends...

My son was in his final HS Musical over the weekend. He was the wolf in Into the Woods.

My wife, as she always does, posted a clip on IG for friends and family on Tues with a couple hashtags including show name and "musical theater".

She looked last night to see who'd checked in of our usual 50-100 folk... 45,000 views. This morning 55k. No idea what happened, but this is our first taste of viral.

That's awesome!

 

[KarmaPolice]

I like this theme thing running intermitantly. We get some one-off songs we wouldn't otherwise get.

Agree. It also gave me way to use artists i wouldn't consider for a full artist 31 - like Royal Blood.

Definitely the case for me with the Afrobeat list. For most of them, I could probably only give you a handful of songs, tops. And that’s what it has to be because many of them put out an album or two and then sort of disappeared/faded. Maybe I could go deeper with someone like Fela Kuti, but most of his songs are around 15 minutes in length and I don’t think a 31 song deep dive on Fela Kuti would work well with this format.

Exactly. For me the artist 31 sweet spot is about 8-12 albums of content. Much less than that and I feel I am just playing their full albums and more than that and I either feel albums would get the short end or odds are higher I have to get through some turds. Most I dig through I cross off for something like this.

The theme one was fun as well. It was a great mix of ideas and genres like your's and surf rock that I would probably never come in contact with if not for these weird exercises we do.

 

[Eephus]

Single (Named) Lady #9 - Shakira - "Inevitable" (1998)
Full name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll

Shakira was born in Colombia and is of Spanish and Lebanese descent. Like a lot of mononymous superstars, she was a child prodigy who began singing and belly dancing at the age of four. She was only 13 when she signed her first recording contract with Sony-Colombia (which could have been called Columbia-Colombia a decade earlier). It took until she was 18 and two unsuccessful albums before she hit it big and the rest is history. She's one of a small number of singers who've been able to successfully straddle the Latin and Mainstream Pop charts.

"Inevitable" is from her fourth album and was released when she was 21 years old. It's a power ballad sung in Spanish about a woman's honesty to her former lover. It's a sad song but her vocal and the arrangement are defiant. The instrumentation is more like a rock 'n roll song than most of her big Latin and Dance hits; there's an organ solo near the end that could come from Steppenwolf or The Zombies. Shakira takes control of the song after the break and brings it home in a whisper. She's a wonderful singer who is able to transcend language.

The video is a fake concert shot with an unsaturated color palette that takes place in at an arena beyond Thunderdome. It's probably no surprise that Shakira looks great as a brunette.

 

[Eephus]

ditkaburgers - Girl Groups X Boy Bands #9

Ugly Heart

G.R.L.

Girl Group

LA (Pussycat Dolls successor)

Favorite "I hate you" anthems. RIP Simone Battle

 

[titusbramble]

GTA #9 - Fat Larry's Band - Act Like You Know (Fever 105, VC)

Fever 105's a pretty decent station within Vice City, playing a mix of disco, soul and funk, we get bits of Jackson, we get Rick James, Kool and the Gang, and so on. In game it's the favourite station of eventual antagonist Lance Vance, who is suck a prick in game (based on comically awful AI) that in the speedrunning community we try to kill him or otherwise injure him at every possible opportunity. In some cases it's legitimately quicker, in other it's just for fun and can legitimately cost you your run, as if you mistime something you can softlock the game, but yep, that's Lance. Act Like You Know if the pick of Fever 105, Fat Larry's Band never really getting a huge amount of commercial success, and this was nowhere near their best selling effort, with a bunch of their earlier stuff charting higher in the US, and one track from a later album getting as far as #2 in the UK, seemingly for no particular reason whatsoever. This one hits a lot of spots for me.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

GTA #9 - Fat Larry's Band - Act Like You Know (Fever 105, VC)

Fever 105's a pretty decent station within Vice City, playing a mix of disco, soul and funk, we get bits of Jackson, we get Rick James, Kool and the Gang, and so on. In game it's the favourite station of eventual antagonist Lance Vance, who is suck a prick in game (based on comically awful AI) that in the speedrunning community we try to kill him or otherwise injure him at every possible opportunity. In some cases it's legitimately quicker, in other it's just for fun and can legitimately cost you your run, as if you mistime something you can softlock the game, but yep, that's Lance. Act Like You Know if the pick of Fever 105, Fat Larry's Band never really getting a huge amount of commercial success, and this was nowhere near their best selling effort, with a bunch of their earlier stuff charting higher in the US, and one track from a later album getting as far as #2 in the UK, seemingly for no particular reason whatsoever. This one hits a lot of spots for me.

This was a cool song. Was unaware of Fat Larry.

 

[El Floppo]

Posted this is in the unathletic loser kids thread, but will post here since you're all a nice cross section of my FFA life and friends...

My son was in his final HS Musical over the weekend. He was the wolf in Into the Woods.

My wife, as she always does, posted a clip on IG for friends and family on Tues with a couple hashtags including show name and "musical theater".

She looked last night to see who'd checked in of our usual 50-100 folk... 45,000 views. This morning 55k. No idea what happened, but this is our first taste of viral.

still going... up to 63k at lunch

72k

 

[krista4]

The band name made me smile. The song made my ears cringe
But then again I am a MAD

You are! And we miss you. I'm always happy to see you post, even if you hated my selection.

 

[shuke]

10s

Saxy!
Don Quixote – Kyenkyen Bi Adu M’awu (Spotify) - K. Frimpong and His Cubano Fiestas
Mister CIA – Dallas (on a DC9 at Night) - Joe Ely
landrys hat - Tupelo Honey - Van Morrison
Zegras11 – Love Plus One - Haircut 100

shukelist appearances
Mt. Man – 30 Days In The Hole - Humble Pie
MrsKarmaPolice – You're a Wolf - Sea Wolf
Tau837 – Wanted Dead Or Alive - Bon Jovi

Favorite new to me
simey – Train Leaves Here This Mornin - Dillard & Clark
KarmaPolice – Infection - The BellRays
Raging weasel – Gimme Sympathy - Metric - I know @landrys hat has posted them before, this song is new to me.
Ilov80s - Teenage Nightingales to Wax - The Three Johns
El Floppo – Matilda - alt-J - this was a surprise because I swear I've given them a listen and didn't think they were for me, but this is good.
Chaos34 - Black Memories - The Growlers

 

[Eephus]

MADs adjacent new album release day

Live album of Jon Anderson singing Yes songs

Live - Perpetual Change

Jon Anderson · Album · 2025 · 10 songs

open.spotify.com

A massive Steve Reich compilation. It's 22 hours so it's bound to have a mallet

Collected Works

Steve Reich · Album · 2025 · 175 songs

open.spotify.com

Only 3 1/2 hours of live Jimmy Page & Black Crowes

Live at the Greek

Jimmy Page · Album · 2025 · 36 songs

open.spotify.com

I think somebody here liked Neal Francis

Return To Zero

Neal Francis · Album · 2025 · 11 songs

open.spotify.com

Candi Staton's 32nd album. RIYL Mavis Staples

Back To My Roots

Candi Staton · Album · 2025 · 12 songs

open.spotify.com

Nels Cline playing Jazz

Consentrik Quartet

Nels Cline · Album · 2025 · 12 songs

open.spotify.com

Reissue of the Smithereens last album

2011

The Smithereens · Album · 2025 · 13 songs

open.spotify.com

Single named lady of the week

AIR

YEJI · EP · 2025 · 4 songs

open.spotify.com

New Steven Wilson and Coheed & Cambria for the proggers and Throwing Muses for 90s kids and Edwyn Collins for 1981 kids.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

MADs adjacent new album release day

Live album of Jon Anderson singing Yes songs

Live - Perpetual Change

Jon Anderson · Album · 2025 · 10 songs

open.spotify.com

A massive Steve Reich compilation. It's 22 hours so it's bound to have a mallet

Collected Works

Steve Reich · Album · 2025 · 175 songs

open.spotify.com

Only 3 1/2 hours of live Jimmy Page & Black Crowes

Live at the Greek

Jimmy Page · Album · 2025 · 36 songs

open.spotify.com

I think somebody here liked Neal Francis

Return To Zero

Neal Francis · Album · 2025 · 11 songs

open.spotify.com

Candi Staton's 32nd album. RIYL Mavis Staples

Back To My Roots

Candi Staton · Album · 2025 · 12 songs

open.spotify.com

Nels Cline playing Jazz

Consentrik Quartet

Nels Cline · Album · 2025 · 12 songs

open.spotify.com

Reissue of the Smithereens last album

2011

The Smithereens · Album · 2025 · 13 songs

open.spotify.com

Single named lady of the week

AIR

YEJI · EP · 2025 · 4 songs

open.spotify.com

New Steven Wilson and Coheed & Cambria for the proggers and Throwing Muses for 90s kids and Edwyn Collins for 1981 kids.

Tangential friend of the thread, Mr. Young, had a 1977 “lost album” released last Friday:

Oceanside Countryside

Neil Young · Album · 2025 · 10 songs

open.spotify.com