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Middle Aged Dummies!! Artists #1's have been posted!! (7 Viewers)

"The Sporting Life" by The Decemberists: [Me: You were singing along to it!] Yeah, I owned this record, but it feels like music made for an NPR Tiny Desk concert. The Bo Diddley beat can be in every Bo Diddley song and "Lust for Life" and a bunch of Stooges songs then gets to this song, about being a wimp. [Me: That wasn't funny at all. OH: Sorry.]

"All St. Day" by ...: They're not inventive enough to be Fugazi and don't have enough Stooges in them to be the Hot Snakes, so they carve out this middle ground with effects pedals, signifying unhinged rock music without being unhinged. I had a couple of their records, but I thought, "This music makes me want to listen to better records." A lot of music like that is my favorite music in the world, but it is to the bands I like what Domino's is to pizza. Domino's is good in that it reminds me of pizza.

"Lola" by The Kinks: I love the song. Even if there were no lyrics and he hummed the melody, it would be a badass rock song. But the lyrics are clever, being transgressively pervy but also really gentle and accepting. It's a coming of age story in a song, but he came of age with a transgendered person. What's not to love about the song? He has a great attitude. I understand the Davies are probably not the greatest people, fine. Anybody born before 1950 is going to have some troubling ****. I don't want to know what my dad thinks about this ****. But it's just a jam. What a run the Kinks had. They had a run maybe just a pip or two lower than the Beatles. Maybe. Maybe better.

"La Villa Strangiato" by Rush: I'll listen...to...a Rush song. I will. [We arrive at our destination; more to come later.]
 
Pais Tropical" by Jorge Ben Jor: Loved it. Liked the call-and-response, wish I knew what to respond when he called, but it turns out I don't speak Portuguese.
For the record, I thought one of the lyrics was about Mother Teresa for awhile. I was not sure why so ebullient when singing about her, but went along with it anyway (if someone loves Mother Teresa that way, more power to ‘em — I’m no Christopher Hitchens). Then I looked up lyrics and realized about a girlfriend named Tereza. :bag:
 
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I just had a three-hour nap after a miserable night and morning and I was dreaming J. Mascis and Dinosaur Jr. guitar solos. I'm not lying. At one point, in the dream, I wondered how I could be hearing a searing guitar solo so perfectly and intricately because it was a dream after all, and I was the one hearing and controlling everything. This actually occurred to me in the dream.

I woke up when it started hanging on one note.

Never gain consciousness, always just listen, I guess.
 
I was thinking of saying a bit for every artist in the #5s, but I’d definitely be upstaged (and rightfully so!) by OH. So back to selected favorites in shuffle order. With comments this time, though!

*Can I Sit Next to You Girl - AC/DC. I’ve been impressed by the deeper (often unfamiliar) tracks from a band I know numerous radio hits.
*Varuo - Siguor Ros. Gets super dreamy part way in, and maybe it’s just my mood, but I’m carried by it for a bit.
*Kingdom of Rust - Doves. Strong from the start. Hard to say if this is a top song from them (there are many candidates), but it’s high up there.
*Cheap ‘n’ Nasty Luv - Straightforward power rock that… ends rather orchestrically(?!)
*Miss Misery - Elliott Smith. Do I know this one? *reads up* Oh, in Good Will Hunting. So kind of.
*Talking -hit About A Pretty Sunset - Modest Mouse. Shifts form a few times. Both pop-y and dream-like
*Held- Spoon. Impactful riff to this. Feels more ‘classic’ than a 2022 release.
*Pais Tropical - Jorge Ben Jor. Enjoyed the horns and upbeat feel to this. Naive whether that matches the lyrics, of course.
*The Boxer - Simon & Garfunkel. Lie-la-lie! Still an impactful and meaningful song.
*The Sporting Life - The Decemberists. Has a touch of “Lust for Life”? Same high spirits, at least.
*Lola- The Kinks. I met him in a swamp down in Degobah… Nah, just kidding; this song holds up.
*La Villa Strangiato- Rush. Can’t type. Too busy jamming to this!
*On Melancholy Hill - Gorillaz/(Damian Albarn). Would’ve fit well with the Modest Mouse song. Might try that later on!
 
Whoa, lucid dreaming shredding guitar as J.Mascis? - that's next level.

I think it was the solo from "Almost Ready," so I wasn't writing it. I don't think. :oldunsure:
I think what this really means is that subconsciously you are really annoyed that your favorite album is not represented on my crap playlist, and specifically you haven't come across that song yet. I'm no dream expert though. ;)
 
Lola
Don't Stand so close to me
Crazy on you
Firestarter

all my personal favorites by each artist...

Talk **** on a pretty sunset is probably my favorite modest mouse song... but choosing just one is so damn hard... changes by the day and the mood.

Others I like alot

The Boxer
Minority
The Joke
Simulation Storm
When the stars go blue
Signed sealed deliver
Heaven beside you
Under pressure
Times like these
Grace,Too
 
"The Musical Box" by Genesis: Ooooo, flute. [Minutes pass.] Phil Collins: "Play me my song." OH: "No. You play it. You dweeb." [Lots of air drumming.] Yeah, we're going galloping! [Needly guitars start.] Ah....lost me. Hey, that's Phil on the drums, yeah? So busy. [Lots of head bopping and knee drums.]

I don't know what to think. I think if Kan and Neu! tried to make post-modern music without the influence of American blues, then Genesis's version of prog rock is that. It takes all the blues out, and you're left with this synthy Ren Faire, but what they want to express is what the blues could express.

I did take from it that Phil Collins is a monster drummer. So busy, fills so complicated, and he was right on time with all of them. But so much pouncy, petulant, lord Joffrey **** that I'm just turned off by it. I don't know if I heard flute or that was just synthesizer. It had the essence of flute. It's just not for me. I'm trying to approach it on its terms, and I'm just not British enough. If you don't know which fork to use at a multi-course dinner, this music might not be for you.

A lot of prog rock, it's baffling. Like Frankenstein, both the monster and the song, it's like it's just stitched together and you hope it works.

Sorry, that's not funny, but it's also the least funny song in the history of the world. It takes itself so seriously and can deliver on that, but it asks whether you're impressed with it.

I like more feathered boas in my prog rock. More capes, fewer horses.
 
OH's take on “We Gotta Get You a Woman” by Todd Rundgren

This song should be canceled...canceled into the sun. It’s so revolting. “Oh, you’re depressed. Let’s get you laid!” As someone who's suffered from major depression, I can tell you what I do not want is Todd, or anyone, saying let’s go get laid. You’re hanging out at your apartment, unable to get out of bed, and he says, "Let’s get dressed up, and go get you a hooker. We’ll go out on the town, and I’ll abandon you in a hotel room...with a hooker." Why not just kill me? Why not just let me die? Do you even like your friend? Do you care? Like, we’re all born into a world in which we’re doomed to die…here, have a hooker!

I don't know if the bongos were there the whole time, but I just noticed them at the end, and they really sealed the deal on this sh!t sundae. An indifferently played, appropriated instrument, you know [he starts drumming the table], “Hey, we gotta get you laid!” That song needed bongos like your depressed friend needed to get laid.

Now we’re going to learn that song was about John Lennon or something, and that’s why he went back to Yoko.

BWHAAAA ...OMG

LOL

a lot of pent up aggression here from OH

boy that all busted out ...
 
Hey folks.

Been a while, and I'm really sorry. It's been busy of late, I've had no time to listen to music much less even think about my own list. Thanks for those kind thoughts on various songs.

I'll keep it brief and throw out a few thoughts on the Bruce songs I chose beginning with #5.

#5 - Spirit in the Night - this is one of his great shaggy dog numbers, perfect for meandering or noodling, and with so many of his just sounds boss when you hear it live - always exceeding the studio version, so it's curious to me I linked to the studio version. Just love the story of Crazy Janey and Greasy Lake.
#7 - Something in the Night - A few people commented on this including Pip, but I'll just note that this one, off Darkness on the Edge of Town, was always kind of a top 25-ish number for me. Until I heard him break it out live in 2016 when I saw him last, and boy, does this song cook.
#9 - Racing in the Street - this is kind of a companion to #7. Similar in a sense. I always love how Bruce deconstructs tropes in his songs. Fast cars, crazy times, etc. But it's all a pose, and leaves behind mostly regret and wistfulness if you're lucky, and worse, if you're the woman of one of these guys, even less than that.
#10 - Dancing in the Dark - This gets a lot of heat for being overplayed. It is overplayed. But I love this guy's narration. He's like, almost a terrific writer; almost interesting, almost a great striver. But he's kind of desperate.
#11- Seeds. What a dark number this is, with that really mean bass line that starts in followed by that organ. Whole thing is a gem.
#15 - Stolen Car. In response to an earlier question, I think this is the one that made it for me instead of Highway Patrolman. Both are excellent.
#17 - Tunnel of Love. Excellent cadence and delivery on those lyrics: "Fat man sitting on a/little stool/takes the/money from my hand while his eyes take a walk all over you/" . This album's best appreciated after you've been married a few years, honestly.
#20 - State Trooper. I was mistaken. I was torn between Highway Patrolman and this one. I picked this one.


Will endeavor to scroll through and hear a few other songs soon.
 
"Lola" by The Kinks: I love the song. Even if there were no lyrics and he hummed the melody, it would be a badass rock song. But the lyrics are clever, being transgressively pervy but also really gentle and accepting. It's a coming of age story in a song, but he came of age with a transgendered person. What's not to love about the song? He has a great attitude. I understand the Davies are probably not the greatest people, fine. Anybody born before 1950 is going to have some troubling ****. I don't want to know what my dad thinks about this ****. But it's just a jam. What a run the Kinks had. They had a run maybe just a pip or two lower than the Beatles. Maybe. Maybe better.
Then check out the bonus track I linked in my write up...
 
I think what this really means is that subconsciously you are really annoyed that your favorite album is not represented on my crap playlist, and specifically you haven't come across that song yet. I'm no dream expert though. ;)

LOL. Funny.

Very not subconsciously, Farm is awesome and I love your avatar. That's a top notch album cover and avatar right there, folks.

eta* I've really enjoyed your list. You can probably tell by how much I write about it and the band you're doing. Evidence of that and all.
 
"Riviera Paradies" by SRV: Jazz chord jazz chord jazz chord, booooooooo. Guitar Center. That tone is creamy. Not like the band Cream, but smooth and creamy, the tone. Make sure you say that tone is creamy. [Lots of breathy "Oh yeahhhhhh"s. An uncomfortable number, really.] This is why God invented the Stooges. This is the musical equivalent of that bit from "I Think You Should Leave" where Tim Robinson wears a fedora that has safari flaps, and he carries around dice.

[Me: Can you do Rush now? OH: I need to wait on that.]

"Varuo" by Sigur Ros: It does sound like soundtrack music, like the hero just overcame adversity and scored a touchdown. I never know what to do with vibey atmospheric music. If I'm in that vibe, that's great. But that person's voice is super compelling and you can follow that into whatever vibe, wherever they are. It's a huge song built on the simplest three-chord progression. Would be cool to hear that performed with an orchestra, but my fear is that you'd see it on stage and it would be four people and a laptop. Iceland's always been strange. It's like they involved outside of other influences even though we have the internet and everyone can hear the same thing. I should probably listen to more of that.

INTERLUDE: I played "Festival" by Sigur Ros for him, which remains my favorite find of this countdown. He loved how ethereal and spectral the first half sounded, and like me enjoyed that part the most.

[Me: Rush? OH: No.]

"Don't Take Me Alive" by Steely Dan: [Laughing uproariously throughout.]

"Minority" by Green Day: I saw them 7-8 years before that song came out, and I thought it was great. They have an incredible rhythm section, and I like the way he can sing, but their songs were about angst and girls. A fierce rock band that makes their song sound so trite and false. It's kind of empty sloganeering and I have nothing amusing to say because it's just disappointing. I guess "minority" does in fact rhyme with "authority." Sing-alongs and stuff.

"Simulation Swarm" by Big Thief: [Shaking head vigorously.] I hate the whispered, pursed lips singing, like someone trying to call a bird over. This is "Come here, Mr. Feathers" rock.

"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk: Is this Daft Punk? This is store-brand Gary Numan. I'm just not the audience for this.



NOTE TO THREAD: We're hungry and tired and I was trying to get to a song he might like. I swear he enjoys a lot of music. Actually this playlist for the most part isn't doing it for me either. Back after dinner with Taylor Swift et al.
 
NOTE TO THREAD: We're hungry and tired and I was trying to get to a song he might like. I swear he enjoys a lot of music.

This is funny.

I can't really speak too much to Daft's song being Numan-esque but I can say that, to me, "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" was always notable more for Kanye's introduction of Daft Punk to a significant part of the U.S.A. than the actual song itself is notable. That's just my opinion, and it isn't shared by other Daft Punk fans and critics. I think that dance artists can wind up a bit marginalized in the U.S., and Kanye broke them mainstream with his sample and track. See: Write-up.

I'm glad OH listened to a bunch of the songs, though. The thread is always better with his commentary.
 
I think what this really means is that subconsciously you are really annoyed that your favorite album is not represented on my crap playlist, and specifically you haven't come across that song yet. I'm no dream expert though. ;)

LOL. Funny.

Very not subconsciously, Farm is awesome and I love your avatar. That's a top notch album cover and avatar right there, folks.

eta* I've really enjoyed your list. You can probably tell by how much I write about it and the band you're doing. Evidence of that and all.
I appreciate it. Your posts in the other thread had me thinking harder about my playlist and it wasn't until then I realized that I hadn't gotten to Beyond yet, but had 3 in the top 13 from that album. I think for me it was consistency throughout the album. There were a couple meh parts for me on Beyond, but almost top to bottom I think Farm is great. Personally, I'd probably rank Farm quite high as far as best albums in the last 20 or so years. As I said elsewhere - it's perfect to me except that last song, or at least the placement of it. I do have Beyond and the song you mentioned to thank for my current Dino love. I randomly tried it and fell in love instantly with the sound. For sure the Beyond/Farm sound is the Dino I prefer, as we see in the top 10.
 
"Varuo" by Sigur Ros: It does sound like soundtrack music, like the hero just overcame adversity and scored a touchdown. I never know what to do with vibey atmospheric music. If I'm in that vibe, that's great. But that person's voice is super compelling and you can follow that into whatever vibe, wherever they are. It's a huge song built on the simplest three-chord progression. Would be cool to hear that performed with an orchestra, but my fear is that you'd see it on stage and it would be four people and a laptop. Iceland's always been strange. It's like they involved outside of other influences even though we have the internet and everyone can hear the same thing. I should probably listen to more of that.

They more often than not play with some sort of string arrangement at the very least. Early on, it was with another Icelandic string quartet, and their most recent tour was with a 43 piece orchestra. I have also seen them play when it was just three of them and they obviously revise the set lists accordingly. What you say about his voice is like 10 times that when seen live. That alone was enough when seeing only the three of them. I'm thankful I've never seen a laptop come out at one of their shows.

If you liked the spectral, haunting part of Festival, I recommend you listen to a song I now regret not including in the countdown called Dauðalogn. It's really grown on me recently. It's a beautiful song and might be Jonsi's best recorded vocal. Link below.

 
5. Just You 'N' Me
Album: Chicago VI (1973)
Writer: James Pankow
Lead vocals: Peter Cetera
Released as a single? Yes (US #4)

After the massive success of previous entry Saturday in the Park, Chicago's fans and the industry machinery wanted something with a similar vibe, and the following year James Pankow delivered. Just You 'N' Me is every bit as sunny and warm as its predecessor and is even more immaculately arranged and performed.
The subject matter is different, as it is a love song, albeit one borne of conflict. Pankow said in the Group Portrait liner notes: "'Just You ‘N’ Me' was the result of a lovers' quarrel. I was in process of possibly becoming engaged to this lady. We were living together in LA, and we had had a disagreement, and rather than put my fist through the wall or get crazy, get nuclear, I went out to the piano, and this song just kind of poured out. I didn't have to think about it. We wound up getting married shortly thereafter, and the lead sheet of that song was the announcement for the wedding, with our picture embossed on it."
The song begins as a midtempo strut, with fantastic wah-wah guitar from Terry Kath. The first part of its instrumental break is exquisite jazz rock, with the wah-wah guitar continuing to flow and the horns taking over the melody. But at 2:00, it shifts into something else entirely. A couple of staccato electric piano notes signal a tempo change, then Peter Cetera's bass briefly takes over the melody before we get an incredible soprano sax solo by Walter Parazaider. There are some serious jazz chops going on in this passage and it must have been a shock to hear it on AM radio in 1973. This section lasts only 45 seconds before transitioning into a soaring bridge (only in the '70s would you hear a lyric like "loving you, girl, is so damn easy"), but IMO it is one of the absolute peak moments of Chicago's career.
The single's success, and that of Feelin' Stronger Every Day a few months earlier, signified that the band had become one of the biggest deals in pop music. While Just You 'N' Me was the band's third single to hit the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 at #4, it went to #1 on the sales-only Cashbox chart, an indicator of how rabid their fanbase had become. And Chicago VI went on to become the second-biggest selling album of 1973, behind only Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. (Over the long term, of course, that award went to The Dark Side of the Moon.)
Live version from the Meanwhile Back at the Ranch TV special in 1974: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu8Xqk7ZdBc
Chicago XXXIV: Live in '75 version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlwFn1dINks. Here, the golden passage is longer and funkier, with the wah-wah guitar showing off more but never drowning out the sax.
Leonid and Friends version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqo0BAdis-U

At #4, the last horns-less song and the only cover -- one of the very best covers ever done, if you ask me.
 
PhishshukeYou Enjoy Myself

Well here it is. Considered by many to be the greatest Phish song. It rightfully could have been all the way up to my #2 spot.

To really enjoy it, here's a live version.
1:25 opening notes
Beautiful composition and building to 8:30, I especially love those long Trey notes at the 8:00 mark.
8:30 SCREEEEEAM
9:13 pre-internet, no one knew for sure what they were saying.
10:50 Trampolines!
15:45 Trey dances
17:05 Vocal jam starts and lasts for more than 4 minutes. You might want to skip this. Not for the faint of heart. Don't come back in here complaining about it. I warned you.
 
5. Don't Take Me Alive is the only song from the album The Royal Scam to appear on my list.



I'm a bookkeeper's son
The things you learn after all these years - I always thought it was a pool keeper’s son. 🏊‍♂️
Until a few years ago I thought it was "Hollywood, keep the sun". :laugh:

That makes no sense, but there are plenty of other Becker/Fagen lines that don't either. :laugh::laugh:
 
Will You Smile Again For Me - this is apparently their top track on Spotify. Quite proggy, I just never got into it so much
It's their most Rush-like track. The first few minutes and the coda are amazing. The actual meat of the song suffers in comparison -- I find the melody and Keely's singing on that part awkward. But it was a centerpiece in their live set for good reason -- and I think that's why it's their top track on Spotify.
 
Catching up. Quick notes on 6s

Favorite by Stranglers so far.
Everybody Knows is a top 5 Ryan Adams song.
Didn't know much Frank Black before this countdown, but Calistan was my favorite coming in, appeared in shukethread.
Not a big fan typically of Zeppelin covers, but Heart's version of Evermore with those vocals is excellent.
Whoa this Clutch song is pretty good.
More previously unknown goodness from Dino Jr.
Waterloo Sunset, Turn to Stone, Saturday in the Park, Rooster, Do You, Border Song...all great.
 
5's

The Joke - love this, top 3 Brandi song for me.
Musical Box - damn this is jamming
Harder Better - obviously killer tune. Would dance.
Signed Sealed Delivered - still incredible despite oversaturation.
Under Pressure - one of the greatest songs ever period.
Times Like These - I associate this song with a show or movie, but can't put my finger on it. Great song regardless.
The Boxer - greatest S&G song IMO
Spirit in the Night - one of a handful of Bruce songs that I feel are hugely underrated because they don't get traditional classic rock radio airplay so are relatively unknown, at least in my experience. Great tune.
Crazy on You - love the acoustic guitar at the beginning.
Miss Misery, Most People are DJs, Grace Too - new to me, I like.
Amoreena - sometimes I forget how much I like Elton.
 
As to the “loves a lot of music” bit…I gave OH the evening off from “rating” and instead fired up my “favorites from the middle-aged dummy worldwide countdown” playlist.

He LOVED:

- Song from Big Thief that hasn’t been posted yet so I won’t mention. Same for Jorge Ben Jor.

- K. Frimpong, Kikagaku Moya, Gogol Bordello, Do May Say Think. I mean REALLY loved them.

- Song by the Tragically Hip that hasn’t been posted yet but made him say, “I should listen to more of this.” So I played a LOT more from them. He was a big fan.
 
But at 2:00, it shifts into something else entirely. A couple of staccato electric piano notes signal a tempo change, then Peter Cetera's bass briefly takes over the melody before we get an incredible soprano sax solo by Walter Parazaider. There are some serious jazz chops going on in this passage and it must have been a shock to hear it on AM radio in 1973. This section lasts only 45 seconds before transitioning into a soaring bridge (only in the '70s would you hear a lyric like "loving you, girl, is so damn easy"), but IMO it is one of the absolute peak moments of Chicago's career.
I predict that OH will hate this passage.
 
I finally listened to the #7 playlist.

Excluding my own song, I already knew that I liked these songs:
  • Police - Invisible Sun
  • Modest Mouse - Missed the Boat - my favorite MM song
  • SRV - Tightrope
  • Chicago - Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
  • Alice In Chains - Got Me Wrong
  • Ray Charles - America The Beautiful
  • Doves - Caught By The River - my favorite Doves song
  • Heart - Straight On - my favorite Heart song
  • Elton John - Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding - my favorite Elton song
Once I listened to it, I realized I knew and liked this song, just didn't remember it by name:
  • Todd Rundgren - Hello It's Me
On first listen to this playlist, these were the unfamiliar songs I liked the best:
  • Decemberists - Grace Cathedral Hill
  • Big Thief - Mary
  • Spoon - The Underdog
Again, not surprising there were more songs I already knew and liked as we approach the end of the countdown. Another great playlist!

I have been putting the songs I identify in these posts in a spreadsheet. I'm up to 210 songs. So far that group of songs includes at least one song from 40 of the 46 artists in the countdown.

Thinking about making a playlist for the songs I end up with.
 
As to the “loves a lot of music” bit…I gave OH the evening off from “rating” and instead fired up my “favorites from the middle-aged dummy worldwide countdown” playlist.

He LOVED:

- Song from Big Thief that hasn’t been posted yet so I won’t mention. Same for Jorge Ben Jor.

- K. Frimpong, Kikagaku Moya, Gogol Bordello, Do May Say Think. I mean REALLY loved them.

- Song by the Tragically Hip that hasn’t been posted yet but made him say, “I should listen to more of this.” So I played a LOT more from them. He was a big fan.
I was surprised (not really) that he didn't like the Big Thief song from the 5s because you mentioned before he comped an earlier song to Bjork, who he loves. But also he is quite idiosyncratic so nothing surprises me at all.
 
The Foos have done a bunch of great covers but nobody here, other than a live "Tie Your Mother Down" with some other folks

I would have expected more of that, especially since we got one so early. ToD only have the one cover, unless there's something I've missed

Unfortunate that the Foo Fighters' best cover doesn't stream, but I won't go any further for the remote chance of spoiling

If it is sufficient to play a song live in concert to call it a cover, the Foos have covered more than 200 songs. If it must be released on an album/EP, as a B-side, etc., they have covered at least 38 songs. In the latter group, I particularly like 3 covers:

Marigold (Late!)
I'm in Love with a German Film Star (The Passions)
Life of Illusion (Joe Walsh)

There are other good ones, but I love those three, even though none made my top 31.

To the best of my knowledge, none of my remaining Foos countdown songs are covers.
 
The Foos have done a bunch of great covers but nobody here, other than a live "Tie Your Mother Down" with some other folks

I would have expected more of that, especially since we got one so early. ToD only have the one cover, unless there's something I've missed

Unfortunate that the Foo Fighters' best cover doesn't stream, but I won't go any further for the remote chance of spoiling

If it is sufficient to play a song live in concert to call it a cover, the Foos have covered more than 200 songs. If it must be released on an album/EP, as a B-side, etc., they have covered at least 38 songs. In the latter group, I particularly like 3 covers:

Marigold (Late!)
I'm in Love with a German Film Star (The Passions)
Life of Illusion (Joe Walsh)

There are other good ones, but I love those three, even though none made my top 31.

To the best of my knowledge, none of my remaining Foos countdown songs are covers.
I was referring to Baker Street

I need to get caught up on some of these. Thank you! Love covers, I've got a couple bands in my arsenal that have a wealth of great covers but I don't think I'll go there next, though both were strong considerations for me, partly for the covers
 
NOTE TO THREAD: We're hungry and tired and I was trying to get to a song he might like. I swear he enjoys a lot of music.

This is funny.

I can't really speak too much to Daft's song being Numan-esque but I can say that, to me, "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" was always notable more for Kanye's introduction of Daft Punk to a significant part of the U.S.A. than the actual song itself is notable. That's just my opinion, and it isn't shared by other Daft Punk fans and critics. I think that dance artists can wind up a bit marginalized in the U.S., and Kanye broke them mainstream with his sample and track. See: Write-up.

I'm glad OH listened to a bunch of the songs, though. The thread is always better with his commentary.
I don't know much about Ye but think this is a pretty great tune
 
The Foos have done a bunch of great covers but nobody here, other than a live "Tie Your Mother Down" with some other folks

I would have expected more of that, especially since we got one so early. ToD only have the one cover, unless there's something I've missed

Unfortunate that the Foo Fighters' best cover doesn't stream, but I won't go any further for the remote chance of spoiling

If it is sufficient to play a song live in concert to call it a cover, the Foos have covered more than 200 songs. If it must be released on an album/EP, as a B-side, etc., they have covered at least 38 songs. In the latter group, I particularly like 3 covers:

Marigold (Late!)
I'm in Love with a German Film Star (The Passions)
Life of Illusion (Joe Walsh)

There are other good ones, but I love those three, even though none made my top 31.

To the best of my knowledge, none of my remaining Foos countdown songs are covers.
I was referring to Baker Street

I need to get caught up on some of these. Thank you! Love covers, I've got a couple bands in my arsenal that have a wealth of great covers but I don't think I'll go there next, though both were strong considerations for me, partly for the covers
While great I wasn't referring to Baker St, but rather this.
 
I definitely can remember Slade playing "My Oh My" on Solid Gold. No youtube of this. They had been on Solid Gold previously, playing the song that gave them a resurgence in the US. I had the US issue of that record, on a tape that somebody who wasn't dirt poor recorded onto a blank tape for me.

It was the flip side of Heartbeat City which kinda changed my life a little
Really late again, but are you talking about this?
 
Glancing at the #5 list, these are some thoughts on the songs I already know...

Spirit In the Night - This is my second favorite Bruce song, and sometimes tied for first with one that hasn't shown up yet. I love the groove of this, and the subtle horn (sax) playing throughout. There is a horn riff in the song that has a slight swing to it, and it really adds to the groove of the song. I've always loved the chorus too.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) - This is my second favorite Stevie song, and sometimes tied for first with "I Wish." Love it.

Amoreena - I don't know really know what my favorite Elton song is since there are quite a few, but this is definitely one of them. I love the piano, organ, Elton's voice, that guitar that makes here and there appearances and the whole structure of the song.

The Boxer - This is my second favorite S&G song, and sometimes tied for first with one that hasn't shown up yet. I love the lyrics in it. I like hearing their live in Central Park version that has the extra verse.

Just You 'N' Me - One of my favorites by them. I had the 45. My sister and I were big Chicago fans in the 70s, especially my sister.

Lola - This is a fun song by them. I remember when I saw them back '85, they kept teasing the crowd by playing the first notes of the song, but then playing a different song instead. They played it about midway through the show.

The Joke - I like the spirit of this song. When she sang this at the Merlefest, you could feel an ardent energy radiating off of her and the tune.

When The Stars Go Blue - Miss Misery - Heaven Beside You - All of these are nice mellow yellow tunes

Don't Take Me Alive - Oregon isn't really pronounced Ora-gone is it? Have I been pronouncing it wrong all these years?

They Always Come - This reminds me of my brother who loves DJ.

Can I Sit Next To You Girl - ⚡ The guitar had a bit of a different sound in parts on this one compared to their other songs.

Crazy - I've always dug the intro to this song.

Under Pressure - This is fun to sing along with.

Don't Stand So Close To Me - This song reminds me of a kid in high school that tried to look like Sting. I remember him getting upset in the cafeteria when he got spaghetti on his parachute pants.

La Villa Strangiato - 🥁

Riviera Paradise - 🥃🚬 This is smooth as glass.

I'll listen to some new to me songs tonight.
 
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The Hold Steady “Realistic” Dream Setlist Song 27: Most People Are DJs


Baby take off your beret
Everyone’s a critic
And most people are DJs


Album: Almost Killed Me (Song 4 of 5)

Year: 2004

# of Times Seen Live: 8 of 39 shows

The Story: This one encapsulates why Almost Killed Me sometimes overtakes Separation Sunday as my favorite THS album. It’s the band at their brashest and least polished, just throwing out riffs and big guitar solos to go along with Craig’s lyrical party. Unlike the hipper-than-thou early aughts NYC scene, The Hold Steady was devoid of irony - they weren’t taking the piss like The Darkness or playing shows with distant stoicism like Interpol. Sure, the lyrics could be a bit winking and sarcastic at times, but no doubting that Craig means it when he sings about taking off your beret and dreaming about a unified scene.
 
The #6s (I think. I''m not even really sure what day it is...)

Posting from a train with intermittent wi-fi so apologies if I accidentally cried at a post that was funny or laughed at one that was serious - I really can't tell what's taking and what's not.

Genesis/Can-Utility and Coastliners - I can’t lay claim to lovig Marillion yet deny the brilliance of this one.
Decemberists/The Crane Wife 3 and ToD/Let it Dive - don’t remember a more gorgeous back-to-back on the entire run of playlists so far. Add in Waterloo Sunset and that was one hell of a run.
Big Thief/Certainty - I was all in on Big Thief at first, then maybe it got a little same-y, but this has me in love all over again.
Chicago/Saturday in the Park - I think this is the first Chicago I heard where I was like, "Wait, this is the same cheesy band that I slowed-danced to in junior high?"
Dinosaur Jr/Ocean in the Way - As much as I love J Mascis, he can get a bit same-y too, but this one stands out.
Bauhus/She’s in Parties - perfect in its gothiness, before the scene got all dramatic and whatnot.
 
#5s a few thoughts...

We Got to Get You A Woman - classic Rundgren sound, good chill vibe
Pais Tropical - fun listen
The Joke - just keeps building and the vocal explodes just over 3 min in. Wow. ♥️
Don't Stand So Close to Me - another classic...love the jazzy drum sounds
Talking Sh!t About a Pretty Sunset - love the title, solid song
Riviera Paradise - hard to register as a SRV song, but very good
The Sporting Life - ♥️
All St. Day - love the intro, solid work overall
La Villa Strangiato - a wonderful stroll through the sounds of Rush
Don't Take Me Alive - I didn't do it. I have never been to Oregon
The Great War - her vocals keep growing on me
Get a Grip - "stranger from another planet welcome to our hole just strap on your guitar and we'll play some rock n' roll" awesome line...
Sign, Sealed, Delivered - one of the more iconic songs from Stevie for me.
You Enjoy Myself - Was enjoying a wonderful musical journey but, to be honest, I was distracted by the vocals that eventually showed up.
Bullet - Frank continues to impress me
Cypress Grove - almost thought we were going calypso with the first few notes... :headbang:
They Always come - another solid entry from Dinosaur Jr.
My Ride's Here - ♥️
Under Pressure - love this collaboration with Bowie, but unfortunately I just can't not hear Vanilla Ice which takes some of the shine off for me
On Melancholy Hill - ♥️
Grace Too - ♥️
 
"The Joke" by Brandi Carlile: I love her voice. She's obviously a great singer. Structurally the song is good, but the people involved are afraid to let her voice do the heavy lifting. They're afraid of simplicity and so whenever she goes big, they bring all the music up with it, like the strings in a Steven Spielberg movie to hammer the point home. It's so corny and manipulative. There's a universe in which that song could be powerful, and I imagine the demo of it sounded great, but it was so overwrought in the studio that anything a dude like me would connect with has been sanded down or worn away. Compare it to this song by Nina Nastasia. Like the Brandi Carlile song, it's simultaneously small and quiet but grandiose. It has a mix of electric and acoustic. But everything sounds natural, and there's an immediacy to the recordings. When she goes big, her voice carries where it needs to carry, and the music doesn't compete with that. The whole thing creates a world that you can inhabit.
I get what OH is saying here. I love Brandi's music, but sometimes her records are overproduced. Ray Charles had the same problem, if "problem" it was. And, like with Ray, I think the singer is more responsible than the producers for how those records sound since both basically were responsible for them.
 
"The Joke" by Brandi Carlile: I love her voice. She's obviously a great singer. Structurally the song is good, but the people involved are afraid to let her voice do the heavy lifting. They're afraid of simplicity and so whenever she goes big, they bring all the music up with it, like the strings in a Steven Spielberg movie to hammer the point home. It's so corny and manipulative. There's a universe in which that song could be powerful, and I imagine the demo of it sounded great, but it was so overwrought in the studio that anything a dude like me would connect with has been sanded down or worn away. Compare it to this song by Nina Nastasia. Like the Brandi Carlile song, it's simultaneously small and quiet but grandiose. It has a mix of electric and acoustic. But everything sounds natural, and there's an immediacy to the recordings. When she goes big, her voice carries where it needs to carry, and the music doesn't compete with that. The whole thing creates a world that you can inhabit.
I get what OH is saying here. I love Brandi's music, but sometimes her records are overproduced. Ray Charles had the same problem, if "problem" it was. And, like with Ray, I think the singer is more responsible than the producers for how those records sound since both basically were responsible for them.

I think the Joke going big with production (Shooter Jennings produced) helped it break through to major airplay in 2018. This was mid-Trump...a time that required big noise to gain notice. It won two Grammy awards but lost out to "This is America" for song and record if the year.

I'll be curious to see your reaction to my #3, which I think is Brandi's best written song about love. It has a lovely vocal track that doesn't ask her to really belt it out, and the production stays (mostly) simple. I don't think it's very well known, so I believe it will surprise some people.

In between in an early BC song that kept climbing my list each time I replayed the albums while building my list.
 

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