Middle Aged Dummies!! Artists #1's have been posted!! (2 Viewers)

[titusbramble]

I kind of wish we had 3 days between new reveals. Going to be impossible to keep up with this.

Kind of unfortunate that my first week has three songs combining for >25 minutes then, sorry

 

[Don Quixote]

Oh, I loved the Jorge Ben song - will be playing that at the beach next week!

That is the highest and best use of Jorge Ben songs. Hopefully you get a couple more you like to add to the playlist between now and then.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I also need a few days to listen to all. Lol

I'll be able to get through this one today, but work is crazy tomorrow through Sunday (yes, I have to work all weekend), so I'll be way behind after a few days and will do my best to catch up when I can.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Unexpected covers -- Black Francis doing a Flying Burrito Brothers song?

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Be Nice to Me is one of Todd's best ballads -- I think it would have been better served on an album that wasn't almost all ballads. (It was called The Ballad of Todd Rundgren, after all.) He was majorly influenced by Laura Nyro, and that comes through very clearly on this track.

 

[Mister CIA]

Another vote for slow rolling the results.

 

[JB Breakfast Club]

Songs of the quality of That's All and the Show Must Go On show the depth of Genesis and Queen, two bands I've only followed tangentially. I'm interested in their 21-30 sections before we hit the big hits. Also, Daft Punk was a delightful right turn in the first half of the playlist.

 

[Scoresman]

Songs of the quality of That's All and the Show Must Go On show the depth of Genesis and Queen, two bands I've only followed tangentially. I'm interested in their 21-30 sections before we hit the big hits. Also, Daft Punk was a delightful right turn in the first half of the playlist.

Agree and I'm adding Chicago and Heart to the list for me.

 

[Galileo]

My schedule is packed for a couple days. I won’t have much listening time until Saturday…will need to play catch up.

 

[zamboni]

My schedule is packed for a couple days. I won’t have much listening time until Saturday…will need to play catch up.

As you wish - and appropriate in this case.

 

[Scoresman]

Are we planning to pause on weekends? May be a good idea to let most catch up?

Or is the idea to reveal everything and have the commentary take as long as it takes people to get through everything?

I think rushing through and having songs get left behind is worse than having this take a little longer.

 

[Raging weasel]

If you're listening to the playlist in order it's not over until the Christmas lady sings.

 

[Zegras11]

Are we planning to pause on weekends? May be a good idea to let most catch up?

Or is the idea to reveal everything and have the commentary take as long as it takes people to get through everything?

I think rushing through and having songs get left behind is worse than having this take a little longer.

I'm not going to post on Saturday. We will see how it goes, but I'm thinking Sunday night, Wednesday night and Friday night each week. Let's have fun with this. It's not like when I had to post 175 Beatles songs. Lol

 

[Zegras11]

And after this is over, I'm hoping to keep this concept going. Only rule is you can't take any artist taken before. So consider this edition Volume 1.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#31 "Where Is Our Love Song" - Stevie Wonder ft Gary Clark, Jr

This is an incredible melody and Stevie can still sing his a$$ off after all these years.

 

[Ilov80s]

Big Thief

Ilov80s

Shark Smile- Edit Shark Smile - Edit Big Thief · Song · 2017 open.spotify.com

This is my favorite by them so shocked to see it at 31. However very much looking forward to what is considered better than this.

It’s not 31. I thought it would be wise to start with a couple strong songs as an introduction and then start the more literal countdown.

 

[Ilov80s]

Slowing down is ok with me. I’ve had a rough 3 days at work with a student I’ve become very close to who I knew had problems but we’ve now found out just how bad it is. It’s dire and I’m a mess. Not really ready to explore new music, need my comfort food.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Damon Albarn

Eephus

Blur --- There's No Other Way

I've heard this song before but had no idea it was Blur. Very catchy.

 

[Northern Voice]

Not sure how long I'll keep up with specific song posts - mainly just trying to lure my fellow Unified Scenester @Northern Voice into some commentary.

The Hold Steady “Realistic” Dream Setlist Song 1: Hornets! Hornets!

She says always remember never to trust me
She said that the first night that she met me
She said there's gonna come a time when I'm gonna have to go
With whoever's gonna get me the highest

Album: Separation Sunday (entry 1 of 5)

# of Times Seen Live: 12 of 37 shows

My Story: Hornets! Hornets! was the first THS song I ever heard. I guess I wasn’t cool enough to buy their first record when it was released in 2004, but a great review of Separation Sunday in Pitchfork sent me running to the store for the follow-up. I was home on paternity leave at the time while my wife went back to work and was devouring music while changing diapers and praying for nap time. The spoken-word opening lyrics to the album’s first track (quoted above) hooked me from the outset and set a perfect tone for what is still my favorite record by my favorite band.

Be careful what you wish for...


Just kidding I've really mellowed out my musical opinions lately. I've been on a Matchbox 20 kick lately and I'm pretty sure 15 years ago, I had convinced myself I was way too cool to enjoy such mainstream fodder. Anyway, that's not related.

Just to be clear though, is this meant to be a dream 31 song setlist in order that you're going for here because I would definitely go a different route to kick things off if that was the case.

This song would probably make a top 31 list if I made it.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Slade

Mrs. Rannous

We'll Bring The House Down

They did, in fact, bring the house down.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Foo Fighters

Just Win Baby

Iron Rooster

I stopped keeping track of the Foos by the end of the '00s, so I had not heard this one before. I love the flow and construction of it.

 

[scorchy]

Be careful what you wish for...


Just kidding I've really mellowed out my musical opinions lately. I've been on a Matchbox 20 kick lately and I'm pretty sure 15 years ago, I had convinced myself I was way too cool to enjoy such mainstream fodder. Anyway, that's not related.

Just to be clear though, is this meant to be a dream 31 song setlist in order that you're going for here because I would definitely go a different route to kick things off if that was the case.

This song would probably make a top 31 list if I made it.

LOL, I'm secure in my THS love/opinions and I'm sure that you would stay positive, even when presenting an alternate take.

The dream setlist is really constrained by making sure all albums are represented fairly and that I get a few rare songs that I haven't had the pleasure to see live. I think I know what song you would have as the opener, and my original list of 50-plus songs started out with it. In the end, it just didn't make the cut for me.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead

plinko

Taken by the Hand

This is incredible, as their best material from back in the day was. Particularly the guitar solo that comes in about 1/3 of the way through. Who is singing? It doesn't sound like Keely or Reece -- but their singing styles could have changed since the last time I was paying attention to them.

 

[Just Win Baby]

I kind of wish we had 3 days between new reveals. Going to be impossible to keep up with this.

I really like this Elliot Smith song, not familiar with it.
In addition to my favorite Big Thief song appearing today, this is my favorite Dino Jr. song.

Not sure I've heard this Elton John song before. I thought it was Oasis at first.

Of course really like the Spoon and Modest Mouse tunes.

With all the volume of posts today and great content, I'm thinking of just posting the next list when the posts for a day slow down a lot. Like every other day. With the way thr Google form performed, the amount of work I initially thought I had to do each day was greatly reduced. This is starting out to be very cool, and I don't feel the need to rush it at all. Let's just all enjoy.

I vote for every other day! I'm just trying to catch up now from your first reveal, and it's a challenge with the volume of posts and all of the appealing music... at least on a day when I'm in meetings at work all day.

ETA: I also like the 3 posts per week idea.

 

[kupcho1]

Love THS. I know for sure what I'd have as #1. Hope you do too.

 

[krista4]

31. Hideaway

Hideaway, which has no horns,

 

[simey]

A few comments about the first batch...

1. Talking to Mary - Nice song. It's a grey rainy day, and I love music like this when it rains. Elliott's voice is comforting to me and goes well with melancholy, whether it be lyrics or weather.
2. Walk on By - Cool cover! I especially like that organ in it.
3. That's All - This song reminds me of high school. I can't recall there being a clunker on this whole album.
4. Western Ford Gateway - Great early Elton. I really love the way his vocals sound on this one.
5. A Song for You - Oh my word! Someone picked a fantastic tune!
6. 3rd Planet - I like the way the vocals switch from normal to maybe an underwater sound, and then back to normal again.
7. Anything You Want - For some reason I get Spoon and Tool mixed up sometimes. I guess it is the o's in the name. Anyway, this is the band out of the two that I like the most. I like this song.
8. Feel the Pain - I didn't recognize the song by name, but I recognized it when it started. It's a good song, and I like that cork beginning.
9. Shark Smile - So far so good on liking this band.
10. The Things I Used to Do - Nice blues. I like Stevie's voice and playing.
11. Tenderness on the Block - I like when the backup singers join in with Warren on this song.
12. Robot Rock/Oh Yeah - The man that trims my trees has a voice box, and parts of this sound like him singing. I may have found him a side hustle. This is kinda funky, and I like that outro.
13. O Telefone Touco Novamente - Is this Samba music? I like it.
14. Too Much Information - I think a lot of Police songs are easy to dance to. Stewart Copeland is one of my favorite drummers.
15. Hideaway - This song has a heavy feel to it. It's more rock and less horny compared to some of their other 70s songs. I like when Cetera lets his voice rock. Good tune.
16. Alcohol - I love this album. One of my favorite things about this tune is the instruments in it. This song reminds me of a scene in a play.

 

[Just Win Baby]

Foo Fighters

Just Win Baby

Iron Rooster Iron Rooster Foo Fighters · Song · 2015 open.spotify.com

I love this song. I had it a number of spots higher but ultimately decided I liked it as the opener of my list countdown.

This is the only song I chose from the Saint Cecilia EP, which is great IMO. A bit about that EP from Wikipedia:

The five song EP was recorded in Austin, Texas, at the Saint Cecilia Hotel during the Austin City Limits festival's two weekends in October 2015. The EP was initially envisioned as a "end-of-the-tour" gift to fans to be given away towards the end of the band's Sonic Highways touring cycle. However, the events of the November 2015 Paris attacks ended up cutting the tour short. The band instead released the EP for free on the internet, on November 23, 2015, in dedication of the Paris attacks. The release, according to frontman Dave Grohl, is meant to "remind us that music is life". The name and release date have significance; Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of music, and November 22 is her respective feast day...

Krist Novoselic, who had previously played with Grohl in Nirvana, described Saint Cecilia as Foo Fighters' "statement on how they are the biggest rock band in the world".

From an Unsung Melody review:

The title, Iron Rooster, sounds more like a craft beer than it does a Foo Fighters song. Still, it’s a song that is seemingly a nod to one of Grohl’s idols in Tom Petty. Slow churning, almost Americana in it’s stance, Iron Rooster delivers a sound that is seemingly reminiscent of their influences and could have been a leftover track from Sonic Highways, as it feels like a song with a purpose.

Like the Foos, Tom Petty is in my all-time favorite 5 artists list, so I like this comparison. I saw a comparison to Neil Young in multiple reviews, including this Subjective Sounds review:

Iron Rooster is a melodic masterpiece that is almost Neil Young inspired. I don’t know about you, dear reader, but as I listen to Iron Rooster, this could most certainly have been a Neil Young & Crazy Horse song that would have been off-the-charts. This is another song that you really need to hear on vinyl to understand the core differences between the formats as the vinyl EP is incredibly immersive and is, another song that I would class as one of the Foo Fighter’s greatest. Pure perfection!

Gary Clark, Jr. joined the Foos on this song and plays the guitar solo. Not his last guest appearance in my list.

So fans of Tom Petty, Neil Young, and Gary Clark, Jr. might like this one.

Finally, lyrics are here. I love this line:

Have you ever been in love enough to be who you wanted to be?
I won't mind you if you don't mind me

 

[rockaction]

I've decided to do an hour to an hour and a half of listening daily to the songs selected for this exercise. I'll point out new-to-me bands, new-to-me songs, and old favorites. Any listening or omission will be pretty much random, so there's no method behind the madness. That said, for the first day of this, I'm going to stick with the people who participated in JML's last draft as sort of a thank you and a nod to those that decided that waiting for these lists just wouldn't do.

For all future endeavors, I will be using the Thumper Rule, so if I'm not commenting on it, it doesn't mean I didn't listen. That's just a personal preference of mine and not a hard-and-fast rule for anybody else to follow.

Newer-to-me bands (Essentially new. I've heard of these bands but haven't done any sort of dive)

Doves (landrys hat) - Moody track that got me to listen to the second off of that album, which I actually like more than the "Firesuite" intro. I'll definitely have my ears open for this band.
Stranglers (JML) - Great track. Just when I thought I was going to get bored by the bass line about 4:30 in they sped up and made it a full on jam session at 5:00. Dug it.
Bauhaus (otb_lifer) - An aural representation of selling your soul never quite sounded so jammy and jazzy. Of course otb picks the least listened to song on the album. Heh.
Big Thief (ilov80s) - And I went "ooh." This is the song I was talking about when I said that they sort of made me sad. My listening had culminated with this song. Great track, though.

New-to-me songs

Ray Charles (simey) - Great ballad
Slade (Mrs. R.) - Fire in there! This is an arena stomper for an underrated band.
Todd Rundgren (New Binky) - I like this. It's certainly not a rocker, but like the comments say, more like Burt Bacharach or Carly Simon or Carole King.
Chicago (Pip's Invitation) - Heavy track. It definitely has seventies AOR deep cut all over it. I liked it a bunch. I was hoping for more horns to kick this exercise off, but this was excellent.
Elliott Smith (tuffnutt) - Love Elliott Smith. One of the few singer/songwriters that I can really listen to in any mood. This seemed a little bouncier than his others, if I might say so.

Old-to-me songs

Blur (Eephus) - This sounds so familiar now even though I thought I hadn't heard it before. It's got propulsive bass and a great recurring riff.
Spoon (Hov 34) - I could write so much about this song. It's the song I've dedicated to one unrequited love in my life I don't think I'll forget. Perfect track that Britt Daniel wrote about his ex.
Simon and Garfunkel (zamboni) - This is just such a beautiful song that I don't know what to do with their harmonizing. Should I weep? This isn't as melancholy as their others. Perfect.
Genesis (Yo Mama) - I always liked this song as a youth and beyond. A top forty hit (or one with radio airplay) for Genesis.

That's what I got through. If you drafted and I missed you, let me know and I'll try and give a listen tonight. I'm extraordinarily busy because they're installing new flooring in my room tomorrow and I have to essentially pack up and move, but I'll try. Peace.

 

[Ilov80s]

Nice to see so much positive reception for Big Thief. I was hoping to peak interest by starting with a really strong song- hopefully it doesn’t backfire by setting expectations too high.

 

[Ilov80s]

@rockaction don’t worry tomorrow’s song isn’t so sad. It’s a get out of town, get to nature and cook some onions song. So the only crying is onion related.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

If you're listening to the playlist in order it's not over until the Christmas lady sings.

I’m not a big fan of Christmas music but liked that one.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Nice to see so much positive reception for Big Thief. I was hoping to peak interest by starting with a really strong song- hopefully it doesn’t backfire by setting expectations too high.

I liked it a lot as well. The music should be in my wheelhouse- so looking forward to the rest. I have heard them in previous drafts and listened to one of their albums and liked it but sometimes there’s just too much to explore and other things fall away.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

31. Hideaway

Hideaway, which has no horns,

There are more songs than expected in my top 31 that have no horns. However, they way they usually use horns is different from the way the ‘70s and ‘80s songs that annoy you do. At least I think so.

 

[Ilov80s]

Nice to see so much positive reception for Big Thief. I was hoping to peak interest by starting with a really strong song- hopefully it doesn’t backfire by setting expectations too high.

I liked it a lot as well. The music should be in my wheelhouse- so looking forward to the rest. I have heard them in previous drafts and listened to one of their albums and liked it but sometimes there’s just too much to explore and other things fall away.

Oh yeah happens to me all the time. I really like something from a draft or recommended somewhere and then totally forget to check back into the group because there’s always something new or something old to rediscover. Happened to me with Big Thief for a matter of fact.

 

[Zegras11]

Did anyone post a spotify list of the 31s?

 

[Mt. Man]

Did anyone post a spotify list of the 31s?

Plinko's got you.

Nice! Well, here's a playlist. I better get some more sleep

 

[plinko]

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead

plinko

Taken by the Hand

This is incredible, as their best material from back in the day was. Particularly the guitar solo that comes in about 1/3 of the way through. Who is singing? It doesn't sound like Keely or Reece -- but their singing styles could have changed since the last time I was paying attention to them.

If I had to guess I’d say it’s Keely. He’s aged to the point it gets a little harder to tell them apart in more recent recordings. I read somewhere they’ve had this song on the shelf since very early on their career but as we know they say all kinds of stuff.

A couple more tracks from this record still to come. Definitely worth checking the new one out if you like this.

I don’t see a way to be sure who’s on vox here though..

 

[simey]

I'm not gonna comment on all of the songs in the future (it takes a long time to do that), but I want to make sure I've said something about everyone's song at some point, so I'm taking care of that in this round.
A few more comments continued...

17. Sæglópur - This Icelandic rock is interesting. It starts out mellow, and then it goes into full throttle, and then to a mellowishness. Did I just make up a word?
18. My Music at Work - This song has a garage band sound to me, and I like that sound a lot. I mainly just know their Road Apples album, so there is a lot to get to know.
19. Ben Franklin Song - I like this potty mouth song. So far, I've never heard a song by them that I don't like.
20. Magnolia Mountain - I think this is great. I love music like this.
21. The Lizards - I love the piano playing in this song.
22. The Show Must Go On - Freddie in great voice.
23. Careful With That Mic - I think it would be tough to learn the lyrics to this song. I'm intrigued by his voice, and what he and the band sound like when he sings more.
24. Firesuite - This is a far out instrumental. I've liked everything you have shared from the Doves so far.
25. Wheels - I had no idea Black Francis was the name of the lead singer from the Pixies. This is good.
26. Be Nice to Me - This is a really nice track. I think Todd is a super talented interesting fella.
27. For Those About to Rock - FIRE!
28. Double Agent - I like Neil letting loose on those drums around the ending of the song.
29. Where Is Our Love - Great pairing, although Stevie is the standout. Stevie's voice has aged so well.
30. Showdown - Great song by ELO. They are a big soundtrack to growing up in the 70s.

 

[Yo Mama]

Whew, made it through the round of #31 songs (my wife asked me why I had my air pods in all day). Lots of great stuff too to bottom, with a lot of new songs for me.

Round #31 Highlights (using similar groupings as rockaction)

Old-to-me songs I like - Police, Dinosaur Jr, AC/DC, Blur, Spoon

Songs I haven’t heard in a while that we’re fun to revisit - ELO, Chicago

New-to-me songs - Stevie Wonder, Foo Fighters, Trail of Dead, Daft Punk

New-to-me groups I look forward to digging into more - Sigur Ros, Doves, Big Thief

Great start to this!

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Simon & Garfunkel

zamboni

"Bleecker Street" Simon and Garfunkel - Bleecker's Street I DON'T OWN THIS VIDEO Fog's rollin' in off the East River bankLike a shroud it covers Bleeker StreetFills the alleys where men sleepHides the shepherd from ... www.youtube.com

Scary bit of irony here in the first three lines as New York City is currently covered in smoke from the Canadian wildfires:

Fog's rollin' in off the East River bank
Like a shroud it covers Bleecker Street
Fills the alleys where men sleep

It's just Bleeker Street. There's no possessive here.

 

[zamboni]

Simon & Garfunkel

zamboni

"Bleecker Street" Simon and Garfunkel - Bleecker's Street I DON'T OWN THIS VIDEO Fog's rollin' in off the East River bankLike a shroud it covers Bleeker StreetFills the alleys where men sleepHides the shepherd from ... www.youtube.com

Scary bit of irony here in the first three lines as New York City is currently covered in smoke from the Canadian wildfires:

Fog's rollin' in off the East River bank
Like a shroud it covers Bleecker Street
Fills the alleys where men sleep

It's just Bleeker Street. There's no possessive here.

Agreed - I spelled it without the apostrophe above. The goon that posted the clip needs to be taken out behind the woodshed.

 

[Scoresman]

17. Sæglópur - This Icelandic rock is interesting. It starts out mellow, and then it goes into full throttle, and then to a mellowishness. Did I just make up a word?

This song is right in the middle of an album that has a very distinct upbeat and happy first half, and mellow/somber second half. This song, being right in the middle, effectively splits the album as such. Starting out quirky, then gets chaotic, then it mellows out leading into the rest of the album.

Sigur Ros is very much an “album band” in this way. Some songs that change direction like this one may mean a bit more when listening to the album.

 

[rockaction]

Round #31 Highlights (using similar groupings as rockaction)

I forgot to include you in my write-up. I do remember you drafting. There was theft and Fugees. Sorry about the omission.

 

[Yo Mama]

Round #31 Highlights (using similar groupings as rockaction)

I forgot to include you in my write-up. I do remember you drafting. There was theft and Fugees. Sorry about the omission.

No worries. Fugees was the other draft - didn’t expect too much discussion of my Genesis pick (other than from some moms apparently) since it was pretty well known and played a lot.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Modest Mouse	The Dreaded Marco	3rd Planet Modest Mouse - Third Planet Third Planet from the album The Moon and Antarctica www.youtube.com

This one would be top 5 for them for me, maybe as high as #2

Same for me if I had ranked them. Definitely top 5.

I sequenced them more for the playlist and thought this song, as the opening track from (IMO) their best overall "album", was a good start to a playlist. Love it.

Funny story about this song---for my 40th birthday we asked each guest to bring a CD-R (yes, 2007) of their favorite 3 songs of the previous 40 years and we played them on random throughout the night. My youngest daughter, 7 at the time, listened to a lot of music I enjoyed because it was playing all the time. 3rd Planet was on her disc. I think her other 2 songs were by Neutral Milk Hotel and Cornershop. She continues to listen to a lot of artists I love, many of which she's introduced to me.

 

[rockaction]

@rockaction don’t worry tomorrow’s song isn’t so sad. It’s a get out of town, get to nature and cook some onions song. So the only crying is onion related.

Yeah, I probably should not have had the lyrics to "Shark Smile" up on my computer while I was listening. I might have just thought it was a love song.

No worries. Fugees was the other draft

That was the draft I was talking about. No matter. No worries is good, so I'll stick with that. I do like the Genesis song, though. "That's All" is a fine tune.

 

[krista4]

Simon & Garfunkel

zamboni

"Bleecker Street" Simon and Garfunkel - Bleecker's Street I DON'T OWN THIS VIDEO Fog's rollin' in off the East River bankLike a shroud it covers Bleeker StreetFills the alleys where men sleepHides the shepherd from ... www.youtube.com

Scary bit of irony here in the first three lines as New York City is currently covered in smoke from the Canadian wildfires:

Fog's rollin' in off the East River bank
Like a shroud it covers Bleecker Street
Fills the alleys where men sleep

It's just Bleeker Street. There's no possessive here.

Well, and there’s a “c” in it. Bleecker.

 

[krista4]

New-to-me groups I look forward to digging into more - Sigur Ros, Doves, Big Thief

Great start to this!

Doves were selected a few times in the UK dummies countdown (including by me), and I was surprised at how many people didn’t know their stuff and ended up liking it. I’m glad someone selected them here!

 

[Ilov80s]

@rockaction don’t worry tomorrow’s song isn’t so sad. It’s a get out of town, get to nature and cook some onions song. So the only crying is onion related.

Yeah, I probably should not have had the lyrics to "Shark Smile" up on my computer while I was listening. I might have just thought it was a love song.

Took me several listens before I realized, oh the song is about a fatal car accident Thelma and Louise style. Their lyrics tend the best part of the music IMO but if you are looking for lots of fun and hope, look elsewhere.