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

[The Dreaded Marco]

Gonna walk around, gonna walk around, gonna walk around and drink

I'd sing this at parties and 99% of the people there had no idea what I was referencing.

I’ve done that same thing before…similar reactions.

 

[Hov34]

Gotta give the nod to Queen for most disturbing album cover this round.

Stewie Disagrees.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Slade's "Nobody's Fool" is another winner from them.

Love the music on Clutch's "Bacchanal". The shouty vocals, less so.

You're Living All Over Me is the album that first brought Dinosaur Jr. attention outside of New England, and "Sludgefeast" certainly shows why. It's a sonic whirlwind that never abandons its melodic structure. Oh yeah, and it kind of sounds like Neil Young and Crazy Horse.

 

[tuffnutt]

26.
Plainclothes Man- Heatmiser(Elliott Smith)
From Mic City Sons Album
"But I don't really need that now
I never really did anyhow
I only really needed alcohol
Something that'd treat me okay
And wouldn't say the things you'd say"

Before he went off on his own, he was in a band called Heatmiser. Plainclothes Man is from their third and last album called Mic City Sons. The band was well know in Portland, Oregon but did not achieve wider success. Their earlier albums are very much in the grunge style but their sound changed by their third album, which I believe can be attributed to Elliott Smith's influence. I only found Heatmiser after the fact, when I started diving into Elliotts solo work, but Heatmiser made some really great music. I've chosen a coulpe more Heatmiser songs that will be later on in the countdown. hope you enjoy.

Happy fathers day to all you fathers and father figures!

 

[zamboni]

Gotta give the nod to Queen for most disturbing album cover this round.

Read in the insert to Jazz to make yourself feel better.

 

[Tau837]

Foo Fighters

Just Win Baby

Aurora Aurora Foo Fighters · There Is Nothing Left To Lose · Song · 1999 open.spotify.com

This is the first of 4 songs I chose off the album There Is Nothing Left To Lose, which was the Foos' third studio album and the first album with drummer Taylor Hawkins. There Is Nothing Left To Lose won the Grammy for Best Rock Album in 2001, which was the Foos' first Grammy win.

In 2020, Kerrang ranked the top 20 all-time Foo Fighters songs, ranking Aurora #8. Here is an excerpt from their writeup:

One of the Foos most beautiful compositions is also one of their most underrated. A soft-focus ode to the Northern city of Seattle – and the wonders it bestowed on Dave after he moved West – Aurora was never an official single, but it has become a fan-favourite over the years. “It is definitely one of my favourite songs that we've ever come up with,” Dave has noted. “Lyrically, it's just kind of a big question mark, but the words sound good and it's a nostalgic look back at Seattle and the life I once had. That song actually questions the meaning of life, probably. It's probably the heaviest thing I've ever written.”

Around 2019 (2014 article was updated "4 years ago"), Spin ranked what they characterized as all 152 Foo Fighters songs up to that point, ranking Aurora #4. Here is an excerpt from their writeup:

Very possibly the band’s all-time greatest non-single, a strikingly beautiful song and an enduring live staple for the band. The awe at the cosmos and the sense of being part of something bigger than yourself is the same as in “February Stars,” but unlike that song (and most other Foo songs), the band never really goes for the big finish here, mostly allowing the gorgeous echoing riff, Dave’s unassuming vocals, and the song’s sparkling production carry the day. The song is so sublime that you barely even notice its six-minute run time, and you’d be happy to listen to the band bliss out to the great unknown for twice as long.

In 2023, Consequence of Sound ranked what they characterized as all 156 Foo Fighters songs up to that point, ranking Aurora #2. Here is an excerpt from their writeup:

Grohl has admitted that the lyrical meaning of “Aurora” isn’t exactly crystal clear, even to himself, but that it serves as sort of an abstract love letter to Seattle, the city where his rock ‘n’ roll dreams became more real than he could have ever imagined. With that in mind, the song sounds like nostalgia bottled, then thrown into a sky swirling with northern lights. Most of the invocation comes from an uncharacteristically gentle guitar line from Grohl, but that doesn’t stop Taylor Hawkins and Nate Mendel from adding some military muscle to the climax.

Songtell summarizes the meaning behind the song as follows:

"Aurora" by Foo Fighters is about embracing the chance for a fresh start in life. The lyrics encourage the listener to believe in something better and to dream of what could be instead of simply accepting their current reality. The chorus references Aurora, which is the goddess of the dawn in Roman mythology, emphasizing the idea of beginning anew. The song is a reminder to take advantage of the possibilities that life offers and to take risks to create something wonderful, no matter how daunting the task may seem. Ultimately, it is a call to action; to take control of life and make something beautiful out of it.

Taylor Hawkins has said that Aurora is his favorite Foos song, and also said this about it:

That was the first drum track that I ever did for the Foo Fighters that I was really, really proud of, because I only played half the drums on the Nothing Left to Lose record, because it was my first time in the studio. And I was just... I didn't know how to record. Recording drums and playing live are just super different and the mistakes are polarized heavily, once you're under the scrutiny of the microphones. You had to do it right.

Here are a couple live performances I like:

• Here is a link to an acoustic version recorded in an underground club in Seattle. It is a YouTube video, but there is no actual video, just still images.
• Here is a link to a recent performance in a Veeps live stream with new drummer Josh Freese. Great finish in this one.

 

[Yo Mama]

Happy Father’s Day to all who celebrate! Can’t wait to dig into today’s playlist!

 

[JB Breakfast Club]

#26. "Someday At Christmas"

I imagine this is the Stevie style of singing @simey was referencing when she said he could get "nasally". He's at the top of his range here and he's a kid, so it's all high-register. It's one of his most sappy (I don't care who got the writing royalties, this is a Stevie Wonder song), but it makes me tear up when I hear it every December. I wish more of us were as sappy as Stevie Wonder.

I'm adding this one to my Holiday list-don't know how I've missed it in previous years.

 

[Yo Mama]

#26 Genesis - Behind the Lines

Album - Duke
Year - 1980

Duke is by far my favorite Genesis album of the 80s and is in my top 3-4 overall for the band depending on my mood.

I love how the first track to most Genesis albums sets the stage for the rest of the tracks and they end up being some of my favorite songs by the band - this song is no exception. Spoiler alert: other opening tracks are well represented at the top of my rankings.

I almost cheated and paired this with another track further up my rankings since Behind the Lines serves as a great lead-in to that song, and they were frequently played together live. Originally, they were intended to be released as a suite on the album with a few other songs, but were ultimately released as separate songs on Duke.

I ultimately decided to keep this separate on my rankings since it’s great on its own. Even with extended instrumental sections, Phil is still able to impart strong emotion to the lyrical sections - especially this part:

Can't you see me? I'm slipping away
I can only stay if you've the will to keep me here

Love the feedback I’ve seen from everyone so far and love this song.

 

[Yo Mama]

Yo Mama’s Genesis Rankings (So Far)

#26 - Behind the Lines
#27 - Dusk
#28 - Home By the Sea
#29 - Dodo / Lurker
#30 - One for the Vine
#31 - That’s All

Album Count
Tresspass (1970) - 1
Wind & Wuthering (1976) - 1
Duke (1980) - 1
Abacab (1981) - 1
Genesis (1983) - 2

Lead Singer Count
Peter Gabriel - 1
Phil Collins - 5

 

[Yo Mama]

I realized when looking at my list for my comment on how well the album openers fare on my list that I must have deleted or copied over a song on my spreadsheet that for sure would have made my top 20. Not sure what song I’d drop off for it though. Oh well, enjoy this bonus track.

From Wind & Wuthering - Eleventh Earl of Mar

Eleventh Earl of Mar

Song · Genesis · 1976

open.spotify.com

 

[rockaction]

Gotta give the nod to Queen for most disturbing album cover this round.

Gave me nightmares as a kid. My cousin owned it and it terrified me.

Gonna walk around, gonna walk around, gonna walk around and drink

I'd sing this at parties and 99% of the people there had no idea what I was referencing.

I was dreaming the Hold Steady last night. Apparently you couldn't quote them accurately unless you were flatulent in an enclave in the library. Craig Finn had written a book. I assure you it was a whole lot funnier than it seemed. Northern Voice was also in my dream last night, goading my brother into a good game of street hockey. All true. Then I woke up to singing the lyrics from "Party Pit" (I have the past few days) and couldn't believe it was selected, only I could because naturally "Party Pit" is a top 31 choice.

That is all for my dreaming and morning.

 

[rockaction]

The Hold Steady's "Boys and Girls..." deserved the plaudits it got. Took me a while to get into it, but it's outstanding. That's the album to start with if you're not a fan, IMHO. That's the grand opus right there.

 

[plinko]

"Rainy Taxi" is one of those solid, driving Spoon jams they do so well

"Smack My ***** Up" is also an offensive video (NSFW) Whoa, indeed

 

[plinko]

Gotta give the nod to Queen for most disturbing album cover this round.

Gave me nightmares as a kid. My cousin owned it and it terrified me.

Gonna walk around, gonna walk around, gonna walk around and drink

I'd sing this at parties and 99% of the people there had no idea what I was referencing.

I was dreaming the Hold Steady last night. Apparently you couldn't quote them accurately unless you were flatulent in an enclave in the library. Craig Finn had written a book. I assure you it was a whole lot funnier than it seemed. Northern Voice was also in my dream last night, goading my brother into a good game of street hockey. All true. Then I woke up to singing the lyrics from "Party Pit" (I have the past few days) and couldn't believe it was selected, only I could because naturally "Party Pit" is a top 31 choice.

That is all for my dreaming and morning.

Franz Nicolay did write a book, I have it but I've never finished it

 

[rockaction]

Franz Nicolay did write a book, I have it but I've never finished it

They should blurb you, plinko. Lol.

 

[New Binky the Doormat]

Todd has 41 albums from 1968 to the present - that is not counting compilations, greatest hits, or the many live/specific concert* albums that are out. As much as I love the 2004 "Liars" and the 2008 "Arena" albums, for the sake of the playlist I stopped short of those (more details to come ...)

 

[Zegras11]

(more details to come ...)

The rest of us stop here.

 

[simey]

Unchain My Heart would have been top 5 for me (though I never actually sat down to rank his songs), can't wait to hear what else is coming

I didn't rank his songs either. I don't know if you read where I said I didn't rank Ray's songs from worst to first. I just chose a variety that I love, and tried to put them in an order of fast and slow. Sometimes there is slow slow. So many of his songs could fit into a Top 5, and Unchain My Heart is certainly one of them.

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there.

 

[simey]

#26 - Ray Charles - Unchain My Heart - Spotify

Ray recorded this as a single in 1961. The Raelettes join in on vocals, and Fathead Newman is blowing the sax. I love his songs with his own orchestra like this one. I think his voice has a slight sexy raspiness in this song.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I realized when looking at my list for my comment on how well the album openers fare on my list that I must have deleted or copied over a song on my spreadsheet that for sure would have made my top 20. Not sure what song I’d drop off for it though. Oh well, enjoy this bonus track.

From Wind & Wuthering - Eleventh Earl of Mar

Eleventh Earl of Mar

Song · Genesis · 1976

open.spotify.com

This is one of my favorites from them. When you said One for the Vine was the only song on your list from Wind and Wuthering, I was wondering why Eleventh Earl of Mar was left off. It may be the post-Gabriel song that sounds most like the Gabriel-era material.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

More new-to-me winners from #27: Get Born Again, Was It All Worth It and Constructive Summer.

It may be because my mind goes to "Celebrated Summer," but The Hold Steady give me Bob Mould vibes (in addition to the usual Springsteen vibes) on Constructive Summer.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Whoa - wasn't prepared for trip-hop Big Thief.

Yeah they have a few tricks left in their bag

Gangster rap?

 

[Pip's Invitation]

All the stuff from Doves' 2020 reunion album has been really good.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I haven't listened to the Foos regularly in a long time and I forgot how good End Over End was. This kind of melodic hard rock is totally in my wheelhouse.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Gonna walk around, gonna walk around, gonna walk around and drink

I'd sing this at parties and 99% of the people there had no idea what I was referencing.

Great tune. That solo around the 3min mark sounds very Dino-esque as well.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Round 27:

Not a huge fan of either Rush or Greenday, but I enjoyed both songs today.

Also am loving the deep dive (for me) of the Kinks. I only really knew a handful of songs (the "hits"), but I can see how influential they were as a lot of bands sound like them and they have several unique sounds.

Stevie Wonder is just amazing.

Asking for a friend: How high do I need to be to enjoy Phish?

7.36

 

[Mt. Man]

BTW, Duke is by far my favorite Genesis album. Behind the Lines is an inspired choice @Yo Mama
Despite the fact it has lyrics, the first 2:15 or so is more like an opera's overture than anything else as it references a number of songs on the rest of the album. Gorgeous song.

#26 Genesis - Behind the Lines

Duke is by far my favorite Genesis album of the 80s and is in my top 3-4 overall for the band depending on my mood.

I love how the first track to most Genesis albums sets the stage for the rest of the tracks and they end up being some of my favorite songs by the band - this song is no exception. Spoiler alert: other opening tracks are well represented at the top of my rankings.

It's quite possible that Duke is the Genesis album I've listened to the most in its entirety. I chose it in the UK Dummies thread partially to shine a bit more light on this album. Certainly arguable whether it's the strongest song from it, but regardless I have to love what it represents.

 

[Yo Mama]

I realized when looking at my list for my comment on how well the album openers fare on my list that I must have deleted or copied over a song on my spreadsheet that for sure would have made my top 20. Not sure what song I’d drop off for it though. Oh well, enjoy this bonus track.

From Wind & Wuthering - Eleventh Earl of Mar

Eleventh Earl of Mar

Song · Genesis · 1976

open.spotify.com

This is one of my favorites from them. When you said One for the Vine was the only song on your list from Wind and Wuthering, I was wondering why Eleventh Earl of Mar was left off. It may be the post-Gabriel song that sounds most like the Gabriel-era material.

Yeah, total brain fart on my part. I’m going to add it to my playlist for sure.

 

[Yo Mama]

BTW, Duke is by far my favorite Genesis album. Behind the Lines is an inspired choice @Yo Mama
Despite the fact it has lyrics, the first 2:15 or so is more like an opera's overture than anything else as it references a number of songs on the rest of the album. Gorgeous song.

#26 Genesis - Behind the Lines

Duke is by far my favorite Genesis album of the 80s and is in my top 3-4 overall for the band depending on my mood.

I love how the first track to most Genesis albums sets the stage for the rest of the tracks and they end up being some of my favorite songs by the band - this song is no exception. Spoiler alert: other opening tracks are well represented at the top of my rankings.

It's quite possible that Duke is the Genesis album I've listened to the most in its entirety. I chose it in the UK Dummies thread partially to shine a bit more light on this album. Certainly arguable whether it's the strongest song from it, but regardless I have to love what it represents.

Interesting - this might be the Genesis album I’ve listened the most to also.

 

[rockaction]

Daft Punk’s song today would raise eyebrows if people knew what wasn’t to follow. I’ve left a hit or two off because I wasn’t feeling them when I made the list. That might have been a big mistake. The list is Human After All heavy, which is generally considered their worst album, though its core makes up Alive 2007, largely considered a great live document of the Daft experience. There’s a bunch of A2007 on my list, not so much Human After All.

 

[rockaction]

Basically, I’m not a huge fan of todays song but couldn’t figure out how to change the list and put “Make Love” off of the same album on it.

 

[rockaction]

Make Love

Daft Punk - Make Love (Official Audio)

Random Access Memories (10th Anniversary Edition) out now: https://daftpunk.lnk.to/RAM10s“Make Love" is taken from “Human After All” available on all platfor...

youtu.be

 

[rockaction]

Round 27:

Not a huge fan of either Rush or Greenday, but I enjoyed both songs today.

Also am loving the deep dive (for me) of the Kinks. I only really knew a handful of songs (the "hits"), but I can see how influential they were as a lot of bands sound like them and they have several unique sounds.

Stevie Wonder is just amazing.

Asking for a friend: How high do I need to be to enjoy Phish?

7.36

Meters? Kilos? Eastern Standard Time?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Round 27:

Not a huge fan of either Rush or Greenday, but I enjoyed both songs today.

Also am loving the deep dive (for me) of the Kinks. I only really knew a handful of songs (the "hits"), but I can see how influential they were as a lot of bands sound like them and they have several unique sounds.

Stevie Wonder is just amazing.

Asking for a friend: How high do I need to be to enjoy Phish?

7.36

Meters? Kilos? Eastern Standard Time?

Yes.

 

[Ilov80s]

Whoa - wasn't prepared for trip-hop Big Thief.

Yeah they have a few tricks left in their bag

Gangster rap?

They do a banging cover of Gin n Juice

 

[shuke]

Haven't been able to listen to the past few rounds yet but will comment on my picks.

27. My Friend My Friend

Have to include some weird/evil stuff in my list. Here's a decent live version with good lighting effects. This isn't going to win over any non-fans, but I've always really liked the chaotic crescendo the last couple minutes of the song. This version has the "myfe ending" similar to the studio album, but not all versions do. The end is basically the story's teller being interrupted in the middle of saying "my friend" by the stabbing from his friend with the knife.

 

[Mt. Man]

Randomness list. Going to (at least 7) songs per day from now on!

Princess of the Streets - The Stranglers. I should plausibly learn to embrace the unexpected with them, but the opening still caught me by surprise. From there it’s a smooth and slow ride through a fun(ky) song.

Meus Filhos, Meu Tesouro - Jorge Ben Jor. This falls more into the “dig the vibe” category. I definitely did exactly that, feeling the energy and liking the beat regardless.

Breakthru - Queen. I should be familiar with almost all the Queen songs, but this one didn’t strike a memory. Nonetheless, this is (mostly) a strong rocker, complete with the harmonized vocals and energetic melody you’d expect from them.

Why Don’t You Write Me - Simon & Garfunkel. Pretty light and poppy. An intriguing mix of sounding very 60s but with emphasized trumpet. Short but sweet and decently catchy.

Mask - Bauhaus. Starts out soft and droning, but then adds a layer partway through. I’m more of a fan of that back “half”. It’s just a shade more… relaxing? Familiar? Something along those lines.

Powerman - The Kinks. I’ve heard this one before, but certainly not often, overshadowed by another song (or two) off the album. Guitar work helps drive this song, but it’s a solid effort throughout.

Plainclothes Man - Elliott Smith. Either I’m a sucker for tempo changes today or the back half of this one just hit me in the right way. Regardless, Elliott’s a playlist for me to keep an eye on and plausibly circle back to.

I also really enjoyed the #26 selections from Clutch, Phish, Spoon, and the Tragically Hip. The SRV and ELO songs are always appreciated, too.
Not to mention: Ooooooof SALES-men!

 

[shuke]

26. Tweezer

A crowd pleaser. The studio version won't do it justice. The great thing about the Phish community is that if you're looking for something in particular, someone will tell what show to listen to. Here is the "jam chart" for Tweezer, with information on what those jams may contain.

Typically any show or set of shows at a single location will have a Tweezer Reprise if Tweezer was played earlier that night or run.

 

[Zegras11]

So listened to the 26's. They are so good that it's hard to single out just one. The Stevie Ray Vaughn stood out the most for me though.

Just sent Karma the #25's. Some heavy hitters coming our way

 

[JB Breakfast Club]

Brandi Carlile Tier 6: the Extras

I used the 26-31 range to play some BC songs that are a little outside their main throughline.
Singles: O Holy Night; A Beautiful Noise, Carried Me With You (from the Onward soundtrack)
Highwomen: Redesigning Women
a 5th song from Silent Days: Mama Werewolf

I really wanted to get a Christmas song in the mix because the BC family holiday shows have been a mainstay for the past 3 years. You see, Brandi and the twins live together (along with the cello player) in a compound in Washington state. So, when the pandemic hit, they got together to play a variet of shows (typically monthly) that were fundraisers to pay their road crew, etc. There were campfire singalongs, album playthroughs, variety shows, and the annual holiday gigs. If you're looking for a few hours of Christmas joy this December, watch out for a Brandi Carlile holiday stream on Veeps.

A Beautiful Noise was an amazing collaboration that debuted during a "get out the vote" special in 2020. This is meant to be a non-partisan song, but Brandi's politics are obvious on subsequent songs (and weigh heavily on some of my top selections).

Carried Me With You wasn't a song I expected to select, but the band obviously loved it when they played it during the Veeps streams mentioned above. Watching a band really believe in a song weighs heavily on my opinion. It's such a simple song about loyalty and love that edges on being too schmaltzy without falling over the edge - it really shows the essence of the Brandi Carlile experience (all 3 members are credited as writers).

The Highwomen song really captures why that band came together - to tell female stories within the web of country music masculinity. It's a really solid tune, but I think the song I put in an upper tier exemplifies their purpose better.

Mama Werewolf was an acknowledgement that Silent Days is a great album and deserves five songs on the list, and I simply like it better than You and Me on the Rock and Letter to the Past...which brings me to some of the rules I set for this project. 5 songs maximum per album...I am a huge fan of the last two albums by BC, which coincides with when I became a loyal fan of the band. Limiting to five per album got me to go back to earlier works and recognize their value to the catalog.

Played so far:
Singles: 3/3
Self-titled debut: 0/2
the Story: 0/3
Give Up the Ghost: 0/4
Bear Creek: 0/3
the Firewatcher's Daughter: 0/4
By the Way, I Forgive You: 0/5
Highwomen: 1/2
In These Silent Days: 1/5

 

[falguy]

#26 The Jack (High Voltage)

Second consecutive selection from the High Voltage release. I’m using the Live version as I like it a bit more with the not-so-subtle lyrics and bluesy feel. I love the audience participation part and especially Bon’s interaction/encouragement. (“Sing it as loud as you like”) Also a couple super Angus solos.

#25 on Tuesday will be another love song. A song I suspect most haven’t heard before.

Album breakdown
0 74 Jailbreak
2 High Voltage
0 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
1 Let There Be Rock
1 PowerAge
0 Highway To Hell
1 Back in Black
1 For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)
0 Flick of the Switch
0 Fly On The Wall
0 Who Made Who
0 Blow Up Your Video
0 The Razor’s Edge
0 BallBreaker
0 Stiff Upper Lip
0 Black Ice
0 Rock or Bust
0 Power Up

 

[kupcho1]

Some Chords is one of my all time deadmau5 favorites.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

Rush

higgins

The Pass

The Pass by Rush. That's big.

With Rush songs, often times it's about "Alex has a great solo in this one" or "the guys really had a driving tempo there". The Pass isn't like that, in the way that it's not one that stands out for its technical aspects. It's a more of an emotionally moving song, which isn't typical for Rush obviously.

By the way, Alex has a great solo in this one.

 

[kupcho1]

Album breakdown
0 Black Ice

Just noticed this. Is this the album @shuke produced?

 

[plinko]

Damon Albarn Song #27

Blur - "All Your Life" non-album track (1997)

As others have noted, this is Blur sounding very Bowiesque. I hear a lot of Bowie's "Oh! You Pretty Things" in the verse along with an ascending line that reminds me a bit of the Beatles.

Perhaps that's why the song didn't make the cut for Blur's self-titled album. Another song that did "M.O.R." sounded enough like Bowie's "Boys Keep Swinging" for Bowie and Eno to get a composition credit after legal action.

Plagiarism aside, I think Bowie is probably Damon's closest Classic Rock analogue. Albarn has never been a fashion plate; he's pretty much always been the bloke in the bomber jacket and t-shirt. But the way he's kept his styles in motion and something about the way he's used his cartoon avatar in Gorillaz remind me of Bowie more than anyone.

This works when you're eating orange Jell-O for lunch, and pondering how much you should ration for later

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Todd has 41 albums from 1968 to the present - that is not counting compilations, greatest hits, or the many live/specific concert* albums that are out. As much as I love the 2004 "Liars" and the 2008 "Arena" albums, for the sake of the playlist I stopped short of those (more details to come ...)

Binky, if you can stream radio stations WXPN in Philly has Thursday dedicated to Todd. They will play several songs per hour by him and it's not just "Hello It's Me"-type hits. They do a really good job on these type of specialty shows. @Pip's Invitation would probably vouch for the amount of thought that channel puts into its programming.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Todd has 41 albums from 1968 to the present - that is not counting compilations, greatest hits, or the many live/specific concert* albums that are out. As much as I love the 2004 "Liars" and the 2008 "Arena" albums, for the sake of the playlist I stopped short of those (more details to come ...)

Binky, if you can stream radio stations WXPN in Philly has Thursday dedicated to Todd. They will play several songs per hour by him and it's not just "Hello It's Me"-type hits. They do a really good job on these type of specialty shows. @Pip's Invitation would probably vouch for the amount of thought that channel puts into its programming.

Vouched.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I'm a day late, but Happy Father's Day to all of the dads here.

I never had biological kids of my own, but I helped raise a few at various times in a couple of relationships with their mothers. The one I was step-dad to the longest was 8 when her mom & I got together, and was 15 when the relationship ended. Both of her parents are brilliant, but flighty as hell. I'm not brilliant, but am more grounded than either of her parents and - I tell myself, anyway - helped her with structure when she was trying to navigate school.

Anyway, she went to Wellesley and got a degree in some type of journalism (sorry, I don't know what degrees are possible in that field). She went to work as a reporter for a few years - I think in SF. Apparently - according to her mom - she got frustrated that she wasn't helping people that needed help the most in THAT job, so she went to freaking Stanford and graduated with her law degree this past weekend.

This isn't a "look at me" post. She got her parents' smarts and was more adult than either of them (or me) when she was 11 years old.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I'm a day late, but Happy Father's Day to all of the dads here.

I never had biological kids of my own, but I helped raise a few at various times in a couple of relationships with their mothers. The one I was step-dad to the longest was 8 when her mom & I got together, and was 15 when the relationship ended. Both of her parents are brilliant, but flighty as hell. I'm not brilliant, but am more grounded than either of her parents and - I tell myself, anyway - helped her with structure when she was trying to navigate school.

Anyway, she went to Wellesley and got a degree in some type of journalism (sorry, I don't know what degrees are possible in that field). She went to work as a reporter for a few years - I think in SF. Apparently - according to her mom - she got frustrated that she wasn't helping people that needed help the most in THAT job, so she went to freaking Stanford and graduated with her law degree this past weekend.

This isn't a "look at me" post. She got her parents' smarts and was more adult than either of them (or me) when she was 11 years old.

Great story. As a journalist, I can tell you she made the right decision. In today’s world, general journalism that actually helps people only occurs if it is subsidized by people or entities who want that to happen. If it is subject to the whims of the market, it won’t happen. (Specialty journalism, which I do, is a different story, but it isn’t read by the general public.)