Middle Aged Dummies!! Artists #1's have been posted!! (6 Viewers)

[Mt. Man]

13. No Excuses (off Jar of Flies, 1994)

It's okay
Had a bad day
Hands are bruised from
Breaking rocks all day

(Official Video) Alice In Chains - No Excuses
(Unplugged) Alice In Chains - No Excuses

“No Excuses” is a song from Jerry to Layne, a song about their often rocky relationship, highlighting some of the good and the bad within it. While not directly about it, it’s far to say that Staley’s drug use was a part of the difficulties. Jar of Flies has a lot of softer songs, and that continues here, Cantrell’s riffs relatively subtle and Kinney’s drumming almost subdued, outside a section in the middle.

All that said, this song is definitely a duet, with some excellent harmonizing and a softer vibe that carries throughout Jar of Flies. Pip’s Invitation mentioned imagining Layne singing “I Am A Rock”. Is it too far to picture S&G covering this song? I mean, you see the song's title, so it's not like I have to defend my random thoughts, right? >.>

Next on the countdown, a song that might have paired well with “96 Tears”

 

[Dr. Octopus]

13. No Excuses (off Jar of Flies, 1994)

It's okay
Had a bad day
Hands are bruised from
Breaking rocks all day

(Official Video) Alice In Chains - No Excuses
(Unplugged) Alice In Chains - No Excuses

“No Excuses” is a song from Jerry to Layne, a song about their often rocky relationship, highlighting some of the good and the bad within it. While not directly about it, it’s far to say that Staley’s drug use was a part of the difficulties. Jar of Flies has a lot of softer songs, and that continues here, Cantrell’s riffs relatively subtle and Kinney’s drumming almost subdued, outside a section in the middle.

All that said, this song is definitely a duet, with some excellent harmonizing and a softer vibe that carries throughout Jar of Flies. Pip’s Invitation mentioned imagining Layne singing “I Am A Rock”. Is it too far to picture S&G covering this song? I mean, you see the song's title, so it's not like I have to defend my random thoughts, right? >.>

Next on the countdown, a song that might have paired well with “96 Tears”

One of my favorites by them.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

13. In the Country
Album: Chicago (aka Chicago II) (1970)
Writer: Terry Kath
Lead vocals: Terry Kath and Peter Cetera
Released as a single? No

This song, a standout from the second album, is as good an example of any of Chicago's material of how horns and guitar stood out and played off each other. Both are showcased in glorious bursts on this song, and lift it above the hippie-ness of Terry Kath's lyrics, which exhort how outdoor living is good for the mind and the soul. In lesser hands this song could have come across as a parody, but the snappy playing by everyone and the glorious "I doooooooooooooo love you"s from Kath and Peter Cetera render it one of the best examples of pastoral hippiedom.
The clean fresh air
Goes jumping through my head
The sun is smilin' down
If you have ever lived out here
Then you know why I say
I do love you
I do love you
I do love you
Tanglewood version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGbvxLDTx8s

At #12, the song Krista has been waiting for, or not. It is very short but may have the best lyrics of anything they ever did.

 

[Mister CIA]

Before the 13's I gotta say this Frank Black cover of the Boss doing I'm Going Down is better than the original

Thanks, man. In hindsight I think I peppered my top-31 Frank Black songs with too many covers, but they're fun.

 

[MAC_32]

As much I enjoy the rest of the sound I have a hard time getting past The Hold Steady's vocals, but Stuck Between Stations overcame them **heart**

 

[Charlie Steiner]

13. Rose Darling is the first song on my list from the album Katy Lied.

Another toe tapper that doesn't require much thought, save question whether or not Rose's last name is Palm. Maybe this line is the giveaway:

With only you and what I've found
We'll wear the weary hours down

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Random thoughts on some of the #13s that I know:

I included Real Man in my 1975 countdown. What I said there:

The next three songs were among the best pop the mid-70s had to offer. The other two were big hits, and this one should have been; I think @Binky The Doormat will agree with me on that.

20. Real Man -- Todd Rundgren (from Initiation)

Todd has a real way with melody, and this song is one of his best in that regard. It was also, like entry #24, predictive of future musical trends. The music on this track is almost entirely driven by synthesizers; that became common in the '80s, but not so much in 1975, at least in the US. Yet Todd's vocal and lyrics are incredibly soulful and emotional.

I see with my heart
I hear with my heart
I feel with my heart
Sometimes it works better
And some so-called friends put me down
And they pity me for trying
Bad emotions push me around
But the vision shines on and on
It will shine when we all are gone
And I'd like to add a little sparkle while I'm here
Light it up - way down inside me
There's a real man, a real man
Forget about bad feelings and be a real man

Most people seem to prefer the second Synchronicity -- it did very well in the worldwide countdown -- but I've always liked the first one better, mainly for the chorus.
Mama is one of the freakiest and most intense Genesis songs -- and yet it was one of their '80s hit singles! They opened my 1987 show with this, and Phil licked the microphone during it.
The Goldentop Mountainheart jawn is NOT typical TOD at all. Not that anything really is, but I remember this being particularly unusual when I first heard So Divided.
All Day and All of the Night rips your face off. Especially live, as I can attest from 1990.
IMO Territories is the best song on Power Windows. Some of Peart's best lyrics.
Rose Darling's verses are inscrutable Dylanisms but the chorus is glorious.
Another Star is bumpin'. I took it for the funk playlist in GP4.
First Tube is one of Phish's best instrumentals, and was written during a time when they were exploring funk intensely; it appears on the same album as Sand from earlier in the countdown. You can hear it as bumper music on football broadcasts sometimes.
I think most of ELO's Time album is an oversynthesized mess. Its biggest hit is its best song but Twilight is the other track that doesn't bother me.
No Excuses is a joy to listen to, despite "joy" being one of the last words you'd ever associate with AIC. Cantrell is a fantastic songwriter and it would have been interesting to see what he would have done had he come around sometime other than the grunge era.
Everyone talks about the Radio Gaga from Live Aid but the Hammer to Fall was just as transcendent.
I remember liking Sequestered in Memphis from GP4 or one of the previous countdowns.
Catch the Sun is the Doves song I referred to earlier as REALLY hoping it would show up. The first time I heard it was when Shuke picked it for the British Isles countdown and I was like . It's a perfect power pop song. Seriously, it ranks with Cruel to Be Kind and the best Big Star songs.
Breakout encapsulates what I love about early Foos -- it builds up ridiculous momentum and is melodic as hell.
I presume I'm not the only one here who was introduced to A Hazy Shade of Winter by the Bangles. When I finally heard S&Gs version it was much closer to the Bangles' than I would have expected. It may be their hardest rocker.
Kick It Out is ferocious. Many Zeppelin-style rock acts were losing their momentum by 1977 but Heart most definitely was not.

 

[JB Breakfast Club]

Just some general thoughts as I dig into the 13s...

I've especially enjoyed diving into Genesis, Daft Punk, Spoon, and Elton John...all artists I know I like but have never really investigated outside popular hits.

Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles really bring balance to the playlists.

Slade and Doves are a few I never heard of that I look forward to each round.

Still waiting for my wedding song to appear on the Ryan Adams list.

This is my first foray into the MAD group and I'm having a great time. Thanks, everyone.

 

[MAC_32]

No Excuses (off Jar of Flies, 1994)

Their best song on their best album.

 

[MAC_32]

Green Day

MAC_32

Are We The Waiting/St. Jimmy

Signs you know how impactful a song is - when your 7 year old hears it for the first time and is singing along to the chorus the second time through. Cause that happened while road trippin' earlier this month. Just rolling through the eastern New York hills and all of a sudden I hear from the 3rd row are we we are, are we we are the waiting...and screaming... then within moments of that track whiplashing into the second stanza all I see are pre teens head banging throughout the caravan. My wife sitting next to me was un to happy at first when the volume went from 19 to the max, but then she turned around and saw what was happening then embraced the chaos that is our lives. Cause that's Saint Jimmy! And that's my name....

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Green Day

MAC_32

Are We The Waiting/St. Jimmy

Signs you know how impactful a song is - when your 7 year old hears it for the first time and is singing along to the chorus the second time through. Cause that happened while road trippin' earlier this month. Just rolling through the eastern New York hills and all of a sudden I hear from the 3rd row are we we are, are we we are the waiting...and screaming... then within moments of that track whiplashing into the second stanza all I see are pre teens head banging throughout the caravan. My wife sitting next to me was un to happy at first when the volume went from 19 to the max, but then she turned around and saw what was happening then embraced the chaos that is our lives. Cause that's Saint Jimmy! And that's my name....

I haven't heard this in forever. I like how it goes from the closest Green Day ever got to sounding like U2 to some of the Greenest Green Day that ever Dayed to the Beach Boys on meth.

 

[Yo Mama]

13. No Excuses (off Jar of Flies, 1994)

It's okay
Had a bad day
Hands are bruised from
Breaking rocks all day

(Official Video) Alice In Chains - No Excuses
(Unplugged) Alice In Chains - No Excuses

“No Excuses” is a song from Jerry to Layne, a song about their often rocky relationship, highlighting some of the good and the bad within it. While not directly about it, it’s far to say that Staley’s drug use was a part of the difficulties. Jar of Flies has a lot of softer songs, and that continues here, Cantrell’s riffs relatively subtle and Kinney’s drumming almost subdued, outside a section in the middle.

All that said, this song is definitely a duet, with some excellent harmonizing and a softer vibe that carries throughout Jar of Flies. Pip’s Invitation mentioned imagining Layne singing “I Am A Rock”. Is it too far to picture S&G covering this song? I mean, you see the song's title, so it's not like I have to defend my random thoughts, right? >.>

Next on the countdown, a song that might have paired well with “96 Tears”

One of my favorites by them.

Me too - love it

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#13 - The Stranglers - Down in the Sewer

The Stranglers - Down in the Sewer

www.facebook.com/Sound.of.Music.Portugal

m.youtube.com

Year - 1977
Album - Rattus Norvegicus
UK Chart position - Non Single
Vocals - Hugh Cornwell
Key Lyric - I tell you what I'm gonna do
Gonna make love to a water rat or two
And breed a family
They'll be called the survivors

Interesting Points
1- The four parts to this suite are called
A) Falling
B) Down in the Sewer
C) Trying to Get Out Again
D) Rats Rally

2- Two parts, the first and fourth are instrumental. The second part is the weakest imho, just links the others.

3- JJB talking about this Hugh track

Down In The Sewer developed over quite a period of time. I had the original riff, which was more like a Beefheart thing. I remember writing that when Choosey Susie and I went to Normandy for Christmas to visit my grandparents. I had my bass with me in a really heavy wooden case that Jet had actually made for me. I took that with me and came up with the original Sewer bass riff. I wanted it to be more like a Beefheart thing like Rockette Morton did. Then we added bits over the course of about a year. I added the melody. Hugh wrote the lyrics which were great I thought.

4- “Lyrically the song references an episode of the 1975 post-apocalyptic BBC TV drama Survivorstitled "Lights of London", where the protagonists leave the safety of a farming community to head for the city, which they find can only be entered through a rat-infested sewer.”

5- For some reason this track is the standout for many on the album. It removes them entirely from the punk genre and gives the album depth that it wouldnt have otherwise. Stops it from being a straight out punk album.

Summary to date
Year
1977 - 7
1978 - 4
1979 - 2
1980 - 0
1981 - 1
1982 - 1
1983 - 0
1984 - 2
1985 - 0
1986 - 0
1987 - 0
1988 - 1
1989 - 0
1990 onwards - 1

Where to find
Rattus Norvegicus - 5/9
No More Heroes - 2/11
Black and White - 1/12
The Raven - 2/11
The Gospel According to the Meninblack - 0/10
La Folie - 1/11
Feline - 0/9
Aural Sculpture - 2/11
Dreamtime - 0/10
All Live and All of the Night - 1/13
10 - 1/10
1991 onwards - 0
B Sides - 1
Greatest Hits - 1
Standalone Single - 2

Running Vocal Count
Hugh Cornwell - 11
Jean-Jacques Burnel - 8
Other - 0

Rundown
#31 - Walk on By
#30 - Ugly
#29 - All Day and All of the Night
#28 - Meninblack
#27 - Goodbye Toulouse
#26 - Princess of the Streets
#25 - Sweden (All Quiet on the Eastern Front)
#24 - Duchess's
#23 - Sometimes
#22 - La Folie
#21 - North Winds
#20 - No Mercy
#19 - 5 Minutes
#18 - Strange Little Girl
#17 - Shut Up
#16 - Bitching
#15 - Bring on the Nubiles
#14 - 96 Tears
#13 - Down in the Sewer

Next we get a song that should have been a single. I will explain why it wasn’t.

 

[rockaction]

Known-to-me favorites

"Clint Eastwood" gets better every year. Del's verses are absolutely something to behold. Albarn's chorus is sinister and well-placed. The algorithm went from the official video to a live in Las Vegas show recorded on 4/23 where you can hear teenage girls shouting the lyrics along with Del. I prefer the studio version.

"All Day" has an insane riff. A brother to another that I just confused it with.

"Crumble" is off of my easily favorite Dinosaur Jr. album (that I've heard in its entirety) and rips as a song.

So does "Kick It Out" by Heart. It always surprises me how understated this song actually is compared to what I conceive of it as.

"I Turn My Camera On" immediately reminds me of Some Girls by the Stones, but it's not derivative. It's just the Stones did that funk-nasty groove so well on that album and others that it's almost their sound now. But "I Turn My Camera On" was the first song that got me into Spoon's minimalistic tendencies. I love the muted feedback, guitar string raking at the end of the song. Just enough dissonance to stomach the sweet.

"A Hazy Shade Of Winter" - Love this song, but don't the Bangles kind of own it now? I mean, that's a compliment directed at them because the song is so good.

"Synchronicity I" is a perfect introduction to the album. Progressive but rocking, lyrically silly with its Sting-isms but comprehensible.

"Trailer Trash" is another example of Brock creating empathy and disgust at the time. His setting of the song in a trailer park eating "snowflakes" (the ones that fall from the sky, not metaphorically) with "plastic forks" evokes a sense of impoverished living and a sad state of affairs for a child.

Eating snowflakes with plastic forks
And a paper plate of course
you think of everything

 

[MAC_32]

"Clint Eastwood" gets better every year. Del's verses are absolutely something to behold. Albarn's chorus is sinister and well-placed

Knee jerk, top 10 song from the aughts.

 

[Yo Mama]

Genesis #13 - Mama

Album - Genesis
Year - 1983

I mentioned earlier that That’s All was my gateway to Genesis. Once I bought this album, Mama was one of the main songs that got me interested in searching out their older work and got me into older Prog Rock. I liked Rush a lot back then too, but it was mostly Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves at that point - I hadn’t really started listening to their older proggier stuff yet.

It cracks me up this is one their biggest hit singles (in the UK), since it’s a song about a guy who has a mommy fixation on a sex worker and since it features Phil doing his creepy version of Grandmaster Flash’s laugh from The Message.

 

[simey]

#13 - Ray Charles with Willie Nelson - Seven Spanish Angels - spotify

In 1984, Brother Ray recorded an album called Friendship. It consisted of duets with some country music friends. Ray and Willie did a song together called "Seven Spanish Angels." I love Ray and Willie, and I love this song.

There were seven Spanish Angels
At the Altar of the Sun
They were prayin' for the lovers
In the Valley of the Gun
When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared
There was thunder from the throne
And seven Spanish Angels
Took another angel home


RIP Charlie's mom and Officer Ferguson.

 

[Galileo]

"You Really Got Me," despite what Bealtes-maniacs might think, is the first heavy metal/punk song. Its riff is so heavy I'm surprised it didn't get banned like Link Wray's "Rumble." It's that devastating.

This song has not been presented in my countdown (yet)

 

[rockaction]

"You Really Got Me," despite what Bealtes-maniacs might think, is the first heavy metal/punk song. Its riff is so heavy I'm surprised it didn't get banned like Link Wray's "Rumble." It's that devastating.

This song has not been presented in my countdown (yet)

Oh no. As soon as I see "All Day" my mind automatically goes to its rockin' brother. Pardon me. I'll change the write-up. I love them both.

That's funny that my mind saw the thumbnail image and the song and immediately translated it to "You Really." Weird how knowledge gets processed in the ol' human brain.

 

[rockaction]

Emoji time.

That emoji is too small for me to make out what on earth it is. Presumably it's a guy with turquoise hair and a leather jacket going "OOPS. THIS GUY."

 

[shuke]

Phish

shuke

First Tube First Tube Phish · Farmhouse · Song · 2000 open.spotify.com

This song is just pure energy, often used to close set 2 or as an encore. Probably a top 3 workout song for me. This is the second instrumental to appear on my list, and will be the last one.

Here is a live version. This is one of my favorite songs to focus on CK5's lighting work.

 

[Mister CIA]

Jealous I'm not rankings songs by The Kinks right about now.

 

[Mister CIA]

Emoji time.

That emoji is too small for me to make out what on earth it is. Presumably it's a guy with turquoise hair and a leather jacket going "OOPS. THIS GUY."

Was not sure myself. Deleted.

 

[rockaction]

Officer Anthony Ferguson passed away late Sunday night. Neil was informed he'd been taken off life support shortly after sending us the food pictures in the afternoon.

Not sure if we're going down there. We want to be with he and his wife of course but don't want to crowd in as he processes everything that has happened.

Oh, I missed this and simey's post gave me a sinking feeling that he is who she posted about.

My condolences to his family and also to yours. That is just terrible. I hope your son is okay after this. Best to you guys.

 

[Galileo]

Phish

shuke

First Tube First Tube Phish · Farmhouse · Song · 2000 open.spotify.com

This song is just pure energy, often used to close set 2 or as an encore. Probably a top 3 workout song for me. This is the second instrumental to appear on my list, and will be the last one.

Here is a live version. This is one of my favorite songs to focus on CK5's lighting work.

Oh come on now. You would have us believe your workout routine runs 3 songs deep?

 

[Mister CIA]

#13 - Ray Charles with Willie Nelson - Seven Spanish Angels - spotify

In 1984, Brother Ray recorded an album called Friendship. It consisted of duets with some country music friends. Ray and Willie did a song together called "Seven Spanish Angels." I love Ray and Willie, and I love this song.

There were seven Spanish Angels
At the Altar of the Sun
They were prayin' for the lovers
In the Valley of the Gun
When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared
There was thunder from the throne
And seven Spanish Angels
Took another angel home


RIP Charlie's mom and Officer Ferguson.

The quantity of Ray Charles' quality is substantial. Before this thread I would have guessed I knew five or so of his songs, and I would have been wrong.

 

[Galileo]

Jealous I'm not rankings songs by The Kinks right about now.

Who says you can't?

 

[Mister CIA]

Jealous I'm not rankings songs by The Kinks right about now.

Who says you can't?

I'm also lazy.

 

[Yo Mama]

Wow, just starting the 13s playlist and already loving what I’m hearing.

 

[kupcho1]

The Decemberists
#13 Billy Liar

This is the 3rd of 4 selections from Her Majesty the Decemberists (tied for most from an album with The Crane Wife and Castaways and Cutouts).
Pitchfork:

The horns, strings and keys they've brought in this time sweeten the production, and they nail the upbeat Britpop arrangement on "Billy Liar", a song about a dull summer break that has what sounds like a lovestruck chorus.

Fun fact I did not know (Wiki):

Billy Liar is a 1959 novel by Keith Waterhouse that was later adapted into a play, a film, a musical and a TV series. The work has inspired and been featured in a number of popular songs.

The semi-comical story is about William Fisher, a working-class 19-year-old living with his parents in the fictional town of Stradhoughton in Yorkshire. Bored by his job as a lowly clerk for an undertaker, Billy spends his time indulging in fantasies and dreams of life in the big city as a comedy writer.

Probably just an inspiration as the lyrics seem to have nothing to do with the source material.

As he drifts to sleep with a moan and a weep
He is decked by a Japanese geisha with a garland of pearls
How she twists and twirls!

 

[zamboni]

I presume I'm not the only one here who was introduced to A Hazy Shade of Winter by the Bangles. When I finally heard S&Gs version it was much closer to the Bangles' than I would have expected. It may be their hardest rocker.

Yes, first time I ever heard it was the Bangles' version off Less Than Zero, which I happened to catch again on cable a few days ago. After subsequently hearing S&G's original, which I obviously like quite a bit from my ranking, I think the cover is among those that meet or even surpass the original. #susannaforever

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Phish

shuke

First Tube First Tube Phish · Farmhouse · Song · 2000 open.spotify.com

This song is just pure energy, often used to close set 2 or as an encore. Probably a top 3 workout song for me. This is the second instrumental to appear on my list, and will be the last one.

Here is a live version. This is one of my favorite songs to focus on CK5's lighting work.

This was the second encore when I saw Trey a few weeks back.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Phish

shuke

First Tube First Tube Phish · Farmhouse · Song · 2000 open.spotify.com

This song is just pure energy, often used to close set 2 or as an encore. Probably a top 3 workout song for me. This is the second instrumental to appear on my list, and will be the last one.

Here is a live version. This is one of my favorite songs to focus on CK5's lighting work.

This was the second encore when I saw Trey a few weeks back.

It began as a Trey solo song, and debuted on his first solo tour. The Farmhouse album mainly consisted of leftovers from The Story of the Ghost sessions from the previous year, and they recorded some of the songs Trey had written for his solo tour (Sand and Back on the Train from this countdown were also in that category) to fill it out.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Still waiting for my wedding song to appear on the Ryan Adams list.

I’m curious to see if I listed it - there are a few love songs left.

 

[jwb]

Twilight

Twilight

Electric Light Orchestra · Time · Song · 1981

open.spotify.com

The beginning of the end.... the Time album. ELO followed Discovery and Don't Bring me Down's monster success with the soundtrack to Xanadu (last round's song was I'm Alive), which was decent but also leaned a bit heavy on a synthesizer enhanced sound. They went fully in that direction on Time - the strings that had been going are prettymuch gone here, and the album had a marked electronic/futuristic sound. Since it was meant to be a concept album about time travel, this fit fine, but a lot of fans were asking "what the heck happened to ELO?" This was clearly not the same band that did Livin' Thing. They went back to a little more of a rock sound on their next album (Secret Messages), but it was prettymuch over (nothing from that album made it to this list).

There are two songs of note on the Time album - this one and another we'll get to. Full on synth/pop/rock here, it's a fast-moving tune that opens the album (after a robot voiced prologue), and I feel it holds up well. But it's definitely a different sound than a lot of stuff I've already posted.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

#13 - Ray Charles with Willie Nelson - Seven Spanish Angels - spotify

In 1984, Brother Ray recorded an album called Friendship. It consisted of duets with some country music friends. Ray and Willie did a song together called "Seven Spanish Angels." I love Ray and Willie, and I love this song.

There were seven Spanish Angels
At the Altar of the Sun
They were prayin' for the lovers
In the Valley of the Gun
When the battle stopped and the smoke cleared
There was thunder from the throne
And seven Spanish Angels
Took another angel home


RIP Charlie's mom and Officer Ferguson.

I love this song.

Both were already legends at the point they recorded this. They probably cut it in 15 minutes, then stepped out for a smoke. And it was better than 99% of anything else released in one the best years in pop music history.

Ray & Willie were both raised on gospel, country, and blues. And those are all the same thing, no matter what idiotic radio programmers try to tell you. The two singers' deliveries may have been different, but they were delivering the same message.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

#13. "Another Star"

Enter at your own risk, as this is 8 minutes of relentless groove. There are Caribbean things going on, Glenn Miller horns, gospel choir, Stevie Wonder making noises with his mouth that the medical profession still hasn't figured out, a drummer (or 2) that have to be mainlining speedballs, a 2 minute flute(!) solo, a filthy little blues guitar line going on (it's buried in the mix, but check it out).

This probably isn't even the 5th most popular song from one of the best albums of all time. I know @Eephus - whose musical opinion I respect as much as anyone's - and I disagreed when it was chosen in a draft several years ago. He liked the song, but thought it was too long and same-y. Oxygen has the same "problem", in my opinion.

By the way, @Eephus , in all seriousness - my condolences to all affected by your son's partner's senseless loss.

 

[Mt. Man]

Selected favorites from #13:

*Catch the Sun - Doves. Wait, I actually know this one! I doubt I knew it was this band, though.
*Invaders Must Die - The Prodigy.
*First Tube - Phish
*Tin Pan Alley (AKA Roughest Place in Town) - SRV. Always a favorite! So smooth and captivating, even for a 9+ minute song.
*I Turn My Camera On - Spoon. Also seems familiar. The riff/vibe hits me right, regardless.
*I See Monsters - Ryan Adams
*Seminole Bingo - Warren Zevon. Hits me like a mix of John Stewart’s “Gold” and Neil Young. But those are good traits to have.
*Down in the Sewer - The Stranglers
*Billy Liar - The Decemberists
*A Hazy Shade of Winter - Simon & Garfunkel. Certainly I’ve heard The Bangles’ cover version more often, but it’s good to get back to the original.
*Trailer Trash - Modest Mouse

–
I also see monsters from The Kinks, Heart, Foo Fighters, Ray Charles (and Willie Nelson) and Gorillaz

 

[rockaction]

Some known-to-me bands (at least now at this point in the exercise), unknown songs

Green Day - Are We The Waiting/St. Jimmy - How is this an unknown song? It really isn't, but I think I only heard it once or twice and had forgotten about it. Pip summed it up better than I could, but I will say I enjoyed it much more this go 'round. I think my former skepticism came because back in 2004/5 a punk band critiquing American society and politics was as apple as apple pie itself, and I just scoffed at the entire project, especially when it was pointed out that they'd ripped off my favorite, Dillinger Four, for the title track of the album. It was similar to the Kinks in that Dillinger Four didn't necessarily want to sue, but seeing how as Green Day was in position for cash or other such things, a settlement was reached out court. Lest this get too negative, it's a darn fine power ballad to begin with and a very Green Day ending.

The Stranglers - Down In The Sewer - I wasn't feeling the track until about 5:20 in, which is why I guess you've gotta give a song the whole time to comment about it intelligently. I liked how the instrumentation was after that point. Like Lebowski's rug, it tied the room together. I can appreciate the efforts that The Stranglers put forth on their songs. They jam.

The Decemberists - Billy Liar - I liked it. I'm not sure what more to say than that. I guess what I will say is that The Decemberists remind me an awful lot of They Might Be Giants. Both are quite intelligent and perceptive, and the lyrics follow suit. The Decemberists may be better poets and writers and They Might Be Giants stronger thinkers and critics, but they both fall within a similar type of vein to me.

Phish - First Tube - I figured out what song gets people into Phish more than even "Bouncing Round The Room." It's "Sample In A Jar." What's that have to do with this funky, rocking track? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, but I feel like I was remiss in not pointing out that "Sample In A Jar" boomed out of many junior year rooms in '94/'95 and got tons of people introduced to the band. This is the rare Phish track that I can say burns. It does so unapologetically. I like that.

Warren Zevon - Seminole Bingo - There's no reason for me to like this song. It's all Florida and localities. But I can't help but smile at the chorus and "I'm a junk bond king playing Seminole Bingo." If only he could have rhymed it with "gringo," then we'd be set.

 

[kupcho1]

The Decemberists - Billy Liar - I liked it. I'm not sure what more to say than that. I guess what I will say is that The Decemberists remind me an awful lot of They Might Be Giants. Both are quite intelligent and perceptive, and the lyrics follow suit. The Decemberists may be better poets and writers and They Might Be Giants stronger thinkers and critics, but they both fall within a similar type of vein to me.

Hmmm, interesting.

I like TMBG but always thought of them as a little silly (e.g., Particle Man). But I can see it. If you made me make a comparison, I'd say the Decemberists were the Pacific Northwest cousins of Belle and Sebastian. Someone (it might have been you) referred to them as "twee" earlier. There are certainly times you can't argue with that.

 

[JB Breakfast Club]

Still waiting for my wedding song to appear on the Ryan Adams list.

I’m curious to see if I listed it - there are a few love songs left.

To be fair, it's a Ryan Adams song that was covered by other artists, so I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't included.

 

[rockaction]

Someone (it might have been you) referred to them as "twee" earlier. There are certainly times you can't argue with that.

That was me. I said they bordered on it and if not for certain elements to their music, they would be. Hard-pressed I wouldn't be able to tell you what disqualifies them from it. Maybe it's their pragmatism or the heaviness they seem to get into rather than the unbearable lightness of being that twee rockers seem to embrace. I won't ruin your countdown, but I can think of a particular song or theme by them (ilov80s got me to listen to it ages ago) that is distinctly un-twee.

As far as TMBG, I was going to say exactly that but omitted it. You make a great point. They have a lot more silliness to them than the songs I've now heard by The Decemberists, which are literary but play it straight. So they're certainly different in appeal. I think the slightly nasally vocals sound like TMBGs also, which also might be why I'm comparing the two.

Anyway, I love TMBG, so it's not a comparison born of derision, but rather, a compliment.

 

[Scoresman]

13 - Sigur Ros - Untitled #1 (Vaka) (name of drummer's daughter) - () - 2002

This song is named after the drummer's daughter, Vaka. Being the first song on the album (), it's supposed to represent birth and it sounds a bit like a lullaby as a result. Those of you who have put this one on stress reducing or sleepytime playlists may like it for that reason.

I kind of regret not including a live version, as the live version in particular has a great vocal explosion at the end of the song. I'l link it here.

- YouTube

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

www.youtube.com

 

[Ilov80s]

Officer Anthony Ferguson passed away late Sunday night. Neil was informed he'd been taken off life support shortly after sending us the food pictures in the afternoon.

Not sure if we're going down there. We want to be with he and his wife of course but don't want to crowd in as he processes everything that has happened.

Damn so sorry to hear that.

 

[Yo Mama]

Someone (it might have been you) referred to them as "twee" earlier. There are certainly times you can't argue with that.

That was me. I said they bordered on it and if not for certain elements to their music, they would be. Hard-pressed I wouldn't be able to tell you what disqualifies them from it. Maybe it's their pragmatism or the heaviness they seem to get into rather than the unbearable lightness of being that twee rockers seem to embrace. I won't ruin your countdown, but I can think of a particular song or theme by them (ilov80s got me to listen to it ages ago) that is distinctly un-twee.

As far as TMBG, I was going to say exactly that but omitted it. You make a great point. They have a lot more silliness to them than the songs I've now heard by The Decemberists, which are literary but play it straight. So they're certainly different in appeal. I think the slightly nasally vocals sound like TMBGs also, which also might be why I'm comparing the two.

Anyway, I love TMBG, so it's not a comparison born of derision, but rather, a compliment.

I made a comment in one of the early rounds that Decembrists sounded like if TMBG did a more normal song.

 

[Galileo]

That Wasn't Me - another heart for Brandi
Mama - top 5 Genesis for me
Tin Pan Alley - I just drift and get carried away by this one.
Billy Liar - I feel like I am watching musical theater with every Decemberist song. That is not a bad thing.
Are We the Waiting - flood gates open at the 3 min mark.
In the Country - I do love you!
Promoter - Another banger from Clutch, another heart
Clint Eastwood - one of the few Gorillaz songs I was somewhat familiar with... love it
Seven Spanish Angels - beautiful tune. Ray and Willie - an unlikely pairing that works.
Hazy Shade of Winter - a toe-tapping classic.
Kick It Out - another monster from Heart. This is one of those groups that has so many more hits than I remember...every entry is like "Oh yeah, I forgot about that one..."

 

[Yo Mama]

Round 13 thoughts:

I can’t imagine how great things will be down the stretch, because things keep getting better and this playlist was excellent.

Known to me favorites - Police, Kinks, Rush, Stevie Wonder, Alice In Chains, Gorillaz, Foo Fighters, Heart, S&G

New to me songs I really liked - Modest Mouse, Chicago, Frank Black, Clutch, Bauhaus, Deadmau5, Elton

Standouts:
- Jorge Ben Jor - my favorite of his so far
- Brandi Carlisle - I think I’ve listed to this four times so far, it’s excellent.
- SRV - I closed my eyes listening to this. So smooth.
- Doves - I loved this! I’ve recommended this group to a couple friends since this thing started and this will definitely be a song I call out to them as they start to explore.

I’m sure I forgot a couple other songs I liked.

 

[Yo Mama]

I probably won’t be able to do too much commenting on the 12s and 11s lists this weekend since I’m going out of town, but I’ll provide some comments on my selections (which are awesome).

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I've always been big on album covers and so far Doves are the winner.

 

[MAC_32]

Oh, man - a Foos track just came on the shuffle I haven't heard in a long time. It isn't an obvious one, so I hope this makes Just Win's cut