4,992Shows
249,891Spins
Wednesday, Nov 25 2015, 6AM
I like to imagine Michael Stipe wrote this about me. Document is Robert Christgau's favorite REM record, if that sort of thing matters to you- he says REM finally figured out that intelligibility doesn't equal closure. Classic Christgau sass.
Pleased to Meet Me was the only LP Replacements recorded as a trio. By then, Bob Stinson had been kicked out the band (one too many Kiss covers?). It reached #3 on the year end Village Voice Pazz & Jop Critics Poll.
Todd Rundgren played marimba on this track, which could be the most 80s sentence I've ever typed. It reached the Top 10 Charts in New Zealand, also charting in the US and UK. It's part of the New Wave station of Grand Theft Auto.
World Party are playing The Triple Door on June 11th. When Private Revolution came out, Karl Wallinger was the only member of World Party, hence his lonely presence on the album cover. Sinead played on the record.
Clearly the soundtrack to someone's drug-induced meltdown. Probably on the outtakes for the Trainspotting soundtrack. Wikipedia informs us that Hoodoo Gurus' fans refer to the band as the Gurus, saving themselves two syllables of time.
General Public was founded by English Beat vocalists Dave Wakeling & Ranking Roger, and included members of Clash, Specials & Dexy's Midnight Runners. Perhaps you know this song from its inclusion in a number of Target commercials. I do not.
In case you ever feel dated, just watch the music video for INXS's "Beautiful Girl." So much hollow imagery. Probably directed by the same dude that made that one George Michael video with all the supermodels: www.youtube.com.
The Verve recorded A Northern Soul in a dungeon in Wigan, which sounds thoroughly depressing. Like abandoned loft in NoLita depressing. The record peaked at No. 12 on the UK Charts.
Today is the birthday of "Marky" Mark Lanegan! In recent years, Mark has kept busy playing in Queens of the Stone Age, releasing cover records which feature menacing Bobby Darin covers, and sucking the souls of children.
Prominently featured in the Atom Egoyan film Exotica. Guns 'n' Roses used this track as an intro song on many dates of their two-year long Use Your Illusion tour in the early 90s. The idea of a GnR fan listening to Leonard Cohen fascinates me.
Best Fall song? The Fall were John Peel's favorite band-- the DJ said "they are always different; they are always the same," which could also be said of Mark E. Smith's haircut. That dude has a power bowlcut.
Evidently Housemartins' lyrics reflect singer Paul Heaton's ideology- a mix of Christianity and Marxism, which sounds so contradictory I could cry. "Happy Hour" was the band's biggest hit, peaking at No. 3 on the UK Charts.
"Secret" is one of those rare OMD songs sung by Paul Humphreys, who typically functions as the band's keyboardist. Dude's branching out. Franchising. It was featured on the 1985 Crush release.
If you've seen Stop Making Sense, and you clearly have, the body parts projected behind the band during "This Must Be the Place" belong to David Byrne and then-girlfriend Adelle Lutz. This track was featured in Wall Street, which also starred Lutz in a supporting role (!!!).
A track that transcends its use in High Fidelity. Beta Band has cited as influence Jamaican reggae, the 1979 Disney movie The Black Hole, and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." If that isn't already a mixtape, it's about to be.
Going out to food service workers this Thanksgiving. As featured on Clodhopper's long out-of-print 1998 LP Red's Recovery Room. Clodhopper was the project of ex-American Music Club bassist Danny Pearson.
A song that makes my teeth hurt like no other. No disrespect, Paul. Back in 2013, Sir Paul McCartney had an on-air interview with Kevin Cole before his show at Safeco Field: blog.kexp.org.
Mojo Nixon doesn't work here either. Line of choice: "We went to the Philly Pizza Company and ordered some hot tea//The waitress said well no we only have it iced." It's just so relatable, y'know?
I would argue that Jacuzzi Boys are the best kind of boy. The band's new EP, Happy Damage, came out back in July. Also, like what if their name was Jazzuci Boys-- that would be hilarious. High quality humor.
Can I consider Wavves frat-rock? Stoner frat-rock? The band's been busy this past year, releasing an album with Cloud Nothings (No Life For Me) & their fifth record, titled V. Like the Roman numeral.
Also known as the intro music for the Vancouver Canucks. At a show in 2014, Dan Boeckner & Japandroids played Wolf Parade's track "This Heart's On Fire." Dan Boeckner then coughed up Britt Daniel, and it was a real party.
As opposed to what. Murder by Death take their name from the Robert Moore movie of the same title. The band's debut record, Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon, came out back in 2012 on Bloodshot.
16 Horsepower's second LP Low Estate was also released in a French edition ("Nouvelle version"), which featured the band's cover of The Gun Club's "Fire Spirit." The band broke up in 2005 over "political and spiritual" differences.
Still arguably a thoroughly dubious band name. The band originally wanted the album cover for Crocodiles to feature burning stakes, and were then informed of the imagery's KKK implications. They settled on moody lighting.
When promoting the Violator release, Depeche Mode held an in-store autograph signing at Wherehouse Entertainment in LA. 20,000 fans showed up, and the event quickly became a riot. Various attendees were injured after being pressed against the store's glass windows.
Wednesday song. All jokes aside though, sorting out the recycling is very important, guys. Take that part really seriously. One can perform "Business Time" as part of the video game Rock Band. Let's hope they get residuals.
As referenced in those two Red Hot Chili Peppers songs. "A Boy Named Sue" was written by Shel Silverstein, and included on his album of country songs. The same year, the song was popularized by Cash. It peaked at No. 2 on the US Charts.
This track was on Citizen Cope's 2004 record The Clarence Greenwood Recordings. Several songs featured Carlos Santana on guitar/strong vibes. Dido recorded one of his songs, which sounds fascinating. And breathy.
Before The The formed, frontman Matt Johnson placed two ads in NME, one asking for a bassist/guitarist into The Velvet Underground/ Syd Barrett, the other for one into The Residents/ Throbbing Gristle. The two must have attracted thoroughly different audiences.
Plural of Elvis. EL VY is the new project of Brent Knopf from Veronica Falls & Matt Berninger from The National. An in-studio the band did at KEXP last week was just posted on the website: kexp.org.
Underrated Radiohead track, dear god. "Stop Whispering" is the Rodney Dangerfield of Radiohead tracks. Pablo Honey really is the red-headed stepchild of Radiohead albums. Amnesiac is that weird older son that's too obsessed with video games.
Low's Ones and Sixes is so good it should be called Tens and Tens. Honestly though, it's a pretty solid record. The band just played at The Crocodile in support of the LP. Unknown if a bootleg is available.
Arguably one of the most desperate songs of all time. Just stop trying to get her back dude, she clearly doesn't like you. The track has a gloriously rose-tinted music video. So much hairspray: www.youtube.com.
For days when you just wanna feel sexually frustrated, y'know? If you were ever wondering what the epitome of beauty was in the 1960s, watch The Seeds perform this track: www.youtube.com.
Proposed drinking game: Hot Chip or Caribou? Only Dan Snaith himself would end up sober. Snaith also releases albums under the Manitoba and Daphni monikers, as well as DJing. He has excellent taste indeed.
Some Hot Chip on The Morning Show. Or is it Caribou? OH WAIT Caribou has remixed Hot Chip, because why not: pitchfork.com.
First released to moderate success in 1997, Cornershop's "Brimful of Asha" gained popularity after being remixed by Fatboy Slim. In Feb. 1998, the track hit No. 1 on the UK Charts. The titled is a tribute to Bollywood actress Asha Bhosle.
"Stevie Wonder? I just don't like the guy!" said no-one ever. "Higher Ground" hit No. 4 on the US Pop Charts and No. 1 on the US R&B Charts. But let's be real, guys-- the Red Hot Chili Peppers version is totally better, right?
Originally written as "A Cadillac Don't Come Easy," William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful For What You Got" proved to be the artist's biggest hit, selling over 2 million copies. It has been covered by Yo La Tengo, Love, and Massive Attack, among others.
Maybe you remember this song when it was featured in my cousin Trinka's wedding service. At Amsterdam Arena, "Three Little Birds" is played during Ajax games near the end of halftime. Just keep that in mind.
TV On The Radio played at this year's Capitol Hill Block Party. Shockingly, bassist Dave Sitek went on stage wearing the skin of Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, evidently stolen during his tenure as the band's bassist.
The old TV On The Radio-Slint transition. Despite not being featured in the actual film, "Good Morning Captain" feels inextricably tied to Larry Clarke's 1995 movie Kids. The song could use some more Chloe Sevigny though.
Car Seat Headrest will be playing The Sunset Tavern on January 9th, supported by Naked Giants (better known as my best friend's ex-boyfriend's band) and Boyfriends. The local band's Teens of Style LP from this year is so good it might melt your face.
This song works equally well as an alarm clock and nail polish remover. According to their Wikipedia page, The Walkmen prefer the sound of vintage instruments, the upright piano in particular. This track's from their 2004 Bows & Arrows LP.
Prime Mogwai track. Oddly, the band Mogwai also aren't supposed to be exposed to bright lights, exposed to water, or fed after midnight. Strange coincidence, huh? The band just released a career retrospective titled Central Belters.
This song is also the National Anthem of Canada. Feist was the Queen of Canada for several years, before being overthrown around 2010 due to misused spending, and insistence on paying all federal employees 1,234 dollars.
Ultimate angst-ridden sing along. Assuredly the soundtrack to a future Cameron Crowe movie. Here's the great Greta Gerwig free-dancing to a different Arcade Fire song: www.youtube.com.
