Monday, August 24, 2009

MY Top 20 songs of 2000 - 2009 - Part 2

And away we go!

10. Another Sunny Day - Belle & Sebastian
My second favorite song by Belle & Sebastian (number one is "Lazy Line Painter Jane). The opening chords of this song always put me in a good mood when they come on my iPod. It starts out a nice song about new love and ends up a song about that love going completely to shit, but it does it in such an upbeat-sounding way that I want to roll down the windows, drive around and blare it on the stereo every time it comes on. Although that may be because there is something wrong with me.





9. Stuck Between Stations - The Hold Steady
I have written about this band before, but I can't say enough about how cool they are. Every song of theirs manages to tell a story while coming from a band that looks (except for keyboardist Franz Nicolay - that dude is something else) and sounds like your local bar band (only light years better). The best live show around...





8. Good Fortune - PJ Harvey
This song was always one of my go-to's on the jukebox at the st. James Tavern (best jukebox in the city of Columbus... its not even close). PJ Harvey is one of my favorite female singers. she can sound so raw and terrifying (like in "50 ft. Queenie" or at the end of "Down By The Water") or she can belt out some beautiful tunes like this one, my favorite song of hers.





7. Neighborhood #3 - The Arcade Fire
This band came out of nowhere in 2004 (well, technically they came from Canada, but that might as well be nowhere) and blew everyone (including David Bowie) away based on the strength of this song. They had a sound unlike just about every other band around - sort of a baroque pop sound, but (as this song shows) they can rock it out too when they want to...





6. Banquet - Bloc Party

This is another band that sort of came out of nowhere in 2004 with a sound that, at least for bands that got airplay on alternative radio at the time, wasn't like anything else. In this case though, it was dance rock. This song is great for kicking off a party or getting you keyed up for a night of going out (this song and on of their other songs from this same disc - "Helicopter" are two of my favorite party songs).




5. National Anthem - Radiohead

This is a song that I never hear anyone else mention on their list of favorite Radiohead songs, except for me. Too bad, this is my list. I love everything about this song from the grinding bassline that appears throughout the whole song to the crazy, jazz-like brass section in the middle. Wikipedia says that Thom Yorke wrote this bass riff when he was sixteen. SIGH...




4. PDA - Interpol

Interpol may not be the best band to come out of the 2000's, but they were certainly the coolest looking (as long as you ignore bassist Carlos D's silly mustache that he was sporting for a while). When I saw them in 2004, they all had on black suits and they all smoked like fiends (back when you could still do that indoors here) and just gave off the vibe that they were the coolest guys in the place, without also giving off the "we're the biggest douchebags in the place, too" vibe. Don't go trying to find any meanings in the lyrics of this song (or in any other Interpol song) - I once read an interview with lead singer Paul Banks and he said he doesn't even know what his lyrics mean (he just picks words that sound good together).



3. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart - Wilco

My favorite song from one of my top 5 favorite albums of all time. Much like Interpol, I think Jeff Tweedy sometimes just picks lyrics for his songs because they sound good, but don't really mean anything, like "Take off your band-aid 'cause I don't believe in touchdowns" (although, with all the migraine problems he has had over the years, maybe that meant something to his scrambled brain at the time). This song is about someone who regrets ending a relationship and then regrets starting it up again, hence the title.




2. Idioteque - Radiohead

This song epitomizes Radiohead's transformation from a straight alt-rock band to one that was willing to push the boundaries of their music in every direction possible and show everyone that there was no limit to the innovative music of which they were capable. This album pushed Radiohead to the level of top band in the alternative music world (they won a Grammy for this album, not that doing that means anything, but still...).




1. Wolf Like Me - TV On The Radio

The coolest song ever written about a werewolf (knocking off the former champion in this category, "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon). This song epitomizes what TV on the Radio is all about - it combines rock and funk into a blistering song that's, as the song says "gonna teach you tricks that'll blow your mongrel mind." They absolutely kill this song live, too. There aren't a whole lot of indie rock songs (that aren't considered "dance rock") that will make you want to dance like this one. I think that I am going to blare this on a continual loop this Halloween while giving out candy (my first year in my new neighborhood) to see what kind of reaction I get...


Wolf Like Me - TV On The Radio


And let the complaining begin!
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Saturday, August 22, 2009

MY Top 20 songs of 2000 - 2009 - Part 1

Last week on Pitchfork.com, they released their list of the Top 500 songs from this decade, with the Top 20 being announced Friday- here's the link . For those that aren't familiar with Pitchfork, they are a music website that caters to mostly alternative music fans (like me) with news, interviews and CD/song reviews. Sometimes they exhibit a little TOO much music snobbery, even for me (I know, SHOCKING!). When I read the list, there were some songs I agreed with, and some that I totally did not. Here is their list...

Pitchfork Top 20

20. The Walkmen - "The Rat"
19. R. Kelly - "Ignition (Remix)"
18. Hercules and Love Affair - "Blind"
17. Annie - "Heartbeat"
16. The Rapture - "House of Jealous Lovers"
15. The Knife - "Heartbeats"
14. Jay-Z - "99 Problems"
13. LCD Soundsystem - "Losing My Edge"
12. OutKast - "Hey Ya!"
11. Gnarls Barkley - "Crazy"
10. Arcade Fire - "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)"
9. Animal Collective - "My Girls"
8. Radiohead - "Idioteque"
7. Missy Elliott - "Get Ur Freak On"
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Maps"
5. Daft Punk - "One More Time"
4. Beyoncé [ft. Jay-Z] - "Crazy in Love"
3. M.I.A. [ft. Bun B and Rich Boy] - "Paper Planes (Diplo Remix)"
2. LCD Soundsystem - "All My Friends"
1. OutKast - "B.O.B."

Here are a few thoughts on their list - first, my main problem with their list overall is the same problem I had with their book on the top 500 songs from the punk era to the present (an excellent book, despite any disagreements that I had with it) and that is the fact that they placed too much importance on dance music. I mean, come on - TWO LCD Soundsystem songs in the top 20, and neither of them is even "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House"? No way. Second, I wouldn't include Jay-Z, Beyonce or Missy Elliott on my list, but that's mostly due to the fact that I don't listen to Beyonce or Missy (I like Jay-Z, but he wouldn't make my Top 20) or their type of music.

I decided to go through my collection and pick out my Top 20 favorite songs from the decade (I can't believe that it is almost over...):

20. Can't Stand Me Now - The Libertines
The Libertines were, sadly, a flash in the pan group, mostly due to the out of control drug use of Pete Doherty (he is the crazy ex-boyfriend of Kate Moss that was involved with most of HER drug problems a few years ago). Its a shame too - they showed just the right mix of talent and that sneering British attitude of "I don't give a fuck" that the best punk bands had in the 70s. I would have liked to have seen where their music would go as the band matured, but, despite to hundreds of rumors of a reunion, it doesn't look like it will happen.



19. Hello Sunshine - Super Furry Animals
This is one of those songs that starts out one way and then changes into a different song. It starts out with a woman's voice singing in a fairly ethereal way about saying good bye, backed up by lush strings. Then, abruptly, it switches to a man singing about happiness ("sunshine") coming into his life. It is a incredibly simple, beautiful song about new beginnings that would be perfect on any mixtape you gave to your new girlfriend/boyfriend (if people still did that. Which they don't).



18. Have A Nice Day - Stereophonics
Stereophonics are one of those bands that never really hit it big here (aside from a few songs, including this one, that made it to indie radio airplay) despite being pretty huge in England. This song is a pretty straight up pop-rock offering that always makes me think of summer (with lyrics about being on vacation in San Francisco and lazily sitting around and drinking) and never ceases to put me in a good mood when I hear it (despite some of the lyrics sounding like they are disappointed with their choice of holiday - I don't care, it always lifts my spirits).



17. Fell In Love With A Girl - The White Stripes
This is the song that put The White Stripes (and Jack White) on the map and sent them to indie rock (and sort of mainstream) popularity. Thi was probably due to the fact that this song is so different than most of their other music. Their songs are much more blues rock oriented than this one, which is face-paced, even almost frantic. It was accompanied by one of the all time coolest music videos - Jack and Meg White as stop-motion animated Lego characters.



16. The Seed 2.0 - The Roots
A little bit of a departure from the norm from the second best hip-hop group (see #11 below) out there today. The Roots always have had a little different sound than other rap acts because of the fact that there are also a band - they play their own instruments (they are currently the house band on Jimmy Fallon's talk show, which I thought would be kind of odd, but has turned out to be pretty cool because of the different other groups the Roots have been able to play with that have been guests on the show). However, adding guest vocalist/guitarist Cody Chesnutt and amping up the tempo on Chesnutt's song "The Seed" resulted in a sort of countrified-hip hop -soul fusion that was the catchiest song of 2003, despite the songs lyrics being about purposely knocking up your girlfriend (although, depending on what lyrics website you read, there are a few other meanings for what this song is really saying).



15. Abel - The National
I already wrote about (and posted this song) on my The Bands Making the Best Music Right Now blog, so I am not going to add anything to that entry or post the song again. Oh what the hell (this song is awesome...)



14. Golden Age - Beck
This from the album "Sea Change", which was Beck's "break-up" album. Up to this point, Beck's music was, for the most part, electrified, sample-laden, groovy white boy funk. This album was a WILD departure from those songs. All the songs on this CD are stripped down, both musically and lyrically, leaving a raw, painful portrait of a man who had just come from a relationship that could not have ended well. Beck poured a lot of himself into these songs, got it out of his system, and then was back to his old tricks with his next CD.



13. Twin Cinema - The New Pornographers
I have also written before about the New Pornographers, so there isn't really much to add. I think they are the best pop-rock band around right now. Because they rotate 3 singers - Carl Newman, Neko Case and Ban Bejar - they are able to mix up their sound and play to the strengths of each vocalist, which keeps them sounding fresh.



12. Black and White Town - Doves
This song is from the third album by Doves, "Some Cities". It was a number 1 hit for them in the UK, and also received quite a bit of airplay on CD101, which is how I first heard of them. This is a fairly upbeat sounding song with some truly down and out lyrics (the song is about despair and needing to escape). In a case of marketing people only listening to the melody of a song and not the lyrics this song has been used for a lot of sporting events over in England...



11. B.O.B - Outkast
Now, I agree this is a great song, probably the best song by the #1, most innovative hip hop group around. BUT... I don't see it as the best song of the decade. That said, there is no denying the greatness of this sng. It should be called "Machine Guns Over Baghdad", as "Bombs" doesn't nearly do justice to the speed that both the bass line and the lyrics assault you. One of the things that always set Big Boi and Andre 3000 appart from other rapper is that they were willing to step out of the "money, drugs, booze and ho's" lyrical trap that makes most rap today so terrible. They still sound boastful, but in a way that uses rhymes that sound great together as well as manage to get across their point.


Part 2 will follow later...
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Monday, August 10, 2009

The John Hughes Soundtrack

When John Hughes passed away last week, I can't say I was saddened (I mean, come on, I didn't know him) but I was a little bummed. I really loved his movies when I was growing up (I think I watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off about 40 times with my friends Jeff and Chris). I am not going to write about the movies - there have been 1000 articles and blogs on that subject in the last week. Also, I haven't watched these movies in a while, so I am not sure if I will like them as much now - my tastes have changed as I've grown older. However, there is one big aspect of Hughes' movies that I know I still love and that was the music. A lot of these movies involved characters that were either outsiders or on the fringe of the popular groups, and the soundtracks were filled with songs by 80's bands that were not in the mainstream to reflect this. Back when I used to watch these movies, I wasn't really that in to New Wave or alternative music - at that age, I was just into what ever was popular at the time, but I knew that there was something about the songs I was hearing that I really liked - it wasn't until I was much older, and much more adventurous in music listening that I realized 80's New wave and alternative are my favorite musical genres. I wish that I would have dug a little deeper at the time into the songs I was hearing in a movie like Pretty in Pink. I deprived myself of many years of listening pleasure. Oh well...

I have a list below (and I am posting the actual songs when available) for what I feel are the best songs from John Hughes' movies (plus some added information about a few of the songs):

"True" - Spandau Ballet (Sixteen Candles)



"Little Bitch" - The Specials (Sixteen Candles)
Technically, this isn't an "80's" song, since the album on which it was originally released came out in 1979, but I don't care. I am including it anyway because 1.) 1979 is close enough to the 80's, and 2.) I think The Specials are a cool band.



Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Breakfast Club)
Just because this song has been somewhat played out over the years doesn't mean that it isn't a great song (often times, just like the old saying, familiarity with a song breeds contempt).



"Weird Science" - Oingo Boingo (Weird Science)
I don't think anyone would have guessed when this song came out that Danny Elfman, the lead singer of this group (which was also responsible for "Dead Man's Party", which was in another 80's comedy that was a favorite of mine growing up - Back To School), would turn out to be the #1 driving force behind classical movie scores in Hollywood. He was just too weird to even think he could play anything but music that sounds like what Oingo Boino was putting out.




"Tenderness" - General Public (Weird Science)
For some reason, I really love this song. However, I realize it may not be the manliest of songs, but once, I saw a UFC fighter (I cannot remember who for the life of me) use this as his entrance music.



"Eighties" - Killing Joke (Weird Science)



"Beat City" - The Flowerpot Men (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
I have never heard anything else by this group, but they have a special place in my heart. Back when I was in college, I had a friend that worked at the college radio station. For some reason, he thought it was a good idea to let his jack-ass friends hang out in the booth with him during his shifts and occasionally get on the air. He would bring in a few of his own selections to add to the station's discs and this song on 45 was one of them (yes, back when I was in college the station still had turntables). Since I really liked this song, I made him play it EVERY TIME he was on the air. Not surprisingly, he didn't last long at that job...

(Song not available)

"Desire (Come and Get It)" - Gene Loves Jezebel (She's Having a Baby)
"Haunted When The Minutes Drag" - Love and Rockets (She's Having a Baby)
I have only seen this movie once, and it was a long time ago, so I don't remember if it was any good, nor do I remember these songs from the movie. However, I like both bands and these are good songs, so they are being included.





"If You Leave" - OMD (Pretty in Pink)



"Pretty In Pink" - Psychedelic Furs (Pretty In Pink)
The Psychedelic Furs have become one of my favorite 80's bands. they are coming to Columbus in October and I am really pumped to see them live.



"Shellshock" - New Order (Pretty In Pink)



"Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" - The Smiths (Pretty In Pink)



"The Hardest Walk" - Jesus and Mary Chain (Some Kind Of Wonderful)



That would make a pretty good 80's playlist on your iPod.
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Just Like Getting Old...

Last night, as I was driving home, I was flipping through the radio stations and I came across "Just Like Heaven", which is one of my favorite Cure songs. Normally, that is no big deal, since both CD101 (the local alternative station) and 106.7 (the local pseudo-alternative station) both play The Cure once in a while. However, it wasn't either of those stations - it was 105.7 (The Brew!), which is a classic rock station that leans a little more towards 80's rock (the song played after The Cure was "Home Sweet Home" by Motley Crue). I was pretty shocked - I have never head The Cure played on a classic rock station. I didn't know that they were that popular in those circles. Now, I know that in terms of alternative music, they are extremely popular - maybe one of the most popular alternative bands of all time. But I didn't think they were "mainstream" popular, and I certainly didn't think that they were popular with people that listen to classic rock stations. And, they would have to be, right? I mean, those types of stations don't play just any old song. Some company somewhere had to have done some research and determined that "Just Like Heaven" would fit in on a station like The Brew. I know that people who liked The Cure back in the 80's are getting old now. However, are all of them now listening to classic rock stations? I mean, I know I was listening to a classic rock station, but that was because I didn't have my iPod with me - I think it is pretty apparent from this blog that I listen to some pretty modern music. So, my question is - have the type of people that used to listen to bands like The Cure back in the 80's become full-time classic rock listeners or are they like me, and still trying to find the music that is out there that is outside the mainsteam? I am guessing that I am probably in the minority in this case...


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