Here it is… A Playlist out on the Day I planned for…
Enjoy!
- “FOH” – Superchunk
I wrote about them and this song a couple weeks back. It’s the kind of tune that has such a good ‘riff’ that the lyrics cease to matter, which isn’t a bad thing considering it is a bit of an inside nod to music techs (roadies) and crews. Still, you just gotta love that fan made video.
- “Have Love Will Travel” – The Sonics
Was reading Paste (I think) a while back, and there was this playlist for the 50 Best Garage Rock Songs ever. This was the number one song on the list and they put forth a really damn good argument for this being the first punk band ever. Regardless, I’m looking to by this stuff on vinyl now.
- “Happy Ways” – Joe Walsh
While this song appears on a Joe Walsh record, it is actually the band Barnstorm and doesn’t feature Walsh on vocals at all. It also stands way outside his usual work in terms of song construction. Each piece of the band has stand out moments in this tune that was said to be influenced by music coming north from Mexico to California. To my ears, this song stands out as rather timeless and I always imagine it being covered by an eight or ten piece band with horns.
- “Evangeline” – Matthew Sweet
Like everything on Girlfriend there is a sense of playful desperation hidden within this quest for love. Sweet’s characters never quite get it right, but remain optimistic somehow. Perhaps it is naivety that keeps things light, or just the nature of this record, but a couple decades after its release it still seems to hold its youthful soul.
- “Rhiannon” – Best Coast
Somehow Best Coast manages to sweep away the entire ethereal mystic evening nature of this song and turn it into a Sunday stroll on the beach. Weird thing is, it actually works. Rather than ‘Rhiannon drifting into the sunset, she seems to skip away to play in the waves. It’s a different interpretation unlike anything I would have expected. Very Cool!
- “Over at the Frankenstein Place” – Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick & Richard O’Brien
Despite being an important part of a large picture, I love this song as a standalone piece. It captures my imagination and just makes me all warm inside. Buy vinyl here.
- “Fade Into You” – J. Mascis
A most amazing cover of the Mazzy Star classic, it was the single that got away last Black Friday/Record Store Day. Having never given up on it, it may make it into my collection at some point… soon.
- “Hannah & Gabi” – The Lemonheads
The first cover song I learned how to play on my beaten up old 12 string a few years back. Just a simple little song about loves lost and the confusion found as relationships end. Honest in that it really finds no resolution.
- “Brill Bruisers” – The New Pornographers
Saw these guys do a quick set down at Sugar Beach in September. They did an awesome cover of ELO’s “Sweet Talkin’ Woman” along with the title track from their amazing record Brill Bruisers.
- “California Sun” – The Ramones
What can I say, my kids were Watching Curious George (sequel) the other day and this song was a big part. Besides, I’ll use any excuse to include the Ramones on every mix I do.
- “Baby Six String” – Dressy Bessy
Dressy Bessy is on my bucket list of bands to see before I go the way of the Dodo. All it took was one listen to their debut Pink Hearts, Yellow Moons back in 1999 to make me a forever fan. “Baby Six String” is from their 2003 eponymous record, and rumour is, a new album and tour will be happening soon. Check them out.
- “The Root” – Kim Deal, Morgan Nagler
Something about Kim Deal has always screamed “coolest person on the planet” to me. Doesn’t matter if it’s the Pixies, the Breeders or her solo stuff, there is always an element of some twisted riff that makes you want to pogo all over the dance floor. Love that she’s selling vinyl singles from her own web site.
- “Hailing A Cab In Hell” – Viva Viva
Couldn’t resist putting these guys on after Kim Deal… I mean come on, they have an ep called What’s The Kim Deal?, how could I resist? Besides, they’re heavy garage ‘riff-age’ gets me throwing my hair around every time.
- “Whenever You See Me” – Kitty, Daisy & Lewis
When three young brits sound both out of time and modern at the same time, you have a pretty awesome combination. Style jumping and instrument swapping can make them a little hard to pin down, but it sure is fun to try.
- “(Ghost) Riders In The Sky” – Johnny Cash
My dad and I didn’t agree on much… pretty much nothing… except that Johnny Cash was frickin fantastic.
- “10 Million” – Gina Villalobos
Another artist on my bucket list, I became a fan the first time I heard her play this song. Ever since I’ve been ordering stuff direct from her sight – here.
- “I’d Run Away” – The Jayhawks
‘Alt-country’ before the term went both in and out of style, this song is from their best album Tomorrow The Green Grass. Oddly they were Minneapolis peers of Husker Du, Soul Asylum and the Replacements.
- “Skyway” – The Replacements
Just a beautiful song for a cloudy day, by a band that helped create the whole ‘alt-rock’ movement of the 90’s. Legendary!
- “Committed” – Jenny & Jonny
A fun album of duets by the boyfriend/girlfriend combo… it doesn’t feel like duets at all, but rather a bunch of great songs with two individual vocalists having a great time doing harmony together.
- “Thorn In Her Pride” – King Khan and the Shrines
As far as I’m concerned, this would be the band I’d want to play at a very large party. They rock, they swing, and they make you want to dance.
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