“ Apathy”, Gia Margaret

This way: Apathy

Gia Margaret is an American singer-songwriter and producer from Chicago, Illinois. She was trained in classical piano as a child and began pursuing a degree in music before ending both endeavors because they were “creatively limiting”. Margaret has had various jobs prior to becoming a musician, including a nanny, book store clerk, and dental assistant. She released her first full length album, There’s Always Glimmer, in July of 2018. She describes the genre of her music as “sleep rock,” and has been compared to everyone from Imogen Heap to Postal Service.  

[Spotify] Apathy

“Boxcar”, Jawbreaker

This way: Boxcar

Jawbreaker is an American punk rock band active from 1986 to 1996, and again since 2017. The band is considered to be influential to the 1990s emo genre.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Blake Schwarzenbach, bassist Chris Bauermeister, and drummer Adam Pfahler formed the band while students at New York University, later relocating to Los Angeles where they released their debut album Unfun (1990) through independent record label Shredder Records. Relocating again to San Francisco the next year, they released 1992’s Bivouac through the Tupelo Recording Company and The Communion Label. 

[Spotify] Boxcar

[extra credit] Boxcar (Mountain Goats)

“Lost Cause”, Beck

This way: Lost Cause

Beck is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He rose to fame in the early 1990s with his experimental and lo-fi style, and became known for creating musical collages of wide-ranging genres. He has musically encompassed folk, funk, soul, hip hop, electronic, alternative rock, country, and psychedelia. He has released 14 studio albums (three of which were released on indie labels), as well as several non-album singles and a book of sheet music.

[Spotify] Lost Cause

[Extra credit] Lost Cause

“Speakers Push the Air”, Pretty Girls Make Graves

This way: Speakers Push the Air

Good god in heaven who would take a band name from a Smiths song? A serious show of no judgement, but here we are and with a great song no less. Pretty Girls Make Graves was a post-punk band, formed in Seattle in 2001. The line which itself was named after a quote from Jack Kerouac's The Dharma Bums. Andrea Zollo and Derek Fudesco had played together previously in The Hookers, as well as The Death Wish Kids and Area 51 along with Dann Gallucci, with whom Derek had formed Murder City Devils. Not long before the Murder City Devils disbanded, Derek and Andrea formed Pretty Girls Make Graves along with Jay, Nick and Nathan. From 2002.

[Spotify] Speakers Push the Air

“Stranger than Fiction”, Bad Religion

This way: Stranger than Fiction

Bad Religion is an American punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1980. The band’s lyrics cover topics related to religion, politics, and science. Musically, they are noted for their melodic sensibilities and extensive use of three-part vocal harmonies. The band has experienced multiple line-up changes, with singer Greg Graffin being the band's only constant member, though fellow founding members Jay Bentley and Brett Gurewitz have since rejoined, and guitarist Brian Baker has performed with the group since 1994. The most recent additions to the band are guitarist Mike Dimkich and drummer Jamie Miller, who joined in 2013 and 2015 respectively. To date, Bad Religion has released seventeen studio albums, two live albums, three compilation albums, three EPs, and two live DVDs. They are considered to be one of the best-selling punk rock acts of all time, having sold over five million albums worldwide.

After gaining a large underground following and critical praise through their releases on Gurewitz's label Epitaph in the 1980s and early 1990s, Bad Religion experienced mainstream success after signing to the major label Atlantic in 1993, and along with California-based bands like Green Day, The Offspring, NOFX and Rancid, they were responsible for the punk rock revival movement of the 1990s. 

Shortly before the release of Stranger than Fiction, Gurewitz left Bad Religion to run his label Epitaph on a full-time basis (in response to the success of the label's then-artists the Offspring and Rancid), and was replaced by Brian Baker. The band's success had slowly dwindled by the late 1990s, and after three more albums, they were dropped from Atlantic in 2001; this resulted in Bad Religion returning to Epitaph and Gurewitz rejoining the band. 

From 1994.

[Spotify] Stranger than Fiction

“la nuit americaine”, LESCOP

This way: la nuit americaine

The former frontman of La Rochelle punk act, Asyl, Lescop struck out on his own in 2012 with his self-titled debut album. Signed to the up-and-coming Franco-Anglo indie label Pop Noire, his revitalized cold wave tunes have a way of getting under your skin. The opening track of Lescop (2012), La Forêt, for example, is as infectious today as it was five years ago. His long-awaited second album, ECHO (2016), doesn’t disappoint. Standout singles from it include David Palmer and the chillingly beautiful Echo. 
All credit to Steve! Thanks for this one. 

[Spotify] la nuit americaine

“Sailin' On”, Bad Brains

This way: Sailin' On

Bad Brains are an American rock band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members have objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of other genres like funk, heavy metal, hip hop and soul. Bad Brains are followers of the Rastafari movement. 

Originally formed as a jazz fusion ensemble under the name Mind Power, Bad Brains developed a very fast and intense punk rock sound which came to be labeled "hardcore", and was often played faster and more emphatically than many of their peers. The unique factor of the band's music was the fact that they played more complex rhythms than other hardcore punk bands, also adapting non-punk style guitar riffs and solos into their songs.

Bad Brains have released nine studio albums (one of which is entirely composed of instrumental versions of their early material). The band broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different singers or drummers. Since 1994, the "classic" lineup of singer H.R. (Human Rights), guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer, and drummer Earl Hudson has reunited, albeit performing sporadically.

[Spotify] Sailin' On

“Play Money”, The New Pornographers

This way: Play Money

Whiteout Conditions is the seventh studio album by Canadian indie rock band The New Pornographers. It was released on April 7, 2017, and is the first album not to feature either longtime drummer Kurt Dahle or singer-songwriter Dan Bejar (Destroyer).

I only play for money, honey
Look at what this run has done to me
It has me gunning for the country
Skies memory and moonless
A vision copied from the bootlegs
We are out of tune so mostly tuneless
For a fee, I'll fight any foe

For a fee, I'll take any blow

[Spotify] Play Money

“Sex Beat”, Gun Club

This way: Sex Beat

Is there a better band than the Gun Club? The Gun Club was an American post-punk band from Los Angeles, California, United States, that existed from 1979 to 1996. Created and led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeffrey Lee Pierce, they were notable as one of the first bands in the punk rock subculture to incorporate influences from blues, rockabilly, and country music. The Gun Club has been called a "tribal psychobilly blues" band, as well as initiators of the cowpunk and punk blues sound. So many great tracks on this near perfect LP, Fire of Love, from 1981.

[Spotify] Sex Beat

“Dancing with Joey Ramone”, Amy Rigby

This way: Dancing with Joey Ramone

Amy Rigby (born Amelia McMahon, January 27, 1959) is an American singer-songwriter. After playing with several New York bands she began a solo career, recording several albums which had only modest sales despite enthusiastic reviews. She settled into a career of touring while raising a daughter, then formed a duo with Wreckless Eric whom she also married. As of November 2011 they continue to tour from a base in upstate New York. She is the author of a memoir, Girl to City. This song from 2005. 

[Spotify] Dancing with Joey Ramone

[extra credit The Dahlmanns] Dancing with Joey Ramone

“My Little Red Book”, Love

This way: My Little Red Book
or My Little Red Book

This song came up on the Laurel Canyon documentary I tuned into the other day. Very catchy. Love’s adaptation of this Burt Bacharach/Hal David tune was the opening track for their eponymous debut album. and was released as a single with the B-side "A Message to Pretty". Love's version gained moderate mid-chart success and, with its radical interpretation of the original's pop sensibility, became a garage rock standard. The track, unlike its predecessor, features a strong primitive sensibility and a stiff chord progression simplified by Arthur Lee and guitarist Johnny Echols and blasted out over a stomping, tambourine-fueled rhythm section. As well as its garage traits, the song has been credited for its "punk" quality; a sound Love fully achieved with its later single "7 and 7 Is". A key feature of the track was Lee's rugged vocal performance, which has been highlighted by music critic Stewart Mason who particularly notes the way Lee sings the lines "All I did was talk, talk about you/Hear your name and I start to cry". From 1966.

[Spotify] My Little Red Book

“Metal Benders”, Dark Day

This way: Metal Benders

This song does no justice, but here we are, The Dark days. Born in Ohio, Robin Crutchfield moved to New York in the mid-1970s. He was a performance artist in the SoHo and Tribeca art scene before becoming an original member of the seminal No Wave band DNA alongside Arto Lindsay and Ikue Mori. He played keyboards in the first version of the band, getting to work with musical luminary Brian Eno on the seminal No New York album. Robin left the band to form his own group in 1979. His band, Dark Day, explored wide varieties of keyboard and synthesizer textures and went through several lineup changes. Early on Robin worked with Ninal Canal of Ut, and Nancy Arlen of Mars. Towards the end of the band's existence Crutchfield, now working solo, explored a style somewhat reminiscent of European medieval and baroque music. 

In 1978 Robin dabbled in acting, taking a small part in cult New York film director Amos Poe's The Foreigner. As well as acting, Crutchfield, true to the DIY attitude of the punk movement, created his own record label, Nigh Eve, on which he released many of his albums. 

[Spotify] Metal Benders

“The Spark”, DIIV

This way: The Spark

DIIV is an American rock band from Brooklyn, New York City, formed in 2011. The band consists of Zachary Cole Smith (vocals, guitar), Andrew Bailey (guitar), Colin Caulfield (bass, keyboards, guitar, vocals) and Ben Newman (drums).

Initially called Dive, the band started as Smith's solo recording project. After releasing three singles—"Sometime", "Human" and "Geist"—on Captured Tracks, DIIV released its debut studio album, Oshin, on June 26, 2012.  

This is from Deceiver, the third studio album from 2019.

[Spotify] The Spark

“Burnin' It Down”, Steve Earle

This way: Burnin' It Down

This one seems to be relevant these days. Steve Earle (born January 17, 1955) is an American rock, country and folk singer-songwriter, record producer, author and actor. Earle began his career as a songwriter in Nashville and released his first EP in 1982.

His breakthrough album was the 1986 album Guitar Town. Since then Earle has released 15 studio albums and received three Grammy awards. His songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Levon Helm, The Highwaymen, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Shawn Colvin, Bob Seger, and Emmylou Harris. He has appeared in film and television, and has written a novel, a play, and a book of short stories.

From 2013’s LP the Low Highway.

[Spotify] Burnin' It Down

“Autoluminescent”, Rowland S. Howard

This way: Autoluminescent

Rowland S. Howard (24 October 1959 – 30 December 2009) was an Australian rock musician, guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work with the post-punk group The Birthday Party and his subsequent solo career. 

[Spotify] Autoluminescent

“What's a Girl To Do”, Bat for Lashes

This way: What's a Girl To Do

Natasha Khan (born 25 October 1979), known professionally as Bat for Lashes, is an English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She has released five studio albums, Fur and Gold (2006), Two Suns (2009), The Haunted Man (2012), The Bride (2016), and Lost Girls (2019), receiving Mercury Prize nominations for Fur and Gold, Two Suns and The Bride. Khan is also the vocalist for Sexwitch, a collaboration with the rock band Toy and producer Dan Carey. 

[Spotify] What's a Girl To Do

“The Wall & I”, Nation of Language

This way: The Wall & I

From the ashes of Static Jacks comes this great band of Brooklyn (but I hear the New Jersey). Love the great sparse song.

[Spotify] The Wall & I

“The Animal Speaks”, Golden Palominos (John Lydon vocals)

This way: The Animal Speaks

The Golden Palominos are an American musical group headed by drummer and composer Anton Fier, first formed in 1981. Aside from Fier, the Palominos membership has been wildly elastic, with only bassist Bill Laswell and guitarist Nicky Skopelitis appearing on every album through 1996. Their latest work, 2012's A Good Country Mile features vocalist Kevn Kinney.

While the Palominos' records usually featured a core set of musicians and a certain emotional continuity throughout the bulk of an album, various guest appearances resulted in stylistic changes from track to track. This song from Visions of Excess is the second album by the Golden Palominos, 1985.

The album features Anton Fier,  Richard Thompson,  Arto Lindsay, Chris Stamey, Carla Bley, Syd Straw, Michael Stipe (he's all over this!), John Lydon (only on one song, but what a song!). 

[Spotify] The Animal Speaks