Saturday, January 30, 2021

“Love > a Building on Fire”, Talking Heads

This way: Love > a Building on Fire

I'm still not sure how this didn't make it on to the first LP. "Love → Building on Fire" (read as "Love Goes to Building on Fire") is a song by rock band Talking Heads, released as a single in 1977. The single preceded the band's debut album by seven months. As the single was the first piece of music released commercially by the band, its release is cited as a milestone in the band's history in its Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entry.

The song did not appear on any of the band's original studio albums, though it was later included on their 1992 compilation album Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites and as a bonus track on a reissue of Talking Heads: 77. A live recording of the song is featured on their live album The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads.  

[Spotify]  Love > a Building on Fire

Friday, January 29, 2021

“Behind Your Back”, The Mighty Lemon Drops

This way: Behind Your Back

Originally called the Sherbet Monsters the quartet first formed in the spring of 1985 in Wolverhampton, in The Black Country.  Paul Marsh, Dave Newton and Tony Linehan had played together in a band called Active Restraint in 1982, with Newton later leaving to become a founding member of the Wild Flowers. Dave Newton and Tony Linehan were the principal songwriters for the group. Their sound can best be described as a more psychedelia-influenced post-punk, played with a ringing Rickenbacker guitar as the lead instrument. They drew comparisons to Echo and the Bunnymen, who were also influenced by psychedelia.

After losing original drummer Martin Gilks (later to join the Wonder Stuff), the Drops line-up settled as Paul Marsh (vocals), David Newton (guitar), Tony Linehan (bass), and Keith Rowley (drums). In December 1985 the quartet, now officially the Mighty Lemon Drops, released their first independent single "Like an Angel", on Daniel Treacy of Television Personalities' Dreamworld Records label which went to the top of the UK Indie Chart and sold 14,000 copies. 

[Spotify]  Behind Your Back


Thursday, January 28, 2021

“While You're Waiting”, Alkaline Trio

This way: While You're Waiting

Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Since 2001, the band has consisted of Matt Skiba (vocals, guitar), Dan Andriano (vocals, bass) and Derek Grant (drums, vocals).

Founded in late 1996 by Skiba, bassist Rob Doran, and drummer Glenn Porter, Alkaline Trio released its debut single, "Sundials", in 1997. Following its release, Doran departed from the band and was replaced by Andriano. The band subsequently recorded an EP, For Your Lungs Only (1998), and its debut studio album, Goddamnit (1998). Following the release of the band's second album, Maybe I'll Catch Fire (2000), Porter left the band and was replaced by Mike Felumlee for its subsequent album, From Here to Infirmary (2001).

Backed by the singles "Stupid Kid" and "Private Eye", From Here to Infirmary significantly increased the band's exposure, and its follow-up, Good Mourning (2003), charted highly on the Billboard 200. Good Mourning marked the recording debut of current drummer Derek Grant. In 2005, the band released Crimson which expanded upon the band's punk rock influences, with prominent overdubs and additional instrumentation, and continued with this direction on Agony & Irony (2008), which was released on Epic Records.  

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

“I'll be Gone”, Milk Carton Kids

 This way: I'll be Gone

The Milk Carton Kids are an American indie folk duo from Eagle Rock, California, United States, consisting of singers and guitarists Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan, who began making music together in early 2011. The band has recorded and released six albums: Retrospect, Prologue, The Ash & Clay, Monterey, All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn't Do, and The Only Ones. They are noted for releasing their first two albums free of charge.
  

[Spotify] I'll be Gone

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

“I Wanna Know Girls”, Portastatic

 This way:  I Wanna Know Girls

Portastatic is an American indie rock band founded in the early 1990s as a solo project of Mac McCaughan, singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Superchunk. The project has since expanded into a full band, sometimes including Superchunk guitarist Jim Wilbur and McCaughan's brother Matthew.

Tom Scharpling of the 18 Wheeler fanzine released McCaughan's solo material under the fanzine's own imprint in 1993, the "Starter" 7". Since then, McCaughan has recorded several records as Portastatic, covering genres including indie rock, lo-fi, soundtrack and Brazilian music.  

The name "Portastatic" is derived from the TASCAM Portastudio home recording device. McCaughan added "static" to "porta", a reference to the poor quality of the recordings. 

From 2005.

Monday, January 25, 2021

“Hand Rolled Cigarettes”, Clowns for Progress

 This way: Hand Rolled Cigarettes

Here is a nice melancholy track from one of my favorite bands. They don't have much of an internet presence these days. I saw them many times in the early 90's in NYCs divest bars. They always performed in full Clown make-up. That's some dedication.

[Spotify] Not likely 

Friday, January 22, 2021

“Voice of America”, Caberet Voltaire

 This way: Voice of America

Cabaret Voltaire are an English music group formed in Sheffield in 1973 and initially composed of Stephen Mallinder, Richard H. Kirk, and Chris Watson. The group was named after the Cabaret Voltaire, the Zürich nightclub that served as a centre for the early Dada movement.

The early work of Cabaret Voltaire consisted primarily of experimentation with DIY electronics and tape machines, as well as Dada-influenced performance art, helping to pioneer industrial music in the mid-1970s. Finding an audience during the post-punk era, they integrated their experimental sensibilities with dance and pop styles. They are often characterized as among the most innovative and influential electronic groups of their era. 

[Spotify] Voice of America

Thursday, January 21, 2021

“Route”, Sun Volt

 This way: Route

Son Volt is an American alternative rock and alternative country band, formed by Jay Farrar in 1994 after the breakup of Uncle Tupelo. The group formed after Farrar met Jim and Dave Boquist during the final Uncle Tupelo tour. Together with former Uncle Tupelo drummer Mike Heidorn, the band rehearsed and recorded in the Minneapolis area in late 1994. The group performed its first concert at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis on June 16, 1995. While half of the band was rooted in the Minneapolis area, Farrar and Heidorn lived in the St. Louis area, and the band used both cities as bases for its operations during the first couple of years.  

[Spotify] Route

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

“Plum”, Widowspeak

 This way: Plum

Widowspeak is an American indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York City, United States. They are currently signed to Captured Tracks. The band consists of guitarist and vocalist Molly Hamilton and guitarist Robert Earl Thomas 

[Spotify] Plum

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

“Punks in the Beerlight”, Silver Jews

 This way: Punks in the Beerlight

Silver Jews were an American indie rock band from New York City, formed in 1989 by David Berman along with Pavement's Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich. Throughout, Berman was the only constant band member. During the last few albums, Cassie Berman became a regular member of the band. They disbanded in 2009. This track is from 2005.  

[Spotify]  Punks in the Beerlight


Monday, January 18, 2021

“Mother's Children Have a Hard Time”, Blind Willie Johnson

 This way: Mother's Children Have a Hard Time

It doesn't get much better than this. Blind Willie Johnson (January 25, 1897 – September 18, 1945) was an American gospel blues singer, guitarist and evangelist. His landmark recordings completed between 1927 and 1930—thirty songs in total—display a combination of powerful "chest voice" singing, slide guitar skills, and originality that has influenced generations of musicians. Even though Johnson's records sold well, as a street performer and preacher, he had little wealth in his lifetime. His life was poorly documented, but over time, music historians such as Samuel Charters have uncovered more about Johnson and his five recording sessions.

A revival of interest in Johnson's music began in the 1960s, following his inclusion on Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music, and by the efforts of the blues guitarist Reverend Gary Davis. Johnson's work has become more accessible through compilation albums such as American Epic: The Best of Blind Willie Johnson and the Charters compilations. As a result, Johnson is credited as one of the most influential practitioners of the blues, and his slide guitar playing, particularly on his hymn "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground", is highly acclaimed. 

Saturday, January 16, 2021

“Pocket Calculator”, Kraftwerk

 This way: Pocket Calculator

Is this the greatest song ever written? 

Kraftwerk is a German band formed in Düsseldorf in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Widely considered as innovators and pioneers of electronic music, they were among the first successful acts to popularize the genre. The group began as part of West Germany's experimental krautrock scene in the early 1970s before fully embracing electronic instrumentation, including synthesizers, drum machines, and vocoders.

On commercially successful albums such as Autobahn (1974), Trans-Europe Express (1977), The Man-Machine (1978), and Computer World (1981), Kraftwerk developed a self-described "robot pop" style that combined electronic music with pop melodies, sparse arrangements, and repetitive rhythms, while adopting a stylized image including matching suits. Following the release of Electric Café (1986), Wolfgang Flür left the group in 1987, followed by percussionist Karl Bartos in 1990. Founding member Schneider left in 2008.  

[Spotify]  Pocket Calculator


Friday, January 15, 2021

“Baby‘s on Fire”, Brian Eno

 This way: Baby‘s on Fire

"Baby's on Fire" is the third track on English musician Brian Eno's 1973 debut album, Here Come the Warm Jets. Here Come the Warm Jets is the debut solo album by British musician Brian Eno, released on Island Records in January 1974. It was recorded and produced by Eno following his departure from the band Roxy Music, and blends glam and pop stylings with avant-garde approaches. The album features numerous guests, including three of Eno's former Roxy bandmates (guitarist Phil Manzanera, saxophonist/keyboardist Andy Mackay and drummer Paul Thompson), drummer Simon King (of Hawkwind), bassist Bill MacCormick (of Matching Mole), guitarist/bassist Paul Rudolph (of Pink Fairies) and guitarist Robert Fripp and bassist John Wetton (both of King Crimson). Notable contributions were also made by guitarist Chris Spedding, bassist Busta Jones and gospel vocal group Sweetfeed. In developing the material with the various musicians, Eno devised unusual methods and instructions to obtain unexpected results. 
 
[Spotify] Baby‘s on Fire

Thursday, January 14, 2021

“Don't let it Break you Down”, Graham Parker

This way: Don't let it Break you Down

Graham Parker is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the British band Graham Parker & the Rumour. In the summer of 1975, Parker joined ex-members of three British pub-rock bands to form Graham Parker and the Rumour: Parker (lead vocals, guitar) with Brinsley Schwarz (lead guitar) and Bob Andrews (keyboards) (both ex Brinsley Schwarz), Martin Belmont (rhythm guitar, ex Ducks Deluxe) and Andrew Bodnar (bass) and Steve Goulding (drums). They began in the British pub rock scene, often augmented at times by a four-man horn section known as The Rumour Horns: John "Irish" Earle (saxophone), Chris Gower (trombone), Dick Hanson (trumpet), and Ray Beavis (saxophone). 

The band's first album, Howlin' Wind, was released to acclaim in April 1976 and was rapidly followed by the stylistically similar Heat Treatment. A mixture of rock, ballads, and reggae-influenced numbers, these albums reflected Parker's early influences and contained the songs which formed the core of Parker's live shows – "Black Honey", "Soul Shoes", "Lady Doctor", "Fool's Gold", and his early signature tune "Don't Ask Me Questions", which hit the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart.

Establishing a recording career in early 1976, Parker preceded two other new wave English singer-songwriters with whom he is often compared: Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson. (Costello's first single was released in 1977, and Jackson's first solo single in late 1978). This track from 1988. 

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

“Human Cannonball”, Webb Wilder

This way: Human Cannonball

The Webb Wilder character was created in 1981 for a short comedy film created with friends called "Webb Wilder Private Eye." The character was a backwoods private detective who fell out of the 1950s and happened to also be a musician. The short appeared on the television variety show "Night Flight." 

With his groups like The Drapes, The Beatnecks, The Nashvegans, Wilder combines the straight-ahead rock & roll with surf guitar of the Ventures and twang of Duane Eddy, drawing on the feel of blues, R&B, country/rockabilly and film noir. His sound incorporated influence from Americana music as well as from the British Invasion. 

Wilder has been signed to major labels and worked with independent labels. He has also hosted a radio show for Sirius Radio.

Webb Wilder appeared as an actor in Peter Bogdanovich's 1993 film The Thing Called Love.
This song from 1989. 

[Spotify] Human Cannonball

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

“The Devil in His Youth”, Protomartyr

 This way: The Devil in His Youth

Protomartyr is an American rock band formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 2010. The band consists of Joe Casey (vocals), Greg Ahee (guitar), Alex Leonard (drums), and Scott Davidson (bass).

To date, the band has released five studio albums: No Passion All Technique (2012), Under Color of Official Right (2014), The Agent Intellect (2015), Relatives in Descent (2017), and Ultimate Success Today (2020).

[Spotify]  The Devil in His Youth


Monday, January 11, 2021

“Father/ Daughter Dialogue”, Martha and Loudon Wainwright

This way: Father/ Daughter Dialogue

No holds were barred. Loudon's 1975 album Unrequited ends with the famous Rufus is a Tit Man ("So put Rufus on the left one/And put me on the right/And like Romulus and Remus/We'll suck all night'). In his song That Hospital, Loudon sings about visiting a hospital with Kate in 1976 for an abortion. She didn't go through with it. "The little girl that was born there/That escaped that scrape with fate/A few months ago in Montreal, I watched her graduate." That little girl was their daughter, Martha Wainwright.

Loudon and Kate inevitably split up and the children grew up with Kate in Canada. Loudon had a relationship with the singer Suzzy Roche but again things didn't work out. In his song Your Mother and I, he tries to explain to his daughter from that relationship, Lucy, exactly what went wrong: "Your mother and I are living apart/I know it seems stupid, but we weren't very smart."

Friday, January 8, 2021

“No No No”, Cherokee Death Cats

 This way: No No No

ok: this is spectacular.

Electro garage duo from Sweden. 

[Spotify]  No No No


Thursday, January 7, 2021

“Coup d'Etat”, Circle Jerks

 This way: Coup d'Etat

Now this is a song of the day, most literally.

[Spotify]  Coup d'Etat


Wednesday, January 6, 2021

“White Fur”, Dear Nora

This way: White Fur

Dear Nora is an indie pop band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1999 by songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist Katy Davidson, drummer and vocalist Marianna Ritchey, and bassist Ryan Wise. Ritchey and Wise were previously members of Wolf Colonel.[1] They named their new band after Lewis & Clark College music professor Nora Beck. Dear Nora's first album, We'll Have a Time, was produced by Amy Linton of The Aislers Set and released on the Portland label Magic Marker Records in 2001.

After moving to San Francisco, Davidson continued to record under the name Dear Nora with a rotating cast of band members. The band released two more main albums, Mountain Rock (2004) and There Is No Home (2006), as well as several 7" singles and EPs.[1] From 2004 to 2007, they performed locally in San Francisco and toured with musicians such as The Blow, Mirah, and YACHT.

After a tour of Florida with Casiotone for the Painfully Alone in 2008, Davidson retired the name Dear Nora, though they continue to record music. In 2006, Davidson moved to Los Angeles, where they and Ritchey recorded Just as God Made Us under the name Lloyd & Michael on States Rights Records. Davidson now resides in Portland and performs under the name "Key Losers."

In 2017, after a vinyl reissue of 'Mountain Rock', Katy Davidson reached out to several fellow musicians, Zach Burba, Gregory Campanile, and Stephen Steinbrink to play with them under the Dear Nora moniker, for the first time since 2008, on tour across the United States.

In May, 2018, Dear Nora released their fourth album Skulls Example on Orindal. 

[Spotify]  White Fur


Tuesday, January 5, 2021

“Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole”, Martha Wainwright

This way: Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole

Martha Wainwright (born May 8, 1976) is a Canadian-American folk-rock singer-songwriter.

She participated in the 2015 edition of Canada Reads, advocating for Jocelyne Saucier's novel And the Birds Rained Down.

She is the daughter of American folk singer and actor Loudon Wainwright III and Canadian folk singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle. She was raised in a musical family along with her older brother, Rufus Wainwright, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This song is about her father Loudon.

Monday, January 4, 2021

“Pretty Little Martha”, Loudon Wainwright III

This way: Pretty Little Martha

Loudon Wainwright III (born September 5, 1946) is an American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor. His sister is Sloan Wainwright. He is the father of musicians Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, and Lucy Wainwright Roche, and is the former husband of the late folk singer Kate McGarrigle.

To date, Wainwright has released 24 studio albums, 4 live albums and 6 compilations, as well as appearing in at least 18 television programmes and feature films. Reflecting upon his career in 1999, he stated, "You could characterize the catalog as somewhat checkered, although I prefer to think of it as a tapestry." In October 2017, Wainwright released his autobiography, Liner Notes: On Parents & Children, Exes & Excess, Death & Decay, and a Few of My Other Favorite Things. This song is about his Daughter Martha Wainwright.

[Spotify] not likely

Friday, January 1, 2021

“Surfin' USSR”, Delaware

   This way: Surfin' USSR

Delaware is a japanese super sonic group, designs music and musics design. Works take on multiple forms such as recordings, visual installation, writing, web, mobile phone, poster, cross stitch, and live performance. Founded "RE<ORDS", an independent record label in iPhone/iPodTouch, 2009.
We call ourselves "Artoonist" (Artoon means art plus cartoon).
And "Say it low, we are human being and we're proud".
http://www.delaware.gr.jp/

MEMBERS;
Masato Samata, Aya Honda, Morihiro Tajiri and Hiroshi Okamura.
Organized by Masato Samata in 1993, Aya Honda and Morihiro Tajiri joined in 1995. Ten(1997-2001) and Yoshiki Watanabe(2002-2007). Hiroshi Okamura joined in 2007. 

[Spotify]  Not likely 


Merry Christmas 2024

This way [Spotify]:  Christmas songs 2024 Dead Gwynne Holiday songs:  DG 2024 Need some good music for the holidays? I have links to my Chri...