“Starry Eyes”, The Records

This way: Starry Eyes

The Records were an English power pop band formed in 1978. They are best remembered for the hit single and cult favourite "Starry Eyes". Recording sessions for the album took place from February to April 1979 at Wessex Sound Studios and Townhouse Studios in London. The first four songs recorded, "Teenarama," "Girls That Don't Exist," "Rock and Roll Love Letter" and a new version of the previously released single "Starry Eyes," were produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Lange could not complete the album due to other commitments so the rest of the album was produced by Tim Friese-Greene. The last song recorded, "The Phone," was a late addition to the album and was produced by Huw Gower. "The Phone" replaced "Rock and Roll Love Letter" which was dropped from the album after it was released as a single in April but was not well received.  

[Spotify]  Starry Eyes

“Antmusic”, Adam and the Ants

This way: Antmusic

Adam and the Ants were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. The group existed in two incarnations, both fronted by Adam Ant, lasting from 1977 to 1982. The first, founded in May 1977 and known simply as The Ants until November of that year, achieved considerable cult popularity during the transition from the punk rock era to the post-punk and new wave era and were noted for their high camp, overtly sexualised stage performances and songs. The final line-up of this incarnation—Dave Barbarossa, Matthew Ashman, and Leigh Gorman—left the band in January 1980 at the suggestion of de facto manager Malcolm McLaren to form Bow Wow Wow. The second incarnation of Adam and the Ants featured guitarist Marco Pirroni and drummer/producer Chris Hughes, and was noted for its use of Burundi drums. This group lasted from February 1980 to March 1982, achieving major commercial success in the UK and abroad which continued into its frontman's solo career.  

[Spotify]  Antmusic

“England”, The National

This way: England

The National is an American rock band of Cincinnati, Ohio natives, formed in Brooklyn, New York City in 1999. The band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), twin brothers Aaron Dessner (guitar, piano, keyboards) and Bryce Dessner (guitar, piano, keyboards), as well as brothers Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). Carin Besser is not a band member, but has written lyrics for the band alongside her husband, Berninger, since its 2007 album Boxer. 

Founded by Matt Berninger, Aaron Dessner, Scott Devendorf and Bryan Devendorf, The National released their self-titled debut album, The National (2001), on Brassland Records, an independent record label founded by Aaron and his twin brother, Bryce Dessner. Bryce, who had assisted in recording the album, soon joined the band, participating as a full member in the recording of its follow-up, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2003).

Leaving behind their day jobs, the National signed with Beggars Banquet Records and released their third studio album, Alligator (2005), to widespread critical acclaim. The band's fourth and fifth studio albums, Boxer (2007) and High Violet (2010), increased their exposure significantly. In 2013, the band released its sixth studio album, Trouble Will Find Me, which was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 2017 the band released the album Sleep Well Beast, which won the band a Grammy Award. Their eighth studio album, I Am Easy to Find, was released on May 17, 2019. 

[Spotify]  England

“Trees of Barcelona”, Superchunk

This way: Trees of Barcelona

It doesn't get much better than this band, what a career of great music. Superchunk is an American indie rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, consisting of singer-guitarist Mac McCaughan, guitarist Jim Wilbur, bassist Laura Ballance, and drummer Jon Wurster. Formed in 1989, they were one of the bands that helped define the Chapel Hill music scene of the 1990s. Their energetic, high-velocity style and do-it-yourself ethic is influenced by punk rock. Wait, isnt this just Punk Rock? 

Members McCaughan and Ballance founded the successful independent record label Merge Records in 1989 as a way to release music from Superchunk and music created by friends, which has expanded to include artists from around the world and records reaching the top of the Billboard music charts. Superchunk released a string of full-length albums and compilations throughout the 1990s. After releasing their eighth studio album in 2001, the band went into a period of reduced activity. In 2010, the band released a new studio album, Majesty Shredding, and followed it up in 2013 with their tenth studio album, I Hate Music. Their eleventh studio album, What a Time to Be Alive, was released on February 16, 2018. Their twelfth album, Wild Loneliness, was released in February 2022.

[Spotify] Trees of Barcelona

[GOOD LIVE] Trees of Barcelona

“5 Miles of You”, Tom Verlaine

This way: 5 Miles of You

Cover is the fourth solo album by Tom Verlaine. It was released in 1984. Tom Verlaine is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the frontman of the New York City rock band Television. He has a ton of great music out there.

 [Spotify] 5 Miles of You

“Rise”, PiL

This way: Rise

Public Image Ltd (abbreviated and stylized as PiL) are an English punk band (and incorporated limited company) formed by singer John Lydon, guitarist Keith Levene, bassist Jah Wobble, and drummer Jim Walker in 1978. The group's personnel has changed frequently over the years; Lydon has been the sole constant member.

Following his departure from the Sex Pistols in January 1978, Lydon sought a more experimental "anti-rock" project and formed PiL. That year PiL released their debut First Issue (1978), creating an abrasive, bass-heavy sound that drew on dub, noise, progressive rock and disco. PiL's second album Metal Box (1979) pushed their sound further into the avant-garde, and is often regarded as one of the most important albums of all time. This LP from 1986. 

[Spotify] Rise

“Police and Thieves”, Junior Murvin

This way: Police and Thieves

Junior Murvin (circa 1946– 2 December 2013) was a Jamaican reggae musician. He is best known for the single "Police and Thieves", produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1976. He first recorded under the name Junior Soul for Sonia Pottinger's Gayfeet label, and then began recording regularly for the Crystal label owned by Derrick Harriott, where he had a minor hit with "Solomon" in 1972. He also performed as a member of the Hippy Boys, and later the Mighty Falcons and the Tornadoes, in Kingston's nightclubs and tourist hotels. 

[Spotify] Police and Thieves

“The Kid With the Replaceable Head”, Richard Hell

This way: The Kid With the Replaceable Head

Richard Hell, is an American singer, songwriter, bass guitarist and writer. Hell was in several important, early punk bands, including Neon Boys, Television and The Heartbreakers, after which he formed Richard Hell & the Voidoids. Their 1977 album Blank Generation influenced many other punk bands. Its title track was named "One of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock" by music writers in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listing[2] and is ranked as one of the all-time Top 10 punk songs by a 2006 poll of original British punk figures, as reported in the Rough Guide to Punk.

Since the late 1980s, Hell has devoted himself primarily to writing, publishing two novels and several other books. He was the film critic for BlackBook magazine from 2004 to 2006.

[Spotify]  The Kid With the Replaceable Head

“Golden Brown”, The Stranglers

This way: Golden Brown

The Stranglers are an English rock band who emerged via the punk rock scene. Scoring 23 UK Top 40 singles and 19 UK Top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are one of the longest-surviving bands to have originated in the UK punk scene. 

Formed as the Guildford Stranglers in Guildford, Surrey, in early 1974, they originally built a following within the mid-1970s pub rock scene. While their aggressive, no-compromise attitude had them identified by the media with the emerging UK punk rock scene that followed, their idiosyncratic approach rarely followed any single musical genre, and the group went on to explore a variety of musical styles, from new wave, art rock and gothic rock through the sophisti-pop of some of their 1980s output. They had major mainstream success with their 1982 single "Golden Brown". Their other hits include "No More Heroes", "Peaches", "Always the Sun", "Skin Deep" and "Big Thing Coming". The Stranglers' early sound was driven by Jean-Jacques Burnel's melodic bass, but also gave prominence to Dave Greenfield's keyboards. Their early music was also characterised by the growling vocals and sometimes misanthropic lyrics of both Burnel and Hugh Cornwell. Over time, their output gradually grew more refined and sophisticated. Summing up their contribution to popular music, critic Dave Thompson later wrote: "From bad-mannered yobs to purveyors of supreme pop delicacies, the group was responsible for music that may have been ugly and might have been crude – but it was never, ever boring. 

[Spotify]  Golden Brown

“Velcro”, Bell X1

This way: Velcro

Bell X1 are an Irish rock band from County Kildare. The group consists of Paul Noonan (lead vocals, guitar, percussion, keys), David Geraghty (guitar, vocals, keys, percussion, banjo, piano, harmonica) and Dominic Phillips (bass, vocals).

The band has generated a reasonable audience in the United States, UK, Canada, Europe, Australia, Mexico and the Middle East.[3] In the US, their profile was boosted on the back of regular touring, high-profile TV slots such as The Late Show with David Letterman and their music appearing in popular drama series such as Grey’s Anatomy and The OC. 

Bell X1 are known for regular changes in sound from album to album, their range taking in alternative, indie, hard rock, post-punk, acoustic, lo-fi, folk rock, ballad, pop, synth-pop, new wave and electronica. 

[Spotify]  Velcro

“Good Cop Bad Cop”, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet

This way: Good Cop Bad Cop

Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet are a Juno Award-winning Canadian instrumental rock band, formed in 1984. They remain best known for the track "Having an Average Weekend", which an alternate version was used as the theme to the Canadian sketch comedy TV show The Kids in the Hall. Although commonly classified as a surf rock band they rejected the label, going so far as to release a track called "We're Not a Fucking Surf Band", although they also later released a compilation box set titled Oh, I Guess We Were a Fucking Surf Band After All. 

[Spotify]  Good Cop Bad Cop

“He’d Be a Diamond”, Bevis Frond

This way: He’d Be a Diamond

The Bevis Frond is an English rock band formed in 1986 in Walthamstow, London, England. The band is fronted by Nick Saloman and has recorded many singles and albums on various independent labels. Saloman was originally in a band known as the Bevis Frond Museum in the late 1960s, and in the 1970s, whilst at college, he played guitar with a duo called Oddsocks. They released one album, Men of the Moment. In 1979 he formed a band called the Von Trap Family, who released the first single on his own Woronzow Records label. The early Von Trap Family recordings, comprising three sessions, were released on the Bevis Frond Bandcamp site for the first time in May 2010. The next release on Woronzow was in 1982, a 12" single by Room 13 with Saloman on guitar and future Bevis Frond drummer Martin Crowley. After Room 13 reached the end of its natural life, Nick Saloman had a bad motorbike accident that left him with a constriction of movement in his left arm. True to form, he had the arm set so that he could continue playing guitar. With the proceeds from a damages claim he bought a 4 track recorder and recorded some music which he decided to press as a limited release of 250 albums, more for the sake of just releasing an album than anything else. 

[Spotify] He’d Be a Diamond

“Some Jingle Jangle Morning”, Mary Lou Lord

This way: Some Jingle Jangle Morning

Mary Lou Lord (born March 1, 1965) is an indie folk musician who started performing as a busker in Boston.

Mary Lou Lord first gained attention playing acoustic guitar and singing in and around Boston's subway stations, particularly on the Red Line, as noted by the name she chose for her music and lyric publishing company, On the Red Line Music, administered by BMI.

She met Elliott Smith through Slim Moon, the owner of Kill Rock Stars and her boyfriend at the time. Lord toured three separate times with Smith during the 1990s. Smith also wrote and helped Lord record a song called "I Figured You Out" in 1997.

Lord signed with the Sony subsidiary Work in 1997 and released the album Got No Shadow in 1998. On December 31, 1998, Lord and Kevin Patey, from the band Raging Teens, had a daughter whom they named Annabelle Lord-Patey.

Her recording of Daniel Johnston's "Speeding Motorcycle" (which originally featured on her self-titled 8-song Kill Rock Stars release) was featured in commercials for Target stores, after which her label reissued the song as the lead-off track of a CD single which also included two demo recordings from the sessions for Got No Shadow.

 

[Spotify] Some Jingle Jangle Morning

“Games Without Frontiers”, Peter Gabriel

This way: Games Without Frontiers

Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and activist. He rose to fame as the original lead singer of the progressive rock band Genesis. After leaving Genesis in 1975, he launched a successful solo career with "Solsbury Hill" as his first single. His 1986 album, So, is his best-selling release and is certified triple platinum in the UK and five times platinum in the U.S. The album's most successful single, "Sledgehammer", won a record nine MTV Awards at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards and, according to a report in 2011, it was MTV's most played music video of all time.

Gabriel has been a champion of world music for much of his career. He co-founded the WOMAD festival in 1982. He has continued to focus on producing and promoting world music through his Real World Records label. He has also pioneered digital distribution methods for music, co-founding OD2, one of the first online music download services.n

[Spotify]  Games Without Frontiers

“1952 Vincent Black Lightning”, Richard Thompson

This way: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

How is it that I havent posted this song before now? This has to be the best song ever written. It is often superior in the live setting. Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme . . . .

[Spotify]  1952 Vincent Black Lightning

Here it is disguised as Americana. . . 

[live version]  1952 Vincent Black Lightning

[And another]  1952 Vincent Black Lightning

[Del McCoury Cover]  1952 Vincent Black Lightning

[Mary Lou Lord Cover]  1952 Vincent Black Lightning 

“Young Lions”, Constantines

This way: Young Lions

Constantines is an indie rock band from Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Constantines was formed in 1999 by vocalist and guitarist Bryan Webb, drummer Doug MacGregor and guitarist Paul Bright, all of whom had played together in the emo band Shoulder from 1994 to 1997; with the addition of bassist Dallas Wehrle. Bright was asked to leave early on and was replaced by Steve Lambke. Their style has been described as "art-punk", and they have been compared to bands like The Clash, Fugazi, Bruce Springsteen, The Replacements, and Nick Cave. 

The name of the band is taken from an episode of Coast to Coast with Art Bell, in which Bell was playing recordings of ghost voices in static, and one of the ghosts' names was Constantine.

[Spotify]  Young Lions

“Ain’t You”, Kleenex

This way: Ain’t You

LiLiPUT, initially known as Kleenex, were a Swiss punk rock band formed in Zürich in 1978. The band experienced numerous line-up changes throughout their existence, with bassist Klaudia Schiff being the only constant member of the band over their entire history. Guitarist Marlene Marder joined the group shortly after their formation, and remained a member until their 1983 split. LiLiPUT's final line-up consisted of Schiff, Marder, and lead vocalist Astrid Spirit, and it was in this incarnation that the band recorded their only full-length studio albums, Liliput (1982) and Some Songs (1983). Kleenex/LiLiPUT (also referred to as LiLiPUT) is a compilation album by Swiss punk rock band LiLiPUT. Released by Off Course Records in 1993, the album compiles the band's entire recorded output, from their first recordings under the name Kleenex to their later material after changing their name to LiLiPUT. The album was reissued by Kill Rock Stars on 20 February 2001. 

[Spotify]  Ain’t You

“Up to My Elbows”, The Stroppies

This way: Up to My Elbows

Starting out as a recording project between Angus Lord, Claudia Serfaty and Stephanie Hughes, the germ of what would eventually become the Stroppies was formed around a kitchen table in Melbourne's inner west early 2016. The initial idea was to create open ended music, collaged quickly and haphazardly together on a Tascam 4 track Portastudio that drew on stream of consciousness creativity and a DIY attitude a la Guided By Voices and The Great Unwashed. The desire to move beyond the pre programmed drum patterns available on their Casio Keyboard led to the addition of Rory Heane on drums and a more conventional band dynamic.

[Spotify]  Up to My Elbows

“Daytona Sand”, Orville Peck

This way: Daytona Sand

Who was that masked man? Orville Peck is a South African country musician based in Canada. He wears a fringed mask and has never shown his face publicly. He released his debut album Pony in 2019, followed by the EP Show Pony the next year. His second studio album Bronco was released on April 8, 2022. Peck was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and lived there until he was 15. As a child, Peck did not receive any formal music training, he taught himself music by playing on an acoustic guitar and an old Casio keyboard. He is the son of a sound engineer, and he did voice-over work for cartoons and other media as a child. Growing up, he trained in ballet for 12 years, and performed in musical theatre. By the time he was in his early 20s, Peck had been on national tours of musicals. In his mid-20s, he moved to London to study acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and later starred in a play on the West End.  

[Spotify]  Daytona Sand

“Oh!”, The Linda Lindas

This way: Oh!

The Linda Lindas are a punk rock band from Los Angeles. The all-girl group comprises Bela Salazar, Eloise Wong, Lucia de la Garza, and Mila de la Garza. In January 2018, Eloise Wong's father Martin Wong was contacted by an acquaintance, asking if she would be interested in playing alongside Kristin Kontrol and a bunch of "inexperienced kids" for a performance at a music festival called Girlschool LA, after seeing pictures and videos of her singing at Save Music in Chinatown. Martin then suggested Lucia and Mila de la Garza, daughters of his sister Angelyn Wong and brother-in-law Carlos de la Garza, since the three of them often sang, danced and performed together since they were toddlers; Carlos, who owned a backyard studio, took up the position of a second coach. After Kontrol recruited more children through social media and the first round of rehearsals were held, Angelyn and Martin's wife Wendy Lau reached out to the girls' family friend Bela Salazar, who was taking guitar lessons, to join in, thinking that they needed someone who could play an instrument. Originally, it was intended to be a one-off project, but a few months later, Salazar was invited to open a show for Frieda's Roses, and engaged Eloise, Lucia and Mila to be her backing band.  

[Spotify]  Oh!

“One More Hour”, Sleater-Kinney

This way: One More Hour

Sleater-Kinney is an American rock band that formed in Olympia, Washington, in 1994. The band's current lineup features Corin Tucker (vocals and guitar) and Carrie Brownstein (guitar and vocals), following the departure of longtime member Janet Weiss (vocals, drums, and harmonica) in 2019. Sleater-Kinney originated as part of the riot grrrl movement and has become a key part of the American indie rock scene. 

The band released seven studio albums between 1994 and 2005: Sleater-Kinney (1995), Call the Doctor (1996), Dig Me Out (1997), The Hot Rock (1999), All Hands on the Bad One (2000), One Beat (2002) and The Woods (2005). They went on hiatus in 2006 and devoted themselves to solo projects. They reunited in 2014 and released No Cities to Love on January 20, 2015, and Live in Paris in January 2017. Their second studio album after their reunion, The Center Won't Hold, was produced by St. Vincent, and released in August 2019. The band's tenth studio album and their first self-produced album, Path of Wellness, was released in June 2021. 

Critics Greil Marcus and Robert Christgau have each praised Sleater-Kinney as one of the essential rock groups of the early 2000s. Marcus named Sleater-Kinney America's best rock band in 2001. Tom Breihan of Stereogum called them the greatest rock band of the past two decades in 2015. 

[Spotify]  One More Hour

“Tennessee Stud”, Jimmie Driftwood

This way: Tennessee Stud

James Corbitt Morris (June 20, 1907 – July 12, 1998), known professionally as Jimmy Driftwood or Jimmie Driftwood, was an American folk music songwriter and musician, most famous for his songs "The Battle of New Orleans" and "Tennessee Stud". Driftwood wrote more than 6,000 folk songs, of which more than 300 were recorded by various musicians.  Driftwood was born in Timbo, Arkansas, United States on June 20, 1907. His father was folk singer Neil Morris. He is on the album Songs of the Ozarks. Driftwood learned to play the guitar at a young age on his grandfather’s homemade instrument. Driftwood used that unique guitar throughout his career and noted that its neck was made from a fence rail, its sides from an old ox yoke, and the head and bottom from the headboard of his grandmother's bed. This homemade instrument produced a pleasant, distinctive, resonant sound. 

Driftwood attended John Brown College in northwest Arkansas and later received a degree in education from Arkansas State Teacher's College. He started writing songs during his teaching career to teach his students history in an entertaining manner.

[Spotify]  Tennessee Stud

“Golden Rope”, Tiña

This way: Golden Rope

South London band Tiña. 

[Spotify]  Golden Rope

“Like That”, Mr. Airplane Man

This way: Like That

Mr. Airplane Man is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Margaret Garrett and Tara McManus met each other when they were both 10 years old. The two became childhood friends, but later separated, attending separate colleges. After beginning to play music together, the duo experimented with other band members, but preferred playing as a twosome.

[Spotify]  Like That 

“Grave’s Disease”, Matt Pond PA

This way: Grave’s Disease

Matt Pond PA is a New York-based band formed in Philadelphia by singer-songwriter Matt Pond. It has released numerous LPs and numerous EPs between 1998 and 2020.

Throughout the years Pond enlisted a rotating cast of collaborators for recording and touring, including cellists Jim Hostetter and Eve Miller, violinist Rosie McNamara-Jones, drummers Mike Kennedy and Dan Crowell, bassists Matt Raisch and Josh Kramer, and guitarists Jim Kehoe and Brian Pearl. Chris Hansen, producer and guitarist, has been a core member of the group since 2007. Cellist Shawn Alpay, who performs individually as Completions, is currently recording and touring as a member of the band.

Matt Pond announced on October 30, 2017, on his website and social media accounts that he would be retiring the Matt Pond PA moniker but would continue making music. However, as of 2020, Matt Pond continues to release music under the name Matt Pond PA.  

[Spotify]  Grave’s Disease

[Live version]  Grave’s Disease

“On the Road to Fairfax County”, The Roches

This way: On the Road to Fairfax County

The Roches (Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy Roche) were a vocal group of three songwriting American sisters from Park Ridge, New Jersey, United States. They were known for their "unusual" and "rich" harmonies, quirky lyrics, and casually comedic stage performances. The Roches were active as performers and recording artists from the mid-1970s through 2017, at various times performing as a trio and in pairs.  

[Spotify]  On the Road to Fairfax County