“Jump into the Fire”, Nilsson

This way: Jump into the Fire

7 minute song? It better be worth it, it is.

Harry Nilsson (June 15, 1941 – January 15, 1994), sometimes credited as Nilsson, was an American singer-songwriter who reached the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. His work is characterized by pioneering vocal overdub experiments, returns to the Great American Songbook, and fusions of Caribbean sounds. A tenor with a 3+1⁄2 octave range, Nilsson was one of the few major pop-rock recording artists to achieve significant commercial success without ever performing major public concerts or undertaking regular tours.

Born in Brooklyn, Nilsson moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to escape his family's poor financial situation. While working as a computer programmer at a bank, he grew interested in musical composition and close-harmony singing, and was successful in having some of his songs recorded by various artists such as the Monkees. In 1967, he debuted on RCA Victor with the LP Pandemonium Shadow Show, followed by a variety of releases that included a collaboration with Randy Newman (Nilsson Sings Newman, 1970) and the original children's story The Point! (1971). He created the first remix album (Aerial Pandemonium Ballet, 1971) and recorded the first mashup song ("You Can't Do That", 1967). His most commercially successful album, Nilsson Schmilsson (1971), produced the international top 10 singles "Without You" and "Coconut". His other top 10 hit, "Everybody's Talkin'" (1968), was featured prominently in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy. A version of Nilsson's "One", released by Three Dog Night in 1969, also reached the U.S. top 10. 

[Spotify] Jump into the Fire

“Sweet Gene Vincent”, Ian Dury

This way: Sweet Gene Vincent

Punk rock is a big tent, this music is proof. Ian Dury (12 May 1942 – 27 March 2000, age 57) was a British singer, songwriter and actor who rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and new wave era of rock music. He was the lead singer and lyricist of Ian Dury and the Blockheads and before that of Kilburn and the High Roads. Dury was born, and spent his early years, at his parents' home at 43 Weald Rise, Harrow Weald, Middlesex (though he often pretended that he had been born in Upminster, Essex, which all but one of his obituaries in the UK national press stated as fact). His father, William George Dury (born 23 September 1905, Southborough, Kent; died 25 February 1968), was a local bus driver and former boxer, while his mother Margaret died January 1995 was a health visitor, the daughter of a Cornish doctor and the granddaughter of an Irish landowner. 

At the age of seven, Dury contracted polio, most likely, he believed, from a swimming pool at Southend-on-Sea during the 1949 polio epidemic. After six weeks in a full plaster cast in the Royal Cornwall Infirmary, Truro, he was moved to Black Notley Hospital, Braintree, Essex, where he spent a year and a half before going to Chailey Heritage Craft School, East Sussex, in 1951. His illness resulted in the paralysis and withering of his left leg, shoulder and arm. 

[Spotify] Sweet Gene Vincent

“Days to Come”, Terrible Feelings

This way: Days to Come

Having a paradoxical mixture of poppy, danceable power pop and gloom-and-doom lyrics, Sweden’s Terrible Feelings deliver a simultaneous dose of good vibes and bad news using their doomsday pop-punk sound. Created in ’09 2009, the music group released some singles in 2011 before ultimately liberating two EPs, the Japan-only Loss of life to Everyone as well as the more accessible Blank Mind, that same 12 months. A full-length arranged, Shadows, found its way to 2012 on Deranged Information.  

[Spotify] Days to Come

“Say my Name”, Summer Cannibals

This way: Say my Name

Summer Cannibals is a rock band from Portland, Oregon featuring lead singer and guitarist Jessica Boudreaux, drummer Devon Shirley (formerly of the bands The Photo Atlas and Red Orange Yellow), guitarist Cassi Blum and bassist Ethan Butman.  Their debut album, No Makeup, was released on New Moss Records on August 6, 2013. Their follow up sophomore album, Show Us Your Mind, was produced, recorded, and mixed by Larry Crane and released on New Moss Records on March 3, 2015. The album received favorable reviews from critics such as Entertainment Weekly, which stated that the album featured “songs that refine the fuzzy garage-pop of its debut into something sharper, tighter, and much more difficult to shake off.” 

Summer Cannibals toured nationwide supporting the Show Us Your Mind album, including sets at SXSW and CMJ in 2015. Following their return in the fall, the band recorded their third full-length album with Chris Woodhouse, the engineer on records from artists including Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees and WAND. 

[Spotify] Say my Name

“When in Rome, When in Memphis”, Cory Branan

This way: When in Rome, When in Memphis

Cory Branan (born December 15, 1974) is an American singer-songwriter from Mississippi. Branan learned how to play the guitar young, and by his teens, Branan was playing guitar in diverse genres from hard rock, black metal (Black Like Me), to heavy metal in local bands, eventually fronting a Black Sabbath cover band as well as playing country music. He credits a creative writing teacher in high school, Evelyn Simms, for suggesting books outside the usual high school curriculum and encouraging his writing.    

[Spotify] When in Rome, When in Memphis

“Country”, Good Morning

This way: Country

Good Morning is an Australian indie rock duo from Melbourne, Australia. (Thanks Devin!) The group began in 2014 with the release of their debut album, Shawcross. In January 2016, the duo released their second EP titled Glory.

Good Morning released their debut studio album in March 2018.nIn 2019, Good Morning released two EPs, The Option and Basketball Breakups.

In 2021, the duo announced they had signed with Illinois-based record label Polyvinyl Records along with their second full-length album titled Barnyard. The album was released on 22 October 2021. In addition to signing with Polyvinyl, the duo also signed a publishing deal with Sub Pop.

[Spotify] Country

Holiday edition “2000 Miles”, Pretenders

This way: 2000 Miles

Another one of my favorites, 2000 miles is a very long way to go. Chrissy Hyde is such a great songwriter. This song has the sadness that for me, is often a must. The joy and the tears.

[Spotify] 2000 Miles

[Spotify Christmas playlist] Christmas and then

Holiday edition “River”, Joni Mitchell

 This way: River

Im putting up Christmas songs for the next few. This one stands out as the best Christmas song in my book. Why? It successfully is Christmas without being about Christmas at all. It's just a great song in general. 

[Spotify, Not Likely]

[Spotify Christmas playlist] Christmas and then

Holiday edition “Christmas in Prison”, John Prine

This way: Christmas in Prison

You could trade it all in on John Prine's worst day and still come out a winner. This from 1973. 

[Spotify] Christmas in Prison

[Live is often better] Christmas in Prison

Holiday edition “Wishlist”, Pearl Jam

This way: Wishlist

I only heard this song in recent years despite my vigilance with rock Christmas song seeking. And wow is this one great, Pearl Jam has some other song with Christmas in the title but it doesnt hold a candle to this masterpiece. I wish I was a full moon shining off a Camero's hood. Yeah baby. From 1998.

[Spotify] Wishlist

[Spotify Christmas playlist] Christmas and then

“Drum Song”, Dead Gwynne

This way: Drum Song

If it is Christmas time, it is also time for the annual Dead Gwynne Holiday Song. The back story that sent me off down the rabbit hole of music back when I was a young lad.

[Spotify, not likely]

The whole collection resides here: Drum Song

“Ghost Town”, The Specials, RIP Terry Hall

This way: Ghost Town

Sadness at the passing of Terry Hall, one of the English greats. The Specials, also known as The Special AKA, are an English 2 tone and ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry. After some early changes, the first stable lineup of the group consisted of Terry Hall and Neville Staple on vocals, Lynval Golding and Roddy Radiation on guitars, Horace Panter on bass, Jerry Dammers on keyboards, John Bradbury on drums, and Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez on horn. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude".[4] Lyrically, they present a "more focused and informed political and social stance".

The band wore mod-style "1960s period rude boy outfits (pork pie hats, tonic and mohair suits and loafers)". In 1980, the song "Too Much Too Young", the lead track on their The Special AKA Live! EP, reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1981, the recession-themed single "Ghost Town" also hit No. 1 in the UK.

After seven consecutive UK top 10 singles between 1979 and 1981, main lead vocalists Hall and Staple, along with guitarist Golding, left to form Fun Boy Three. Continuing as "The Special AKA" (a name they used frequently on earlier Specials releases), a substantially revised Specials line-up issued new material until 1984, including the top 10 UK hit single "Free Nelson Mandela". After this, founder and songwriter Jerry Dammers dissolved the band and pursued political activism. The group re-formed in 1993, and have continued to perform and record with varying line-ups, none of them involving Dammers.

[Spotify] Ghost Town

“Carnival of Sorts”, R.E.M.

This way: Carnival of Sorts

This is not a perfect album, it's really an EP, but the gems shine hard. This song is a real beauty. It really isn't any kind earth shatter maker, but it is just enough. Great songwritin' chops show thru. It was a record that needed to be made. Launched a thousand bands not unlike the Velvets did with their debut. This record is 40 years old this year so cheers to that and the start of a long and fruitful career. What are these songs about? Still have no clue.

[Spotify] Carnival of Sorts

“Acid Song”, Antietam

This way: Acid Song

Antietam is an indie rock band from Louisville, Kentucky formed in 1984 by members of the Babylon Dance Band, husband and wife duo Tara Key and Tim Harris. They released six albums between 1985 and 1995, and since the late 1980s have been based in New York. Their latest album is Intimations of Immortality, released on Motorific Sounds in 2017.

[Spotify] Acid Song

“Tomorrow We get Healthy”, Spike Fuck

This way: Tomorrow We get Healthy

Spike Fuck grew up in Melbourne, Australia. She used heroin and other drugs for several years and was subsequently dependent on methadone for more than three years. She began performing under the Spike Fuck moniker in 2015.

Her work draws primarily from her experience as a recovering heroin addict, her struggle with gender dysphoria, and her faith as a Catholic. She describes her music as "smackwave", drawing on the slang term for heroin and referring to a style influenced by new wave and post-punk, as well as country music. She has cited Roky Erickson and Scott Walker as influences.

In 2019 she signed to Partisan Records. As of 2019, she was preparing to move to London and had begun work on her debut full-length album; tentatively titled BellaDonna DeathTrip.

[Spotify] Tomorrow We get Healthy 

“I Hate Everyone”, Matthew Ryan

This way: I Hate Everyone

Matthew Ryan is an American musician, singer and songwriter, born in Chester, Pennsylvania and inspired by such artists as U2, The Replacements, and Leonard Cohen. He logged several years in a series of bands before signing with A&M Records as a solo artist in 1996. No Depression magazine has described him as "Equal parts Springsteen, Westerberg and Ryan Adams, Ryan is a powerhouse of a storyteller for almost two decades. A forefather of the Alt-country scene, Ryan has yet to receive as much commercial success as some of his contemporaries." Ryan is known for his "hushed rasp, with words catching like vows destined to be broken – one of modern music's most potent whispers."  

Ryan has released 18 solo albums to date, and two collaborations: one with Neilson Hubbard in the band Strays Don't Sleep, and the other with ambient/post-rock band Hammock. His music has been featured in One Tree Hill, Ash Wednesday, Dawson's Creek, The 24th Day, The Unit, and House. His most recent album, The Future was Beautiful, was released in November 2019. 

[Spotify] I Hate Everyone

“The Thing Is”, Foxygen

This way: The Thing Is

Foxygen is an American indie rock duo from Westlake Village, California, formed in 2005. The band consists of multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Rado and vocalist Sam France. They have released six albums and a number of self-released EPs. Rado and France started their band in high school when both were fourteen. After their formation in 2005, the band played experimental music; influenced by psychedelia and avant-garde. Their early music won them first place in Agoura High School's Battle of the Bands. They self-released four EPs between 2007 and 2011. In early 2011, they were 'discovered' by producer Richard Swift after handing him one of their EPs at a The Mynabirds show in New York. The group were later signed on to Jagjaguwar Records and their first studio album, Take the Kids Off Broadway, was released by Jagjaguwar on July 24, 2012. 

[Spotify] The Thing Is

“Pulse”, The Psychedelic Furs

This way: Pulse

The Psychedelic Furs are a punk band founded in London in February 1977. Led by lead vocalist Richard Butler and his brother Tim Butler on bass guitar, the Psychedelic Furs are one of the many acts spawned from the British scene. Their music went through several phases, from an initially austere art rock sound, to later touching on new wave and hard rock. 

The band had several hits in their early career. In 1986, filmmaker John Hughes used their song "Pretty in Pink" for his film of the same name. They went on hiatus after they finished touring in 1992, but resumed in 2000 and continue to perform live. The band released Made of Rain, their first studio album in nearly three decades, on 31 July 2020.

[Spotify] Pulse

“I Feel Like a Wog”, The Stranglers, RIP Jet Black

This way: I Feel Like a Wog

RIP Jet Black, the bands drummer. 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.

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] I Feel Like a Wog

“Such Great Heights”, The Postal Service

This way: Such Great Heights

The Postal Service are an American indie pop supergroup from Seattle, Washington, consisting of singer Ben Gibbard ( Death Cab for Cutie), producer Jimmy Tamborello, and Jenny Lewis on background vocals.

The band released their only album, Give Up, in 2003 on Sub Pop Records, to mostly positive reviews. The album reached number 114 on the US Billboard 200 album chart, and received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.

The Postal Service remained largely inactive from 2005 until 2013, when they reunited for a tour and released a re-issue of Give Up to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Laura Burhenn joined the lineup throughout the tour to provide additional vocals and instruments, with Jen Wood and Jenny Lewis filling in for a few shows. 

[Spotify] Such Great Heights

“Hazing”, Sextile

This way: Hazing

Sextile is an American band from Los Angeles, California. The band consists of founding members Brady Keehn (vocals, guitar, electronics) and Melissa Scaduto (drums, electronics, guitar). The band takes its name from the aspect of the same name in astrology.  

Sextile was formed in 2015 by Keehn and Scaduto, after the duo relocated from Brooklyn, New York to Los Angeles. They were soon joined by bassist Kenny Elkin and multi-instrumentalist Eddie Wuebben. Signing to Felte Records after supporting Ritual Howls at local gigs, the band released its debut album, A Thousand Hands in the same year. Its follow-up, Albeit Living, was released in 2017; by the time of its release, Elkin was replaced by bassist Cameron Michel.

In 2018, Sextile released the single "Current Affair," with the band reduced to its two founding members for their EP, 3, later in the year. Sextile entered a hiatus in 2019, with Keehn and Scaduto pursuing other projects, Panther Modern and S. Product, respectively.

The band's former guitarist, Eddie Wuebben, died in 2019.

[Spotify] Hazing

“This is not a Test”, Bikini Kill

This way: This is not a Test

Bikini Kill is an American punk rock band formed in Olympia, Washington, in October 1990. The group consisted of singer and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail. The band pioneered the riot grrrl movement, with feminist lyrics and fiery performances. Their music is characteristically abrasive and hardcore-influenced. After two full-length albums, several EPs and two compilations, they disbanded in 1997. The band reunited for tours in 2019 and 2022, with Erica Dawn Lyle on guitar in place of Karren.  

[Spotify] This is not a Test

“Brand New Cadillac”, Vince Taylor

This way: Brand New Cadillac

Vince Taylor (14 July 1939 – 28 August 1991),was an English rock and roll singer. As the lead singer of Vince Taylor and His Playboys, sometimes Vince Taylor and The Playboys, he was successful primarily in France and other parts of Continental Europe during the late 1950s and early 1960s, afterwards falling into obscurity amidst personal problems and drug abuse. He is best remembered for his 1959 song "Brand New Cadillac", which The Clash covered on their album London Calling. He was among the inspirations for David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust character.  

[Spotify] Brand New Cadillac

[Clash kills it] Brand New Cadillac

“What Kind of Monster are You?”, Slant 6

This way: What Kind of Monster are You?

Slant 6 was an American punk rock trio based in Washington, D.C. affiliated with early riot grrrl.

Slant 6 consisted of Christina Billotte (electric guitar and vocals), Myra Power (electric bass guitar and vocals), and Marge Marshall (drum set and trumpet). The group formed in July 1992 following the 1991 breakup of Autoclave, in which Billotte had played. The group took their name from an in-line six-cylinder engine produced in the 1960s and 1970s by the Chrysler Corporation.

Slant 6 recorded for the Dischord label and toured the United States several times, and England once. The group released two albums, 1994's Soda Pop-Rip Off and 1995's Inzombia. Evelyn McDonnell and Elisabeth Vincentelli, writing for the New York Times in 2019, considered Soda Pop-Rip Off "arguably the best album of the riot grrrl era." Rob Sheffield, writing for Rolling Stone in 2020, considered Soda Pop-Rip Off an essential LP of the nineties. 

The band made an appearance in the 1994 cult road movie Half-cocked. Slant 6 broke up in November 1995 while on tour in England. 

[Spotify] What Kind of Monster are You?

“Deceptacon”, Le Tigre

This way: Deceptacon

Le Tigre (French for "The Tiger") was an American electronic rock band formed by Kathleen Hanna (of Bikini Kill), Johanna Fateman and Sadie Benning in 1998 in New York City. Benning left in 2000 and was replaced by JD Samson for the rest of the group's existence. They mixed punk's directness and politics with playful samples, eclectic pop, and lo-fi electronics. The group also added multimedia and performance art elements to their live shows, which often featured support from like-minded acts such as The Need. 

[Spotify] Deceptacon

“Beer Run”, Todd Snider

This way: Beer Run

Todd Snider (born October 11, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter whose music incorporates elements of folk, rock, blues, alt country, and funk. 

Todd Snider was born in Portland, Oregon, but was raised in nearby Beaverton, where he lived until he graduated from Beaverton High School in 1985. After high school, he moved to Santa Rosa, California, to attend Santa Rosa Junior College. He only lasted one semester, but while there, he learned to play the harmonica.

 

With help from his brother Mike who bought him a plane ticket, Snider relocated to San Marcos, Texas, after leaving SRJC in late fall of 1985. Not long after he arrived in San Marcos, Snider saw Jerry Jeff Walker perform solo at Gruene Hall, a legendary dance hall in New Braunfels, Texas. When he saw Walker that night, he decided he wanted to become a songwriter and began writing songs the next day. He told Lone Star Music Magazine in 2004, "I didn't even know how to really play guitar yet, but I saw his show and went and got one."

[Spotify] Beer Run

“Crowned in Chrome”, Crooked Fingers

This way: Crowned in Chrome

Crooked Fingers was an American indie rock band, led by the former Archers of Loaf frontman Eric Bachmann. A vehicle for Bachmann's songwriting, the band's lineup changed between each record. Crooked Fingers released albums on WARM Records and Merge Records, and also independently. Bachmann retired the name Crooked Fingers in January 2016 with a pair of shows in New York City and Durham, NC, playing the first two records in their entirety with a string ensemble and has since been releasing albums under his name. 

[Spotify] Crowned in Chrome

“Hutch Jack Flats Rag”, Graham Lindsey

This way: Hutch Jack Flats Rag

Graham Lindsey (born May 20, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He played in several punk bands, including Old Skull, while still in high-school. He released his first solo album in 2003. While retaining the punk attitude and political awareness Lindsey's music had since evolved and exposed his folk and country roots, to create a mix of folk, alternative country, Americana & country noir. He has since released two more albums, one EP and contributed to several compilations. Four of Lindsey's songs were used in the direct-to-DVD film Fairview St., released in 2010. His song "Emma Rumble" was used in the direct-to-DVD film Dunsmore, released in 2004. Lindsey lives in Montana and performs with his wife Tina Lindsey.

[Spotify] Hutch Jack Flats Rag