“See You Around”, Vic Chestnutt

This way (my copy): See You Around

I've posted this before, but im going to post it again as it is such a high achievement in songwriting. It really does not get much better than Vic Chestnutt. One of the great songwriters of his day, a real American treasure. He figured out how to play guitar with sever limited use of his hands due to his partial paralysis. His songwriting style is so unique and odd ball. It’s hard to know where he fits into any musical style. He collaborated with may other accomplished musicians and had a side band project with Widespread Panic called Brute.

Vic Chesnutt (November 12, 1964 – December 25, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, Little, was released in 1990, but his breakthrough to commercial success did not come until 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, a charity record of alternative artists covering his songs.

Chesnutt released 17 albums during his career, including two produced by Michael Stipe, and a 1996 release on Capitol Records, About to Choke. His musical style has been described by Bryan Carroll of allmusic.com as a "skewed, refracted version of Americana that is haunting, funny, poignant, and occasionally mystical, usually all at once".

Injuries from a 1983 car accident left him partially paralyzed; he used a wheelchair and had limited use of his hands.

[Spotify, not likely] 

“Germfree Adolescents”, X-Ray Spex—NPA

This way: I am a Poseur

Near Perfect Album

Germfree Adolescents is the 1978 debut album of English punk rock band X-Ray Spex. It contained the UK hit singles "The Day the World Turned Dayglo" (No. 23 in April 1978), "Identity" (No. 24 in July 1978) and "Germ Free Adolescents" which reached No. 18 in November 1978. Upon release, the critics noted it wasn't all new material: five songs on the twelve tracks had already been released on A-sides and B-sides of singles. 

[Spotify] I am a Poseur

[Spotify, album] Germfree Adolescents

“OK”, Cleopatrick

This way: OK

Cleopatrick is a Canadian rock duo based out of Cobourg, Ontario. They have their own record label, called Nowhere Special Recordings. 

Childhood friends Ian Fraser and Luke Gruntz grew up in Cobourg, Ontario had been friends since age 4 and began getting interested in music around age 8 when they first listened to AC/DC. Later in their teens they began recording their own music.

Their debut EP, titled "14" was released on 14 February 2016, though they began to gain popularity with single "Hometown". Released in 2017, it peaked at No. 6 on the US Mainstream Rock Charts.[6] It was taken from their second EP, The Boys, which was released on 29 June 2018. The band's first music festival was the 2018 instalment of Lollapalooza in Chicago, and continuing into 2019 they played many festivals, including 2000 Trees Festival in England and Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta, Non-album single "Sanjake" was released in March 2019.

[Spotify] OK

“Vertigo”, Billy Nomates

This way: Vertigo

I could listen to her music all day long. Tor Maries, who performs as Billy Nomates, is a solo British songwriter & musician who now lives in Bristol, England. Maries grew up in Leicester and was a member of a number of bands that failed to be noticed. Following a period of depression, a Sleaford Mods gig inspired Maries to return to making music and she moved to Bournemouth to write and compose. Her stage name, Billy Nomates, was taken from an insult directed at her when she turned up at the gig on her own. 

[Spotify] Vertigo

“Train from Kansas City”, Neko Case

This way: Train from Kansas City

Neko Case is an American singer-songwriter and member of the Canadian indie rock group the New Pornographers. Case has a powerful, untrained contralto voice, which has been described by contemporaries and critics as a "flamethrower," "a powerhouse [which] seems like it might level buildings," "a 120-mph fastball," and a "vocal tornado". Critics also note her idiosyncratic, "cryptic,"  "imagistic" lyrics, and credit her as a significant figure in the early 21st-century American revival of the tenor guitar. Case's body of work has spanned and drawn on a range of traditions including country, folk, art rock, indie rock, and pop and is frequently described as defying or avoiding easy generic classification. 

[Spotify] Train from Kansas City

“If You Could Touch Her at All”, Bill Callahan

This way: If You Could Touch Her at All

Bill Callahan (born June 3, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who has also recorded and performed under the band name Smog. Callahan began working in the lo-fi genre, with home-made tape-albums recorded on four-track tape recorders. Later he began releasing albums with the label Drag City, to which he remains signed today. His work, in addition to lo-fi music, has encompassed apocalyptic folk and gothic country.  

[Spotify] If You Could Touch Her at All

“I Know a Girl”, The Undertones—NPA

This way: I Know a Girl

Near Perfect Album

I've been doing this exploration of near perfect albums for the underground explosion of Punk Rock. The criteria is no dog-ass songs. All songs on the LP must be stellar. Some of my favorite bands of all time fall short in this category (hello Husker Du). This first record by the Undertones really is a work of art. It is only slightly sullied by extra songs being added after the first release, Teenage Kicks was not on the first release. But that song is only going to strengthen the cause. 

[Spotify] I Know a Girl

[Spotify, album] The Undertones

“Breakdown”, Rowland S. Howard

This way: Breakdown

Rowland Stuart Howard (24 October 1959 – 30 December 2009) was an Australian rock musician, guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work with the punk group The Birthday Party and his subsequent solo career. Rowland Stuart Howard wrote "Shivers" at the age of 16 while in the band Young Charlatans. Howard gained acclaim after joining Melbourne-based band The Boys Next Door, when the song was released as a single. The band changed their name to The Birthday Party and Howard's discordant guitar remained a major factor in their sound. The Birthday Party relocated from Australia to London in 1980 and subsequently to West Berlin. 

[Spotify] Breakdown

“Disney Boys”, Blue Orchids

This way: Disney Boys

From the Original line up or the Fall, Blue Orchids are an English band formed in Manchester in 1979, when Martin Bramah left the Fall, after playing on the band's debut album Live at the Witch Trials. Christened by Salford-based punk poet John Cooper Clarke the band recorded for Rough Trade and acted as backing band for the Velvet Underground's Nico before a 25-year period of intermittent activity and fluctuating line-ups.

Having left the Fall, Bramah teamed up with another two former Fall members, keyboardist Una Baines, and guitarist Rick Goldstraw, as well as bassist Steve Toyne and drummer Ian Rogers (AKA Joe Kin). John Cooper Clarke suggested the name 'The Blessed Orchids' but according to Bramah, Goldstraw mis-remembered it as 'The Blue Orchids' and the name stuck.

[Spotify] Disney Boys

“Theme From Sparta F.C.#2”, The Fall

This way: Theme From Sparta F.C.

The Fall were an English punk group, formed in 1976 in Prestwich, Greater Manchester. They underwent many line-up changes, with vocalist and founder Mark E. Smith as the only constant member. The Fall's long-term musicians included drummers Paul Hanley, Simon Wolstencroft and Karl Burns; guitarists Marc Riley, Craig Scanlon and Brix Smith; and bassist Steve Hanley, whose melodic, circular bass lines are widely credited with shaping the band's sound from early 1980s albums such as Hex Enduction Hour to the late 1990s. 

"Theme from Sparta F.C." is a song by British post-punk band the Fall, written by Mark E. Smith with band members Ben Pritchard and Jim Watts. The song lyrics seem to be written from the perspective of a Greek football fan, with references to rivalries with Galatasaray and Chelsea F.C. Smith said that "Elena came up with some great words and I added some words I thought were like the Greek football fans' attitude, you know. I do know quite a few Greek football fans, and their attitude to soccer is completely different to Britain. Sort of cobbled it all together, put a Greek motif on the guitar and that was it."

[Spotify] Theme From Sparta F.C.

“DEATHWISH”, Cottonwood Firing Squad

This way: DEATHWISH

California band from California. All music is written and performed by Billi Rodriguez. The DIY artist first started releasing music in 2016 with their debut album SIX, and later gained traction from their song “Post Modern Fade,” off of their 27 Club album. Their sound has been consistent with stripped-down production in true DIY fashion and sticks with a unique sound on vocal layering and reverb. “DEATHWISH” comes from the new EP, i think there’s something wrong with joshy. 

[Spotify] DEATHWISH

“California (All the Way)”, Luna

This way: California (All the Way)

Luna is an American rock band formed in 1991 by singer and guitarist Dean Wareham after the breakup of Galaxie 500. Described by Rolling Stone as "the best band you’ve never heard of," Luna combine intricate guitar work, traditional rock rhythms, and poetic lyrics.

The earliest edition of the band also included drummer Stanley Demeski and bassist Justin Harwood (Demeski formerly of The Feelies and Harwood formerly of New Zealand band The Chills). The original line-up was expanded with the addition of guitarist Sean Eden for their second album, 1994's Bewitched. Lee Wall replaced Demeski on drums in time for 1997's Pup Tent and Britta Phillips of Ultra Baby Fat and The Belltower (also known as the singing voice of animated character Jem) joined when bassist Justin Harwood departed in 2000. Phillips and Wareham became romantically involved and eventually married in 2007. 

This from 1994.

[Spotify] California (All the Way)

Playlist a09

[Spotify]  sotd a09

Another playlist from the last several months is
compiled on Spotify. 131 songs . . . 

A person should try to make a playlist, that is what
any person should do. 

Please enjoy responsibly.

—brENDan

Previous:

playlist 8:  sotd playlist #8

playlist 7: sotd playlist #7

playlist 6: sotd playlist #6

playlist 5: sotd playlist #5

playlist 4: sotd playlist #4

playlist 3: sotd playlist #3

playlist 2: sotd playlist #2

playlist 1: sotd playlist #1

“Add it Up”, Violent Femmes

This way: Add it Up

Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band consists of founding members Gordon Gano (guitar, lead vocals) and Brian Ritchie (bass, backing vocals), joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza (joined 2004), and drummer John Sparrow (joined 2005). Former members of the band include drummers Victor DeLorenzo (1980–1993, 2002–2013), Guy Hoffman (1993–2002), and Brian Viglione (2013–2016). 

Violent Femmes have released ten studio albums and 15 singles during the course of their career. The band found critical acclaim with the release of their self-titled debut album in early 1983. Featuring many of their best-known songs, including "Blister in the Sun", "Kiss Off", "Add It Up" and "Gone Daddy Gone", Violent Femmes became the band's biggest-selling album and was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA. After the release of their third album The Blind Leading the Naked (1986), the band's future was uncertain and they split up in 1987, when Gano and Ritchie went solo. However, they regrouped a year later, releasing their fourth album 3 (1989). The follow-up album, Why Do Birds Sing? (1991), contains the fan favorite and concert staple "American Music".

[Spotify] Add it Up

“Unsingable Name”, Mike Doughty

This way: Unsingable Name

Mike Doughty is an American singer-songwriter and author. He founded the band Soul Coughing in 1992, and as of The Heart Watches While the Brain Burns (2016), has released 18 studio albums, live albums, and EPs, all since 2000. While a doorman at the New York club The Knitting Factory (in that era, a hotbed of avant-garde jazz), Doughty founded Soul Coughing. The band released three critically and commercially successful albums, Ruby Vroom (1994), Irresistible Bliss (1996) and El Oso (1998). The greatest hits album Lust in Phaze was released in 2002. 

Solo Doughty broke up Soul Coughing in 2000 due to personal problems: He was wearying of the band, and he was addicted to opiate painkillers, heroin, and alcohol. He was promptly dropped by Warner Brothers, and began traveling in a rental car (covering 9,000 miles on his first tour) playing acoustic shows. 

[Spotify] Unsingable Name

“Work Until I Die”, S.G. Goodman

This way: Work Until I Die

S.G. Goodman is an American singer-songwriter. Prior to her solo career, Goodman was part of the band The Savage Radley. Her debut album, Old Time Feeling, was co-produced by Jim James of My Morning Jacket. The album has been described as Americana, folk, country, and rock. She is signed to Verve Forecast Records. In 2021, she, as a solo artist, was inter alia part of the Newport Folk Festival in July.

In June 2022, Goodman released her second album, Teeth Marks, on Verve Forecast. She usually plays with her guitar tuned down a whole step, though some songs on the record were played in this tuning with a capo. The fifth track on the album, "If You Were Someone I Loved" deals with the opioid crisis. Because her debut album was released during the COVID-19 pandemic, Goodman did not headline a tour for the album. As such, her tour for Teeth Marks was her first solo tour. 

[Spotify] Work Until I Die

“Love is All Around”, Hüsker Dü

This way: Love is All Around

“Love Is All Around”, a cover of the Mary Tyler Moore theme song, Both aligned with the town of Minneapolis. A great tune written by Sonny Curtis. Huskers kill it of course. 

[Spotify] Love is All Around

[Version by the writer] Love is All Around

[Cool Joan Jett] Love is All Around

“I've Been Thinking About a New Microphone”, Dan Reeder

This way: I've Been Thinking About a New Microphone

Dan Reeder is an American musician and artist. He was born in Louisiana in 1954 and raised in California. 

Reeder started his artistic career at Chapman University in Orange County, California. In 1980, Dan transferred to California State University, Fullerton to study fine arts. He relocated to Nuremberg, Germany with one semester left.

Reeder was signed to John Prine's Oh Boy Records recording label after sending Prine a self-made CD of his songs. His self-titled debut album was released in 2003. Reeder was the first musician to receive an article from Rolling Stone Magazine without a record deal. Previously with Prine, he performed regularly in North America and Europe. 

Reeder writes, arranges, and engineers his recordings on which the instruments and vocals are played and performed by himself through the use of multi-layering. He also has a creative knack for lo-fi, homemade engineering and taught himself how to build his own computers, amplifiers, microphones and P.A systems, some from scratch. Reeder is also an instrument maker and builds most of the instruments that he uses for recordings and live shows.

[Spotify] I've Been Thinking About a New Microphone

“Black Widow Spiders”, Parquet Courts

This way: Black Widow Spiders

Parquet Courts is an American rock band from New York City. The band consists of Andrew Savage (vocals, guitar), Austin Brown (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Sean Yeaton (bass, vocals), and Max Savage (drums). Band members Andrew Savage and Austin Brown met in Denton, Texas while both students at the University of North Texas, in a student club named Knights of the Round Turntable, where they listened to and shared new records. Andrew had a number of musical projects during college, including Teenage Cool Kids and Fergus & Geronimo. Andrew and brother Max Savage, Parquet Courts' drummer, were both born and raised in Denton. The three relocated to Brooklyn after college and soon started Parquet Courts. 

[Spotify] Black Widow Spiders

“No Sacrifice”, Nocturnal Emissions

This way: No Sacrifice

Nocturnal Emissions is Nigel Ayers's sound art project that has released numerous records and CDs in music styles ranging from electro-acoustic, musique concrète, hybridised beats, sound collage, post-industrial music, ambient and noise music. Their sound art has been part of an ongoing multimedia campaign of guerrilla sign ontology utilizing video art, film, hypertext and other media, particularly collage. Nocturnal Emissions were depicted by the novelist Stewart Home.   

[Spotify] No Sacrifice

“I Hate The Motorcyclist”, The Dull

This way: I Hate The Motorcyclist

A Geza X production job, these tracks combine elements of punk, metal, and ’70s R’n’R, perhaps exemplifying their proclaimed influences of “GRAND FUNK RAILROAD and the TROGGS.”  

[Spotify] I Hate The Motorcyclist

“Blind”, Michael Gira

This way: Blind

Michael Gira is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, author and artist. He is the main force behind the New York City musical group Swans and fronted Angels of Light. He is also the founder of Young God Records. After dissolving Swans in 1997 Gira released a solo album under his own name and began a new musical direction with Angels of Light, which are a quieter, more acoustic-based group than Swans.

Gira also spent time experimenting with soundscapes, found sound, and loops with The Body Lovers / The Body Haters project. He has also released several albums under his own name including Drainland (1995), a spoken word album called The Somniloquist (2000), and What We Did (2001), a collaboration with Windsor for the Derby's frontman Dan Matz. 

[Spotify] Blind

“Flesh Number One”, Robyn Hitchcock

This way: Flesh Number One

Robyn Hitchcock (born 3 March 1953) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano, and bass guitar. After leading the Soft Boys in the late 1970s and releasing the influential Underwater Moonlight, Hitchcock launched a prolific solo career. His musical and lyrical styles have been influenced by Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Syd Barrett, Captain Beefheart, Martin Carthy, Lou Reed, Roger McGuinn and Bryan Ferry.

Hitchcock's earliest lyrics mined a rich vein of English surrealist comic tradition and tended to depict a particular type of eccentric and sardonic English worldview. His music and performance style was originally (and remains) heavily influenced by Bob Dylan, but also by the English folk music revival of the 1960s and early 1970s, and this was soon filtered through a then-unfashionable psychedelic rock lens during the punk rock and New Wave music eras of the late 1970s and early 1980s. This combination of musical styles won Hitchcock's band of the time, The Soft Boys, a very enthusiastic if small fanbase, but an extremely frosty critical reception from the UK music press of the era.[citation needed] However, the Soft Boys' final album together, Underwater Moonlight, posthumously earned them a glowing reputation (particularly in America) as a major influence on bands like R.E.M. 

[Spotify] Flesh Number One

“Dying from the Inside Out”, The Golden Palominos (featuring Bob Mould)

This way: Dying from the Inside Out

This one is harsh but good. The Golden Palominos were an American musical group headed by drummer, producer, arranger 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 final 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. Fier stated that he thought of himself as a casting director, elaborating: "Each record was an experiment and some lasted for two records, never longer than that. I chalk it up to my short attention span and the fact that there were lots of people I wanted to work with and ways to explore areas of music I was interested in, and certain combos wouldn't fit with others, so one record would be this and another record would be something else."

[Spotify] Dying from the Inside Out