Short Attention - John Locke

Yes. Yes! YES! YES!!!



(And please do not make fun of the video. I made it all by myself on my computer!)

Patsy Cline - Crazy

I absolutely cannot explain it, but yesterday, around 8:30 a.m., I needed to listen to this song - not once, but about a dozen times in a row. Lately I've been completely overwhelmed; I've got a huge project I'm working on, and I also have a smaller project that I'm working on that is more immediately challenging. And yesterday represented two milestones in these projects. I say this because my only guess as to why this song is that I've been feeling a bit crazy lately? But that would lend itself to Gnarls Barkley's song of the same title, I think. Whatever. I love this song. So does everyone in history. I'm over it.

Pixies - Trompe le Monde

Everything about this is wrong wrong wrong. The whole band relegated to the background. Lovering left to play air drums. A guitar solo by the dude from Letterman's band. A Paul Shaffer keyboard solo. I know the World's Most Dangerous Band/CBS Orchestra likes to play along but man, this is taking it way too far. Someone should put together a DVD compilation of performances by bands that have been compromised for television.

The Shangri-Las - Give Him A Great Big Kiss

My roommate and I have been playing this one all day. No hyperbole, this song is absolutely the highest point of American music, and is the very apex of twentieth century culture. No, seriously, it is the best thing. Listen you are standing the presence of greatness.



(Tell me more)
(Tell me more)

Somebody left a bottle of Amaretto over here and I found a cocktail on wikipedia. Not only have I solved America, I get things done.

(Tell me more)

Three Farmers on Their Way to a Dance, 1914 - August Sander via Richard Powers

Dang old Mussolini on the set of Animal House, 1980

David Byrne inventing the bomb, Los Alamos

These fine people agree, this song is the key moment in that bitter century with those great wars, genocidiares and general wholesale dupage of everybody all the time. The Shangri-Las, they're God's answer to Job: "Your know, I do a lot of terrible things, but I can also make one of these."

Tom Waits - Diamond in Your Mind

I know I've had one Tom Waits post already this month, but indulge me. Besides, this is one of the bonus tracks off the Orphans vinyl, so I know someone will care. Drew will care.

You know it's an authentic Tom Waits song because he rhymes "Pinkerton raid" with "Three-finger Dave."



In exciting news about one of my other aural crushes, Kristian Matsson, alias The Tallest Man on Earth, has signed with a new label and will release "The Wild Hunt" in April. I previously wrote about meeting Matsson after a show in Seattle last year; he is by all accounts a likable dude. Along with that post I included a live version of "King of Spain," which lo and behold is the first single off "The Wild Hunt." You can download the album version here. And hell, Waits is putting out a new album later this year. It's time to get excited about your 2010 releases.

Rusko - Woo Boost

It's not often I venture into the realm of "noise," where I found this thing. I'm as big a fan of lyrics as the next man and condone their presence in just about everything I listen to.

But sometimes, if you can find something with a decent gif compilation (see bottom), you start making exceptions, and you'll get sucked into hearing said noise more than once. (... that is, if your brain is as easily amused as mine.)

Mingus- Haitian Fight Song

Os Mutantes - Meu Refrigerador não Funciona

I still listen to this song pretty much weekly. Hugs to Tyler, as always.

Jerry Reed - East Bound & Down

Last night I went to a show at the UCB theater here in LA, and saw a performance by the theater's creative director, Neil Campbell. He is a very funny performer and, according to friends who take classes at the theater, a very smart guy. More importantly, I believe he looks vaguely like Jerry Reed, Smokey & The Bandit's Snowman, and the dude who wrote the awesome soundtrack. It got me thinking about how much I love the film's theme song, so here it is the end.

The Clash - I'm So Bored with the U.S.A.

Sorry, but I have nothing positive to say right now. Fuck this ungovernable country.

Louis Armstrong - I Get Ideas

We should do another weekend.

Scissor Sisters - She's My Man

I heard this on the way into work yesterday morning, and that was enough, really. Apologies for the disco.

Cake - I Bombed Korea

Well, I'll already be out in the field for an exercise by the time you're reading this, so it's only fitting I schedule it ahead of time lest I miss my chance to shine, even if I fall flat on my face.

Consider it another glimpse into my own personal conflict of interest. It's pretty close to home what with talk of being at a bar and all.

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes- Wake Up Everybody

Kurt Vile - Freeway

It's just infectious.

The B.P.A. - Toe Jam

LET'S HAVE A PARTY

The Arcade Fire - Haiti

Not even a remotely original sentiment but I guess someone had to post this one. There are a lot of reasons why Haiti has existed in a constant state of poverty for its entire history, but the seed was planted when the French government demanded (and eventually received, with interest) reparations from the Haitians for, you know, fighting for and winning their freedom from slavery

Neil Young - A Man Needs A Maid

I hear a stunted man confronting himself - one who can't take care of himself or even live up to his ideals of gender and class equality. An overgrown adolescent grasping at old loves and films. A Man Needs a Maid.

(Be ready for the link, it works, but it fools with your browser.)

Jay Reatard, 1980 - 2010

Jay Reatard, dead at 29. Rest in peace.

James - White Boy

I'm not sure if these guys are considered on the right side of history or not -- until a couple days ago, I didn't know they existed, and that in spite of Lou.'s avatar from a while back (in the other place, for the outsiders). Anyway, I heard this track on the radio a few days back. It's from a post-reunion album released a couple years ago.

Comeback albums aren't supposed to be any good. (Though Dylan had a couple, and American IV gave Johnny Cash his first gold record in three decades. But I digress.) For all I know, this album isn't very good. But I dig this song. The "Yul Brynner" lyric is pretty great.

Elvis turned 75 last Friday.

Well, I for one thought it was worth mentioning. There are actually a couple Marines I know with an Elvis tune as their ringback tone... Fitting that the one that gets drunker than anyone I know has "Jailhouse Rock."

To think this incited a lot of public backlash because of the sexual awakening that was occurring then...

Elvis - Hound Dog
Uploaded by mikmax55. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Yusef Lateef- Love Theme From Spartacus

Jesusfuck, it's Monday again? Anyway, I'ma watch the Warriors-Cavs now, so I'm not really bout to think about this. But this works.

The xx - Basic Space

Hey guys. I have been pretty obsessed with this band for the last week or so. Hmm.

DJ Earworm - Blame it on the Pop

Every year, DJ Earworm makes a mashup of Billboard's top 25 songs of the year. This is for 2009, and honestly, there may be no better mashup ever.
Really good mashups work as songs on their own, and also remind you positively of the songs they're mashing up. But an excellent mashup, like this one (available to download from DJ Earworm's site), also comment on the music they're using. And this is not just a great mashup; it is a song about 2009, an overall pretty shitty year in America, marked by the optimism we felt going into it and the constant way we continued getting our hopes crushed. In spite of all this, pop music has the ability to inspire us, and remind us that we can get through the challenges of the present, and there will still be pop music on the other side. I'm interested to know what your opinions on this. I have played this song nearly ten times a day since I downloaded it.

Al Green - Here I Am (Come and Take Me)

Stealing another one today. With all the Leno/Conan fuss, I totally forgot that Willie Mitchell had died on Tuesday. They did an in memoriam for him on Fresh Air on Wednesday. I'm not sure there's anything more quintessentially American than an Al Green/Willie Mitchell track. One day, I am going to have the courage (or the BAC) to do this one at karaoke night.

Al Green - Here I am come & take me
by mister_funkyman

Galaxie 500 - Blue Thunder

What else could it be? The Cone Bone gave Damon Krukowski his drum kit in college, and he may need it back pretty soon.

Galaxie 500 - New Music - More Music Videos

The Kinks - Too Much On My Mind

Today I am very distracted! I may be going to see Avatar with my mom, or to New York to see Emilie, or stay here for EDH, or make cookies again with a French movie. We'll find out soon!

Tom Waits - San Diego Serenade

I found this waiting for me in my e-mail this morning, from my lady friend. We just hit one year a few days back, so maybe that has something to do with it. (Sappy, I know.) But in true song of the day fashion, I present it here.



Early Tom Waits can get a bit maudlin (just listen to those strings) but it's also more earnest than the deranged pirate he is occasionally accused of evolving into. I'm sure there are people who fall solidly into one camp or the other, but man are those people missing out on some good stuff on either side.

Cat Stevens - Tuesday's Dead

This is more or less a joke, but I have a copy of Teaser and the Firecat.

... A title which, for me, has become all but the best way I have figured to describe this long-term tryst.



And since everyone's been in the spirit of bonus videos (not really!) I'll post one. Don't wince too much.

Illogic- Hate in a Puddle

I wanted to go with "My Favorite Things", but it's not on the youtubes, and this is off the same album, and also pretty nice. So hereyougo.

Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - O Children

I just don't even know right now.



(I mean, I watched The Assassination Of Jesse James again, which sort of made me want to post some Nick Cave, so I guess this is what happened. I realize we've already posted a bunch of Cave-stuffs, but I am of the opinion that you cannot listen to him enough, so there.)

Belated bonus video because I forgot about our trains thing and I just saw this on reddit!



(And then this happens sometimes too!)

The Mountain Goats - This Year

I've been saving this one. I, for one, need to listen to it multiple times through January. Really crank it until you know how to sing along, then play it louder.

Beach House - Norway

It's 2010 now, so time to look ahead. This one's already been leaked, but it doesn't actually get released until January 26, and me likey.



(My original goal was to do a post relating to the movie 2010 - I even went so far as to watch the movie again - but that thing does not lend itself to music at all.)