N.A.M.B. bandleader Davide Tomat’s came up with a Playlist for us. He calls the list his “Detachment Session” and put notes to each song. The band is from beautiful Torino, Italy and recently released their debut album BMAN on February 23rd.
David Tomat “What am I listening to right now (detachment session)”:
Sufjan Stevens – Year Of The Dragon (with Osso)
I love that song from “Enjoy your rabbit” but this new version taken from “Run Rabbit Run” is really amazing. That song played by the New York string quartet Osso is really, really cool!
Broken Social Scene – da da da
The pads..those voices, that feedback, those noises, that piano and all… the fluid stuff together with the punchy drums! A real cool contrast all throughout the song….
The Flaming Lips – The Ego’s Last Stand
Amazing…bass panned on the left with that slap delay on the right…strong punchy in line bass..really good sound…and the outro makes me fly nailed on the roof…reminds me of Pink Floyd
Steve Reich – Pulses (Music For 18 Musicians)
What can I say? I think there aren’t so many music pieces that can describe nature developments better than this. Nature pulses!
Ravel – Gaspard De La Nuit; 1. Ondine
Again..what should I say?…if someone hasn’t heard that music before, it’s time to do that… But I’m sure you all know about that! You know what I’m talking about!
The Beatles – Blue Jay Way
My favourite Beatles song ever! The mix is great! Voices on the left, drums and organ on the right…reverse effects and strings in the middle. Really psychedelic!
Grizzly Bear – I Live With You
It reminds me of old film and atmospheres…directly from old motion picture soundtracks but with punch in the middle! Really cool!
Boards of Canada – Music is Math
Since I bought this record (Geogaddi) I had to listen to this song at least one time a month… it’s something that brings me up in the universe. I had a car crash once listening to it…it was late in the morning…only me and the street…I was totally absorbed in it..and didn’t realize I was driving and that there was only a car waiting for the green light!
David Bowie – Subterraneans
Right now I’m still asking myself how could Bowie sing that melody at the end of the song…it’s like a melody coming from another song…like an outake voice.. but it sounds perfectly in it and perfectly out when it comes after more then 3 minutes of space super music…and then the voice goes away as it came!
Ennio Morricone – Un Uomo Da Rispettare
From the film “The Master Touch”. I never saw that film..I’ll do it for sure… but I made hundreds of films in my mind with that piece of music going around and listening to it again and again! Unbelievable.
Jonny Greenwood – Moon Trills
Pure music! No words! Love those tremolo strings!
La Monte Young – Day of the Antler [The Obsedioin Ocelot]
26 minutes of supreme musical meditation. Each time it starts I can’t stop it.. and it’s a big problem when you don’t have 26 minutes and it comes up on your iPod shuffle!
David and Tom from the band Via Audio gave us some tracks that are currently rocking their world. Give them a sample and don’t forget to visit Via Audio below. Long live new music!
Richard Swift- The Bully
I’m a little afraid of him after hearing this song… but in a way that makes me laugh. It’s confusing.
Wildbirds and Peacedrums – Places
Go see this band. This song showcases the heartfelt performances and the natural feeling of the band.
Pattern is Movement – Sound of Your Voice
This song is super happy in a jarring way. Amazing band, and we’re gonna tour with ‘em! Sweet!
Dave Rawlings Machine- Sweet Tooth
This one has Everly Brothers-esque sweet vocal harmonies, great guitar work, and great lyrics. Long live good folk music!
Juana Molina- Un Dia
Juana Molina is a musical force to be reckoned with. Her lyrical content and creativity is something to be revered. This track displays that.
White Denim – Paint Yourself
This song starts with the easiest-to-listen guitar riff ever, and then rocks out with energy, but doesn’t give it all away You can tell they are holding something just out of reach, which makes the song that much more enticing.
Headlights – We’re All Animals
I like the title, and the song is worthy. My interpretation of the lyric “Let’s go back and try this again” is let’s humans go back to a more simple consciousness and try again to become better animals.
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Forever Heavy
If I was racing opponents in the movie “Tron”, this is what I would want the soundtrack to be.
Colourmusic – Yes!
If this were America’s National Anthem, I would be a proud citizen. This is a great band that doesn’t get enough attention.
Aloha consistently create some of the most intricately amazing music you could possibly ever find. Their new album Home Acres could be their best album yet, but that’s a personal decision you will have to come to. We asked the bands own Tony Cavallario to come up with a playlist of his favorite songs and give us some inside notes to each one. You can also listen to each song while you read. Be sure to pre-order Home Acres.
This track is both familiar and awe inspiring. The melody is so beautiful yet strikingly simple and then it hits the chorus and opens up into this high and spacious progression. I just love it, it makes me sway back and forth and I’m lulled into happiness.
2. Sanford Clark – The Fool
This is a sad 50s country tune that is one of my first memories of feeling empty inside while listening to it. The reverb on this track totally sets the tone for the haunted and sad feeling this gives me.
3. Shout Out Louds – Tonight I Have to Leave it
This song is what happens when you mix happy sounding chords with a sad melody. This is one of my favorite combinations of that and the SOLs do this so right. And yes, his voice sounds like Robert Smith, but is that a bad thing?
4. Fever Ray – Keep the Streets Empty For Me
Karin is my hero. She can make any song sound creepy and captivate you. Her melodies are always classic and her lyrics spoken through the eyes of someone with very pure, unadulterated, thoughts.
5. Radiohead – Exit Music for a Film
When I first heard this song, I felt exactly like the song’s literal meaning. It is so cinematic, you feel both courageous and despair
when you listen to Thom Yorke’s delivery.
6. Blonde Redhead – Equally Damaged
This song is delicately tragic. It’s a beautiful and haunting and you can almost see yourself in the room with Kazu while she is singing this it’s so intimate.
7. Fleet Foxes – He Doesn’t Know Why
This song is brilliant. I love how dynamic and orchestrated everything is in this song and you can’t really date this song, it’s timeless.
8. The Walkmen - Canadian Girl
The Walkmen make very brave, unique music and they just get better every album. This song has a cool 50’s vibe yet still sounds fresh and new.
9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fancy
This track is so dark and brooding. Pounding drums, atmosphere, dynamics. Amazing and seemingly overlooked.
10. Super Furry Animals – Sidewalk Surfer Girl
Great song with beautiful vocal melodies and the production is just ridiculous.
21 years is all Rick Alvin Shaier has needed to rocked us with his Phoenix hotness known as Miniature Tigers. Rick isn’t stopping with Miniature Tigers though. Oh no, he spent quite some time in his bedroom recording “Mantis Preying” his first solo album as Alvin Band. We asked Rick and his Alvin Band to think up his favorite songs for our Band Playlist Series. Below you can listen to the songs that rocks Rick.
Favorite songs at the moment:
“The Blue Danube” Strauss
“Chez Chanel” Alexandre Desplat
(song not on LaLa, visit Alexandre)
“Song Of Storms” Zelda
(song not on LaLa)
“Cherokee” Ray Noble
“Edelweiss” Sound Of Music
“I Live With You” Grizzly Bear
(sorry kids, song not available on LaLa)
“A New Earth” Eckhart Tolle
(song not available on LaLa)
Failures’ Union are a great rockin’ trio from Buffalo, NY. Their sound is reminiscent of much of the great indie and alt-rock of the 1990’s, with hints of The Lemonheads, Dinosaur Jr, Guided by Voices and Superchunk layering their simple catchy songs. When we asked them to put together a fun little playlist for our series, they hit us back with some Alt/Indie goodness from the Papa Bush/Clinton Era! Check out more on the band and their latest release In What Way (Paper+Plastick) HERE!
Failures’ Union’s most overlooked Alternative songs of the 90s:
ARCHERS OF LOAF – “Might” from Icky Mettle – 1993 (JD)
Anyone who was at the Warped Tour in 1996 more than likely saw hundreds of Archers of Loaf Speed of Cattle stickers everywhere. Being young and dumb my friends and I made fun of the bands name, but those stickers are what led me to eventually check the band out. This song sounds like Pavement with crazy/noisy/angular leads over it. It perfectly describes the discontentment (and disinterest) of “alternative” teenagers in the 90’s.
BUFFALO TOM – “Your Stripes” from Sleepy Eyed – 1995 (EE)
This is simply everything I’d ever want in a song. It’s heartfelt, gritty, fast paced, and beautiful. These guys were better than EVERYONE and it bottles my mind that they aren’t a household name to this day. Find that wonderful girl or guy who looks good in stripes, put this song on a mix tape for them and never look back.
CATHERINE WHEEL – “Show Me Mary” from Chrome – 1993 (TF)
The light at the end of the beautiful and dark tunnel that is Chrome and one of the most perfect pop songs ever written.
EUGENIUS – “Bed In” from Oomalama – 1992 (EE)
Eugene Kelly’s post Vaselines band. They were originally called “Captain America” but had to change it for obvious reasons! Laconic alt-rock from Scotland that was one of Cobain’s favorites, as well as one of mine. Everything they did was great, but this is my favorite. A touching song from their first album Oomalama, about the comforts of staying in bed as a solution to life’s many problems.
FAT TULIPS – “So Unbelievable!” from Starfish – 1994 (EE)
Breezy alt-rock with glockenspiel? Yes please! How they managed to sing such brutally spiteful lyrics with such sweetness and such a mind for melody is beyond me. Before stating her regrets and calling the song’s main character a prostitute, she sings “I gave you my number, but I guess you threw it away… like you threw away your virginity” …ouch. This is off the album Starfish. The whole record makes “pissed off” sound like a picnic in the sunshine.
FRENTE! – “Paper, Bullets, Walls” from Labour of Love – 1994 (JD)
Hailing from Melbourne, Australia this band was one of my absolute favorites in high school. From the first time I saw the video for their cover of New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle” I knew I was hooked. This song is from their Labour of Love ep (their best effort in my opinion). In this song Angie Hart playfully writes someone out of her life. Proof that not all alt-rock has to be heartfelt or self-deprecating. We were honored to have Angie sing on two songs on our new album. I literally screamed when we got the email from her saying she was interested. Also, as cheesy as it sounds is there anything more perfect than her singing the line “If you want forever well fuck you baby?”
THE HIGH-BACK CHAIRS “Share” from Curiosity and Release – 1992 (TF)
I could put the entire Curiosity and Relief ep on this list. HBC, even though I only discovered them recently myself, has quickly become one of my favorite bands of all time.
HUM – “If You are to Bloom” from Downwards is Heavenwards – 1997 (JD)
I will admit, I was a latecomer to this album. When I first heard “Stars” I thought it was great, but was disappointed by the rest of You’d Prefer an Astronaut. It wasn’t until the early 2000’s when I even became aware that this album existed. It took me even longer after that to even give it a chance. When I finally did, I wanted to kick myself for not having it in my life earlier. With this album Hum created one of the spaciest, heaviest and most melodic pieces of music ever. The lyrics to this song perfectly match the emotions that the music extracts from you. I also just discovered that the band features two members of 80’s alt-rock band Poster Children.
THE KILLJOYS – “Today I Hate Everyone” from Starry – 1994 (EE)
The Killjoys were a criminally overlooked band from Canada. Most of their stuff sounds like The Lemonheads playing through Sebadoh’s equipment. This particular song has a little more Urge Overkill vibe to it and of course a great negative message. Those falsetto “oohs” in the chorus still melt me every time!
This band became “Polaris” and wrote music for “The Adventures of Pete & Pete” TV show. Singer/guitarist Mark Mulcahy has this knack of combining somber and sad with happy and lighthearted… I can’t explain why it works, but it always does! It’s like seeing a sign that says “FUN”, then a tree branch gets blown aside by the wind to reveal the rest of the sign and it turns out it actually says “FUNERAL.” They have a truckload of out-of-print material and like most things genius they remain almost completely unknown.
NED’S ATOMIC DUSTBIN – “Happy” from God Fodder – 1991 (JD)
In my opinion one of the most overlooked band of all time. I borrowed this cassette from a friend’s sister in early high school (after seeing the “Grey Cell Green” video on 120 minutes), and have been an ecstatic fan ever since. Ned’s have two bass players, one that plays the normal bass lines, and another that plays the melody leads that would normally be played on a guitar. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite, but I went with “Happy” because I think it best captures the mood of the entire album. The piano at the end of the song always gives me goose bumps. It blows my mind that a band could write such catchy songs when they were only in their late teens.
NEW SWEET BREATH – “Avalanche” from Shotgun Down and Avalanche – 1997 (JD)
This band falls somewhere between Superchunk and Archers of Loaf. They play noisy/poppy songs that border on punk. I’ve actually only ever heard one other person talk about this band, and they were the one who introduced me to them. Unfortunately they were lost in the sea of indie/emo bands that ran rampant in the late 90’s. I always try to introduce people to them via mix tapes, but I don’t think my effort is working. “I’m not tired, I’m not sleepy, I’m not crazy, I’m not fucked up.”
O-POSITIVE – “With You” from Only Breathing – 1985 (JD)
Okay, so this is supposed to be a list of alt-rock songs from the 90’s, but I’m going to let this one from the 80’s slip by. My reasoning is that it is one of my favorite songs of all time, and up until I researched this list I had no idea it wasn’t from the 90’s. An unfortunately rather unknown band from Boston, O-Positive are on the gloomier side of alt-rock. I first heard this song on a mix tape that I thought was improperly labeled, as I could never find any info about the band. It took me more than a decade to finally track down the Only Breathing record, and it was worth the wait. In my formative years I was convinced that this song sounded like a blend of The Cure and REM. As my ears have matured I no longer think that too much, but I still think they are incredible. This has been a mix tape staple for me since my sophomore year in high school.
POPGUNS – “Leave It Alone” from Eugenie – 1990 (EE)
Brighton, England’s finest export! Now this band knows how to write a song. The Popguns were formed by ex-members of the Wedding Present in 1988, though all their proper albums came out in the early to mid 90s. The dictionary definition of “heart on the sleeve”, this tune is about being cheated on and forgiving the person… while also firmly stating that if it ever happens again, it’s over. No discussion. There is such a perfectly bottled up tension to this song… to all their songs actually. A very “real” band that has helped me through many rough times in my life.
THE POSIES – “love letter boxes” from Frosting on the Beater – 1993 (TF)
“Dream all day” was the hit from Frosting on the Beater, but it’s just one of a handful of incredible hooks on that record. The line “All in favor say I will blindly follow the ring around the positive sign,” makes this song my favorite…along with the guitar solo…
RADIOHEAD – “Prove Yourself” from Pablo Honey – 1993 (TF)
Pablo Honey is a very important record to me. I love every song on it. I feel like the success of “Creep” lead to some people dismissing them as whiny Brits, but those people missed out.
RIDE – “Vapour Trail” from Nowhere – 1990 (JD)
The term “shoegaze” was coined by the British Press to describing this band. Their lush, textured music was influential to many of the bands that later fell under that genre. “Vapour Trail” is possibly the most beautiful love song of all time. “And all my time, is yours as much as mine” is one of the most perfect sentiments I have ever heard. This song also has the single best ending of any song in the history of time. The last two minutes of the song are the main riff played over and over again, eventually fading out as the violin melody takes center stage. It’s simply breathtaking. In the off chance that I ever get married, I can assure you this song will most definitely played at the ceremony.
SCREAMING TREES – “Nearly Lost You” from Sweet Oblivion – 1992 (JD)
Mark Lanegan fronted this band long before he was a thing of indie legend. I first heard them because this song was on the Singles soundtrack (also know as the greatest soundtrack ever). Although they were one of the first Seattle “grunge” bands to sign to a major, they never achieved the widespread recognition that a lot of their other hometown bands did.
THE SPINANES – “Hawiian Baby” from Imp Records 7″ – 1992 (JD)
As with a lot of music, I first discovered this band via a mix tape that a girl made for me. It was the standout track on the mix, and it got played over and over again. At this point in their career this Seattle band were a two-piece. That really interested me that a band didn’t have to be a “full band” With lines such as “This is a taste of your right ear lobe, can’t you hear me? This is a taste of your left elbow, don’t you feel it?” It’s hard not to get lured in.
SUGAR – “Helpless” from Copper Blue – 1992 (JD)
It boggles my mind that Sugar was never one of the biggest bands in the mainstream alternative world. It wasn’t for lack of trying either. They may have only released two proper albums, but nine singles were released from those records. For some unknown reason the public just never embraced their genius the way they should have Although every song on this album is incredible, “Helpless” stands out as one of the catchiest songs I’ve ever heard. Whenever it comes on you will find me humming it for the next several hours.
Caspian drummer Joe Vickers rocked this playlist exclusively for us. We suggest you find a comfy chair and listen to these songs while you read the notes Joe came up with for each song. Caspian released a new full length record ‘Tertia’ that has been getting lots of love around the music world and is a must have for any fan of epic tear-your-hair-out post rock albums. We would love to hear your thoughts on the playlist.
Ice Cube – “It was a good day” Notes by Caspian: One of the smoothest hiphop songs ever. Until I heard this song I never realized that it was a good day if you didn’t have to fire an automatic weapon.
MGMT - “Electric Feel” Notes by Caspian: If this song doesn’t make you wanna dance with a beautiful girl with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other there is something wrong with you.
Band of Horses – “The funeral” Notes by Caspian: This is just a great song.
Royksopp – “Happy up here” Notes by Caspian: I could be sick, tired, chewing on glass, being tortured, watching my dog die etc… And this song would still be able to put me in a good mood.
Danger – “19h11″ Notes by Caspian: This song get me so pumped up I could throw a child through a brick wall 50 feet away.
(Danger ain’t rockin’ no LaLa)
Piebald – “American hearts” Notes by Caspian: Hey! You’re part of it!
Andy Samberg/ Justin Timberlake – “Dick in a box” Notes by Caspian: With the holidays right around the corner this song will be in heavy rotation… It is after all the perfect gift for a loved one.
(Andy isn’t on LaLa, sorry)
The Knife – “We share our mothers health” Notes by Caspian: If robots took drugs and made music it would sound like this song.
Telepopmusik – “Breathe” Notes by Caspian: I think we played this song in the van after the majority of our shows during the 2006/2007 US tours. Just a really chill jam.
Daft Punk – “Robot rock” Notes by Caspian: The same thing over and over for like 5 minutes but I can’t get enough of it for some reason…
Is this a Playlist or a love-letter? Tammy Wynette if you read this please email us for Heavy Young Heathens email.
Playlist introduction by Heavy Young Heathens: Tammy Wynette, otherwise known as the “First Lady of Country Music,” is just as equally important and influential to Heavy Young Heathens as any other band or artist we sight…if not more. Get beyond the gaudy clothes and blonde bouffant hair and you will find one of the finest voices in contemporary music in the last 50 years. And beyond the often domestic, sometimes conflicting subject matters and song titles that pepper her discography lies one hell of a songwriter. Even in later years, with her health failing her, she always performed at 150%. Use the once modern-now dated method of youtube and look at some of her performance clips, especially of Tammy on the Johnny Cash Show, and you tell me if what these Women in Country Music, or any genre of music, are supposedly doing today compares. Continue Reading
Co-founder Autry Fulbright sent us his Midnight Masses playlist just last night. We didn’t want to wait on their EP release date of December 18th to post the playlist because we like their four songs a lot, and thought you might enjoy getting down to the music that makes the band get down. Continue Reading
Bluebrain (formerly the Epochs) released their debut EP this past Tuesday on Lujo Records. We wanted to rock the band, and not just with an album review but with something a bit different. So we had the duo come up with a Playlist for us. Continue Reading
Johnathan Coody sings real good. Maybe that’s why he is the front man. He did send over the bands favorite songs for their IRR Playlist for you to enjoy, along with some great notes on each song. Ninja Gun released their full length Restless Rubes early in ‘08 and have recently released a split 7″ with Fake Problems! If you want to know what they sound like then go hear them!
1. The Zombies – “This Will Be Our Year”
Notes: This is the most hopeful, optimistic song I’ve ever heard. The Zombies had a hit with “Time of the Season”, but it’s not even close to their best work. I suggest everybody check out the album Odyssey and Oracle. This band wrote stronger melodies than the Beatles on many occasions. My fiance and I will be dancing to this song at our wedding in a month or so.
2. Bobbie Gentry – “Papa, Woncha Let Me Go to Town With You?”
Notes: Bobbie Gentry is one of my very favorite southern songwriters. Her songs were about uniquely southern subject matter and her voice and dialect are pure Mississippi Delta. This song is from her debut album that came out in 1967, “Ode to Billie Joe.” The title track was the hit, but this song is probably my favorite because of the melody and subject matter. It’s about a secluded little girl from a really rural area begging her dad to take her to town.
3. John Prine - “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore”
Notes: John Prine was discovered by Kris Kristofferson and got his first record deal because of him. This song is from his debut album that came out in 1971 right smack in the middle of Vietnam. Prine himself was a veteran of that war and he saw firsthand how the whims of rich people permanently marred and destroyed the lives of poor kids who were shipped off to fight and die for an unjust cause. This song is about false patriotism. After September 11th when all the oil guzzling Hummer driving right wing football moms had a war boner and slapped flag decals all over everything they owned, I couldn’t help but notice how truly relevant this song still is.
4. Guided By Voices – “Chasing Heather Crazy”
Notes: Another piece of fearless pop songwriting from Bob Pollard and crew, this song was on the album Isolation Drills that was released by TVT in 2001. Pollard’s voice is so strong and his sence of melody so acute, he could sing the phone book and it would be the best thing you ever heard. I don’t know what this song is about and I don’t care.
5. T. Rex - “Children of the Revolution”
Notes: I love T. Rex for many reasons, but the production quality of this song is so good. Marc Bolan was a pop star unlike any other in that he was older, not particularly handsome, and batshit crazy. He could never happen in today’s context because the people that program your radios are pussies.
6. Webb Pierce – “There Stands the Glass”
Notes: This song was his biggest hit and for good reason. Both the words and melody are top notch so you can enjoy it for two different reasons. Plus, this guy was always looking good. If we ever make any money off rock n roll, the first thing I’m buying is a good looking nudie suit. Probably the best country drinking song ever.
7. Cheap Girls - “Stop Now”
Notes: You’ll notice that this band is the only entry on this list from a band or artist that is currently still around. That’s because I don’t listen to a whole lot of new stuff. I hate everything and I LOVE this fucking band. If you like good indie rock like the Smoking Popes and such you better get hip to Cheap Girls real quick. This song is from their debut album called “Find Me a Drink Home” and it’s my favorite. We’re going to tour with them sometime in the beginning of next year.
(Song not available on LaLa)
8. Wire – “The 15th”
Notes: I just like how minimalist and powerful this song is. This one’s fun to drive around to.
9. Lee Scratch Perry – “City Too Hot”
Notes: You can probably figure out what this song is good for. Scratch is a mad man. Freak out!
10. Big Star - “September Gurls”
Notes: Alex Chilton wrote so many good songs and it’s hard to pick one, but this one stands out as a real achievement in songcraft. Plus, I really like the clangy telecaster style guitar sounds on this song. You should also check out O My Soul.
- Visit Ninja Gun because you have a good chance of loving their music!
Listen to the songs that Larry Herweg from Pelican loves.
1. Radiohead “These Are My Twisted Words” Notes by Larry: As far as I know their most recent single and was free to fans. Reminds me of Kid A/Amnesiac era. Brilliant as always.
- Listen and Download
2. Secret Machines “The Fire is Waiting” Notes by Larry:The closing track on their latest cd. Probably the heaviest this band has sounded.
3. Young Widows “Old Skin” Notes by Larry: A short jam, but a total slammer.
4. Pinebender “Begin Here” Notes by Larry: The dirgey-Weezerish opening jam on this Chicago band’s 2nd cd. Taste the Baritone.
5. Nine Inch Nails “Reptile” Notes by Larry: This song was the highlight of his farewell show in LA last month and the darkest track on “The Downward Spiral”.
6. Jawbox “Savory” Notes by Larry: They’re coming back! One of my all time favorite songs.
7. Engine Down “Long Time Waiting” Notes by Larry: Chris Common tipped me off to this band a few months ago, by playing me this song.
8. Disappearer “Glassland” Notes by Larry: Perfect mix of Unsane and the Cure.
9. Darkthrone “Alle Gegen Alle” Notes by Larry: Mid tempo banger from their album “Sardonic Wrath”. My favorite record by my favorite Black Metal band.
(song not available on LaLa)
Miracles of Modern Science put their noggins together as a collective band to produce a band playlist for your listening enjoyment. As far as their music goes, they play chamber music that rocks like listening to Prince for the first time ever. But totally different. More of a orchestrated baroque type fashion pumped up with some hot drumming.
Begin Playlist:
Faust – “The Sad Skinhead” Notes: Dry as a bone, and brilliant. – Evan Younger, lead vox/double bass
Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks (Fred Falke Remix) Notes: I like to run to this song and pretend I’m in an 80s movie montage training for the big race, big fight, big dance-off, or whatever else precedes my proving that I had it in me along/winning back the girl. -Josh Hirshfeld, mandolin/vox
(song not available on LaLa)
The Teeth – Ball of the Dead Rat Notes: Strangely uplifting song from a too-short-lived Philly band. sounds like the Replacements formed a Kinks tribute band and invited Britt Daniel to sing. -Geoff McDonald, ‘cello
The Octopus Project – “Music is Happiness” Notes: Driving builds, spacey breaks, theremin… a few of my favorite things – and one of Lincoln’s. -Kieran Ledwidge, violin
(song not available on LaLa)
Dub Trio – Illegal Dub Notes: Reggae never rocked so funky. -Tyler Pines, drums
Aphex Twin – You Can’t Hide Your Love (Hidden Love Mix) Notes: I can’t hide my love… for this song! (Sorry.) – Evan
(song not available on LaLa)
Steve Martin & Bernadette Peters – “Tonight You Belong To Me” Notes: I really didn’t expect to find one of the sweetest duets ever recorded in the movie The Jerk, but there it is. -Josh
(song not available on LaLa)
Uncle Tupelo – New Madrid Notes: Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar in high-twang mode…Tweedy’s on the brain because: WILCO AT KEYSPAN TNGHT!!! -Geoff
The Unicorns – “I Was Born (A Unicorn)” Notes: As with most of the songs on this album, if I’m awake and this is playing, I have to sing along. Preferably with a friend. As loud as possible. -Kieran
Chet Atkins & Dolly Parton – Do I Ever Cross Your Mind? Notes: This is in serious contention for Josh’s “sweetest duets ever” category. -Evan
(song not available on LaLa)
The Anniversary – All Things Ordinary Notes: Still keep coming back to this amazing emo band… old habits die hard. -Josh
Introduction: Chris from the Young Livers put some thought into his playlist for us. I think out of any of the bands that we have done playlists with I identify the most with this one. Young Livers have leaked the first song from their long awaited sophomore album. You can check out “A Sad State In Affairs” on the band’s MySpace page. I love this band. Continue Reading
