Category Archives: meme

meme, music, rock 'n roll

Seven Songs Shaking My World

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Continuing the chain, the last link being Johnny Yen

List seven songs you’re into right now … no matter what they are. BUT they must be songs you’re presently enjoying.

The New Pornographers – The Bones Of An Idol (from Twin Cinema)
Any song that Neko Case sings in the New Pornographers invariably is their best. When the instruments kick in overdrive after she sings “but something keeps turning us on” it is head-bobbin’ time.

Lou Reed – Halloween Parade (from New York)
This song from his New York album is achingly beautiful, simple and sad, and filled with lots of affection. One of my favorite songs of his, I’d also match it with any songs of the Velvet Underground. It’s that good.

Pylon – This, That (from Chain)
Man, I am digging Pylon. They were contemporaries of R.E.M. way back when in Athens, GA. Not to be confused with some recent band from the UK also calling themselves Pylon. Great guitar, singing, drumming. This just happens to be the Pylon song that is getting the most airplay these days for me.

Donovan – There Is A Mountain (from a Greatest Hits collection)
I heard this song emanating out of the PA speakers in a store called Hobo, which is basically a cheap version of Home Depot. I had never heard it before, but really, really liked it. As soon as I got home I popped some lyrics I was able to make out into a search engine. Minutes later I was grooving out to it. Fantastic song.

The Everly Brothers – Illinois (from Roots)
I really love the Everly Brothers. I immediately went for this song, ’cause I am sucker for all things Illinois. A really pretty song, with nice piano and their great, inimitable voices.

Leonard Cohen – The Captain (from Various Positions)
I love this song, it’s really bouncy. And I love the lyrics, particularly the lines:

“Complain, complain, that’s all you do
Ever since we lost
If it’s not the Crucifixion
Then it’s the Holocaust”

The Magnetic Fields – I Don’t Want To Get Over You (from 69 Love Songs, Vol. 1)
Nice synthy song. Like a lot of Stephin Merritt’s songs, the lyrics are really clever. He drops a nice lyrical bomb at the end.

“Or I could make a career of being blue
I could dress in black and read Camus
Smoke clove cigarettes and drink vermouth
like I was seventeen
that would be a scream
But I don’t want to get over you”

Consider yourself tagged if you haven’t done this yet.

meme, rock 'n roll

Um, Tag, You’re It?

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Seeing as the traffic to my blog is nearing a fever pitch, I thought I’d try and start one of them taggy things that meme all over the place.

I’m actually providing my own answers below to the questions. Hopefully that’s not impolite.

Here goes.

The questions:
What was the first recorded music you bought?
What was the last?
What was the first “professional” music show you ever went to?
What was the last?
What’s your “desert island” album?
What’s your favorite album/song title? (the *title* which is your fav, not the actual album or song)
What’s your favorite album art (include an image of it if you can)?
Ideal choice for a karaoke song?
Song you don’t like that WILL NOT LEAVE YOUR HEAD if you hear it.
Which is cooler? — Vinyl? CD? Cassette? 8-track?

My answers:
What was the first recorded music you bought?
The single of “Mr Roboto” from Styx.

What was the last?
A Tom Ze double-CD, containing the albums Todos Os Olhos and Se O Caso E Chorar

What was the first “professional” music show you ever went to?
I saw Harry Chapin at Sangamon State University in Springfield, IL when I was a kid, back in 1981. Months later, he died. Coincidence?!!

I think the first show I paid for myself was at the Assembly Hall in Champaign, IL, for R.E.M.’s Green tour.

What was the last?
I saw Os Mutantes (among other acts) at 2006’s Pitchfork Music Festival.

What’s your “desert island” album?
It changes from time to time, but right now it’s Moss Elixir by Robyn Hitchcock.

What’s your favorite album/song title?
I have two album titles that tie for first.
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space — by the band Spiritualized (actually have never even heard this record, just like the title!)
Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On — by Funkadelic

What’s your favorite album art (include an image of it if you can)?
I’m going to have to go with Parliament on this one. On Motor Booty Affair, it might be on the picture disc only, there is this amazing picture of George Clinton dressed up in a cowboy outfit riding dolphins while listening to a boombox. Damn!

Ideal choice for a karaoke song?
I have done karaoke only once, and made the mistake of picking a song that was light on vocals. I know if I do it again it’ll be something off of Led Zeppelin IV. Prolly “Stairway To Heaven”. It’s wall-to-freaking-wall singing.

Song you don’t like that WILL NOT LEAVE YOUR HEAD if you hear it.
“Two Princes” by the Spin Doctors (“Just GO ahead now”)
The theme song for the kid’s show The Wonderpets (“What’s gonna work? Teeeeaaammwork!”)

Which is cooler? — Vinyl? CD? Cassette? 8-track?
Vinyl is cooler for the cover art. 8-track is cool for all the chunky clicks it makes when you switch tracks.

Okay, so I tag Bubs and Mizbubs. And you, dear reader. I tag you.

Let the wild stallion that is this meme run free.