Just J

I have decided I have really weird music taste. But it is better to be weird than boring. At least that's what my mom always tells me.

1. Jezebel - Iron & Wine. This song makes me want to start a thimble collection. "Make me a beast half as brave, I'd be the same."God, I love Sam Beam.

2. Jumping Someone Else's Train - The Cure. I love old Cure. I think I gave my parents a stroke when I started listening to this.

3. John Saw the Number - Neko Case. Neko makes locusts and honey cool again.

4. Just Stand Back - Low. Don't forget, "I could turn on you so fast."

5. Jesus, etc. - Wilco. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is by far the best Wilco album. This is a great song. Makes me want to close my eyes, and do dorky white people dance moves.

6. Jackie Dressed in Cobras - the New Pornographers. I love Neko Case so much I put her on here twice  in two different personas. And a potato!!

7. Joy to the World - Three Dog Night. Don't you want to call every frog, Jeremiah?

Jumpin' Jehoshaphat

I wonder how Jezebel, Jeroboam, and Job feel about being passed over for the Jumpin' accolade?  Don't you think they'd like to jump as well?

Jammin - Bob Marley  If you don't smile while you listen to this song, you are a McCarthyite.

Jeannie's Diary - Eels  We have hit the Eels stride now.  What lyrics...

I don't have a chance at writing the book
I just wanna be a page
In jeannie's diary
One single page
In jeannie's diary

Just Like Honey - Jesus & Mary Chain  I dare you, I double-dog dare you, to challenge Prince to a game of basketball...er, I mean, to not like this song.

Just Like Heaven - The Cure  This was the first Cure song I fell in love with.  So many great memories with this song.

Jennifer's Body - Hole  Fantastic song from a fantastic album.  Angry angry angry!!!  Its too bad she went bat-crazy.

Joey - Concrete Blonde  Meaningful high school song.

Just for Now - Imogen Heap  If my last name was heap, I would probably change it.

Some Fun Live M83

Wow, I loved J

Easy picks:

• The Jeweller’s Hand – Arctic Monkeys - This song has some serious swagger.  Their best song from their best album.
• Jigsaw Falling Into Place – Radiohead - This song has some great hooks.  The vocals are some of Yorke's best.
• Joker and a Thief – Wolfmother - For the butt-rock in each of us.
• Jolene – The White Stripes (cover) - Dolly Parton just didn't know what to do with this song.  Jack White took it to a whole new level.
• Julius – StrFkr - Classic
• July, July! – The Decemberists - Reminds me of my daughter.
• Just - Radiohead - BEST MUSIC VIDEO EVER.  I remember conversations with friends, all speculating about what was whispered at the end.

"I" Am Missing Something

What an unmitigated disaster!  My list was just too hard to whittle down.  Here is my best shot at the "I's" I would take with me to the other side:

• I Have Forgiven Jesus – Morrissey - LOVED IT FROM THE FIRST LISTEN.  ARROGANT AND PURE SACRILEGE.     
• I Still Remember – Bloc Party - BEEN MY FAVORITE SONG FOR A VERY LONG TIME.  THERE IS A VERY PARTICULAR EVENT IN MY LIFE THAT I REMEMBER EVERY TIME I LISTEN TO THIS SONG.
• I’m Shakin’ – Jack White - ONE OF THE REAL GEMS FROM THE BLUNDERBUSS ALBUM.
• Ion Square – Bloc Party - YES, TWO BLOC PARTY SONGS FROM THIS LETTER.  THIS SONG MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH THE INTIMACY ALBUM.
• It’s Not a Fashion Statement, It’s a Deathwish – MCR - IF YOU DON'T KNOW BY NOW, A GUILTY PLEASURE OF MINE IS MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE.  THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS.  
• It’s Only Life – The Shins - I THINK I MIGHT HAVE CRIED THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THIS SONG.  A REAL PRETTY ONE.
• It’s Real – Real Estate - MAKES ME WANT TO SURF.

I am Shiva

Yes, I's are deep...lots of I, If, In, It's, etc...this will be interesting. Man, I'm leaving off some heavy hitters...Zero 7, PM Dawn, one of my favorite Oasis songs, two DCFC songs, Tribe, etc. I think only three of these songs would stick on the list every iteration (In My Life, It's a Motherfkr, and Isabella of Castille). May post vids later, but encourage you to Youtube these if you haven't heard them before.


I Want You Back - Jackson 5 - Hot damn, this is a good song.


I Would Die 4 U - Prince - One of the rockingest songs about the Holy Trinity you'll ever hear.

I'm not a human
I am a dove
I'm your conscience
I am love
All I really need is to know that
You believe

I'm Cold - The Cure - Narrowly edged out "Icing Sugar" for the Cure spot. God, I love Cure bass and angry Cure, and this is the best of both worlds.

But it was you who wanted love
Not romance
You have to pay the price
My body may be made of fire
But my soul is made of ice

In My Life - The Beatles - OK, I think this is the last of my must have Beatles songs. If you don't like this song, you are a nazi serial killer.

Isabella of Castille - Strfkr - Man, those tear drops are sick. Gotta love a song named after one of the most awesome monarchs of all time.

It's a Motherfkr - Eels - One of the most beautiful songs I've heard. Edged out "I Like Birds" for the Eels spot.

It's Different for Girls - Joe Jackson - Already linked to this one before, but its that good. Takes last slot.

It's All About I

Holy cats! This one was ridiculous. I stopped paying attention after a while, there were so many good choices. This list would be different 5 minutes from now, but it is fun. Definitely classic oldie based. They knocked the newbies out of the water.

1. Imagine - John Lennon. I kind of love this video. "This is not here."

2. I Walk the Line - Johnny Cash

3. If I Needed You - Townes Van Zandt. This is a great song to cover. But I love this one.

4. I'll Fly Away. I love this old gospel song. I especially loved when my sister in law sang it at their grandmother's funeral. This version is great. Allison Krauss and Gillian Welch from the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack. Love me some Coen brothers.

5. I Fought the Law - the Clash. C'mon! Fight the power!

6. It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine) - REM. I know all the words. Do you?

7. I Feel it All - Feist. This is my dancing song. Her happy dance looks like mine. And she is just so cute.

A Wonderful Discovery - A Mini BOTW

FORGIVE MY INDISCRETION.  I FELT LIKE VENTING.

When I have weeks like the one I've had, I often award myself a few bucks a night to buy songs on spec from iTunes.  In my darkest hours, I have purchased golden classics from Loggins and Messina.  Typically, I let the Man running the Genius recommendations take me wherever he'd like.  After sifting through recommendations based on my purchase of Taylor Swift (I blame others in my home), I found a real gem.  Based on my purchase of My Bloody Valentine, I was navigated to The Joy Formidable.  I was blown away.  I bought the whole album, and have been swimming in it all night.   I will feature them in a formal Band of the Week someday.  In the meantime, take a listen.  Someone my age has never felt so comfortable "shoegazing".

They feel like a literal incarnation of the fictional "Clash At Demonhead".  Charismatic lead singer, a unusually fit bass player, and Zach De La Rocha's second cousin on the drums (not really, but I imagine so).

I regret to inform you that their music has been featured on a Twilight film and the television show "Vampire Diaries".  Please try to put these facts out of your mind immediately.  Remember, some of Radiohead's best work was featured on Twilight as well.  I blame Mormon authors.

Recommended first listens:

• A Heavy Abacus
• Whirring
• The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie

I feel the true measure of a band is best determined on the stage.  The following link is a show they did for YouTube.  I pay good money to see them live.

DOESN'T THIS GUY LOOK LIKE JOSHUA HOMME FROM QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE?!?!?

Please don't hate me for sharing this band out of turn.  I needed to write something.  Excuse this behavioral lapse.

Hall of Awesome #2

MGMT CAT!!!!

When you have an hour to spare...

I love that Youtube has full length shows!  I particularly enjoyed this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceJQehcZTIc

Will the real H please stand up? Please stand up?

Yeah, so I'm totally cheating here.  As I was making out my short list and I had so many "Heys" I just had to cheat...heh heh heh!!!!  It is still going to be damn hard to whittle this down to 7...carving out the Smiths just because we all know them (but there's 5 or 6 MONSTER Smiths here).  And carving out Pumpkins (heh heh).  Going for eclecticity here...would most likely be a different list tomorrow.

In the non-"Hey" division:

1) Head On - Jesus & Mary Chain - One of the ultimate high school love songs for me

2) How Beautiful You Are - The Cure - Some of the best lyrics of any Cure song

3) Heart of Gold - Neil Young - My favorite singer-songwriter and a true titan in rock history.  This song always brings a tear to my eye.

4) Hypocrite - Lush - so speaking of hooking me up with a date, do you know any cute Japanese-Hungarian musicians that dye their hair red?  Great song with a great vid.

5) The Holiday Song - The Pixies - Really dark lyrics but really fun song

6) Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap - So unique

7) The High Road - Broken Bells - Mercer + Mouse = Magic

BONUS) How Stupid Mr. Bates - The Police - obviously not one of my favorites but must be the inspiration for the worst person in TV history since Punky Brewster.  Not a bad song though.

Hey now!

Wow, got some tough songs to fill after Dan pillaged some heavy hitters.  Lets see what's left:


In the "Hey" division:


1) Hayling - FC Kahuna - I have often told Dan how much I would marry this song if I could...just a tremendous trip-hop song.

 2) Hey Joni - Sonic Youth
3) Hey Jude - Beatles

4) Hey Man - Eels

5) Hey You!!! - The Cure - Come over here, you look like Christmas!  What a great line!

6) Hey You - Pink Floyd
7) Hey Porter - Johnny Cash

Suit Up Garfunkel!

Pick your weapons, gladiators...

The earnest guitar of Paul Simon and the white fro of Garfunkel vs. the pop rock/new wave of the Bangles with the spunkiness of Susanna Hoff.


















The song...A Hazy Shade of Winter.  This was Simon & Garfunkel's second biggest hit on their Bookends album, after Mrs. Robinson.  It has been described as one of their toughest, most rock-oriented songs.

Fast forward 20 years.  On the heels of their breakthrough album featuring "Walk Like an Egyptian", the Bangles were a hot commodity and were asked to provide a song for the Less than Zero soundtrack.  This is the result:

While I love Simon & Garfunkel, the Bangles version could easily be one of top 100 songs of all time...just love the drive and the energy.  My vote to the Bangles.

Tenacious H

A couple comments - First, I had already decided to call my post "Holy H" and Misty snaked me.  Second, I definitively know one of Goettsche's H posts.  Out of respect, I will not post that song.  I limited myself to one Bloc Party song starting with H (there are loads).

• Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• Heart of a Girl - The Killers
• Halo - Bloc Party
• [Hidden Track] - Flake Music (How's that for a deep cut!?!?)
• Holdin' On to Black Metal - My Morning Jacket
• Homeward Bound - Simon and Garfunkel
• Howlin' For You - The Black Keys

Holy H

Me first. This one was impossible.

1. Heavy Metal Drummer - Wilco

2. How It Ends - Devotchka

5. The Hardest Part - Ryan Adams (They only have a live version on you tube)

7. Heroes - David Bowie

3. Ho Hey - the Lumineers. I'm a sucker for a mandolin.

4. Hold On, Hold On - Neko Case

6. House by the Sea - Iron & Wine

Hold Everything! Remove One of My G's. Stat!

I have been waiting for the G's to post this song. And I forgot it!!!!! Holy brown in my gown.

So, please enjoy one of my top ten favorite songs (yes, I said it). And it is by an Idaho artist. And it is an amazingly beautiful song with the video filmed in Joshua Tree National Park, a place dear to my heart, much like Josh Ritter.

A Girl in the War - Josh Ritter

Geeez.

1. Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys

2. Golden Slumbers - The Beatles

3. Graveyard - Feist

4. Geraldine - The Avett  Brothers

5. Get Well Cards - Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

6. The Greatest - Cat Power

7. Girl with One Eye - Florence and the Machine

Packard G-Force

So, I have to give MG a big shout out on some of my G's.  I admittedly would not have a good selection of Gs if it wasn't for MG.

• Glory Box - Portishead
• Grinnin' In Your Face - Son House
• Games - The Strokes
• The Guitar Man - Bread (Laugh if you must)
• The Great Escape - We Are Scientists
• Girlfriend in a Coma - The Smiths
• Gold on the Ceiling - The Black Keys

BOTW - Cat Power

This post will elaborate on a part of my persona that I'm sure you both have met a time or two, Contrary Mary.

Years ago my husband (although I don't think we were married yet) excitedly told me about a new band that he thought I would love. In those days we spent too much time arguing about music. This must have ocurred during one of these times, because I never even listened to the band he knew I would love. In fact, for a long time I thought they were a hip hop act. This is a human error, we mock what we don't understand.

That band was Cat Power, and although I don't enjoy the idea of cats having powers, I do LOVE this band.

In her 17 years of recording music as Cat Power, Chan Marshall has evolved from a neurotically nervous confessional songwriter - one who embraced minimalism and was almost afraid of recording and performing; she would play shows with her back to the audience and had a reputation for eccentric on stage behavior.

Through breakdowns and periods of time where she planned to abandon music altogether to become a homemaker and mother, Marshall continued to grow into a more confident and compelling songwriter. She moved from grungey rock to blues and soul, embracing her Southern roots.

Marshall has always maintained a deep affinity for cover songs, a habit that is attributed to both apprehension about her own songwriting abilities and her respect for folk music traditions, the act of preserving and recreating relics of Americana. Of her vast collection - she has entire albums of cover songs - stand out include renditions of "Sea of Love," "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again," and "Still in Love with You."

In 2012, Cat Power released Sun, Marshall's first album of entirely original material since 2006's The Greatest. Sun has gone on to make many "Best Albums of 2012" lists, and has been praised for its ability to embrace both darkness and light.

Now 40 years old, Marshall is up to her ninth studio album, with dozens of excellent early tracks and one off singles composing her oeuvre as well. She is constantly reinventing herself. Here are a few songs that have resonated with me, and that hopefully exemplify some of this diversity.


He War from "You are Free" (2003)

The Greatest from "The Greatest"(2006)

Free from "You Are Free" (2003)

Nothin' but Time from "Sun" (2012) - My new mantra.

Should I make this a cover contest? So many to choose from. How about Wonderwall?

What a wonderful song

This is such a good song.  I was drifting off to it and had to post...

One of my favorite childhood songs

I do not own this album, but as I was looking through my stash of Singer-Songwriter songs I thought about this.  What great memories from childhood!

Ain't nothin' but a G Thang, Baybee...

Somehow the Cake song with the lyric "Sheep go to heaven, goats go to hell" has to be mentioned here as I was about to title this G.O.A.T.  Not only are those great acronyms, but its also my longstanding nickname as well as Misty's favorite animal and the nickname of one of the most famous playground basketball players ever, Earl "The Goat" Maingault.  Goats have a lot going for them except that whole hell thing.  Back to that song, don't think that that song wouldn't be on the 10 greatest songs quoting/paraphrasing bible verses (along with Turn, Turn, Turn).

Anyhow, lets get these G's rolling!

1) God Only Knows - Beach Boys - one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard...and yes, we need ascots.

2) Gabriel - Lamb - just another beautiful song (and maybe a candidate for bible themed songs?)

3) Galapogos - Smashing Pumpkins - Hmmm, more beautiful songs!  (surprisingly no full length studio takes on Youtube...this is an abridged version with an annoying voice over part way through, but overall pretty good).

4)  Gold Gun Girls - Metric - Lets shake it up a little bit!  I attribute all my winnings in Vegas to this song...thanks for introducing them to me Dan!

5) Wow, a powerhouse of Ennio Morricone songs at the end of the G's...A Gun for Ringo, A Gringo Like Me, and Guns Don't Argue...whichever has the best video gets it!

6) Grace Kelly Blues - Eels  Such a great storyteller.

7) Girl With the Loneliest Eyes - The House of Love  I had nine songs starting with Girl or Girlfriend to consider, including two of my favorite Smiths songs.  But had to go with these guys, one of my favorite bands that no one has ever heard of.

F is for Family

1. Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine. This is my oldest daughter's favorite song. So it is dear to me.

2. A Father's First Spring - The Avett Brothers. This one reminds me of my dad, the sweetest man on earth. He's fun too.

3. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman. This song and Tracy Chapman will forever remind me of my sisters. Singing along loudly. We loved her when we were young.

4. Five Feet High and Rising - Johnny Cash. This will forever remind me of my dear, dear grandfather. The coolest cowboy in heaven.

5. Free - Cat Power. She reminds me of my husband because he introduced her to me. And I tried so hard not to like her...being contrary. But he was right. Everything she does is great.

6. First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes. This song describes what it is like to be in love. So it is for everyone I love in my life. There are so many.

7. Fall on Me - REM. I guess this one just reminds me of me. At 17. Awkward, geeky, heart sick me.

F is for Frog...ribbit!

I have a feeling that F will be deep...EDIT:  Yeah, leaving off some killer ones.  EDITx2:  C'mon, we need to expand F to 15 songs.  Make it 20 songs.  EDITx3:  I literally had 15 songs tied for the last two spots.  Welcome to the club Fascination Street and Folk Song

Dan surprised you didn't do Foundations by Kate Nash here (or Surfer Blood again).  I was tempted...those are really fun songs.

1) Fresh Feeling - Eels

2) Folk Song - The Sundays (I would marry Harriet Wheeler just for her voice)

3) Fascination Street - The Cure (One of the most driving songs of all time)

4) Fire and Rain - James Taylor...if you don't like this song you are a fascist

5) Florida - Strfkr...might be my favorite Strfkr song

6) Fools Gold - Stone Roses (one of the most fantastic debut albums ever...I loved the whole Madchester scene circa 1989)

7) For No One - The Beatles (Top 5 Beatles song for me)

Friggin' F's

I had to jump on this one next:

• F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X - Fall Of Troy  (I don't care what is said about these screamo-freakos, Thomas Erak is amazing on the guitar and this song showcases him well.)
• Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
• Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
• Fight Test - The Flaming Lips (Cat Stevens couldn't have done better)
• Fighting in a Sack - The Shins
• Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys
• Flux - Bloc Party

Eclectic E's

Mike took A LOT of mine!  I can't wait to screw you over on the "S".  Expect a midnight release from me on that one.

• Easy - Real Estate
• Echoes - Washed Out
• An End Has a Start - Editors
• Everybody's Changing - Keane
• Everyday is like Sunday - Morrissey
• Eyes as Candles - Passion Pit
• Even if it Kills Me - Motion City Soundtrack  (This band is a major guilty pleasure of mine.  Might be his hair.)

Eazy-E....is not on this list!

Top 7 E's:

1) Electric Feel - MGMT (Sorry Dan -  you are still the master dancer to this!)

2) Eye - Smashing Pumpkins

3) The Exploding Boy - The Cure

4) Everybody Knows - Concrete Blonde (Fantastic, Leonard Cohen original even darker)

5) End of a Century - Blur

6) Everlasting Light - Black Keys

7) Empty Room - Arcade Fire

Story Song Bliss

How could I forget to list this one? Perfection.

Pancho and Lefty - Willie Nelson and Merle Hagard

Oooops. 7th E.

Well poop in a mitten. I forgot one.

Empty Shell - Cat Power

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

I'm gonna have to go with John Cale's version!  I didn't realize that Buckley and the rest that followed came from his adaptation of Leonard Cohen's until I wiki'd.

Bonus points for John Cale being one of the founders of The Velvet Underground!

Story Songs Continued

Had to post a link to this one.

The Curse - Josh Ritter

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

Oooooh! I get to go first! Sadly, my E's are pretty narrow. But this first one is one of my top songs 

A-Z.

True to my Idaho roots. I love this song!

Else - Built to Spill

I guess it is tradition. Evening on the Ground - Iron and Wine

Expectations - Belle and Sebastian

Everyday - Buddy Holly

Exodus - Bob Marley

 Eden - 10,000 Maniacs