Today's song:

"Craw Song" by Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks

The protagonists of this minimalist sounding ditty are involved in one of the most complicated relationship chains ever set to accordion. Girl loves girl, who in turn loves boy who loves boy. Got that? Frankly, I'm not sure why he just didn't call this song "Bizarre Love Rhombus." Everybody every OH!, indeed.

Bonus points to SM for introducing the concept of "mental jujitsu."

Nothing?

ForgeTtable

True, though not really a revelation.

I love this album as much as their debut and Making Movies.

I agree that it's a solid album, but was simply making the point that the popular consensus probably has this at or near the bottom of the Dire Straits catalog. Wrongfully so, of course.

I know. I did not misunderstand you. You are correct on most critics not digging it. You rock as usual.

sometime, if you have 10 mins to spare, check out Once Upon A Time in The West - Alchemy.

THAT LITTLE FAGGOT GOT HIS OWN JET AIRPLANE
THAT LITTLE FAGGOT IS A MILLIONAIRE

I just realized the irony of SM following so closely behind Dire Straits, given the vital role Brothers in Arms plays in "Jenny and the Ess-Dog."

As good as/better than any DS studio album

Agreed.

first song that came up today:


"Uncle Son" - The Kinks



Off of Muswell Hillbillies. Pretty sure at the time it was released this thing produced zero hits and sold horribly but it might be The Kinks' finest hour. Much has been said that this was their take on American country but to me it just sounds like a good folk album. This song is an overlooked tune that never gets mentioned in overviews or reveiws but it's a solid, boozy, ditty about the working man who just wants to live a simple life but always ends up paying for the sins of government and big business.

Truly an album that is greater than the sum of it's parts.

Today's song:

"Pussywillow" by Greg Dulli

I'm a mental adolescent, so I'm obviously chuckling at the mere thought of this song's name. The opening drum roll sounds almost exactly like Edwin Starr's "War," which is what I thought this song was until I looked down at my iPod. This is off the Amber Headlights album, which is the only Dulli-involved output I own, as I've never pursued The Afghan Whigs or any of his side projects. I grabbed this one off eMusic back when it came out, based on positive word of Ob, and while it doesn't suck, I never really feel compelled to listen to this album. As for the song, it's OK, I guess, but also not something I'm likely to ever hear outside of random. Kind of puts the "dull" in "Dulli," to be honest.

"Railway Shoes" - Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians. Haven't heard this in ages - not his finest few minutes ever but if you're a fan you'll like it fine. Another song about trains, on an album that always makes me pull out Charm of the Highway Strip for a day of clever transport-related pop.

The Luxury - Tragically Hip

From Road Apples; Not one of my favourite songs by the Hip but certainly not one I'll ever turn off. It's a mid-tempo song with a kind of a slinky but not really memorable groove. It gets marks for mentioning 'melancholy wine soaked tenderness' and 'fleur-de-lis tattos'

Today's song:

"Le Freak" by Chic

One of the biggest hits (with one of the funkiest grooves ever) by the greatest disco band of them all, the only thing better than the actual song is the story behind it. According to Nile Rodgers, he and some friends (including other members of the band) were turned away at the door the first time they tried entering Studio 54, and were so angered about the snub, they immediately proceeded to start chanting, "Awwwwwwwwwww, FUCK OFF!" over and over. Nile said that chant was the genesis for the "Awwwwwwwwww, FREAK OUT!" which serves as the basis of "Le Freak."

C'est, Chic!

Mission of Burma - That's When I Reach For My Revolver

the iPod was feelin' frisky this morning.

Today's song:

"Monster/Suicide/America" - Steppenwolf

I hate "Born To Be Wild" more than most people, but not for the same reason. Everybody else hates that song because on top of nearly four decades worth of being overplayed on just about every station in the world without a black guy on the payroll, it's also been used in every movie (and/or trailer) released since 1969 without Meryl Streep in the cast. The reason I hate it is because said overplay/overuse has turned just about everyone off to Steppenwolf, or at least caused them to be woefully underrated by the burnt-out masses. "Monster/Suicide/America" is a perfect example of why it would serve everyone well to dig deeper into the catalog of John Kay and Co.

Within the span of slightly more than nine minutes, Steppenwolf manage to brilliantly distill two centuries' worth of American political history into a powerful mini-rock opera that is just as timely today as when it was released 37 years ago. From Plymouth Rock ("Like good Christians, some would burn the witches / Later some got slaves to gather riches") to the Civil War ("The blue and grey they stomped it / They kicked it just like a dog /And when the war over / They stuffed it just like a hog") to the rationale behind our latter day military conflicts ("We don't know how to mind our own business / 'Cause the whole world's got to be just like us / Now we are fighting a war over there / No matter who's the winner / We can't pay the cost"). Obviously, this was largely directed at our involvement in Vietnam, but does it seem any less apropos at this very moment?

Sorely under-heard and under-valued by many, even from my generation who never heard it even when it was new. Deserves to be played on as good a stereo as you can find at the loudest volume that doesn't drive you from the room. Repeatedly.

You are wise beyon--um, proportional to your age.

easily my favorite Kinks album and in fact, one of my 20 or so favorite records of all time.