James - "Tomorrow"
The Jayhawks - "Eyes Of SarahJane"
Ahh - - warm summer-like breezes and the sweet harmonies of Gary Louris and Mark Olson. You can't beat it. Yes, I know Mark Olson was long gone when The Jayhawks released their final LP, Rainy Day Music, but original members Marc Perlman and Tim O'Reagan were still around to sing with him. In any case, I've been a huge fan of this band since 1992's Hollywood Town Hall, which - - I'm just going to say it - - is an all-time great album. From the opening riff of "Waiting For The Sun" and all the way through to the closing solo on "Martin's Song" it's pretty much perfection. Roots rock, alt-country, Americana, whatever you want to call it, The Jayhawks channel The Byrds, Gram Parsons, Neil Young (and, later, Big Star) into a wholly cohesive sound. Lovely. Nothing can touch Hollywood Town Hall, but all of their albums have highlights and I do like this uptempo tune from the mostly panned Rainy Day Music. Unfortunately Louris' recent solo album, Vagabonds, doesn't have any of the old magic. But it may be a "grower," I'm not ready to write it off yet.
Elliott Smith - "Memory Lane"
My Morning Jacket - "The Way That He Sings" (live)
Tokyo Police Club - "The Nature Of The Experiment"
Whiskeytown - "Reasons To Lie"
The New Pornographers - "The Fake Headlines"
Thelonious Monk - "Off Minor (Take 4)"
The Thorns - "Now I Know"
I've mentioned this before on this blog, but it's worth repeating so as not to completely embarrass myself. There exists a phenomenon I like to call "iPod inertia." It works like this: songs can easily make it onto my iPod, but they rarely make it off - - even if they deserve to be royally kicked off the proverbial island. I can't think of a better example than The Thorns. Described in some circles as a "super-group," the only thing super about this record is how super-cheesy it sounds. The Thorns are Matthew Sweet, Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins; and to be honest, I'm only really familiar with Sweet's music. I like his power pop (especially the 1991 album that put him on the map, Girlfriend; although I don't think I've listened to it in about 10 years). And based on what I'd heard/read (CSN/Beach Boys-like harmonies, rootsy, etc) this found its way onto the iPod. Oops. It's completely over-produced and soul-less - - like the worst kind of 70s folk pop. Why don't I just delete it already? Apparently I need therapy.
Aimee Mann - "Longshot"
The Elected - "The Miles 'Til Home"
Death Cab For Cutie - "What Sarah Said"
UPDATE: I didn't even notice the weird double "Sarah" allusion when I first posted. How about them apples?
Cansei De Ser Sexy - "Off The Hook"
And then I got to work.
Today's Stats
Total songs listened to: 13
Total minutes of music (approx.): 45
Song with the most previous plays: "What Sarah Said" - 9
Miscellaneous factoid about my trip to work today: It was tough to get out of the house this morning. My daughter had a 102.5 degree fever last night and she woke up so grumpy even unlimited viewings of this insipid cartoon she loves called Caillou couldn't cheer her up. Any other parents out there ever see this show? Torture.
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3 comments:
I call that phenomenon "IPOD ROULETTE", because when one of those songs come on, especially if someone is with you, you die a little.
The Jayhawks' "Blue Earth" is a good one, too. The sound is thinner than "Hollywood Town Hall" but it's still pure Jayhawks. And even includes two songs that the band remade for the latter album.
Uncle E, great term. Will you cop to any of your worst killer bullets?
And I've heard Blue Earth, Pete. Agree with your assessment. It's one of those instances where a good producer goes a long way.
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