The Mountain Goats are one of the more prolific and literate bands to be described as “indie rock.” Singer John Darnielle sounds a bit like Colin Meloy (of the Decemberists), which means his voice is pleasant, if a bit nasal. This track starts off with a nice piano riff before Darnielle starts to sing about a recent roadtrip. But the chorus – “I’m going to make it through this year / if it kills me” – is what drives the song.
Listen to a sound clip here.
Watch the full video here.
Originally released on the band’s 1971 album, Long Player, I first heard this song during an especially violent episode of “The Sopranos.” I believe it was when Steve Buscemi’s character deviated from his “going it straight” lifestyle to kill a man that had wronged him in the past.
The song made for a perfect soundtrack, with its lyrics “Mother don’t you recognize your son? / coming home, ’cause I failed you mother” sung by a not-yet-castrated Rod Stewart. (Stewart had loads of good rock in the early ’70s.) The song is all about falling from grace, and anyone who likes the Rolling Stones’ bluesy stuff from the late ’60s/early ’70s will probably enjoy this tune.
Listen to a song clip here.
I just heard this beauty on Indie 103.1 (LA’s “independent” radio station – the reason for the quotes is another post for another time), and I had to share it immediately. It was first released on the band’s debut, Cut, and I wasn’t expecting anyone to cover “Grapevine” quite this way. The Slits were one of the most significant female punk bands from the late ’70s / early ’80s, but this track is more new wave, featuring some great singing by frontwoman Ari Up.
Listen to the entire song here.
In an earlier post, I recommended Sia’s “Breathe Me,” which I first heard on the final episode of “Six Feet Under.” That song is also on the Six Feet Under, Vol. 2: Everything Ends soundtrack. Another fine song on the disc is “Cold Wind” by The Arcade Fire. Normally, artists provide throwaway tracks for these sountrack collections, but “Cold Wind” is a track that would easily be in the top 5 songs on the band’s breakthrough, Funeral. The first two minutes are appropriately somber, with Win Butler’s vocals set against an acoustic guitar, but the track breaks out at the 2:11 mark with a “hey hey hey!” If you liked Funeral, find this track.
Listen to a song clip here.
Ike Reilly must be sick of love songs. There can be no other reasonable explanation as to why this track exists. Released on the band’s latest album, Junkie Faithful [Bullz-Eye Review], this song is the anti-love song. Whereas most songs talk about how people are going to be there for one another, forever, this song warns the listener that they will surely be disappointed.
It’s got a great, catch Wilco feel accentuated by Reilly’s updated-Bob Dylan vocals. This is addictive stuff.
Listen to a song clip here.
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