Category: Lists (Page 13 of 19)

A Top 13…? Sure, why not.

November 8, 2006 / Will Harris

In a recent promotion involving the release of the L.E.O. album, Bleu provided folks who purchased the record through Not Lame Records with his top 13 essential albums of all time. The list was posted to an E-mail list I’m on, and, predictably, it spurred everyone to start sending out their own top 13 lists…so here’s mine, and feel free to submit your own as well:

1. The Beatles, Magical Mystery Tour: I know I’m supposed to pick Revolver or Sgt. Pepper, but over the years, I’ve come to realize that any album which contains “I Am the Walrus,” “Penny Lane,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Your Mother Should Know,” and “All You Need Is Love” is really the Beatles album that I’ll listen to more often than any other, “Blue Jay Way” be damned.
2. The Smiths, The Queen Is Dead. If only because of “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.” Of course, there are plenty of other reasons to include it, since I love every song, but that one song is ultimately the reason it’s essential for me.
3. Jellyfish, Spilt Milk. So is it true that you’re either a Bellybutton man or a Split Milk man, and that you can’t be both…?
4. The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds. It didn’t hit me like a ton of bricks, as it did others, but when it did hit me, WOW.
5. a-ha, Hunting High and Low. I didn’t even listen to this album until after their time on the US charts had come and gone, but once it did, I wondered why the hell I’d never paid any attention to them before.
6. Pet Shop Boys, Very. It was officially the point where Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe stopped mattering in the States, but it was also when I realized that I rather preferred it that way.

7. R.E.M., Lifes Rich Pageant. Seeing these guys at William and Mary Hall when they were touring behind Document was a formative moment in my appreciation of alternative music, and of all their albums, this remains my favorite.
8. The Merrymakers, No Sleep ‘Til Famous. This was the album that convinced me that there was something in the water in Sweden that gave its residents the ability to write incredibly catchy pop hooks.
9. Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians, Globe of Frogs. I could list any number of Hitchcock albums here, but this is one I’m forever returning to.
10. Squeeze, Frank. A dark horse in the Squeeze discography, to be sure, but when I worked at a record store, my manager said, “You must listen to this album.” I continue to thank her for that to this day.
11. Johnny Cash, Live at Folsom Prison. Because I can still remember listening to it on 8-track while riding in my dad’s Ford pick-up.
12. XTC, Skylarking. Andy Partridge may still grimace at the memory of working with Todd Rundgren, but even he can’t fault the end result.
13. Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols. Because it fucking rocks. Period.

Alternative, Lists, Pop, Rock

Mix Disc Monday: Whatshername

October 30, 2006 / David Medsker

With all due respect to Angie, Amie, Beth, Mustang Sally, Maggie May, Alison and the one with the phone number 867-5309, they aren’t the only girls in the pop song universe. Heck, we could make this list using nothing but songs by Material Issue (“Diane,” “Renee Remains the Same”) and Ben Folds (“Losing Lisa,” “Carrying Cathy,” “Give Judy My Notice,” “Julianne”). However, in the issue of equal time, we’re limiting them both to one song each.

And, just to spice things up a bit, I’m getting the girls themselves involved: if we have a model whose name appears in one of these songs, you can look her up right here. And please, don’t ask me if I have their phone number, or know how to reach them, etc. I don’t. Girls that look like our models don’t talk to me. The only exception to that is my wife, and I only succeeded with her by getting her really, really drunk. That, and foot rubs. Lots and lots of foot rubs.

“Valerie Loves Me,” Material Issue (International Pop Overthrow)
One wonders what guitar pop would sound like right now if Jim Ellison hadn’t made the fateful decision to check out as early as he did. If it meant only one more song like this one, wouldn’t it have been worth it?
BE Girl Next Door: Valerie, April 2003

“Kate,” Ben Folds Five (Whatever and Ever, Amen)
I just love the first line of this song: “She plays ‘Wipeout’ on the drums, the birds and the squirrels come.” Everyone wants a girl that can play “Wipeout” on the drums, don’t they?
BE Girl Next Door: Katie Not a 100% match name-wise, but way too cute to pass up.

“Everybody Loves Jill,” Cowboy Mouth (Easy)
This song is surely written about the Jill that my friend Garrett just married. Not only does she have fiery, spectacularly untamed red hair, she loves the color red to boot, which matches the “She’s got a red house, that goes with her red boat” sing-song lyric to a tee. I’ll never forget Jill’s nieces (ages eight and under) all singing this song to her (first time they’d ever heard it) at her wedding reception.
BE Model: Jill, May 2002
BE GND: Jill, April 2002

“Laura,” Scissor Sisters (Scissor Sisters)
According to iTunes, I’ve played this song 25 times. Multiply that by about 20, and that should cover the times I’ve played it in the car, on the stereo, in the iPod or Discman, or put it on a mix for a friend. If you’re feeling melancholy, there is also the just-as-awesome “Laura” by Billy Joel, from what I consider his best album ever, The Nylon Curtain.
BE Model: Laura, August 2004

“Goodbye Lucille #1,” Prefab Sprout (Two Wheels Good)
Or from the album Steve McQueen, if you’re on the other side of the pond. This is the slow-jamz part of the mix, but there was something about that line “Life’s not complete ‘til your heart’s missed a beat / And you’ll never make it up, or turn back the clock / No, you won’t” that appealed to both the hopeless romantic and eternal pessimist in me.

“Veronica,” Elvis Costello (Spike)
Admit it: even though you know that Betty would never break your heart, you still want Veronica just the same. Come on, do you know any Bettys that look like this?
BE Model: Veronica, May 2006

“Who Killed Tangerine?,” Tears for Fears (Everybody Loves a Happy Ending)
No, I don’t know anyone named Tangerine, either, but since the lyric that follows the title in the song is “prettiest girl I’ve ever seen,” it counts. Besides, I take every chance I get to pimp this awesome, awesome song.

“Calling Sarah,” Jellyfish (Bellybutton)
Yes, I’ve listed three Jellyfish-related songs in the last two weeks. Click on the link below, and I think you’ll cut me a break.
BE Girl Next Door: Sarah, January 2003

“The Jessica Numbers,” New Pornographers (Twin Cinema)
The one moment where the archives dictated the mix disc: I originally pegged “Jackie, Dressed in Cobras,” from the same band and album, for this slot. But we had no Jackies on file. And frankly, I’m surprised we only had three Jessicas. Isn’t everyone in their twenties named Jessica?
BE Model: Jessica, September 2006
BE GND: Jessica, August 2002
BE Model: Jessica, September 2001

“Kelly Watch the Stars,” Air (Moon Safari)
If you’re feeling really adventurous, look for the mix of this that Moog Cookbook – aw, damn it, yet another Jellyfish reference – did of it for the soundtrack to the little-seen movie “Splendor.” Groovy, baby.

“Fly High Michelle,” Enuff Z’Nuff (Enuff Z’Nuff)
They hit the scene at the peak of hair metal, and they had absolutely nothing to do with the other bands on the scene…aside from the hair, that is. Upon hearing this ballad, I thought, “Man, if only Cheap Trick had done this instead of “The Flame.” We have more Michelles in the archives than we can count, but here are my two faves.
BE Model: Michelle, March 2006
BE Model: Michelle, March 2005

“Celestine,” Kirsty MacColl (Tropical Brainstorm)
This song should be the theme for Ali Larter’s character on “Heroes,” the dual-personality Niki. “Oh yes, she’s hot, she’s hot, she’s hot / She’s just a wild and wicked slut / And she lives inside my head, and stops me sleeping.” Yes, yes, and yes.

“Summer Moved On,” A-ha (Minor Earth, Major Sky)
My heartfelt apologies to “She Sheila,” the Producers song that originally held this slot. I originally planned on this piece consisting of more traditional names, but I’d already broken that with “Who Killed Tangerine?” And besides, this way I get to plug both a tragically overlooked A-ha song from 2000 and a girl who actually deserves the name Summer. Does anyone watch “The O.C.” anymore?
BE GND: Summer, June 2004

“Susan,” Aimee Mann (Bachelor No. 2)
After writing a slew of songs with boy’s names in them – “David Denies,” “Long Gone (Buddy),” “’J’ for Jules” – Mann penned “Susan,” with a melody so bouncy that you’d hardly notice its remorseful undercurrent. If this one doesn’t do it for you, try her song “Goodbye Caroline,” from the great The Forgotten Arm.
BE GND: Suzi, August 2005
BE GND: Susie, February 2002

“For Nancy,” Pete Yorn (musicforthemorningafter)
‘cause it alllllready iiiiiiiiiiis…..

Bonus track: “Darling Nikki,” Prince and the Revolution (Purple Rain)
I’m only including this because we have a gaggle of Nikkis in our library. Check-ch-check-check-check, check them out.
BE GND: Nikki, March 2006
BE Model: Nikki, January 2006
BE GND: Nikki, September 2005
BE GND: Nikki, June 2005

Lists, Mix Disc Monday, Pop, Rock, Songs

Weekend Video Vault for October 27, 2006

October 27, 2006 / Captain Capm

Trick or treat! Oh, it’s all tricks this week, kids. Seeing how Halloween will have come and gone by the time the next video update caresses your eyes, I thought I’d do something a little different this week. Instead of the usual professional videos gathered for your pleasure, this time I scoured YouTube for some really great clips of regular people just lip syncing to songs in front of their web cams. It’s good and good for you, and maybe you won’t find the razor blade tucked away inside the chewy goodness! So have a great weekend, and Happy Halloween to you all.

“pcp lol dumbass boring lip sync” If this is just a joke, it’s hilarious as is. If it isn’t a joke, then it’s twice as funny. It is placed in the “comedy” category, so we’ll give dakingpcp (who made the video) the benefit of the doubt. I dunno what the hell the song is he’s lip syncing to, but the hand gestures and facial expressions are pure gold.

“i want you to want me” boybandlover001 hits us over the head while lip syncing (By request, even!) to Lindsay Lohan’s cover of Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me.” This one takes a little while to load for some reason, so give it a little time. You gotta love folks who look at themselves in their monitors instead of straight into the camera. Place your bets now on if you think this girl even knows about Cheap Trick.

“Lip-sync” Bendyfreak004 gives us this disturbing video of her lip syncing to Celine Dion’s cover of Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself.” The audio isn’t too good, but that video…ah…what’s the phrase for it? “Illegal in 45 states,” I think.

“Cher Lip Sync” lordhazzard (of Lord Hazzard Productions) has a few hilarious clips available, but this one is the best. A perfect send up of everyone who takes themselves seriously when making lip syncing videos.

“James Blunt Music Video – You’re Beautiful” No, it’s not the official video, but rather a video made by PetrosBakalyan based on Blunt’s overplayed hit. Why can’t this song just go away? Don’t you see, it inspires people to make videos like this? My eyes!

“Lip Sync Madness” vialyone gives us this hilarious lip sync medley. Intentionally hilarious, mind you.

“Grillz Lip Sync” Here’s NJDevilBrodeur lip syncing to Nelly’s “Grillz”! I still think Mike Rowe does it best, but this is good and plenty as well.

“sexy love lip syncing” alvisjose is really feelin’ it in his lip syncing contribution to the Internet at large. Perhaps he’s feelin’ it a little too much. So many people post these videos with descriptions saying they were just bored when they did it, but we all know this isn’t the case. People wanna be stahz, kid!

“me n pussycat dolls” And underage girls everywhere get the idea to do a little sumthin’ sumthin’ like this, yo. darkdeceiver entertains us with some scintillatingly poor pixelated lip syncing, but as she says in the comments section you can just ask anyone if she can really lip sync!

“magic_moments” All right, we’ll close out this frightfest with flight0001 entertaining himself in front of his webcam. You have to admire a dude like this entertaining himself and everyone else. It uhhh…throws a bit of cold water on they who would take themselves too seriously while attempting a similar feat.

Lists, Videos

Mix Disc Monday: This Is Halloween

October 22, 2006 / David Medsker

Welcome to the debut of our newest installment, Mix Disc Monday. It is exactly what you think it is. We won’t even bother to insult your intelligence by explaining the concept to you. In this age of iTunes playlists and podcasts, we know that you’re a step ahead of us. Fifteen songs about…well, whatever inspires us that day.

It therefore seemed fitting that we kick off this weekly event with a timely list of songs whose titles evoke images of All Hallow’s Eve. Most of the songs aren’t dark or scary, but do they have to be? If that’s what you want, listen to the main theme to “Requiem for a Dream” over and over again, if you have the guts. Oh, and feel free to pepper the proceedings with “Bring out your dead” quotes from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

Ministry: “Everyday Is Halloween” (Early Trax)
Mmm-mmm bop mmm bop bop. Mmm-mmm bop mmm bop bop. Al Jourgensen says he hates this song now. Fool.

The Jazz Butcher: “The Devil Is My Friend” (Bloody Nonsense)
This long lost B-side (I won’t lie, you’re gonna have a hell of a time finding this one) is still the only song I know by the Jazz Butcher. But any band that’s friends with Frank Sinatra, Love & Rockets and the devil is a friend of mine.

Bow Wow Wow: “I Want Candy” (We Are the ‘80s)
Not everything about Halloween involves scaring people, you know.

Squirrel Nut Zippers: “Hell” (Hot)
I found a version of this on Napster back in the day that was filled with quotes from “The Simpsons.” Innnnnn the afterlife (“D’oh!”), you could be headed for the serious strife (“D’oh!”). Now you make the scene all day (Buuuuuurp), but tomorrow there’ll be hell to pay. Best, mash-up, ever.

The Killers: “Bones” (Sam’s Town)
Tim Burton was the perfect person to direct this video. If only he could have done something about the rest of the album…

Oingo Boingo: “Dead Man’s Party” (Dead Man’s Party)
While we’re talking about Tim Burton, we may as well give a shout-out to his composer’s former day job.

L7: “Pretend We’re Dead” (Bricks Are Heavy)
Girls can do grunge too, you know. Come on, come on, come on.

Concrete Blonde: “Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)” (Bloodletting)
How a lazy cover of “Sympathy for the Devil” by Guns ‘n Roses played over the credits of “Interview with a Vampire” instead of this is not just a mystery but a crime.

Dead or Alive: “Something in My House” (Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know)
Here’s the thing that people forget about Dead or Alive: their guitarist could shred, dude. For extra creep factor, find the 12” mixes, which have quotes from “The Exorcist” in them.

Book of Love: “Witchcraft” (Lullaby)
There’s something about the sound of Samantha wiggling her nose that gets me every time. That, and Susan Ottaviano’s voice, which my wife once described as “beautifully bored.” Yep, that sounds about right.

B-52’s: “Devil in My Car” (Wild Planet)
Heeeeeeelp!

Jellyfish: “The Ghost at Number One” (Spilt Milk)
It was a tossup between this and “The Ghost in You” from the Psychedelic Furs, but in the interest of keeping the energy levels up, we chose this mash note to Queen about a dead rock star who still dominates the pop charts. Awfully prescient, since this predates the deaths of Tupac and Biggie. Jellyfish were prophets.

Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.: “Creepie People” (The Land of Pure Imagination)
I probably should have put David Bowie’s “Scary Monsters and Super Creeps” in this slot instead of back to back Jellyfish-related tunes (Manning played keys for the’Fish). But hot damn, I just love this new record of his. And you should, too.

Gnarls Barkley: “The Boogie Monster” (St. Elsewhere)
You either love or hate this one. I’m in the former group, if only because it reminds me of Mike Wazowski, Sully and Boo from “Monsters Inc.” Kitty!

Divine Comedy: “The Happy Goth” (Absent Friends)
And on what day would Goths be happier than Halloween? The chorus to this is just money: “Well, her clothes are blacker than the blackest cloth / And her face is whiter than the snows of Hoth / She wears Doctor Martens and heavy cross / But on the inside, she’s a happy Goth.” The snows of Hoth? God, I love Neil Hannon.

P.S. To see the most unintentionally funny Goth clip ever on YouTube, click here.

External Music, Lists, Mix Disc Monday, Playlists, Pop, Rock, Songs, Videos

Weekend Video Vault for October 20, 2006

October 20, 2006 / Captain Capm

Another week, another dollar, another batch of groovy clips to make you scream and holler. Or something like that. I have gathered quite the collection of eclectic music commercials for you yet again, this time spanning the ’70s to the present. Lots of stuff to dance to this week, as well as a bit of nostaliga for the Gen X kids (which I am a part of). So let’s kick it now with a grand feast of 10 lovely videos for your weekend fix.

George Harrison – “When We Was Fab” There’s no doubt in my mind that George Harrison was the funniest of the four Beatles. All you gotta do is watch The Beatles Anthology for proof. While Paul is at his usual taking it all too seriously self and Ringo is just happy to be there, George is lashing out with much acerbic wit. He is sorely missed. I’ve always dug this song and its video (especially the walrus as Paul part) as well as the Cloud Nine album in general.

Thomas Dolby – “Airhead” Aliens Ate My Buick is a blast of an album, and it’s a shame that more people didn’t groove to it at the time of its release. But it was near the end of the ’80s and perhaps Thomas Dolby was looked upon as merely the guy who did “She Blinded Me With Science.” So check out the disc if you haven’t heard it, as it also includes the stunning “Budapest By Blimp” and the ultra-groovy “May The Cube Be With You” (which also has a video but isn’t half as cool as this one).

Teenage Fanclub – “Hang On” Speaking of underapprecaited albums, the Fanclub’s Thirteen is one such specimen. At the time, critics called it overindulgent and lacking in whatever made Bandwagonesque great. But if I recall correctly, Rolling Stone‘s original review of that particular album was 1 1/2 stars. Funny how time changes minds. Since then, Thirteen has grown into something of a cult favorite. I loved it from the start. After seeing this video at the time, I rushed right out and bought it, along with a Soup Dragons album (OK, so that was a poor purchase). I also got to see these guys live at the time Grand Prix was released, and it was a terrific show.

Richard Cheese – “Baby Got Back/Personal Jesus” If you haven’t experienced the thrill that is Richard Cheese and Lounge Against The Machine, then you’re nowhere, baby. Here is a clip of Cheese on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” doing a quick medley of two fine-ass songs. His version of “Baby Got Back” smokes the original.

Robbie Williams – “Rock DJ” If you hate Robbie Williams, then it may surprise you to know what a truly great album Sing When You’re Winning is. It didn’t do nearly as well as The Ego Has Landed, and that’s a shame. Lots of great songs on the album with this being its lead-off single. Robbie unleashes his ego and has it put in check. Cheeky!

Kylie Minogue – “Love At First Sight” Here’s Robbie’s pal and all-around hottie Kylie Minogue shaking it up on the excellent “Love At First Sight” from the equally hot album Fever. When this video made it to the US, a shitty remix of the song was used. Here’s the original in all its…original glory. Disco pwnz.

Public Enemy – “Give It Up” It’s Flava Flav and the gang claymation-style! This song remains a groover, and P.E. always had the good thing goin’ on. Thrill as Chuck D. blasts the evil crackhead with the “culture ray”! I don’t think Flav’s clock is big enough on his clay doppelganger.

Spacehog – “In The Meantime” Another band that never got its due. Oh yes, this was a mega hit, but the entire first and second albums by this band are magnificent, a must buy! The third one wasn’t so hot, so they knew when to call it a day. But no one excavated Bowie territory better than these guys. Plus they were excellent at adding their own special ingredients to the mix which made it so much more than just some group borrowing ideas from one of the greats.

Bee Gees – “Jive Talkin'” By the mid-’70s the Bee Gees were needing something new and fresh to keep them current. Lo and behold, they humped a disco beat and Barry began to sing in a falsetto. The bass line in this fucker absolutely kills. Of course, shortly thereafter the brothers Gibb would pwn the world with their contributions to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. So tell me this, people. On my brother’s original vinyl copy of that soundtrack – as well as on a reissued vinyl copy of my own – “Jive Talkin'” is a live version. However, on the cassette and all subsequent CD offerings it’s always been the original studio take on Main Course. Someone out there please clear up this matter for me, as it’s always been one of the great musical mysteries I want solved!

The Ditty Bops – “Wishful Thinking” Here’s another little group that you need to groove to if you never have. The Ditty Bops have their own good time retro thing going on and Vaudeville fans from beyond the grave count them as cool in their books. So do I.