Special pre-Turkey-Day edition:
My favorite track from fellow Long Island native Billy Joel doesn’t get a ton of airplay….never did, really. It’s too long, and almost operatic in structure: distinct movements, the whole schmear. I absolutely adore it, especially the movement which I think of as “the ballad of Brenda and Eddie,” which begins with a near-toccatta piano riff. Billy Joel – “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.”
Absolutely brilliant mash-up here, mixing Green Day, the KLF’s “Doctorin’ The Tardis”, George Bush and Daleks. Dean Gray – “Dr. Who on Holiday.”
This song is terribly cheesy, filled with the sort of twee neo-pagan fluffy-bunny-ness that really gets on my nerves, and wrapping it up in a psychedelic package….and yet, I love it. Donovan – “Atlantis.” How can I not love a song that includes the line “my antedeluvian baby?”
The only track worth a damn on the 90s tie-in album Songs in the Key of X, aside from the X-files Theme itself, was this cover of a Gary Numan song by the Foo Fighters. They managed to take a creepy song and make it even creepier, and I’ve gotta respect that. Foo Fighters – “Down in the Park.”
A new band that I’ve been introduced to this past week: Rockit Girl – “Bright Lights, Big City.” Uptempo girl-fronted pop-rock with some nice harmonies. This wormed its way into my head and has stayed there.
Another new discovery — a band out of Norway that does synth-based alternative pop that reminds me of Joy Division a bit, perhaps with a bit of Depeche Mode, sung in English with a Norweigian accent: Boys of Scandinavia – “Beautiful As A Person.”
And another new one: A french downtempo/trip-hop group that produces some really amazing stuff: Mig – “Concrete Jungle.
This song is just perfect to end on, for obvious reasons: The Sundays – “Here’s Where The Story Ends.”
one of my favorite Joels!
Can’t wait to get home and listen to it!
That “Atlantis” song is absolutely hysterical. Three cheers!
And I love that Rockit Girl song. Made me want to listen to Josey and the Pussycats.
I have to disagree with you about the X-Files CD. Frank Black’s ‘Unmarked Helicopters’ is a pretty kick-ass track. Along with REM’s ‘Star Me Kitten’.
But that’s just my opinion.
I really wish I could find my copy of that CD. I remember loving it. As you say, multiple good things on there.
Down in the Park is also on the single of Monkey Wrench, if anyone’s looking for it.
Dr Who on Holiday is flippin’ awesome.
Thank you for posting this. I’ve been itching to hear “Down in the Park” and “Here’s Where The Story Ends” again recently…