Category: Music

Here we go….

I’ve been watching Euro 2008 since last weekend — and it runs through June, giving me the proverbial “Feast of Football.” For all my fellow fanatics, here’s the music from that fabulous Guy-Ritchie-directed Nike soccer ad (I’ve posted the video before): Eagles of Death Metal – “Don’t Speak (Came to Make a BANG).”

I’ve talked about this before — I love U2, but really only during their post-punk/new-wave period. I’m not as much a fan of the giant-stadium gods-of-music stuff, although a lot of it is still great. But here’s a track from their first album, Boy (1980), which is a good example of the sound I prefer: U2 – “The Electric Co.”

Some mid-90s industrial rock that I was a big fan of at the time, but seemed to forget about as soon as the decade ended: Stabbing Westward – “Shame.”

Jackson Browne’s output in the 80s was certainly cheesier than his classic 70s material, but it was my introduction to him, and so I still have a soft spot for radio singles like this one from 1983: Jackson Browne – “For a Rocker.”

Words cannot describe how the sounds on this record make me feel. Easily the best doo-wop track ever recorded, in the history of ever. The Flamingos – “I Only Have Eyes For You.” Shoo-bop-sh-bop…

I posted this years ago, but it’s worth posting again. Some of you probably remember this from the soundtrack of Goodfellas — during the “cocaine paranoia” sequence. One of my favorite songs from the early 70s, and one that you almost never hear in any retrospective radio shows. Harry Nilsson – “Jump Into The Fire.”

There ya go. Enjoy!

Another weekly mixtape…..

First up, a new song from a new group. Don’t let the band name fool you — the track is completely safe for work, and sharply clever as well. I laughed out loud at some of the lyrics on this one. Fuck Dress – “Suburban Nietzsche Freak.”

Had to post this, given that he died earlier this week. As infectious and brilliant as the day it was released: Bo Diddley – “Bo Diddley.”

As you’ve probably seen on the news, today is the 40th anniversary of the death of Bobby Kennedy. and I saw Emilio Estevez’ directoral debut, Bobby, earlier this week, and really liked it. Well worth renting. The music used in the film was all 1968, with the exception of the closing credits, which was a new gospel-tinged song (written by, of all people, Bryan Adams). I fell in love with the song immediately. Powerful stuff: Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige and the Harlem Boys Choir – “Never Gonna Break My Faith.”

I only just discovered that Hooverphonic (whom I’ve posted tracks from before) did a trip-hop single in the late 90s based on a sample from my favorite Isaac Hayes track (his version of “Walk On By”). This song might as well be titled “Stuff Gareth Really Likes.” Hooverphonic – “2Wicky.”

At last — the time has come ’round again for an indie-garage-band of white boys to dabble in Jamaica’s dub reggae style, following in the footsteps of the Clash, the Police, 311 and Sublime. Cage The Elephant – “Aint No Rest For The Wicked (wicked devil remix).”

The multi-psuedonymed RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan has a new album coming out, this time using his “Bobby Digital” identity. Typical brilliant RZA production, razor-sharp rhymes — high-quality hip-hop. RZA as Bobby Digital – “”U Can’t Stop Me Now (feat. Inspectah Deck).”

Lastly, a slick of grade-A cheese from 1985: Cyndi Lauper – “Goonies R Good Enough.”

Enjoy your weekends, kids.

I’ll keep this quick — apparently I’ve got some kind of Summer respiratory crud: sore throat, hacking cough, etc.

First up — one of those songs that used to be a favorite, but that I had entirely forgotten until I heard it again earlier this week. It’s the final single from Talking Heads, back in 1988. It also featured Kristy MacColl on backing vocals and Johnny Marr (of The Smiths) on guitar, so it was doubly nifty. I love the lyrics on this one… my favorite: “This used to be Real Estate, now it’s only fields and trees.” Talking Heads – “Nothing But Flowers.”

Two songs set the mood for Scorcese’s The Departed: “Gimme Shelter” from the Rolling Stones (which, infuriatingly, they didn’t put on the soundtrack album — a situation I remedied in my copy on iTunes), and this one: Dropkick Murphys – “I’m Shipping Up To Boston.”

I promised back in January that I’d post this as soon as I found a copy. Well, they’ve finally released it as a digital single. Here is 12 minutes of perfect pastiche of classic kaiju themes, from Cloverfield‘s end credits: Michael Giacchino – “Roar! (Theme from Cloverfield)”

The new hotness. Girl-kissing is acceptable to the US, of course. Makes me wonder how a song reversing the gender, sung by a handsome young man rather than a girl who looks like this, would go over. Something tells me it wouldn’t be nearly as popular. Katy Perry – “I Kissed A Girl.”

A UK-based outfit named after a secret society in Twin Peaks, whose music combines Indie rock, alternative, mariachi horns and surf guitar. Nifty. The Bookhouse Boys – “Dead.”

A request from my brother, who asked for some Lady Sovereign. Here’s one of her remixes: Lady Sovereign – “Random (Remix).”

Lastly, another song from the same year as our first. My introduction to Ms. Natalie Merchant: 10,000 Maniacs – “Like The Weather.” (Note: this is an m4a file — most newer players will have no problems with this, but older ones might.)

Now, back to being sick. Ugh.