I know I’m late to the party but I just can’t get enough of this song. Enjoy.
Elbow – Lippy Kids
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Decemberists Editon
Back by popular demand (okay maybe it wasn’t that popular but there was demand. never mind who the demand was from. okay, yes it was the cats, but still…)
The Decemberists – Down By The Water
After the last album of psuedo poetic wanderings, not that there’s a damn thing wrong with that ’cause there isn’t, it appears The Decemberists are returning to plain ol’ rock. Great song with Gillian Welch on backup vocals. Dig it.
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What the hell was that? Division
Sometimes you just kind of have to scratch your head, shrug and say, “Right on”
60 Minute Man – The Dominos
When you think of the The Dominos, you don’t necessarily think of anything dirty. You might because of that time in Lawrence, but we won’t go there. This song is totally dirty without being dirty in any way. Listen. Dig.
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The Sounds Of The Suburbs – The Members
Most of us are suburban. Theme song? Maybe, maybe not. Great old 70′s/80′s kind of new wave/punk deal.
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Lit Up – Buckcherry
Know how I know your gay? Because I love this song. Rocks. I mean know how I know I’m gay…whatever…No..wait…
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Mrs. Bean – The Essex Green
Groovy kind of sixties feel. With a beat.
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The Queen Is Dead* Division (*mostly)
as a side note we should probably change the title from “f’ing great song of the day” to “f’ing great song of whenever I get off my butt” but the acronym would be too long to really use. FGSOWIGOMB” just really doesn’t flow.
With apologies to Jose Maldanado on Indie 1031.
The Queen Is Dead – The Smiths
Prior to going to Dallas once to see an old girlfriend and some other friends, I bought this tape on a whim to listen to in my cool walkman type cassette deal. I literally wore this tape out, and a few other copies before I could afford a cd player. Even though I fancied myself as some kind of hepster cool cat who dug the latest sounds (or whatever the kids were saying then. 23 skidoo probably) I hadn’t really found The Smiths or really anything beyond hepster classic How Soon Is Now.
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They’re important…really. Or maybe just really damn good Division
Okay, I get it. No more Indian dance music, or weird Japanese stuff or….can I still do the occasional rockin’ Spanish song? Please?
That’s When I Reach For My Revolver – Mission Of Burma
True story: On our honeymoon in lovely Pittsburgh, PA, I discovered a very, very cool college radio station. I think it was Pitt, but I can’t be sure because it was like 932 years ago. Anyway, digging the station, I decided to record a bit on a cassette for the loooooong drive home to Kansas City. I put a tape in the machine and let it go for a few hours. On the way home listening to said tape, this song came on. I listened, rewound (rewinded?) the tape, listened again. Rinse, repeat. This was 1989, The song is from 1981 so I’m obviosly a bit slow. Still one of my favorite of all time.
Suggested Volume: 9 just because
Suggested Drink: Cheap beer from a keg, Jagermeister
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Avalon - Roxy Music
While in college at Stephen F. Austin, my buddy Ken and I would, on occasion, partake of substances that weren’t exactly legal. Bunch of crazy college kids anyway. One day whilst engaging in one of our favorite pastimes, Ken put an album on that I hadn’t heard before. There were a few good songs but nothing really jumped out at me. Until this. Maybe it was my state of mind, but this song…this song was it. This song was THE song. “Dude…that is…wow…Still is.
Suggested Volume: 7ish.
Suggested Drink: Red wine, champagne. All in the bedroom (if you get my drift…)
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U2 – An Cat Dubh
The Bronco Bowl in Dallas was a great place to go see bands. Smallish, bowl kind of set up. Nice. Some guy that I worked with and I went to U2 on the War tour. I forget who opened but during the opening act, I jumped down to the floor and kind of hid out. I waved at the guy to come on down. He got caught and kicked out. I was digging the music so I stayed. My father wasn’t happy to have to come and pick me up at 2 in the morning from way the hell out in Bedford or wherever we lived but..hey…that’s the way it goes. This song was, far and away, the best song U2 played that night.
Suggested Volume: loud
Suggested Drink: A toast to victory of some sort
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Debonair – The Afghan Whigs
Some songs are just stupid boy meets girl, girl meets boy, love happens, etc. Debonair is the antithesis of that silly love song. This is a glimpse into the very dark, black soul of someone who is a very, very unhappy person and is willing to share and involve you in this unhappiness. Powerful.
Suggested Volume: Yes
Suggested Drink: The bitter tears of someone scorned
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Friday, 8.27.2010
Why, no that isn’t English. What gave it away? Division
El Matador – Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Look if it’s good enough for John Cusack trying to go to his high school reunion, then it’s by god good enough for you. Plus, hey Minnie Driver when she was crazy hot. Listen to this song and go march. Just do it. People might look at you oddly but hey, f’em if they can’t take a joke. Right?
Suggested Volume: A good 8/9. You need the proper volume to really feel the drums. Especially if you’re going to march down the street. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Suggested Drink: I would say tequila but would that be too obvious? Who cares, right? Yeah, tequila.
Gimmicks – metronome
Those crazy Japanese guys. Eating weird fish, girls who tan themselves stupid and have raccoon rings around their eyes, fat guys wrestling in diapers (you realize I’m kidding of course). Wacky I tell you, just wild. Out there. So is this, but in a good way.
Suggested Volume: 7 (you need to get used to it first. Let’s ease you into this together and later we’ll get after it.) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Suggested Drink: Kirin, the juice of a squid drowned in Saki
Bilo de Ghar – Abrar Ul Haq
Movin and groovin on the Indian subcontinent. Or wherever these guys are from. I’d be really surprised if it was say Des Moines, IA or Nacogdoches, TX.
Suggested Volume: 9ish. You need the volume if you’re going to properly get down.
Suggested Drink: Tea, Gajjar Ka Doodh (I have no idea what it is, but I want some)
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*Bonus track*
Mere Samnewali Khidki Mein – Kishore Kunmar
The mystery track of all mystery tracks. Have no idea where it came from but it’s old school Indian music cool and I love it.
Suggested Volume: Your call on this.
Suggested Drink: Something smooth. Like these guys.
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80′s songs that you may or may not have heard but it doesn’t matter because they f’ing rock Division
Whisper Tames The Lion - Drivin n Cryin
Sometimes it’s okay to take a chance on something. Like a different ice cream flavor, maybe a shirt or maybe even a spouse. You can always, if you don’t like it, chalk it up to experience and move on. I’m talking ice cream here, not spouses. Drivin N Cryin is the ice cream chance you took that is tasty and delicious. Like licorice ice cream, it’s not for everyone but if you’ve got the cajones to try it, you’ll dig it.
Suggested Volume: 11
Suggested Drink: Miller High Life, Moonshine
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The Fanatic - Felony
Remember when you wore dark sunglasses in the club at night? They went well with your skinny legged jeans and the cheap suit jacket that you got at the thrift store. You were cool though because you had the shades. It showed that you were a bit mysterious, definitely cool and maybe, just maybe there was a hint of danger in the air. This is the song that you danced to. In a cool kind of detached way.
Suggested Volume: 9 – Loud but it’s not that club that you used to dance at. Let’s tone it down one notch.
Suggested Drink: Vodka, Fuzzy Navel
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Making It Work – Doug & The Slugs
Sure you’re a serious person. We totally get it. Totally. Sure, we know you have your fun side. Really. Every now and then a person has to kind of let go, have fun. We get it. We’re there. A lot. This is the song for you, the extremely serious, dedicated, FOCUSED person. Totally focused. Really, we understand. We admire you. No, really we do. We wish we could be just like you. Nooooo….really. We mean it. Say, could you turn that song up a bit? Thanks.
Suggested Volume: 8
Suggested Drink: Rum & Coke, Spritzer
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Thank god Kansas City has something else besides some stupid, damn blues Division
Driving back from Themiddleofnowhere, Kansas today, I had the ipod on shuffle and was enjoying some loverly tunes. My goodness thought I (in an uncharacteristically chaste exclamation) perhaps I should share these songs with my adoring fan. So, yes by gawd I will. In the inaugural post of the F@#king Great Songs Of The Day, we might as well start out in Kansas City.
(as a side note, sure there are lots more bands in Kansas City but I don’t happen to own any of their music so, you’re welcome to send it to me.)
Blue Skies – Blackpool Lights
So there we were at a concert in a parking lot in the bar district. Generally not my first choice of venues, because really…a parking lot? Emo was the word of the day. I was thinking about slashing my wrists and lamenting my fate because, really, people just don’t understand me. You know what I’m talking about? No, you CAN’T know, because you’re not me man. You’re just not me. While we were standing around frowning and you know, lamenting, a voice rang from the sky. It wasn’t jesus or anything, it was Blackpool Lights. It was a like someone poured a 55 gallon drum of wake up on the crowd. Great, popish kind of tunes that make you smile and realize that you don’t have to cut yourself to find happiness and that the black clothing all the time gets a little old.
Recommended Volume: 8ish. Maybe 9 if you really need a pick me up.
Recommened Drink: Something sunny like maybe a screwdriver or a Bartles and Jaymes (do they still make that?..whatev..you get my drift)
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Buildings and Moutains – Republic Tigers
Light, ethereal and accessible. No, I’m not talking about me. I’m talking about Republic Tigers. Christ, it’s not always about me. Okay? Listening to the Republic Tigers reminds one that all doesn’t have to be heavy and while it may be serious, just chill. Because really, you’re gonna have a heart attack or something.
Recommended Volume: 7. You don’t want to trash the speakers again. Right?
Recommended Drink: Something sophisticated and light. Something you won’t puke up later.
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Freedom In The Underworld – The Belated
Remember that skit on Saturday Night Live when the guy would yell “drama!”? This is the band for that guy. Big sweeping curves, powerful …kind of like that girl that you sat behind in Statistics. You couldn’t have her and you both knew it. But you enjoyed her entrances and her mere presence because you knew that you were near something kind of awesome.
Recommended Volume: 9ish. You need it loud to feel the power and drama.
Recommended Drink: Red Wine, Absinthe
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