Posted By KJ / 1st September 2010
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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How Soon Is Now – The Smiths
Look I know you’ve heard it. Everyone has. Twice. Maybe three times. You know what? That’s fine. Listen to it again. It’s worth it. If you ask me it’s the classic alternative song. Whatever alternative is. I know it’s not Van Halen or Guns N Roses or whatever. It was good then. It’s good now.
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Big Mouth Strikes Again – The Smiths
While The Queen Is Dead may or may not be the most well known Smiths song from this album, Big Mouth Strikes Again is my favorite. When I first heard this song I kind of wet my pants. Of course that may be because I’d had like 903 beers on a plane from Kansas City to Dallas, but I digress. Something about the newness, the difference, the power? of this song worked for me. Still does.
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Posted By KJ / 28th August 2010
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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