"AT&T"Pavement
Wowee Zowee
I don't listen to much Pavement these days. I can't remember the last time I purposely put on one of their albums, or purposely played one of their specific songs. They'll only come up on shuffle now. I dunno, I guess they don't matter as much to me now as they used to when I was younger. But this is one of their songs that I'm always happy to hear. I immediately sit up straighter in my seat when it comes on. It's just a good vibe. My favorite part of the whole song is his stuttering: "ne-ne-ne-never," "da-da-da-dark," "ev-ev-ev-ever." It makes it fun to sing along to.
"Hey Bulldog"The Beatles
Yellow Submarine
This is their only throw-away album in their entire catalog. I guess they just needed a soundtrack to sell along with the movie. But even though most of the tracks are just fluff, this is song is FUN. The pounding intro piano riff at the beginning is infectious. You can feel that the energy is high during the recording. And all of the goofing around and ad-libbing at the end is classic.
"Roots Radical"Rancid
...And Out Come The Wolves
I have the same deal here I have with Pavement -- Rancid doesn't have the same effect on me now than it did when I was younger. In middle school, this was fresh and exciting; but listening to this song as an adult, I'm bored. It seems more than a little bit silly now.
Also, another problem with this album is too many tracks. It has 19. There should never be that many on a single disc. That's just 19 whole opportunities to make me shut it off.
But songs like "Ruby Soho" and "Time Bomb" are still fun.
"Don't Know Why"Norah Jones
Come Away With Me
"Out across the endless sea / I would die in ecstasy" is an awesome line.
"This Is Not An Exit"Saves the Day
Stay What You Are
This was easily one of the five most important albums to me (disclaimer: this, of course, excludes any Beatles albums, because practically all of them take precedence over anything else) in high school...and know knows, depending on my mood, I can make a strong case for it being THE most important album to me.
I love how smoothly he delivers the line "And while we stand knee deep in the flow / the undertow will grab our heels and won't let go."
It bums me out to think that this was their artistic peak and everything else after was downhill. It feels weird to face the reality that one of my favorite bands of all time hasn't done anything that measures up in the seven long years that this album was released. That's sobering.
"Flamenco Sketches"Miles Davis
Kind of Blue
Sometimes I'm in the mood to listen to jazz, most times I'm not. And this is one of the times I'm not.
You have to be in the right frame of mind. You have to have the time (and the patience) to sit through this and really labor through all the nuances, all the chord changes and tonal complexities. But I don't have time for all that right now.
And you also have to be in the right position, too. I think it's best to be laying down. Or at the very least, lounging. I've got it all wrong; I'm hunched over in front of a laptop.
"My Way"Frank Sinatra
Sinatra Reprise
Observation has taught me that this is arguably everyone's favorite Sinatra song to sing for Karaoke, especially at weddings.
I think I would sing "It Was A Very Good Year."
"Whip-Smart"Liz Phair
Whip-Smart
Sometimes I forget how much I like the stuff she was releasing during the low-fi, Riot Grrl times of the early '90s. "Supernova" was the big hit off this album, but I think this might be my favorite track. And for those that don't know, that indistinguishable line in the chorus is "When they do the double dutch, that's them dancing." Yeah, I didn't know that either for the longest time.
And I think Whitechocolatespaceegg is somewhere in the pile of CDs I've been meaning to upload to my iTunes for years but never, ever get around to it.
"California Love"2Pac
All Eyez On Me
For the sake of accuracy, I'm obligated to mention that this version of the song (that is, the radio version that we're all most familiar with) technically wasn't ever released on this album; instead, I think this version was released solely as a single and the version that actually makes it on here is the weaker remix (which is usually the case with remixes, but whatever).
Anyway, I always notice how this almost seems like two different song. I like Dr. Dre fine, but his opening verse seems slow and sluggish. It's alright, but overall it just feels lacking for some reason. And then you realize why when Tupac jumps in -- his verse is infinitely better. It's like, bang, night and day. His is so much more dynamic and urgent.
And of course, this song taught us that Inglewood is always up to no good.
"This Diamond Ring"Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Legendary Masters Series
This song was always playing in my house growing up, so it beings back visceral memories of being little. And I think they're really charming in their old fashioned, squeaky clean sort of way.
And apparently Gary is the son of Jerry Lewis. I didn't know that until recently. I guess it's too bad, because he has a very unfunny father.
"You Only Live Once"The Strokes
First Impressions of Earth
With this being their third album (which was exactly like the album before that, which was exactly like the album before that...) I think most people have grown tired of their standard New York-centric garage band, early '00s sound by now. But this is a fun, catchy track. And I seem to remember the lead singer wearing some dope ass shoes in the music video.
"La Bamba"Richie Valens
The Very Best of Richie Valens
I dare anyone to try and say this song ISN'T fun. I love it. It always leaves me in high spirits. And it's my favorite song that's sung at least partially in another language, beating both the Beatles' "Michelle" and Goldfinger's "99 Red Balloons."
And I'll go ahead and extend my sincerest apologies in advance to the Big Bopper's family, because I suggest that from here on out we should all stop mentioning his name when referring to that famous plane crash. It should be Valens, Buddy Holly, and "the other guy." Sorry, but the Big Bopper was awful.
"Atmosphere"Joy Division
Substance
This is such a perfect title for the overall vibe and feel of this song. It really is atmospheric and expansive; it envelops the entire room; it sounds like everything is going on all around you. Although I actually do prefer their more dancey, uptempo, punk-influenced tracks like "Shadowplay" and "Transmission" and, of course, "Love Will Tear Us Apart." I dig the signature droning and haunting quality of Ian Curtis' vocals, but often, it can feel like an anchor around your neck.
"The Boy With The Thorn In His Side"The Smiths
The Queen is Dead
Heh, it seems kind of fitting that this would come next.
And I would normally find this nearly impossible to do (because there's just so many great ones to choose from), but I think this may be my favorite Smiths song ever. And even if it really isn't, it is for this one moment. From Johnny Marr's joyous struming at the beginning to Morrissey's yodeling at the close, this song always puts me in an amazing mood. I can't sit still when I hear it come on.
"Mr. Tambourine Man"Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home
More often than not, I prefer the Byrds' cover of this song. It's lighter, brighter, and naturally, much shorter.
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