(95) Cold War Kids :: Hospital Beds

Cold War Kids :: Hospital Beds

Theoretically my last sequential piano post. But no guarantees on what tomorrow may bring.

Cold War Kids where one of the bands i discovered via MTV2. I was surprised with how much they rock outside of their 'mainstream' tracks.

This song is really enjoyable, the piano and drums really push the song.

Anyway, keeping it short ...
Enjoy!

(94) Tom Waits :: The Piano Has Been Drinking

Tom Waits :: The Piano Has Been Drinking

I heard this song late one night on the local Classic Rock station. It changed my life forever.

Waits' voice is so unique that i can't help but turn him up whenever i hear him. Admittedly I'm not overly familiar with his entire collection, but I'm impressed by everything I've heard so far.

He his a contemporary blend of styles to create what i would call: "cool".

By the very definition of the word. Miles Davis style. Truly.

The blues, jazz, classical, pre-rock styles all blended into this whiskey laden contemporary blend ... it's like Bukowski incarnate.

Enjoy.

In the vein of awesome, while searching for this song, i stumbled upon this Tom Waits cover of Fats Waller ... the day before yesterday's blog-a-song choice. Awesome.

(93) Sara Bareilles :: Fairytale

Sara Bareilles :: Fairytale

If you know me you know I'm a nerd. If you don't know me, now you know I'm a nerd.

I love fairy tales. Seeing as I'm on a piano kick I decided that Sara Bareilles' Fairytale would be a good addition.

This song is a clever re-telling of a few female fairytale characters from a jaded contemporary view. I like it.

The video is pretty entertaining too.

Enjoy!

(92) Fats Waller :: I'm Crazy Bout My Baby

Fats Waller :: I'm Crazy Bout My Baby

I discovered Fats Waller when I was fishing around for "Valentine's Day Jazz" songs for a CD i was putting together.

I'm a new fan.

Perhaps decades late, I don't care.

Fats Waller can jam that piano like few others can, and it's happy! It seems rare to find such happy music from the 20's & 30's.

This song kicks, and anyone listening will be inclined to dance (or at least tap their feet).

Enjoy!

(91) Pixies :: Gigantic

Pixies :: Gigantic

So this was a hard pick for today. I have a list of songs that i continually add to, for songs I want to feature here.

My Pixies listing said this:

pixies - gigantic, here comes your man, where is my mind … decide!

This is another band (like The Violent Femmes) that was way before their time. The rock hard though.

This track (and the reason I decided to feature it) was one of the few song where Kim Deal got to co-write a track. Kurt Cobain said in an interview something to the extent of "...i wish Kim was allowed to write more songs".

I wonder what he would have thought of The Breeders?
I also picked this song because the bass line is so incredibly fantastic.

Regardless, this song flexes the Pixies 'awesome muscle' quite a bit.

Enjoy!

(90) Kim Wilde :: Kids In America

Kim Wilde :: Kids In America

Guilty pleasure that I'm not ashamed of.

The 80's produced a lot of crap ... it also produced a whole lot of influence on the contemporary music we all love so much now.

Point and case; this song has been covered by more bands then i have fingers and toes.

There is a punk cover of this song that I really like, I think it's the Bouncing Souls ... seriously, it's amazing.

The Jonas Brothers version ... i beg you not to listen to it. Just listening to that version will give you scurvy, I'm not kidding.

Anyway,
Enjoy!

(89) Jack Johnson :: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

Jack Johnson :: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

First, Jack Johnson is often mocked as a dirty, easy-going, hippy. I agree. He really seems like one. Just a relaxed dude, banging on a conga drum or playing his guitar on the beaches of Hawaii (where he's from).

I'm all right with it. Who needs shoes? F shoes.

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing was released in 2005 and hit the charts running.

While I do enjoy singer-songwriters and "coffee shop" music, I generally have to be in a mood for it. Not so with Jack Johnson. He's one of the few that I really like, and can always listen to.

Anyway, you've probably heard of him, and probably heard this song. Too bad. Listen to it again.

Enjoy!

(88) Otep :: My Confession

Otep :: My Confession

As a precursor, I have not heard any other Otep, just this song. Thus I can't vouch for any of their other work.

That said this song is pretty awesome. The lead singer, and front-woman Otep Shamaya has an awesome grating voice on this track.

The screams that almost sound like they are coming from her are actually coming from one of the giant metal dudes in her band (presumably "Evil" J. McGuire whom Wikipedia says is the backup vocalist).

Anyway, enjoy some metal

(87) Train :: Meet Virginia

Train :: Meet Virginia

Train is a pretty good band that started to gain it's fame in the late 1990's. Patrick Monahan is the bands front man and lead singer. His voice is pretty spectacular, even if this song doesn't show his full range and form.

Also, of interesting note; Pat Monahan got his start in a Led Zeppelin cover band, and to be honest, he may have the best Robert Plant vocal covers I've ever heard come from a man (Heart's Nancy Wilson still takes the cake).

This track, Meet Virginia, hit 15 on the US Hot 100 chart in 1999. It's one of the few songs I'll hear on my mom's radio presets that i actually dig.

Enjoy!

(86) Fiona Apple :: Criminal

Fiona Apple :: Criminal

Another short today. Remember me telling you how i love female vocalists? Remember me telling you I love the 90's? Well let me refresh you: I love "chick rock" from the 90's.

This song is pretty bad ass, every time i listen to it i notice something new about it.

Apple said, several years after doing this song that she was embarrassed about the video, because she felt it was too sleazy.

Regardless of the sleaze factor, i love the song.

Enjoy!

(85) OK Go :: Get Over It

OK Go :: Get Over It

A short one, cause it's late and I'm going to bed.

OK go is an alternative rock band (does that count as categorization?)

I'm not overly familiar with their full body of work, but i have a few songs on my Ipod and this one is my favorite.

They use to play it on the local college rock station (88.3 WCSB) when i worked mornings at Panera, it's a fond memory.

Also, I'm a big fan of the lyrical break down mid-way through the song, it's catchy.

Enjoy!

(84) Bobby Digital :: Insomnia

Bobby Digital :: Insomnia

Let me start by expressing my dismay that I was only able to get three installments of the Odyssey series. I have more songs, but can't find them available online at the moment. When I'm able to get them, i will post them and continue/finish the series.

Bobby Digital is the alter-ego of the RZA, of Wu-Tang fame. He is the RZA's Superman, if the RZA is Clark Kent. That is to say, that the RZA is (in my humble opinion) far superior under the guess of Bobby Digital.

This track is one I stumbled upon as I've investigated more of the RZA's work. It's a very chill flow, with a lot of funny lines. Plus the RZA's voice is always pleasurable.

This song is on my "grilling" play list, a series of relaxing hip-hop jams to listen to on a hot summer day when I'm cooking on my grill. It has gotten a lot of play lately.

Enjoy!

(83) Franz Ferdinand :: Ulysses

Franz Ferdinand :: Ulysses

Installment number three!

This song has less overt references to the Odyssey though they certainly exist.

The chorus itself is pretty obvious, and several references to 'finding a new way' and 'never going home'.

Many fans believe the song to have dual meaning, though no one can agree on what the two meanings are, so let the interweb arguing commence!

If you aren't familiar with Franz Ferdinand you should be. They are a Scottish rock band that ... you guessed it ... rocks. Interesting factoid, one member of the band (i can't recall who) was voted the most well-endowed man in all of Scotland. Not sure how they confirm that, but an awesome title to be certain!

Also, drat once again to the Roman version of the Odyssey ... more Greek please!

Enjoy!

(82) Cream :: Tales of Brave Ulysses

Cream :: Tales of Brave Ulysses

This is the second installment of the "Songs inspired by the Odyssey" series.

Again, this song references the Roman version of the tale ... stupid Romans, stealing everything the Greeks had!

Anyway, Cream has always rocked and this song is no exception. Clapton is an amazing guitarist, and the bass line really drives this song.

It's an awesome tack with several great lyrical references to the story.

Enjoy!!

(81) Suzanne Vega :: Calypso

Suzanne Vega :: Calypso

Okay so today brings back the literary song motif, and starts what I hope to be a week long trend of one specific literary tie: The Odyssey.

(Or Ulysses if you're Roman ...)

So the next several posts will have songs relating to the epic tale, it should be fun!

To start things off we have Suzanne Vega's haunting song Calypso. Thankfully, she explains at the beginning of the song what it is about. It is a song about the sea nymph Calypso and her love affair with Odysseus. Except from Calypso's perspective.

An interesting perspective. Though i feel i should point out that Calypso imprisoned Odysseus ... not exactly Kathy Bate's Misery style, but imprisoned none-the-less.

Anyway enjoy installment one of songs inspired by Homer's Odyssey!

(80) The Veggie Tales :: Pirates Who Don't Do Anything

The Veggie Tales :: Pirates Who Don't Do Anything

A cute fun one for you today, one you can share with the kiddies!

If you aren't familiar with the Veggie Tales series i am sorry. It's a great kids program that teaches various moral lessons while remaining fun and enjoyable to kids and parents (or big brothers in my case) alike.

The moral lessons taught in the show are based on Christianity mostly, with several episodes actually telling biblical tales.

Oh yeah, and the characters are living Vegetables!

One character in particular is the comic relief, Larry the Cucumber. In between biblical tales and lessons on morality are "Silly Songs with Larry" which every kid adores. This is one of those songs.

It is Amazing!

Enjoy!!

(79) Deltron 3030 :: 3030

Deltron 3030 :: 3030

Got a nice progressive hip-hop concept track for you today.

Del the Funky Homosapien teamed up with producer Dan the Automater and DJ Kid Koala to create this amazing concept album: Deltron 3030. 3030 is the opening track off the album, and it's an amazingly strong start.

The entire album is filled with futuristic themes and space-traveling allusions. A futuristic utopia in which 'Deltron Zero' battles against the grain of big government controlled world (like all futuristic socialist worlds). It's bad ass.

I implore you to listen to the entire album, it is incredibly fluid and features a number of cameo appearances of various artists under various pseudonyms.

Enjoy!!

(78) Coheed and Cambria :: Delrium Trigger

Coheed and Cambria :: Delirium Trigger

As a precursor to this post i should note that i don't care for this band much. Claudio Sanchez (front man and lead singer) has a voice that annoys the piss out of me on 87% of their tracks. Okay, admittedly 87 was an arbitrary number, but you get the point.

That said I love this song like a fat boy loves cake, for a multitude of reasons.
First, the beginning guitar work is sweet, just a creepy high on the neck melody that sets the tone fantastically. Second, the song has several overt references to the film Alien. Supposedly this is coincidence as Coheed and Cambria's four albums are all telling a story of the Armory Wars, a series of comics that Claudio wrote. But who cares, the similarities to Alien and the seeming reference to Ridley Scott's film was enough for me. Sold, I'll take it.

Lastly, Claudio has ridiculous hair. I mean it. Ridiculous. I love it. He looks like Mitsurugi (of Soul Caliber fame)!

Get some popcorn and enjoy this track! If his voice doesn't grate your nerves (and for sake I'm hoping it doesn't, then listen to the rest of their shit as it's a compelling story!)

(77) Talking Heads :: Psycho Killer

Talking Heads :: Psycho Killer

Another short one, because I could write a 4 volume set about Talking Heads.

This song is rad! It was released in 1977, on the album Talking Heads: 77. This song makes me happy in my pantaloons (that's french)!

David Bryne has that this song is written from the perspective of a serial killer, commenting that "the Joker and Hannibal Lecter were much more fascinating...everybody sort of roots for the bad guys in movies.

So dark lyrics, pumping bass lines, and New Wave ... who would've guessed?

Turn of the lights and turn up the volume!

(76) Cobra Starship :: Snakes On A Plane (Bring It)

Cobra Starship :: Snakes On A Plane (Bring It)

Today, a fun one!

From the movie Snakes on a Plane, the theme song.

It's fantastic! Have you seen the movie? No? You should! Yes? Watch it again!!

This song is a collaborative of several different groups/artists:
(1) William Beckett from The Academy Is
(2) Maja Ivarsson from The Sounds
(3) Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes
(4) Gabe Saporta from Cobra Starship

With the exception of Maja Ivarsson, i believe they are all on the same record label, Fueled by Ramen. The video also includes a cameo from Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, also on the label.

That's it. It's fun. Love it. Dance. Maybe shake a little bit.

(75) The Violent Femmes :: Country Death Song

The Violent Femmes :: Country Death Song

Everyone knows this band, and I can comfortably say that they are amazing, but were unfortunately ahead of their time (like so many greats).

Many people are familiar with Blister In The Sun, and as of late Gone Daddy Gone as well.

But this song, Country Death Song, is one of the "unheard" songs that i feel you should hear.

It's a chilling song about a man who throws his daughter down a well and then kills himself. Supposedly this is based on a true story of some guy who did just that in the 19th century.

It's got a nice, American Folk style to it, with a terribly haunting edge.

Also, of interesting note, this song was released in on the 1984 album Hallowed Ground, the year I was born.

Go. Listen. Love. Enjoy.

(74) Five Iron Frenzy :: Super Powers

Five Iron Frenzy :: Super Powers

All right, let's see, where to start.

This was a band a few of my buddies and I were into back in high school. Credit to Bill, for introducing me to the group.

Interesting "odd" note, this is the first time I've listened to the song where I've been able to identify the line "...sometimes feel I'm Holden Caulfield." Why? Because I am currently reading Catcher In The Rye for the first time. So I finally know who Holden Caulfield is.

Back on track, this group is no longer together, sadly. But they had a good run, about 8 years.

Give them a listen. If you insist on having some sort of genre categorization, they are Christian rock meets ska. I guess.

Enjoy!

(73) Feist :: My Moon My Man

Feist :: My Moon My Man

Today is short and sweet.

Feist is a Canadian singer-songwriter, whose been around as a solo artist and as part of the group Broken Social Scene since the early 90's.

This song was my introduction to Feist, from her 2008 release Reminder.

I heard the song on a Verizon commercial.

I still like it, i don't care if it is from the television.

Enjoy!

(72) Black Eyed Peas ft. Papa Roach :: Anxiety

Black Eyed Peas ft. Papa Roach :: Anxiety

Okay, where to start...

The Black Eyed Peas are a guilty pleasure, I'm not a huge fan of main stream rap and R&B. Also, they got their fame boost from doing a Dr. Pepper commercial and picking up Fergie. Which identifies them as whores. Like Larry King or Gene Simmons.

Edit: OH SNAP! I just realized that the lead of Black Eyed Peas was Will.I.Am, I'm terrible. Anyway, i can't say anything for his music, but his acting in X-Men Orgins: Wolverine was impressive, and i really enjoyed his character.

But again, they are a guilty pleasure, and if you catch me on a summer day bouncing in my car like an ass, it may be because I have Elephunk blasting.

Fergie, i hate her. Period. Her music is boring, and so is she. Okay, i don't hate her, but i am completely indifferent to her.

Papa Roach: I saw them live back when before the lead-singer got hooked on drugs and went to rehab. I hate to call that era the "good" Papa Roach but ever since he's gotten help (and i am glad that he has) their music has suffered. It's the theory that you can't sing the blues if you have nothing to be sad about.

So their you have it, a guilty pleasure R&B group + a recovered less edgy rock group + Fergie. What you get though is a kick ass song.

Seriously, this track pumps like a steam engine.

Personally i think it's because of genre blending, again. Established rock groups backing up established rap groups causes everything to go Topsy Turvy. Take a rap beat, give it to a rock drummer (i mean someone who plays his shit loud not some soft rock pansy) and your beat carries a whole new pump.

Had in some new rock (2000's) vocals inter laden with rap... and you have a killer combo.

It's like when jazz musicians use to collaborate. Only harder.

Enjoy.

(71) Lacuna Coil :: Angel's Punishment

Lacuna Coil :: Angel's Punishment

This one is gonna be short cause it's late.

Lacuna Coil is an Italian metal band, with a bit of a Gothic flair.

Cristina Scabbia,one of the two lead singers, is believed to be (Ala Internet rumors) a classically trained opera singer, which in my opinion would make her incredibly bad ass (you know, cause i love genre blending). If anyone can confirm or deny this rumor, please let me know.

Lastly, this song uses the "chant" setting on the keyboard. If you've ever played with the "57+" different sounds your electronic keyboard has you know what i mean. After the 900 different instruments that all sound like crappy electronic versions of themselves they have some 'fun' sounds like: choir, chant, laser beam, traffic, and others.

Often I'd sit and play my dad's keyboard and ask myself when you'd ever need the choir/chant sound.

Now i know. And it's fantastic. And I started a sentence with the word and. Good thing my Mr. Fawcett doesn't read my blog.

Enjoy!

P.S. the video has a different song for the credits, just in case you aren't actually watching the video and you are just listening, they are two separate songs.

(70) Depeche Mode :: Wrong

Depeche Mode :: Wrong

I can't say much about this band that you probably don't already know. Or rather, you can probably tell me a lot about this band that i don't already know. Cause i don't know much.

Let's see, they are from the New Wave era.

The majority of my experience with Depeche Mode has been through covers from bands and artists such as Johnny Cash, Marilyn Manson, and Lacuna Coil.

This song, Wrong, is from their most recent release. It rocks hard as hell, and is a pretty large step from the New Wave (though the evolution is obvious). I'd describe this song specifically as hard synth-rock with new wave roots.

But we established I'm bad at categorization.

Anyway, i dig this song, you should too.

Enjoy!

(69) Caroline's Spine :: Sullivan

Caroline's Spine :: Sullivan

This band has been floating around with several releases since 1993, but i didn't hear them until their first release on Hollywood Records titled Monsoon.

The song Sullivan was one of the first I noticed (can you guess why?).

It's an incredibly moving song about the Sullivan Brothers who all served in the US Navy during World War II on the USS Juneau.

In the end the five brothers all died when the ship was sunk. This prompted policy change in the US Navy and the adoption of the "Sullivan Rule" or the "Sole Survivor Policy" which dictates that members of the same bloodline may not serve on the same ship.

It's a pretty amazing song, moving, and hard rocking.

Enjoy.

(68) Tori Amos :: Tears In Your Hand

Tori Amos :: Tears In Your Hand

Maintaining my literary kick I've decided to include Tori Amos' Tears In Your Hand.

Not sure of the literary connection? Well it's in the first few lines:

"...If you need me
Me and Neil'll be hangin' out with the Dream King
Neil says hi by the way..."

This reference is to author Neil Gaiman. The Dream King is the main character of Gaiman's The Sandman series.

Apparently this is the first of several winks between Amos and Gaiman, and it was this first reference by Amos that started a lasting friendship between the two artists.

I of course love Tori Amos, and have recently become a huge fan of Neil Gaiman as well. Strangely I've always liked Neil Gaiman (having heard and read several interviews with him) but have only recently started reading him.

Well this is has been part two of 'songs with literary references'.

Enjoy!

(67) The Police :: Don't Stand So Close To Me

The Police :: Don't Stand So Close To Me

Ah The Police, so good.
Ah Sting, so good.

There, now that that is out of the way, let's discuss this addition to Blog-A-Song.

First of all, I'm on a 'songs with literary connections' kick, and this song tops my list for several reasons.

One reason is the reference in the song to Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita. Which is the literary reference in this song. It's also interesting to note that Sting was a British school teacher before joining The Police.

Another reason this song is top on my list is that when i worked as a page at my local library several years ago I was unfamiliar with Lolita, and a librarian friend of mine was the first to educate me on the reference in this song.

Yet another reason I chose this song is because Sting removes his shirt in the video. While this does little for me, I know at least one librarian whose love for Sting surpasses nearly all other things. So it seemed fate-inspired that I should post a song that I've learned more about in my own public library then anywhere else. Considering the song references a 20th century classic this seems very ironic right? Right!?

So in conclusion: listen to music, then go read the book(s) that inspired the music, then go make music inspired by things you've read.

Keep the cycle going!
Enjoy!

(66) The 5.6.7.8's :: I Walk Like Jane Mansfield

The 5.6.7.8's :: I Walk Like Jane Mansfield

The 5.6.7.8's are pretty frigging cool. Admittedly I had no idea who they were until the Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill Vol.1. But,Quentin Tarantino knows music, and if i can learn new music from him, I'm okay with it!

Typically I'm not a huge fan of 1950's "surf" styled music, but the blend of 'Girl Rock', 'Japanese Rock', and 'Surf Rock' has seduced me.

I admittedly don't know much about Jane Mansfield, but she seems an interesting subject for this band. Her fame peaked in the 1950's. She was a platinum blond sex symbol who was featured in Playboy. She was an award winning actress. Oh ya, and she supposedly had an incredibly high IQ and was a classically trained musician, who spoke several languages.

Why is this interesting?

Because an all girl band is singing about this American enigma; a beautiful woman whose fame was based predominately on her appearance but was actually incredibly intelligent.

"Shrug" seems intriguing to me anyways.

The song kicks ass regardless, so enjoy!

(65) The Fratellis :: Flathead

The Fratellis :: Flathead

I first heard the Fratellis on an MTV2 program featuring new music (Fratellis and Cold War Kids were featured can't remember the third band).

Overall I'm not a fan of the band but this song is so catchy and kicks so hard I can't not like it!

I did a little research about the song, and supposedly it's all about loose women and drugs. Which is basically the premise of all Rock and Roll right?

The term 'Flathead' in this context is believed to mean someone with an on-the-edge-lifestyle. This definition is based solely on Internet discussion boards.

But, the video for this song features 3 adult film stars (according to the comments on the YouTube) and that would fit the theme of Sex, Life-On-The-Edge, and potentially drugs.

The bottom line is this song creates a lot of confusion as to it's meaning, but is catchy, was on an IPod commercial, and rocks socks.

So regardless, enjoy!