Chat today at 1 pm EDT over at the Four-Letter.
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a singles guy more than an albums guy, and true to form, I bought five individual songs this week to throw on my main iPod playlist, from favorite to least favorite:
“No Sex for Ben
“Float
“Lake Michigan
“Let’s Dance to Joy Division
“Sequestered in Memphis
As far as the Irish rock goes, how do you feel about the Dropkick Murphys?
any mention of beastie boys in the review and ill dl it.
thanks for the trip down memory lane re: black 47. used to see them live at this bar in riverdale when i was in hs. one of those riverdale bars that any 16 year old that looked 13 could get into lol.
Keith,
Float is one of the best songs by FM. If you liked it enough, I would strongly encourage you to listen to more FM songs (since you are not an album guy, I’d recommend the following, in no particular order: Black Rule Friday, Devils, Dance Floor, Paddy’s Lament, Requiem for a Dying Song, What’s Left of the Flag, Drunken Lullabies, Whistles in the Wind, Within a Mile of Home, Worst Day Since Yesterday…)
Though in all honesty, FM is much better live
also re: al trautwig’s line in the other post. who do you think are some of the best commentators in sports (more specifically id like to know your baseball announcer opinions). I’m sure Vin Scully is number one, but who follows?
Have you heard Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling do a game? As a Met fan, I might be biased, but even my Yankee friends are jealous we have them (granted, Kay, Sterling, Waldman, O’Neill are atrocious Yankee shills).
And speaking of the Mets, what do you make of the youngins (esp. Daniel Murphy) contributing so much? I remember in the off-season you said (as opposed to every other expert) the Mets farm system wasn’t as pathetic as everyone else thought it was. Props to you for your insight on that.
Thanks Keith.
Keith, if you like The Rapture, have you listened to House of Jealous Lovers? It is one of the best dance songs of the past several years (released in 2002).
If you like the Hold Steady’s newest stuff you have to listen to Separation Sunday their second album. While it is a concept album, the best song to me is “How a Resurrection Really Feels” or “Hood Rat Friend.”
Basically anything by The Hold Steady is pretty good, IMO, and they are excellent live.
Keith, Vlad beat me to it, but FM is one of the best live bands out there (they’re playing in Boston next month). And on their new album, if you’re going to download any more tracks, I’d lean towards Paddy’s Lament (which he also mentioned). One of my favorites is the 12+ minute live version of Black Friday Rule, which is on “Whiskey On A Sunday”.
And with regards to The Hold Steady, I was a little surprised that Sequestered In Memphis was their first single, as the first track on the album (Constructive Summer) feels like more of a radio hit. Two other standouts are Both Crosses (J. Mascis plays banjo on it), and Lord, I’m Discouraged. Very good album from beginning to end though…
Have you given a listen to The Baseball Project? They are made up of indie rock vets Steve Wynn, Peter Buck and others and just released a record of baseball songs that is pretty good.
Also, the Hold Steady live is a fun night out.
All of The Rapture’s songs are pointless lyrically, but they are so fun and witty.
Too late to ask during the chat, but if got the million dollars and a pony, what sort of marinade would you use?
Found a Top 100 books list, though this one is non-fiction, compiled by National Review.
http://www.nationalreview.com/100best/100_books.html
Lots of history/economic books there (like Milton Friedman’s “Capitalism and Freedom”).
Also, given these 5 songs, I’d recommend the band Cold War Kids for your listening pleasure. “Tell Me In The Morning” being their best song, IMO.
If you get the chance, investigate downloading the UK version of Let’s Dance to Joy Division. I was recently in London for an extended period where I learned of The Wombats, and I’m 99% sure they rerecorded at least that song (perhaps their entire album) for American distribution. For one, their British accents are vastly and obviously exaggerated in the American version vs. the UK version (presumably for the rapturous attention of 14 year old girls), and there are other quirks I can’t quite put my finger on at the moment. Either way, Let’s Dance to Joy Division is probably not even their best song – I’d say that’s Little Miss Pipedream, followed by Moving to New York.
Forget “Lets Dance to Joy Division” and just go out and listen to Joy Division. Music doesn’t really get much better.
I’d also throw the Saw Doctors out there as a great live Irish band. I try and catch them every time they come through New York and they never fail to put on a great show.
The Hold Steady,s Craig Finn is easily on of the most interesting songwriters going. The Hold Steady have been consistently strong and progressed well from album to album. I found Boys and Girls inAmerica to be their opus. Not to come off as a snob but I did find it curious they are touring with the counting crows. The song I cant get off repeat in my Ipod right now is Secret Meeting by the National, or for that matter anything off Alligator or Boxer.
After living north of the border in “Trono” you must have heard of Great Big Sea. If not, they are a very talented group of “Newfie” Celtic singers. While not as hard as Flogging Molly or Dropkicks, still excellent folk/rolk music.
A question for the board, I received an advanced copy of the new Okkervil River albun the Stand Ins from a friend at Matador. My girlfriend and I both had the same criticism albeit minor. Wil Sheff is obviously extremely gifted, he crafts great song structures and lyrics. But there doesn’t seem to be any varience in sound from album to album. While the albums are all strong I am waiting for Sheff to reach his full potential, although I would not complain too much if he continued to make similar sounding, but solid albums.
Since you’ve given us recommendations over the last year+ though I’d return the favor.
Check out a band called GiftHorse (they’re available on iTunes)they only did one album back in ’98 that went largely unnoticed, but I heard them in a ski video a while back.
Little White Lie is their best song, Heather’s Arrest and Excess are also good and the rest of the album is worth a listen as well.
Alex, I have been touting The National to Keith for a long time on chats. I have seen them live about three or four times and they are always excellent.
With all this discussion about Irish folk/rock, no one has mentioned the undisputed kings of the genre The Pogues.
Keith (and all),
The entire Rogue Wave album is spectacular. If you’re dead set on buying only singles, just pick up one song per week until you’ve accidentally compiled the entire thing.
(I do not get the Hold Steady. I don’t find them clever and the lead singer’s voice annoys my face off.)
JK- I just saw Wolf Parade last month an amazing live show I know mount Zoomer didnt get the press of Apologies but it was definitely an excellent album. I saw the National opening for REM and Modest Mouse they stole the show. Another band you might like if you arent already into them, which I suspect you might be is Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, youll notice how much the National borrow from their sound, in a good way.
Dave, the best Rougue Wave song in my opinion is their cover of Everyday the great Buddy Holly song. It originally appeared on the Stubbs the Zombie soundtrack, along with Death Cab’s solid cover of Earth Angel.
Alex, Dig Lazarus Dig just might be the best album so far this year. I hope to them them in October when they come to my city. It is another one that I have mentioned in a chat, but don’t think it ever got posted.
Boy are you guys in luck–I have been down on blogging about the Dodgers (because, you know, they suck) so I went to the great trouble of putting up my top 25 songs of the last 10ish years here, feel free to take a peek:
http://www.wcbias.com/2008/08/dancing-about-architecture.html