Run-D.M.C., “Raising Hell”

I’m sure I’ve told the story before, but Raising Hell was the first album I remember buying for myself. I heard “Peter Piper” on the radio while we were driving to Pullman, WA, and I was entranced. I didn’t know exactly what that was, but I memorized the name of the act, and later found the cassette tape and bought it for myself. There was a certain excitement in buying a record with a bad word in the title, as well as just the unknown of not really knowing what to expect from it. I loved it, of course, and I still listen to this album to this day. While I didn’t become a music hound right away, this was my first step down that path, and will always hold a special place for me.

Slapstick, “She Doesn’t Love Me”

Yesterday, I mentioned I don’t listen to Pegboy much any more, and it’s largely because I’ve stepped away from most of the melodic punk I used to listen to. When I put on a punk record, I usually go for something a little more upbeat and poppy these days. Something like this! And of course, Slapstick had horns, the other thing from yesterday. And sure enough, I actually have listened to this record recently.

Lando Chill, “The King Of Salem”

This album is apparently inspired by the book The Alchemist, which I have not read, so I learned that only from reading about the record. That probably means I’m not really cool enough to be listening to this album, honestly.

Killdozer, “Richard”

The sample here at the front, about the cash value of carcasses, really sums up the aesthetic of Killdozer quite succinctly. There’s that sort of working-class Midwestern thing, the reveling in the grim details of existence, the sort of incongruity of Killdozer’s sound and sense of humor, all of it.

The Busters, “Candy”

The Busters are from Germany, which was a little bit of a hotbed of two-tone-styled ska in the late 80s/early 90s before the third wave really got rolling. The Busters were never serious about anything, and sometimes the goofiness could get grating. It’s well-done for what it is, but it doesn’t really quite connect with me.

Wire, “Start To Move”

I go through phases where I listen to lots of certain bands, like I suspect lots of people do. There are also some bands that never really fall out of rotation, and Wire is definitely on that list. I’m never sorry to spin this stuff.

They Might Be Giants, “Nanobots”

The title track of their 2013 album, which was the second album of a little renaissance from TMBG. Post-children’s albums, they put together two outstanding records, bursting with ideas and shimmering tunes. Join Us ranks in the first ranks of their albums, and Nanobots isn’t far behind. I think their next couple albums suffered a bit from attenuated creativity, as the Dial-a-Song project seemed stretch them a bit thin, but these two albums are really top work.

Einstürzende Neubauten, “Sand”

Every now and again, Neubauten will make a song that’s relatively conventional. And you still end up with a creepy torch song like this one, complete with strangled half-falsetto and tribal drumming.

Built to Spill, “Revolution”

Before going on their tear with their last three albums in the 90s, Built to Spill released Ultimate Alternative Wavers. It forms the missing link between the Dinosaur Jr. tribute of the Treepeople to the extended twisted pop of their next few records. There are plenty of things to like on this record, and it’s easy to see how Martsch evolved from here, but it’s not their best work.

Kid Koala, “The Observable Universe”

Oh, sure, “music to draw to”, huh? Well, what about music to blog to? How come nobody ever writes that? Huh?

U.S. Girls, “Rage of Plastics”

I’m not sure how U.S. Girls flew under my radar for as long as they did. They’ve been around for ages, and on paper seem to be right up my alley. And check that wailing sax! And yet, I haven’t gone back and explored other records, because I am a sloth.

The Delgados, “If This Is A Plan”

There are times when I kinda run out of things to say about a band. That’s not even interesting things, mind you, just things in general. I suppose I could just straight repeat myself, but the tags would betray that, if anybody cares. Besides, I’m sure I’m unintentionally repeating myself plenty as it is. I’ve written nearly a thousand of these articles, so nearly five thousand little stories. I haven’t had five thousand distinct things happen to me in my life!

It’s Megan’s birthday! Happy birthday! I picked a keyword today, can you figure it out?

The Budos Band, “Old Engine Oil”

The opening track of V, which I like a lot. This track in particular has a lot of classic rock vibes going, which go well with that big, brassy horn part.

The Beautiful South, “Old Red Eyes Is Back”

I adored the first Beautiful South record (Welcome To The Beautiful South), and was kind of disappointed with the followup (Choke). There just weren’t as many transcendent moments, there weren’t as many of the really acid moments in the lyrics, and it felt kind of rushed out. When 0898 Beautiful South came out, I was happy to hear it was closer to the first album. It’s still not quite as good, but it’s close, and it’s my second favorite album from them.

Eels, “Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living)”

Hey man, have you ever tried to write something interesting about five random songs every single day? Now you’re really living!

Foo Fighters, “My Hero”

I like this album just fine, sometimes I just want something tuneful and energetic. But I don’t really listen to it that often…on a stereo. On Rock Band? I’ve heard these songs a ton. I can just see the little colored lights if I close my eyes.