Steely Dan

Been a while since I’ve done a special, so let’s do this. For those who haven’t seen them, I usually pick a word, search the library for that word, and then randomize among those songs. Today, I’m going with “school” in honor of the kids going back to school. Let’s see what we get!

The Nation of Ulysses, “Cool Senior High School (Fight Song)”

Oh fuck yeah, good start. This urgent tune comes to us from the first Nation of Ulysses album, 13-Point Program To Destroy America, which is probably my favorite of the two just by virtue of being first. But they both rule, the sort of post-hardcore that actually ends up shading just back into hardcore. The drive and energy of this album is palpable.

We’re still trying to clear the dust from the emergency remodel around here. Still lots of work to clean up the visuals, and the posting schedule is likely to be a bit erratic for a while. Apologies!

Jonathan Coulton, “Still Alive”

Yes, the song from “Portal”. But even though some of the worst dudes you know get far too excited about this, it’s a fun tune. Don’t let the nerds ruin shit!

Steely Dan, “Change Of The Guard”

Steely Dan has such an interesting reputation. Unlike so many of their contemporaries, they’ve retained a cachet among music fans, and continue to be talked about in positive terms by so many folks. It’s not that it’s not deserved, it’s just not entirely clear why they haven’t just been thrown away as old fart music like so many other bands.

A Tribe Called Quest, “Electric Relaxation”

One of my forever bands and forever records.

Simon & Garfunkel, “Cecilia”

I know that it is, literally, Boomer-ass music, but Bridge Over Troubled Water is really very good. Can I call this song a jam? I think it might be a jam.

The Scorpions & Saif Abu Bakr, “Forssa Saeeda فرصة سعيدة”

Speaking of jams! Also, it’s time for Petty Grievances With Josh: there was no way I was going to figure out how to type that, but stupid Plex won’t let me copy and paste song titles from it directly. I had to inspect the element in Chrome and copy it out of there! What kind of hell is this!

Good stuff today.

Foo Fighters, “New Way Home”

Every now and again, we get a huge band around here, and I’m never really sure what to say about them. I mean, sure some random-ass Canadian punk band, I can give a little capsule biography, talk about their discography. The Foo Fighters, though? Everybody knows them. Or, probably everybody reading this. So, I guess I’ll just say that I only have this album, The Color and the Shape, which I like just fine. But I never got around to picking up other albums.