Songs you forgot you knew by heart

There are days when I love, love, love the music-finding abilities inherent inside the Internet (thanks, Al Gore!). There are all these songs which I listened to in early high school on mix tapes that I have subsequently totally forgotten about — lost into wherever high school memorabilia goes — and then I find them and 1994 glows in my memory. It is a beautiful thing.

“Purple Haze” – The Cure (Hendrix cover)
This is another one where I think I heard the cover BEFORE I ever really heard the Hendrix original. I know, I keep getting it backwards. It was on a compilation CD Stone Free: A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix. This is a sublime version of this song, all lush and gothy.

“Just Like Honey” – Jesus & Mary Chain
Thank you Live 105 when you were cool. Also notably used recently (and perfectly) in the movie Lost in Translation.

“If I Only Had A Brain”
(link fixed 4/10/06)
- MC 900 Ft. Jesus
From a mix tape my friend Shannon made me from the bowels of the KSCU radio station, deep in the basement of Swig. She was a DJ, I was her accomplice in a totally unofficial way. She did this the “Shanny-edit” way and bleeped out the profanity. Because we were such wholesome & unspoilt girls. Photographic evidence on the right.

Oh, and I think this song may actually suck, but my judgment is clouded by youthful memories of merrymaking to this tune.

“Your Ghost” – Kirsten Hersh & Michael Stipe
Also on a mix tape that a friend made for me; I love the harmonies and I always sang Michael Stipe’s part when I sang along. Usually in the car, 1987 red Nissan Sentra style.

“Natural One” – Folk Implosion
Used in the gritty movie Kids, about 13 and 14 year olds running amok and having unprotected sex and what have you. This was a world I knew nothing about, but I liked this song, specifically the thumping beat.

“Euro-Trash Girl” – Cracker
Cracker w/ Counting Crows was the first real concert I saw, my freshman year with my friend Shannon (aforementioned DJ), and I remember singing along to this song at the top of my lungs. I wince as I remember that I think I even crowd-surfed to it. Yeah. Hurts to admit it in a public forum. But it seemed really, uh, punk rock at the time? Come on, I was 14.

“Money (That’s What I Want)” – Flying Lizards (Beatles cover)
From the soundtrack of the oft-watched Empire Records, notably, played especially for thieving employee Lucas. Such a weird and quirky version that it is almost cool. It’s Rex Manning Day!

“Detachable Penis” – King Missile
Yeah, I put this one up and can’t believe I did because, well seriously. What’s going on in this song? Gotta love King Missile. “I asked them to check the medicine cabinet, because, for some reason, I leave it there sometimes.” You’ll either laugh if you remember this song, or else ask yourself what, exactly, Heather is smoking.

“Twiggy, Twiggy” – Pizzicato 5
Japanese girl-rock meets game-show music accompaniment in this guilty little piece of fluff.

“Feed The Tree” – Belly
This was a great album (Star). Uber-lovely chick band rock. Check out other favorite tracks on the album “Gepetto” and “Slow Dog.” Yeah, the lyrics could arguably make more sense, but that never stopped R.E.M. Listening to Belly always reminds of my Amanda, back when we were both rockin’ the braces and/or foxy retainers. Do you think I should do my bangs like that again? Yeah, probably:

You are hereby released into this weekend, so that you can party like it’s 1994. Godspeed.

Send me into Sweet Oblivion

Public Service Announcement:
This is just to point you in the direction of a few excellent posts by Jason over on the Sweet Oblivion blog. I greeted all three of these discoveries with great enthusiasm:

1) The entire Pearl Jam in Atlanta radio broadcast from 1994. His recollection of being a Pearl Jam nutso fan in 1994 almost exactly parallels mine and both the personal musings on the post and the concert were a great find. Like the Counting Crows boot I posted last week, this was also a concert cassette that I listened to enough time so as to memorize all the concert banter, and many of these tracks are what I think of as the definitive live performance of each.

2) A Matt Nathanson shout out with some information on his new live album, an accurate description of why his shows are so awesome, and even some video. I have been listening a lot lately to some of the live shows from Matt that I have downloaded off the Live Music Archive and really getting more into him. His song “Answering Machine“ is beautiful. So lovely, in fact, that I just ordered the album it is off of: Still Waiting For Spring (1999).

Recorded partly at Prairie Sun Studios and the rest at John Vanderslice’s Tiny Telephone Studio in San Francisco, with David Immergluck (Cracker, Counting Crows, John Hiatt) playing all the electric guitar, mandolin and pedal steel and Charlie Gillingham from the Crows playing the organ, chamberlain, piano and mellotron on about half the songs. I didn’t know that until recently. Not too shabby of a backing band.

3) The entire Black Crowes acoustic show from VH1 Storytellers on August 27, 1996. Killer setlist and two great covers (Gram Parsons and Rolling Stones).

The hits just keep coming from this great blog. Well done, my friend.

Oh, and also thanks to Jason, I found this minute-long clip of the new Feeder song from their upcoming release The Singles on May 15th. Here it is for your enjoyment:

“Lost and Found” (clip) – Feeder

Anyone else in for Pearl Jam in Denver?

Okay, so I got my fan club tickets a few minutes ago on the presale for Pearl Jam & Tom Petty in Denver on July 2. Anyone else in? Man alive, they were pricey: $200 for the pair. Aiiiiiii. I am so skint from all these concerts lately. But I can’t stop! Help!

Some related content from YouTube: Vedder and Springsteen doing “Betterman” from Oct 13, 2004. Really not my favorite Pearl Jam song, but they rock it pretty well.

Dry Your Eyes (Skinner v. Martin)

Thanks to my favorite music tipster, I went on a quest yesterday to find a rare version of a song from The Streets that is one of Mike Skinner’s most personal (and pretty) songs ever, now made even better.

“Dry Your Eyes” was featured on A Grand Don’t Come For Free, but the specific version I was seeking featured Chris Martin from Coldplay providing the vocals for the hook. The result of the joint effort is a song makes me feel like something is broken inside; the strings eviscerate me.

It’s got all the torrid music industry controversy, which makes it hard to find: Martin’s label didn’t want him guesting, so the track was yanked after a very brief window of radio play, and now it’s off the record and very hush hush:

“Dry Your Eyes (featuring Chris Martin)” – The Streets

Huge thanks to Ben at the Work For It blog, who was the actual quester who sought this out and was so kind to provide it to me. Check out his musical musings.

A few Wednesday night randoms

1) A hundred times worse than American Idol: GoogleIdol. Check out these awful, awful, wonderful videos. I voted for “Rockin’ The Bury” with their well-choreographed performance of Eye Of The Tiger (wait, I’m behind this bush – no wait! that one!), although it was close with The Baylor Studs, who SO recorded that Kelly Clarkson tribute in a dorm room (and nice touch with the bubbles being blown in by someone off-camera).

2) People who like The Clash (or even worse, who sing along!!) are dangerous types. Terrorists, you’re all terrorists.

3) Stereogum has a really nice, low-key “new” track from trip-hopsters Massive Attack, “Live With Me.” Visit Stereogum to get the mp3.

4) There is an interesting article in Paste Magazine about Ethan Johns and his production work with Ryan Adams. Maybe this will help me understand the whole obscure concept of how production affects a record. I know, I know.

5) I am going to see Live in Denver in May and am so excited. Worth noting that they are currently on tour supporting their new album, and you definitely should check them out. I have seen them live a few times before and have always been pretty impressed (esp that one time at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley with the Counting Crows). Their new stuff sounds pretty melodic and rockin, more of a return to Throwing Copper era, and even the EXCELLENT The Distance To Here. You can download the ‘Guitars Up’ remix of their new song “The River“ (which I heavily dig) from the excellent Fans Of Live site.

6) I’ve got something in the works about Continuum’s excellent 33 1/3 novella series, where various writers tackle their favorite albums, sharing their thoughts and why they love that particular musical opus. Until I finish that, Largehearted Boy had the same idea and has some notes from the author (Alex Green) about the new one about The Stone Roses.

7) Remember ‘zines? This guy does. Read the interesting article that took me down memory lane. I think ‘zines were the first blogs. Same egalitarian fan-produced concept, eh?

8) Finally, kids, Leg 2 of the Pearl Jam tour was announced today and I am stoked. I’ve never been to the Pepsi Center in Denver (but just the name gives me corporate shivers). I was hoping for Red Rocks, but the Denver shows (and MN) are with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, which is RAD RAD RAD, so I have no complaints:

Jun-23 Pittsburgh, PA
(Mellon Arena)
Jun-24 Cincinnati, OH
(US Bank Arena)
Jun-26 & 27 St. Paul, MN
(Xcel Energy Center)
Jul-2 & 3 Denver, CO
(Pepsi Center)
Jul-6 Las Vegas, NV
(MGM Garden Arena)
Jul-7 San Diego, CA
(Cox Arena)
Jul-13 Santa Barbara, CA
(Santa Barbara Bowl)
Jul-16 & 18 San Francisco, CA
(Bill Graham Civic Auditorium)
Jul-22 George, WA
(Gorge Amphitheater )

Westerberg’s slightly manic take on The Partridge Family

Back in the ’70s, was anybody happier than the Partridge Family? I mean, really. They all ride around in a bus together in familial bliss, singing, looking slick. PLUS they all got to be near David Cassidy, who surely smelled of baby powder and repressed sin.

Paul Westerberg takes on this gem of American pop history when he covered their “I Think I Love You” song live on several occasions in recent years. I have to say that I appreciate how he makes it a bit manic and obsessive. A little creepy? Off-key warbling never sounded so refreshing.

I Think I Love You – Paul Westerberg and The Painkillers

For the record, I am (was? am.) a big fan of the Partridge Family and can sing many of their songs forward and back. Just ask sometime. It’s a showstopper.

New Pearl Jam (!&%*&#!!!): Parachutes

Oh, I can’t see straight. Oh my gosh. I am blinded by this song. I will try to pare down the dramatics, but my heart is racing in the manner of really good music and what it does to you inside. There is a new top finisher in the race for Heather’s favorite Pearl Jam song. If you thought you didn’t like Pearl Jam (Clea, I’m talking to you) just listen to this:

“Parachutes” – Pearl Jam (link expired)

Here’s a short recounting of how I came to buckle on my moral standards regarding leaked PJ tracks: I was looking for information on the second leg of the Pearl Jam tour, which is rumored to be released early this week, and came across a thread on the message board about Parachutes. WAAF in Boston apparently started playing at least 4 leaked tracks from the new album last week, and they have been steadily making their rounds on the net since then.

People who had heard Parachutes were posting what it reminded them of: “I was thinking the Beatles, namely Ob La Di, Ob La Da…” – “similar to the Harvest Moon MOOD during the Canadian Tour” – “the riff at the end is definitely the same as Bowie’s on his song All The Young Dudes” – “It reminds me heaps of the Radiohead song ‘No Surprises’” – “Definitely Beatles, White Album.” Wow, I had to hear this one.

Parachutes was written by Stone Gossard, the other god-like guitarist, and was described in Rolling Stone as being “an island-flavored beauty with acoustic guitars,” but I’ll echo everyone else on the Pearl Jam boards and agree that I hear straight-up Beatlesesque pop. It’s got a quirky time signature and really lovely vocal tone from Vedder.

Listen closely at the end, right at 3:09, for the build and the sweet electric guitar to kick in. Aahhh. I really lack words. I love you, Stone.

I thought I was strong. I thought I was noble. Turns out I am just as easily swayed as the next gal. But this is it, a moratorium starts from here on out, I will not listen to any more leaked tracks until the album comes out May 2. No, I’m serious. Stop chuckling.

And for pete’s sake, just pre-order the new album already
a) so that I don’t feel as bad about buckling and leaking the one awesome track and
b) because you get a really rad bonus CD included – circa 1992, with the Vedder angst & The Scream.

Monday Music Roundup

So I greet the week with my first black eye.
Oh yeah, it’s hot. How did I get it?

a) huge bar-room brawl
b) “fell down the stairs”
c) the first rule of fight club is that you do not talk about fight club
d) head-butted by the huge cranium of a two-year-old

Hmmm. Let’s ponder that.

Some songs for your musical consumption this week. As always, thoughts, objections, accolades, and any other feedback are welcomed in the comments section:

“Sacred Heart“
Deadstring Brothers
Okay, I am in love with this song, which is not about Catholic churches nor prep schools, although the title sounds like it. It’s sloppy, driving, rollicking rock ‘n’ roll. I read about Deadstring Brothers in the slew of SXSW concert reviews and the description of these Detriot fellas compared them to “Exile-era Rolling Stones,” which is an obvious and apt comparison and soon as you hear the swaggering opening riff of this song & the rough harmonizing vocals. Their whole album Starving Winter Report is available on eMusic; I picked it up and very much enjoy the Americana vibe.

“Turning Japanese“
The Blank Pages
Aahhh, the ’80s. My sister would live in the ’80s if she could, while they still kind of give me the shivers. Speaking as a child of the ’70s (by 4 months, but whatever), they were waaaay better. I mean, compare Dazed & Confused to something like Pretty in Pink and then you tell me which seems more fun. All that aside, American Laundromat Records has released a CD (High School Reunion) with all the music that you guiltily remember from those ’80s movies, redone by different artists. Folks like Kirsten Hersh, Matthew Sweet, Frank Black and The Blank Pages (South Jersey’s power pop kings) all lend a hand. Side note: what the heck is this song all about, and do you Japanese folks mind? Still catchy as all get out and makes me want to dance like that kid in Can’t Buy Me Love. Yeah, you know the one.

“Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love?“
The Zutons
Thanks to the amigos at iGIF for posting this new one, which I am liking. The Zutons are out of Liverpool and have a catchy, rhythmic sound (which they call “blues grass rootsy stompy”). I listened to “Hello Conscience” all last summer on an NME mix I found somewhere, off their 2004 hit release Who Killed The Zutons?. These younguns cut their touring chops opening for the likes of U2, Oasis and REM. I like their saxophone usage in their music which hints at the skankin’ ska bands of the ’80s and early ’90s. That and handclappy beats. You can’t go wrong. Oh, and you can watch the fun video for this song on their MySpace page.

“Soldier of Love“
(Lay Down Your Arms)
Pearl Jam
Covering the Beatles/Arthur Alexander
I have had Pearl Jam on the mind lately, what with the new album and all, but moreso because I am wondering when the HECK I am going to get my Christmas fanclub single in the mail. Any other Ten Club members out there who can tell me whether I am abnormally late in receiving my copy? I know they are always late in sending it out, but I’d like to point out that it is now April. Thank you. This poppy gem was the b-side to the Last Kiss smash hit cover, as well as being on the 1998 Fan Club single. Cha cha cha indeed. This one always makes me smile.

“Down Home Girl“
Nic Armstrong & The Thieves
Speaking of the Beatles in passing, here’s another band whose performance at SXSW that I recently read about with this description: “More like John Lennon’s ugly stepbrother, and all the rough-edged rock that he brought to [the Beatles].” Nic Armstrong and his mates (who hail from Nottingham) will hereby be known as the IV Thieves, if you want to look for their future releases. This Alvin Robinson cover is off their messy, vintage, rocking, confident 2005 release Greatest White Liar (also on eMusic). It has great lines like “every time you mooooove like that I gotta go to Sunday class,” and borrows the stick-in-your-head riff from Donovan’s Sunshine Superman. The album also has some other great tracks like the rough-and-tumble “Broken Mouth Blues,” the pleasant ’60s pop harmonies of “Too Long for Her” and the rockabilly “I Want To Be Your Driver” (Chuck Berry cover). Their music is nothing new, in fact it sounds like something your (very cool) parents would have listened to 40 years ago. But it is good stuff.

Wow, so looking that over it is a really retro-rocking lineup this week, but that’s what I am listening to. I’m off to roll my hair into a bouffant, dance the twist, and maybe take my sweet Mustang out for a spin, apparently. Or maybe do something a little less clean-cut, and more rocking (I just can’t think what. Nice girls in the ’60s didn’t rock out on a white vintage Strat, as far as I know).

Moves like a shadow across my skin

So everytime I have a U2 question, I turn to c, who runs the awesome (and funny) Scatter O’ Light blog. She always knows the answer, it’s uncanny. So I approached her last week with this lovely little U2 gem “Slow Dancing” that a friend added to my musical rotation last year, but that I didn’t know the provenance of. She encyclopedically informed me that U2 wrote the song for Willie Nelson, and that there are a couple of versions floating around:

• A studio version with Willie Nelson singing
• A studio version with Bono singing from 1993 (Zooropa b-side)
• An acoustic version of Bono singing it on an Australian radio show (“and it is just so very hot,” she adds)

I sent her the one I have for diagnostics (and it is option b). In return she sent me back the other versions I didn’t have, including this really lovely one (option a, with Willie Nelson on lead vocals). It is rustic and smoky, Willie singing lead with Bono in the background, gently reverberating guitars and a late-coming lonely harmonica.

Slow Dancing – Willie Nelson (with Bono)

C also put together the other versions on her blog today; it’s a concerted effort on our part to thoroughly cover all facets of the topic. Check her stuff out.

Cat Power: Queen of Covers

The goodness just keeps on coming from the lovely Chan Marshall.

I had not heard this cover ’til Chad posted it today over at Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands (and I’ll just assume it is his attempt at an April Fool’s joke to post James Blunt covering the Pixies).

The fervor with which I love Cat Power’s aching, smoldering versions of the songs she covers is unmatched. This is a total knockout:

Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (Dylan cover) – Cat Power