Song Of The Week Archive

Dec 31, 2015 — Andrew In Drag by The Magnetic Fields

In best Magnetic Fields tradition, it's short, punchy and quirky. It's also a "monorhyme" as I learned from the Song Exploder podcast episode in which songwriter/frontman Stephin Merritt details the song's forgotten creation and complex construction. From 2012's "Love At The Bottom Of The Sea". Happy New Year all.

"The only girl I'll ever love is Andrew in drag"

Dec 21, 2015 — Christmas in L.A. by Vulfpeck

If the title don't tell you, the sleighbells always will. When you're tired of yuletide standards, there are lots of great indie takes on the holiday song out there. This one's light and funky. From this year's "Thrill Of The Arts". (Thanks to Brian and Jared for the band and song recs.) Happy holidays, all!

"Kris Kringle's drivin' a Chevrolet"

Dec 15, 2015 — Temple of Aesthetic Action by Jordan de la Sierra

Recently been submerged in this meditative proto-new-age soundscape. Attached is the second of the four (quasi-indistinguishable) sides from the long 1977 album "Gymnosphere: Song of the Rose". The recording was done first on a piano in a basement studio, which was then played back inside San Francisco's Grace Cathedral and recaptured with the echoes and natural reverb of the space. It's spacey and droning and pretty and was a total commercial flop, but just recently dredged up and reissued. (Thanks to Mike P for the long-ago recommendation to check out the Numero Group's catalog.)

Dec 7, 2015 — Boom Shaka La by Benji Hughes

This little Benji Hughes ditty just sort of alternates between two different rhythmic and melodic ideas for a couple minutes, and deploys a minimum of lyric. That both ideas are great, and are maybe sort of squandered in this oddball format, doesn't seem to bother the prolific and obscure Hughes. From 2014's "Songs In The Key Of Animals".

"Boom it up, to the top."

Oct 30, 2015 — Major Tom (Coming Home) by Peter Schilling

This is now the second one of these songs of the week that I've found by using Shazam in a chain retail establishment. An unnecessary 80s German retelling of the story from Bowie's Space Oddity (or is it The Martian?), but with a totally money chorus.

"Trying to relax up in the capsule

'Send me up a drink,' jokes Major Tom"

Sep 24, 2015 — Queen of California by John Mayer

Nice blues piece about seeking Laurel Canyon forty years later. I'm not sure what to think of Mayer, but the best guitarist I know tells me he's something akin to a modern Clapton, so: respect. From 2012's "Born and Raised"

"Looking for the sun that Neil Young hung

After the gold rush of 1971"

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SOTW has been anemic this summer, and will pick up again but I'll probably send a resubscribe mail soon; keep your eye out if you want to stay on board.

Meanwhile, if you want some new tunes, you could do much worse than tuning into Grace Mitchell's great, driving track NoLo.

Ryan Adams has also just released his track-by-track reinterpretation of Taylor Swift's 1989 album. This is making for a lot of noise in the music internet, which tends to be of the variety of "isn't it impressive and validating for Taylor's songwriting that respected hipster musician Ryan Adams did this" which is tiresome given that TSwift is near-inarguably more impressive to begin with. Anyway, Adams' covers are mostly just fun genre party tricks that ape Springsteen's Nebraska and wind up being less than either Swift or the Boss. But if you're interested, his take on Wildest Dreams (maybe my final favorite off 1989) works. (Father John Misty then mocked the whole premise with a terrifyingly sharp Lou Reed impression doing a Velvets' version of a couple of the tracks.)

Aug 20, 2015 — Jitter by Grace Mitchell

Can't tell if this is a total mess, or genius, or both, but I like it. New genre-bending track from young lady Grace Mitchell, off the new-this-week "Raceday" EP. We've heard from her before here; her "Broken Over You" has been a favorite in the half-year, but this is a big step into new territory. An artist worth keeping an eye & ear on.

"It got crazy really quick.

All these kids are lunatics."

Jul 15, 2015 — 1965 by Zella Day

In the end, Lana Del Ray's gift to the popular culture will not be the persona or her uneven songwriting; it will be her vocal delivery: once unique, suddenly ubiquitous. Zella Day is 20 and is as far removed from the venerable mid-1960s as I am from the Normandy invasion. This is from her first major label, this summer's "Kicker".

"I never had nobody touch me like I'm glass."

Jun 11, 2015 — (Nothing But) Flowers by Guster

Rare vision of dystopia as a pastoral post-post-apocalypse. A somewhat rambling Talking Heads tune tightened up by Guster in this live rendition; a natural fit for their bongo percussion and harmonies. From 2004's "Guster On Ice".

"I dream of cherry pies, candy bars and chocolate chip cookies.

We used to microwave; now we just eat nuts and berries."

Jun 6, 2015 — Reminiscence by Ólafur Arnalds ft Alice Sara Ott

From "The Chopin Project", Arnalds' recent album of interpretations. Thanks to Brendan for the recommendation.

May 30, 2015 — Wildest Moments by Jessie Ware

From 2012's "Devotion". (Thanks to Nicole and/or Pete for this.)

"Wherever there's smoke, there'll soon be fire."

May 22, 2015 — First Time Caller by White Lies

An English 80s pastiche so puréed that I'm not compelled to pick out the strands. From 2013's "Big TV".

"And I got nothing but time"

May 17, 2015 — From a Window Seat by Dawes

Neo Laurel Canyon folk rockers sounding like the 70s. From 2013's "Stories Don't End".

"Maybe I'm in town for someone's birthday

Maybe I make trouble everywhere."

May 7, 2015 — Nobody But Me by The Human Beinz

Originally an Isley Brothers tune, the Human Beinz chop-shopped it in '67 into this weirdly menacing rendition. They threw out most of the original form but thoughtfully updated the names of the then-current dance fads in the lyrics.

From their album of the same name (or in this case from the soundtrack to The Departed). Don't be too put off by the opening seconds of feedback.

"Nobody can do the shing-a-ling like I do"

Apr 24, 2015 — Radio Free Europe by R.E.M.

R.E.M.'s first-ever single (1981), predating their debut album by two years, is a formal exercise in delayed gratification. The song structure presents four slots for the chorus, the first of which is ignored (right back to a verse). The middle two choruses reveal increasing quantities of lyric, but shove you back into the verse before you want to go. All of which keeps you hanging on until the final 35 seconds for the full double-chorus hit, including the apex of the arrangement, one great single-bar drum fill.

Even if you think you already know this tune, definitely try this original version! The energy got completely neutered when it was re-recorded for the Murmur album to fit their sleepy opaque soundscape vibe. This recording sounds more like the actual rock band that emerged from the murmurs later in the 80s.

"Calling out in transit

Calling out in transit

Radio Free Europe

Radio Free Europe"

Apr 16, 2015 — Right as Rain by Adele

From her 2008 debut album, "19".

"There ain't no room in my bed, as far as I'm concerned."

Apr 9, 2015 — Everybody My Dick Tonight by My Dick

Proceed only if you have some tolerance for juvenilia and/or absurdist humor. These two musicians hit upon the concept of replacing lots of words in famous songs with "my dick". But instead of chuckling once and then instead going to watch, say, Game of Thrones like normal people, they manifested it, again and again. They completely re-recorded 20+ full tracks this way. And it's not like they've rewritten the lyrics as toilet humor parody. It's not even grammatical, most of the time! They're just my dick in all the my dick songs. All tracks are free to stream and download on the bandcamp page.

Attached is but one (somewhat tightly-scripted) example, based on the Wang Chung classic. Ironically, the number of times the word "wang" shows up has diminished to exactly one. If you want more, may I also suggest trying the Enya and the Rafferty ones?

Mar 31, 2015 — Turn Up by Judith Hill

Hardworking vocalist Judith Hill (the young one in the great documentary "20 Feet From Stardom") released her first full solo album "Back In Time" as a free download briefly last week. Prince (!!) produced it. This track is maybe the worst showcase for her incredible voice, but I'm stuck on it because it's so ridiculously Prince-y that it's hard to tell which parts are hers and which are (presumably) his. Except the epic unhinged bit where definitely-Prince screeches about her, in the guise of a fan.

"Don't want a date-uh

But you can call me later

And thank me for this beautiful life"

Mar 12, 2015 — The Best Is Yet To Come by Frank Sinatra & Count Basie

A great tune that might have been sweetly romantic; in Frank's swaggering grip it's nearly indecent. From 1964's "It Might As Well Be Swing" with Count Basie and his orchestra. (Quincy Jones arranging/conducting!)

"We've only tasted the wine

We're gonna drain the cup dry"

Mar 7, 2015 — Once A Servant by Psychic Friend

Intriguing little piano pop number, from album filled with same, by musician Will Schwartz (usually of other bands). Off of 2013's "My Rocks Are Dreams".

"Follow the sign, the sign.

Perfect design, design."

Feb 26, 2015 — Race One by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Jock Jams as musical theater?? Soundtrack to a race scene from "Starlight Express" that surfaced recently out of the long forgotten depths of my music library. If you're familiar with the show (international toy train competition via cast on rollerskates, sort of?) then you might hear motifs for some of the characters woven into this track. Original stage production was in the 80s, I think this is from a 90s revival.

"TRAINS GONNNNNNNNNE!"

Jan 21, 2015 — No Cities To Love by Sleater-Kinney

Universally-acclaimed northwest rockers Sleater-Kinney put down their guitars a decade ago to take up other challenges, but returned this week with an unexpected, triumphant new album. I always had a hard time with their music-- I'm lame of course, and most of their catalog is screechy, bombastic, and unruly. Signs of passion, natch, but challenging to listen to. I liked them on principle: after plowing through three long encores at a show I attended in Seattle, they came back onstage a fourth time to thundering applause and admitted sheepishly that they had actually run out of songs to play, but thank you everyone so much for coming.

This new album has the same unmistakable sonic signature, but crucially, some small production changes render the guitars less piercing and the vocals more intelligible, and as a result their gifts are suddenly more accessible to me. This is the tuneful title track.

"It's not the weather, it's the people we love."

Jan 15, 2015 — I Couldn't Be Your Friend by Tegan And Sara

Indie duet goes full-on pop with an encyclopedia of breakup bummers as bouncy numbers on 2013's "Heartthrob". If you like this track, you'll like nearly every other one on the album as well. Thanks to Pete for the recommendation.

"Now you wanna say I was a liar

Led you astray, I won't deny it

I did what they thought would be good for me"

Jan 8, 2015 — Come Baby Come by K7

Sorry, you probably already know this freeze-dried artifact of the early 90s. (Or you can retrieve it from your middle school memories?) This song is ridiculous, and that's why it's so great. Also it's catchy as hell. Features a catalog of New Jack Swing tropes including the classic "uh... come on!" sample, plus a torrent of innuendo so brazen that he's tossing out like one-and-a-half entendres:

"Two balls and a bat, the pitcher wears a hat,

Sliding into home base, trying to hit a home run

Swing batta batta batta batta batta swing!"

Song Of The Week Archive

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