"Wham City" by Dan Deacon

from Spiderman of the Rings

I want to hijack a kindergarten class and watch them dance and sing to this. And I want there to be that one little kid who is just confused and refuses to dance and sits there and stares off into the middle distance. And that other kid whose mind is blown and just sits there and stares off into the middle distance, as well.

"Headlong Into The Abyss" by We Are Augustines

from Book of James

Years ago, BootneyLee Chimney and I were crazy obsessed with a Brooklyn band called Pela. We covered them in every publication we could for any possible reason, had them on our radio show (where they played a private hour long acoustic set because we had a bottle of whisky to kill) and I even paid cash money to see them live at SXSW because I hadn't gotten the chance previously (didn't bother going to any other showcases but that one).

So now two of the boys have a record out as We Are Augustines, and everything that made me love them in the past is still there, just waiting to be discovered by a new generation of music writers.

"I'm A Pilot" by Fanfarlo

from Reservoir

I've been going through the huge backlog of mp3s that I get sent every week, and while most of them are crap, every once in a while, a fantastic track or two sneaks by.

In the case of this Fanfarlo cut, it's all about the crescendo, which is possibly my favorite thing about music. It's all slow build and emotional release and heart cockles get warmed and all that good stuff.

Fanfarlo - I'm a Pilot

"Too Late, But Not Forgotten" by Joy of Cooking

from Joy of Cooking

It's been far too long since I've posted, but the second I heard this cut, I couldn't help but think "Damn, I've gotta post this on TOTD." So I'll give a shout to where I heard it-- Rotter and Friends, who also gave me a kick-ass John Phillips, Wolfking of LA shirt.

Here's a quote about the band from Wikipedia: Joy of Cooking was an American folk-rock band, formed in 1967 in Berkeley, California. It was unusual in that it was led by two women - pianist Toni Brown and guitarist Terry Garthwaite - with three men providing backup. The music was a mix of "hippy" sensibility on blues and folk roots, and the lyrics often reflected feminist or environmental themes.

I've only got a couple of tracks from them, so if anyone knows where I can get ahold of their anthology, let me know.



Too Late, but not Forgotten

"Shark Fin Blues (acoustic)" by The Drones

from

I finally, after a very long wait, get to see these guys tonight. I am amazingly, completely stoked. I feel like I'm going to get my guts ripped out, and I'll like it. You'll be able to read the interview on Ground Control on Friday or Saturday, so check it.

Sharkfin Blues (acoustic)

"Drive Away (End Title Credits)" by Thomas Newman

from Lemony Snickett's "A Series of Unfortunate Events" OST

So one afternoon I was flipping past the Showtime channels and happened to light on the last 5 minutes of this flick. Then the credit sequence came on, and both the visuals and the music were so good that i made sure when it played again three hours later to pop a tape into the VCR.

You can listen to the full track here or watch the sequence right here, if you can excuse the subtitles.

"Nikki Oh Nikki" by John Vanderslice

from Life and Death of an American Four Tracker

I had a pretty bad dream last nite, and hearing this song at 3:45 in the morning was the only thing that made me feel better. Kinda Pink Floyd's Money-esque on the percussion. Kori Gardner from Mates of State is on the back-up vocals on this one.

Nikki Oh Nikki

"Prince Hal's Dirge" by Loudon Wainwright III

from BBC Sessions

I cleaned out my chimney podcast folder a couple of weeks ago, and accidentally threw away my copy of Loudon's "The Swimming Song" that somebody posted a few months ago. I was really digging that song, and tried to find some more LW3, but the only thing i was able to come across on soulseek was the BBC Sessions.

So today i interviewed Matt Costa for the upcoming issue of Anthem, and we were talking about Donovan and Cat Stevens. As I was driving home, I thought of the swimming song and decided to listen to it. This one happens to be the track right after the swimming song, and after hearing it in the background as i picked up my room, i had to hit repeat so i could concentrate on it. then i hit repeat again and again. I've probably listened to this song ten times within the past half hour. If anyone has the album version of this, let a brother know.

I'm hitting the National with Bootney tonite, and needless to say, i am pretty stoked.

Prince Hal's Dirge

"The Finest Joke is Upon Us" by Guided By Voices

from Mag Earwhig!

Ok, so it isn't Brit-Rock, but it is Bobby Pollard, so it is close.

Just finished reading "Hunting Accidents" the GBV bio by Jim Greer (journalist/former member of the band, but then who isn't?) while at a really boring job I was doing to pick up some extra cash. On the way home, decided to listen to some GBV, just to round out the day.

Removed from the elitist natter about how nothing can ever compare to the classic line-up (which disbanded just before Mag Earwhig!) and especially Bee Thousand, this album is actually pretty good. Sure there are throwaway tracks, but some, like this one, are kind of mind blowing. No one will ever be able to rightly claim that Bob isn't a musical genius. The vocal melodies and the lyrics are stunning, and tracks like this show that he knew what he was doing when he hired Cobra Verde to back him up. Easily one of my top five GBV songs right now.



The Finest Joke Is Upon Us

"Time That Bald Sexton" by Danielson

from Ships

Daniel Smith has a voice that evokes the same reaction as that of Joanna Newsome. Either you like it, or you want to choke the man with a toilet brush. I personally like it, because it definitely adds a twisted edge to all the Danielson Famile-related offerings that he does. Smith is also a frequent collaborator with Sufjan, and a big deal is always made of the fact that religious themes figure highly in his work (i think he is pentecostal)

I just kept on skipping back and forth to this track as i was driving around yesterday. the odd cadences on the beat and the percussive pounding on the piano is pretty rad. Plus he makes some lyrical choices that are pretty interesting.

Time That Bald Sexton