Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in Mexico in the state of Puebla to celebrate the 5 May 1862 victory of the Mexican over the French in the Battle of Puebla. It is not widely celebrated in Mexico outside of American tourist traps, and is not a Mexican federal holiday. So, let's celebrate the little-known Mexican holiday that is propped up by American retailers of Mexican beer by enjoying this jangle-pop classic, not about the battle of Puebla, but about a fizzled love, by Liz Phair.
03 May 2013
3 May 2013 - Soul Asylum - Can't Even Tell
At one point in my life, I was a really big fan of Soul Asylum. Hang Time was a fantastic album. Fantastic.
Then they followed up that album with ....And The Horse They Rode In On. Which wasn't all that good and was the beginning of the commercial success that would lead to me not being able to stand them.
Then came 1994. The album I consider to be their comeback - Let Your Dim Light Shine - was still a year in the future. Kevin Smith made a little movie called Clerks and commissioned Soul Asylum to do the song for the closing credits.
The result? A nihilistic song about seizing the day that was an instant classic. I've been a fan ever since.
Then they followed up that album with ....And The Horse They Rode In On. Which wasn't all that good and was the beginning of the commercial success that would lead to me not being able to stand them.
Then came 1994. The album I consider to be their comeback - Let Your Dim Light Shine - was still a year in the future. Kevin Smith made a little movie called Clerks and commissioned Soul Asylum to do the song for the closing credits.
The result? A nihilistic song about seizing the day that was an instant classic. I've been a fan ever since.
02 May 2013
2 May 2013 - The Soup Dragons - Divine Thing
I honestly can't remember the last time I put on Hotwired (or Lovegod for that matter) by The Soup Dragons. We used to listen to those albums all the time in college (I'm dating myself again here aren't I?). Heck, I actually saw them twice on their tour with James in 1992. Or was it 1993? It doesn't matter. It was a whole lot of fun . . . as is this video.
01 May 2013
1 May 2013 - The Breeders - Cannonball / Safari
For most of you, this was your first and only meeting with The Breeders. Which is all well and good. It was a great song - still is. It is a modern rock classic, with a great double guitar, a very distinctive bassline by the under-appreciated Josephine Wiggs, and a catchy vocal by Kim Deal.
For me, it was a letdown. I knew what they had been less than a year prior.
The Breeders were a modern rock supergroup, featuring the aforementioned Kim Deal (of The Pixies), Jo Wiggs (of The Perfect Disaster), and the woefully under-appreciated guitarist Tanya Donelly (at this point, of Throwing Muses). Their first album, Pod, was a very dark, sparsely-produced (by Steve Albini) classic. After that album, Kim's twin sister, Kelley, joined on guitar. And, for one EP - Safari - they all stayed together. And they rocked and rocked hard.
After the Safari EP, Tanya left to form Belly. And her absence was noted by people who were in the know. I mean, don't get me wrong - The Breeders were still really good. They just weren't the same band. The band even went on to re-record one of the Safari songs for the Last Splash album - "Do You Love Me Now?" - and it was good..... but a little bit of a letdown.
For me, it was a letdown. I knew what they had been less than a year prior.
The Breeders were a modern rock supergroup, featuring the aforementioned Kim Deal (of The Pixies), Jo Wiggs (of The Perfect Disaster), and the woefully under-appreciated guitarist Tanya Donelly (at this point, of Throwing Muses). Their first album, Pod, was a very dark, sparsely-produced (by Steve Albini) classic. After that album, Kim's twin sister, Kelley, joined on guitar. And, for one EP - Safari - they all stayed together. And they rocked and rocked hard.
After the Safari EP, Tanya left to form Belly. And her absence was noted by people who were in the know. I mean, don't get me wrong - The Breeders were still really good. They just weren't the same band. The band even went on to re-record one of the Safari songs for the Last Splash album - "Do You Love Me Now?" - and it was good..... but a little bit of a letdown.
30 April 2013
30 April 2013 - Devo - Girl U Want
When the Wicked Guilty Pleasures mind goes blank, there's only one true way to snap out of it -- look to the 80s. So here's wacky Akron new wavers Devo with a video from their Freedom of Choice album from 1980. Of course the big hit from that album was Whip It, but Girl U Want is way cooler. See for yourself.
29 April 2013
29 April 2013 - The Juliana Hatfield Three - Spin The Bottle
I remember the last time I saw Juliana Hatfield.
September 15, 1995. Water Street Music Hall. Rochester, NY.
Why do I so clearly remember a date in a random club on a random Friday night nearly 18 years ago? Well, that, my friends, is an interesting story. I was married on September 16, 1995. This show was the closest thing I ever had to a bachelor party. My friend Jim was there, as was my friend Mike. (As it turns out, someone I met 16 1/2 years later was also there, but that's another story I'm not telling today).
Jim was fond of telling everyone that I was getting married the next day. There was one young lady - who I think was taking a shining to me - who was quite adamant that I was far too young to be getting married.
The show itself was pretty good. I wish she would have done more early stuff - she did one Blake Babies song ("Nirvana", which also appeared on her first solo album in a different form) - but it was pretty good. After the show, Jim grabbed one of the setlists off the stage and was hell-bent on meeting Juliana and having her sign it. I, having met Juliana in the past and not finding her all that congenial, wasn't so keen on that, but we did it anyway.
And Jim told her I was getting married the next day.
Her reply. "Aren't you a little young to be getting married?"
Sigh.
She wasn't wrong, sadly.
This song is a cute little diddy from the Reality Bites soundtrack, with a lot of guest stars in the video. The subject matter - playing Spin The Bottle with a semi-famous person - is a little strange, but it makes for a cute song. With a guitar hook that builds as the song builds momentum..... the whole tune just oozes excitement. So, get excited!
September 15, 1995. Water Street Music Hall. Rochester, NY.
Why do I so clearly remember a date in a random club on a random Friday night nearly 18 years ago? Well, that, my friends, is an interesting story. I was married on September 16, 1995. This show was the closest thing I ever had to a bachelor party. My friend Jim was there, as was my friend Mike. (As it turns out, someone I met 16 1/2 years later was also there, but that's another story I'm not telling today).
Jim was fond of telling everyone that I was getting married the next day. There was one young lady - who I think was taking a shining to me - who was quite adamant that I was far too young to be getting married.
The show itself was pretty good. I wish she would have done more early stuff - she did one Blake Babies song ("Nirvana", which also appeared on her first solo album in a different form) - but it was pretty good. After the show, Jim grabbed one of the setlists off the stage and was hell-bent on meeting Juliana and having her sign it. I, having met Juliana in the past and not finding her all that congenial, wasn't so keen on that, but we did it anyway.
And Jim told her I was getting married the next day.
Her reply. "Aren't you a little young to be getting married?"
Sigh.
She wasn't wrong, sadly.
This song is a cute little diddy from the Reality Bites soundtrack, with a lot of guest stars in the video. The subject matter - playing Spin The Bottle with a semi-famous person - is a little strange, but it makes for a cute song. With a guitar hook that builds as the song builds momentum..... the whole tune just oozes excitement. So, get excited!
26 April 2013
26 April 2013 - The Monkees - Valleri & Mary Mary
Despite the fact that The Monkees were a manufactured group, built specifically for a television show, these four gentlemen were serious, solid musicians. A lot of people slag on them for being the Pre-Fab Four - a play on the nickname given to The Beatles - but they all had some chops.
Take this song. Davy Jones takes the lead vocal on the song. The verses are short, jangle-pop, but the chorus is 60's-level bombastic. The performance is full of emotion from all four members.
On this song, Mickey Dolenz takes the lead vocal, but I want you to pay attention to the serious guitar chops brought by Michael Nesmith. That gentleman was - IS - a fantastic guitarist, and few songs highlight his skills better than this song. Pay attention to that and the harmonies provided by bassist Peter Tork.
Take this song. Davy Jones takes the lead vocal on the song. The verses are short, jangle-pop, but the chorus is 60's-level bombastic. The performance is full of emotion from all four members.
On this song, Mickey Dolenz takes the lead vocal, but I want you to pay attention to the serious guitar chops brought by Michael Nesmith. That gentleman was - IS - a fantastic guitarist, and few songs highlight his skills better than this song. Pay attention to that and the harmonies provided by bassist Peter Tork.
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