30 March 2015 - Echosmith - Cool Kids

I've been seriously deficient on the recent pop hits, haven't I?

Well, deficiency, be gone!

I think the song is a little strange.  After all, by virtue of being in a band, they are already the cool kids.  But it's a fun song - a bit of an 80's throwback, in my opinion.  It's fun, and I like that an unknown little band of kids suddenly had a top 20 hit.



Little known fact: that was actually the 2nd video for this song.  Turns out the song was almost two years old before it was a big hit.... and I like the performing-in-the-living-room aspect of this one a little better......

But, they're still a bunch of cool kids.

(22 August 2023: Update)

Echosmth rerecorded their own song.  It's different and amazing. There isn't a lot more we can say about it.  The band is a trio now, but they still slap.

27 March 2015 - Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman

A lot of people ask me, "Tony, what is your favorite song?"   It's a fair question.  It is a tough question, and something of a moving target.  I usually give an answer that is my favorite song of the moment.

I do, however, have a favorite song of all time. You might have seen me mention it - on Totally Covered.  Yes.  This is a repost.  Of a cover. 

But it's more than that. 

It's a reminder of my childhood.  During the 70's, I had a lot of Glen Campbell's music foisted upon me by my parents.  Well, many years later, I revisted some of it, and, to my surprise, I was a fan.  And now, it's a go-to song for me.

And it's a reminder of my musical failings.  Glen Campbell no longer tours.  I will never see him live.  But at least I have this recording.

26 March 2015 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion

This song has been my earworm for the past two weeks. In fact, I cannot remember hearing this song, from 2006, ever, before two weeks ago.   Before two weeks ago, I was not a fan of any Yeah Yeah Yeahs music. 

However, this is not your typical Yeah Yeah Yeahs song.  It's generally slower and more deliberate than their other material, with more acoustic guitar than you might be used to when thinking of their sound.  Lyrically, it's simple - not all that many lyrics.  It doesn't need them.   It's musically compelling enough.

25 March 2015 - MØ - Walk This Way

How the hell am I supposed to pronounce an O with a line through it?

"mew"?

"moo"?

"moe"?

I think the first is most accurate, but it's not a letter we pronounce in English.  Danish, yes.  English, no. 

It was hard enough to figure out how to type it!  (Alt-0216 on a Windows keyboard, by the way).

That doesn't matter right now.  What matters is that she is making smart music - electronic pop music with teeth.  Best known in the US for singing on an Iggy Azalea tune, MØ is making good music on her own. 

19 March 2015 - Juliana Hatfield - I See You

I'm not going to tell The Story again.

I am going to post this very chipper and slightly sad song that she did not perform in 1995... probably because it sounded very Blake Babies-like.   Which I would have been OK with.... except at the time, she was trying to distance herself from that period.

And if you haven't read her book, When I Grow Up, you should.  Really good book.

Anyway, the song is still sweet, more than 20 years later.   It remains an enduring favorite of mine.  At the time of its release - around about 1992, when I was still mourning the end of the Blake Babies - I remember liking her whole Hey Babe album, because it gave me hope that the classic sound would live on.  This song was a surprise (to me) single choice, but a solid one, and one that still endures for me, so many years later.

17 March 2015 - Denis Leary - Traditional Irish Folk Song.

This always made me laugh.  Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Have fun getting drunk, America.

16 March 2015 - Letters To Cleo - Here And Now

I cannot believe I never posted this.

I mean, this song just OOZES mid-90's music.  It's happy and angry at the same time.  And, let's face it, Kay Hanley has an amazing and unique voice. And she can sing FAST.

I have to admit - I saw them live.  Water Street Music Hall, Rochester, NY, September 1995.  They were OK.  I was happy I saw them.  I wish I still had my Letters to Cleo t-shirt.

"The comfort of a knowledge of a rise above the sky above could never parallel the challenge of an acquisition in the here and now."

12 March 2015 - Britney Spears - Toxic

I remember when I had a co-author.

He used to post a Britney Spears song every year on my birthday.

Which happens to be today.

So here, Scott.  Doin' your work for you. 

10 March 2015 - Journey - Lights

This post is by a band I thought I would never post.  Ever.  (And I still will never post THAT song.)  This band (and THAT SONG particularly) is one that I have particularly disliked. 

As many of you know, I worked at a Xerox call center, where I was both the IT Manager and a DJ. 

9 Mar 2015 - Carly Rae Jepson - I Really Like You

I kept hearing that this song was more earwormy than "Call Me Maybe".  And from this blog's standpoint, that's a big deal.  That song was the first one of our posts to crest 100 page views.  (We've done better since).

I like the song.  Let's be clear.  It's sweet and inoffensive.  But to call it with such high praise....well, that's just throwing a wish in the well.  

4 March 2015 - BANKS - Before I Ever Met You

This might be the only artist on here who wants you to have her phone number...

By the way, it's (323) 362-2658.

And yes.  She answers.  Sometimes.  It's a cell phone.   So you can text her.

Bet let's not stalk our favorite buzzy musicians.  Let's talk about their great music, instead.  She didn't make a video for it or release it as a single.  But the song is so emotion-filled that I couldn't not post it.  The pain in BANKS's voice is tangible, like you can touch it, grab it with your hands.  It's a rare talent that can do that.  So, discover and enjoy.

2 March 2015 - James Newton Howard (featuring Jennifer Lawrence) - The Hanging Tree

So, here it is.

The song that blew everyone away with Jennifer Lawrence's untapped abilities.  But here's what you don't know....

If you've read the book, you know that the lyrics were written by author Suzanne Collins.  Two guys from The Lumineers did the music.  And, of course, Jennifer Lawrence provided the vocals..... but she didn't want to.

No.  She wanted Lorde. 

We're glad it's Jennifer who sang this.  It gave the song a less polished feel that fit the movie better than Lorde's voice would have there, and suited the intention of the song in a far greater way than Lorde could have....

No offense, Lorde.  We still love you.