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Let’s send her off in style. Just the vocals from “How Will I Know.” RIP
Top 5+1 Albums of 2011
Alright, so Rolling Stone’s albums of the year list is out, and surprise surprise, there is no overlap between mine and their lists. Click on the Artist to hear the music.
1. Vanessa Carlton - Rabbits on the Run
Atmospheric and poetic songs from the underrated one-hit wonder.
Christian-y Canadian synth-pop artist drops the naïveté and gets a little darker sonically on her sophomore effort.
3. Veronica Maggio - Satan I Gatan
Art-Pop from Sweden. When this album was released, all 11 songs were top 30 hits in Sweden AT THE SAME TIME!
Art-Rock that actually has pop hooks! Radiohead could learn a thing from these guys.
Awesome debut from UK dance singer who mixes dubstep with pop.
Honorable Mention. Le Kid - Oh Alright
Swedish Bubblegum pop for adults, by adults.
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#144 Graham Parker and the Rumour - Mercury Poisoning
The ultimate “Fuck You” to a former boss. Graham Parker recorded this promo-only track in 1979 after leaving Mercury Records for Arista, unhappy with his former label’s lack of promotion. After three great albums, and not much commercial success, Parker wanted out, so he fulfilled his contractual obligation to Mercury by releasing a terrible three-sided live album called The Parkerilla. He then signed with Arista, swapped his soul-influenced early sound for a more stripped-down pub rock style, and recorded Squeezing Out Sparks, possibly his finest album.
P.S. That photo is my own copy of the 12” promo single. Come over and we’ll blast it together!
King Missile - Detachable Penis
I love how this song helped bring a little bit of LES to mainstream America. Maybe it’s not a bright idea to post their one novelty hit, but I’m on a bit of a nostalgia trip right now. King Missile was the brainchild of John S. Hall, a 1980’s spoken-word poet, who founded the band to mix his poetry with an eclectic mix of avant-garde music.
A few notes: The Kiev was a seedy Ukrainian diner on 2nd Ave where you could get awesome Pierogies, Borscht, and of course, Chicken Kiev. Also, Love Saves The Day’s awning makes a guest appearance, a relic of my childhood. LSD was a vintage clothing/toy shop that was pure kitsch. Madonna shopped there in Desperately Seeking Susan! Like everything awesome about New York, both are now only a memory. Love Saves The Day to New Hope, PA a few years ago, and sadly, the store’s founder, Leslie Herson passed away from cancer in 2008. RIP to Leslie, and the New York of my youth.
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Headphones people.
Every song the Beatles ever recorded on one convenient streaming track!
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#143 Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls - Before The Old Man Died
The Oedipus Complex taken to the extreme. From the troubadour’s 1986 double LP set, Gossip, his first of seven Gold albums. An essential and very significant piece of Australian music history, from an artist described by rock critic Ed Nimmervoll as “capturing Australia in his songs the way Bruce Springsteen or Ray Davies of the Kinks have encapsulated their homelands, and he does it with the musical energy and diversity of Elvis Costello.”
Paul Kelly started his music career in a band called the Dots, scoring a hit in 1981 with the ska-tinged “Billy Baxter.” Kelly’s heroin addiction helped end that band, but he returned reborn at the age of 30 with the acoustic album, Post. A poignant song cycle about addiction, growing up, and moving on, Kelly revisited the record multiple times, rerecording electric versions of the songs for his subsequent albums, including four on Gossip.
Taco - Puttin’ on the Ritz
Believe it or not, one of the most controversial music videos ever made. 42 seconds in. WTF were they thinking?
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Le Kid - Mr. Brightside
This is what I imagine it would sound like if ABBA collaborated with The Killers.
P.S. You can legally download this son for free, courtesy of the (amazing) band here: http://www.le-kid.com/2011/01/04/mr-brightside-free-download/
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#142 Joya Landis - Angel of the Morning
♪ ♫ just call me angel of the morning, angel, just touch my cheeks before you leave me, baby, just call me angel of the morning, angel, then slowly turn away from me ♪ ♫
Trojan (Uk) 1968
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