When I started this music blog thing last August, one of the rules I set was that I wasn't going to post, or mention, or in anyway promote any of my own musical projects. I just felt like self promotion was tacky, and it was a violation of journalism ethics or something. But the main reason I started doing this was to post about music that I love, and for the past month or so this has been my absolute favorite song in the world. I must have listened to it at least a hundred times. So since it definitely fits the reason this blog exists in the first place, I figured that trumps any silly rule I made for myself. Besides, it's not like I wrote it, I just play on it.So here is "Goodbye Song #2" by Paris Street. In almost twenty years of playing in bands, this is probably my favorite song that I've ever been a part of. This version isn't finished. We've added more percussion since this mix was done, and hopefully we will be replacing the keyboard string part with real cello. But since this is the version I've been listening to and loving for the past four weeks, it's the one I'm posting.
Paris Street - "Goodbye Song #2" (mp3)
And if you were wondering, I'm playing bass, drums, and singing backing vocals. Carl did everything else.
So apparently there is some nasty rumor going around that Bono is going to be appearing on American Idol tonight. I refuse to believe it. Even as much as Mr. Hewson loves the limelight, surely he wouldn't stoop so low as to appear on possibly the worst thing to happen to American popular culture since... well, ever. Even if it was for charity.
U2 - "Where Did It All Go Wrong" (mp3) from the Even Better Than The Real Thing single
As a general rule, I'm not a big fan of political music. More often than not, whenever a band has a strong political bent, the music suffers in favor promoting of the message. Of course there are exceptions; The Clash and Public Enemy immediately come to mind. But for me, the biggest exception is Midnight Oil. Not only were they one of the most staunchly political bands ever, but many of their songs were about very regional Australian issues. But they overcame my prejudice by wrapping their messages in great songwriting, and then presented it with one of the best live shows I've ever seen. So in honor of Earth Day yesterday, I figured we'd dip into their catalog for today's monday morning b-side.Midnight Oil - "Instant Karma (Live)" (mp3)
This cover of John Lennon's "Instant Karma" was recorded on May 30, 1990 in New York City. The band set up on the back of a flatbed truck and played a lunchtime set in front of the Exxon building on 6th Avenue, fourteen months after the Valdez disaster. It was released on Best Of The B-Sides, a 1997 promo CD used to promote their greatest hits album 20,000 Watts R.S.L.
I haven't listened to Nine Inch Nails much in the last couple of years, but with Year Zero coming out tomorrow, I figured it was a good time to pillage through my old NIN singles for today's monday morning b-side. Most of their b-sides are remixes, so my choice is their cover of Queen's "Get Down, Make Love" from the Sin single. Trent always seems to go a great job when he raids other people's catalogs (his covers of Adam Ant's "Physical" and Joy Division's "Dead Souls" are equally stellar), and this song is no exception.
Nine Inch Nails - "Get Down, Make Love" (mp3)
There is no better way to spend a rainy Sunday morning than with a cup of joe (preferably with a shot of Kahlua), a comfortable spot on the couch, and a stack of CDs. Today the soundtrack to a wet end of the weekend in Nashville has included Tobin Sprout, Follow The Train, and Francis Albert Sinatra.
For the last two years I've been threatening to make a morning mix disc, but the fact that the CD player in my car is currently not working has bumped the project down on my to do list. But when I get around to it, this song will surely be included. Of all the songs ever written about coffee, this is surely the best.
Frank Sinatra - "The Coffee Song" (mp3) from Ring-A-Ding-Ding!
Last night I heard my favorite House Of Love song at my local watering hole. That might not seem that remarkable, but it's a sports bar... not exactly the kind of place you expect to hear a relatively obscure early 90s college rock song. Maybe it was just the fact that I was a bit buzzed, but it made for a memorable trip to the bathroom... and it's not every often you can say a trip to the bathroom is especially memorable.
The House Of Love - "Marble" (mp3) from A Spy In The House Of Love
Apologies for the lack of a b-side this morning (probably no one noticed, but just in case). Since my new job doesn't allow me the luxury of rolling in at 9:30 or so, I've got to get the post done on Sunday now, and yesterday I was busy with Easter festivities. Those festivities left me slightly drunk by the time I got home last night, so I lacked the motivation and energy to do a post. I'll do better next week.To make it up to you, here is probably my favorite song ever by a Nashville band that's not named Jet Black Factory...Crop Circle Hoax - "It's Not Alright" (mp3)
Someday I'm going to run out of songs from Holiday Inn to post on holidays. But until that happens (which I'm guessing will be Lincoln's Birthday next February), you can expect a regular diet of Bing Crosby every time a holiday comes around. This song was inspired by the annual New York City event dating from the mid-1800s when Manhattan's elite would walk down 5th Avenue after attending morning church services to show off their Easter finery. Irving Berlin recycled the melody from his 1917 song "Smile And Show Your Dimple," and a seasonal classic was born. In 1948 it became the first song from Holiday Inn to be spun off into its own movie (White Christmas didn't follow until 1954).
Bing Crosby - "Easter Parade" (mp3) from the Holiday Inn soundtrack
Yesterday I posted the first song ever played on Twin Peaks. Today I'm posting the last song played on the series.
One of the highlights of the series finale was Jimmy Scott performing the David Lynch & Angelo Badalamenti composition "Sycamore Trees." Scott had been one of the premier jazz and big band singers during the late forties and fifties, but contractual issues derailed his career in the early sixties. He worked mostly in jobs outside of music for the next three decades. His appearance on Twin Peaks in 1991 was one of the events that lead to his career revival, and he's been going strong ever since.
Jimmy Scott - "Sycamore Trees" (mp3) from the Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me soundtrack
Tomorrow the second season of Twin Peaks is finally being released on DVD. Although it's often maligned as a letdown from the first season, the second year of the series was full of bright spots. The plot with Windom Earle was brilliant, and the finale in the Black Lodge is one of the most amazing and bizarre things to ever be shown on television. It was one of the most memorable TV cliffhangers ever, even moreso now because it will never be resolved.So to celebrate the long awaited DVD release, today's monday morning b-side is The Wedding Present's cover of the Twin Peaks theme song, "Falling." Of all the outstanding covers David Gedge has done over the course of his career, this one might be my favorite. It was originally released on April 6, 1992 as the b-side of "Silver Shorts," part of the Hit Parade series in the UK.The Wedding Present - "Falling" (mp3) from Hit Parade
