Some Kinda Love — Velvet Underground.
I love the Velvet Underground. I remember sitting in RePlace (a drop-in center/ crisis hotline where I volunteered as a misanthropic teen) listening to The Doors soundtrack and Heroin came on. One of the grown-ups that worked there said, “I haven’t heard Lou Reed in years.” And then I went and bought some Velvet Underground and that served as my bridge from sweet Metal to indie-alt something-or-other. And when I heard “Run Run Run,” I knew I was meant to be a comedian. Everything but the last part was true. Hey, Lou! Thanks for combining darkness and beauty with pretty melodies and discord (you too John Cale!) and for changing music for the best! (Don’t forget Mo and Sterling! Okay. I won’t! But fuck you Doug Yule! JK. I don’t know the details of the breakup).
Crater Lake — Liz Phair
I don’t know this song well. And I don’t know Whip Smart as well as “Exile From Guyville.” But Exile is one of the best albums of the 90’s. Or 80’s and 90’s. Or probably any decade. It really is an amazing album. So nothing else really matters. Very few people can say that they made one of the best albums ever, and I feel like Liz Phair can say that. So that’s nice.
Hard Headed Woman — Cat Stevens
It’s too bad DJ’s drove over Cat’s records with a steamroller when he became Muslim, because it probably raised Global Stupidity 7%, and that’s a shame. You know when this song gets passionate and he goes, “I know many fine feathered friends, but their friendliness depends on how you do!” I liked that part a lot in high school. Does he say feathered? I think he does. I don’t think he’s friends with birds, even now. Also, I am looking for a hard headed woman, so I always liked the song. One that will make me feel so go-oo-oood.
Too Fast For Love — Motley Crue
This is a great album. I think he just sang “Living on a jet, making love to someone else’s dream.” That’s pretty funny. This is The Crue’s best album. It’s wonderful, catchy glam-punk-metal. If you’ve never heard it and you like stuff like M Ward or Wasp, you’ll like love this record. In case I’m wrong, or lying, listen to it on iTunes before you buy it.
My God — Jethro Tull
This is the live version from the 25th anniversary box set, not the recording off of Aqualung, just to be clear. “People what have you done/ locked Him in His golden cage/ made Him bend to your religion/Him resurrected from the grave…So lean on Him gently and don’t call on Him to save/ You from your social graces and the sins you wish to waive!” Ian Anderson has been furious at the co-opting of religion for impure purposes for years. Even though journalists were calling him pretentious in the 70’s, Jethro Tull to me was probably what the Cure was to teenage boys who cried when they peed. Plus, as you can imagine, in the live version there is an amazing flute solo.
I Know You III— Morphine
Morphine was one of my favorite bands in college. I was very sad when Mark Sandman died. The same way that you were sad when JFK or Kurt Cobain died, I was very sad when Mark Sandman died. He was an amazing musician. If you’ve never heard “Cure For Pain,” you should go get it. And you should find the song “King Of Beers” by Treat Her Right, his first band (which featured a harmonica at a time when harmonica’s were rarely featured).
I Feel Beautiful — Robyn Hitchcock
This is a very, very pretty song. Play it for a girl you like and then she may take off her shirt for you (even if it’s at work!)
The Celibate Life — The Shins
They’re great. I don’t need to tell you that, someone else must have already. They will be the biggest band of 2009 and finally defeat rap-metal. At least for 12 years. One of them is very sweaty in person. You know who you are.
Tired of Sex — Weezer
I believe it’s rumored that Rivers doesn’t like this album (or maybe was sad it wasn’t a big hit?) I think it’s fantastic. Plus he’s right, it must be exhausting to fuck a different person each night but not fall in love. I don’t have a hit album and I find it hard to sometimes kiss people and not find someone who knows a lot about pragmatism, backgammon and Phil Ochs, so I can kind of relate.