Mighty Tom on Volume 6

Volume 6

Ten songs that you are digging lately is a theme, in this club. Love the record-like CD. I have thought about buying them before, but never have I seen one live. To hold and to cherish. Thank you.



1. Soul Meets Body

Finally I have HEARD Death Cab for Cutie, not just heard ABOUT them. Initially I thought it was all about the name – some new version of Slipknot or Staind – obviously I wasn’t listening very closely. Thankfully they are nothing like those other ‘S’ bands. I like the song and like what they are doing vocally. Overall the song reminds me of an 80’s video. If this makes any sense- sure there may be some musical relatives to 80’s music, but the song as a whole reminds me of an 80’s video of a song and a band that you may not have heard – but it sounds nice and the video is from when the world was new – or at least when MTV was new. Maybe the band was chasing a huge glowing globe around – surely there would be plenty of standing around as the seasons change, or at the very least, a run through an English wood. The lyrics would/could lend themselves to an interesting video. Great harmonies. Great melodies. Great mental images.




2. So Beautiful

I do hope the Monkees come up again during the course of this club, and in fact, I am sure they will, but I do not want to get off on that tangent at this time. I, too, like the words to the chorus.

I know someone who REALLY likes David Poe. He has seen Poe live and has played his music for everyone at work. I can’t say I know who Poe is or even if I could distinguish a David Poe song. (if that is his real name). I certainly cannot remember hearing this song. I have heard vivid physical descriptions of this man that were both odd and wondrous. I did not ask for these descriptions and yet they were muttered into my ear. I like the song and really like the words. I think it is definitely a bit of a dig – to reference Miles. I think he wants her to feel just a little of the pain he has been feeling – ultimately knowing that she’ll have nothing to worry about anyway– ‘cause you know – the beautiful ones will always have love.



3. I Burn Today

At first I thought this was a lament from TV’s Frank Black, the lead character from ‘Millennium’. That would have been a real downer. I think Aaron could corroborate that claim. I did not know that this was the lead singer of the Pixies, a band I’ve only been exposed to from a distance. Friends like Mixdorf. Girls like Mooseburger. They may have had the Pixies going on. Really Mixdorf – where were we? What girl was playing the Pixies? By a stone wall. In Iowa or Minnesota. Help me place this memory Mixdorf, please! This song is very new to me. I wasn’t crazy about it initially, but it has been growing on me, in surprising ways, during subsequent listens. He does have an interesting voice and the words are excellent. This lady and her Tarot cards. His fate is to ‘burn’ in hell. A timeless character whose hell is living each and every day. Water (the river) providing a little reprieve or advice he does not heed? I think the latter – only by drowning himself can he be ‘saved’ from the burning.




4. D’Artagnan’s Theme

I love this song! An early candidate for BS of the collection. It has an intensity that surpasses that of the other Cope song I am familiar with, ‘Son’s Gonna Rise,’ also from the ‘Clarence Greenwood Recordings’ (no relation to Ben). I love the words and the climatic feel of “why don’t you just fade away.” “I’ve been beaten by sight of day” is how I hear another line and I love it! What a build-up to the 1:50 first telling of the chorus. I really like the cry in his voice (oddly Diamond-like). The War drags ever on.




5. Glory Box

She, the lead singer, and Billy from ZZ Topp are always invited to our family reunions, but they NEVER show up. Bastards! I’ve heard maybe two or three songs by Portishead. I’ve liked them all. They definitely have a style. Is it considered Trip-Hop? Some jazzy elements among the cut and pasting. To me, it’s a wild song about a female-or completely female cupid who wants to give it up and just be. I like the title. Great title.




6. Alison

Man! During the late spring of 2005 thru the beginning of summer I was listening to a ton of Elvis Costello. What a kick! I agree with Miles about all of us being at ‘that’ point sometime in our lives. “My Aim is true,” once she understands that, I am sure to be her guy – wrong! A less hyper Costello song from his early days. Easy going, great words, and some excellent Costello musical moments. Great song! Again great – excellent words! Costello makes a warmly welcomed contribution to our CD club.

Alison is fine and will be fine without you. She cares nothing for your ‘aim’ – Elvis – sorry. Cruel, but true. “Put out the big light” – what a great way of discussing his jealousy!




7. Boots of Spanish Leather

A great song. Another BS candidate, easily. I do not have the right to say much about Dylan. What can I say?

Confession of a Music Fan

Elohim, I have sinned. For I have always loved Bob Dylan, but I have always ignored Bob Dylan. Please forgive me and supply me the strength to do better.




8. Time Has Told Me

The only song from this collection that I had on CD, thanks to another Eastern friend.

In Minneapolis I had the opportunity to listen to a couple of his albums, including ‘An Intro to Nick Drake.’ How can we credit a car commercial for giving all of us Nick Drake? Answer: We can. There is a great quality about him – though it is possible that this song and the great Pink Moon may indeed be his VERY best. I really like the pace of this song. Great words and melody! The electric guitar may be a bit unwieldy at times, (funny that its Richard Thompson) but the rest of the instruments are richly arranged.

I love the picture of him on the cover to “An Intro to Nick Drake.”
He is the Dark Donovan of the Wood.




9. The Luckiest

I would agree. I, too, cannot believe we do not hear more about Ben Folds! Great songwriter with a sweet voice. And after his recent work with Bill Shatner one would think Ben Folds would be all over the papers and VH1 news – but alas! A great sweetness beneath the filth of so much pop.

This song has a strong Kermit vibe for me, and that is a good thing. It reminds me of a song Kermit might sing during a new Muppet Movie intent on capturing the magic of the first, original Muppet Movie. Remember that song Kermit sang during the opening? Wasn’t it great!?



10. The Nurse

I raved about the White Stripes on comments for Volume 1. I will rave again, briefly here. Since the dawn of the new Millennium (and no not a new episode of your favorite TV show with Frank Black – think calendar) the White Stripes are the best thing going in Rock’n’Roll. By far! They are incredible! Also – I’d like to thank the Johnsons for turning me on to the Stripes way back when. Thanks!

The Nurse – another great White Stripes song from an album I really should get. The third and final candidate for BS of this collection.

Closing Comment

I enjoyed this excellent combination/mix of music. I think a strong theme is present in this collection. I like many of these very new to me songs quite a bit and am pleased to have iPod’d them.


My BS of the collection

Though ‘The Nurse’ and ‘D’Artagnan’s Theme’ were in the running, they simply could not keep up with the ‘Boots of Spanish Leather.’


SIWHI

‘Redondo Beach’ by Patti Smith.

Mix Reviews Volume 6

Perhaps I put my foot into my mouth, perhaps there is an element of subconscious theming going on here, but I couldn't help but connect the dots between February, Valentine's Day and nearly all of the songs on this collection. At first glance, 8/9 of 10 seemed to be straight up love songs, with the final song eluding my dotconnectability. With further listens, and I've had this way longer than anyone else, it became clear that there was far more going on in these songs than was immediately apparent.

It's actually funny that there might be some trepidation about presenting a collection of songs that one of us likes, right now. I think that when this little endeavor was launched, lo those 7 months ago, that is exactly what I thought it would be. Of course, I don't think any of us collects quite enough music to keep that up alone every time, but it should certainly be possible to be into 10 songs of new music every year or so. In between we would fill in with those collections that suited our fancy, hopefully exposing one another to aspects of music that we might otherwise miss. But that's just me.

So, to dig in....

1. Soul Meets Body - Death Cab for Cutie.

I'm a fan of DCFC, although I come to the party late. When the album (Plans) that this song comes from, was released it got some hype amongst some of the new music sources that I have, and I endeavored to check them out. I read some reviews and ultimately decided to get their previous album, Transatlanticism, which is excellent, but I will likely get Plans in the near future. Plans seems to have been their breakout album, though the mechanics of that are incomprehensible to me, just another of the many random aspects of the music industry.

They are great pop song writers in the best sense of the word. The lead singer and principal song-writer, Ben Gibbard, is also the guy we can thank for the lyrics to Such Great Heights. As such that vaults him into rarified air within the Coalescent Musical Coop, joining the ranks of just a handful to have already been included twice. I suspect we may see some more from him. And I know that, because it's likely to come from me. So there.

But to the song. A gem of pop songwriting. Clever lyrics mated to a tasty little melody, spiced up with some quirky synchopated drumming and interesting instrumentation, all tied up with a bow in under 4 minutes. This is perhaps more radio friendly than most of the stuff on Transatlanticism, as it's a bit more bouyant, but it's an undeniably fun song that I don't think I'll tire of hearing. Luckily I don't listen to commercial radio very often either, so I'm spared the beatings songs such as this can take.

2. So Beautiful - David Poe.
David Poe is new to me. Where did Miles come across this guy? He seems to be almost anonymous, even on the voluminous allmusic. Who is this David Poe, who releases albums and can't seem to get a review. Who does somebody have to shoot in the face to get some attention around here?

As someone who's vocal range would be lucky to encompass an entire octave, an octave whales use to communicate over thousands of miles of open ocean, I too appreciate a song I can sing. Mr. Poe's range doesn't really overlap with mine, but I do my best.

A lovely little song of love lost, but with the best of intentions. No ill will here, just hope for a better future, and seemingly an understanding that whatever it was that happened is all the singer's fault, and he's come to terms with that. The only thing that throws that off is the 'tired of being true' lyric. Perhaps this split was not so mutual. I hope it works out for both of them.

This song would be happy on a collection of other CMC hits, including both DanPR and The Poignant Santa, both for its acoustic nature and it's poignancy.

3. I Burn Today - Frank Black.
Another tale of lost love. It seems the Poignant Santa has been found been drinking with his old friend, Saint Valentine. The two are weeping into their beers, commiserating on all they've seen, finding solace in their shared empathy. At least that's how it starts. Does it turn into some sort of remembrance of things past?

I know of Frank as a solo artist, and am reasonably familiar with The Pixies, though not as big a fan as Faith is. I think we own everything they did, though I haven't made my way through all of it yet. Based mostly on this selection it seems like The Pixies' pop sensibility comes from Black Francis, while their punk sensibility comes from the sisters Deal, crazy bitches that they are.

I like the feel of this song, though lyrically it seems to wander around a bit on uncertain footing. The instrumentation is quite enjoyable, with enough variety to keep my interest over the long haul.

4. D-Artagnan's Theme - Citizen Cope.
This album takes a beating on allmusic. If it were all like this, I'm not sure it would deserve such a beating, but who knows. I like the feel of this song, though if Frank Black was on uncertain footing, this guy is on the final set of Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. I'm not at all sure what the hell this song is about. It seems to include references to all sorts of things, none necessarily tied together.

D'Artagnan was the principle character in The Three Musketeers, but not actually a musketeer himself. He was on his way to become a musketeer, when he ran into the eponymous musketeers. 'too bad his time in, it just never came'?

Babylon was in what is now Iraq, and there's certainly a battle going on there. Is that the inspiration for the otherwise inexplicable helicopter sounds at the end?

The whole thieving pirates thing totally goes beyond me.

And finally, those damn levees, if they break, you ain't got no place to stay. Another very topical reference, but what does it have to do with the overall song?

I would like this song more if I could make sense out of it. As it is, it's still got a vibe that I can dig, and he's got the voice of 60 year old black man, which seems to fit the mood well.


5. Glory Box - Portishead.
This song goes back a long ways for me, to my early days of dating Faith. She had this CD from its earliest days. I've never known anyone else who had this CD. It's got a vibe, that's for sure. A vibe that I have an intensely personal connection to.

And oh, those Valentine's references to kick it off.

This is a woman who has found what she wants, but wants to make sure that her chosen one understands why she has chosen what she has chosen, and what she expects to complete the bargain. If he follows through....

6. Alison - Elvis Costello (and the Attractions).
No respect for The Attractions.

More Valentines. You're killing me with this so called 'themeless' collection.

I've long been a fan of EC, having been exposed to him early in life via my brother, who, while not a college sophompre in 1977, was at least old enough to know good music. Oddly, I only have his more recent albums going back to Spike, with only greatest hits collections to fill in the gap before that.

He certainly is/was a masterful lyricist. He manages to bend words totally to his will, which like so many others with that gift, helps overcome what to many is an unpalatable singing voice. I've never had trouble with it, but I know many who detest his voice.

That said, Alison is not among my favorite songs of his, though I certainly enjoy it when I hear it. This song is might be filled with sarcasm, and he throws in a good double entendre as well, but in the end, is this a guy who threw away his chance with a girl, whose life is now less than it might have been had he been part of it? Or just a bitter guy who got screwed?

7. Boots of Spanish Leather - Bob Dylan.
Great. Wonderful. Acoustic, folk Bob Dylan at his most masterful. Such a lovely and sad tune. Makes me want to sit around a campfire and sing sad tales.

Damn that Poignant Santa!

8. Time Has Told Me - Nick Drake.
So many sad stories of talent lost too early. Nick Drake was far less known to us in the following generation, but he seems to have effected many that were to follow, including our friend Iron and Wine. And boy did he seem to have talent. 3 albums to his name. 5 stars each. Hard to match that.

Another lovely tune from our Sad Man of the Uplands. Another tale of love on this themeless collection. What a soft-hearted feller you are, Mr. Miles. No wonder the ladies like you. I would have been surprised if Nick Drake, and of course, he who follows, was not on this collection. For some reason, I see you driving around in a convertible Volkswagen.... ok not really.

Lots of reasons to like this song, from the well-crafted lyrics, to the pleasing guitar arrangements. Also glad to hear that Richard Thompson was getting work. Still is getting work too, unlike his friend.

9. The Luckiest - Ben Folds.
I would have been thrown completely off kilter if this collection had not included Ben Folds. I know only one who likes Ben Folds as much as you. Oddly enough, if we'd hooked you up with Marcy, your movie script could've come true, for she has a real attraction for the skinny piano man. Ah, well...

It's a tough job as the modern pop/rock piano man. You can't be kick-ass like a guitar player, and you're trapped behind a half ton of wood and metal wire, limiting your ability to emote to the crowd. Your playing an anchor, and your principle role models are the ridiculous (though talented) Elton John, and the increasingly irrelevant Billy Joel, both of whom were many things, none of them ironic, or witty, or sexy.

Ben Folds has the first two in spades. 2 out of 3 ain't bad. He's no Michael Buble. He is a really clever songwriter, and this song shows off some of this, though it's more poignant than much of his other stuff, and I'm not sure I can quite get my arms all the way around that. Not so poignant as Brick say, but definitely way way way more than Underground, for example.

I like it, but it wouldn't make me buy a Ben Folds album.

10. The Nurse - The White Stripes.
Along with Citizen Cope, this is one of 2 songs on this collection that doesn't seem to fit my presumed theme, at least not quite as obviously. Are they the exceptions that prove the rule? No probably not, since that really doesn't make any sense with such a small sample.

But this does seem to be a song about trust, and if you read between the lines, could be about a relationship beyond those explicit in the song.

The White Stripes are a crazy band. So much sound from 2 people. So much wackiness in this song particularly. I think I'd really have to hear this one in the context of the album before offering a final verdict. As a stand-alone song, it seems a bit of a novelty, but I'm willing to defer that judgement.

Wrap-up.
A very solid collection, filled with some gems. Still not sure about the supposed themelessness, but it's your collection, so I guess that's your decision.

Best Song - Boots of Spanish Leather
SIWHI - whatever songs are hot on my playlist right now, which I'm not going to share.

Nice job. Take 5 months off, but don't forget comments for C-Songs. I haven't.

I see that draft....

Get on it man. And by man I mean Miles.

Catching Up: C-Songs

And Just in time. Volume 6 arrived today.

'Cause Cheap is How I Feel - Cowboy Junkies

No one has a sound quite like Cowboy Junkies. Margo Timmins’ voice, the guitar, mandolin, accordion, harmonica and drums blend oh so well. This is a new song to me, and while it doesn’t offer any surprises, I like it a lot. Not every artist has to be groundbreaking, or pushing the envelope, some are welcome to do what they do, and I am glad to have music like this to fall back on when something soothing is needed. I own Miles From Our Home, and The Trinity Session, and would consider purchasing more. Indeed this song could have been at home on Minnesota Connections (were it not for the geographical problems), the Junkies remind me of The Ashtray Hearts, or is it the other way around.

FYI, The Trinity Session contains the wonderful cover of “Sweet Jane,” and many other great tracks, I highly recommend it, five stars all the way. It was recorded at The Holy Trinity Church in Toronto in a single night using a single stereo microphone, and the mix is amazing.

A bit of trivia, the Timmins family lifted their name from Townes Van Zandt’s “Cowboy Junkies Lament.”

Carnival - Natalie Merchant

Natalie, Natalie, Natalie. You are an enigma. I sympathize with Mighty Toms hot or not struggle, but for me it carries to her music as well. I do like this song, and Merchant’s voice, and like Dan I appreciate the production of the recording, but there is just something… For me, her appeal is not something that has faded over time, rather something that has remained a constant. I can enjoy the music to a point, while at the same time rolling my eyes. It may stem from something MT mentioned about her appeal to the REM crowd. These people from my college days, so excited about anything that was big in college radio, whether it was good or not, drove me nuts. Fawning over the Maniacs and Stipe; music that wasn’t bad, but by no means as amazing as they would have you believe. But I do like this song.

Cherry Cherry - Neil Diamond

It looks like Dan is turning out to be in the minority here (except, I’m sure, in noticing the "R-O-C-K in the USA" thing). I really dig this song. Diamond’s vocal phrasing is great, and I love the arraignment. While double entendra is about as deep as the lyrics get, it is hard for me slight the song on this basis. There are many, many songs that I love for which this is the case (including many Beatles songs). The song is just so well done, and Neil’s voice in my ears is like Jones Strawberry Lime Soda on my tongue. A guilty one, but a pleasure nonetheless. He is a great songwriter, and by all counts his latest album puts him ahead of Mr. Joel, who took a sharp downward turn about 20 years ago.

Cover Me - Bruce Springsteen

My mom had (has I’m sure) this on LP. A rock-solid rocking record. The E-Street band lays down a hard driving song here, but nothing outstanding. The guitar solo is a bit pedestrian, and the rest of the arrangement could have been a hundred other songs. If it came on the radio, I wouldn’t reach for the tuner, but I wouldn’t seek it out either.

Crash Into Me- Dave Matthews Band

Van Halen had For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Dave Matthews Band had Crash. Like Mixdorf points out there should be no mistaking what this song is about. As always the band is tight, tight, tight. Beauford may be one of the most amazing drummers ever to appear on a rock and roll record (as Mighty Tom and I had the chance to see, seated behind the stage at the acoustically challenged Target Center), and here he does some wonderfully subtle things on the drums. There is nothing else mind blowing, but the individual parts mesh to form a magical whole (Hole? Hike up your skirt a little more…).

On what Tom said about DMB making great music, boring music, and too much music, I would agree, but in a different way I think. I am a big fan of improvisation, and I think they are all very skilled. Where I think they have fallen is a lack of growth. They have stagnated with recent albums. I love the albums, and think they evolved musically, up to Before These Crowded Streets, and I like Everyday, but since there has been very little progression. There are a few good songs on Busted Stuff, but the closest thing to a stand out would be "Grace is Gone", or maybe "Grey Street."

Come Together - The Beatles

Well, Mighty Tom beat me to the punch with the comments on the lawsuit, and Dr. Leary connection. The BBC banned the song for the Coca-Cola line, witch the Beeb deemed to be advertising.

I love this song. The music is amazing, and each of the Fab Four are at the top of their creativity, just as it is about to come crashing down around them. I have never questioned that there is meaning in these words, even if Lennon claimed otherwise. I always knew there was something there, maybe not sure what all of it meant, but there was something there. I think there are some pretty clear digs at the other members of the group in there, along with some lines for which I cannot assign meaning, but I bet John did.

City - Natalie Imbruglia

Um… What Dan said. Sorry T-Clog

Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel

What I said about S&G before stands. This is a great song from an even better album. Such a percussive song. I love the hand drums, the handclaps, the xylophone, and the guitars that are more instruments of percussion than of harmony. I also love the vocal scoop on “whoup in my bedroom.”

Call Me - Blondie

Here comes the TARDIS to carry us back to the halls of grade school. Even the synth solo is almost a rip off of the Dr. Who theme. This song doesn’t do too much for me, and I am not a huge fan of Blondie overall. “The Tide is High” is my favorite of theirs, and I like “Heart of Glass” (always think of “Green Pink and Blue”) and I do like this song better than some others. Not a fan of “One Way or Another,” and there is no forgiving “Rapture.” Hmmm, after the Dr. Who comparison I’m having trouble coming up with much more…

City of Blinding Lights - U2

I wasn’t familiar with this one. I like the chorus, and as always The Edge does some outstanding things. As a whole I like the song, but it doesn’t blow me away. I don’t have a lot more to say about this song.

OK, I’ve got to get this off my chest, and I am going to get ripped apart here, I know. U2 is overrated (ducks). It isn’t that I don’t like U2, I do, and they have some AMAZING music. But a lot of it isn’t that amazing. The Joshua Tree is five stars, and I love Rattle and Hum, Achtung Baby, is OK, there are some great things there, but I don’t see the greatness that everyone else seems to see. I think All That You Can’t Leave Behind is hit and miss. “Wild Honey” and “In a Little While” are wonderful, but “Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of,” and “New York” grate on me. The Edge is one of my favorite guitarists, but, like the Onion stated, Bono is in dire need of a cock punch. He has been accused of writing fortune cookie lyrics, and I have to confess that I feel that this is occasionally true. OK, that feels better, fire away.

Wrapping it up.

Great job Clogger. I love the packaging. I hope everyone else loved the picture of me on the inside cover. There was only one song that I didn’t like, and while some of the songs didn’t do much fore me (even though I do like them), there were some amazing ones in there.

BS: “Come Together.”
BS I didn’t already know: ”'Cause Cheap is How I Feel.”
SIWHI: You must not know it, because I can’t believe you would have passed it up otherwise. “C is for Conifer” by They Might be Giants. It is off their children’s album Here Come the ABCs.

Volume 6 Via Miles

I must have missed the theme but all of the songs thus far sound good to me. This album might not have a least favorite song. I will listen to it many more times before I start to praise or comment on any of the songs. Miles did a fantastic job on his cover art. Damn, it makes mine look like I had one of my second grade students put it together. Good Job Miles!!!!!!!!!

I don't know much about music, but I know what I like and what sounds good to these small ears. Music to me is like a fine sunset ( as Mixdorf suggested), or a regenerating walk through an upland wood. I have to have it everyday. I never had the exposure to a musical education as a child or in school. I hope to learn more about music from this club.

Anyone get their copy yet?

A few Wrap-up Comments From Poignant Santa

Interesting the Halloween connections to Some Are. I would agree that it is scary - another of these bonus tracks from Low actually wound up on a Halloween compilation.

Caroline Says 2 was actually the first one 'in' on the Poignant Santa - in answer to Dan's question.

And for Cory...you are not the only one to have wondered about Reed's singing style.

I totally agree about the cheesy saxamaphone in Thorn In My Side - in the end - I liked the feeling of the song too much to leave it off.

I am really glad that Dan likes 'We Live Again' - I knew Aaron would.

Go Miles - buy like the wind - I'd be interested to hear what you think about those albums if you do buy them.

Aaron: that part in A Most Peculiar Man that left you cold....just think how cold it made the Peculiar man Feel. We have daughters and wife. Warm. The Peculiar Man was alone, in a room, and very cold.

Interesting, Miles threatens violence on what he feels is an incomplete song, but Aaron feels it is NOT an incomplete song. The End of The Spoon - is it complete or incomplete? Mystery One. Mystery Two would be the exact lyric to 'Some Are.'

Gwen is very very very very hot! Though I agree with Mixdorf - she has taken a nose-dive musically from No Doubt to her fashion-oriented high school fightin' solo career.

Thanks all for listening and for the comments!

Don't be so hard on yourself - should be A-Songs!

C-songs

Well actually you hear them…

Cory. Clog. C. The sound of the ‘Sea’. Coalescent Music Club. ‘Cause Cheap’. Cowboy. Double Cherry. Creamy! Compiled. CD. Cool. Cod. Courageous.

Congratulations

On your first Contribution to da Club.

The cover seems like a nice place to be. As the gentleman on the cover is hopeful to pick up one or both of the women approaching, so too, is Cory hopeful for a warm reception to C-songs.

The theme is ‘C’. See – these are songs that Cory loves, an excellent introduction to Cory’s world of music.

We are treated to a hike up Cory’s musical mountain and a final leap into his great love. Thank you.


1. ‘Cause Cheap is How I Feel

I really like the gentle pace of the Cowboy Junkies and love her singing voice. I really like the ‘truly down’ state of the bum. As if being a bum wasn’t reason enough to be down – no, if it’s this cold – truly down. I like her phrasing here.

Hey, it’s not bad being a bum in warm or tropical climates. Why bum it in Minneapolis – head to Mexico. Reverse immigration. We get hard workers and they get bums. What a way to take over a country, eh? Flood the Middle East with our bums and slackers. Jihad would change to Jee Wiz as we simply confound them into a new world order. I would likely be drafted into the slacker division, though. Now I do make a distinction between a bum and a mentally ill homeless person. We are too kind to the elderly, the poor, and the mentally ill. Stop it already. Stop being so kind. But enough of this Mighty Tom Polly Ticking.

Searching all Wendys for a last minute gift – small and plastic – ‘cause cheap is how I feel is a wonderful premise for a song, and so was I the recipient of such a gift – thank you Cory.

She, the name of the singer escapes me, has such a relaxing, heavy quality to her voice and it works so well with the rest of the Junkies. Thanks to the likes of Mixdorf and Iowa Mark Anderson I have been exposed to a sprinkling of Cowboy Junkie songs. I especially enjoy their cover of VU’s ‘Sweet Jane’.

I like ‘Cause Cheap is How I Feel’ for the most part – though it has a depressing quality to it that I cannot overcome.

Interesting Note: the harmonica of which Cory speaks only appears in the beginning of the song, it then switches to an accordion at 56 seconds. The harmonica is then heard, I think, very sparingly – just a note here and there along with the accordion (or some kind of pump action organ – and no, not the sort of pump action you are thinking).

Question: Are the Cowboy junkies from Canada?









2. Carnival

There was a time, ‘These Are Days,’ when I was in love with Natalie Merchant – a namesake of one of my nipples – left I think. As I swept the floors of the Oak/Elm dining center, her voice captivated me as well as the memory of her in a white dress, from the video. Kept me sweeping strong. She will save me from this one day. I know she will.

Is she attractive? Interesting question. It seems there have been times when she struck me as quite attractive, but there have been other times when she has struck me as quite Unattractive – so it’s a wash. But she is cute.

No matter, this Lady of the Maniacs entered her solo career with some interest. Why did the 10,000 maniacs appeal to the R.E.M. and U2 crowds of our college days? Amazing really. They haven’t endured as well. But I do like the Maniacs and her – if to a point. I like them a whole lot less now than I once did. We have ‘Our Time in Eden’, ‘Tigerlily’, and ‘Ophelia’ – of which ‘Our Time in Eden’ is my favorite of the bunch and I know hardly anything from ‘Ophelia’. I also have ‘In My Tribe’ on tape, as a copy. ‘In my Tribe’ was likely the one that got them into the college crowds. ‘Our Time in Eden’ made it quickly onto the iPod – due mostly to its position in the alphabet. With C-songs, I felt obliged to not only place ‘Tigerlily’ on the ole iPod, but also go on with other N-ladies- ‘Ophelia’, two albums by Norah Jones, and Natasha Bedingfield.

Trista played Tigerlily a Great Deal when we were living in Little Canada. So much as to cause me to convulse slightly whenever the distinct beginning of ‘San Andreas Fault’ launched the album.

I remember liking ‘Carnival’ much more years ago. I’d love to see Cory dance to this song as he suggests in his notes.
I have, I am afraid, what is called ‘Merchant Fatigue.’ I did take a listen through the album – it doesn’t cause me to convulse and I can appreciate some of the song writing and some of the lyrics and the songs are OK. I haven’t heard Ophelia in years and have no idea what I’ll think of that one when I revisit it.

Carnival is OK – I like it about the same as I like ‘Cause Cheap is How I feel’ and maybe a little less because for now ‘Cheap’ is newer to me. ‘Carnival’ is the one song – maybe ‘Wonder’ that you will hear on the radio – so as a solo artist she cannot be fully blamed for the tired feel of Carnival. The female harmony and ‘adventurous’ guitar – once so loved and intriguing makes me roll my eyes. The beat, the bass, and her singing are generally pretty good. I do like her voice – similar to the Junkie girl.

So far, Cory has developed a unique album feel in his first two songs, but that will be blown apart, but with amazing results.

Question: Is Natalie American Indian or part American Indian? I know Tigerlily could go along with Ophelia as historic, powerful female figures, but Tigerlily was her first and the music is published by ‘Indian Love Bride.’









3. Cherry Cherry

Whoa! And then God created Neil Diamond! And a special treat too – this song does not appear on the two Diamond CDs that I have (His 12 Greatest and The Tap Root Manuscript) and was warmly welcomed on the ole iPod. This guy came out of nowhere and landed everywhere! From New York to Hollywood to Kentucky. A truly classic songwriter. Vying with Billy Joel as to who is the American McCartney with regards to catchy melody making. I do not have an answer for that, but Diamond was right there in the sixties composing and recording classic hits for himself and others, most notably the excellent ‘Look Out,’ ‘I’m A Believer,’ and ‘A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You,’ made popular by sixties pop sensation, The Monkees.

His voice, his songwriting, his recordings, and his talent for song arrangement have cemented him as one of the greatest singer songwriters in Rock’n’Roll history.

Cory and I have many Diamond memories. Yes, the multiple orgasms with Holly Holy whilst traveling against a backdrop of North woods scenery. The concert we attended with Trista and our boyish anticipation of each upcoming number.

Such feel good music. Rousing. A church I could fully conceive in would be pastored by Mr. Neil Diamond.

Cherry Cherry has a classic arrangement. The big musical bump bumps. Diamond acoustic guitar chords flying past your ears. The background singing arrangements. Man – a really great song!

‘America’ was my first official favorite song as a pre-Beatles youngster hanging around with Andy and the baby-sat Benji and Zach. Diamond moments have spanned across time. From ‘America’ to being intoxicated by ‘Song Sung Blue’ from a record on Easton, to the realization with Iowa Mark Anderson that Neil wrote songs for the Monkees, to my Father-in-law who is a huge Diamond fan. From him I met the family dog ‘Shilo’ – a great name for a dog if you listen to the words, and was exposed to the intensity of Diamond’s Hot August Night Tour, and of sweet moments between he and Trista with ‘I am the Lion.’ Of Course ‘Holly Holy’ with Cory and ‘Soolaimon’ moments alone – even comic mocking moments at Augsburg Fortress with ‘You Don’t Send Me Flowers’ and ‘Send in the Clowns.’ Who could forget the use of ‘He aint heavy, he’s my Brother’ as used in Zoolander?

It is sufficed to say I LOVE this song and it is the ‘Treat of the Album.’












4. Cover Me

Thriller, Pipes of Peace, and Weird Al Yankovic in 3-D were the first three cassette tapes that I owned. Born in the USA was very, very early as well. ‘Glory Days,’ you know.

I like Born in the USA – it was a much heavier album of the tapes in my early collection. I like Bruce more and more the more I hear him. He has written many excellent, powerful songs – I even like ‘Human Touch,’ a song I initially disliked.

At first, hearing ‘Cover Me’ on this collection was a pretty wild experience. Previously I had only known the song from lonely listens to a Born in the USA cassette tape in my basement room on Easton. It was never released and was locked away in a rotting tape. Looking at the song list I wasn’t surprised to see Bruce listed as one of the artists, but only through this club could a theme of ‘C’ pull ‘Cover Me’ out of the rotting tape and into a brand new context. Part of the pleasure of this club. New Contexts. My first listens were of interest and surprise. Subsequent listens calmed ‘Cover Me’ down to an OK, lighter-toned, somewhat fluffy 80s Bruce Springsteen song.

So many great artists have at least one song dealing with a tangible action that a manifestation of love can perform – in this case the action is to ‘Cover Me.’ Another example might be ‘Wake Up My Love’ by George Harrison.








5. Crash Into Me

Moment 1:

A flat-face fellow at a Christmas gathering when referring to this song: “Oh, Dave Matthews sings that hot song about that woman.”

Moment 2:

Back when Cory and I were sleeping together my cock radio went off one morning. ‘Crash into Me’ was playing. As I stirred to get up Cory grabbed tighter.

“You don’t need to leave,” he whispered gently.

“Yes I do,” I muttered. “I have to get ready for work.”

Cory just placed a finger over my lips and said, “Sshh – just listen to the music.” He then went down and orally pleased me.

I went to work beaming that morning.

The guys all asked, “Why are you so fucking happy this morning, Cory give you a hummer or something?”

“In fact he did,” I said with a grin.

“We gotta meet this Cory feller,” insisted the lead trimmer.

“You will and soon,” I prophesied as we climbed into trucks to start the day.


Note: Cory did in fact work for that company shortly after I quit, thus, the prophecy.

‘Crash Into Me’ is a really good song, and somehow it is well loved even though it is a dirty, dirty song. The Spin Doctors would have been scorned by parents and governments, but Dave was embraced as a favorite uncle. I’ve always wondered this. Truly amazing considering how filthy, filthy this song is. People do not want to admit or talk about this aspect of the song. Am I the first?


Note: The second consecutive appearance of a Dave Matthews Band song in the CMC club.









6. Come Together

Hey I just noticed something. All the songs so far have begun with the letter ‘C.’!

A Beatles song finally makes its first appearance in the club. A great, great song. The big mesmerizing bass, classic drumming, and tough vocal. I love how the song nearly falls apart and then crashes back into the singing at around 2:30. I love the guitars and subtle harmony around that time. The excellent guitar swells at 3:00 lead up to the guitar solo, which like the rest of the song, as a part, is quite sparse, but works so well with all the other parts as to make this a perfect Rock’n’Roll song. The yeahs! are great at the end of the song as well.

‘Come Together’ is awarded the B.S. of this collection.

As a perfect kick-off to Abbey Road this song, too, could have easily fit into Volume One by Mixdorf.

I love the words and I like Cory’s assessment that this might be the theme song to the club.

It’s 1969. Its presentation of ideals is very Lennon-like. Nonsensical, but painfully simple and even obvious. I think Michael Stipe dug this song and was largely influenced by the lyric. See ‘Stand’ among others.

‘Come Together’ borrowed from Chuck Berry’s ‘You Can’t Catch Me’ (Here comes old flat-top) which Lennon recorded as part of a court settlement. Lennon’s version appeared on 1975’s Rock and Roll.

The genesis of the song included a request by Tim Leary for a campaign song and a writing session by John shortly after he was involved in an accident.

He says “Shoot Me” - “me” being on the bass note, but listen – it seems to be quite clear. That or the bass, hand clap, and drum all sort of sound like the word “me.” Shoot as in drugs, death, or just take my picture? A possible rallying song or just back to it being a perfect Rock’n’Roll song.

Infer away – I think it is a song about peace and love in Lennon’s Wonderland.

A great song with the four or five elements of the Beatles Clicking on all Cylinders. (a couple of Cs for you there Cory)

Happy to see the Beatles crashing our club party!








7. City

Our second Natalie on this collection should get back to what she does best… “laying naked on the floor.” Ha! I couldn’t resist.

I think that line may have been the basis of her career. A hottie to be sure, a catchy song, that line – boom you suddenly have an album, but you need more than just one song for an album. This is a problem posed by our Natalie and thousands of other artists.

I am not crazy about this song. I wasn’t crazy about ‘Torn,’ despite the line.

The musical representation of stepping out of chaotic city life into either a jazzy nightclub or the country at the end of the song is kind of neat. I wasn’t sure if it was meant to illustrate the different sides of the City or not.

Note: Our own Dan wrote a song called ‘The City.’

An OK song. If she were to listen to me, and she probably wouldn’t, I’d suggest she dig deeper into what she was trying to say in the song and ask me to produce it for her. I think the basic idea could be developed into a much more engaging song.




8. Cecilia

Wow! The third Simon & Garfunkel song to appear; and the first that is not from The Sounds of Silence. And why not. Simon and Garfunkel are simply AMAZING!

Before I was fully able to appreciate the likes of ‘The Only Living Boy In New York’ and ‘So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright’ I prayed privately to my God for having included ‘Cecilia’ on the album Bridge Over Troubled Water. It is such fun.

“She may be classified as a whore” or, just an extreme hottie that dogs simply cannot resist. I’d probably just walk in, cross my arms, lean against the doorframe, and smile with understanding, “Well look at that, god I love afternoons!” And if the anus looks clean – just slide on in and join the fun.

This was S&G in supremely confident song-writing mode that had a huge and growing audience who absolutely adored them. This would also be the last S&G album and as such, you will find some deeply moving songs, but also some fun-loving moments. Along with “Cecilia:’ ‘Keep the Customer Satisfied,’ Baby Driver,’ and ‘Why Don’t you Write Me.’

I love the music. The percussion, the sing alonginess, and of course, the magical harmonies of Paul and Art. How poignant – just a good ole face washing – and bam! Reminds us of a friend who was a frequent face-washer. I love the instrumentation and how absurdly joyous the song becomes at the end. “I fall on the floor and I laughing” – perhaps with Natalie Imbruglia…

















9. Call Me

My Dad asked me to put together a CD of 10 of his favorite songs that he could listen to as he traveled. On his list was ‘Call Me,’ by Blondie. Kind of wild. I really like ‘Call Me’ – maybe not as much as Cory or my Dad, but I do really like it. In fact, along with ‘Cherry Cherry,’ these are the two songs that have caused sprinkles while listening to C-songs.

‘Call Me’ is the theme from American Gigolo. Has anybody seen this movie? I have not.

Debbie Harry has a wonderful voice. I love the sound of it and along with a bag of excellent songs – Blondie is quite possibly the greatest 70s punky 80s music crossover band of all time. They started when they needed to and they stopped when they needed to – not counting the recent, so called, come back. They weren’t pure punk, but they weren’t what became typical 80s music, they were not all about that – at least as I would argue. The melodies and her amazing voice make up one of my favorite ‘Best of’ collections of all time. I am quite satisfied with not having listened to the actual Blondie albums from which those songs have been derived. Blondie holds a special place for Trista and I and was the one duplicate CD that we had amongst us after being married. The other was given away.

I love her voice on ‘Call Me’ (as I love her voice on all the Blondie songs – otherwise I wouldn’t like Blondie nearly as much) and the break at 1:38. In many Blondie songs there are vocal moments that drive me crazy. A small example of this can be found at around 3:23.

I LOVE the way this song puts Cory in the mood to watch Dr. Who. Good boy!









10. City of Blinding Lights

First, I’d like to discuss the album just a bit and U2 in general. I have not fully digested How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. I think I may like All That You Can’t Leave Behind better, as an album. I really like many of the songs on HTDAAB. The album, and this is an early statement, strikes me as a sister album to ATYCLB. Interesting to note that each album has six words in their title – the longest titles for U2 albums ever. For the first time in their career they have a ‘sister’ album. This is not a bad thing – just interesting. Even though their albums could almost be divided into groups of threes, (a Mixdorf theory) and it is possible that this is the second of another trio – only time will tell, I wonder if this isn’t the end of U2 as a changing, evolving band. Again, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing and it’s bound to happen. For the first time – this album struck me as very U2ish – not a bad thing if you love U2 as I do – just an observation. They have gone past the Beatles. The Beatles stopped at a point when they were still evolving – had they gone on I am sure they would have written many fine songs, but they may have been just good Beatleish songs from good Beatleish albums. No more Rubber Soul – Revolver – Sgt. Pepper moments. Could the Unforgettable Fire – Joshua Tree – Achtung Baby Days be over – U2 now doing their U2 thing – fine and even great at times, but no longer growing. Could ATYCLB have capped the growth or changing of U2 as we have known them? It seems that when I listen to HTDAAB I am listening to an extension of ATYCLB. There is Beautiful Day, there is Elevation, there is Stuck In A Moment, and there is When I Look At the World – possibly again. Anyway, this could be part of a larger discussion, in the meantime I would love to hear from the rest of you on your thoughts about this album, especially Mixdorf – our U2 expert. I plan on really giving this album a few good listens to see if there is any holding power to some of the statements made above.

And who knows…their next offering could blow these theories apart and inspire the same sort of excitement that we had in Achtung Baby. We will just have to wait and hear.

But to the City of Blinding Lights we go.

My favorite song on HTDAAB might be ‘One Step Closer,’ but I definitely love ‘City of Blinding Lights’ as well. It stuck out immediately as one of my favorites from this album. An excellent song – it embodies what I mean when I describe it as being U2ish. Great bass. Great singing. Great drums. Great guitars. I like the harmonies as well. Love the intensity in the “Oh you look so beautiful tonight” lines. I love the bridge… “Time…” reminds me so much of Achtung Baby.

My favorite line: “But time won’t take the boy out of the man.”

I also like, “ The more you know the less you feel”
And, “Blessings are not just for the ones who kneel…luckily”

Is Bono talking about taking off in a plane in parts of this song?

Note: The Edge AND Bono both played piano on this song. Kind of like Wendy and Lisa, I bet.

I think it is awesome that this is your favorite song to date and I can appreciate how this sort of tied your whole idea for this collection together. It is a powerful song with great intensity.



SIWHI

‘Come Talk to Me’ from Peter Gabriel’s ‘Us.’

It's February, take down the tree for Christ's sake

1. Some Are - David Bowie

This first track alone makes me glad that I did not rush these comments. I know that I have heard this song before (when Gibbons all but forced Low on me after it was used as a prop in one of his photos), but I did not remember it.

The first few listens had me wondering about this one, but it grew on me. Whatever the lyrics, this song is haunting and beautiful. Wonderful melody, and harmonic structure. The piano, mixed with the synthesizers and ambient sounds come together (right now, over me) for one powerful track. Low just made it onto my “to-get” list (yourmusic.com has it, but "Some Are" is not listed).

2. That's the Way - Led Zeppelin

I like this one, but I’m not blown away by it. This is often the case with Zep for me. I like most of their stuff, and some of it is truly amazing, but a lot of it doesn’t go much beyond “Hey that was a good song.”

"Immigrant Song" though…

3. Most Peculiar Man - Simon and Garfunkel

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. In the history of the world, no two voices have harmonized more perfectly than Art and Paul.

I don’t own Sounds of Silence, but this song has some strikingly similar elements to "Sounds of Silence". Parts of this song are wonderful, but there are parts that leave me cold. Specifically:

He lived all alone within a house,
Within a room, within himself,
A most peculiar man.

and the other similar parts of the song. I can see what they were going for, but it just doesn’t work for me. It is one of these things I feel I should be able to get past but cant.

4. Caroline Says II - The Velvet Underground

This is the fist track that I was familiar with, but I had not listened to it often, or closely. I am really digging this song. I love the spare instrumentation, and the way the music builds and changes throughout the song. Reed’s vocal style is no problem for me. In fact, I have wondered if that is where Gibbons learned to sing.

5. Photograph - Ringo Starr

I love this song. It is a musical departure from the tone so far, but lyrically it does fit. I am not crazy about some of the orchestration here though. I’m also not a huge fan of the saxamaphone solo, a little too Billy-Joel-sounding. I have a live version in my iTunes library from VH1 Storytellers that I think is much better.

Ringo has been overly maligned in my opinion. He is a good drummer, and performer. My college percussion instructor/jazz band director (and Gibbons’ jr. high band director) said of Ringo “he’s not a great drummer, but he was the best drummer in the world for the Beatles.”

6. Thorn in My Side – Eurythmics

I love Annie Lennox's voice, and I like the song, even if it is a bit dated. As Mixdorf and Dan both mentioned, the sax (as with the previous track) in particular. This is one that I like, but it doesn’t blow me away.

7. Thinking About You - Radiohead

This is not the Radiohead that I am familiar with. Not a bad song, but I really cannot get into it. I’ve been meaning to pick up more of their albums, but this one song doesn’t inspire me to rush out and get Pablo Honey. I am really more a fan of their later stuff

8. the end of the "Spoon" - Dave Matthews Band

To be fair, I don’t believe that this is a partial song. If I remember, it is simply on the same track as "Spoon" (I have yet to replace Before These Crowded Streets, which was irreparably damaged in the critical bungee failure of 2002).

I love the echoing vocals, and instrumentation. The ethereal screams (or creams?) at the end, which I am guessing come from Tinsley’s violin, are wonderful, and what’s not to love about Bela Feck on Banjo? I too might have placed this one at the end.

9. We Live Again - Beck

Dan, so long I have been trying to get you to see that Beck is a genius. Beck and Bjork may be the only two contemporary artists who’s work I would purchase unheard.

The lilting harmonic structure and melody, and lush sound form a stark dichotomy with the subject matter.

Pat’s comments remind me of an episode of Futurama. Bender becomes a folk singer, and ends up on tour with beck. Here are two quotations:

Beck: You know, when I'm upset, I write a song about it. Like when I wrote Devil's Haircut, I was feeling really... what's that song about?
Bender: Yeah! I could write a song - with real words, not phony ones like "Odelay."
Beck: Odelay is a word, just look it up in the Becktionary.

and

Bender: Hand me the Becktionary. (Bender is handed Becktionary) No! I want the rhyming Becktionary.

Yes Dan, a fucking perfect song. It is a consensus of two, though I was already familiar with this song.


10. Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You - Led Zeppelin

Hmmm. There are some great elements to this song, but as a whole, meh. I do love the “I ain’t jokin’ woman, I got to ramble” lyric. Anyone else catch the "25 or 6 to 4" progression at 2:23?

Overall a great collection. Least favorite (though I don’t dislike any of them) I think would be A Most Peculiar Man. BS? We Live Again. BS that is new to me? Some Are.