Song of the Day
Each day in 2022, I chose a song. Sometimes it chose me.
Atmosphere
Joy Division
Is this the most New Order sounding Joy Division song? That’s still Ian’s unmistakable voice though. Originally a B-side released after Ian Curtis took his own life…this gorgeous, haunting track feels profound this morning. Somehow the light in this song eclipses the dark shadow cast by suicide.
Don’t walk away in silence.
Everything Counts
Depeche Mode
Continuing down the rabbit hole of great 80’s synth pop tracks that still sound amazing and transcend the decade. I think of this terrific single whenever capitalism gets me down. What a career this band has had — all after losing mastermind Vince Clarke. But there was another genius lurking in co-founder Martin Gore who has been their primary songwriter ever since. This prophetic track in ‘83 may always stay relevant, as the gap between the haves and have-nots continues growing at an alarming pace. Economic disparity and greed is at the heart of just about every human problem. The root of all evil indeed.
Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)
Book of Love
Another synth pop band who followed their own path, writing songs that transcended 80’s trends. They have a European feel, but were from Philadelphia. This track is a revelation, named after the tragic French painter who died at 35 and only had posthumous fame and success with his unusual portraits. (You can see his style on display in the band portraits on stage in this amazing live performance) The band even had his short bio written on the sleeve of their single. I love the electronic strings at the beginning and those big crashing electronic snares coming in. And the last bit of spoken Italian which translates…
Amadeo, Amadeo, I fell in love with you when I saw your eyes.
Chosen Time
New Order
My God, this video just fires me up with emotion. What a band. After Ian Curtis took his own life, the rest of JOY DIVISION grieved in the studio and made the first NEW ORDER record MOVEMENT. What I love about this track, is that it feels like one foot’s still firmly planted in the past, but the other is already in the future. You can literally feel JOY DIVISION disappearing and NEW ORDER being born — it’s quite remarkable. What a perfect storm of great artists in this band — trading vocals now that Ian isn’t here to sing. 😟 But they’re already figuring out what the next chapter will be.
Only You
Yaz
More 80’s pop perfection performed on an analog synthesizer. This isn’t just timeless because the great Alison Moyet is singing — most of the credit goes to Vince Clarke — who not only wrote it, but his sensibilities made the music timeless and transcendent.
Souvenir
Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark
In celebration of 80’s keyboard pop that trancended the decade? I see myself going down a little rabbit of hole of some the greatest keyboard songs of the decade. Songs that still sound great today. They have aged, but like fine wine. They have avoided sounding outdated. This OMD track SOUVENIR is a from their early masterpiece ARCHITECTURE & MORALITY. It’s from ‘81 and these keyboards sound great with full vocals and an analog mix. Poetic, pop perfection years before their song SECRET made OMD famous.
We Can Get Together
The Hold Steady
Very hard to pick a favorite HOLD STEADY record because they’re all exciting to me — especially the swagger of those early story songs from ALMOST KILLED ME, SEPARATION SUNDAY and BOYS AND GIRLS IN AMERICA. But today, even as Craig Finn’s great new solo record A LEGACY OF RENTALS drops, I found myself drawn to play HEAVEN IS WHENEVER. And this track just kills me — heaven for the college kid I once was. So love the final chorus that takes us out. And the number of great “heaven” songs Craig Finn name drops? 😁 Songs by PAVEMENT, MEATLOAF, PSYCHEDELIC FURS and even the great Sarah Records band HEAVENLY gets a verse.
True
Concrete Blonde
I knew nothing about this band because it was their first tour and they were opening for the Alarm — both on I.R.S. Johnette Napolitano looked like she was in high school at the time. Probably 25, but I was blown away by her. As much as I loved the Alarm, I don’t remember their set that night, but I still remember Johnette’s confidence, her voice and her bass playing.
Zelda
The Antlers
My first Antlers experience was HOSPICE — a masterpiece about death and grief. I’ve followed this band ever since and often reach for their UNDERSEA EP with ZELDA being the closing track. I love the instrumentation on this one and the mood it sets. It makes me think of Twin Peaks season three. “We live inside a dream.”
Zelda, you asked me to wake you
If I woke up before you
And you were still stuck inside
I'm here to tell you
We're not awake yet
We Rot
White Ring
I’ve been thinking about Witch House music and how much I’d love to include some in my next film ABOVE THE TREES. This song is so haunting, dark and beautiful — so much emotion in it. Kendra passed away in 2020 at just 37. The band lives on now with Brian and Adina. After GATE OF GRIEF they released the excellent SHOW ME HEAVEN in 2021. RIP Kendra Malia.
Unsmart Lady
Dry Cleaning
After Mike Skinner’s EMPTY CANS yesterday, I was thinking of certain British accents I really dig in music — like Billy Bragg, The Beatles, Robert Smith — off the top of my head, it’s a pretty long list. But then I thought of Florence Shaw who brought her beautiful speaking voice to DRY CLEANING. I have to laugh, because it reminds me a bit of Peter Cook singing BEDAZZLED as Drimble Wedge & The Vegetations 😂. The thing about Dry Cleaning though, is they are just a great sounding band — the guitar and bass riffs in this one are incredible. And their debut record NEW LONG LEG was a 2021 favorite of mine.
Empty Cans
The Streets
This morning Mike Skinner’s voice popped in my head with an “Oy” and it made me laugh. What a voice. And this brilliant 8 minute album closer is from my favorite STREETS record. He had an original voice from the beginning — and I don’t just mean the sound of it, but his ability to weave his DNA into the fabric of his music. No one else could’ve written A GRAND DON’T COME FOR FREE, only Mike, and it’s such a satisfying collection of songs that tell one character driven story. Easily in my top 5 story albums of all time. Skinner cinematically describes what happens in his rhymes — but the first person storytelling is self deprecating, funny and often profound. I’m still not quite sure how a thousand quid could get stuck in a TV, but I can easily suspend disbelief. Because this ending song EMPTY CANS is so damn moving to me.
My Drug Buddy
The Lemonheads
Evan Dando has written some genius songs — some hilarious, some self-deprecating — but most have this startling honesty to them. At first glance this song might seem to celebrate drug culture and it kind of does. But like a great short story, there is more going on here than meets the eye. These two have a relationship that is literally defined by drugs, but they love and need each other. Sung so sweetly and sincerely, with great backing vocals from Juliana Hatfield. These two are in a pattern of escaping together each day and there is something nostalgic about that. Somehow it all feels sustainable, but we know it’s not. And we fear where they might be headed and it’s enough to startle us.
Sacrifice (For Love)
Wednesday feat. MJ Lenderman
Sometimes this song finds my brain like a radio signal landing on the right frequency. I love covers that create new context like this during these massive times of instability. Some days it feels like the ground will give way. It’s a funny thing loving life and worrying about it.
I love the layers of fuzzed out guitars in this one. And these lyrics. And the way Jake Lenderman and Karly Hartzman sing them together. It gives me something to hold on to this afternoon.
Hangover Game
MJ Lenderman
Another great DEAR LIFE RECORDS release, BOAT SONGS came out on 4-29-22 and I’ve had it playing loud. At the top of my head, it lives somewhere between WILCO and BUILT TO SPILL. I don’t love making comparisons like this, but find them helpful if they’re somewhat accurate and I think it is. All that to say this witty, loose, ragged (indie) Country ROCK record is meeting all my music needs right now. And HANGOVER GAME just makes me grin — everything about it. Drinking songs are hard to resist, but one that solely exists to expose Michael Jordan’s “flu” game is a reason to celebrate. And I’m a Jordan fan. I imagine Utah Jazz would appreciate it even more. 😆
Where Do the Children Play?
Cat Stevens
Released in 1970, TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN is a top 20 record for me. Somehow Cat could write real, artful protest songs that celebrated life and humanity and the struggle. They rarely feel didactic, but push all the right buttons and ask all the right questions.
Transcendental Blues
Steve Earle
So hard to pick one song from Steve — there are so many — but this one jumps out as an unusually beautiful recording and mix — the title track from his 9th record. I love the many influences you can hear, yet it all works together. And I love his metaphysical pursuit of happiness and fulfillment. Even while it remains out of reach.
In the darkest hour of the longest night
If it was in my power I'd step into the light
Candles on the altar, penny in your shoe
Walk upon the water - transcendental blues
Fourth Zone of Gaits
Young Jesus
Those grinding electric guitars that bookend this song are so beautiful — over three minutes of zen. And the minute in between is this vocal drop from John Rossiter — a kind of relentless Buddhist poem that washes over you.
Sister Jack
Spoon
As infectious as a song can get, this one has made so many of my playlists over the years. I’m not exactly sure what it’s about, but it’s definitely for the outsiders and for the misfits.
Always on the outside
Always looking in,
I was in a drop-D metal band we called Requiem
Down By The Sea
Men at Work
I could’ve chosen many tracks from this band — who only blessed us with 3 albums. This is the last track on their debut BUSINESS AS USUAL and for some reason it’s the one I put on my playlists most often. I love how it takes it’s time with a slow groove. It wasn’t built for radio. I don’t know if this is a love song for a person — but I’ve always seen this as a love song to the ocean. Just being seaside for a day all by yourself.