Tears For Fears – “Sowing the Seeds of Love”
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Last week, the more experienced Don Henley shook down Eric Elbogen for all the quarters in his pockets, taking 68% of the vote. Next week, we’ll celebrate the NCAA tournament with a pair of songs about madness.
This will be the last Mope Like Me column.
In truth, I didn’t think I would be saying this, at least not this soon after launching it. I’m a sucker for sad songs, and God knows there are plenty of them. What I didn’t anticipate, though, is how exhausting it would be to go to that dark place, even if it was only every other week. I guess I’m just too happy now to revisit the more unpleasant times in my life.
And so, rather than draw out the misery for months on end, I’m making a final mix tape of every song I ever thought about writing up for this column. White Label Wednesday will continue to run every other week, and in the place of Mope Like Me will be another song column, but one that is decidedly more upbeat. Ta.
Air – Run
Elliott Smith – Everything Means Nothing to Me
Semisonic – She’s Got My Number
World Party – And I Fell Back Alone
Rialto – Love Like Semtex
E – The Day I Wrote You Off
The Jayhawks – A Break in the Clouds
Joe Jackson – The Other Me
Kerli – Fragile
Squeeze – There Is A Voice
Gus – Tell Me What You Can’t Say
R.E.M. – Endgame
Elbow – Powder Blue
XTC – I Can’t Own Her
October Project – Take Me as I Am
Everything but the Girl – Shadow on a Harvest Moon
Howdy to all the ‘Merican people!
George W. Bush here. Well, I’m almost outta here, and I’m not one for mushy speechifying, so I’ve had Laur’ whip up one of these iMixes to show y’all how I feel about some of those who have worked with me for the past eight years. One of the twins used some kind of computer program called Photostore or somethin’ to put together a logo for this mix. And those boys over at Popdose — you know Ted Asrreee … Azara … As The World Turns (Ha ha) and Dee Dubya Dunphy — had something to do with this. So, here’s the logo:
And here’s my mix.
W…out!
“Master and Servant,” Depeche Mode (download)
Hey there Rummy! Hope yer enjoyin’ all that “free time” now that, you know, yer not workin’ for The Man! Ha ha. Yeah I know, I’m “The Man,” and “The Decider,” and “The Cheerleader,” but boy, for an old fart you sure were into that whole torture thing — I mean, really into it.  I guess I should’ve called you The Punisher.  I’m not sure if yer some kind of perv, but, you know, after more than a few Boilermakers, we’ve all done stuff we ain’t proud of.  Remember that story I told you over and over about waking up in the gutter after pretty spectacular bender with that dog doin’ the one-leg salute on my face? Geez, what a crummy way to say I had a golden shower. Anyway, K.I.T., have a great summer, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. (more…)
Last week’s column opened by noting that, when you hear the name “Don Dixon,” you’re probably more likely to think of him in terms of his production career than for his accomplishments as a singer and songwriter. Although I followed this observation by noting that this tendency gets really annoying for those who’ve lived and loved to Dixon’s albums over the years, I also clarified that it should in no way be taken as a dismissal of his production work; the guy has had his hands on some of the best albums of the ’80s and ’90s, some of which you may have forgotten about. But, hey, that’s what I’m here for…
Popdose: I wanted to ask you about a couple of your production jobs…well, quite a few of them, actually, because I’m a big fan of a lot of the artists you’ve worked with. In fact, looking over your resume, it looks like you had a hand in about 7/8 of the American music I was listening to in the late ‘80s!
DD: I was busy!
PD: You were!
DD: And I made records quick. And cheap. That was the other thing. I made quick, cheap records.
PD: I’m a huge fan of the Connells’ Darker Days.
DD: I love the Connells. In fact, Arrogance just played with the Connells at an outdoor thing for a…well, it was kind of a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame thing. And the Connells still sound great.
PD: They used to play the Boathouse every other week, it seemed like, and I think I was there for most of the shows.
DD: I think I was only at the Boathouse once. We were there when Marti was opening for Chris Isaak, and I did some of the shows on that tour. I was doing some projects, so I wasn’t on every date, but she did a couple of months with him, and I think I was…no, I know I was at the Boathouse show, because I can remember exactly where the buses were parked. The Boathouse was kind of an odd show, because it was mostly theaters on that tour, and at the Boathouse, it was hard to fit all three buses in the lot.
PD: I can believe it. I’m sure they were all lined up next to the water.
DD: Uh-huh. So, anyway, the Connells. Let’s talk.
When you hear the name “Don Dixon,” you’re probably more likely to think of him in terms of his production career than for his accomplishments as a singer and songwriter … and for those who have thrilled to each and every album in his oeuvre, it’s starting to get really annoying. Not that there isn’t a ton of work amongst his past efforts as a professional knob-twiddler to make him legitimately legendary in his field, but there’s just so much more to the man than that. Next week, Jon Cummings and myself will be providing ample proof of that, when we perform our first collaboration and offer up The Popdose Guide to Don Dixon, but for now, I thought I’d ease you into his work by discussing the best … okay, only … single-disc anthology of Dixon’s work: the obscurely-named (If) I’m a Ham, Well You’re a Sausage: The Don Dixon Collection.
(Actually, the title makes sense … more or less … within the first 30 seconds of the album, but until then, you’re allowed to go, “What in the hell does that mean?”)
If you know Dixon’s solo work at all, then you’re probably familiar his lone semi-hit: “Praying Mantis.” (There’s a video for it somewhere, because I definitely remember seeing it on “120 Minutes” at some point or other, but apparently it’s become so obscure that it’s not even on YouTube.) The track was definitely a highlight of his Enigma-Records-era releases, but as this collection quickly demonstrates, catchy pop tunes were plentiful within the grooves of everything he released during that time period. It’s no wonder that bands like R.E.M., the Smithereens, Guadalcanal Diary, and The Connells were drawn to his production methods; Dixon himself could jingle and jangle with the best of them, having been playing along with the guys in Arrogance throughout the ’70s and early ’80s before going it solo. Indeed, a couple of the tracks which ended up on his solo records were actually Arrogance tracks … including “Praying Mantis”!
Here we go again — John C. Hughes and the world’s foremost Belinda Carlisle impersonator, a.k.a. his buddy Matty (or “Bearlinda,” if you prefer), knock back some booze and review some singles, homo style. This week your rainbeaux duo take a listen to songs by the B-52’s, R.E.M., Cheap Trick, Ace Frehley, and Nick Gilder while discussing high school rock bands, White Castle sliders, and Kate & Allie. Enjoy, and as always, MP3s of the songs are below so you can follow along at home.
The B-52’s — “Give Me Back My Man” (download)
R.E.M. — “Supernatural Superserious” (download)
Ace Frehley — “New York Groove” (download)
Cheap Trick — “Elo Kiddies” (download)
Nick Gilder — “Hot Child in the City” (download)
Welcome to a series I began at He’s A Whore and am proud-as-punch to continue here at Popdose. While not able to mention everything that happened, I’ve touched upon some of the key events that made 1996 what it was, warts ‘n’ all.
Kiss announce plans to reunite with original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss as part of a “farewell” world tour.
In March, Phil Collins announces his decision to leave Genesis.
That same month, the Sex Pistols announce plans for a reunion tour marking the 20th anniversary of the band’s formation. (more…)
“Who cares what I think? I’m not the president. I’m just a storyteller, man.”
So says Bob Dylan — or, at least, Cate Blanchett as Jude Quinn as Bob Dylan — in Todd Haynes’ wonderful, baffling film I’m Not There. But whether Quinn/Dylan’s dismissal is sincere, or just part of his circa ‘65 scramble to negate every aspect of his public image, the question he poses is one with which artists and entertainers have been struggling for decades. Their celebrity brings access to cameras and microphones, but does it also bring the ability — or the responsibility — to influence political debates and even turn elections? Can actors and pop stars really change the world by speaking their minds? Should they bother trying? And, honestly, who cares what they think? (more…)
With Popdose having just rolled off the showroom floor all shiny and new, still full of that “new car smell,” I am chuffed to the ‘nads to be a part of such a venture. Never before has such an intimidating conglomeration of blog talent been gathered to unleash their musical musings upon the world. Truth be told, you, faithful Popdose readers, are some lucky sumbitches.
Seriously, think of Popdose as a real-life Justice League — except, instead of skin-tight spandex, snazzy masks, and flowing capes, the superheroes of the Popdose variety are adorned in ripped sweats, t-shirts with all manner of long-defunct band, record company, or dot.com logos, and mandatory bathrobes with loads of rear ventilation. Don’t let appearances fool you, though. We’re bad-ass. For example, I’ve been known to tag a misbehaving neighbor kid from thirty paces with a well-aimed slipper without spilling a drop of morning java.
Being that the odometer has rolled clean past 999999 on yet another year and we prepare to write “2008” on all checks from this point onward, I’m betting that some of you are filled with a sense of hope that this year will somehow be better than ol’ ’07.
How the fuck could it not be?
To put it simply, 2007 was to music what Pamela Anderson-Lee-Rock-Salomon is to the institution of marriage.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a new year without the barrage of year-end Best Of lists being proffered by every nitwit who has ever fancied themselves a rock critic. So many critics, yet every list seem comprised of the same ten albums. Arcade Fire, Spoon, Feist, Amy Winehouse, Of Montreal, yada yada yada.
How can that be? Were only ten albums released in ’07?
That adult life is no different from high school is never more obvious than when you see critics the world over name-check the same small reservoir of bands and albums, unafraid to admit that they never really got around to listening to the new Sigur Ros CD, but feel compelled to place it high upon their lists nonetheless.
Round up these same scribes and relocate them to the nearest deserted isle with only their year-end Top 10 selections and a solar-powered iPod to keep them company, you can bet your sweet music-loving ass that each one of them would be throwing themselves from the highest cliff or chiseling away at their own ears with a monkey skull and crayfish claw within the hour.
See, that’s what happens when you listen to an Arcade Fire CD minus the roomful of irony-drenched hipsters and kitschy ambience of a slumming socialite’s Lower East End loft.
Airdrop a few copies of my “Antidote For Those Forced To Listen To Their Own Year-End Top 10 List Selections” (see below), and watch just how quickly the last remaining survivors remove their necks from the noose and embrace the care packages with tears pouring from their bloodshot eyes.
If only they hadn’t lopped off their ears and tossed the bloody lumps into the sea that first day.
My irony-free wish for 2008 is that great music is made, embraced, and praised to the ends of the earth by those in a position to bring about change from the sickening sameness that has tainted the well these past umpteen years.
Various Artists/Antidote For Those Forced To Listen To Their Own Year-End Top 10 List Selections (Hey, You Kids! Records)
Beatles – Revolution (acoustic)
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Mary Jane’s Last Dance
Cheap Trick – On Top Of The World
Slow Runner – Usual Chords
Heavens – Dead End Girl
Romantics – What I Like About You
Tourists – Week Days
Guster – One Man Wrecking Machine
Replacements – Talent Show
R.E.M. – At My Most Beautiful
Welcome to it, Popsters! Each week I hope to delight you and yours with some musical goodness mixed the old fashioned way: with thought given to the song order in a mix. You see, kids, I’m an old school jock (slang for DJ) who has done quite a bit of time behind the mic in radio. Moreover, I’ve also done some hard time behind the turntables in that cauldron of hell known as the wedding reception. Just outside the cauldron is the middle school dance, which is right next to the corporate holiday party. But despite my cynicism toward social gatherings that involve endless requests for “Hey Ya,” I did learn quite a few things about mixing music. What to do, and what not to do. Forgive my wizened ways, but something has really gotten lost in the age of shuffle mode. Songs that don’t mix well often get played in a sequence that, in radio terms, is often called a train wreck. Oh, and don’t think that I’m some kind of booster for radio (even though that’s where I derive my income). Alas, the radio industry is one where the creative mind of a DJ has been pretty much lobotomized by The Suits and their consultant cronies. (more…)
