superlertive Songs

Episode 9 is a random assortment of songs on my steady rotation, designed to satisfy your insatiable aural appetite. And I would like to direct your ears to the last band featured, dubbed the Hot Toddies. If you know me well, it’s quite obvious that I’m a complete sucker for girl groups, and the Hot Toddies are no exception. I am really excited about this Oakland quartet, as their fairly typical brand of candy-pop is simply infectious.

1. Mint Royale – Show Me
2. Ztrip – Breakfast Club
3. El Perro Del Mar – God Knows (You Gotta Give to Get)
4. DJ Shadow – Organ Donor
5. The Sounds – Painted By Numbers
6. Hot Toddies – Jaguar Love

It's that time of year when we are endlessly inundated with best-of lists. Of course there is never a shortage of people proclaiming the best albums in any given year. And I'm no exception. In this episode I divulge one song from each of my 6 favorite albums released in 2006. Songs are in a countdown format.

6. Band of Horses – Everything All the Time (The Funeral)
5. Lily Allen – Alright, Still (Knock 'em Out)
4. Black Angels – Passover (Sniper at the Gates of Heaven)
3. Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers (Steady as She Goes)
2. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas (Lazy Eye)
1. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere (Just a Thought)

A successful driving song includes the basic building blocks of any pop song. It must have the hook to draw the listener and an incredible buildup that ultimately leads to an overly addictive sing-along chorus. Or it could simply be a song that instantly activates a cathartic reaction. Episode 7 of this podcast includes some of my favorite driving tunes.

1. Metallica – Fight Fire with Fire
2. Aerosmith – Sweet Emotion
3. The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony
4. The Doors – LA Woman
5. Tom Petty – Free Fallin’

When artists introduce non-conventional instruments to their music, it can often make or break a song. In this case I want to explore the use of whistling and how it affects the outcome of the final song.

I want to apologize in advance for the Lo-Fi production of the vocal tracks. It was more an experiment in having a simulcast with someone else.

1. Billy Joel - The Stranger
2. Paul Simon - Me and Julio Down by the School Yard
3. Guns n Roses - Patience
4. Bob SinclairLove Generation
5. Scorpians - Wind of Change
6. Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian

Rarely is a record label synonymous with a unique style and/or sound of music. Such labels are at the forefront of new genres and movements. This episode is dedicated to two such legendary labels: Motown and Stax/Volt. Both labels became the essential building blocks of modern-day soul.

Covers are arguably as important to the musical landscape as the original recordings. In fact, Rock n Roll music was founded on this premise. Black artists would release so-called “race music” and did not gain mainstream acceptance until white artists covered their songs. Yet another practice was for a wide range of artists to cover the same song if it was a hit at the top of the charts.

Today’s scene is entirely different. Covers are often looked down upon as a poor attempt to hold onto past styles. But once in a while, an artist emerges with a great rendition of a song that is better than the original. So much so that you may think it is the band’s original composition. Regardless, cover songs are important because listeners can stay in tune with the band’s truest influences.

In this episode I present 5 cover versions I feel are superior to the originals. If you feel I left out a song or disagree with my choices, leave some comments. Try me!

1. Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan)
2. Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies – Come Sail Away (Styx)
3. Mötley Crüe– Smokin’ in the Boys Room (Brownsville Station)
4. Tesla – Signs (Five Man Electrical Band)
5. Fugees – Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flak)

On this episode of (now titled) superlertive Songs, I find myself wondering why bands insist on soiling a great legacy they had painstakingly built. More specifically though, I explore the phenomenon of bands pushing on long after their lead singers croaked. The latest in this now-popular trend is Blind Melon, who have found a new vox man and are at work on a new record. Way to go guys. Unfortunately, this has grown more prevalent since the advent of lame-ass reality shows seeking replacement singers. You were remembered for something great, now you've gone and fucked it up.

Track List:
1. Blind Melon - Change (1992)
2. Alice in Chains - Heaven Beside You (1995)
3. The Doors - Break on Through (1967)
4. INXS - Need You Tonight (1987)

On this episode, we witness a generation once defined by an urgent anti-establishment stance finally taking the money and running.

I've always kept an ongoing list of (classic rock) bands that have sold out to commercialism. This list has been scaled down quite considerably. Recently this syndrome has gone from bad to terrible.

Track List:

1. Iggy Pop - Lust for Life (Royal Caribbean)
2. Devo - Whip It (Swiffer)
3. Donovan - Catch the Wind (Volvo)
4. The Who - Happy Jack (Hummer)
5. Spencer Davis Group - Gimme Some Lovin (Ameriprise Financial)

In this installment I delve into the once glorious place of CBGB in the musical landscape. Sunday night is the club's last show (for better or worse).