“We’re coming to the chorus now”

Pavement – “Gold Soundz” from Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
Jordy’s crazy. CR, CR is clearly Pavement’s best album, and it is also my favorite (necessarily the same? Discuss). And Brighten The Corners sounds particularly good these days.
When I was backpacking, I had a dream in which Stephen Malkmus stopped me during an art heist and [...]

“In this land of conditions/I’m not above suspicions”

Neil Young – “Revolution Blues” from On the Beach (1974) and Bob Dylan and the Band – “Yazoo Street Scandal” from The Basement Tapes (1967)
The Band had one of the strongest rhythm sections in rock and roll (see also the Rolling Stones). Rick Danko had a terrific talent for creating rollicking bass lines [...]

“I like to dream about what could have been”

Sun Kil Moon – “Glenn Tipton” [pictured above] from Ghosts of the Great Highway (2003)
Generally more upbeat and countrified than Mark Kozelek’s other project, the Red House Painters, SKM has a dear place in my heart and this is my favorite track from their debut record.  A new album, April, is due on (!) [...]

“I took her to the city/where the air ain’t clean”

The Flatlanders – “Rose From The Mountain” from More A Legend Than A Band (1980) [recorded 1972]
Here’s a mountain song for ya’ll. I’ll be climbing a few this weekend.
Look for me under your bootstraps (or, rather, here).
More Flatlanders on SWR
Buy the Flatlanders
Posted by Glenn

“We don’t want you to be yourself, you see/we want you to free yourself”

The Brian Jonestown Massacre – “Straight Up and Down [long version]” from Take it from the Man! (1996)
The BJM isn’t a very good band. Their music is 98% derivative. Fortunately for them, frontman Anton Newcombe has been childish enough to have had a mediocre indie documentary made about him, plus the band [...]

Because you’ve abstracted the song beyond all possible recognition

Miles Davis – “Guinnevere” from Circle In The Round (1979) and The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions (1998) [originally recorded 1970]
Here’s Miles’s take on CSN’s “Guinnevere.” Miles is here with most of the Bitches Crew, plus sitar. The results are trance-inducing, abstract, and loooooooong.
Buy the Bitch
Posted by Glenn

“Why can’t she see me?”

Crosby, Stills, & Nash – “Guinnevere” from Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969)
Note: this is of no relation to my earlier Arthurian post.
This is a beautiful David Crosby composition. Notice the fading in of harmonies throughout and the precise, delicate guitar work. It’s a very rewarding song.
Buy it here
Posted by Jordy

“I can’t be your apologist very long”

Built To Spill – “Carry the Zero” from Keep It Like A Secret (1997)
Y’know, that Built To Spill show in Charlotte last night would have been really great. But thanks to all you assholes in the audience, it sucked. The worst concert experience I’ve ever had (and I’ve seen MC Hammer). I blame each and [...]

“Out in the desert we’ll have no worries”

The Mountain Goats – “Mole” from We Shall All Be Healed (2004)
John Darnielle’s Mountain Goats walk a line (a ridge?) on which one side lay the depths of annoying pretension – and, at least at the 2006 Pitchfork Festival, cross that line in performance, sinking into a hideous hell of hipster-pleasing high-school-theater-kid-level showmanship, without apology. [...]

“I will be gone, but not forever”

Songs: Ohia – “Farewell Transmission” from The Magnolia Electric Co. (2003)
This is a great jam from Jason Molina (now heading the band Magnolia Electric Co.), one of our nation’s under-appreciated, slow-burners.
I saw MEC last fall and they were excellent.
Buy Songs: Ohia
Posted by Jordy

“Just a little haiku”

Buffalo Tom – “Tangerine” from Sleepy-Eyed (1995)
This song kicks ass. One of the better bands to mine the intersection between jangly pop and grungy guitars (that is, to imitate the Replacements), Buffalo Tom put out a string of solid albums in the early- and mid-’90s, including this gem, probably their best collection of songs, and [...]