Gaper's Blog

Do Not Adjust Your Browser/Revisionist History

Yes I know, it's been almost two weeks since I last posted here, arguably the longest period of inactivity I've displayed.  I have my reasons.  First and foremost, 10 month-olds get around.  Gone are the sedentary days where Abby would stay put.  She's a crawling maniac now and is starting to pull herself up on any and all vertical surfaces, she's also quite good at unfiling CDs, as seen at left.  That leaves me with less time to write (and be a good parent).  I've also joined the 'Y' and dropped 11 pounds thus far in 2010.

In addition, I can't say too much about it until it's in full effect but I have a begun a lengthy freelance writing assignment which also takes up what little free time I once had. So, apologies for my scarcity.  I wanted to come back with a non-music post but have been involved in a small project that might be fun to write about. As some of you know, I make a 'Best Of' CD every year for friends and family, pre 2001 it was a cassette.  What I've been doing is compiling iTunes playlists that are comprised of the selections from my annual CDs/cassettes.  I then compare what were ostensibly my 'favorite' songs of that year against iTunes to see if the songs from that year have held up for me and continue to represent my faves from a given year, based on iTunes play count data. 

So, here's a reproduction of the first ever 'Best Of' CD (not on cassette tape) from 2001.  I had just gotten a component CD burner as a gift from Carla.  And this was before I had a computer that could burn CDs, so each and every CD I made for people was burned in real time. As I look at the selections, there are a few that haven't aged as well--'Where's Your Head At? burned out for me--but the bulk of that stuff still enjoys play on my iPod.  What's most curious for me isn't what on the CD, it's what iTunes reveals as my favorites nine years after the fact.  For instance, Jimmy Eat World's Bleed American record came out in the fall on 2001 (a few weeks after 9/11, prompting them to change the title) and it was and still is among my favorites from that year, yet somehow the title track "Bleed American" didn't make the 'cut' of my Best Of, neither did the outstanding Dolly Varden song, "I Come To You", which is in my iTunes Top 5 songs (as far as play count is concerned) of 2001.  Also curious, The Shins making a retroactive splash in my 2001 songs, though I wouldn't fully embrace their music until 2002 or 2003.  The one song from 2001 (that made the cut) that instantly takes me back to that era (where I was living, what I was doing) is "Do the Math", Girls Against Boys side project whose song hasn't diminished one iota, despite many dozens of listens.  I was DJing at two bars in 2001 as well and it was always a favorite with the patrons.

There seems to be a lot less disparity between what I publicly chose as my favorite music of 2002 and what iTunes data bears out.  There are a few stragglers from other years since I count only their domestic release year which is why Neil Finn appears in 2002 for an album which came out in 2001 in his native New Zealand but didn't see domestic release until 2002.  Conversely, we get an appearance from the future as Johnny Marr + The Healers Boomslang album wouldn't come out until 2003 but the single "Down on the Corner" was released to radio in 2002.  2002 was also the year I became aware of Spoon but Merge Records didn't do a very good job of indicating which year an album came out, so a song from 2001's Girls Can Tell made it instead of one from Kill The Moonlight.  Truth be told, both records were mainstays in our household, so it mattered little which one ended up on my Best Of. The undisputed heavyweight champion of 2002 was "Tiny Spark".  You're welcome if you've never heard it, and you're nodding if you have.

What were your favorites of 2001-02?  Is what you liked then from those years the same as what you like now?  Share with us.  If this actually makes sense and people respond to it, I'll post about subsequent years, if not, I"ll try to come back next week with a non-music post.

Best Live Shows of 2009 (Part 2)

It's funny, Abby's not even walking yet but crawls at approximately the same speed as a bullet train, so my time spent blogging and Facebooking has decreased dramatically.  She can go from zero to trouble in about 3 seconds.  She also has a predilection for cords, cables and shoelaces: basically any extruded, flexible item that you can find on your average floor.  Here's my last installment of milking last year's "Best of".

U2 - Soldier Field - September - So our seats were a little high, at one point a helicopter covering the concert for television was actually closer to the band than we were. And $45 parking was sticker shock for even this jaded concertgoing veteran but even those factors couldn't dim what was a remarkable concert. As a lifelong (or at least 28 years of it) fan, I doubt I could ever hate a U2 show.  This one was pretty great. Sure, song selection skewed toward the last 20 years but I'll take four songs from 1984's The Unforgettable Fire any show.  I only feel slightly cheated that they debuted "Your Blue Room" the following night and also played "Until the End of the World".  Oh well, there's always this July, right?

Devo - The Vic - November - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We are Devo - I'm not sure they adequately tested everything during soundcheck because the first half-hour of this show was a video screen showing blips that looked like someone was trying to play a PAL-formatted disc on a NTSC player.  Once they scrapped the video intro, this show was flawless.  We all have our favorite Devo albums and this one's mine.  "Gut Feeling" sounded like it could've been written last week and was a personal highlight with "Mongoloid" a close second.  

Lily Allen - The Riviera - April (Easter Sunday) - I wasn't sure what to expect from Lily live.  When I arrived at the Riv and saw the extensive stage setup, I knew she had to deliver.  You can't pull off your name in giant 8' letters onstage without a ton of swagger but she did.  At one point a dickhead (her word) kept harassing her from the barrier at the front of the stage and she shamed the dude right out of the room, no bouncers necessary.  She played nearly everything from her latest It's Not Me, It's You (see my best albums of 2009) and had everyone flipping off George W. Bush in unison during "F*^K You", ahh the days when President Obama was still untouchable.  Oh, did I mention her fondness for sheer tops and hatred of bras?

XRT Holiday Concert: Flaming Lips/Phoenix/Pete Yorn/Nicholas Tremulis - Allstate Arena - December - This was as much a social event for us as it was a concert experience as it was only the second show me and Carla have seen together since Abby was born. I had the distinct pleasure of getting to spin records before the show over the Allstate Arena's massive PA, which was awesome.  We caught portions of NTO, Pete Yorn and all of Phoenix inbetween catching up with friends and noshing on catered food and free beer and wine.  We made a point of settling into our seats for the entirety of Flaming Lips.  There's no such thing as a bad Lips show.  They are the weirdest band since Talking Heads to enjoy radio airplay and sell out major league arenas.

The Hold Steady - Taste of Randolph - June - In any other year of the last 5 or 6, THS would've topped this list.  They are still the best live band consistently working today.  It's not hyperbole to say they are the Replacements of this decade, with a much better live track record. Where the Replacements were hit-or-miss live: transcendental when they were on, horse shit when they were wasted, The Hold Steady are pretty much always 'on': stadium-sized riffs and more lyrics and stories than a rap song.  Where they take it to the next level however, is how much they absolutely love what they're doing.  They smile and laugh during shows, they're not afraid to admit they're having fun, in fact they wouldn't have it any other way.  The Pixies may have killed in their recent reunion shows but no one could accuse them of having much fun (and hey, I'm a fan) The Hold Steady always have fun and always rock.  It's just sad to think that Chicago seemed tired one night.

The Jesus Lizard - Pitchfork/Metro - July/November - There are two types of people in this world: those who have seen the Jesus Lizard live and those who haven't.  There aren't many in the former category who wouldn't make a significant sacrifice to experience it again and again; fortunately, if you had the dough you could've seen them four times in Chicago last year.  I got to see them outdoors at Pitchfork Festival (violating my long-standing "No Outdoor Festival" Rule) and was thrilled to hear their stage announcement that they were returning to town in November.  While the sheer novelty of seeing them live again after a decade's absence made the Pitchfork the early favorite, the fact that an ambulance had to be dispatched to their November Metro show to repair singer David Yow gave it an edge (bruised ribs).  Any year in which there are four Jesus Lizard shows in Chicago is a good year indeed.

Best Live Shows of 2009 (Part 1)

Among the many things that changed when Abby was born was the number of live shows I attended.  However, looking back on the year (I keep a log of what I do see) I must say I saw more than I would've expected to and having a wee one acted as a quality control for those shows I did see.  Here is Part 1 of the best shows I saw in 2009.

Naked Raygun - House of Blues - January - Any year in which there's a Raygun show is a good one, give the decade or so in which that wasn't an option.  You never get a lot of banter but there is always that opportunity for "Free Shit", which you either know all about or you don't and that's what separates those who have seen a Raygun show from those who haven't.

Tinted Windows - Double Door - April - For a band featuring members that (in other bands) have sold close to 60 million albums in their respective careers, I was surprised at the lack of hype behind Tinted Windows and amazed that they chose to make their Chicago bow at Double Door.  Then again, the Stones famously played the DD, so why not Tinted Windows?  You could pretty easily pick out whose fans were who: pudgy 30-60 males (like me) were primarily Cheap Trick/Fountains of Wayne fans, aging goth/hipsters were the Pumpkins contingent and all women aged 20-40 were there for Taylor Hanson, of Hanson.  It was that last faction who made all the noise when they killed the house lights and PA and Tinted Windows took the stage; it was like The Beatles on Ed Sullivan.  With only one album to draw from, the show wasn't much longer than the running time of their debut, with a Buzzcocks cover thrown in for good measure.  A great show indeed. (Photo credit: Sean Hughes)

Buddy Guy - Legends - January - One of the few highlights of any January living in Chicago is Buddy's annual  residency at his namesake club.  Sure, you'll get the trademark Buddy crowd pleasers: going with his wireless into both bathrooms, walking out to Wabash to stunned passers-by but you also never know what he'll play, neither does he.  And as he has been for the past few years, he was in spellbinding mode the night I saw him.  His current residency (2010) going on now is the last (for real this time) at the current location, don't miss it.

Datarock - Double Door - September - The matching red tracksuits, the manic energy and the surprisingly consistent songwriting keep me coming back.  I remember there being another hotly-attended show that night and that a lot of my live music-loving friends were at that show, not Double Door but of course cannot remember who it was.  I had no regrets, Datarock shows are funny and fun and that's a pretty rare quality at rock shows these days.

Poster Children - Bottom Lounge - October - It had been probably six years since I had last seen Poster Children but like me, they are now a family affair and don't get up to Chicago as much as they used to. Kids have that effect of making you want to put away every spare dollar and spend every idle night at home with them instead of going out to rock.  In my case, Carla and Abby went up to Wisconsin for the Halloween weekend, so I was free to rock that night, just as Rick & Rose were free of their progeny. I'm not sure that I could've hand-picked a better setlist nor could I have imagined that the band still rocked just as hard as in their 90s glory era.  

Dinosaur Jr./Lou Barlow - The Vic - October - You could never accuse J. Mascis of having stage presence. However, to see the original lineup at a venue much better suited for loud music than their last Chicago appearance in support of a great new record was a revelation.  Lou also opened up and showcased his wonderful new solo album and the headliner followed up with a blistering attack that spanned their entire career.  It was kind of nice to see them all getting along again and rocking together and sounding better than ever.  Too bad J. never bothered to take his custom-designed purple Fender Jazzmaster off its stand all night.

Part Two, soon enough.  Maybe this week, likely next.  Chime in with your faves of 2009.

Best Albums of 2009 (Part 3)

I wish I could go on at length about all the great music of 2009 but time is finite, here's 700+ words on the cream of the crop.

Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You - One of my musical pet peeves is when an artist takes an existing song and just uses it as a music bed to sing or rap over.  It's lazy and it's cheating, I don't care that some of the biggest names in music do it, it's not right.  When I heard "Alfie" from Lily's first album, my BS detector kicked on as it's Lily simply singing over the (splendid) opening piano riff from Professor Longhair's "Big Chief", a longtime favorite of mine. I forgave Lily because the rest of the album was pretty original and a whole lot of fun.  Album 2 is even better. Opening single "The Fear" baits her detractors with a false air of ignorance that turns on itself, like your friend who pushes your buttons and then laughs when you get all riled up.  She forgives her absentee dad on "He Wasn't There" and dispatches George W. Bush in "Fuck You".  But did she pull it off live?  Tune in next week to see if she makes my Top Shows of 2009 list.

The Flaming Lips - Embryonic -  After a mid-career renaissance with the one-two punch of The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots in '99 and '02, they faltered a bit with At War With The Mystics. It wasn't a bad album by any stretch but having set the bar so high, they could only go down.  So where many bands would try way too hard to replicate past successes, The Lips just went back to their weird selves and made another classic, albeit the strangest classic of their career.  And like Talking Heads before them, The Flaming Lips are one of the oddest bands to get critical and commercial success.  Viva la Lips!

Julian Casblancas - Phrazes for the Young - While I consider myself a pretty big Strokes fan, none  of the members solo records had knocked me out, until this one. When I heard the first single "11th Dimension", I had to check and make sure I was listening to the right record.  Not that that it was bad--quite the contrary--but except for the voice, it sounded nothing like The Strokes.  It was awash in organ, synths and a drum machine.  The real discovery for me was the stone-cold pop gem "Left & Right In The Dark" which has the most indelible chorus of the year, my god this is a great song. Its says something that it's the third most listened-to track on my iTunes in 2009, considering it came out in November.  One of my highlights of the year was spinning records at Allstate Arena and hearing the song over the massive house PA.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion - I'll admit I was dubious when in the first week of January 2009, people were saying this would be tough to beat for album of the year.  Damn if it didn't hold up with the strength of songs like "Summer Clothes" and My Girls".  

Wilco - Wilco (The Album) - I'd probably get kicked out of the state if I didn't have this on my list, right? I'm glad they picked up the pace from Sky Blue Sky and there's some real growers on this.  Not a great first impression record, though.  I tend to take them for granted but it's easy to do in their hometown as they seem ubiquitous to me but I doubt that's the case in any other city but mine.

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix- Wow, who knew that a synth and drum-heavy French band would have such a strong showing this year?  I'd say not me, but when they played SNL before this record came out, I had an idea they were going to be big.  True this wasn't their debut (their fourth studio album actually) but they weren't on many radar screens before this year, at least not mine.  The "Love Like A Sunset" two-part suite sounds like the bastard child of Neu! and Tangerine Dream.  And hey, let's face it, '1901" was the jam of 2009, wasn't it?  Not even the relentless Cadillac commercial featuring '1901' could dull that song for me.

Other artists who put out great stuff worth mentioning: Datarock, Bad Lieutenant, Miike Snow, Temper Trap, Great Northern, Fruit Bats, Skygreen Leopards, Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3, Starling Crush, Lou Barlow, Brendan Benson, Grizzly Bear & White Rabbits.

What did I miss (check all three posts)? What were your faves?

The Best Albums of 2009 (Part 2)

Happy New Year everybody! Alright, the second part of what may be three or four parts, time permitting. The title says "Best" but it's really just my favorite records of the year.

Happy Man,  Sad Man - Mike Doughty - About a month after this record came out, Mike Doughty posted a Facebook status report that read something like: "I'm ready for my bi-annual drubbing by Pitchfork."  I'm glad he has a sense of humor about it.  I looked back on the last review Pitchfork gave him (5.0 out of 10.0) from a reviewer who admitted to once 'idolizing' Doughty and then took him to task for recording for Dave Matthews' ATO Records label, conveniently failing to mention that Pitchfork-approved bands like My Morning Jacket, White Rabbits, The Firemen and others also record for ATO.  Such a Pitchfork affectation, making a point about which label an artist records for but failing to stay consistent about it.  Anyway, Mike never got his drubbing last year, Pitchfork didn't review it.  Though I do miss the drums on this (and his last record) it's still full of what you listen to Mike Doughty records for: clever wordplay, catchy melodies and fun (parenthetical) titles.

Sonic Youth - The Eternal/Pearl Jam - Backspacer - You're probably thinking that these two records sound nothing alike--true--but it's worth mentioning that both veteran bands had recorded for major labels for nearly twenty years each then each made their return to indies with two of the best records of their repsective careers, both of which were certainly hooky enough to have been made for their old labels.  Top-notch material from each.

Sloan - Parallel Play - Their 2008 release Never Hear the End of It was the longest of their career, a sprawling epic, a Beatlesque masterwork that was meant to be listened to in one sitting, a la Sgt. Pepper or Skylarking.  This one isn't as unified, is the shortest of their career but still worthy of your ears and attention.  Unfortunately, like Labatt's, Tim Horton's Donuts and ice hockey, Sloan seem doomed to always remain more popular in Canada than the United States, which is a shame because, twenty years in, they're even better now.

U2 - No Line on the Horizon - Full disclosure: I'm a big U2 fan but no apologist.  They've never made a bad record but have made a few so-so records yet with each album they manage to add a few classics to their canon, "Get On Your Boots" is NOT one of those, however, "Magnificent" and "Fez/Being Born" are contenders and "Unknown Caller" is knocking at the door.  And while the album version of "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" was a dud, the remix they debuted onstage during the 360 Tour was an instant dance classic, absolutely worth the download.

Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs - Since the band's name is a baseball reference, it's only appropriate that I would liken Yo La Tengo to Tony Gwynn, the model of consistency from the early 80's into the Aughts and like Tony, they peaked in the mid 90s with the gems Painful and Electr-o-Pura.  Unlike Tony, who had to retire after twenty years, Yo La Tengo continue to hit .300 without flash, they're not superstars and don't want to be.  They never faltered but YLT's last two records have been a step up in quality.  They keep it up and they'll be the Minnie Minoso of rock.

I see at least one more segment of Best Albums (including my Top 5) maybe this week yet and then maybe one of reissues and other media, then Top 10 Shows, for sure.  The who the hell knows, maybe even a decade review.  Enjoy.

The Best Albums of 2009 (Part 1)

This year was a game-changer for me.  Every cliche about parenthood is true: it is the greatest thing ever and you lose a lot of sleep; those are the only two right? Bingo and bulls-eye.  I actually kinda figured I'd have given up on music and any real normal adult pursuits by now but surprisingly, I actually listened to a metric ass-ton of music and saw more shows that any new dad could expect to.  What follows is a smattering of albums I liked in 2009, not a definitive list by any stretch, but stuff I enjoyed.

Tinted Windows - S/T - To crib from my own (radio) audio review of the supergroup's debut (and likely only) album: I honestly had no idea who the lead singer of this band was at first, I just knew he was handsome and had a great voice.  I later learned it was that kid from Hanson, that's awesome! I was already a Cheap Trick, Fountains of Wayne and Smashing Pumpkins fan, why not like Hanson too?  Kid's got vocal shops and stage presence (see Best Shows of 2009, here, TBA).  Sign me up, I'm a Tinted Windows fan.

Bell X-1 - Blue Lights on the Runway - I'm sorry but any band named for Chuck Yeager's sound-barrier-breaking airplane should be reaaaaaly loud or fast--or both--Bell X-1 is neither. However, they write really great songs, so all is forgiven. Their runaway hit of the summer was "The Great Defector" which sounds like a long-lost Talking Heads song but isn't but even better is the slow-burn, "How Your Heart is Wired".

The Damnwells - One Last Century - Hey Radiohead, you sold you last album in a 'revolutionary'  name-your-own-price concept? That's pretty easy when you've already sold millions and have legions of fans who will still pay the going rate to hear you. Sure, some will download it for free or pay a quarter but you still made back what you paid for it and then some, right?  How about a band who never sold more than 25K of ANY of their albums just gave their third album away? A free download (256K bitrate) of One Last Century easily put it well above any of their purchasable records in terms of 'units moved' but also exposed them to legions of new fans.  One of the most criminally underrated bands of the last decade. They also have a fetish involving the word 'bastard'. SEE the documentary Golden Days, heartbreaking.

Cheap Trick - The Latest - Every time a heritage artist releases a new record, some critic will step up and compare it to their last great triumph and others will decry it as a failure to match the expectations of the past.  The Latest (clever title even) surpasses even the 'comeback' CT album of 1997.  And if you haven't seen them live in the last decade, you're missing out, still. 

Miles Nielsen - S/T - The apple doesn't fall far from the tree but far enough that it seems like a different fruit. Sure there are hints of Miles' dad's band here but you could listen to this record a dozen times, loving every listen, before realizing that--oh yeah--there's a flanged/distorted power chord here or a doubled vocal dripping with urgency that seem familiar.  When the Hammond B-3 and pedal steel come in though, you realize you're in a different orchard altogether.

More (non Cheap Trick related) albums to follow.  Prolly next week.  Followed by shows.

Happy New Year!!

The Not-So-Fab 5

Twas a busy week, lingering illness for me and (unrelated) new illness for Abby and Carla, thus no Crucial Music post this week.  Not enough hours in the day.  I did get involved in a Facebook thread that I thought might be interesting for this blog and doesn't require the labor-intensive prep work a Crucial Music post does.

The saying, "Familiarity breeds contempt" is a curious one.  While it certainly has merit, I think familiarity can also breed indifference, for example: The Beatles.  Whether you love or hate the Beatles, it's pretty tough to go through life without a solid knowledge of their history and body of work.  Even haters could probably name all four members and a dozen songs without thinking about it.  And to those of us who enjoy their work, because so much of their catalog is imprinted on our subconscious, we probably give a pass to some of their lesser work.  Like a prayer, pledge or oath we recite frequently, we often go through the motions without much thought to what we're saying. We may be singing along or tapping our toes to "Yellow Submarine"  before it hits us, "I HATE this song!"

With that in mind, a simple request: name your 5 Worst Beatles Songs.  Whether you love or hate those Liverpudlians, they wrote their share of clunkers, post your Bottom 5.  I'll get it started.

5)  'Blue Jay Way' - I enjoy most of George Harrison's Beatles output but this dud isn't one of them.

4) 'Within You Without You'/'Love You To' - Not to pile on Mr. Harrison but these two sitar/tabla pieces are instant skips for me.

3) 'Revolution 9' - You could point to the Stockhausen, Varese and Cage influence on this track and it would still be a boring, over-long experimental 'piece'.  George Martin fought to keep this one off the White Album but was overruled.

2) 'Good Night' - As a kid, I was drawn to the Ringo-sung material because a lot of it was goofy fun but this song is utterly forgettable.

1) 'Run For Your Life' - For a guy who was such a feminist, it's surprising this misogynistic song came from John Lennon.  John himself even admitted in an interview that it was his least favorite Beatles song and the one he most regretted writing. Easily skippable as the last (and only dud) song on Rubber Soul.

Your turn.  State your degree of Beatles love/hate and fire off your Bottom 5.  Have a great weekend!

Crucial Music (Volume XI: Miracle Legion)

I still remember the first time I heard Miracle Legion.  A friend of mine made me a compilation tape as a Christmas gift in the mid 80's (an idea I'd later adopt and still follow) and he put the song "The Backyard" on it, I became an instant fan.  At the time Miracle Legion were unfairly maligned as R.E.M. ripoffs, which was neither true nor a particularly original critique.  Anyone with a bit of jangle and east coast roots were lumped into that company: The Connells, Let's Active, dB's and Guadalcanal Diary were just a few of the bands accused of sounding like the most famous Athenians since B-52's. We'll see how the whole R.E.M. thing comes full-circle later on. 

While I became a Miracle Legion fan in high school, it wasn't until I was off at college that I got to see them live and "Closer to the Wall (Live)"* from the Glad record demonstrates their prowess on stage.  Iowa City is the perfect tour stop between Chicago and Minneapolis and the smart bands did just that, building a nice fan base in the process.  Miracle Legion made many stops in Iowa City while I was there and the most memorable (for me) was when they came to town in support of their Drenched record in the Spring of 1992, featuring the stellar "Sea Hag". The first leg had them traveling with a huge stage set and a series of risers and backdrops but then that fall they came back with a spartan set.  I contacted their label (Morgan Creek) about interviewing band leader Mark Mulcahy on my college radio station: KRUI.  While they were pressed for time, Mark agreed to a 'phoner' from Chicago after they had played Lounge Ax (R.I.P).  If you promise not to laugh, here's that interview, warts and all: "Mark Mulcahy Interview". 

Miracle Legion's output was sporadic after that but Mark continued to record as a solo artist.  To be totally honest, he'd fallen off my radar screen of late but I recently heard of a tribute album in the works for Mark, featuring songs from his solo career as well as Miracle Legion.  Unfortunately, the reason for the tribute was rooted in tragedy; Mark's wife Melissa (also the mother of their twin girls) died unexpectedly last year and this album will benefit Mark and his daughters. Usually, in my Friday posts I provide samples of music to whet your appetite but not this time.  I've provided examples of Miracle Legion above but in the interests of generating interest in the tribute/benefit album, I will only provide a link to the album's site and list a few of the artists who have contributed to the project.  Everybody from (the aforementioned) Michael Stipe to Frank Black, Dinosaur Jr. (who cover 'The Backyard') Thom Yorke, Juliana Hatfield and Mercury Rev, to name but a few.

Have a great week, enjoy the music and if you can, try and help out Mark Mulcahy and his daughters by buying this album. Hopefully, like the Sweet Relief series, it will not only help Mark and his family but also will introduce a whole new audience to the magic of Mark Mulcahy's songwriting.

* This song was ripped off of an old vinyl copy, hence it skipping at the end, sorry.

Happy Conversation Fear Day!

This was a post that originally ran four years ago today; behold my dorkiness.  Jeff R. already acknowledged the holiday at 11PM CDT.

9-9/Conversation Fear Day

Way back in the 80's, in the pre-Internet era, when trying to figure just what the fuck Muchael Stipe was saying was a hobby unto itself, we* created our own R.E.M.-based holiday. For those who are familiar with the R.E.M. song '9-9' (off Murmur) there's a bunch of nearly unitelligable lyrics and then, the last two words as clear as a bell: conversation fear.

We somehow saw that to be a sign, that those two words signified something important that we needed to heed. So, because of this (probably) meaningless lyric, coupled with what we thought was a reference to September 9th (9-9) we created 'Conversation Fear Day'. The only way we celebrated this holiday was to acknowledge it, as early into it as possible, by saying: "Happy Converaton Fear Day". I've always had a scheduling advantage in that I'm always up at Midnight, no matter the day, so I've been the undisputed leader of acknowledging it earliest, this post helping to maintain that streak. I've even pre-posted it on 9-8 to post up at Midnight on 9-9.

And for those of you scratching your heads thinking "What?", yes, we'll all acknowledge that we are, were and will always be dorks, but hey, today marks the 26th Anniversary of 'Conversation Fear Day', we need to celebrate.

* We, being Me, Jeff, Jeff, Jason & Andy

If Only (Albums Made Perfect by the Removal of One Song)

It's a conversation I've had dozens of times back in the day at Danny's, Rainbo or The Beacon, (usually with a few drinks in me) then my friend Peter had a similar thread going on Facebook: What albums would be perfect if you removed just ONE song?  And what song would that be?  I have always cited two albums apropos of this topic and shall get the ball rolling with them

The Police - Synchronicity - This album was the soundtrack to my summer of 1983: caddying at Glen Oak Country Club, playing golf at Ken Loch and pitching and playing 3rd base for the Mets (the Glen Ellyn Boys Baseball version).  This album was ubiquitous, all over the radio and MTV, you couldn't esacpe it and why would you want to?  It was an absolute classic. How else to explain an album whose original release had ten tracks, four were Top Ten hits and five are still staples on rock radio twenty six years later? It's an album I can still listen to today and delight in its' near flawlessness.  Except for the giant bag of suck that is Andy Summers' sole contribution: "Mother".  I'm an Andy Summers fan, he had some other solid songwriting moments earlier in The Police's existence ("Be My Girl/Sally" was funny) but "Mother" was (still is) unlistenable. Remove "Mother" and Synchronicity is a perfect album.  Agree?  Disagree?

XTC - Skylarking - While I'd never willingly publish a list of my favorite albums of all time, this would certainly be in the Top Ten. I first bought Skylarking on cassette at a record store in Newport Beach, CA while on a high school marching band trip.  While I was initially drawn to the single "Earn Enough For Us"--which was getting big airplay on WXRT at the time--I was enthralled by the seamless segues between songs and the lush instrumentation.  And then, right there after "Earn Enough For Us", was the album's sole clunker "Big Day" as welcome as a fart in an elevator. I still recall my reaction to hearing it the first time.  I had my Walkman on listening to Skylarking while watching the beautiful Southern California scenery go by, it was the perfect visual to the lavish production.  Then "Big Day" hit and nearly ruined the whole mood.  Even though it was my first time listening to the album I fast forwarded past the song to get to "Another Satellite" which was a savior and set set up the last third of the record nicely.  Skylarking is the record I use every year to celebrate the first warm day of spring (still waiting for 2009, maybe this Friday?) I pour a stiff gin and tonic, put the speakers in the windows and listen to the album start to finish.  Of course, I always use the program function on my CD player and make sure "Big Day" gets skipped.  It throws off the segue a bit but makes the album otherwise perfect in every way.

So, what album do you find nearly perfect?  What is the track you omit to make it so?