Toadies - Beside You

Best song on shuffle this morning.

The recent albums from Toadies haven’t quite met my expectations. That’s always a hard thing to come to grips with from one of your favorite bands. The newest songs have, at times, sounded like Toadies playing Toadies tribute songs - like a band trying so hard to recapture the sound that made them famous that the songs end up sounding formulaic and uninspired.

This song is one of the few in which I think they actually pull it off and don’t suffer any negative side-effects.

Also, this is great angry guitar tone. Also also, I’m a sucker for good fuzzed-out bass. Also Also Also, Vaden Todd Lewis… that motherfucker still has a voice that could cut through granite.

Junip - Beginnings

OMG. You guys. The new Junip album is excellent.

Listen to this. Seriously.

It feels slightly darker to me than their last release, both lyrically and musically, and that’s reflected in the perfectly stark album cover.

I’d marry José González’s voice if that were somehow scientifically or legally possible.

openareas:

4:29 for 4/29. 

A song about getting a song stuck in your head.

Also, metaphors.

This song. This album. Always.

Rollins Band - Liar

I’ll burn your soul!

David Bazan - Never Wanted You

For Cary. It doesn’t get much more brutal and honest as this.

weezer - My Name Is Jonas (live)

Recorded on 11/27/1994 in Rochester, NY. Immortalized on the original Buddy Holly single.

I’m amazed that anyone is ever amazed that this band has become one of the most successful bands of my generation. Just listen to this. It’s a perfect song performed by a young band that was riding its first wave of success… and you can hear it in every note.

lafix:

U-Mass // Pixies

3:01 for 3/01

They Might Be Giants - Sleeping In The Flowers

I got a crush
Coffee shop clerk
But she won’t look up at me
Don’t want to be known as the freak
Who just comes around to catch her eye

We’re seeing TMBG live tomorrow night! Wooooooo!

Nada Surf - Do It Again

Maybe this weight was a gift
Like I had to see what I could lift

The Reverend Horton Heat - 400 Bucks

For Snowy!

FMGreen - Yellow Plants

Sometimes I listen to my own music at high volume and I pump my fists in the air and smile broadly.

I really like how all of Victory! turned out, and I especially love how the tone of this song changes at the 1:20 mark… and then again at 2:07, when we make you tilt your head like a confused dog… and then again at 3:00…

Anyway. As with all FMGreen, it sounds better the louder you play it.

(I can’t thank our friend Brian Aloisio enough for the work he did engineering this album.)

FMGreen - Destiny’s Toy (snippet)

Snipped from an 8/20/2000 practice recording.

I Believe In A Thing Called Love - steelopus (The Darkness cover)

When a friend needs your help, you have to step up and deliver. Ask and ye shall receive.  Good luck with the wife, James.

(I still can’t believe I once recorded 40 covers in 40 days. That was kind of insane.)

weezer - The Weight (The Band cover)

 


 

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand

         aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand

                   aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand