Here's the tracklisting & descriptions for My Jams '06, a comp I've put together to share what this past year sounded like to me. It's mostly stuff that came out in 2006, but there's plenty of older stuff I either was unaware of or revisited.
If you want a copy, let me know.
SIDE A
White Collar Boy - Belle & Sebastian
2006 was the first in several years that I actually purchased a lot of new music. The Life Pursuit is hands down the best thing I've bought in a long time. Now I've never been a huge B&S fan, but this album just hit me right where I needed it. The show at the Ryman was incredible. I really, really rocked out at this show. I mean, I got down without a care in the world. Choosing a number from this album has proven difficult. If I had the funds, I'd just go out and buy a crate full of this masterpiece and pass it out to all of you. I, however, do not have the bank and you probably already own it anyway. Or at least, you should. I finally settled on this one because it kinda encapsulates the overarching sound of the album . Dig the synth bass and phase heavy Wurli. Or those sultry kiss-offs of background vocals. All music should sound like this.
Forget All About It - The Nazz
I actually picked up The Nazz Anthology a couple years ago. However, as I'm prone to do, I lost the second disc not long after the purchase and did not have the fortune of absorbing its contents. Fast forward to this past summer. I'm rolling back from Ben's lake house with the man himself and this song comes on a mix tape Good Ole' Rob Rickman had made for him. Man-oh-man was I excited to hear this song, and even more excited to learn that somewhere in my many stacks of CDs and such, I probably owned this. It's pretty perfect, in my opinion. The pre-chorus/chorus is just magnificent. I gets the chills when it goes from the "Rejoice, rejoice" line into the hook. It's so good. I'd love to record a cover version of this song. Anybody game?
This River is Wild - The Killers
So plenty of flack has been tossed about my direction for really liking this album, and I can understand why. I genuinely loathed these guys when they first came out (I did get Hot Fuss for Christmas, though I'm yet to give it a spin). I absolutely despised that Somebody Told Me song... still do. They just seemed like a bunch of little pricks, especially that Brandon Flowers kid. But upon Jim O'Shea's tip, and the fact that it was only $8.99 at Best Buy, I picked it up. Now, I'm pretty hesitant to follow one of Mr. O'Shea's picks these days; working at Bar 23 and Layla has had a strange effect on his tastes. For instance, he's the only person that has said to me "y'know, kinda like electro-clash". Regardless, he was definitely on target with making me promise to purchase Sam's Town. Again, one of the few whole albums that did much for me. This is the song that I just keep coming back to. When the second chorus kicks in and it gets to the B part, all past Killers sins - the eyeliner, the UK press shit-talkin', the bad keyboard sounds, every word in the lyrics to "Somebody Told Me" - are forgiven. Once again, I get them chills.
Do It Again Again - The Tyde
From what I had heard about this band, I had high hopes: Hawthorne Co. style vocal harmonies; Asian Girl keyboards; signed to Rough Trade; a Beachwoods Sparks connection. But when I saw them at The Basement this Fall, I was kinda let down. Sure, they were OK, but it takes a lot to motivate my listening habits these days. This song, however, is a winner. 95th percentile. Too bad it's the only one I really cared for on their '06 effort Threes Co . And, no - that's not a typo... There is an extra Again in the title. And yes, they ripped off a Beach Boys song title. At least it's a good one.
See You in Heaven - Elliott Smith
I found this in the late Spring at elliottsmithbsides.com, a massive database of B-sides, live sets and unreleased tracks. This one's from his final year on earth and serves as an upbeat counterpoint to the darkness that looms over his posthumous Basement on a Hill. It's a simple, joyous burst of an instrumental that helps me dwell on an Elliott Smith who is content and thankful to be exactly where he is, doing exactly what he did, and doins so with excellence. Perhaps as he waits for us to get there, he's finding the time to finish the lyrics. And as soon as we do see him again, he can't wait to sing them for us. Until then, I sorely miss him and his music. Please forgive the wash of sentimentality that this paragraph has become. It's not hard to forget that, in truth, he was that paranoid junkie waste that plunged a butcher knife through his rib bones, slicing up the vitals that lie just below them. All this, in time to save him from just rotting away.
If Looks Could Kill - Camera Obscura
OK, so just maybe they are, in fact, Belle & Sebastian's female doppleganger. That's alright, cause this entire album is excellent. As a rule, I don't usually get too into female fronted bands, but this album really caught me. Tracyanne Campbell's voice is just so... let's just say that I could fall in love with a that voice. It's strikes me as so detached and coy, yet refined and educated. That voice.. ah, yes - it calms me so. Thanks to Luke for getting me into it. He first played it for me in my truck one night that I was driving his ass around town. I remember telling him that this was insanely close to what I originally had in mind with Girls & Boys. He concurred. I also told him they struck me as sounding a lot like Sixpence. I don't think he liked that much.
One Piece - The Privates
Well here's the first shameless Lake Fever plug... Just trying to work my hustle game, y'know. Now Bullock and the boys put a lot of hours into this record over the span of 2006 and I hope that everyone is quite pleased with the results. This is easily the best thing that has come out of our little corner of Music Row (yes, better than The Bomb). It's been said that Barricades displays a big leap in maturity for The Privates (and also for Bullock) and I tend to agree. With that, this song is - for me - the pinnacle of that leap, not surprisingly as it sounds absolutely nothing like The Privates we've all come to expect and enjoy. It's one for the lovers, I reckon... the soon-to-be's, the maybe-again's, and the never-more's. Yes, yes - It's their California Stars. Of course ole' Wilco never dropped some mariachi horns on us like that. Let me finish this by saying that if this record flops and the band members focus on their other projects, we should all expect pretty amazing things from that Dave Paulson dude. T.A.L.E.N.T. Of course, such flows deep within this crew.
Mr. Ambulance Driver - The Flaming Lips
Well, Wayne Coyne & Co. kinda lost me with the more rock leanings of At War with the Mystics. C'mon guys, put down your talk box guitars and pick those midi controllers stained with fake blood and confetti. Guess I've come to expect too much from the band that allowed me to dance on stage with them in a fuzzy frog costume (never mind the fact that on that night I lead the charge from the stage to help the poor girl having the epileptic fit on the front row... It's kind of a long story, I'spose). This one wouldn't be out of place on any of their last few albums, as is the case with a few others on Mystics. Guess I'm approaching this band with a bit of nostalgia, then. The video's pretty cool, too as long as you can get into the wigger teen with the mangled arm and heart of gold. Check his fresh-ass poppin' & lockin'.
Emma, Get Me a Lemon - The Walkmen
So I finally got into the Walkmen this year and I reckon I might have been the last white, middle class, indie-leaning-type male in Nashville to do so. Their Exit-In set made me a believer. Hamilton came out a-wailin' and the others brought the heat right up behind him. It was overwhelming for some, and it brought them quickly to their knees. I'm glad it happened that way. Anyway, I chose this one because - much to the disapproval of Baby Brother - I'd often find myself randomly singing this song around the condo, drawing extra long on " Ehhhhh-Maaaaaa" and " Lehhhh-mon". Also, gotta love the the line about the waiting by the French doors. I get a very New England, Old Money Baby Boomer Liberal vibe from it. And, hey... how anti-indie rock is that? You just know that lemon (or if not, lime) is going straight into a tall, stiff Bombay & Tonic.
One Glass of Water - A Band of Bees
Though it sounds as if it was released in 1966, I believe this album came out in 2003. I, however, was completely unaware of it until this summer. I must thank the Matt Meeks/Luke Schneider combo for hipping me to this during one late night of poker playin' at my house (For the record, there's a good chance that one or more of the following occured: Rob, Deezy, or Meeks probably winning my hard earned money; Me letting Luke cover a few hands for me, only to return to him going All-In - on like Queen-Four or something - with the last of my chips; Daigle probably getting buzzed on Glenfiddich and going out before anyone else). Anyway... I enjoy the nervous teenage innocence of the lyrics. This is definitely one to rock out to. This album, Free The Bees, has been in pretty heavy rotation since.
SIDE B
Hey Chicken - Loose Fur
This was one of favorite discs of the year. There were even a few O'Rourke songs I enjoyed. He still really creeps me out, though. Have you seen the artwork on his solo records? Gives me the jibblies. It came down to this one and that one about Jesus coming back. Hey Chicken's got a good dose of ching-ching octave piano and some choice distorted electric guitar playing from Mr.Tweedy. So, is this song about Jay Farrar?
Steady as She Goes - The Raconteurs
This song is filled with lotsa Capital T Truth. Well, at least good advice. The kind that we as young men might should get from our Fathers and Grandfathers. Since my Dad's a womanizer and my Grandfather has The Alzheimer's, maybe I'll just walk over to Jack White's house on Franklin Rd. and ask him for some lady advice. He's got a red & black chimney. I guess his kids will be zoned to attend Overton High School with all those Creive Hall kiddies. He'll probably send 'em to FRA or BA, though.
We Could Be Kings - Gene
I've never been a huge Gene fan, but I've always liked them in small doses. I can't really take more than 20 minutes of The Rozzer's voice. They also always remind me of Libby D., so I usually steer clear. But earlier this year Ben Patton wrote something that caused me to revisit this song and I'm sho' glad I did. Choice line: It's time to tell my friends I love them. Indeed.
Diktator of the Free World - Kula Shaker
Well the Shaker had their big comeback in '06. Show of hands of who's disappointed? Mine's up. I know I'm not alone in my Bring Back Jay Darlington campaign. Regardless, I do really like this one. Is it funny to anybody else when a Limey writes protest songs about our President? Don't get me wrong - I probably share Mr. Mills' thoughts on Dubbya - but you don't see anyone around these parts writing songs about Tony Blair, do you? Choice line: "People say I'm crazy/I say no-oh-ah-oh/I'm gonna send your ass to Guantanamo". Word
Guillotine - The Features
Oh Matt. Oh Roger. Oh Rollum. Oh Par... er, Mark. Ya'll know you make me anxious, right? All these music industry battle scars worry me so. All these ups and downs - like a crossword puzzle and a roller coaster ride - Oh God, they get me all knotted up inside. Remember back in '02 when I penned a newspaper article claiming that "The Features are the best band on the planet. I'm right and shall be proven so"? Well, let's just say that little has changed; I'm still on board. With that, let us not forget that I have said a number of times that any sort of faith in God I have or a belief in any sort of or justice or goodness in this world will come crashing down if you fellas don't succeed in this endeavor. C'mon now, don't let me down. Please... For Serious. Um, anyway - this is my favorite number off the Contrast ep. Dig those VoVo BGV's - and wherever did he get those fresh keyboard sounds? Hmmm... sound pretty familiar to my ears. (Note to self: stop lending your keyboards out and start renting them out). So, yeah... this song's a metaphor, right?
Dirt Off Your Shoulder/Bittersweet Symphony - Jay-Z/The Verve
I first heard this coming out of the balcony at Layla Rue, blasting into the January night air. I was on the sidewalk with the gal that you could call my '06 unreciprocated crush. Thus she comes to mind whenever I hear this or any of The Life Pursuit album. But enough of that... Seriously, how perfect is this song? This puts that entire Danger Mouse Grey Album to shame. I think the kids call this a "mashup".
Bar Song - How I Became the Bomb
Are you really surprised they've accomplished so much this past year? Really? Why are you still hating on 'em? (Oh yeah, sorry. Forgot that nobody comes to see your shitty band. My bad.) Seriously, have seen the way Jon Burr taunts and enrages the crowd with his vintage Ric Flair & Dusty Rhodes quotes? Have you let yourself be blessed by his curly locks and schoolboy croon? Are you afraid of his nautical flag trousers? Don't worry... Though you find yourself kinda perversely attracted to his magnificence presence, don't get too comfortable. This Big Man just might be a crooked look away from headbutting you into a moderate-to-severe concussion or cracking the back of your fragile skull with his trusty blackjack. Regardless, some of us are gonna make some mad ca$h from this band.
Images - The Selmanaires
Good Lord this band is so great. They ought to move outta ATL and settle here in Nashville. The rent's cheaper and we're all real friendly. If you haven't seen this band, please do yourself a huge favor and get to it. If Can had better songs, a better singer, and appeared on the Nuggets boxed set, it might sound a bit like this band. So, so good.
You know you have problems, with both money and alcohol, when you find yourself shoving beers down your pants outside a Features show.
-jbc
Quote from carligula on Jan. 4, 2007 at 6:36 PM
