Tom Waits: "San Diego Serenade"

One of the most romantic songs ever written, one I first discovered through Dion Dimucci's cover (which he simply called "Serenade").



And now I'm off on the road toward my beloved, the woman who's sprung to mind any time most times I've heard this song since I met her way back in 1991.

Love Riot: "God's Enemies"

This band formed in Baltimore in 1994, so I guess the "80s nostalgia" theme has run its course for now. :) This video was largely filmed in the Fells Point neighborhood, so fans of Homicide: Life on the Street will recognize several locations.



(In fact, Love Riot appeared in the acclaimed Homicide episode "The Subway," as a band playing in the subway station. The song they did in that episode, "Killing Time," was released as an EP with a cover of Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me.")

Can't find much info about when this was recorded; I know they broke up a ways back, after releasing the albums Heaven Can Wait, Maybe She Will and the Killing Time EP. The lead singer and guitarist are now playing children's music as Milkshake.

New episode coming tomorrow!

Public service announcement with hot actress...

I don't remember when The Wonder Years started, but I was roughly the same age as some of the cast. Danica McKellar, who played Winnie Cooper, is just a year or so younger than me and pretty quickly became my TV girlfriend for much of that show's run. And she's one celebrity crush I've never had any reason to regret, as she's never done anything tacky enough to make news.

She's put out a new book that's getting attention in Newsweek, on CNN and elsewhere. Math Doesn't Suck aims to keep girls interested in math and science in their middle-school and high-school years, on a path toward real success and not down the alleyway of playing dumb to be like so many of the stars put forward as role models for girls. She's the anti-Paris, the anti-Lohan, the anti-Britney, and prettier than all three of them put together, not to damn her with faint praise.

"Cute and smart" she says, is better than "cute and dumb." Truer words have never been spoken. And she can speak with authority, as she's definitely the full package of brains and beauty (images mostly work-safe though you might run into some fakes, so be careful if you're at work).

If you've got a daughter, consider buying her book, even if your girl is still in diapers. The negative role models McKellar is trying to counteract won't be going away; even if they become "Where are they now?" hall-of-famers, there are more ditzes waiting in line to take their place.

Howard Jones: "The Prisoner"

More 80s nostalgia.



Same guy who did "No One Is to Blame," and he's still out there recording today.

What I REALLY wanted to post was his video for "Everlasting Love" -- young mummies in love! -- but sadly, YouTube had nothin' but denial for me.

Jack Frost: "Thought That I Was Over You"

A podsafe artist's video in my flashback weekend? Wow.



You've heard this on the show before, or can by clicking the tag with their name at the bottom of this entry. RIP, Grant McLennan. Long may you live, Steve Kilbey.

Episode 43: Around the World in a Daze

Starting four no-talk episodes recorded in anticipation of a trip out of state. I cannot guarantee I'll have Internet access during part of this, so some episodes may not show up here until a few days after they've been published over at the Liberated Syndication podcast feed (copy address from link and past into iTunes or other podcast-catching software to subscribe and avoid that lag).

Here's what's on the show today (direct download here):

Curious (Israeli-born American), "Perfect Girl"
Aramitsu (Japan -- link uses Japanese characters), "Apollo Theater"
Eager to Please (Faroe Islands), "Broken"
Satya (India), "Nomad's Theme"
Somnivore (Finland), "Cafe Muckmoon"
Alex Cebe (Brazil), "Simples"
FadeOut (Greece), "Sanctuary"

All the musicians you'll hear today except for Somnivore were discovered through the Podsafe Music Network. Somnivore is someone I found through a long-defunct podcast called the Kaiku Podcast, which focused on music of Arctic nations.

Billy Falcon: "Power Windows"

Early '90s nostalgia.



Honorable mention (since it can't be embedded): Willie Nile's "Heaven Help the Lonely" is from around the same time frame.

New episode coming in just a few hours.

Episode (Square Root of -1): "I Am," They Said

This is one of those episodes you're not really hearing because an episode with an imaginary number can't really exist. Fnord.

Here's what you won't hear today (direct download here):

The Good Life, "I Am an Island"
Battery Life, "I Am the Trade"
Clip, "I Am"
The Marble Tea, "I'm Batman"
Cassandra Kubinski, "I Am a Race Car"
Great Big Sea, "I'm a Rover"
Glorydive, "I Am the One"

If there were really an episode today, I'd tell you that all these bands were found via the Podsafe Music Network. But there isn't.

Gustav Bertha: "Sound of My Own Breathing"

Here's a more serious clip of today's birthday boy, Gustav Bertha.



Buy some of his music. It's good for you.

Gustav Bertha: "Bird Gehrl"

(Antony and the Johnsons cover.)

Gustav raps?

Episode 42: Let Us Now Praise Infamous Scotsmen

Today's episode is one of the best in this show's history, a birthday salute to the Scottish-born, Swiss-based musician Gustav Bertha, who was born as wee Gordon Bell 38 years ago today.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

A Word From Our Sponsor
R-Three feat. Gustav Bertha, "It's Not"
Gustav Bertha, "Credit Cards and Aeroplanes"
Helen Sventitsky, "The King's Men"
Gustav Bertha, "Yesterday's Man"

On that R-Three track, Gustav plays piano, organ and melodica. Rhett Redelings plays the guitars, bass, ukelele, mellotron flute sample and programmed the drums. Rhett had some issues with finishing the song, and tells this story:

"After I mentioned something about this on my Myspace blog, Gustav Bertha quite simply saved the song by offering to do the piano. I sent him the backing tracks I'd already recorded and he sent back not only a complete piano performance but an organ part and a melodica solo. He made it his priority, worked quickly and did multiple takes until I was happy with what I was hearing. I gave him very little direction and he came back with 3 absolutely brilliant and complimentary performances.

"While it's not my song, 'It's Not' is one of my favorite pieces I've worked on and it simply would not exist without Gustav Bertha's generosity and brilliance."

(Check out Gustav's podcast, Way Past Bedtime, for lots of great music and dry wit. My thanks to Helen and Rhett for making this episode possible. And I have no idea why I say it's 2004 at the start -- maybe my subconscious fleeing to a time before the re-election of George W. Bush?)

Episode 41: The One Where I Sell Out

Jazz, jazzy rock, country and whisper dreams in this episode, as well as allusions to something Really Damn Big in the next episode. Oh, and I basically beg you to buy stuff advertised at this site or consider donating (via the handy PayPal button at right) so I can buy a digital voice recorder and pay for bandwidth. (Ain't too proud to beg, nosiree.)

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Tianna Hall, "Cool"
27B-6, "What It Is"
Merle Haggard, "If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time)"
Amy Dalley, "Today"
Littlegirl, "Bodies for Breakfast"

The Merle Haggard and Amy Dalley tracks came from the Podsafe Music Network. Everything else came from the artist either via the Web or CD.

Please consider giving, if you can. Money's tight. Next episode will feature no begging, just something Really Damn Big. And Really Damn Cool, I guarantee it.

Episode 40: The Cost of Life in China

This isn't a shorter episode than usual, but there's a bit less music.

Here are the artists you'll hear today (direct download here):

Otis Redding, "Shake"
Rob Costlow, "Goodbyes"
Michelle Hotaling, "Take Me Home"
Two If By Sea, "Million to One"

The first three tracks come from the Podsafe Music Network; the final track comes from the band's CD.

I also talk a bit about the not exactly new controversy regarding Yahoo's sharing of user data with the Chinese government, in light of someone having taken me to task for still using a Yahoo e-mail account.

You can read about the problem here and here, among other places, and the correspondent seemed to imply that Andrew Vachss has called on people to drop Yahoo, but I stand by what I said here: I think good and honest people can disagree on this account. Giving up an e-mail address I've had for a decade would accomplish little and potentially cost me a great deal in terms of connections with people I've known through the years being able to find me at some future point.

Being a good global citizen is important. But being there for my friends and family, and my family of choice, is also important.

Episode 39: From Sweet to Creepy

Today's episode starts off sweet, takes a turn for the creepy, then ends on a rockin' note. Here's what you'll hear (direct download here):

Rebecca Griffin, "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To"
Tom Waits, "Bottom of the World"
Kid Congo Powers, "Hang the Moon"
King God, "Came Here For"
Jefferson Airplane, "Somebody to Love (live)"



Kid Congo Powers comes courtesy of the IODA Promonet. Tom Waits and The Jefferson Airplane track -- live at the Monterey International Pop Festival -- comes from the Podsafe Music Network. King God's track comes from the CD, and Rebecca Griffin deserves thanks for e-mailing me her song.

Download "Hang The Moon" (mp3)
from "Solo Cholo"
by Kid Congo Powers
New York Night Train

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic

More On This Album

Manic Street Preachers: "La Tristesse Durera"

Another "message" song, about the promises made -- and promises broken -- to aging veterans and other seniors. The U.K. pension system has flaws, and you can see what's happening to people returning maimed from Iraq and Afghanistan here in the United States.



The song's title translates from the French as "sadness endures" or "sadness will last forever," and one comment at the video's page on YouTube attributes it to Vincent Van Gogh.

Arlo Guthrie and Emmylou Harris: "Plane Wreck at Los Gatos (Deportee)"

Here's another "message" song, Guthrie covering his father -- Woody Guthrie -- with the goddess Emmylou Harris at his side. (Bob Dylan and Joan Baez also famously performed this together, but the lyrics are more articulate here.)



Based on a real-life news story that Woody saw in the paper, illustrating the point that the American dream isn't built without blood and that those who benefit the least often sacrifice the most toward our comforts.

Steve Earle: "Over Yonder (Jonathan's Song)"

Starting a weekend's worth of "message" songs with one I wholeheartedly endorse: The notion that, put simply, capital punishment is murder.



It cheapens life for everyone, on the mistaken assumption that one life is interchangeable for another. It cheapens life for everyone, but making us all conspirators in the death of another person. And when an innocent is put to death, it makes murderers of us all.

On that cheery note, new episode coming Sunday.

Episode 38: Dangerously Close to the Mainstream

Two of these songs are by mainstream artists who have done major-label work. One is a cover of a song by one of the biggest bands of all time. One woman has a name that immediately makes you think of someone else. And Gum ... hell, they should be superstars. In my ideal world, this is a Top 40 show. As are they all.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Solomon Burke, "The More"
Tom Waits, "Hold On"
Lennon, "No One Knows"
Sly Joe, "And I Love Her"
Gum, "Another Kind of Happiness"



The Solomon Burke and Lennon songs come from the IODA Promonet. The Sly Joe and Tom Waits songs come from the Podsafe Music Network. And the Gum track comes from CD.

Download "No One Knows" (mp3)
from "Damaged Goods"
by Lennon
John Galt Entertainment

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic

More On This Album

Download "The More" (mp3)
from "At His Best!"
by Solomon Burke
Amherst

• Buy at Rhapsody
• Buy at Napster

More On This Album

Jonathan Coulton: "Re: Your Brains"

I initially thought the footage in this video was made with screen captures from a video game, but after reading the closing credits, I guess not. (Updated to add: Apparently the footage is taken from World of Warcraft?) It perfectly fits this very funny, very silly song.



(These obviously aren't author Bryan Smith's zombies, because they most certainly WOULD eat the eyes.)

Be sure to vote in the poll at right, if you're listening to the show. New podcast coming tomorrow.

Episode 37: More Potpourri for Your Ears

This one's a bit of a mixed bag, with a couple of songs that nearly made it into other episodes but didn't simply because the episodes in question were already running long or I thought they just didn't fit well with the others. But I like everything I play, or I wouldn't play it.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Op-Critical, "This Is Not My America"
Mike Doughty, "Looking at the World From the Bottom of a Well"
The Tony Evans Band, "The Look of Love"
Katie Davis, "She Hates Love Songs"
Kristin Mainhart, "Stranger Things"
The Hypertonics, "Don't Marry the One You Love; Marry the One Who Loves You"



The Kristin Mainhart song comes from her CD, which was donated to the show. The Katie Davis and Hypertonics songs come from the Podsafe Music Network. The other songs came from the IODA Promonet.

Download "Not My America" (mp3)
from "Of War and Protest"
by Op-Critical
ItsAboutMusic.com

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at Rhapsody
• Buy at Napster
• Stream from Rhapsody

More On This Album

Download "Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well" (mp3)
from "Haughty Melodic"
by Mike Doughty
ATO Records

• Buy at Napster

More On This Album

Download "The Look Of Love" (mp3)
from "The Tony Evans Band Plays Hammersmith Palais"
by The Tony Evans Band
Tema International

More On This Album

Episode 36: American Tales

It's the Fourth of July, so imagine Jimi Hendrix's take on the "Star-Spangled Banner" is playing as you read this.

Here's what's on the show today (direct download here):

Douglas Spotted Eagle, "America the Beautiful"
Nashville Session Players, "American"
Steve Kilbey, "Midnite in America"
David Wilcox, "Rusty Old American Dream"
Quaker Gun, "American Dream"
Cameron Ember, "Dear America"



The Steve Kilbey and David Wilcox tracks come courtesy of the IODA Promonet. The Quaker Gun track was found at Garageband.Com. All others come courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

Download "Midnite In America" (mp3)
from "Narcosis + More"
by Steve Kilbey
Karmic Hit

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at eMusic

More On This Album

Download "Rusty Old American Dream" (mp3)
from "Live Songs & Stories"
by David Wilcox
What Are Records

• Buy at eMusic
• Buy at Napster

More On This Album

Steve Earle: "Rich Man's War" and "Someday"

Steve Earle pointing out one of the ugliest realities of war: Those who make the most sacrifices are often those who've received the fewest bounties from whatever power is sending them off to die. It's the same for the poor kids who join the military and end up getting sent to Iraq when they should be fighting al-Qaida in Afghanistan as it is for the kids who get turned into suicide bombers in the West Bank.



True patriotism isn't about saying "My country, right or wrong." Anyone who tries to convince you of that notion is trying to hide something. It's about putting your country back on the right path when its leaders are steering it in the wrong direction.

This clip's from 2005. Earle's music has had a political bent for years -- increasingly so starting with the Copperhead Road album -- but he started out as a singer-songwriter sort of country singer. His 1985 single "Someday" (video is unable to be embedded) could be about me or almost anyone I grew up with in West Tennessee.

Manic Street Preachers: "Let Robeson Sing"

And here ends the weekend's run of "tribute" songs, with a fanmade video of a song that was recorded years after the subject's death, but is still powerful stuff.



The Manic Street Preachers are genius. And so was Paul Robeson. Totally different sounds, but the pursuit of social justice links them.

(Turning off comments, because I don't want a political debate erupting here over Robeson's socialism.)

Steve Earle: "Fort Worth Blues"

Continuing the weekend's theme of "tribute songs," here's Steve Earle at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville performing "Fort Worth Blues."



This song was his tribute to the late Townes Van Zandt, a fellow Texas singer-songwriter who was one of Earle's early musical mentors.