Friday Playlist

“First Of May” – Jonathan Coulton
USE CAUTION WHEN LISTENING TO THIS AT WORK.
Unfortunate that we are sliding into a cooler-than-normal spring as we flip the calendar to May. I did some searching for songs about May last night and this popped up. I had never heard it before, but I am familiar with some of Coulton’s other work. This made me laugh out loud. Especially the third verse.

“Planting Tomatoes” – Lucy Dacus
It’s been a while since we’ve heard new solo music from Dacus. At first glance this is more upbeat than what we are used to. Then I read it is about realizing you are older than someone you’ve lost and it hits you the way so many of her best songs do.

“Where I Belong” – Weird Nightmare
I’m not sure true power pop exists anymore. This is a nice indie rock approach to power pop. I dig the effects on the solo.

“Grazer” – Ain’t
Still not sick of the Nineties-influenced new stuff.

“Tractor Beam” – Snail Mail
OK, if you are over 40 you will immediately think of another song when this one begins.

“Peaches” – The Presidents of the United States of America
I’m not the only one who hears it, right?

“Out Come The Freaks” – Soft Cell & Nona Hendryx
Before Dave Ball passed away last year, he and Marc Almond had written and mostly recorded a new album. It does not have a release date yet, but Almond has offered us this advance single, a cover of a 1981 Was (Not Was) track.

“Sick Of Love” – Lykke Li
True story: when Li first burst onto the scene, it was in my podcasting days. I assumed you pronounced her name “Lie-ke Lie.” I don’t speak Swedish but it seemed like a reasonable guess. There were no radio stations in my area that played her music, so no DJs to correct me. With her latest album, however, I am listening KC’s The Bridge a lot, and they are playing her songs. Their DJs call her “Lick-ee Lee.” I broke the tie by finding this video that claims to have the correct pronunciation. The Bridge’s crew was closer to correct than I was.

“Sick Minute” – Pope
Pope is on fire lately! Taking down Trump on social media and releasing a couple cool new songs. Wait, this isn’t THAT pope? My bad.

“NO KINGS HERE!” – Gang of Four
Somewhat ironic the man singing this is called Jon King. That would be one Ted Leo on guitar and Belly’s Gail Greenwood on bass.

“They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” – Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth
I came across a Bluesky thread last night where someone asked for people to quickly post their 10 favorite songs. I haven’t updated my list in 13 years, it turns out. I did go back and read my post from the last time I published that list and this song jumped out as a good one to share in video form today.