Reaching for the Stars, Vol. 62
Well piss. I swear that I’ve posted this about three different times over the past two days. Obviously I’m losing it. Chart Week: August 25, 1984 Song: “Breakin’…There’s No Stopping Us” – Ollie and Jerry Chart Position: #34, 13th week on the chart. Peaked at #9 the week of August 4. I love musical origin stories. Especially ones where a…
Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vr4vLNbPtAzVOUANrWWv5?si=19a6709a82ae4219 “I Don’t Live Here Anymore” – The War on Drugs with Lucius The title track from the upcoming TWOD LP. It is the brightest, shiniest, poppiest track the band has ever done. Naturally I love it. Lucius provides a very nice vocal assist. “This Enchanted” – Hatchie Harriet Pilbeam recently signed with Indiana label Secretly Canadian, and this is…
Friday Playlist (With Bonus College Girlfriend Commentary!)
I think you’re going to like this group of songs, but I bet you enjoy my essay about this week’s video more. It’s not often I dive into my romantic past here, so prepare to laugh at/mock me. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6GF6qOeUJAtg0OdWzDIcvl?si=9bbe65e529084600 “Long Way” – Eddie Vedder WHOA! When I heard Eddie had a solo album coming out I was not enthused. His…
Friday Playlist
It’s the last weekend of the summer of 2021. My new music folder seems a bit light at the moment, so we’re going to get a little nutty this week. I hope you find the nuttiness pleasing to your ears. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2LMxMwJjAazetSKaJ4GakS?si=bb12595a2fb14cb0 “Red Hill Mining Town” – U2 Through hands of steel And heart of stone Our labor day Has come…
Thoughts on “The Number Ones” of the ’80s
Tom Breihan passed a notable milestone this week in his The Number Ones series: he finished the 1980s. Most days I just glance at the comments. But Monday, as Phil Collins’ “Another Day in Paradise” closed out the decade, I read deep into them, enjoying commenters’ various picks of favorites, most hated, most overlooked, etc tracks. I don’t participate in…
Friday Playlist
We’ve reached the point in the year when it starts to hit you how deep into the calendar we are. I’m only 4-5 weeks away from starting to give early attention to my favorite songs of the year list. Yeesh. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0zvkECw31R2wGdj2iy0LuZ?si=8419b47f03ab4604 “Undone” – The Shivas I know I had heard of this Portland band in the past, but can’t say…
Friday Playlist
By the time you read this post and begin listening to this week’s tracks, S and I will be on the road, headed west towards Kansas City and a weekend wedding. To honor that occasion, these songs are inspired by the collection of music the bride-to-be gave her DJ. Plus one song required any time I go to KC. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3iRzQbi6alNQgPWjqVV3L8?si=c547663919dc4c64
Reaching for the Stars, Vol. 61
Chart Week: August 1, 1981 Song: “Don’t Want to Wait Anymore” – The Tubes Chart Position: #37, 7th week on the chart. Peaked at #35 for two weeks. The Tubes will collect residual checks until they die for one song: “She’s a Beauty,” their #10 smash from the summer of 1983. It is an absolute classic of its era; any…
Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3XDii8Z8hNhmozxJ8AbntW?si=27c7fddf96e547e7 “Surrender” – Gold Star A lot of influences bubbling up in this track. I hear some Springsteen, but as if filtered through others who have used The Boss’ music as a guide over the years. There’s also a stark, story-telling feel that reminds me of some early The War on Drugs stuff. I most definitely dig. “Day I Did…
Reaching for the Stars, Vol. 60
Chart Week: August 8, 1987 Song: “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” – Whitney Houston Chart Position: #17, 13th week on the chart. Peaked at #1 for two weeks in June and July. I tend to shy away from songs that hit number one since they will get the Tom Breihan treatment over at Stereogum. I squeezed in…