“Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega is crazy well known but have you heard both versions? The song was officially released in 1987 on her album Solitude Standing and the original version is an extremely eerie A Capella song. Suzanne Vega’s “Tom’s Diner” is a poetic look at the daily happenings at a diner. It flows like her train of thought. The song was remixed by DNA (Neal Slateford and Nick Batt) in 1990 to add an entirely different dynamic to “Tom’s Diner.” Suddenly the song feels almost upbeat in a blasé 90s sort of way. The DNA remix went on to be the better known version of this song.
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“Gothmobile” by Vampire Beach Babes
I was hanging out with a group of friends the other night and Dylan put on a Spotify goth mix. I just happened to be lucky enough to get introduced to this band, Vampire Beach Babes. Their song, “Gothmobile” beyond tickled me. A mix of The B-52’s and The Cramps, I was immediately intrigued. They are from Toronto and are self pro-claimed “gothabilly.” “Gothmobile” may just be your new theme song when you’re driving around in your super cool hearse (don’t we wish).
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“Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell
So I went on vacation this past week to visit my grandmother who’s a tiny, vivacious, spectacular and witty 90-year-old that lives in a 55+ community in the suburbs of a beautiful coastal tourist destination on the Florida side of the Gulf of Mexico. Being the savvy internet user that I am, I managed to score a fantastically affordable and decently located rental house for my partner and myself right across the street from the ocean. Burning hot sun rays, overstuffed tourists (present company included), watered-down marked-up cocktails, salty wet air, gorgeous nights on the beach wondering what the slimy thing was that just crawled over our toes in high…
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“Porcelain” by The Pretenders
Being hungover is one of my least favorite feelings. The Pretenders are one of my favorite bands. Their song “Porcelain” is something that always gets me through being hungover. The song appeared on the B-side of “Message of Love” released in 1981. It has a great instrumental intro that I will simply describe as swinging. When Chrissie Hynde’s sexy yet soothing voice comes in, you can be assured that your hangover will subside and you will start feeling better, or at least you’ll feel some sympathy. She talks of her knees on the tile floor and busting her head on the porcelain, a place I’ve been before laying on the…
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“Seven Year Ache” by Rosanne Cash
Special Contributor: Tricia “Paris” Suit from the band Seven Speed Vortex BOOM! There goes all my punk rock cred, citing the influence of a country song. In my defense, Rosanne Cash is Johnny’s daughter and considered a rebel within the Nashville establishment. This was her breakout hit, and I remember hearing it as kid and loving the melody and wordplay and that it was woman singing. In college I bought a “best of” compilation and revisited the song. It held up. It held up so well I went into a Rosanne Cash deep-dive, falling in love The Wheel. Side note/apocryphal story: The first time Seven Speed Vortex recorded, Eric and…
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“Cod’ine” by Buffy Sainte-Marie
Fresh off a fever fugue, looking ahead from existential dread I can’t say it’s a leap to the warm reassurance “Co’dine” provides that we’ve all felt somewhere between life and death. A self-taught musician representing herself and standing up for indigenous people, Buffy Sainte-Marie blew away the ’60s folk scene with her art and activism and no one who’s heard her voice has caught their breath since. So, gasping back from a bout with strep, I find my own breath in “Cod’ine.” Here’s to you, Buffy.
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“Tonight” by Sibylle Baier
“Tonight” by Sibylle Baier was released almost a decade ago and recorded 30 years before that. Colour Green was written and recorded in Germany from 1970-1973 with only the intent to share with her family and friends. In 2006, the album was finally released. “Tonight” is a haunting and wistful track. With only guitar and vocals, it picks up a melancholy comparable to Nick Drake. “Tonight” is a perfect winter song, something you want to listen to by a fire with a glass of red wine.
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Song of the Week: “W.D.M.R.S.” by We Are Hex
It’s seem like an appropriate week for “W.D.M.R.S” by We Are Hex to be the song of the week seeing as they’ll be playing at Black Plastic this Saturday, March 14th (although Friday the 13th would be a more fitting date for them). W.D.M.R.S is off of their most recent 45 and last time I saw We Are Hex, frontwoman, Jilly, told me all about the awesome song that features Jinx Dawson of Coven. Completely coincidentally, Jinx Dawson was recording at the same space after their session and Jilly asked if she would be up for adding some vocals to the beginning of the song. She agreed and the end…
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Song of the Week: “Pedestrian at Best” by Courtney Barnett
It’s been quite awhile since I’ve heard a song on the radio and immediately loved it. That was the case with Courtney Barnett‘s new song, “Pedestrian at Best,” from her upcoming album Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit. Her lyric style is rambling and manic and completely awesome. The song is catchy and has a great chorus taunting, “Put me on a pedestal and I’ll only disappoint you,” etc. Her album will be released March 25th. Watch the video here.
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Double song of the week: Metric and Berlin, 2 Bands You’d Like
I’m a big fan of the 1st Wave station on Sirius XM radio. It was through 1st Wave that I first heard the song “The Metro” by Berlin and I was immediately hooked. There was something so catchy about the song yet it was slightly dark. And at once, I thought of Metric. So, if you’re a fan of Berlin and don’t know Metric, here’s some info. And vice versa! Berlin is a new wave band that was formed in LA in 1978 and features the fabulous Terri Nunn. Berlin is a true synthpop band and is still around today. They released an album in 2013 called Animal. “The Metro” was…
