No. 499 - "Drifting, Falling" by The Ocean Blue

No. 499 - "Drifting, Falling" by The Ocean Blue -- third single off Hershey, PA band's debut self-titled album is a modern rock classic from 1990


Chart Status - peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks.

PCI - little to none. The band toured relentlessly through 1994 and continue to play shows and intermittenly release EPs through their website, http://www.theoceanblue.com/. Many are surprised to learn the band is not English, despite the clear influences of the Smiths, New Order, and Echo & the Bunnymen.  The thing about this song is that its simple melody and lilting vocal line gets me everytime.  Perfect slice of alterna-pop.

No. 500 - "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley

No. 500 - "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley -- a slice of late 80s pop soul music that later became an internet sensation due to the advent of You Tube and the now infamous gag of "Rickrolling".

Chart Status - Astley hit No. 1 in 25 countries including the U.S. in March 1988. 

Pop Culture Impact (PCI) - A throwaway pop track with an infectious groove that somehow managed to find a way to the top of the US charts in 1988 inbetween George Michael and Michael Jackson.  With the advent of YouTube, Astley's greatest song and its famously bad video were used in a 2008 April Fool's prank by the company, now known as "Rickrolling".  YouTube users seeking out content were re-directed to Astley's video all day long and the prank has continued to this day.  The pentultimate moment though may have been the 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade which was 'rickrolled' by Astley and Cartoon Network, who had Astley appear and perform the track on its float.  Video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL-hNMJvcyI

Presenting the Top 500 Songs I Think You Should Know

After reading through the Rolling Stone Top 500 Songs of All-Time, I convinced myself that I too could craft a list of 500 songs, and thus the Top 500 Songs I Think You Should Know was born.  To be considered for the list, I limited myself to only songs released after my date of birth, which was late in August 1978. 

After settling on a start date, the real decision had to be made -- what would my criteria be?  After much deliberation, I decided on a subjectively objective test that takes into account many things such as whether a song charted, how long it charted, its longevity and durability, and of course, pop culture signifcance.  It took me approxiamtely three months to compile my list and the work done generated such intense discussions with my wife, that she joined me in this challenge, albeit her list was capped at 200 songs.

What I learned from this is I do not listen to a lot of country, but I do like and appreciate rap more than I would have throught.  My Top 200 would be competitive with anything Rolling Stone, NME or another music mag put together, and my final 300 gets more subjective than objective, but again, I think I have compelling arguments for everything.

So, enough with the discourse, let the list begin, in reverse order, and ten at a time.  Enjoy!

"Why don't we try..."

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have this amazing ability to blow my mind with each successive album. Sure, they had the one let down album, Bilingual, which despite its incoherent presentation, still holds the classic Red Letter Day, was not horrible. Neil Tennant is the one singer I've seen live who sounds the same live as on CD. His voice remains amazing as does his writing, twenty plus years later.

One of my favorites is So Hard, off 1990's Behaviour. Here's an extended dance mix for your enjoyment.

So Hard (Extended Dance Mix)

A is for Aquaman: The Search for Arthur Joseph Curry

Over one year later, I return like the phoenix rising from the ashes. Now a father to a beautiful baby girl, my private time reduced to minutes from what had been hours. After deep thought on how best to use this space, I have decided on themed mixes, and since I read comics not novels, why not induldge both my loves - comics and music. Beginning with this mix, A is for Aquaman: The Search for Arthur Joseph Curry, I will bring you mixes named for some of my favorite characters from the DC Universe on a regular basis. As the title might imply, every song on this mix will begin with the letter "A". Consider it a primer on songs I like/love/enjoy that begin with the letter A. The mixes are designed to be listened to straight through, much like a mix tape, so I'll include a .rar download with every song at the bottom. For those of you that prefer selecting only a few songs, I'll include single links for each song. So without further explanation or rumination, I give you...... A is for Aquaman: The Search for Arthur Joseph Curry Another Journey By Train - The Cure Apartment Story - The National Alive - Pete Yorn Acquiesce - Oasis All That I Need - Electronic Asleep From Day - Chemical Brothers Another Breakfast With You - Ladytron All the Umbrellas in London - Magnetic Fields All These Things That I've Done - The Killers Anyone Out There - Duran Duran Alex Chilton - The Replacements Always Tomorrow - Bob Mould All Cats Are Grey - The Cure Awake - BRMC Angels and Devils - Echo and the Bunnymen Anti-Western - Camera Obscura Arthur - Ian McCulloch As It Is When It Was - New Order Download the entire mix here. Aquaman is currently in semi-retirement and appearing in no current DC Comics monthly. Rumors continue to abound about his return. For more on Aquaman, see: The Aquaman Shrine DC Comics

"Girls whose tensions just kill you"

Thanks to satellite radio I have once again been able to hear more and more new music. One of the bands that I discovered and really enjoy is Asobi Seksu, a Japanese band from New York. Their 2006 album Citrus is a welcome exploration of shoegazer 17 years after the peek of bands like My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and Catherine Wheel. "Strings" is a great track that blends everything I like about the band -- great guitars, blissed out lyrics -- in two languages nonetheless -- and an intoxicating feeling.

Strings - Asobi Seksu

"I touched you at the soundcheck "

I saw Morrissey for the very first time in 1997 with a young band named Elcka. On this tour, Moz teased the audience with a handful of Smiths' tracks, nothing like today when he plays several classic tracks a night. Prior to the show, I was warned not to expect any Smiths songs, but in fact, got two, one of which is a personal favorite. "Paint a Vulgar Picture" off Strangeways Here We Come is one of the last great Smiths tracks recorded. Listening to it today takes me back to so many places -- junior year of high school (my first big Smiths exposure) and then again to that first Moz show in Philadelphia.

Paint a Vulgar Picture - The Smiths

"Hey Girl I thought we were the right combination"

Since I am focused on the 80s tonight, here's another classic remix from the 80s vault. This time we'll check out a Razormaid medley, specifically "The Poison Arrow Medley" by ABC. You know you remember the Gold Lame suit worn by front man Martin Fry in the video, but I'd like to think it was the song that scored with the public. After their initial success, the band scored hits with "Be Near Me", "When Smokey Sings", and "The Look of Love". This eleven minute plus medley captures the very best of ABC in a great club mix. Enjoy! By the way, Fry still wears the Gold Lame suit when touring....

The Poison Arrow Medley (Razormaid) - ABC

"In your dress, I confess, you’re the source of light."

Perhaps the best retro 80s song of the last ten years, Hugh Grant's toungue-in-cheek song, "Pop Goes My Heart" from the movie, Music & Lyrics, is a blissful listen. At this point, I am still not sure what is better -- the Wham-like video for the tune that is available on You Tube or the song itself, comprabale to anything in the Wham or Kajagoogoo catalog. Had it really been released in 1984, it would have been huge with the ladies and on the dance floor as the beat is perfect and the lyrics, witty and carefree. If you have not heard it yet, you need to listen to this briliant tune. Better yet, check out the video on You Tube, you'll thank me later.

Pop Goes My Heart - Pop featuring Hugh Grant

"Che Guevara and Debussy to a disco beat"

Perhaps my favorite Pet Shop Boys track, 1988s "Left to My Own Devices", off the very dance oriented Introspective is a beautiful mixing of disco, pop, and classical music. The lyrical story of one man's day, Neil Tenant shows his full range from the mid-section talking-singing routine to the vocal acrobatics of the chorus on this one. I love so many of the lines in this song, it was hard picking just one for the title of this post. Chris Lowe adeptly creates a true sonic masterpiece that fits the lyrics to a "T". The best version, in my opinion, is the 11 minute, 28 second "Disco Remix" found on the 12" and some CD singles.

Left to My Own Devices (Disco Remix) - Pet Shop Boys

"Call me Doctor Frankenstein of London"

1997 saw U.K. band Catherine Wheel release their fourth full length album, Adam and Eve, a stunning collection of songs. After starting with the shoegazer sound of their debut, Ferment, and its follow up, Chrome, the band moved to a heavier sound for Happy Days and then surprisingly to a very lush amost Pink Floyd-like, acoustic tinged, harmonic laden sound with A&E. The album resonated with critics, long-time fans, and not too many other people. It was even praised by one of the men responsible for the album of the year in 1997, Thom Yorke, who has said Catherine Wheel were/is a band that should have made it huge. Perhaps the finest single ever released by the Wheel, "Ma Solituda", featured the spectacular b-side, "Paranoia". It is a brilliant haunting track and features one of my favorite opening lines, the title of this post, "Call me Doctor Frankenstein of London". I urge you to check out the Wheel, if not for me, do it for your yourself.

Paranoia - Catherine Wheel

"We leave it all so far away one thing is sure we shouldn't stay"

As the 80s turned to the 90s, Duran Duran watched the ranks dwindle to three - LeBon, Rhodes and John Taylor - and their popularity drop like a brick in a pond. Augmented by new "permanent" member Warren Cuccurullo, formerly of LA band Missing Persons, and drummer extraodinaire Sterling Campbell, Duran Duran released the first single off their upcoming album Liberty to a very muted reception. The track, "Violence of Summer (Love's Taking Over)", features a brilliant piano opening that kicks into a bass-heavy club track with LeBon's familiar voice appearing older and more mature than the band's earlier work. The single and the album tanked. Perhaps the band wore out its welcome, apparent by the fact that a mere three years later they were topping the charts again, but I actually love this single, this album, and the transition. Who cares if John Taylor only remembers the drugs from this time, he still made brilliant music, didn't he?

Violence of Summer (Love's Taking Over) - Duran Duran

"Come, armageddon! come!"

1992 saw a Democrat return to the White House for the first time in 12 years, Mike Tyson went to jail, Kurt and Courtney got married, and 10,000 Maniacs released an EP entitled "Few and Far Between". Off their album Our Time in Eden, "Few and Far Between" was a solid single, but what made the EP was the inclusion of several covers. The first cover is of Morrissey's classic "Every Day is Like Sunday". Natalie's voice soars on this interesting take and the band captures the winsome feeling Moz created with the original.

Every Day is Like Sunday - 10,000 Maniacs

"There's space for us to shake, and hey, I like this tune"

Blissful indie-rock melodies straight out of Norway that makes you want to swing. Kings of Convenience released Riot on an Empty Street in 2004 to critical praise and delivered one of the more memorable indie-pop rock moments of the year with the catchy "I'd Rather Dance with You". The song and accompanying video remain favorites of mine to this day. Be sure to check out more from the Kings, the best thing from the Nordic region since a-Ha.

I'd Rather Dance with You - Kings of Convenience

"Where I want my words said and no one wants to listen though"

1987's Some Kind of Wonderful was the last great teen movie of the 1980s. The soundtrack was a blissful concoction of "B" - bands, with the exception of The Jesus and Mary Chain, that was put together by uber-producer Stephen Hague (New Order, Pet Shop Boys, etc.) Of the great songs collected for this soundtrack, Furniture's "Brilliant Mind" is one of my favorites. It has a, well, brilliant sense of urgency and warmth, much like a relationship at the start. Sadly, Furniture did not procude many more songs and eventually called it a day in the early 90s. But this song is a lasting reminder of their ability to craft a brilliant tune.

Brilliant Mind - Furniture

"Welcome Back, Frank"

Since I'm posting an instrumental upon my return to blogging, I figured I would quote the title of one of my favorite comics, "The Punisher:Marvel Knights". So I have been a little busy at work, foreclosures are up....my brother moved in for a few weeks....and other family matters have taken precedence...but tonight I return, and I promise, more good things will come and on a regular basis. Tonight, in celebration of the upcoming Cure shows I will attend, here's a look back to Lost Wishes, the instrumentals from the Wish studio sessions. Tonight, check out "The Three Sisters", a song that I only wish had lyrics.....

The Three Sisters - The Cure

"Line of force from heaven, a tear in a stranger's eye"

There is something very unique about the last time a band plays a song live. In 1985, New Order essentially stopped playing tracks off Movement, their first album. A personal favorite, "ICB", was played for the last time on December 13, 1985 at the Salle Du Baron in Orleans, France. By 1986, New Order stopped going back to Movement and started concentrating on the singles and their more recent albums we all know and love. But Movement is a key album as it represents the transition from Joy Division to New Order.

ICB (12/13/85 Live) - New Order

"They crowded up to Lenin with their noses worn off"

R.E.M. recently completed a five night stand in Dublin, where they publicly worked on new material for their upcoming album and also shared some old classics. While the new material is very good and sounds better than anything on the last two albums, let's focus on the older tracks. One of my top five all-time R.E.M. tracks made an appearance on July 4th and it was cracking. "Harborcoat" captures the timeless appeal of old R.E.M. -- somewhat unintelligble lyrics, jangly roots rock feel, and Stipe's timeless voice.

Harborcoat (7/4/07 Live) - R.E.M.

"And its true that I stole your lighter"

When Liz Phair hit the scene, she was a sultry girl with a dirty mouth and dirtier mind that played a skillful guitar. Her songs were devastating and cut right to the heart. 1993's Exile on Guyville, a witty play on the Stones' Exile on Main Street, is a brilliant debut album that features several classic indie rock songs, including "Fuck and Run", "Never Said", and my favorite "Divorce Song". Take a listen and bask in a performer at the start of a creative peak that lasted three solid albums.

Divorce Song - Liz Phair

"Win the beating heart the prize"

With Bob Mould working away on his next solo release, I find myseld getting progressively more anxious for it to see the light of day. 2005s Body of Song revealed a revitalized Mould deftly incorporating electronic elements with his classic alt-rock sound, or as one friend said "Sugar as if it were mixed by the Pet Shop Boys". The album and subsequent tour found Bob rocking out with a great band and revisiting old classics from Husker Du, Sugar, and his early solo days. Check out "Beating Heart the Prize", a brilliant track from this album and a great example of how Bob is really expanding his sound.

Beating Heart the Prize - Bob Mould

"Don't set fire to the fire escape"

Perhaps the hippest band going today, The Editors are now on their second album and have increasingly improved. The first song of theirs I actually heard and really liked was "Heads in Bags". Off Rarities, which was released in 2005, "Heads in Bags" captures the essence of the Editors at their finest. If you like it, be sure to check out The End has a Start, the new album which is fantastic.

Heads in Bags - The Editors

"When it comes crashing down and it hurts inside"

1983 - a revolution takes place and one man ascends to the throne as the hero of boys everywhere, his name, Hulk Hogan -- his theme song, "Real American" by Rck Derringer and featuring Cyndi Lauper. Hogan was the embodiment of everything I loved about wrestling as a kid -- a hero, a face, and a man to believe in. He almost always won, and even if he lost, he won next week. Listen again to the theme song that shook Pontiac Silverdome to its core after he won Wrestlemania III. Today, he is the one man who could save wrestling, post Chris Benoit.

Real American - Rick Derringer

"There's not much time left today"

Thanks to the Rascal Flatts cover version, one of my favorite early 90s gems got a reprieve in the last year or so, Tom Cochrane's brilliant slice of Canadian rock, "Life is a Highway". Ask anyone old enough to remember the summer of 1992, this song was everywhere. Catchy, upbeat, and sing-along lyrics make it one of my top ten Songs of Summer. Travel back with Tom, seeing as how many of us never travelled past 1992 with him.

Life is a Highway - Tom Cochrane

"You played yourself to death in me"

Classic 90s band which should have made it, Failure could have made it and in my opinion should have. Ken Andrews wrote brilliant songs and was lucky enough to have the best James Bond intro video since 1984s A View to a Kill. "Stuck on You" is one of my favorite songs from the mid 90s - a mid tempo rocker with heart and soul. Here is a live version from the Whiskey in LA.

Stuck on You (Live) - Failure

"I'm confused that things are gettin' hectic"

This is for J. on the left coast, who recently asked me where all the Razormaid remixes are coming from. In reply, "I cannot reveal my sources, but the move to the middle of the state has been plentiful." In 1991, Dutch duo L.A. Style released the techno classic "James Brown is Dead". Here in its glory is the Razormaid Remix. Enjoy!

James Brown is Dead (Razormaid Remix) - L.A. Style

"I've been now sauntering out and down the path sometime"

Perhaps some of the best remixes from the 80s were of songs of Duran Duran's first three albums, specifically the "Night Versions" of several classic tracks. If you listen to any album from the 80s, perhaps the deepest album of them all is Rio, which has 7 songs that could have been singles, and all seven probably could have topped the charts. My favorite remix from this era, the Night Version of "New Religion", which is my favorite DD song off Rio.

New Religion (Night Version) - Duran Duran

"But I change whenever you're around"

Since I moved to Central PA, I've been re-evaluating bands from this region, and I keep coming back to the brilliance that is The Ocean Blue. Tight songs, brilliant rhythms, great vocals, and witty lyrics, plus they like the bands I like -- New Order, the Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen. 1996 saw the band release its last major label album, See The Ocean Blue. The slow burning "Whenever You're Around" was the lead single, and remains one of my favorite tracks from the band.

Whenever You're Around - The Ocean Blue

"I can see right through you, baby, you're a nuclear bomb"

During his mid-90s hiatus from New Order, Bernard Sumner released two Electronic albums with Johnny Marr. Curiously enough though, his best vocal performance may have been for a then struggling band from Manchester known as Sub Sub. Formerly a very dance oriented group, Sub Sub transformed into a great rock band, and eventually changed names to the Doves. "This Time I'm Not Wrong" represents their transition from techno to guitars, and surprisingly sounds very similar to their first hit, "Catch the Sun".

This Time I'm Not Wrong - Sub Sub featuring Bernard Sumner

"Hands off she's mine, until the end of time"

The English Beat, as they are known in the US, was a wonderful mix of black and white, rock and ska. Their debut album I Just Can't Stop It featured five brilliant singles, including the classic political statement "Stand Down Margaret" and the twitchy "Mirror in the Bathroom", which is brilliantly used in the 1997 film Grosse Point Blank. Check out the excellent "Hands Off She's Mine", which brilliantly captures the Beat sound in a brisk 3 minutes.

Hands Off She's Mine - The Beat

"Caught up in our own barbed wire"

While some of the members of Duran Duran were off making an album with the "Voice" a/k/a Robert Palmer, Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor spent some time recording an album under the name Arcadia. Their album So Red The Rose featured the Top 10 US and UK single "Election Day". My favorite off the album though is "Goodbye is Forever". LeBon's voice is simply fantastic and Taylor/Rhodes create some timeless music on the album.

Goodbye is Forever - Arcadia