Song of the Day: "Genius of Love"

ARTIST: Tom Tom Club
TITLE: "Genius of Love"
YEAR: 1982

Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love" is one my favourite songs of all time. It's just that awesome. It was playing over the system before Nine Inch Nails took the stage, leading me to spotlight it today.

Hear it here. The song is available on Tom Tom Club's self-titled album.

Set list: Nine Inch Nails

So, yeah, I was counting on somebody posting this set list. It seemed like NIN fans had a big enough Internet presence that I could count on doing that kind of thing. Wrong! Nobody kept a very good set list for this show. The ones before and after? Yep. Nashville? Nope! Suck-ass crowd (for this and other reasons).

So yeah, I went to Nine Inch Nails' Hallowe'en show, and despite some crowd problems and my lack of set list, it was awesome. They rocked hard and really had great effects to complement the performance. I particularly enjoyed hearing "The Hand That Feeds," which was followed up by "Head Like a Hole" as the last two songs before the encore. Great stuff. "Discipline" was also amazing live, as was "Hurt" during the encore. "Survivalism" was cooler than I expected and "March of the Pigs" was insaaaaane. However, maybe the best part was the Ghosts tracks. I hadn't heard them before, but the segments of the show when they were played were absolutely amazing. I may need to invest in that album.

The opening act, Health, was pretty cool. Not really my thing, but some nice modern progressive rock stuff. I felt bad for them, because the audience assholes were giving them a rough time. I cheered, anyway. I swear, some concertgoers are retarded and should be banned. Go home and listen to your albums if you want to have control over who's playing and what they're playing. Otherwise, buy your ticket and enjoy the show you're given, 'cause it ain't your set list to frickin' decide.

---
UPDATE: I see now that one of the NIN forums has updated its set list to look much more like what I remember. I'm gonna go ahead and post it here as it seems likely to be accurate.
1. 999,999/1,000,000
2. Letting You
3. Discipline
4. March of the Pigs
5. Head Down
6. The Frail
7. Closer
8. Gave Up
9. The Warning
10. The Great Destroyer
11. 5 Ghosts I
12. 25 Ghosts III
13. 19 Ghosts III
14. Ghosts Piggy
15. The Greater Good
16. Pinion/Wish
17. Terrible Lie
18. Survivalism
19. The Big Comedown
20. 31 Ghosts IV
21. Only
22. The Hand That Feeds
23. Head Like a Hole
--encore--
24. Echoplex
25. God Given
26. The Good Soldier
27. Hurt
28. In This Twilight

Song of the Day: "I'm Not Losing Sleep"

ARTIST: David Bowie
TITLE: "I'm Not Losing Sleep"
YEAR: 1966

This is one of David Bowie's early singles. I'm just starting to realise how awesome Bowie is, but this particular single is one I've loved since I first heard it. It's an awesome slice of 1960s pop, and while it's not the sort of thing for which he'd become famous, it's still great.

I can't find anywhere to stream it. The song is available on various early Bowie compilations, including Early On (1964-1966). It is also available on some various artists discs.

Gold (Olivia Newton-John)

For two decades, Olivia Newton-John was a force to be reckoned with on the pop charts. Her career took her from light country-tinged fare to more pop sensibilities, and the public went along with her on her journey. While her singles stopped performing quite as well near the end of the '80s, her career never ended, and she seems to have built a rather devoted following.

Gold is a two-CD, forty song career retrospective, collecting many of Newton-John's popular singles. On compilations like these, song selection always is always a factor. In this respect, Gold is a great success, in my opinion. Casual fans will find everything they want in this package. Those looking for an introduction to Newton-John will find this a great place to start as well. Even those looking for more than one ON-J set should find this a sufficiently satisfying place to start before supplementing it. In case any of these is a deal breaker, here are some tracks that I would like that aren't on the collection, although I don't fault it for excluding these over what it included. To start, a lot of her early period remakes: "What Is Life," "Jolene," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Winterwood," and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother." A few of her singles would also round out the collection: the Andy Gibb duet "I Can't Help It," the John Travolta duet "Take a Chance," and the 1992 Giorgio Moroder production "I Need Love." Again, these are quibbles, and, for a two-disc set, Gold has done a great job choosing songs.

The tracks on here are presented chronologically, beginning with 1971's "If Not for You" and ending with the 1998 Babyface collaboration "I Honestly Love You."

It's hard to choose the best songs on here. Familiar favourites include "If Not for You," "A Little More Love," "Make a Move on Me," and "Twist of Fate." Songs with which I was less acquainted that impressed me include "Something Better to Do," "Landslide," "Deeper Than a River," and "Can't We Talk It Over in Bed," a song which would be a hit when released by Grayson Hugh as "Talk It Over." Also present are the still ubiquitous hits from the film Grease. Most of the tracks on here are quality songs I plan on revisiting in the days to come.

Tracks:
1. If Not for You
2. Banks of the Ohio
3. Let Me Be There
4. If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
5. I Honestly Love You
6. Have You Never Been Mellow
7. Please Mr. Please
8. Something Better to Do
9. Let It Shine
10. Come On over
11. Don't Stop Believin'
12. Every Face Tells a Story
13. Sam
14. Making a Good Thing Better
15. Hopelessly Devoted to You
16. Summer Nights (John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John)
17. You're the One That I Want (John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John)
18. A Little More Love
19. Deeper Than the Night
20. Dancin' Round and Round
21. Totally Hot
22. Fool Country

Disc 2
23. Xanadu (with Electric Light Orchestra)
24. Magic
25. Suddenly (Cliff Richard with Olivia Newton-John)
26. Physical
27. Make a Move on Me
28. Landslide
29. Heart Attack
30. Tied Up
31. Twist of Fate
32. Livin' in Desperate Times
33. Soul Kiss
34. The Best of Me (David Foster with Olivia Newton-John)
35. Can't We Talk It Over in Bed
36. The Rumour
37. Reach Out for Me
38. Deeper Than a River
39. The Grease Megamix (John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John)
40. I Honestly Love You (with Babyface)

Set lists: Lupe Fiasco, Lil Wayne

Saw Lupe Fiasco and Lil Wayne on Thursday night. Lil Wayne was the headlining act, but Lupe Fiasco was my reason for attending. I'm not a huge Wayne fan, and although I stayed for his whole set, I can't say my mind changed much. The opening act was Free Sol, who may actually have some good music, but whose set sucked as their bass was turned up way too effin' ear-splittingly loud, making it impossible to enjoy.

Anyhow, Lupe Fiasco brought it. I loved his set, and it made the night worthwhile despite the others. "Go Go Gadget Flow" sounds particularly amazing live. I just wish he'd had more time to perform. I did attempt to keep Lil Wayne's set as well, but not being as familiar with his shit, it's pretty spotty. Maybe someone can fill in the blanks. Free Sol I didn't even try to guess.

Lupe Fiasco's set:
1. Kick, Push
2. Hip Hop Saved My Life
3. I Gotcha
4. Go Go Gadget Flow
5. Dumb It Down
6. Paris, Tokyo
7. Superstar (with a pretty cool "I love you you you..." intro)
8. Daydreamin' with a great "wake the fuck up" speech

Speaking of the speech, that's one other place where Fiasco upstaged Lil Wayne. When he spoke, he was fun to listen to. Lil Wayne was, erm, less so. You can only be amused so many times by being asked how many people have bought Tha Carter III, you know?

Lil Wayne's set, maybe sort of kind of:
1. Mr. Carter
2. Bonafide Hustla
3. Got Money
4. Sky's the Limit
5. La La
6. Fireman
7. Might've been Tha Block Is Hot... something from his first record
8. Lollipop
9. Can't Believe It
10. Comfortable
11. Mrs. Officer
12. No clue what came here
13. ... or here
14. Girls Around the World
15. Misunderstood
16. Don't know what came here
17. ... or here
18. Duffle Bag Boy
19. Pop Bottles
20. Go DJ
21. Shoot Me Down (the opening sounding like "Iron Man!" ... dunno if it's that way on the record)
22. A Milli
23. He played a chorus from Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You." Don't ask me why.

Anyway, Lupe Fiasco was thoroughly enjoyable. Even if you like Lil Wayne, though, I don't know that I'd recommend a show. Most of it wasn't exactly live, vocal-wise.

The Daily News (special edition) (Donnie)

From what I can tell, Donnie is one of those artists who gets great critical acclaim, but can't quite seem to find the commercial success to match it. He's part of the neo-soul movement, weaving classic R&B and soul sensibilities into modern production frameworks. The result on The Daily News is overall pleasing. It's an outspoken work that has a lot to say on various sociopolitical issues, hence its title; its content is taken straight out of the news of the day. Released in 2007, these issues are still relevant, and it's an album I kind of wish I could play for people before they went to the polls as a reminder of what's really at stake when choosing our leaders. Standout tracks on the album include "Mason Dixon Line," "Blue Eyed Soul," the radio version of "If I Were You," and "Over-the-Counter Culture," which includes a rap from Phonte of Little Brother.

Tracks:
1. Impatient People
2. 911
3. Over-the-Counter Culture
4. Classifieds
5. Suicide
6. If I Were You
7. Robot
8. Atlanta Child Murders
9. For Christ Sake
10. Mason Dixon Line
11. China Doll
12. The Daily News
13. If I Were You (radio version)
14. Blue Eyed Soul
15. Mr. Media
16. Man Against Machine

Song of the Day: "Universal Mind Control"

ARTIST: Common featuring Pharrell
TITLE: Universal Mind Control (UMC)
YEAR: 2008

Common is a great rapper anyway, but this song, which has a kickass Neptunes beat, is amazing. I can't say anything else to really convey that. Great video too. Just listen.

Listen and watch here. It will be released on Common's upcoming album Universal Mind Control.

I'm Back for More: The Very Best of Her Nineties Recordings (Lulu)

I'm Back for More: The Very Best of Her Nineties Recordings is a two-disc, twenty-four-track compilation that supplies a good overview of Lulu's career in the 1990s. The set is named for her big hit duet with soulster Bobby Womack. Overall, I'd have to say that this set proves that Lulu still had it going on in the '90s. The tracks are generally strong and play to the soulfulness of her vocal delivery. My favourite of the bunch is "Let Me Wake Up in Your Arms," which features writing credits and vocal contributions from Bee Gees. Stylistically, this period is not particularly varied; thankfully, the style was a good fit for Lulu, so the results are generally very pleasing. The second disc concludes with five remixes of tracks from this set, my favourite of which is Nick and Stone's Elite mix of "Goodbye Baby and Amen." While I would not recommend this set as an entry point to Lulu's career, which began in the 1960s and has continued into the 21st century, I would certainly recommend it to those either looking for an overview of her work in this decade or simply looking to supplement their collections.

Tracks:
1. Independence
2. There Has Got to Be a Way
3. Restless Moods
4. I'm Back for More (with Bobby Womack)
5. Let Me Wake Up in Your Arms
6. How 'Bout Us
7. Until I Get Over You
8. You Left Me Lonely
9. Rhythm of Romance
10. I'm Walking Away
11. A Place to Fall
12. Take a Piece of My Heart

Disc 2
13. Goodbye Baby and Amen
14. This Time Baby
15. I Don't Wanna Fight
16. Don't Break My Heart
17. Every Woman Knows
18. Some People
19. Save Your Soul
20. Independence (CJ Mackintosh remix)
21. There Has Got to Be a Way (Drizabone remix)
22. Goodbye Baby and Amen (Nick and Stone's elite mix)
23. How 'Bout Us (Lovers remix)
24. Let Me Wake Up in Your Arms (Frankie Knuckles classic song mix)

Jackie...Plus (Jackie DeShannon)

Jackie...Plus is a disc lovingly assembled by Rhino Handmade. The opening twelve tracks are from Jackie, a 1972 album released by Jackie DeShannon. That album is a mix of songs penned by DeShannon and those penned by other talents, many of whom had yet to be recognized as the big stars they would become. The biggest hit single from the album was "Vanilla Olay," although DeShannon's take on Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" attracted a little attention. That one is a standout. Excellent rendition of an excellent song. "Anna Karina" and a version of John Prine's "Paradise" are some of the other top tracks from the first half of this disc.

The second half, tracks 13-24, are two b-sides from singles released from Jackie plus ten previously unreleased outtakes from 1972-1973 sessions. Four of these are some interesting collaborations with Van Morrison. One of my favourites here is "Hydra."

The set comes with very informative liner notes that also include some nice photos. The original LP's front and back art are reproduced as the front and back art of the liner notes.

Tracks:
1. Paradise
2. Heavy Burdens Me Down
3. Brand New Start
4. Only Love Can Break Your Heart
5. Laid Back Days
6. Full Time Woman
7. Vanilla Olay
8. Would You Like to Learn to Dance
9. I Won't Try to Put Chains on Your Soul
10. I Wanna Roo You
11. Peaceful in My Soul
12. Anna Karina
13. When I'm Gone
14. Drift Away
15. All the Love That's in You
16. Speak Out to Me
17. Hydra
18. Your Old Lady's Leaving
19. Grand Canyon Blues
20. Sweet Sixteen
21. Flamingos Fly
22. Santa Fe
23. The Wonder of You
24. Through the Gates of Gold

Put a Little Love in Your Heart (Jackie DeShannon)

Jackie DeShannon's Put a Little Love in Your Heart was released in 1969. That album makes up the first twelve tracks of this CD. The title track, which opens the disc, was a big hit, and has also proved a durable one, as it's a staple of oldies radio and inspired a remake decades later by Al Green and Annie Lennox. The other fairly big hit from the album is "Love Will Find a Way," the most overlooked of DeShannon's three national top 40 singles. (The third is her earlier single "What the World Needs Now is Love.") These two songs are accompanied by some great album travks, including my favourite, "You Have a Way With Me." Tracks 13-20 are bonus tracks from the 1969-1970 period, all but one of which had been released as a single a-side or b-side. The one that wasn't is the previously unreleased "Try a Little Harder," which is a cool track in its own right. Two nifty forgotten a-sides here are a minor hit medley of remakes, "Medley: You Keep Me Hangin' On / Hurt So Bad" and DeShannon's late 60s holiday release, "Christmas."

The one blemish here is the latter's b-side, a remake of "Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?" The original is from the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service and was performed by a singer called Nina. That version is one for my "so bad it's good" file. This one, unfortunately, is just bad. Don't get me wrong. DeShannon's voice is good, but that's actually part of the problem. She attempts a sincere rendition of some pretty damn bad material, and it only highlights the track's shortcomings. The children's chorus here, therefore, comes off as highly annoying, whereas, on the Nina rendition, it just contributes to the "charm," if you will.

That b-side aside, this disc highlights a lot of what put DeShannon at her commercial peak and also shows how she had grown artistically, and would continue to do so.

Tracks:
1. Put a Little Love in Your Heart
2. You Are the Real Thing
3. River of Love
4. Keep Me in Mind
5. Mama's song
6. Movin'
7. You Can come to me
8. You Have a Way With Me
9. I Let Go Completely
10. Always Together
11. Love Will Find a Way
12. Live
13. Brighton Hill
14. It's So Nice
15. What Was Your Day Like
16. Medley: You Keep Me Hangin' On / Hurt So Bad
17. Mediterranean Sky
18. Try a Little Harder
19. Christmas
20. Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?

"Dream On" single (Depeche Mode)

"Dream On" was the lead single from Depeche Mode's 2001 album Exciter. The song is one of the best on that album. The single is led with a different version from the album, which is great. The b-sides are a remix of album track "Easy Tiger" and three remixes of "Dream On." None of these remixes are exceptional, but they're good. Worth hearing.

Tracks:
1. Dream On (single version)
2. Easy Tiger (Bertrand Burgalat & A.S. Dragon version)
3. Dream On (Bushwacka Tough Guy vocal mix)
4. Dream On (Bushwacka Blunt mix)
5. Dream On (Dave Clarke club mix)

"Come Undone" single (Robbie Williams)

I recently picked up the single for Robbie Williams's "Come Undone." The a-side is one of my favourite Williams tracks. Great lyrics, great delivery, great song. The first b-side, "One Fine Day," is also a solid track. However, I like the other b-side, "Happy Easter (War Is Coming)," even more. The sound of the intro is almost Weezer-ish, in a good way, but the rest of the song is classic Robbie Williams. Good stuff.

Tracks:
1. Come Undone
2. One Fine Day
3. Happy Easter (War Is Coming)

Songs of the Day

This time around, I'm doing a list as I browse this year's Grammy submissions. All of these are recent songs that I've enjoyed, and want to note, especially as a convenience to myself as should I want to attempt a year-end list.

All are year 2007 or 2008.

ARTIST: David Banner featuring Chris Brown & Yung Joc
TITLE: "Get Like Me"

ARTIST: Anthony David featuring India.Arie
TITLE: "Words"

ARTIST: Liam Finn
TITLE: "Second Chance"

ARTIST: Gnarls Barkley
TITLE: "Run"

ARTIST: Jennifer Hudson
TITLE: "Spotlight"

ARTIST: Eric Hutchinson
TITLE: "Rock and Roll"

ARTIST: Jack Johnson
TITLE: "If I Had Eyes"

ARTIST: Kid Sister featuring David Banner
TITLE: "Family Reunion" (this one wasn't actually submitted, but I stuck it in anyway)

ARTIST: O.A.R.
TITLE: "Shattered (Turn the Car Around)"

It's fairly safe to say that most of the current songs I've spotlighted on this blog throughout the year have no shot at a Grammy nomination, and even less at a win, although a good many great albums and songs were submitted.

The 12" Collection and More (The Gap Band)

Chock another one up to the bookstore. While I've been eying The Gap Band's Gold collection for a bit now, a 2-CD collection mainly of single edits that does a good job of anthologizing the group's career, this one looked too cool to pass up. Admittedly, it's more a supplement than an entry point, but it's a nice collection of 12" and album-length versions of some of The Gap Band's biggest hits. The opening 13+ minute mix of "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" is stunningly good, and the disc maintains a level of quality that shows the care The Gap Band put into their 12" mixes. A recommended addition to any Gap Band collection, or anyone who appreciates good, funky 12" mixes from the 1980s.

Tracks:
1. You Dropped a Bomb on Me (original 12" version)
2. Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
3. Early in the Morning (original 12" mix)
4. Party Train (original 12" special dance mix)
5. Outstanding (original 12" mix)
6. I Don't You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops!)
7. Shake (original 12" disco version)
8. Humpin'

The Innocents (Erasure)

Added recently to my Erasure collection is The Innocents, one of their biggest albums. It contains the big hits "A Little Respect" and "Chains of Love." The album is more than just its singles, however. The other tracks are solid as well, especially "Phantom Bride" and "Yahoo!" A version of "River Deep, Mountain High" that closes the album also works better than I expected.

Tracks:
1. A Little Respect
2. Ship of Fools
3. Phantom Bride
4. Chains of Love
5. Hallowed Ground
6. Sixty-Five Thousand
7. Heart of Stone
8. Yahoo!
9. Imagination
10. Witch in the Ditch
11. Weight of the World
12. When I Needed You (melancholic mix)
13. River Deep, Mountain High (private dance mix)

"Turn It Up" single (The Feeling)

Got the single for The Feeling's "Turn It Up." The a-side is one of my favourite tracks on The Feeling's sophomore album, Join With Us. B-side "Make Me Pay" is also a pretty cool track. Next up is a pleasant version of Velvet Underground's "Femme Fatale" which I'm sure many fans of the original would call blasphemy. So be it. This one doesn't touch the VU version, but taken on its own terms, I think it's done well. Two remixes of the a-side close the single. I prefer the Alex Gaudino remix to the Me and Mrs Jones remix, but the latter isn't bad.

Tracks:
1. Turn It Up
2. Make Me Pay
3. Femme Fatale
4. Turn It Up (Alex Gaudino remix)
5. Turn It Up (Me and Mrs Jones remix)

Song of the Day: "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"

ARTIST: Bobbie Gentry
TITLE: "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"
YEAR: 1969

"I'll Never Fall in Love Again" has been recorded by many artists since it showed up in the musical Promises, Promises. The most famous rendition may be that by Dionne Warwick, a top ten US hit in 1970 which is great in its own right. However, I've recently become quite taken with Bobbie Gentry's rendition, which hit number one in the UK in 1969. This one retains the original verses and is sung with a somewhat different tone. Whereas Warwick's version highlights the playful aspects of the song, Gentry's is more interested in the pained ones. Both elements are there, and both do a successful job of interpreting the song; they're just different.

Check out Gentry's version of the song here, and, as a bonus, the Warwick take on it is here. Gentry's can be found on many compilation CDs, including The Very Best of Bobbie Gentry, An American Quilt 1967-1974, and a two-albums-on-one-CD reissue Ode to Billie Joe/Touch 'Em With Love. Warwick's version is, I believe, incredibly common on CD, but I've not looked into those options.

Songs of the Day

This one's a bit of a special post. I decided to take advantage of some of last.fm's library radio stations with some folks who have some jammin' libraries. These songs are all songs I heard and liked a helluva lot. I couldn't decide which I wanted to feature as a representative, so they're all here. To keep this short-ish, I'll axe my usual ramblings.

ARTIST: Mike Batt
TITLE: "Summertime City"
YEAR: 1975

Listen here. I can't find any CDs that contain it that are in print or even reasonably priced used.

ARTIST: Beck
TITLE: "Gamma Ray"
YEAR: 2008

Listen here. It can be purchased on Beck's album Modern Guilt.

ARTIST: Tony Christie
TITLE: Avenues and Alleyways
YEAR: 1973

Listen here. It can be purchased on many CD compilations of Tony Christie's work, including Definitive Collection.

ARTIST: Carl Douglas
TITLE: "Run Back"
YEAR: 1977

Listen here. It can be purchased on The Best of Carl Douglas: Kung Fu Fighting.

ARTIST: Fleet Foxes
TITLE: "White Winter Hymnal"
YEAR: 2008

Listen here. It can be purchased on their eponymous album.

ARTIST: Barbara McNair
TITLE: "You're Gonna Love My Baby"
YEAR: 1966

Listen here. It can be purchased on the various artists compilation Mod Fave Raves, Vol. 2.

ARTIST: N*E*R*D
TITLE: "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)"
YEAR: 2008

Listen here. It can be purchased on the group's album Seeing Sounds.

ARTIST: Phoenix
TITLE: "Run Run Run"
YEAR: 2004

Listen here. It can be purchased on Phoenix's album Alphabetical.

ARTIST: Portishead
TITLE: "The Rip"
YEAR: 2008

Listen here. It can be purchased on Portishead's album Third.

ARTIST: Sam Sparro
TITLE: "Black & Gold"
YEAR: 2008

Listen here. It can be purchased on Sam Sparro's eponymous album.

ARTIST: Candi Staton
TITLE: "Nights on Broadway"
YEAR: 1977

Listen here. It's available on the two-albums-on-one-CD reissue Candi/Music Speaks Louder Than Words. I'm assuming it's on other Staton collections too, but I couldn't uncover other options particularly easily.

ARTIST: Take That
TITLE: "Patience"
YEAR: 2006

Listen here. It can be purchased on their album Beautiful World.

Song of the Day: "Legend of a Mind"

ARTIST: The Moody Blues
TITLE: "Legend of a Mind"
YEAR: 1968

Frequent mentions of Timothy Leary in a class I'm taking led my mind to drift to "Legend of a Mind," a track on The Moody Blues' 1968 album In Search of the Lost Chord. It's not a song to which I listen a lot, but it's quite good. One of their more progressive tracks that I actually like. I'm sure it's just as well I was focused on remembering this tune than I was on lecture.

Hear it here. (What an awesome video that I didn't expect to find!) The song is available on In Search of the Lost Chord, as well as on some Moody Blues compilations (e.g., Gold).

Join With Us (The Feeling)

After anticipating it most of the year, I've finally gotten The Feeling's Join With Us! I've been putting off playing it trying to get a time when I was work-free and could really listen, but the wait was killing me, so I've finally just put it in.

Opening track "I Thought It Was Over" was quite familiar to me, as I played that single a lot earlier this year. It still sounds great! I managed to refrain from listening to the rest, however, until now.

"Without You" is a strong pop track. I can't figure out why it didn't chart well as the second single. The lyrics have an interesting interplay between the thoughts and actions of the singer which really works well to build the mood of the track. I get some "Band on the Run" vibes from it; you know, the slower part that opens the song.

"Join With Us" is another nice track. It's the album's fourth single (which maybe Amazon will ship to me someday since I freakin' pre-ordered.) It contains characteristically snappy lyrics.

"Spare Me" is a slower track that's rather pretty.

Third single "Turn It Up" is awesome! Another shoulda-been-a-hit. Very sing-along worthy. "I Did It for Everyone" has a very engaging intro. The verses are a bit different, but in a good way. The chorus, however, is very Feeling-esque.

"Won't Go Away" is a peppy track that reminds me a bit of a poppier version of David Bowie's "Modern Love." A quick Google search says that I'm not the only to notice that; in fact, it looks like it's more uncommon to draw a different analogy!

"Loneliness" is a solid track that I would say has single potential, should they choose to release a fifth.

"Connor" features some yearning vocals and direct lyrics which save it from falling into the trap of similar songs that end up sounding over-the-top, insincere, or both.

The transition into "This Time" is quite nice. A demo of this track is a b-side to "Never Be Lonely," so I guess I'd basically heard it before. The studio version is good as well.

"Don't Make Me Sad" makes me understand why some of the reviews I've read cite an Electric Light Orchestra influence. I can hear it on this track. Good thing I like ELO! I'm not saying you'd mistake this for one of their tracks, but the sound is there. It's a cool tune.

"The Greatest Show on Earth" slows it back down. The sparse piano track commands a focus on the vocals and lyrics, and it is a pretty well-written piece.

Hidden track "We Can Dance" had me smiling before the vocals even came on. Something about the intro music. I actually think it's one of my top songs on the album.

So far, this is trending toward being one of my top five albums for the year. I'd say 90% chance it ends in the top five, 65% it ends in the top 3, and about a 10% shot it's number one.

The liner notes don't have much in the line of information, but they do offer the lyrics for all tracks as well as some nice photos. I find the cover art and related single artwork to be an upgrade from the related Twelve Stops and Home releases.

I may have had to wait a while, but it was worth it. The Feeling maintain status as one of my favorite current bands, even though they seem to have abandoned the Stateside audience.

Tracks:
1. I Thought It Was Over
2. Without You
3. Join With Us
4. Spare Me
5. Turn It Up
6. I Did It for Everyone
7. Won't Go Away
8. Loneliness
9. Connor
10. This Time
11. Don't Make Me Sad
12. The Greatest Show on Earth / We Can Dance (hidden track)

Songs for You, Truths for Me (James Morrison)

James Morrison's sophomore album Songs for You, Truths for Me kind of snuck up on me. I'd only heard about the project around the time lead single "You Make It Real" was making waves. I was excited to find out he had an album dropping in the near future, and I went ahead and looked up said single and was somewhat disappointed. It's not that I disliked it, but it didn't grab me. However, that didn't deter me from getting the album, and I very much enjoy it. For starters, "You Make It Real" sounds even better in the context of the album than as a single. As of right now, I think Undiscovered is the stronger album, but I would still recommend this one. Standout tracks include "Nothing Ever Hurt Like You," "The Only Night," and "Fix the World Up for You."

Tracks:
1. The Only Night
2. Save Yourself
3. You Make It Real
4. Please Don't Stop the Rain
5. Broken Strings (featuring Nelly Furtado)
6. Nothing Ever Hurt Like You
7. Once When I Was Little
8. Precious Love
9. If You Don't Wanna Love Me
10. Fix the World Up for You
11. Dream On Hayley
12. Love Is Hard

Electric Touch

After an awesome concert set, I picked up Electric Touch's eponymous album. I've finally made the time to give it a proper listen, and it's great! So far, I think it's safely in my top ten albums of 2008. It clocks in at just over half an hour in length, but in that short span of time it packs a real punch. Lead single and opening track "Love in Our Hearts" is alternative rock, but the guitar work seems to carry some mainstream rock influence from the likes of AC/DC, leading to an enjoyable fusion of the two worlds. "Call My Name" is another alt rocker with a very energetic vocal performance. It also makes good use of a synthesizer. "Saved" almost sounds like a more sophisticated version of Blue October. "Lines" and "Don't Be Afraid," one of the tracks I hadn't heard live, sound like the sort of pop-rock The Feeling might create, which for me is a very good thing. The former, however, is somewhat edgier than your usual Feeling tune, but still makes nice use of backing harmonies. "Give Me a Sign" conveys a sort of pent-up energy that I did not expect to transfer from the live performance to the recorded version, but I was mistaken. That energy finds its release in "Dance," with some instrument work that reminds me somewhat of The Last Shadow Puppets or some artist of that ilk. "Sonic Love" and "Breakdown" are a pair of rockers. I don't really have a good comparison to make for either, so I'll just settle for saying they're cool tracks. Closing track "Who Put the Fire Out?" is classic-rock-leaning, and it was a good artistic choice as the album's closer.

In case it wasn't obvious, I'm strongly recommending this one.

Electric Touch is vocalist Shane Lawlor, drummer Louis Messina Jr. (and man, this guy rocks the sticks), guitarist Christopher Leigh, and bassist Ross Dubois. As defined on the sleeve, "electric" is to mean thrilling, exciting, or stirring, and "touch" to affect with feeling or emotion. I'd say that's quite accurate.

Tracks:
1. Love in Our Hearts
2. Call My Name
3. Saved
4. Lines
5. Don't Be Afraid
6. Give Me a Sign
7. Dance
8. Sonic Love
9. Breakdown
10. Who Put the Fire Out?

Paid in Full (Eric B. & Rakim)

Another cool bookstore acquisition came in the form of Eric B. & Rakim's landmark album Paid in Full. Any rap fan would do well to get this one. It is an awesome album. Not a bum track on it. I can't even pick standouts, because so many are great listens. The only track that might be a minor quality dip is "Chinese Arithmetic."

The version I have, a 2005 budget reissue, includes two cool bonus remixes.

Tracks:
1. I Ain't No Joke
2. Eric B. Is on the Cut
3. My Melody
4. I Know You Got Soul
5. Move the Crowd
6. Paid in Full
7. As the Rhyme Goes On
8. Chinese Arithmetic
9. Eric B. Is President
10. Extended Beat
11. As the Rhyme Goes On (radio mix)
12. Paid in Full (Mini Madness - The Coldcut Remix)

Song of the Day: "You'll Ask for Me"

ARTIST: Tyler Hilton
TITLE: "You'll Ask for Me"
YEAR: 2007

I was introduced to Tyler Hilton by his radio-friendly 2004 tune "When It Comes." How that song didn't become the big hit it deserved to be I'll never know. My next exposure to him was as an actor, when he appeared in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. Great movie. Small but well-performed role.

Hilton's "You'll Ask for Me" comes from a One Tree Hill TV soundtrack. I heard it for the first time recently, and it struck a chord with me. I can't say just why, but I find it a very appealing song. I don't know if it was ever sent to radio or promoted in any significant way, other than being played on the television show. Regardless, it's a cool song that deserves to be heard.

Video here. The song is available on The Road Mix: Music from the Television Series One Tree Hill, Vol. 3.

Innerpartysystem

Innerpartysystem's self-titled first full-length album is quite good. Lead single "Don't Stop" is what drew me to it, and while I can't find any songs I would say live up to that one's promise, there are some other strongish selections here. "Obsession" is probably the only other one I would call a true standout track. Still, Innerpartysystem is a good debut that's worth checking out.

Tracks:
1. Die Tonight Live Forever
2. Last Night in Brooklyn
3. Don't Stop
4. Structure
5. Everyone Is the Same
6. Obsession
7. This Empty Love
8. New Poetry
9. This Town, Your Grave
10. Heart of Fire
11. What We Will Never Know

Song of the Day: "(I Love It When You) Call Me Names"

ARTIST: Joan Armatrading
TITLE: "(I Love It When You) Call Me Names"
YEAR: 1983

Joan Armatrading is a British singer-songwriter who draws influences from rock and blues music. She's one of those singers who seems to have a relatively small but very devoted following. While I can't claim to know many of her songs, her 1983 single "(I Love It When You) Call Me Names" is one I love. It's a rocker with clever lyrics that I've rediscovered, causing a major spin upping from none recently to a lot.

Check it out here. The song is available on such Armatrading compilations as Love and Affection: Classics 1975-1983 and Greatest Hits.

Made in the Dark (Hot Chip)

I was pleasantly surprised to find a copy of Hot Chip's release from earlier this year, Made in the Dark, sitting in my uni bookstore. Rarely will I say this, but rather than attempt to recreate the wheel, I will defer to Wikipedia on describing it: their article, for a change, is quite comprehensive and informative.

My expectations were probably unreasonably high for this, so I didn't take to it as much as I expected, but overall it's still fairly enjoyable. Standouts: "Ready for the Floor," "Hold On," and "Don't Dance."

Tracks:
1. Out at the Pictures
2. Shake a Fist
3. Ready for the Floor
4. Bendable Poseable
5. We're Looking for a Lot of Love
6. Touch Too Much
7. Made in the Dark
8. One Pure Thought
9. Hold On
10. Wrestlers
11. Don't Dance
12. Whistle for Will
13. In the Privacy of Our Love

Song of the Day: "Krazy"

ARTIST: Pitbull featuring Lil Jon
TITLE: "Krazy"
YEAR: 2008

For whatever reason, I usually enjoy rapper Pitbull's singles. "Ay chico (Lengua afuera)" was a particular favorite, but his latest offering, "Krazy," is also up there. Using a synth line that imitates the opening of The Ohio Players' "Love Rollercoaster," the song is an excellent party track. "¡Sube el volumen!"

Hear it here. I'm not sure when it will be released on CD.

Discography: The Complete Singles Collection (Pet Shop Boys)

I bought a used copy of Pet Shop Boys' Discography: The Complete Singles Collection a while ago, and have been so excited that I've been waiting for a time I could really listen to it. I've liked a lot of Pet Shop Boys music for a while, but other than the "Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)" single, I hadn't invested in any. While Discography, released in 1991, obviously represents only a small part of their career, it's an excellent overview of their early output. My favourite discovery here was "So Hard," which is one of those perfect songs I have to wonder why I'd never heard before. Someone, somewhere, should be giving this some replay. "Jealousy," "Suburbia," and "Being Boring" were also cool ones I hadn't heard before. Familiar faves on here include "It's a Sin," "Left to My Own Devices," the Dusty Springfield duet "What Have I Done to Deserve This," "Opportunities," an awesome version of "Always on My Mind," the aforementioned "Streets," and "Rent," which I'd first heard as performed by Liza Minelli on the PSB-produced Results album, but which is even better in its original form.

Tracks:
1. West End Girls
2. Love Comes Quickly
3. Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)
4. Suburbia
5. It's a Sin
6. What Have I Done to Deserve This? (with Dusty Springfield)
7. Rent
8. Always on My Mind
9. Heart
10. Domino Dancing
11. Left to My Own Devices
12. It's Alright
13. So Hard
14. Being Boring
15. Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)
16. Jealousy
17. DJ Culture
18. Was It Worth It?

"Sweet and Tender Hooligan" single (The Smiths)

I decided to get The Smiths' "Sweet and Tender Hooligan" single. It's backed with a few rarities. The a-side is quite a good song, on par with some of their other singles, though probably not ranking amongst their very best. B-side "I Keep Mine Hidden" is also very good, possibly even better than the a-side. A remake of Cilla Black's "Work Is a Four-Letter Word" was a disappointment for me, because I love the song and I love The Smiths, but the pairing didn't work as well as might have been hoped. Final track "What's the World?" also doesn't measure up to the first couple.

Tracks:
1. Sweet and Tender Hooligan
2. I Keep Mine Hidden
3. Work Is a Four-Letter Word
4. What's the World?

Song of the Day: "Wrong Way"

ARTIST: Sublime
TITLE: "Wrong Way"
YEAR: 1997

Sublime's self-titled album produced quite a few big radio hits, and this was one of them. I fell in love with this when it was a current (which says a lot about young me, I guess), and I still very much enjoy it. I can't gauge Sublime's long-term impact, but, if nothing else, they made quite a few memorable, high quality hits.

Hear it here. The song is available on the self-titled albums, as well as such compilations as Gold.

Have You Seen Me Lately? (Carly Simon)

Carly Simon's 1990 album Have You Seen Me Lately? spawned the hit "Better Not Tell Her." Many of the songs, directly or indirectly, deal with the idea of aging. It's an interesting album, ultimately enjoyable, yet perhaps not overall as rewarding as some of her others.

Recommended for those who already have a working familiarity with Simon and want to dig deeper. Not recommended for those just beginning to explore her work. (Start with a compilation or, if not there, one of these albums: No Secrets, Playing Possum, Come Upstairs, or Coming Around Again.)

Tracks:
1. Better Not Tell Her
2. Didn't I?
3. Have You Seen Me Lately?
4. Life Is Eternal
5. Waiting at the Gate
6. Happy Birthday
7. Holding Me Tonight
8. It's Not Like Him
9. Don't Wrap It Up
10. Fisherman's Song
11. We Just Got Here

Hypnagogic States (The Cure)

Hypnagogic States is a remix EP released by The Cure as a stopgap for their delayed studio album, due near the end of October.

I wrote a review for a friend, so I'll just be appropriating that for this purpose.

Tracks:
1. The Only One (Remix 4 by 30 Seconds to Mars)
I don't like this remix at all. I think it completely changes the mood of the track for the worse. In fact, it's almost as if the new elements are working against the vocal track. I can't find anything to recommend about this track.

2. Freakshow (Wolves at the Gate remix)
I don't think this improves on the original, but it's enjoyable. It adds some club-friendly elements. Worth a listen. It's not likely to wow.

3. Sleep When I'm Dead (Remix 4 by Gerard Way and Julien-K)
This is probably my favorite of the remixes. For whatever reason, I find that this mix does a better job of bringing out the lyrics than the single mix did. Perhaps that's partially because I know them better now, but I don't think that's entirely why I found that to be the case. Anyway, I think this one works very nicely.

4. The Perfect Boy (Remix 4 by Patrick Stump / Pete Wentz)
This is another where the mood seems changed a bit, but unlike the remix of "The Only One," it's not completely killed. As with the "Freakshow" remix, it doesn't really improve on the single version, but it's still pretty good in its own right.

5. Exploding Head Syndrome (4 Single Remix by 65 Days of Static)
This is an interesting beast. It tries to be an epic composition that takes elements from all four songs. It's best appreciated if you can let your mind turn off a bit and just listen and drift along as it goes through its moods and phases. In parts, it succeeds, but "Exploding Head Syndrome"'s ultimate downfall is its transitions. There are a few that just aren't convincing and could just as easily have been breaks between tracks. However, if a little more care had been put in the transitions, then this would have been a must-have track that would have made the EP essential. Despite not being the great track it could have been, I do think this is pretty cool and would rank it my second favorite offering from this EP behind the "Sleep When I'm Dead" remix.

So there you go. It's an interesting, but ultimately inessential, release.

Gorgeous (808 State)

I bought 808 State's Gorgeous used on a whim. I hadn't heard any 808 State before, but I'd heard of them, and this album contains their hit remake of UB40's "One in Ten," so I thought I'd give it a shot. The results are mixed for me. Some of the tracks, like "10 x 10," are definitely winners. Others, though, are a bit more forgettable. It's neither a bad nor a great album. It's a spotty one that picks up in places. Standout tracks are "10 x 10," "Moses," "Sexy Dancer," "Sexy Synthesizer," and "One in Ten."

Tracks:
1. Colony
2. Moses
3. Contrique
4. 10 x 10
5. One in Ten
6. Plan 9
7. Europa
8. Prbit
9. Black Morpheus
10. Southern Cross
11. Nimbus
12. Timebomb
13. Stormin' Norman
14. Sexy Dancer
15. Sexy Synthesizer