Mother Love Bone

A Very Special Mix CD: Ten Songs That Kelly Clarkson Should Listen To That Aren’t “Pork & Beans”

noah | June 15, 2009 2:00 pm
noah | June 15, 2009 2:00 pm

91028_music-video-kelly-clarkson-i-do-not-hook-upKelly Clarkson had her turn in the New York Times‘ “Playlist” chair yesterday, and the results were, well, mixed. Weezer’s red album got a shoutout, as did the Irish band The Script, who Clarkson described as–eek!–“OneRepublic meets rap.” Kelly, Kelly, Kelly. Aw, Kelly. Listen. In honor of you being my favorite American Idol (and having one of my favorite albums of the year) (well, except for all those songs by the OneRepublic guy, which are just plodding and terrible and tuneless and ugh), I decided to craft a mix CD for you. Because girl, there is there is so much music out there that you would love–and that would probably love you back! More »


Admit It: There’s No Better Musical Valentine Than A Well-Executed Cover Song

noah | February 13, 2009 5:00 am
noah | February 13, 2009 5:00 am

Between this Monday’s release of the latest covers-stuffed War Child charity album—which includes the Yeah Yeah Yeahstake on “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” and Lily Allen‘s drowsy reworking of “Straight To Hell”—and the “what are your favorite cover songs” meme going around Facebook lately, I figured it would be fun to have us all share some of our favorite reworkings of popular songs. A few of mine after the jump, presented with minimal comment because after a week of scandals and Grammys and people not being dead I am wiped out. Feel free to share yours! The newer the better!

More »


Crazy For Eight: Let’s Make A Mix Consisting Of Albums’ Eighth Tracks

noah | August 8, 2008 2:00 am
noah | August 8, 2008 2:00 am

88888.jpgToday is the day to get all nutso about eights, or, maybe to just get nutso, if you have Olympic and/or Jonas Brothers and/or Boredoms-drum-extravaganza fever. (Woe to the person who’s suffering from all three.) All the eight-related hoopla got me to thinking about how the eighth track on many an album is a hit-or-miss proposition; particularly on longer albums in the CD era, it serves as something of a midpoint, and albums become unfocused and maybe stick their not-as-good tracks in there. For example: track eight on Appetite For Destruction, for example, is the OK-but-not-great “Think About You,” while track eight on Nevermind is the relatively irritating to my ears “Drain You.” And not to be all lazy-Google-research about this, but the phrase “track 8 is my favorite” only has 22 hits on the search engine; spell out the word “eight,” and you’re down to four.) Anyway, I decided to root through my collection and find some outstanding examples of an album’s eighth track–eight, in fact. They’re unordered, although the last one on the list is probably my favorite (and I found an amazing live version of it, to boot). Feel free to add your own!

More »



Seven Songs That Are Way More Fun To Drive Around To Than “Mr. Brightside”

noah | May 30, 2008 10:00 am
noah | May 30, 2008 10:00 am

radio.jpgOnce again, we celebrate the last posting day of the month with Rule Of Sevens, in which I make a bunch of seven-item lists in an effort to wipe the slate of the past 30 or 31 days clean. Today’s first installment is inspired by a UK car insurance company’s rundown of great songs to drive around to, which is topped by the Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” and somehow contains both Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out For A Hero” (which I swear is completely “borrowed” wholesale on the new Hold Steady album) and Survivor’s “Eye Of The Tiger” (which seems more appropriate for stop-and-go traffic, but maybe that’s just me). With gas prices soaring and the general crumminess pervading the world at large, the need for escapist music during routine, yet increasingly expensive, trips to the grocery store is higher than ever, so this perpetual passenger (who always kicks in for fuel) brings you her seven picks for songs you should crank up on your own personal radio after the jump.

More »


Holy Crap: Green River Reunion Show Set For Next Summer

noah | October 3, 2007 8:56 am
noah | October 3, 2007 8:56 am

File under “pieces of news that I thought Jess was giving me in order to fake me out and get my attention”: Green River–the Mark Arm-fronted Seattle band that the northwest rock historian behind lamestain pegged as “the first grunge rock stars”–is going to play a reunion show in honor of Sub… More »


Page 1 of 1