"Little Wing." There are other Hendrix songs I like okay, but that's the only one I really love.
― Rocking Disco Santa (Dan Peterson), Monday, 24 December 2012 16:26 (eleven years ago) link
The Walkmen - The Rat.
― ledge, Monday, 24 December 2012 16:35 (eleven years ago) link
Orange Juice - Rip It Up And Start Again.
Actually I suspect that a lot of post punk and new wave bands qualify here.
― Matt DC, Monday, 24 December 2012 16:47 (eleven years ago) link
The Damned - "New Rose"
― WilliamC, Monday, 24 December 2012 16:52 (eleven years ago) link
I think the Undertones might actually be the platonic ideal of this kind of band. Six albums and countless singles but I'm never going to be motivated to listen to any of them no matter how much I loved Teenage Kicks.
― Matt DC, Monday, 24 December 2012 16:55 (eleven years ago) link
Crowded House, 'Weather With You'
― I saw three shi*s come sailing in... (snoball), Monday, 24 December 2012 16:55 (eleven years ago) link
Boston - More Than a Feeling
― MarkoP, Monday, 24 December 2012 17:16 (eleven years ago) link
Electric Six - Danger! High Voltage!
― MarkoP, Monday, 24 December 2012 17:18 (eleven years ago) link
Kiss - "Love Gun"
― NINO CARTER, Monday, 24 December 2012 17:20 (eleven years ago) link
Yo MattDC, thanks for the shout out. These just go for me personally, I'm not playing god here! Happy holidays though!
― Iago Galdston, Monday, 24 December 2012 17:28 (eleven years ago) link
Dinosaur Jr. - "The Lung" or "Freak Scene".
― Mike Dixn, Monday, 24 December 2012 18:06 (eleven years ago) link
Julian Cope "Sunspots"
Tho' I really appreciate his curatorial efforts and writing.
― bendy, Monday, 24 December 2012 18:14 (eleven years ago) link
Eagles - Hotel CaliforniaSteely Dan - Reelin' in the Years
― my father will guide me up the stairs to bed (anagram), Monday, 24 December 2012 18:17 (eleven years ago) link
Elvis Costello almost works for me but I like Radio Radio as well.
― Just noise and screaming and no musical value at all. (Colonel Poo), Monday, 24 December 2012 18:20 (eleven years ago) link
James Taylor - Fire and Rain
― kornrulez6969, Monday, 24 December 2012 18:39 (eleven years ago) link
lol@ steely dan. one for the headz there.
― So: The Answers (or something), Monday, 24 December 2012 18:50 (eleven years ago) link
i dunno, beck and elvis costello and talking heads have lots of songs that i need to hear... i knew i'd disagree with everything in this thread before i opened it.
― billstevejim, Monday, 24 December 2012 18:52 (eleven years ago) link
Foreigner - Dirty White BoyThe Toadies - Possum Kingdom
― Steampig, Monday, 24 December 2012 18:58 (eleven years ago) link
oh man soundgarden forgot about them. "black hole sun" all the way for me. and then i am so done. but i love that song.
― scott seward, Monday, 24 December 2012 19:18 (eleven years ago) link
The entire Beach Boys discography can be boiled down to a 7" with "Don't Worry Baby" on one side and "Good Vibrations" on the other, and honestly I can take or leave "Good Vibrations."
― 誤訳侮辱, Monday, 24 December 2012 19:26 (eleven years ago) link
i'm not a big E6 fan but this is really their worst song
― frogbs, Monday, 24 December 2012 19:33 (eleven years ago) link
The entire Beach Boys discography can be boiled down
no
― If I was a carpenter, and you were a douchebag (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 24 December 2012 19:58 (eleven years ago) link
lol@ steely dan. one for the headz there
no idea what you are talking about. that one dan song is more than enough for me.
― my father will guide me up the stairs to bed (anagram), Monday, 24 December 2012 21:24 (eleven years ago) link
Hi Iago! Happy Christmas as well, I feel a bit bad about jumping on you on this thread even if you are unjustly depriving yourself of the Blondie back catalogue.
― Matt DC, Monday, 24 December 2012 23:38 (eleven years ago) link
― 誤訳侮辱, Monday, December 24, 2012 2:26 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
lol now do the beatles
― iatee, Monday, 24 December 2012 23:41 (eleven years ago) link
It's OK, Matt DC. I must say, I know Blondie the least of the three so I am going to give them another shot. Merry Xmas to you too!
― Iago Galdston, Monday, 24 December 2012 23:45 (eleven years ago) link
oh yeah, happy holidays everyone! Could 2012 have sucked any worse? I guess if Mittens won, but otherwise, a bummer of a year
― Iago Galdston, Monday, 24 December 2012 23:50 (eleven years ago) link
"Union City Blue" is my pick for best Blondie song which sounds nothing like "Heart of Glass" (which I love, and generally my favourite Blondie songs somewhat resemble it). But I guess that's a question for a Blondie thread.
― a panda, Malmö (a passing spacecadet), Monday, 24 December 2012 23:50 (eleven years ago) link
that bob marley one
― goodbye normative genes (Hunt3r), Tuesday, 25 December 2012 00:13 (eleven years ago) link
I hate the Beatles more than anyone you know hates anything.
― 誤訳侮辱, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 02:27 (eleven years ago) link
you sound cool
― iatee, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 02:36 (eleven years ago) link
these are all subjective but I guess that's the point. feel free to debate any of them cos i prolly don't know what i'm talking about.
The Eagles "I Can't Tell You Why"Heart "These Dreams"The Alan Parsons Project "Eye In The Sky"Fall Out Boy "Dance Dance"Sugar Ray "Someday"Chris Isaak "Wicked Game"Del Amitri "Roll To Me"Powerman 5000 "When Worlds Collide"Boyz II Men "Motownphilly"The Flamin' Groovies "Shake Some Action"Rod Stewart "Maggie May"
― billstevejim, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 04:17 (eleven years ago) link
Eagles, Alan Parsons, Flamin Groovies, and Rod all OTM for me
― Iago Galdston, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 06:34 (eleven years ago) link
Rod Stewart - Young Turks
Is surely what you meant.
― small-scale fux with (Spottie_Ottie_Dope), Tuesday, 25 December 2012 07:45 (eleven years ago) link
Man, Heart is essential listening
― when worlds coincide (Drugs A. Money), Tuesday, 25 December 2012 07:48 (eleven years ago) link
smashing pumpkins - cherub rock
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 07:55 (eleven years ago) link
hope I don't piss anyone off too bad with this one, but: Shriekback - My Spine (Is the Bassline)
Have tried, but nothing else I've heard by them grabs me at all. If any huge fans think I am missing out on the rest of their catalog, I would love some suggestions.
― beard papa, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 08:16 (eleven years ago) link
cat power - metal heart
― nostormo, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 11:12 (eleven years ago) link
not really large catalogues i guess, but stillbeach house - zebraxx - vcrbon iver - skinny love
― niels, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 14:17 (eleven years ago) link
I think if you only picked Strawberry Fields Forever and associated boots flying around that would be enough for The Beatles.
There are people who have made better blues and girl scream pop, better concrete or used sitars in their tracks more interrestingly, had better riffs or did the studio as an instrument thing...so for all the goodies in their immense catalogue you could actually get away w/SFF. Besides, so many tendencies are there in one single song that its a good sum.
That's what I do anyway.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 17:48 (eleven years ago) link
America - A Horse With No Name
― Talcum Mucker, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 20:26 (eleven years ago) link
Jukebox or Moon Pix version?
― Only Built For Cuban Linux (Leee), Tuesday, 25 December 2012 20:40 (eleven years ago) link
Ventura Highway by America is hundred times better than Horse With No Name.
― Jamie_ATP, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 20:42 (eleven years ago) link
i mean seeeeriously rules so hard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5J54RVZjYs
― Jamie_ATP, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 20:43 (eleven years ago) link
And to play to type:
Bardo Pond - "Tommy Gun Angel"Cocteau Twins - "Donimo"Dead Can Dance - "Summoning of the Muse"Stereolab - you know, the one that sounds like Neu! or Faust.
― Only Built For Cuban Linux (Leee), Tuesday, 25 December 2012 20:47 (eleven years ago) link
cat power - metal heartJukebox or Moon Pix version?
metal heart is the song i was going to post -- but i need both versionsi want her to keep recording this every 10 years until she's 90 years oldit's the only cat power song i need by a wide margin
― passion it person (La Lechera), Tuesday, 25 December 2012 20:47 (eleven years ago) link
Electric Six, but 'Gay Bar' instead of 'D!HV'.A bit unfair on Rod Stewart, as he had loads more great songs besides 'Maggie May' - although everything since about 1992 can be skipped.
― I saw three shi*s come sailing in... (snoball), Tuesday, 25 December 2012 23:00 (eleven years ago) link
Lazy and obvious, but...Mudhoney - Touch Me I'm Sick. Honestly assumed this would be mentioned in first 5 replies
They're great and all, but really.
― Master of Treacle, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 05:30 (eleven years ago) link
radiohead, maybe 'there there'. nb i love radiohead
― Tome Cruise (Matt P), Wednesday, 26 December 2012 05:37 (eleven years ago) link
should be good for another hundred posts or so *crosses fingers*
― Tome Cruise (Matt P), Wednesday, 26 December 2012 05:38 (eleven years ago) link
oops, you led with the lyrics, adam, apologies. it's just stunning here in america the pathology of the gun nuts in this country. and it won't change in our lifetimes.
― Iago Galdston, Thursday, 27 December 2012 02:18 (eleven years ago) link
"Jessie's Girl" is not only not Springfield's best song, it's probably not even the best song on his greatest hits albums. I know you're not a power pop fan, NYCNative, but he's got a pretty underrated catalog IMO.
― Gollum: "Hot, Ready and Smeagol!" (Phil D.), Thursday, 27 December 2012 02:24 (eleven years ago) link
Patti Smith - Because the Night(i also dig Ask the Angels tho)
― cock chirea, Thursday, 27 December 2012 02:29 (eleven years ago) link
re: Rick Springfield, "Working Class Dog" is a solid 10 songs IMO
― billstevejim, Thursday, 27 December 2012 02:38 (eleven years ago) link
Probably have to split her into two eras, but:PJ Harvey - "Dress"
― Only Built For Cuban Linux (Leee), Thursday, 27 December 2012 07:18 (eleven years ago) link
I'll go with Janis Joplin - "Piece Of My Heart". I mean, of course there's plenty of other good stuff in her catalogue, but that one song neatly encapsulates what she was about.
― Lee626, Thursday, 27 December 2012 09:14 (eleven years ago) link
Rod Stewart - Young TurksThe Chemical Brothers - Lost in The K-Hole Billy Idol - Eyes Without a FaceCabaret Voltaire - Nag Nag NagHot Chocolate - Put Your Love in meIan Brown - F.E.A.RLenny Kravitz - It Ain't Over Til it's OverCatatonia - BleedYoko Ono - Walking on Thin IceFeist - My Moon My ManCSS - MoveINXS - Never Tear Us ApartCrystal Castles - Not in Love (with Robert Smith)World Party - Is it Like Today?
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 27 December 2012 09:26 (eleven years ago) link
Cream - Badge
This is a good one.
Donovan - Sunshine SupermanEurythmics - Never Gonna Cry AgainChicago - 25 or 6 to 4
― Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 27 December 2012 10:00 (eleven years ago) link
> Patti Smith - Because the Night
For the purposes of the thread, I'd say "Gloria".
― john. a resident of chicago., Thursday, 27 December 2012 10:06 (eleven years ago) link
i really like 3 patti songs. people have the power, because the night, and pissing in the river. so, can't pick one. always happy to hear those three songs. that's it though. any more than that is too much for me.
― scott seward, Thursday, 27 December 2012 13:42 (eleven years ago) link
Would say New Sensation is the essence of INXS
Doesn't really explain earlier stand out stuff like Don't Change but is the template for every post-Kick single
― Master of Treacle, Thursday, 27 December 2012 13:43 (eleven years ago) link
Or rather every post-87 single that people liked and wasn't a ballad.
― Master of Treacle, Thursday, 27 December 2012 13:48 (eleven years ago) link
More than any other act on this thread, Patti Smith is one I'd walk five miles to see her sing live, and I'm only a casual fan, she's such a great performer with such a broad legacy I can't even think about reducing her to a single song she recorded many years ago
Unlike say Jonathan Richman who I love seeing live and have high-fived several of his latter-day records but everybody knows it's Roadrunner forever
― capital in ruins, thousands dead (flamboyant goon tie included), Thursday, 27 December 2012 14:40 (eleven years ago) link
Thought it was "Ice Cream Man."
― Albee Thousand (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 27 December 2012 14:52 (eleven years ago) link
Donovan - Sunshine Superman
YES. Good one!
― xanthanguar (cwkiii), Thursday, 27 December 2012 16:17 (eleven years ago) link
I own nothing by him, and radio has kind of forgotten him, but I would dig pretty much any Donovan cut that came on the radio.
― Rocking Disco Santa (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 27 December 2012 16:22 (eleven years ago) link
;_; I love so many Donovan songs but this is so true. Peggy Lipton's cover of "Wear your love like heaven" even begins with a "Sunshine Superman" quote
― capital in ruins, thousands dead (flamboyant goon tie included), Thursday, 27 December 2012 17:33 (eleven years ago) link
Unlike say Jonathan Richman who I love seeing live and have high-fived several of his latter-day records but everybody knows it's Roadrunner forever― capital in ruins, thousands dead (flamboyant goon tie included)
― capital in ruins, thousands dead (flamboyant goon tie included)
― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Thursday, 27 December 2012 19:01 (eleven years ago) link
Desmond Dekker - The Israelites
― my father will guide me up the stairs to bed (anagram), Thursday, 27 December 2012 20:22 (eleven years ago) link
I love Sleater-Kinney to the ends of the earth, but I don't think they ever touched the perfection of Start Together.
Janis Joplin I also dig, but that famous live version of Ball And Chain is gorgeous, passionate, and probably better than Big Mama Thornton's (the only time I'll ever say that about a white rock band's cover of a black blues song).
And ignoring what a cultural behemoth Johnny B. Goode is, Promised Land is far and away the best song Chuck Berry ever wrote.
― Everything You Like Sucks, Friday, 28 December 2012 06:38 (eleven years ago) link
Low - (other than a handful of their Christmas songs come the season) - Lazerbeam.
― besides Sunny Real Estate (dog latin), Friday, 28 December 2012 09:09 (eleven years ago) link
Desmond Dekker has a surprisingly rich catalogue of songs. I'm always impressed when I listen to his stuff. Songs like 'It Mek', 'Problems', 'Dracula', 'Fu Manchu' are all just as deserving as the classic 'Israelites'.
― besides Sunny Real Estate (dog latin), Friday, 28 December 2012 09:11 (eleven years ago) link
'Roadrunner' is no way my favourite Jonathan Richman song, but that will all depend on your threshold for his schtick. That song is a straight ahead blues/punk number that pulls no punches, but somehow I find something like 'Ice Cream Man', 'Abdul & Cleopatra' or 'The Morning Of Our Lives' far more indicative of his style (and ultimately more entertaining) than 'Roadrunner'.
― besides Sunny Real Estate (dog latin), Friday, 28 December 2012 09:15 (eleven years ago) link
Roadrunner is a bit like Teenage Kicks in that it's a song that sounds so full, such a perfect capturing of an aesthetic, that you don't feel the artist could do any better. You really can get everything you want from that artist from that one song. I've actually had the same thing with Hallogallo, rightly or wrongly.
― Matt DC, Friday, 28 December 2012 12:29 (eleven years ago) link
This is Will Oldham for me, I think. "I See a Darkness" is a great song, but I could take or leave the rest. I've got three or four of his albums (none of which feature the song I actually like) and I've never really been able to connect with his stuff.
― spastic heritage, Friday, 28 December 2012 13:56 (eleven years ago) link
Os Mutantes - Panis et Circenses
― Frederik B, Friday, 28 December 2012 14:30 (eleven years ago) link