coldplay - viva la vida
― So: The Answers (or something), Monday, 24 December 2012 00:14 (eleven years ago) link
psbs handily covered it so i wouldn't have to listen to that one coldplay but, i dunno, i still like it.
― So: The Answers (or something), Monday, 24 December 2012 00:16 (eleven years ago) link
chumbawamba - top of the world
― 'Separate Lives', by Phil Collins & Marilyn Manson (PaulTMA), Monday, 24 December 2012 00:24 (eleven years ago) link
Limp Bizkit - N 2 Gether Now
― los blue jeans, Monday, 24 December 2012 00:32 (eleven years ago) link
10000 Maniacs / Natalie Merchant - The Weather
― los blue jeans, Monday, 24 December 2012 00:39 (eleven years ago) link
artist/band with large catalog and you only really need to hear one song by them: the stereolab thread
― kristof-profiting-from-a-childs-illiteracy.html (schlump), Monday, 24 December 2012 00:41 (eleven years ago) link
I disagree with all of the examples so far on this thread regarding bands with which I'm familiar.
But anyway, my suggestion: Cabaret Voltaire - "Nag Nag Nag". I keep trying with them (I have *Red Mecca* and *The Living Legends* among others), but that's the only track that really does it for me.
― ernestp, Monday, 24 December 2012 00:49 (eleven years ago) link
"large" may not apply here but: atari teenage riot
― curly moe shempsen (donna rouge), Monday, 24 December 2012 01:44 (eleven years ago) link
i only ever listen to "livin on a prayer" but i listen to it all the time
― flopson, Monday, 24 December 2012 01:47 (eleven years ago) link
Sorry, make that "Like the Weather". I just happened to see the video on VH1 after work one day back when I was working second shift. I was pretty bummed out at the time, and her dorky dancing in the video really affected me.
― los blue jeans, Monday, 24 December 2012 02:07 (eleven years ago) link
Killing in the Name is the king of this thread.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Monday, 24 December 2012 02:15 (eleven years ago) link
and for the record, i might not listen to talking heads records but i've heard a LOT of talking heads in my life. since i was a kid. in the 70's. but that song gets me every time. especially on the radio in the car. my brother loved elvis costello. he had all his stuff. i listen to nick lowe and dave edmunds to this very day. but elvis, nope. and those first two albums are still great but i never need to hear them. maybe i've heard them enough. i still want to play Look Sharp! every once in a while. that album is tops.
― scott seward, Monday, 24 December 2012 02:23 (eleven years ago) link
Slow Ride - Foghat
― kornrulez6969, Monday, 24 December 2012 14:46 (eleven years ago) link
I disagree hugely with the Coldplay one. The correct amount to listen to is zero. Ithankewe.
― Chewshabadoo, Monday, 24 December 2012 15:49 (eleven years ago) link
Scott, The Selectors "On My Radio" is on the phone.
― Chewshabadoo, Monday, 24 December 2012 15:51 (eleven years ago) link
*ter's*
Iago has managed a clean sweep of wrong but especially with Blondie. Like all three of those acts have such diverse back catalogues and it's not like those three songs are either their pinnacle or the record that best encapsulates them.
― Matt DC, Monday, 24 December 2012 15:55 (eleven years ago) link
"Summer Breeze" is the only Seals & Crofts I ever really need to hear.
It's tricky because I want to say something like "Jackie Blue" by Ozark Mountain Daredevils, but you kinda need to hear other songs by a band as diverse as they are. There isn't gonna be a single song that best encapsulates them, but there isn't a single song that best encapsulates Beck either, so I dunno.
Also, there are bands like Soundgarden where I'd be perfectly content if someone were to put on one of their records, there are tons of their songs that I like a lot, but if it were up to me, 99% of the time I'm just gonna rock "Pretty Noose" and be good to go.
― xanthanguar (cwkiii), Monday, 24 December 2012 16:09 (eleven years ago) link
"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
So far I haven't read another example that's made me say "yeah" as much as Scott's original mention of "Pump it up" I could listen to that song five times in a row
― capital in ruins, thousands dead (flamboyant goon tie included), Wednesday, 26 December 2012 19:32 (eleven years ago) link
yeah i recall being disappointed in myself for not having gotten into the smiths sooner/earlier in my adolescence, too
― flopson, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 19:35 (eleven years ago) link
Oh I definitely feel this way about "Love is a stranger" re: Eurythmics and Annie's entire catalog
― capital in ruins, thousands dead (flamboyant goon tie included), Wednesday, 26 December 2012 19:43 (eleven years ago) link
i see this question as being like, i get the right amount of x every time i hear x by x. like, one or two vodka red bulls is good for me, maybe four or five if i feel like going nuts, but it's not going to lead me to explore the world of clear alcohol + energy drink pairings, though there is absolutely nothing wrong with that world and its enthusiasts.
― Tome Cruise (Matt P), Wednesday, 26 December 2012 19:46 (eleven years ago) link
i was just thinking about bands that i NEVER listen to on my own. ever. not cuz i hate them or anything but just because...i don't know could be lots of reasons. but even with those bands there is usually at least one song that i'm always happy to hear. it COULD be the most representative/distilled song in their catalog, but not always. like i said about "ace of spades" i could definitely see people loving that song and never listening to a motorhead album. and with that song you do kinda get all of what makes motorhead great in one short sharp package.
― scott seward, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 21:48 (eleven years ago) link
i mean there are other talking heads songs and elvis costello songs that i like but i am always in the mood for the two songs i mentioned. they always sound great. doesn't mean i would change the station in the car if psycho killer or allison came on the radio. (that's the only way i hear their songs pretty much. car radio. unless they are playing in a movie or something)
― scott seward, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 21:50 (eleven years ago) link
Starlight is obviously the right pick for Muse. As a bonus, it makes Keane superflous as well.
― Frederik B, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 22:51 (eleven years ago) link
ok, that description is pretty much how i chose the stuff i posted earlier. xp
― billstevejim, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 23:52 (eleven years ago) link
Cream - Badge
― Rocking Disco Santa (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 26 December 2012 23:55 (eleven years ago) link
I wondered whether Rick Springfield would qualify as having a "large catalog," and when I looked it up it said he has 17 studio albums, which is ridiculous, but also allows me to add "Jesse's Girl" to this list without any trepidation.
― Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Wednesday, 26 December 2012 23:59 (eleven years ago) link
:( sad to admit this but every time I put on Laura Nyro I actually just want to hear "Sweet Blindness". Her voice is too strident for me to enjoy her in anything other than short bursts and man "Sweet Blindness" has it all, I love all her songs yes but That's The Song
― capital in ruins, thousands dead (flamboyant goon tie included), Thursday, 27 December 2012 00:12 (eleven years ago) link
Eagles - In The Long Run is probably the only song I *like* to hear from them, but I dunno if any of their catalog qualifies for 'wanting' to hear
Motley Crue - On With The ShowI actually like them up to Dr Feelgood but this is the only AWESOME song they ever did
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 27 December 2012 00:25 (eleven years ago) link
Led Zeppelin - Kashmirto be honest i only listen to zepp for bonham. i abhor plant's vocal mannerisms and page's riffing doesn't do much for me either. but man, kashmir is the fucking bomb.
The who - I Can See for Milesanother shitty vocalist bringing diminishing returns to a bunch of songs that could've been great otherwise. this one works for me anyway, best chorus they ever made.
― cock chirea, Thursday, 27 December 2012 01:55 (eleven years ago) link
For Beatles i would pick "Happiness is a Warm Gun".
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 27 December 2012 02:09 (eleven years ago) link
Psychedelic yet at times universal lyrics, 50s rock nostalgia, weird interlocking time signatures that somehow feel natural, cheeky humor, childlike singalongs, John Lennon trying out for the best rock n roll singer, immaculate Everly Brothers-style harmonies, R&B girl group backing vocals, all ending with a minimal Ringo drum solo (snare roll into a single kick drum hit).
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 27 December 2012 02:13 (eleven years ago) link
Great thread idea. Anyways:
Pastels - Nothing to be Done
― formerly EDB (ed.b), Thursday, 27 December 2012 02:14 (eleven years ago) link
if i had to pick it would probably be helter skelter. there is probably a thread for that. man i have listened to the beatles sooooo much in the last 3 years. its frightening. they're fun to obsess over though. i can feel the obsessives. plus having kids who like them...its a whole thing. and i really didn't do that. they just had it in them. they are very easy to love if you are a kid. and i totally stood by cyrus during his Kiss phase. i didn't really want to listen to that much Kiss but i was nice. there's a good one actually. i never listen to kiss. i don't really have a favorite kiss song. i guess an ace song if i thought about it.
― scott seward, Thursday, 27 December 2012 02:16 (eleven years ago) link
and oh yeah, still relevant lyrics! (xp)
― Iago Galdston, Thursday, 27 December 2012 02:16 (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
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