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Happy 11th, 1997!

It may be due to the uninspired new music I was coming across, or some weird numerology obsession where if you are looking for it you will find it everywhere, but all the music that was working for me just happened to be from the same year.

So enjoy reliving the year through popular and not-so-popular representatives from the major indie rock albums of the year, and feel free to berate me for any egregious omissions...


1997: I Hope You Had the Time of Your Life.....Is Not on This Mix
1. Foo Fighters - See You (The Colour and the Shape)
2. Blur - Song 2 (Blur)
3. Green Day - The Grouch (Nimrod)
4. Sleater-Kinney - Dance Song '97 (Dig Me Out)
5. Freedy Johnston - On The Way Out (Never Home)
6. Blink-182 - Emo (Dude Ranch)
7. The Promise Ring - Is This Thing On? (Nothing Feels Good)
8. Guided By Voices - I Am A Tree (Human Amusements At Hourly Rates)
9. Spoon - Waiting For the Kid to Come Out (Soft Effects EP)
10. Pavement - Shady Lane/J Vs. S (Brighten the Corners)
11. The Get Up Kids - Fall Semester (Four Minute Mile)
12. Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Another Drinking Song (Let's Face It)
13. Marcy Playground - Saint Joe on the School Bus (Marcy Playground)
14. Matthew Sweet - Where Do You Get Love? (Blue Sky On Mars)
15. Grandaddy - A.M. 180 (Under The Western Freeway)
16. David Byrne - Miss America (Feelings)
17. Cornershop - Sleep on the Left Side (When I Was Born for the 7th Time)
18. The Dismemberment Plan - The Ice of Boston (The Dismemberment Plan Is Terrified)
19. Elliot Smith - Speed Trials (Either/Or)
20. Ben Folds Five - Smoke (Whatever And Ever Amen)
21. The Mountain Goats - Song for the Julian Calendar (Full Force Galesburg)
22. Modest Mouse - Convenient Parking (The Lonesome Crowded West)
23. Old 97's - Timebomb (Too Far to Care)
24. Me First & The Gimme Gimmes - Danny's Song (Have A Ball)
25. Stereophonics - Tie Me Up Tie Me Down (Traffic)
26. Slobberbone - Your Excuse (Barrel Chested)
27. Son Volt - Caryatid Easy (Straightaways)
28. Ron Sexsmith - Honest Mistake (Other Songs)
29. Whiskeytown - Avenues (Strangers Almanac)
30. Ani DiFranco - Napoleon (live) (Living In Clip)
31. The Verve - Lucky Man (Urban Hymns)
32. Radiohead - Karma Police (OK Computer)
33. Built To Spill - Made-Up Dreams (Perfect From Now On)
34. Yo La Tengo - Autumn Sweater (I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One)
35. U2 - If God Will Send His Angels (Pop)

To down load the playlists visit the article main page: click here

Labels: 1997, jon wolf, mp3

Rather than have a video that's rather random, I've decided to go with one of my favorite songs of this past summer.

So here are The New Pornographers, with "Mutiny, I Promise You"

Labels: the new pornographers, video of the day

Legendary actor Paul Newman passed today. He was 83.

Labels: paul newman, rip

Somehow, I missed this yesterday, but dance icon Junior Senior have called it quits after ten years. In 2003 (the year that defined the decade) they had their biggest hit with, "Move Your Feet". Dance floors 'round the world are shedding tears.

They have posted a MySpace blog to say good bye. You can read it here

From YouTube, here's "Move Your Feet"


And live from Top of the Pops in 2003:

Labels: junior senior, rip, video of the day

- Dragonette's new album, Galore, will be released digitally on October 14 and physically on October 28, 2008.

MP3: Dragonette - Competition (Whip Vocal Mix)

- Girl in a Coma will be opening the Tegan and Sara tour, in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 30, at Tabernacle.

MP3: Girl in a Coma - Clumsy Sky

- Partisan Records, recently formed by Ian Wheeler and Tim Putnam, ave released albums by The Standard, Deer Tick and Holy Sons.

MP3: Deer Tick - Art Isn't Real (City of Sin)

MP3: The Standard - Hotel

MP3: Holy Sons - Gnostic Device

Tilly and the Wall have a new video for "Alligator Skin"

TILLY & THE WALL - ALLIGATOR SKIN from Team Love on Vimeo.

- The Raveonettes latest EP Sometimes They Drop By was released this week by Vice Records.

- Los Angeles-based musician and filmmaker Samuel Markus (formerly of Rosewood Thieves) will be releasing his full-length album New Dawn digitally on September 30, 2008. The physical album will be released on February 24, 2009.

MP3: Samuel Markus - New Dawn

- Joshua Radin's album, Simple Minds, will be released on September 30, 2008. His album was the most downloaded digital album in iTunes last week.

MP3 Stream: - Joshua Radin - I'd Rather Be With You

Labels: deer tick, Dragonette, girl in a coma, holy sons, joshua radin, news and notes, raveonettes, samuel markus, the standard, tilly and the wall

The whole election has me at a loss for words. First, I have no political bias coming into this debate. Second, I prefer to observe the process than play take-a-side politics.

This debate should, and may, be the most important debate of the election process.

But why do I feel like we, as people, won't hear anything new?

And even if we do, will anyone actually listen to it once the spin machines do their follow-up work?

I hate spin. And I'm not talking about no spin like Fox News talks about. I mean the honest facts; the truths; the analysis.

But not the spin.

Labels: debate, mccain, obama

I think everyone knew the day was coming, but another of the voices of youth have moved on with Larry Munson's announced retirement as the voice of the Georgia Bulldogs. For the last 10 years I've made a point to listening because his departure was always top-of-mind.

Many others have touched on all the details ... but here's my small voice of gratitute for the many memories.

Labels: larry munson

Ever since the last edition of The Pulse, I've been thinking about another topic that, even as I get older, is still one I love to debate.

Who are the coolest musical acts, ever?

There's a million ways to define "cool" and considering that it is relative to each and ever person; it's difficult to pin-point. So I decided to base this on how I define cool.

- A band or artist, that when you hear playing at a record store, bar, club, friendÕs house, etc., you think to yourself, "wow, what didnÕt I think about playing that?!";
- A band or artist whose story or career is causes them to just be cool for what theyÕve been through;
- A band or artist that has a song, that makes your heart race or drop; causes instant euphoria or depression;
- A band or artist who makes you talk to your friends or post on your blog about how awesome they are Ð and then six months later you are still takling about how awesome they are; and finally
- A band or artist that, when being described, can only be done by using ÒcoolÓ or a synonym.

Band and artist that fall into the following categories are immediately disqualified:

- The lead singer/artist committed suicide - or died as a result of self-negligence (I mean seriously ... cliche);
- Has started in a reality TV show;
- Is named Michael Jackson, because as amazing as his work was back in the day, the cat is just wrong.

With that being said, here is the beginning of a list of artists that are straight-up, effinÕ cool (in no particular order):

T-Rex Ð Every time I hear a T-Rex song, I feel like less of a music aficionado for not owning ever T-Rex album.

Yaz Ð Seriously, Upstairs at Eric's, may be the best one-and-done album by a band ever; not to mention one of the best dance albums of the era.

Jesus and Mary Chain Ð Every time I hear ÒHead OnÓ it makes me which I was a rock star.

Le Tigre Ð Cool like fashion and broke up before putting out derivative, glossy albums.

New Order Ð With Joy Division disqualified due to Ian CurtisÕs suicide, New Order still crafted so many great songs, itÕs just plan silly.

Garbage Ð Okay, this is one that I know no one expected. But in the mid-Ô90Õs who was a cooler-than-the-cool front-woman than Shirley Manson?

The Raveonettes Ð Danes that define what this story is about. They look, song and art the coolest group in the world today.

The Postal Service Ð I know this is a controversial choice. Not only are they a side-project, but their songs have been used for major TV ad campaigns, but album was both genre defining and changing. It will be a top-10 of the Ô00s disc on just about every blog next year.

The Smiths Ð Morrissey and Marr. Need I say more?

Johnny Cash/Willie Nelson/Kris Kristofferson/Waylon Jennings Ð Collectively, They Highwaymen, individually the greatest writers and performers of their generation in the country genre.

The Cardigans Ð Do you remember the video for ÒMy Favorite GameÓ?

Lucero Ð If you donÕt crave whiskey and a cigarette when listening to them, you donÕt have a pulse.


So thereÕs a start. Agree. Disagree. When this becomes an article, it will include your feedback and recommendations.

So add more ideas to the comments section or e-mail them to me at deadjournalist at gmail dot com.

Labels: cardigans, garbage, le tigre, lucero, morrissey, raveonettes, the pulse, the smiths, trex

My exclusive interview with Pierre de Reeder will be up later tonight. de Reeder, who released his debut solo album last month, is also the bassist for Rilo Kiley.

Here's an outtake from the interview:

Who were the artists that influenced you the most as a younger musician? Who most influences you now?

PdR: Ah influences É such a broad thing. Because even music I heard when I was six still has a lasting influence.

My young, young years had a lot of Tom Jones, Sinatra, Humberdink, etc. floating around the household.

But I guess I really started being interested in being a ÒmusicianÓ when I was around 14 and right at that time I was just coming out of a lot of classic rock. Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Beatles, etc. And moving into a strange combination of Reggae and Goth rock!

IÕve moved through the worlds of The Pixies, David Bowie, The Cure, The Zombies, Willie Nelson, The Jayhawks, Modest Mouse, Elliott Smith, Dylan, Neil Young and on and on. All of which endure and have had their influence.

ThatÕs the funny thing, to some degree, they always will.

Labels: interviews, Pierre de Reeder, rilo kiley

Web site? Blog? Zine?

What the hell exactly is DeadJournlist.com? I've been thinking about it off and on for a while now. For some reason, how the site is defined matters to me. It is somewhat trivial, but none-the-less, I feel the need to explain my thoughts.

DeadJournalist.com started as, and still is a Web site first and foremost. It does have a blog component, but it isn't a "blog".

Why the distinction?

For one, the site (excluding the blog) isn't built on Blogger or Wordpress (and if it was, I'd be able to have RSS feeds or use feedburner, etc and actually have a more interactive site). But more so, I wanted it to be more than just a throw-away blog. I wanted to content to have some kind of impact.

I wonder if I have accomplished that. Not that a blog can't have impact, but to me, the reference of a Web site carries more significant meaning than that of a blog. I wanted some sort of journalistic integrity to the site. It's how the site got it's name - dead journalist (originally, the working name was the dead journalist or the dead journalists) referring to the american journalists whose dedication to being a journalist was more important that their own star-power.

As the site has evolved, or devolved, I've tried to stay true to the want of journalistic integrity. Whether I've stayed the path is a subject open to interpretation.

At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. As long as the site is taken with the level of seriousness, I'll be content.

But damn it I still it rather be called a "site" than a "blog".

Legacy Recordings has begun reissuing classic vinyl, beginning with six albums today:

- MINGUS AH UM by CHARLES MINGUS (1959);
- AGENTS OF FORTUNE by BLUE …YSTER CULT (1976);
- BOSTON by BOSTON (1976);
- BRITISH STEEL by JUDAS PRIEST (1980);
- BERLIN by LOU REED (1973); and
- 16 BIGGEST HITS by JOHNNY CASH.

Beginning on September 30, Legacy will be release more albums each week ranging from Nina Simone to Social Distortion.

-----------

Dragonette has accounced several upcoming US tour dates:

9/18 - The Mercury Lounge- New York, NY
(w/ The Major Labels, Oppenheimer)

9/19 - Le Royale- New York, NY
(w/ Headman)

9/22 - The Trobaudour- West Hollywood, CA - SOLD OUT
(w/ Does it Offend You, Yeah? And DJ AC Slater)

9/23/08 - Cinespace- Hollywood, CA
(w/ Does It Offend You, Yeah? And DJ AC Slater)



---------------------------


MP3 - Dragonette - I Get Around

Labels: Dragonette, news and notes

1989. Nine Inch Nails. Pretty Hate Machine.

Nineteen years and counting from the release of one of the most influential albums in rock history. Genre changing, it became a bastion of escape before grunge took over the angst-filled hearts of teenagers everywhere.

I suggest digging through your CDs, tapes or MP3s and listen to this album. For those of us who spent sleepless nights listing to "Something I Can Never Have" or "Terrible Lie" for hours on end, it will be a reminder the depths of despair-induced bliss.

For those of you too young to have experienced the album when it was fresh and new; take a copy and give it a few hours of listen. While I hope a remastered version, that will raise the low-end will come out around the 20th anniversary of it's release, the original is still relevant for it's lyrical content alone.

Labels: nin, nine inch nails., pretty hate machine

The Raveonettes will release four digital EPs before end of the year. The first EP, Remixed, is being release free on via Vice Records. To download the album, click here

Tracklisting for the Remix EP:
1. Dead Sound (80KIDZ remix)
2. Aly, Walk With Me (Nic Endo remix)
3. Lust (Trentemoller Remix)

The next EP will be release on September 23, 2008 with following EPs release on October 21, 2008 and November 25, 2008.

Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine will release his solo album, The Fabled City, September 30th, 2008 via Epic Records. A stream of the album is below:





Live at Shea, the live recording of the The Clash at Shea Stadium in New York, will be release on October 6, 2008. The release occurs the same year that Shea Stadium, home of the baseball club, the New York Mets, will cease operation and be dismantled.

The Clash opened The Who on their farewell tour of the US and played two nights at Shea Stadium on October 12 and 13, 1982. The band had recently released the Combat Rock with the singles ÒRock The CasbahÓ and ÒShould I Stay Or Should I GoÓ receiving heavy air-play.

The albums's track listing is as follows:

Kosmo Vinyl Introduction
London Calling
Police On My Back
Guns Of Brixton
Tommy Gun
The Magnificent Seven
Armagideon Time
The Magnificent Seven (return)
Rock The Casbah
Train In Vain
Career Opportunities
Spanish Bombs
Clampdown
English Civil War
Should I Stay Or Should I Go
I Fought The Law


Apollo Sunshine Tour Dates (with Dr. Dog)

Sep 13 Cambridge, MA @ Newbury Comics (in-store performance)
Sep 14 Brooklyn, NY @ Sound Fix (acoustic in-store performance)
Sep 15 Brooklyn, NY @ Monkey Town
Sep 16 Brooklyn, NY @ Monkey Town
Sep 19 Andover, MA @ Andover Town Hall
Sep 26 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
Oct 3 Fairfield, CT @ The Field
Oct 8 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's
Oct 9 Washington, DC @ DC9
Oct 14 Nashville, TN @ 3rd and Lindsley
Oct 15 Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
Oct 17 Dallas, TX @ The Cavern,
Oct 18 Austin, TX @ Mohawk
Oct 19 Norman, OK @ Opolis
Oct 24 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
Oct 27 Columbus, OH @ The Basemen
Oct 29 New York, NY @ The Mercury Lounge
Oct 30 Boston, MA @ Middle East
Oct 31 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse



Brooklyn-based band Bell Hollow recently signed with RCRD LBL, and will be giving away monthly free mp3s of remixes of songs from the band's Foxgloves album. Click for more information.

Low vs. Diamond tour dates (opening for Santogold)

MP3 - Heart Attack

Fri/Sep-19 New York, NY ¥ Fillmore New York @ Irving Plaza
Sat/Sep-20 Boston, MA ¥ Paradise Rock Club
Tue/Sep-23 Philadelphia, PA ¥ TLA
Wed/Sep-24 Toronto, ON ¥ Phoenix Concert Theatre
Thu/Sep-25 Cleveland, OH ¥ House Of Blues
Sat/Sep-27 Detroit, MI ¥ St. Andrews Hall
Sun/Sep-28 Chicago, IL ¥ House Of Blues
Tue/Sep-30 Lawrence, KS ¥ Liberty Hall
Wed/Oct-01 Denver, CO ¥ Gothic Theatre
Sat/Oct-04 Seattle, WA ¥ Showbox SODO
Sun/Oct-05 Portland, OR ¥ Crystal Ballroom
Tue/Oct-07 San Francisco, CA ¥ Fillmore
Fri/Oct-10 San Diego, CA ¥ House Of Blues
Sat/Oct-11 Las Vegas, NV ¥ House Of Blues
Mon/Oct-13 Anaheim, CA ¥ House Of Blues
Tue/Oct-14 Los Angeles, CA ¥ Wiltern

Mike Skinner (The Streets) will be releasing his fourth album, everything is borrowed October 7, 2008 on Vice Records.

To watch the video for "The Escapist" and to download a free track, click here.

Colourmusic will release their full-length album, f, monday, orange, february, venus, lunatic, 1 or 13, tomorrow, September 9, 2008, on Great Society.

MP3 - Put In A Little Gas

Upcoming tour schedule:
Sep 9 - St. Louis, MO @ The Bluebird
Sep 10 - Columbia, MO @ MojoÕs
Sep 11 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Sep 12 - Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club
Sep 13 - Tulsa, OK @ Soundpony Lounge
Sep 20 - Stillwater, OK @ Eskimo JoeÕs
Nov 8 - Austin, TX @ Waterloo Park (Fun Fun Fun Fest)

Labels: apollo sunshine, bell hollow, colourmusic, dr. dog, live at shea, low vs diamond, news and notes, raveonettes, rcrd lbl, santogold, the clash, the fabled city, the streets, tom morello

posted by chuck  # 9/08/2008 07:59:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

It's still hard on Friday afternoons/evenings to not get ready to deejay. As David Bowie sad, "Let's Dance!"

Here's an odd and random assortment of some songs full of extra cheese:

Walter Meego - Forever



Bloodhound Gang - Bad Touch


Ladyhawke - Back of the Van


Tilly and the Wall - Beat Control


2 Live Crew - Me So Horny


The Constellations (live)

Labels: 2 live crew, bloodhound gang, the constellations, tilly and the wall, video of the day, walter meego

Devastating news when I hit the home office with the death of Country legend Jerry Reed.

Reed, who was 71, is one of my all-time favorite artists. He was vastly underrated for both his song-writing ability and his unique mixture of country and funk in the late-'70's.

He was also out-spoken, through song, of the '70's gas crunch with songs like, "Lord, Mr. Ford" and "The Crude Oil Blues".

Reed, for many, is best known as the "Snowman" from the Smokey and the Bandit movie series. In the '90's appeared in the sports cult movie The Waterboy as the antagonist coach. He also pitched Lipton tea in the early '80's.

But it was music where Reed left his mark. Besides the soundtrack to Smokey and the Bandit, he also had cross-over hits with "Amos Moses" and "When You're Hot, You're Hot". He was also a Grammy winner for his collaboration with Chet Atkins.

I can't underscore how sad Reed passing is to me. Coming a month after the death of Skip Carey, the long-time voice of the Atlanta Braves, it's been a tough month for the remaining strands of youth.

Here's Reed performing, "She Got The Goldmine (I Got The Shaft)":



Here's Reed with Glen Campbell on "Southern Nights"

Labels: glen campbell, jerry reed, rip

hotmail is the worst.