Rolling Stone has a piece by Rob Sheffield ranking the top 98 songs from 1998.
Since it’s a celebration of the diverse weird styles and songs of a year that he says was known for being diverse and weird, it’s a grab bag of the unknown, forgotten, and other songs that are fun to remember. Like this one, ranked 48th, which I think would be good (love those breaths) even without the video (which is an able promo for the minor at the time, classic in the end teen flick Jawbreaker).
When I first heard this song it was way more punk rock than most punk rock, thematically if not sonically.
When I was in high school I fantasized about blowing the whole place up. Didn’t we all?
This is the conceit of the movie Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, isn’t it?
But the Boomtown Rats endure, and are important and their initial joust doesn’t say much about gun violence, but it sure does crank on the dynamics of mental health and violence and our lives.
Rhumba style, emotional vulnerability, and song, when I hear this I’m all ears. Contrast to the excellent James Hunter Song of the Week, which I’m not exactly dissing, but which I think doesn’t have the heart Lowe does on this song he is happy to deliver lightly. And, pardon the video.
These guys talk about country songs on Youtube. Something charming about their reactions.
I think Simpson intellectualizes his lyrics too much. Not good. But the Lost in Vegas guys hit some good points.
Best ngoni solo ever!
Pitchers and catchers today.
Clever video. But simple.
Simple song. But maybe clever. The lyrics seem to show a dark murder ballad, though I didn’t get that on first listen.
Whatever. Somehow this cute video and folkish trad song has scored 44 million plays on YouTube. That’s huge, it is real money, and it comes from Canadians into bluegrass, even if the music isn’t bound by genre exactly.
More power to them. This isn’t rock, but if these folks can earn green on this fine but totally uncommercial song, I’d say they’re successful remnants.
Also, good title and band name. Especially for northerners. Maybe not as good as The Band.
From the same label as the Ron Gallo cut I posted last night, there was a link on the end of his video, this is just plain goofy exuberant fun. The album is out later this month.
You have to hear this. Rock from Philly. I came upon this from my 19 year old daughter’s playlist. Life is good.
