For the past few years, I’ve frequented karaoke night at this local West Hollywood bar called Fubar. When I started going there, the rule of karaoke night was that you had to “rock out.” No ballads…So, for this month’s list, I present a playlist of songs that have brought out my inner “rock star” while I’ve karaoked to them at Fubar…

A.D. 1928 / ROCKIN’ THE PARADISE by Styx
Wait for it…hear that? It’s Uncle Sam screaming at me for including Styx on one of my playlists. This is a prime example of Dennis DeYoung at his theater-rock best. This was the lead track from “Paradise Theatre,” the precursor to the concept album, group break -upping pomposity that was 1983’s “Kilroy Was Here” (another guilty pleasure of mine). My first big memory of this particular song was seeing students from the music school I attended perform this as the leadoff to a showband version of Styx’s songs. I swear…a full-blown of “Kilroy Was Here” would work on Broadway. C’mon! And yes, there is a karaoke version of this…I’ve done it…and while only a few people really recognized, I don’t care…it ROCKS.

IT’S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME by Billy Joel
Billy Joel’s first #1 hit was not “Piano Man” or “Just the Way You Are.” It was this 1980 single from “Glass Houses,” one of his first deliberate attempts at rock. The album is often dismissed as being lightweight and forced, but it’s got some great tracks on it. And while this is one of the more cheeseball tunes from the album, it’s nearly foolproof at karaoke. It works great as a duet and EVERYBODY knows this one. Look up the video for this on Youtube…c’mon…you gotta give Billy some credit for putting a little gusto into his performance…All right, Rico!

ROCK DJ by Robbie Williams
Time to get into a bit of the dance-techno-rock realm here with some Robbie Williams. The video for this song actually got more press than the song out here. It had Robbie take it all off (yes, please)…I mean, ALL off…ripping off his skin and muscles (on second thought, no thank you). It owes a bit to M’s “Pop Musik,” but that ain’t a bad thing. This song particularly gets you marks at gay karaoke nights as many of us gays love the Robbie. It makes for a cheeky good time…

ROCKIN’ THE SUBURBS by Ben Folds
I’ll admit it…I have a few songs that are my trump cards in the world of karaoke. This title track from Ben Folds’ first solo album is one of the big ones. While I’m not one to brag, I’ll admit that I bring the house down everytime I do this. Not the most challenging melody to sing…some funny name checking of Michael Jackson (RIP), Jon Bon Jovi, and Quiet Riot…gratuitous, tongue-in-cheek uses of the word “fuck”…and a throwdown, balls out rock-rap coda equal ka-ROCK-oke gold!

ROCK AND ROLL DREAMS COME THROUGH by Jim Steinman (lead vocals: Rory Dodd)
One exception to the “no ballads” rule at the karaoke are songs by Jim Steinman…”Total Eclipse of the Heart,” “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Making Love Out of Nothing at All,” and “Dead Ringer,” but there’s one song from the Steinman canon that embodies his love of rock the most…this one. While most are familiar with Meat Loaf’s version from “Bat Out of Hell II,” this version off of Jim Steinman’s “Bad for Good” album is the far superior version. This version (featuring lead vocals by Rory Dodd) even cracked the Top 40. Not bad considering it didn’t have the weight of Meat Loaf behind it (insert rim shot here). I just like the production on this much better…the drum part is stronger, the piano gives it a more organic quality that wasn’t quite there in Meat’s version, and the strings and brass add a majesty to this homage to rock n’ roll’s power…wait for it…hear that? It’s Uncle Sam berating me again!

BONUS TRACKS
There were a couple of tracks I had to throw in as a bonus…these are not necessarily conducive to ka-ROCK-oke, but I felt compelled to share them…

ROCKIN’ IN THE FREE WORLD by The Moog Cookbook
You’ve never heard Neil Young like this before…This is from The Moog Cookbook’s debut album. The Moog Cookbook is a duo that specializes in giving popular songs the Moog synthesizer treatment. Behold the analoglicious tones!

ROCK WITH YOU by Michael Jackson
Have to give MJ some love in my list this month…Frequent visitors of my blog know how I’ve made many a joke at the expense of Michael Jackson, but as I mentioned in a recent entry, deep down, I was and still am a huge fan of his. “Off the Wall” and “Thriller” are two of my all-time favorite albums. This song, while not necessarily “rocking,” did help in showing off a more mature sound for Michael. RIP, Michael…you’ll be missed!

Download: Styx, “A.D. 1928/Rockin’ the Paradise” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Billy Joel, “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Robbie Williams, “Rock DJ” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ben Folds, “Rockin’ The Suburbs” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Jim Steinman, “Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Moog Cookbook, “Rockin’ In The Free World” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Michael Jackson, “Rock With You” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download all the songs in a handy ZIP file:

Download: “Ka-ROCK-oke” (ZIP)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

This set will probably stand as the poppiest and peppiest on Selective Service all year. Ladies and gentleman, I present to you my 20 favorite songs of 2008!

“NINE IN THE AFTERNOON” by Panic at the Disco
from Pretty. Odd
Panic at the Disco dropped the exclamation mark and the dandy makeup from “A Fever You Can’t Sweat” and gained a little bit of Beatlemania with their 2008 album “Pretty.Odd.” While the album was a noble effort to infuse a 60s sound into their canon, it was a bit uneven. “Nine in the Afternoon” proved to be a great lead single and was the album’s strongest track. A mix of harmonies, Sgt. Pepper-ish brass, and an upbeat chirpy and jerky melody made for one of the year’s catchiest singles…and one I score MAJOR points on in Rock Band 2.

“POPULISM YEAH YEAH” from Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
What best of list from me would be complete without a little bit of musical theater? This is one of the centerpiece songs from “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” a musical that played in Los Angeles in early winter of ‘08. The song was a emo-musical (yes, you read that right) about the seventh president of the United States. It’s probably the only rock anthem for 19th century populism that you’ll ever hear and it ain’t bad either. The actual musical was ok…wonderful set and performances, but weirdly divided between a funny, over-the-top opening two-thirds that devolved into a preachy, depressing almost Dances With Wolves-like dénouement.

“HUMAN” by The Killers
from Day & Age
Faithful “Music Bickering with Sam and Mandel” viewers (all three of you!) know how I felt about The Killer’s disappointing sophomore effort, “Sam’s Town.” Needless to say, when I heard about their third album “Day & Age,” I couldn’t help but feel a little less excited than when I awaited “Sam’s Town.” Then ,came their SNL appearance in which they performed this song, “Human.” It brought back some of the dancier sounds that I loved so much in “Hot Fuss,” while keeping some of the “Sam’s Town” epicness. The soaring chorus hooked me in and I bought “Day & Age.” While not reaching the fantastic heights of “Hot Fuss,” the album does rise above “Sam’s Town.”

“M79″ by Vampire Weekend
from Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend was one of those bands that we couldn’t stop hearing about in the early part of ‘08. Four preppy Columbia students playing indie-rock with a twinge of African beats a la Paul Simon’s “Graceland.” Really? I got their debut album and while not all of it worked for me, I could see why there was all the hype about them. “M79″ (named after a Manhattan busline) is one of the most rich and textured songs of the year…filled with African sounds, harpsichord, chamber strings, and rhythm changes that all blend quite organically. I’m not fully convinced about the staying power of Vampire Weekend, but with more songs like this in the future, they’ll make me a convert.

“I KISSED A GIRL” by Max Vernon
from Guilt By Association Vol. 2
Ok…before all of you give me crap about this…first of all, it’s one of the ubiquitous songs of the year…and second, at least it’s not the Katy Perry version. It’s by New York singer-songwriter Max Vernon. I’m not totally sure what the story is with Max, but his cabaret-meets-electroclash take on the song make this story of lesbian awakening all that more palatable. If he is gay, then all the better, as this song gets even more gender-sexuality-bendy!

“AMELIA BRIGHT” by Hotel Lights
from Firecracker People
Back in 2001 when Ben Folds Five broke up, they were in the midst of dabbling with some new material for a follow-up to their underrated “Reinhold Messner” album. The post-”Messner” sessions yielded some songs - many of which have been released in the band’s post-Five efforts (such as “Carrying Cathy” and The Secret Life of Morgan Davis”) - but this Darren Jessee-penned song was one of the most sought-after songs from the sessions. Seven years later, it finally was released as part of the sophomore album of Darren’s band Hotel Lights. What many don’t realize is that Darren was responsible for BF5’s more memorable melodies like “Song for the Dumped,” “Brick,” and the wonderful”Magic.” His knack for a creating strong melodies with an air of yearning and loneliness isn’t lost in this song. While his voice doesn’t carry the confidence or strength of Ben Folds, it does give the song an added sense of weariness that makes it that much more beautiful. The song would have definitely fit in the universe of “Carrying Cathy” of better yet “Annie Waits.”

“COLOGNE (PIANO ORCHESTRA VERSION)” by Ben Folds
from Way To Normal
Ben Folds did an interesting thing this year in anticipation of his new album, “Way to Normal.” He leaked fake tracks using similar titles online before the album was released. Many of these fake tracks were recorded in a one-day recording session Dublin. One that wasn’t was this version of “Cologne,” a song that is hands down the best track from “Way to Normal.” The album version is a more laid-back five-piece effort. This “leaked” version blows things up by having Ben accompanied by a choir and an orchestra of pianos giving it a church-like sound. This ballad (one of Ben’s strongest ever) has him playing the part of a man on a trip that’s marked end of a relationship contemplating about his new ex and Lisa Nowak (that astronaut who drove thousands of miles in a diaper to kill her lover).

“LOVE ME DEAD” by Ludo
from You’re Awful, I Love You
Time to delve into more theatrics with St. Louis’s Ludo. I first heard this song while listening to the Kevin and Bean show on KROQ. I’d never heard of the band before, but the lyrics and over-the-top, emo-meet-Broadwayness of this song drew me in. Deliciously biting lyrics of love/hate fill this song like “Fill my soul with vomit / then ask me for a piece of gum/ Bitter and dumb, you’re my sugarplum / You’re awful, I love you…” making it a winner. This lead single from “You’re Awful, I Love You” is enhanced by a clever, “did-they-really-do-all-that-in-one-take?” music video which you can find on Youtube.

“YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK” by Jon McLaughlin
from OK Now
A huge surprise from the famed PBS political commentator…wait…a different Jon McLaughlin? Oh yeah…this is the hot guy from that sang in the ballroom scene of “Enchanted.”

So, the curse of the cute singer-songwriter. They’re a dime a dozen…often, their albums are filled with one mildly catchy tune rounded out by a bunch of unmemorable attempts at melody with woe-filled-a-twee-bit-too-clever lyrics about lost loves. (I’m looking at you, John Mayer and Jason Mraz!!). Two of these broke that curse this year.

One is Jon..the other I’ll get to later in the list. This song (co-written by one of my long-time favorites, Bleu) is a tasty combination of sensitive singer-songwriter and ELO bombast. Jon’s vocals give the song an vulnerable edge that you don’t normally get from Bleu’s songs. On top of that you’ve got lyrics that name-check Xanadu, Avalon, “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and Beautiful.” It all makes for a lock in my top twenty songs of the year…

“I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER” and “TURN IT UP” by The Feeling
from Join With Us
Power-pop and dance-rock are kept alive by The Feeling with these two tracks off of their sophomore album, “Join with Us.” The album was released in the UK and has yet to make it to this side of the shore, but it’s one worth the import.

“I Thought It Was Over” adds a little disco-dance flair to their repertoire while “Turn It Up” turns up the sugar-coated goodness of their arena pop-rock sound. The production may be too slick for some, but for me, it’s just right…especially in “Turn it Up.” Soaring, layered harmonies, tinkling piano lines, whizzing synths, crunchy melodic guitar solos, and a little sax in the backing (yes…SAXOPHONES!) make these and the album “Join With Us” a MUST-have for any fan of catchy power-rock like Supertramp and Wings.

“10,000 NIGHTS” and “FASCINATION” by Alphabeat
from This is Alphabeat
It’s from “This is Alphabeat,” the UK debut of Alphabeat, a Danish pop band I started to hear rumblings about in 2007. This six-piece group is a little bit ABBA, a little Scissor Sisters, and a little bit Human League. Warning…you may get tooth day from these songs, but I’ll be damned if neither of these stay with you after the initial listen!

The first song “10,000 Nights” features Anders and Stine (the male and female lead singers) in a classic love duet. I’ll go ahead and say it…it’s most fun love duet I’ve heard since “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” This one is destined to be a staple of karaoke bars (at least, gay ones) for years to come.

The second song “Fascination” is the killer single off the album and the one that made me first love this band. It’s the hyperkinetic love child of “Footloose” and David Bowie’s “Modern Love.” Granted the lyrics sometimes don’t make a hell of a lot of sense (Easy living…killed the young dudes…in the high boots??), but it is one of the happiest, most carefree songs I’ve heard in ages. This UK video for this is another to search for on Youtube. It’s a colorful collage of dancing, whooping, and confetti. THIS is what pop should be…They start invading the US in early ‘09 when they tour with Katy Perry…damn you, Katy Perry!

“THE LUCKY ONES” and “GOT A HABIT NOW” by Val Emmich
from Little Daggers
This is the other artist in the category of guys who’ve broken the cute singer-songwriter curse. You might remember Val Emmich from his guest role as Jamie, the coffeeboy everybody went gay for on “30 Rock” or you might have seen him on “Ugly Betty.” Well, he’s more than just a pretty face who can act…he’s also a great singer-songwriter whose album “Little Daggers” is one of the sleepers of the year. When I first heard about the album, I though it was a clear candidate for the mopey singer-songwriter bin. I was WRONG.

The lyrics might be dark, but the melodies are upbeat, catchy and produced with just enough bells and whistles that it doesn’t lose its intimacy. Take for instance the album opener…”The Lucky Ones.” The song breaks out of the gate with a stream of “do do do do’s” that will implant themselves in your end long after the song is over. The handclaps and driving beat are uneasily (in a good way) counterbalanced by lyrics like “Every time i take the leap / I think I’ll end up on my feet / But if history tells me anything / I’ll have bruises on my back.”

However, the highlight of the album is “Got a Habit Now,” a confessional about needing alcohol to be open. The gorgeous melody is accented by some faint “oohs” and “doo wops” that all bring to mind Marshall Crenshaw. One of the best odes to drunken honesty…ever…

“HOLD IT IN” and “VICTORIA (Live)” by Jukebox the Ghost
from Live and Let Ghosts
A couple of playlists ago, I extolled the wonders of Jukebox the Ghost, a three-piece piano/guitar/drums band from Washington D.C. Their debut album “Live and Let Ghosts” stands as one of the best of 2008. The last samplings I shared featured guitarist Tommy Siegel on lead vocals. These two spotlight Ben Thronewill (their pianist) singing.

What’s brilliant about the Jukebox the Ghosts song’s is that they inject humor without being overly cloying. “Hold It In” takes the classic scenario of a crush and turns it into this giddy, clap-along self-debate about whether to own up to liking somebody. The video for the song takes things a step further with Peanuts-like illustrations that evoke the old notion of dealing with one’s schoolyard crush.

The second Jukebox track is a live radio performance of “Victoria,” the most recent single by the band. The song highlights Ben’s masterful piano playing showing off his classical background. It further demonstrates how these guys are wizards at the “bop-along” song, tunes to which you’ll just find yourself bobbing your head along uncontrollably. This recording shows that what you hear is what you get with these guys. They are just as great live as they are on record. DEFINITELY ones to keep an eye out for in 2009…

“GOOD DAY,” “WELCOME TO TALLY HALL,” and “TAKEN FOR A RIDE” by Tally Hall
from Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum
Some may consider this a cheat because earlier versions of these songs were released a couple of years ago, BUT the re-recorded 2008 version of this Michigan-based band’s debut “Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum” is one of the best albums of the past five years. I heard about these guys totally by accident. I was sitting in my friend’s Drew car and was screwing around with his CD player in his car. I stumbled upon this CD after a couple of button preses and it was love at first listen…

It would unfair and hard to pigeonhole Tally Hall with one particular style. They’re powerpop, uncursed sensitive singer-songwriters, theatrical, alternative…honestly…it’s pretty pointless to label them. Like Jukebox the Ghost, their songs are humorous and clever without being all “hey, look at us being clever!” The songwriting and production are complex and textured without being overbearing. In a way, they remind me of Jellyfish (circa “Spilt Milk”) with a little bit of restraint….

“Good Day,” the album opener, encapsulates what to expect from Tally Hall…hooky melodies, time changes galore, layer upon layer of vocals, a kaleidoscope of instrumentation, and quirky lyrics. This song, penned by keyboardist Andrew Horowitz, won the John Lennon songwriting award and rightfully so. It goes from being a Cars song to a little Barenaked Ladies to They Might Be Giants to Queen all in the span of a matter of minutes. While on paper it sounds like it could be a mess, it’s not…it all works together very nicely. The video directed by band member Joe Hawley is nothing short of amazing as well…probably my FAVORITE song of 2008.

“Welcome to Tally Hall” is sort of a theme song for the band introducing listeners to the individual members of the band through the wonders of rock and rap. Mmhmm…rap. Nerd rap can often end up being cheesy and hack, but here…not so much. As with other songs on the album, it’s not content to sit in the square box of one style. As it evolves, the song adds some funk, gospel, and jazz to the mix. Again…it shouldn’t work, but it does.

“Welcome to Tally Hall” segues right into “Taken for a Ride.” This was the first song I heard of theirs where I went…”holy shit, who are these guys??” This one’s another Andrew Horowitz-penned song and features a vocodered Andrew singing the lead vocals. It begins as a lost ELO track before moving into Queen territory then takes a left turn into the Polyphonic Spree and ends up 80s new wave territory…all quite brilliantly.

So that’s it…my 20 in ‘08. With a lot of these (like Jon McLaughlin, The Feeling, Alphabeat, Val Emmich, Jukebox the Ghost, and Tally Hall), they’re just tiny samples of really great albums in a really strong year of music. I highly recommend buying the full albums if you like the tracks from which they come! Have a happy new year and here’s to a strong 20 in ‘09!

Download: Panic at the Disco, “Nine In The Afternoon” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, “Populism Yeah Yeah” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Killers, “Human” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Vampire Weekend, “M79″ (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Max Vernon, “I Kissed A Girl” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Hotel Lights, “Amelia Bright” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ben Folds, “Cologne (Piano Orchestra Version)” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ludo, “Love Me Dead” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Jon McLaughlin, “You Can Never Go Back” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Feeling, “I Thought It Was Over” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Feeling, “Turn It Up” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Alphabeat, “10,000 Nights” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Alphabeat, “Fascination” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Val Emmich, “The Lucky Ones” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Val Emmich, “Got A Habit Now” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Jukebox the Ghost, “Hold It In” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Jukebox the Ghost, “Victoria (Live)” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Tally Hall, “Good Day” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Tally Hall, “Welcome To Tally Hall” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Tally Hall, “Taken For A Ride” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Here’s what rocked and rolled me in ‘08:

1. Ten Minute Turns, “Aluminum Shine”
   from Leaving Robot City
   The best new song from the best unsigned band in Brooklyn. Leaving Robot City adds electronic flourishes to their winning marriage of impeccably-produced indie rock and earworm-inducing hooks, and the results are pretty damn great. This was my #2 most listened-to song of the year, and it only surfaced in November. Really, really good.
2. MGMT, “Kids”
   from Oracular Spectacular
   The most kraut-rocking-est song about environmentalism you’ll hear all year. Oracular Spectacular is an unexpectedly hypnotic cocktail of spaced-out, electronic, rocking psychedelia (much of the album sounds like if the Stones married the disco attitude of “Emotional Rescue” with the LSD-enhanced aesthetic of Their Satanic Majesties Request — really odd and interesting), and it’s eminently listenable from beginning to end. Definitely worth all the hype it received throughout ‘08.
3. Elbow, “Grounds for Divorce”
   from The Seldom Seen Kid
   The Brits loved Kid (it won the ‘08 Mercury Music Prize) more than me (I dug it generally, but often skipped the more meandering numbers), but there’s one thing we can agree on: we lurve the bluesy stomp of “Grounds For Divorce” — it hit #19 across the pond, and was in consistent rotation in iTunes for me. Their best yet.
4. Gnarls Barkley, “Surprise”
   from The Odd Couple
   Gnarls’ second album landed with a bit of a thud for me (there was no way they were going to top “Crazy,” but I was hoping for something with a little more chutzpah), but I found myself happily drawn to this song over and over. It’s a fantastic blend of soul, hip-hop, and bouncy 60’s AM pop, and I’m hoping it serves as a template (or at least a starting point) for future GB ventures.
5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, “Hold On To Yourself”
   from Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
   My biggest personal musical discovery of ‘08 was definitely Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Thanks to the advice of some Selective Service faithful, I dug deep enough into his back catalogue to properly prepare me for this year’s Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!, and I couldn’t be more thankful. Cave and his band of dark merry-makers released the best album of the year by far, and it was really tough to pick just one song to feature here. Do I go with the title track, a funky, twisted sing-along that re-tells the biblical story of Lazarus? The English-lit-degree-holder-pleasing “We Call Upon The Author”? The dark romance of “Jesus of the Moon”? In the end, the choice was made by song length, actually: “Hold On To Yourself” allowed my list to fit under 80 minutes, but it’s also loaded with some of the most haunting imagery on the album (the roadside memorial to his dead lover is especially vivid: “As Jesus makes the flowers grow/All around the scene of her collision”). Hard to pick a bad song from Dig.
6. Nine Inch Nails, “Discipline”
   from The Slip
   ‘Twas a big year for the newly label-free and reinvigorated NIN: without warning, they dropped a four volume set of moody instrumentals, Ghosts I-IV; about a month after that, they released a proper album, The Slip, online, asking for nothing in return; and then they ended the year with a massively successful world tour. I know the independent online distribution concept has been labeled “the Radiohead model,” but Reznor one-upped them by (1) keeping The Slip available as a free download, (2) embracing Creative Commons licensing for both album releases, and (3) giving away high-quality files (the mp3s for both albums are encoded at very high rates, and you can download free multi-track files for your own remixing fun, unlike the pay-to-play remixing project Radiohead launched). Oh, and the best part? The Slip is really, really good, too. Check it out at the link above — it’s free!
7. Sons & Daughters, “Chains”
   from This Gift
   The line on these Scots is deliciously retro: This Gift is the soundtrack to a movie Quentin Tarantino hasn’t made yet. Lots to love on the whole album, but this shot of old-fashioned, hip-shakin’ pop got the most headphone love and it has staying power — Gift was released back in January, and it never left the small confines of my 8GB iPhone.
8. Ra Ra Riot, “Can You Tell”
   from The Rhumb Line
   The anthemic sound recalls Arcade Fire, but the songs have loads more heart. I really dig the liberal (and tasteful, Mandel!) use of cello and other strings. Beautiful stuff.
9. Ida Maria, “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked”
   from Fortress Around My Heart
   If PJ Harvey were happier and Swedish Norwegian, she’d sound a lot like this. Her self-titled debut album will finally hit the U.S. in early ‘09, but remember — you (might have) heard her here first!
10. Amanda Palmer, “Leeds United”
    from Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
    As a member of the Boston-based Dresden Dolls, Palmer had the dark cabaret-punk schtick down pat, but working with Ben Folds coaxed the pop songstress out of her. Who Killed Amanda Palmer? is easily the best pop album of the year (and the best work Folds did, too — it’s much more consistently satisfying than Way To Normal), and it’s delightfully unusual fun. There are loads of great songs to be found, but this one stands out most to me — word has it that its lyrics were inspired by a couple of soccer hooligans who disrupted a show of hers in Europe.
11. The Heavy, “Colleen”
    from Great Vengeance and Furious Fire
    What I said this summer is still true: “Great Vengeance is a fantastic, gritty, rocking soul album that’s loaded with more fuzzy guitars, funky horns, and hip-hop beats than a David Holmes soundtrack album. It’s also a nice, taut release: clocking in at just over half an hour, the 10 songs are completely devoid of filler and, in what’s become a sad rarity in modern album-making, really leaves you wanting more. Lead singer Kelvin Swaby’s voice conjures images of a chain-smoking Prince with a hint of falsetto Tom Waits — in fact, opener ‘Brukpocket’s Lament’ had me thinking that Vengeance was an Orphans orphan until the heavy horns kicked in on ‘Colleen.’ Unexpectedly excellent stuff.”
12. Ben Folds, “You Don’t Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor)”
    from Way To Normal
    I had very low expectations of Folds’ new album thanks to his dreadful last release Songs For Silverman, so I was happily shocked to discover that he’d rediscovered his groove of classic piano-pop. Normal is pretty good, clean fun from start to finish, altho the more pop-culture-y references and the occasional shot of vulgarity feel a bit forced. The album’s highlight is certainly “Cologne,” but Because Mandel is a Folds freak and I am a gentleman, I decided not to repeat his pick on my list (even though I debuted my list first!). This tune is a close second, tho, so don’t feel slighted. The appearance of Ms. Spektor is gravy.
13. Sharleen Spiteri, “All The Times I Cried”
    from Melody
    Without Spiteri and her band Texas’ hit single “Black Eyed Boy” in 1997, I don’t think there would have been a 60’s soul-pop revival for Amy Winehouse to lead. Spiteri’s always had a pop historian edge to her blue-eyed soulful sound, and on her first solo outing, Melody, she sounds like she’s opened a time capsule of symphonic 60’s pop songs that time forgot.
14. Tom Jones, “In Style And Rhythm”
    from 24 Hours
    The old man proves that he’s still got it on his new album 24 Hours, and this is by far the coolest song of the bunch: lifestyle advice set to a swinging retro beat.
15. Primal Scream, “Beautiful Future”
    from Beautiful Future
    The Scream found their swagger again on Beautiful Future, returning to the electric roots of Evil Heat and XTRMNTR, but adding krautrock and pop to their mix. The result is much brighter sounding, but the lyrics have a delightful darkness to them.
16. The Gutter Twins, “Idle Hands”
    from Saturnalia
    To quote myself: “Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan make beautiful, elegantly sinister music together. Their debut album Saturnalia is a bit of a dark affair, but the songs often soar with energy and rich in imagery. Lanegan also proves that he’s a vocalist without peer: he hits notes that are impossibly low, and on a number of tunes (especially ‘Idle Hands’), his voice becomes a potent instrument, adding a unique texture that’s hard to forget. Great stuff.”
17. The Kills, “Last Day Of Magic”
    from Midnight Boom
    What I said earlier this year still stands: “the songs [on Midnight Boom] are a winning mix of unpredictable, lo-fi percussion; jumpy, amazingly catchy hooks; and snarling, fuzzy riffs. It’s a sleek, taut album, too: with each song clocking in somewhere between 2 and 3.5 minutes, sometimes cutting off just as a song really gets percolating (I could listen to the chorus of ‘Last Day Of Magic’ for 45 minutes, but they wisely cut it at 3:20), they leave you wanting more — it’s amazingly re-listenable. I’ve yet to find a song worth skipping.” Have fun getting “Last Day Of Magic” out of your head.
18. TV On The Radio, “Golden Age”
    from Dear Science
    Something about art-rockers TV On The Radio has never sat well with me: their previous albums were sonically adventurous but absolutely tuneless. All that’s changed with Dear Science, their newest album. They finally found a way to channel their diverse influences (rock, punk, funk, soul, jazz) into a catchy, fun dance album while still keeping the sound dense and complex. There’s nobody out there that sounds quite like these guys.
19. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, “Fix it”
    from Cardinology
    Adams and his insanely talented band hit another home run with Cardinology, their most recent collection of classic-rock-flavored Americana, and “Fix It” is the album’s emotional center. Beautiful, heartbreaking stuff.
20. Mates of State, “Help Help”
    from Re-Arrange Us
    I usually have a low tolerance for power-pop, but the Mates of State have swayed my ears thanks to killer tunes and thoughtful indie arrangements. Their album is a solid treat from beginning to end.
21. The Two Man Gentlemen Band, “When Your Lips Are Playing My Kazoo”
    from Heavy Petting
    I can confidently tell you that the 2 Gents are the nation’s finest upright bass/banjo/kazoo duo. Viva la double entendre!

If I had to rank the albums you should add to your collection this year, it would look like this:

1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
2. MGMT, Oracular Spectacular
3. TV On The Radio, Dear Science
4. Amanda Palmer, Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
5. The Heavy, Great Vengeance And Furious Fire
6. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, Cardinology
7. The Kills, Midnight Boom
8. Mates Of State, Re-Arrange Us
9. Ten Minute Turns, Leaving Robot City
10. Sharleen Spiteri, Melody

Enjoy the tunes!

Download: Ten Minute Turns, “Aluminum Shine” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: MGMT, “Kids” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Elbow, “Grounds for Divorce” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Gnarls Barkley, “Surprise” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, “Hold On To Yourself” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Nine Inch Nails, “Discipline” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Sons & Daughters, “Chains” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ra Ra Riot, “Can You Tell” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ida Maria, “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Amanda Palmer, “Leeds United” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Heavy, “Colleen” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ben Folds, “You Don’t Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor)” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Sharleen Spiteri, “All The Times I Cried” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Tom Jones, “In Style And Rhythm” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Primal Scream, “Beautiful Future” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Gutter Twins, “Idle Hands” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Kills, “Last Day Of Magic” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: TV On The Radio, “Golden Age” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, “Fix it” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Mates of State, “Help Help” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Two Man Gentlemen Band, “When Your Lips Are Playing My Kazoo” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

And now my list that’ll make you insane in the brain…insane in the membrane… with 100% less Cypress Hill!

1. Elton John, “Madness”
   This disco-ey track comes from Elton John’s A Single Man album. It was Elton’s first album featuring NO lyrics from long-time songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. Gary Osborne takes over the wordsmith-ering here with this song about the madness of violence and unrest in the world. Love the piano riff in this one, but it teeters just on the edge of corny and cheesy. Taupin is clearly missed here…
2. Queen, “I’m Going Slightly Mad”
   One of the highlights of the oft-forgotten Innuendo album by Queen. The was the last Queen album to be recorded and released while Freddie was alive. It’s a shame because it showed that the band still had some good songs in them. The track is weird, eerie, campy, and deliciously theatrical. The video is a hoot too.
3. Ben Folds, “Bitch Went Nuts”
   The newest song on the list…The title says it all. The madness of a breakup is captured in this cut from Ben Folds’ latest album, “Way to Normal” (an almost-complete return to form for Ben). There will be some who take issue with the NSFW, misogynistic lyrics on this one, but it’s got a melody that will stick with you like peanut butter on toast.
4. ABBA, “The Vistors”
   When this title track from ABBA’s last album was released as a single, its subtitle was “Crackin’ Up.” On the surface, it seems like the song deals with paranoia and could be seen as the Europop take on “They’re Coming to Take Me Away..Ha-ha,” but the story goes that this was Benny and Bjorn’s song about the Soviet’s treatment of political protesters in the late 70’s/early 80’s. Go figure…
5. Men At Work, “Overkill”
   Paranoia, insomnia, guilt, hallucinations…it’s all here in this wonderful single form Men at Work’s second album, Cargo. A dark, moody contrast to their landmark hit “Down Under.” If you like this, definitely check out the Lazlo Bane cover of this which features a cameo by Men at Work frontman Colin Hay!
6. Madness, “Waltz into Mischief”
   What set about “madness would be complete without a song by 80s Brit ska legends Madness? This comes from their Keep Moving album from 1984. It’s as if the nutty boys had joined the circus via a benefit for Mr. Kite!

Download: Elton John, “Madness” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Queen, “I’m Going Slightly Mad” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ben Folds, “Bitch Went Nuts” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: ABBA, “The Vistors” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Men At Work, “Overkill” (AAC)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Madness, “Waltz into Mischief” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Last Friday I took in Ben Folds’ show at Boston’s Orpheum. It was the first time I’d seen an entire* show of his since he & the Five, touring behind Whatever and Ever Amen, absolutely killed at the Paradise waaay back in the day. His live act, sadly, did not age well. His new material, however, sounded great. I left the show excited to finally get my copy of his new album Way To Normal (due tomorrow, 9/30) and sadly determined to never bother to see him play live again.

The Normal stuff was generally excellent: poppy without the prog pretension that marred the Five album Reinhold Messner, and peppy without the heavy-handed, sappy pathos that made his last release Songs for Silverman such a dud. His decision to play the new material and nothing but the new material to an audience completely unfamiliar (and, subsequently, uninterested) with it was not so good. People stayed seated throughout the entire pre-encore show, and the constant stream of people walking about to go buy more beer was thoroughly distracting. I partially blame the audience for those shenanigans, but I extend equal blame to Ben and his impressively boring band. They’re the anti-Five, completely lacking skill, energy, and personality. Folds himself was much quieter than I remember, too. What a snore.

He kicked the encore off with Rockin’ The Suburbs’ “Zak and Sarah” and “Philosophy” from their debut, but the energy and fun quickly disappeared with the “Tiny Dancer” wannabe “Landed” from Silverman and the artificially “fun” “Army” from Messner. The final song played was the a take on the “Frowne Song” that Folds seems determined to turn into a big, rousing show-closing anthem, but it just didn’t work. Just like you can’t give yourself a nickname (I tried in college — ’twas lame & didn’t stick), you can’t goad a crowd into embracing a song as a showstopping anthem.

Despite the bad, bad, bad show-going experience I’m psyched for the album. The songs sounded great and should sound even better on disc than with his disappointing live band. Give Way To Normal a shot when it hits stores this week — I’ll give you download links in this week’s (long overdue) Draft Board post.

* So the last time I had tickets to see Ben Folds, the show became a casualty of Sam and his “New York City Transplant understanding of concert timing” in Boston. I had just moved to Boston, and Folds was making a local stop in support of his solo debut, Rockin’ The Suburbs. I secured tickets for me, Alexis, and her good friend Janice to see him play at the Avalon, a club near Fenway in Boston. The tickets said 8:00 on them, and given my long experience of concert going in NYC, this is how my brain translated the start time: doors open at 8, opening act goes on at 9:00, finishes 9:30-ish, Ben goes on around 10 & plays until around 11:30-midnight. That’s how they roll at places like the Bowery Ballroom, so that’s what I thought it would be like here, too. Turns out I was waaaaayyyy off. The Avalon turns into a lame disco at 10PM every night, so when we got to the club at 9:45, Ben was 2 songs from finishing his encore. My bad. And that, kids, is why I get to concerts really early.

As a fan of studio recordings and techniques, it was a little difficult for me to find live recordings that surpassed their studio counterparts. But… I was able to find some. So behold… the (almost) string-less live faves by yours truly…

1. Paul McCartney and Wings, “Coming Up” (Live at Glasgow 1980)
   THE definitive example of a live recording outshining its studio counterpart. The original version of “Coming Up” on the “McCartney II” album was a thin-sounding, undercooked disco-rock melange of guitars, muted drums, and wheezy synths. Granted, “McCartney II” was intended to have the homespun feel that “McCartney,” but those synths just did NOT help out. This live version which helped bolster the song to one of McCartney’s last #1 appearances blows away the original version. Having a real backing band with a real horn section give the song the bounce and energy that it deserves. This recording is also notable for being one of the few recordings around of the final lineup of Wings.
2. Billy Joel, “She’s Got A Way” (Live at Carnegie Hall 1977)
   This is from the recent release of Billy’s 1977 Carnegie Hall concert that came as a bonus disc on “The Stranger - Deluxe Edition.” It was a tossup between this and “I’ve Loved These Days” from that same concert. This one edges out for its simple arrangement. Now…why this and not the live version from 1981’s “Songs in the Attic” compilation? Billy’s voice seems stronger here and there some nuances in his piano playing that give it the one-up on the “SitA” version. Also, if you listen closely, you can hear a subtle, but effect cello backing that’s not really present on any other version of the song.
3. Queen, “Radio Ga Ga” (Live Aid 1985)
   As a Queen fan, this was one of the milestone live performances that Queen did. It stands as one of the best performances during Live Aid. I mean, c’mon…getting a whole stadium to clap in unison at the right time during your chorus? Brilliance. Also, the energy kicks this one up a notch from the original 1984 version.
4. Ben Folds Five, “She Don’t Use Jelly” (Sessions at West 54th 1997)
   This Ben Folds cover of the Flaming Lips classic is from the very-missed PBS series “Sessions at West 54th.” A recorded version was done for the “Lounge-a-Palooza” CD, but this one wins out as a testament to how tight a band Ben Folds Five were. Ben, Robert Sledge, and Darren Jessee all complimented each other so well. This live version also achieves the lounge-y cocktail vibe that recorded version misses a bit of.
5. Ben Folds, “Not The Same” (Calvin Theater 2002)
   While not necessarily a replacement for the studio version, this live version of the “Rockin’ the Suburbs” track has a great almost hymnal-like to it. As any Ben Folds fan knows, during Ben’s solo tour, he’d often leave the backing vocals to the audience and often, the crowds would nail it as evidenced here. The “ah’s” are chill-inducing…hail to the church of Folds!
6. Scissor Sisters, “Might Tell You Tonight” (Live at the O2)
   While I loved the Scissor Sisters’ “Ta-Dah,” it had a bit too much polish and lacked the oomph and edge that had made me love the band in the first place. This performance of “Might Tell You Tonight” shows how some of the “Ta-Dah” tracks had that extra gust of energy when done live.
7. The Wonders, “That Thing You Do!” (Live at The Hollywood Television Showcase)
   What a wonder this was…The fact that they did this song after losing their bassist to…what? They’re not real? Oh…it’s still a kickass song!

Download: Paul McCartney and Wings, “Coming Up” (Live at Glasgow 1980 - mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Billy Joel, “She’s Got A Way” (Live at Carnegie Hall 1977 - mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Queen, “Radio Ga Ga” (Live Aid 1985 - mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ben Folds Five, “She Don’t Use Jelly” (Sessions at West 54th 1997 - mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ben Folds, “Not The Same” (Calvin Theater 2002 - mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Scissor Sisters, “Might Tell You Tonight” (Live at the O2 - mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Wonders, “That Thing You Do!” (Live at The Hollywood Television Showcase - mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Well, seeing how I worked on the game show “Greed” as a question writer, I decided to tackle “greed” for this month’s sinful playlist. Here are my picks:

“I WANT IT NOW” from the “Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory” soundtrack
I mean how could I NOT include this. It’s the ultimate song about greed from the world of movie musicals. And how could one not relish in seeing that little bitch Veruca Salt get what she deserved when she dropped down the golden egg chute. Oh, and you get a little Oompa Loompa-ing as a bonus at the end of the track.

“I WANT IT ALL” by Queen
Sort of the butchier version of I Want it Now with a more uplifting message…it ended up being a rally against apartheid in South Africa and I guess it showed that greed was good. One of the last great rockers that Queen did…would’ve been great to have seen them do this one live. But alas, it was never to be…It did get the live treatment with (1/2)Queen + Paul Rodgers, but it just wasn’t the same.

“GIMME GIMME GIMME (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) by Abba
To all you young gays reading this, THIS was the song that Madonna sampled for her recent hit “Hung Up.” I think the title says it all…Swedish women are greedy for their men…and Ikea…

“EASY MONEY” by Billy Joel
It’s the theme song from the 1983 Rodney Dangerfield movie of the same name (which I hear is getting the remake treatment?!?). Billy Joel does his best James Brown and while I would never rank it amongst his best songs, it’s just plain goofy fun…

“ALL U CAN EAT” by Ben Folds
Ok…maybe this is more gluttony than greed, but it’s a damn good song. It was one of my favorite songs from Ben’s EP trilogy. It’s probably his most Randy Newman song and has a great laid-back piano groove to it.

The “GREED” theme by Edgar Struble
This was the theme song to the game show, “Greed,” FOX’s answer to “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” The show had a way-to-short 44-episode run from 1999 to 2000. I wrote questions for the show…my first was “In which of these games, would you most likely hear the phrase ‘right foot red?’” It was the first time anything I had created had hit national television and thanks to the occasional rerun on GSN, I still get paid a little bit of dough every time an episode airs!

Download: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, “I Want It Now” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Queen, “I Want It All” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Abba, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Billy Joel, “Easy Money” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ben Folds, “All U Can Eat” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Edgar Struble, “Greed Theme” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)