You said it, Mutt Lange:

1. Chuck Berry, “Roll Over Beethoven”
   I thought it made sense to start at the beginning (how very Yogi Berra of me), so I dug up my favorite song by Marvin Berry’s famous cousin. What a clarion call this was still is.
2. Interlude: “I Pledge Allegiance To The Band”
   I wonder if similar discussions happened when the Beatles formed.
3. Oasis, “Rock N’ Roll Star”
   Talk about your opening salvos — this first track from Oasis’ classic debut Definitely Maybe certainly set the tone for their career: big, booming & brash.
4. Supergrass, “Pumping On Your Stereo”
   This punchy single is nicked from the Brit-rockers’ self-titled 3rd album, and finds the band blending a bouncy, glam-fueled stomp with Jagger-esque phrasing and generous handclaps to great effect.
5. The Upper Crust, “Let Them Eat Rock”
   Every night this Boston-based quartet answers the eternal question: What if AC/DC had formed in Victorian England? They’d don powdered wigs, drop gigantic, tasty riffs, and continue rocking harder than anyone else is what. Believe it:

6. Go Home Productions, “Rock In Black”
   A veritable smorgasbord of hard rocking bits crammed elegantly into a single track by my favorite UK-based DJ/masher Mark Vidler. Primarily a blend of “Back in Black” and “We Will Rock You,” tho, and it should not be missed.
7. Def Leppard, “Rock Of Ages”
   One of the Lep’s best Mutt Lange-assisted rockers, from 1983’s Pyromania. This live version is nicked from the recently released deluxe edition remaster of the album, recorded that year at the L.A. forum. It’s great to hear such a studio-assisted song given new vibrance on stage by a band at the peak of their live prowess.
8. Tenacious D, “Rock Your Socks”
   Now I know what a lot of you are sayin’: “I just figured out what I’m gonna do with the rest of my days: I’m gonna get me an oversized guitar, gain forty pounds, and be the next D!” Well I got sour news for you, Jack: it ain’t that easy.
9. Interlude: “These go to eleven”
   That “extra bit” might explain all the spontaneous combustion.
10. Spinal Tap, “The Majesty Of Rock”
    Believe it or not, this song was my introduction to Spinal Tap. Not the movie, not a copy of Smell The Glove on vinyl (if only such a thing really existed), it was a cassette tape of their 2nd album, Break Like The Wind. When it hit in 1991, the video for this song was getting loads of play on MTV, and being a big Christopher Guest fan (loved him as the Six-fingered Man), I checked it out, had a good, hard-rocking chuckle, and the rest is history.

Download: Chuck Berry, “Roll Over Beethoven” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Jack Black, “I Pledge Allegiance To The Band” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Oasis, “Rock N’ Roll Star” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Supergrass, “Pumping On Your Stereo” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Upper Crust, “Let Them Eat Rock” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Go Home Productions, “Rock In Black” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Def Leppard, “Rock Of Ages” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Tenacious D, “Rock Your Socks” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Spinal Tap, “This one goes to eleven” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Spinal Tap, “The Majesty Of Rock” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download all the songs in a handy ZIP file:

Download: “Gunter glieben glauchen globen” (ZIP)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

We’ve hit the halfway mark in ‘09, and it’s about time I checked in with a list of what I’ve been digging over the last few months. Gentlemen, start your list making!

• Oi Va Voi, Traveling the Face of the Globe
  They were my May monthly crush, and for good reason: “At first glance, their sound recalls Beirut thanks to the globetrotting ethnic instrumentation — clarinet, trumpet, bouzouki, violins, and accordion pepper the songs — but as soon as Bridgette Amofah starts singing on the album opener “Waiting,” you’re transported somewhere distinctly modern and utterly unique. It’s indie rock! It’s traditional Jewish music! (It’s a floor wax! It’s a dessert topping!) It’s both, and it’s awesome. The songs are great, the melodies memorable, and the arrangements are consistently interesting & unexpected. Hard to describe in just a few words, but I think “Badly Drawn Jew” does them justice.”

  Try “Every Time” below, and if you dig it, grab Traveling the Face of the Globe at iTunes!

  Download: Oi Va Voi, “Every Time” (mp3)
  (Right-click/control-click link to download)

• Fred, Go God Go
  What I said while making them my June monthly crush still stands: “Go God Go is shockingly great, and is in the running for my favorite album of the year. It’s impressively hooky, soul-infused indie pop from beginning to end, and I haven’t found a single song that begs the skip button. Every tune brings something interesting & fun to the table, from the swirling disco + cowbell-enhanced rhythms of “Skyscraper” and the unexpected shot of mariachi horns in “Keep Me Clear” to the sharp, soaring brit-rock of of “Fear” — it’s all good. Best of all, the melodies are memorable & the stuff that repeat listens are made of.”

  Give “Good One” a spin below, and then grab Go God Go at iTunes!

  Download: Fred, “Good One” (mp3)
  (Right-click/control-click link to download)

• Wilco, Wilco (the album)
  Jeff Tweedy & company have assembled another batch of excellent songs, and I find the sound of (the album) to be a nice middle ground between the warmth of Sky Blue Sky and the chill of A Ghost is Born. Some critics have complained that the band are keeping guitar virtuoso Nels Cline on too short a leash, but I find the “lil’ dab will do ya” approach here a winning one. Beautiful stuff abounds.

  Check out “I’ll Fight” below & then grab (the album) at iTunes.

  Download: Wilco, “I’ll Fight” (mp3)
  (Right-click/control-click link to download)

• Manic Street Preachers, Journal for Plague Lovers
  Long story behind this album, so here’s the short-short version: Manics lyricist & guitarist Richey Edwards vanishes in 1995 shortly after the release of their opus The Holy Bible; band soldiers on as trio releasing gigantically successful albums, many dealing with the loss of Edwards; in tribute to their missing mate, Manics set unfinished/unused lyrics of Edwards’ to music, even reconnecting with Bible producer Steve Albini to recapture the sound of the band when Edwards was part of it; resulting album is really good — sounds like the proper sequel to Bible, and is a critical & popular success in the UK. Not yet available on these shores, but if you dug The Holy Bible, you’ll really dig Journal for Plague Lovers.

  Try “This Joke Sport Severed” on for size below & then order Journal for Plague Lovers from amazon.com.

  Download: Manic Street Preachers, “This Joke Sport Severed” (mp3)
  (Right-click/control-click link to download)

A few other favorites:

• Favorite reason to hit the dancefloor: Little Boots, “New In Town” from the forthcoming album Hands. Best pop single of the year, hands down (no pun intended).
• Favorite new road trip song: Malcolm Middleton, “Red Travellin’ Socks” from the excellent Waxing Gibbous. Folk with four on the floor.
• Favorite reason to learn French: Plastiscines, “Pas Avec Toi” from About Love. Nothing lost in translation here: this quartet of ladies rocks.
• Favorite Spoon-fed rawk: White Rabbits, “Percussion Gun” from It’s Frightening. Sharp, inventive indie from Brooklyn by way of Austin’s finest.
• Favorite reissues done right: Aside from our own? Gotta be the 2 new Def Leppard deluxe editions for Pyromania and Adrenalize. Both albums sound better than ever, and the complete 1983 live show added to Pyromania should not be missed.
• Favorite things to look forward to: Florence and the Machine’s debut album, Lungs, due in the UK in July; Nicely loaded reissues of the Beastie Boys’ Ill Communication and Hello Nasty, both dropping ahead of a new album this fall.

It’s not much of a secret that I’m a big Rolling Stones fan. The 3 shelves dedicated to the band in my CD collection house copies of each of their officially released albums, most of the members’ solo albums, a bunch of CD singles that date back to the Flashpoint live album, and a plethora (si, El Guapo, a plethora) of live and studio bootlegs that stretch from their early days through their last tour. I lurve the Stones, and when I heard that EMI Universal would be re-releasing the Stones’ post-ABKCO catalog starting this spring, I began to clear more shelf space. That catalog was beautifully remastered & repackaged by Virgin Records back in the early 90’s, but it’s been about 15 years, so I was ready for some expanded & improved editions of these classics.

The first wave of discs hit shops a couple weeks ago, so I hit my local Newbury Comics ready to grab my newest copy of Sticky Fingers. I left the store a couple minutes later sans disc. Why? Because these new EMI Universal releases add nothing new to the mix. No bonus alternate/early studio takes, no bonus live tracks, no interesting new packaging, no new anything, except for possibly the remastering which would be subtle at best given the great job that Virgin did 15 years ago. These reissues are a naked cash grab, and that’s a crying shame given the wealth of unreleased studio & live recordings in the Stones’ vault. The Stones (or EMI Universal at least) have proven that they just don’t get reissues.

Sadly, the Stones aren’t alone in the reissues dunce club: both Bob Dylan, whose entire voluminous catalog has been given the remastering/reissuing treatment over the last few years, and the Beatles, whose reissues will be out this fall, both don’t really get it. The sonic upgrades to their catalogs are great, but there’s nothing else new to the mix. Both artists have vaults jam-packed with illuminating, fascinating alternate takes and early versions of historic songs. Why not share them with the world? And finally make a buck on it, too, given the widely available bootleg disc markets for both artists? Even Sir Paul would understand that argument.

So who’s getting the remaster/reissue concept right? The Who: their Live At Leeds deluxe edition is a home run, offering an entire unreleased run-through of Tommy from the same performance. The Monkees: their self-titled debut was re-released in 2006 with a bonus disc containing the entire album in mono and a bunch of alternate versions & unreleased songs. Def-freaking-Leppard: Hysteria was bundled with a second disc of unreleased songs, live cuts & remixes, and the upcoming Pyromania set will include an entire unreleased concert from 1983.

The Stones, the Beatles, and others can get it right, they just choose not to, so Onkel Rudi & I have decided to help them out. Our CD libraries have loads of unreleased studio & live gems by our favorite artists, and once a month we’re going to put together CD-length playlists of what a proper reissue of a classic album should sound like. We’re calling it Reissues Done Right, and this week I’ll be debuting our first installment, my version of a Sticky Fingers reissue that’s 2 discs long: one of studio sessions, one live. I’d love it if these artists get the hint & do it right themselves, but until then, we’re more than happy to lend a hand.

Check back for Sticky Fingers later this week!

Happy New Year, folks!

Before we dive headfirst into 2009, I wanted to look back one more time. This week I realized that this was the 10th year I’ve put together an annual best-of compilation CD. It started out as something to give my musically-curious coworkers, and it’s become an annual tradition that I share with good friends, family, coworkers, and, now, teh intarwebs. And yes, I’m well aware that some of you have actually heard some/most of the songs I include, but when I first titled the collections “The Best Songs You Didn’t Hear,” I guarantee that the recipients really had never heard the songs before, and I don’t feel the need to change.

I thought it would be fun to say hello to ‘09 and to cap a decade of compiling by presenting a best of the best collection: my favorite 2 songs from each annual set. I hope you dig the songs as much as I did and still do!

1. Supergrass, “Moving”
   from Supergrass
   I don’t think these Brits ever topped their self-titled 1999 album, which was a perfect amalgamation of late-period Beatles and mod Brit-rock jangle.
2. Matthew Sweet, “Trade Places”
   from In Reverse
   Easily the best song from Sweet’s last great record, 1999’s Pet Sounds-y In Reverse.
3. Primal Scream, “Exterminator”
   from XTRMNTR
   XTRMNTR is as abrasive as Screamadelica is warm, but it’s impossible to ignore. That bassline will shake your fillings loose, too.
4. Fatboy Slim, “Demons (feat. Macy Gray)”
   from Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars
   Big Beat finally met Proper Song Structure to excellent results here.
5. Eels, “Fresh Feeling”
   from Souljacker
   E’s quirk meets swooning romance, resulting in this remarkable high point in his expansive canon.
6. Manic Street Preachers, “Ocean Spray”
   from Know Your Enemy
   It’s a shame press-baiting, lackluster singles like “Baby Elian” knocked Know Your Enemy off the radar, because people missed this gem, written by lead singer James Dean Bradfield about his ailing, aging father.
7. Bright Eyes, “Lover I Don’t Have To Love”
   from Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
   Dylan meets The Cure on what is still the definitive Bright Eyes album.
8. Def Leppard, “Torn To Shreds”
   from X
   Latter-day Lep is generally uneven, but when it works, like on this insanely hook-filled midtempo rock ballad, it really works. They haven’t equaled this song since it was released in 2003.
9. Idlewild, “Live In A Hiding Place”
   from The Remote Part
   Scottish rock meets gentle R.E.M.-like melodies to earworm-inducing effect.
10. Basement Jaxx, “Lucky Star (feat. Dizzee Rascal)”
    from Kish Kash
    Who knew the future of pop would be so overlooked in 2003? Addicting grime/dance.
11. Björk, “Who Is It”
    from Medúlla
    Unique as ever, Björk’s last great song is a completely vocal composition.
12. Jay-Z + DJ Danger Mouse, “December 4th”
    from The Grey Album
    Danger Mouse’s blending of Jay-Z’s Black Album and the Beatles’ “White Album” is still the definitive mashup album, 4 years later.
13. Spoon, “I Summon You”
    from Gimme Fiction
    I know they’re Austin’s favorite sons, but here they’re channeling Liverpool brilliantly.
14. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, “Sweet Illusions”
    from Cold Roses
    Adams finally found the perfect complement in The Cardinals, and they make beautiful, Dead-tinged Americana together.
15. Alabama 3, “Hello… I’m Johnny Cash”
    from Outlaw
    A3 dialed back the acid house and turned up the railroad shuffle of the Man In Black for this fantastic tribute.
16. Ten Minute Turns, “Wolf In The Water”
    from Sad Animals
    Their melodic, everything-often-including-the-kitchen-sink approach to rock makes Ten Minute Turns Brooklyn’s best unsigned act.
17. Malcolm Middleton, “Fuck It, I Love You”
    from A Brighter Beat
    Deliciously tuneful and brutally honest songwriting from the former Arab Strap-per. Like Badly Drawn Boy with a hangover.
18. Amy MacDonald, “Let’s Start A Band”
    from This Is The Life
    Inspiring folk-rock with a dash of mariachi horn from the most promising singer/songwriter in Scotland.
19. MGMT, “Kids”
    from Oracular Spectacular
    The most kraut-rocking-est song about environmentalism you’ll probably ever hear.
20. TV On The Radio, “Golden Age”
    from Dear Science
    TVOTR finally found a way to channel their diverse influences (rock, punk, funk, soul, jazz) into something tuneful by simply making into a catchy, fun dance album.

Happy 2009 everyone!

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

Download: Matthew Sweet, “Trade Places” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

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

Download: Fatboy Slim, “Demons (feat. Macy Gray)” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Eels, “Fresh Feeling” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Manic Street Preachers, “Ocean Spray” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Bright Eyes, “Lover I Don’t Have To Love” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Def Leppard, “Torn To Shreds” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Idlewild, “Live In A Hiding Place” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Basement Jaxx, “Lucky Star (feat. Dizzee Rascal)” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Björk, “Who Is It” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Jay-Z + DJ Danger Mouse, “December 4th” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Spoon, “I Summon You” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

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

Download: Alabama 3, “Hello… I’m Johnny Cash” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ten Minute Turns, “Wolf In The Water” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Malcolm Middleton, “Fuck It, I Love You” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Amy MacDonald, “Let’s Start A Band” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

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

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