Gonzo on the air, 6/27

The Soft Pack-C'mon
The Detroit Cobras-Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand
The Electric Prunes-I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night
The Bambi Molesters-Intensity
The Greaseballs-Gluefoot
The Dead Weather-The Difference Between Us
Morphine-Honey White
Los Campesinos-Plan A
Band of Horses-Dilly
She and Him-Ridin' in My Car
The Kinks-Wicked Annabella
The Kinks-All Day and All of the Night
Len Price 3-Pictures
Paul Revere and the Raiders-Do You Love Me
The Clash-Garageland
The Contrast-Underground Ghosts
Beach House-Take Care
Dr. Dog-Where'd All the Time Go?
Broken Social Scene-Art House Director
Wild Nothing-Summer Holiday
The Roots feat. Monsters of Folk-Dear God 2.0
Portishead-Chase the Tear
Goldfrapp-Head First
Phantogram-Futuristic Casket
Robyn-Cry When You Get Older
Devo-Don't Shoot (I'm a Man)
New Young Pony Club-Lost a Girl
Michael Jackson-This is It

First Impressions 6/28

This week on First Impressions - Marc Morrison and I share, discuss and review new music from Ratatat and Mynabirds. Tune in Monday at 8pm EDT on WIUP (90.1 in Indiana) or stream at www.wiupfm.org

I missed this initially (I have pretty much zero interest in Hall of Fame productions at this point) - but damn.

Day 19 - A song from your favorite album

Come on, really? What does that even mean? How can any music geek (and that probably means you, dear reader) unequivocally say that 'X' is their "favorite album?" There's too much music out there - too many great artists, songs and albums for this to be answerable. That said, I'll simply share a track from one of my many many favorites.

I've been on a big Stevie kick lately, so here you go:

Day 18 - A song that you wish you heard on the radio

CHROMEO | MySpace Music Videos

So psyched for the new album.

Day 17 - A song that you hear often on the radio

It's not so bad. But it does kind of use the same progression as

Day 16 - A song that you used to love but now hate

Picking this exercise up where we left off. But honestly, some of these prompts just don't work for me. I can't think of any songs that I once loved, but now hate. Sure, there's some crap I listened to in middle school that maybe doesn't do much for me these days, but there's at least pleasure in nostalgia. But there are songs that I once loved that I am now indifferent to. Most of these are from bands that I like, but listened to far too often on middle/high school, even early college. In short, they're not bad songs, but they are overplayed, and if I made it to the grave without ever hearing them again, I wouldn't feel as though I were missing anything.

This is probably the biggest culprit:

Gonzo on the air, 6/20

The all Motown revue!

Martha and the Vandellas-Dancing in the Street
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles-Mickey's Monkey
Marvin Gaye-Hitch Hike
Jr. Walker and the All Stars-(I'm a) Roadrunner
Gladys Knight and the Pips-I Heard it Through the Grapevine
Stevie Wonder-Uptight (Everything's Alright)
The Four Tops-Reach Out (I'll be There)
The Velvettes-Needle in a Haystack
Diana Ross and the Supremes-Come See About Me
The Temptations-Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)
Jackson 5-Who's Lovin' You
Jimmy Ruffin-What Becomes of the Broken Hearted
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles-Tracks of My Tears
The Marvalettes-Don't Mess With Bill
The Spinners-It's a Shame
The Contours-Do You Love Me
Edwin Star-Twenty Five Miles
Rare Earth-I Just Want to Celebrate
Michael Jackson-Got to Be There
Martha and the Vandellas-There's Always Something There to Remind Me
Diana Ross and The Supremes-My World is Empty Without You
Mary Wells-My Guy
The Isley Brothers-This Old Heart of Mine
Jr. Walker and the All Stars-Shake and Finger Pop
The Four Tops-I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)
Barret Strong-Money (That's What I Want)
Stevie Wonder-I Don't Know Why
Kim Weston-Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)
The Contours-First I Look at the Purse
The Temptations-Ain't Too Proud to Beg
The Undisputed Truth-Smiling Faces
Edwin Starr-War
Marvin Gaye-What's Going On

"Don't Forget the Motor City"

I spent the weekend in Detroit for the Allied Media Conference. I won't say too much about that here, as it isn't directly music related, but great conference, some very cool things happening.

On saturday I ducked out of the conference to check out the Motown museum. I almost didn't go, but I'm so glad that I did. I don't want to recount the tour step by step, but they've done a great job with the museum, located at the original site of the Motown offices and studio in Detroit.



The highlight of the museum is absolutely the well preserved Studio A, where hundreds of songs were put to tape from 1959-1973. (Folks who've read up on Motown or seen Standing in the Shadows of Motown may recall this space as "the snake pit".) It's one of those total geek moments, just standing there and thinking of all of the other folks who labored in that room putting together some of my favorite music. And even though I listen to a LOT of Motown material, in visiting the museum you're sort of struck by the sheer amount of hits that they churned out in the 1960s. It's pretty incredible. And then of course I spiral into a thought process of Motown being an independent label, the impossibility of that kind of success for an indie today, etc. etc.

I don't want to recount the tour point by point, because it's really something worth seeing for yourself. If you're ever in Detroit, I highly recommend making a point to visit the museum. My own visit was poorly timed. Apparently in four days, they're opening a special exhibit dedicated to these guys:



Ah well.

On the drive back to PA, I wished that I'd packed more Motown music. Instead, I settled for listening to hits collections by the Supremes, Miracles, J5 and Jr. Walker and the All Stars for 6 hours. And singing along. Loudly.

Speaking of Jr. Walker and the All Stars, their version of "Come See About Me" blows my mind.




The visit has thrown me into one of my famous Motown loops. As such, tonight's radio show will be a tribute to Motown. 10pm-midnight EDT on WIUP-FM - 90.1FM in Indiana, PA, streaming to the world at www.wiupfm.org.

Day 15 - A song that describes you

Day 14 - A song that no one would expect you to love

Given the previous post, I'm not sure about this one. I'm not really sure what other people think of as "my kind of music." They probably default to '60s soul, '70s funk and '80s pop. All of which are true.

But what song might someone not expect me to love?

I suppose that one thing I don't discuss much is my affection for jazz and pop vocalists of midcentury. I enjoy many of them, but my favorites have always been Tony Bennet and Sammy Davis Jr. One of my favorite songs of that ilk is Irving Berlin's "Steppin' Out with My Baby," originally recorded by Fred Astaire:



And here's the first version that I ever heard, from Tony Bennet's Unplugged performance:



And for kicks, I found this while looking for the above videos:

Day 13 - A song that is a guilty pleasure

I kind of don't believe in guilty pleasures. I think this is similar to the concept of liking something "ironically." As I've said many times, you either like it or you don't. I wear my musical tastes on my sleeve. I'll openly admit to liking what I like, and am not embarrassed by anything in my record collection. Not the Partridge Family, not Poison, not Hall and Oates, not George Michael, not the Carpenters, etc. etc. etc.

Ergo, I abstain from participating today.

Day 12 - A song from a band you hate

Again, there are so many.



God, I hate Journey.

Gonzo on the air, 6/13

The Bird and the Bee-On the Radio
Broken Bells-The High Road
LCD Soundsystem-Dance Yrself Clean
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention-San Berdino
New York Dolls-Dance Like a Monkey
The Black Keys-Tighten Up
Spoon-Written in Reverse
Tom Waits-Temptation
Procul Harum-A Salty Dog (request)
Lou Reed-Satellite of Love
The Morning Benders-Excuses
Sleigh Bells-Kids
Crystal Castles-Baptism
Fever Ray-When I Grow Up
Caribou-Odessa
Four Tet-Angel Echoes
Sade-Soldier of Love
Erykah Badu-Window Seat
Gnarls Barkley-Just a Thought
Jamie Lidell-Completely Exposed
Yeasayer-O.N.E.
The Very Best-Kamphopo
Vampire Weekend-Horchata

This Week on First Impressions -

This week on First Impressions, Marc Morrison and I review and discuss the full length debuts from Sleigh Bells (Treats) and The Soft Pack (s/t). Tune in on Monday night from 8pm-9pm on 90.1 FM, WIUP. For those of you not in the Indiana, PA area, catch it on our webstream at www.wiupfm.org.

Day 11 - A song from your favorite band

Day 10 - A song that makes you fall asleep

Not that it instantaneously makes me fall asleep, but it can sure help when I can't.

Day 09 - A song that you can dance to

Day 08 - A song that you know all the words to

Many! Here's one:

Crystal Castles live on Jools Holland

My plans to see them in NYC were thwarted. Ugh. Might suck it up and go to the Philly show if I can swing it. Have to see these guys live.

Day 07 - A song that reminds you of a certain event

"Event" can be interpreted any number of ways. I'll go with my first race of any substantial distance, the Dam to Dam 20k in Des Moines. I listened to this (and a few other choice VH tunes) many many times in the last half of that race. Whatever it takes, dude.

Day 06 - A song that reminds of you of somewhere

It was the summer of 1985, and I was but four years old. But that was the summer of my first vacation, to Wildwood, NJ. I associate much music with many places and things, but for some reason, the songs that were big during that trip have always stuck with me. This, "Sussudio," Madonna's "Angel".... Good times.

This particular song remains one of my favorites, although I wasn't exactly tuned in to the lyrics at 4.

Happy 52nd to Prince!

Gonzo on the air, 6-6

Cibo Matto- Working for Vacation
YACHT-Psychic City (Voodoo City)
Hot Hot Heat – 5 Times Out of 100
MGMT-Brian Eno
The Dead Weather-Hustle and Cuss
Mission of Burma-That’s When I Reach for My Revolver
Arctic Monkeys-Crying Lightning
Johnny Thunders-Dead or Alive
Big Star-Don’t Lie to Me
Beach House-Used to Be
The XX-Infinity
Keren Ann-Que N’ai-Je?
Twin Sister-All Around and Away We Go
Yeah Yeah Yeahs-Zero
Siouxsie and the Banshees-Hong Kong Garden
Len Price 3-Pictures
Cocktail Slippers-Sentenced to Love
The Hotrats-Damaged Goods
Love is All-Bigger Bolder
Dr. Dog-Where’d All the Time Go?
The Who-Whiskey Man
The Dresden Dolls-Alcoholic Friends
The Dandy Warhols-Bohemian Like You
Santogold-Lights Out
Persephone’s Bees-Nice Day
Regina Spektor-That Time
Violent Femmes-I Held Her in My Arms
Pop Levi-Wannamama
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings-I Learned the Hard Way
Joe Tex-You Said a Bad Word
Alan Wilkis-It’s Been Great
Phantogram-Mouthful of Diamonds (Alan Wilkis remix)
Beck-Nicotine and Gravy
Annie-I Don’t Like Your Band

Day 05 - A song that reminds you of someone

This song pretty much always makes me think of Justin, my partner in crime in high school.



Justin turned me on to a lot of great music, including the Stooges. We would listen to this song on repeat in his car while roaming about. We also covered it once, and I have to say he did a pretty great Iggy impression.

Day 4: A Song That Makes You Sad

I don't think songs actually make us sad. Sure, we can appreciate a song's emotive qualities without necessarily sharing those emotions. But more often, I think that when we're sad, we seek out songs that express (musically and/or lyrically) our current emotional state. No one puts on a record thinking, "I'm really psyched for this record to make me sad." But we do find solace in songs that we feel we can emotionally relate to at that moment. This is probably one of the greatest heartbreak songs of all time.

Day 3: A Song that Makes You Happy

Once again, there are many. This is always a good standby:


Let's Go Crazy

Can U Dig It??? youtube.com/ttopcar | MySpace Video

Day 2: Your Least Favorite Song

There are so, so many. Right now though, few irk me more than this one:

Dr. Gonzo's Dance-o-Rama , 6-3

Barry White/Love Unlimited Orchestra-Satin Soul
Bohannon-Summertime Groove
Memphis Horns-Keep on Doin' It
Salsoul Orchestra-Chicago Bus Stop
Earth, Wind and Fire-Shining Star
Average White Band-Pick Up the Pieces
Jimmy Castor Bunch-E-Man Party
David Shire-Salsation
Graham Central Station-We Be's Gettin' Down
Brass Construction-Get Up
Ohio Players-Fire
Rick James-Give it to Me, Baby
Klymaxx-The Men All Pause
Cameo-Word Up
Sugarhill Gang-Hot Hot Summer Day
Carl Carlton-She's a Bad Mamma Jamma
Mary Jane Girls-In My House
Prince-Uptown
Shannon-Let the Music Play (12" mix)
Teena Marie-Lovergirl (12" mix)

Day 1: Favorite song (at the moment)

I won't say too much, for this will be one of the albums under review for next week's edition of First Impressions on WIUP. But simply, this is a great song from a great album that's getting a lot of play in my world.

A fun challenge

Lola F. swiped this from a blog for her own use and in turn, I'm appropriating it as well. Basically, this boils down to "songs that remind me of stuff." I'm always interested in people's associations with particular songs, and this is a chance to share some of mine. The list (first post forthcoming):


Day 01 - Your favorite song (at the moment)
Day 02 - Your least favorite song
Day 03 - A song that makes you happy
Day 04 - A song that makes you sad
Day 05 - A song that reminds you of someone
Day 06 - A song that reminds of you of somewhere
Day 07 - A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08 - A song that you know all the words to
Day 09 - A song that you can dance to
Day 10 - A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11 - A song from your favorite band
Day 12 - A song from a band you hate
Day 13 - A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14 - A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15 - A song that describes you
Day 16 - A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17 - A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18 - A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19 - A song from your favorite album
Day 20 - A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21 - A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22 - A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23 - A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24 - A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh
Day 26 - A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27 - A song that you wish you could play
Day 28 - A song that you are obsessed with
Day 29 - A song from your childhood
Day 30 - Your favorite song at this time last year

Gonzo on the air, 5-30

LCD Soundsystem-Home
Derek White and the Monophobics-Baby Baby
New Pornographers-Your Hands (Together)
The Hold Steady-The Weekenders
The National-Bloodbuzz Ohio
Band of Horses-Compliments
The Dead Weather-Die by the Drop
The Stooges-1970
The Noisettes-Don’t Give Up
Animal Collective-My Girls
Vampire Weekend-Holiday
Rainbow Arabia-Holiday in Congo
Tom Tom Club-Who Wants an Ugly Girl?
The Specials-Do Nothing
The Raveonettes-Breaking into Cars
Billy Bragg-A New England
Frightened Rabbit-Skip the Youth
She and Him-Don’t Look Back
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-A Teenager in Love
Spoon-Nobody Gets Me But You
Surfer Blood-Take it Easy
The Temper Trap-Sweet Disposition
New Young Pony Club-Chaos
Neon Indian-Deadbeat Summer
The Bird and the Bee-Maneater
Goldfrapp-Believer
Jamie Lidell-I Wanna Be Your Telephone