leonard cohen

Playlist #281

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Happy Monday, folks. The weather outside shows no signs of cooling off anytime soon, which is unfortunate given my love of and desire to wear flannel shirts every day. But that doesn’t stop the playlists from occurring!

  1. Siba & Monkyman, “Dounana”: The entire song is in a language I cannot even begin to understand. The singer is a poet originally from Palestine living in Germany. But damn if it isn’t catchy as all hell and an absolute bop. Also, it’s about Israeli occupation of Gaza.
  2. Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs, “Li’l Red Riding Hood”: I’m sure if it were currently 1966, when this song was originally released, we’d feel less creepy about it than I currently do. Because man, this song is just…well, it’s a great song, but the lyrics are a little on the skeevy side in the Year of Our Lord 2026.
  3. This Is Lorelei, “The Singer In My Band”: She doesn’t have Texas in her heart, man, she just wants to get to Chicago. She does not want to be the singer in your garage band.
  4. Chance Emerson, “Doing A Number”: I really dig this guy’s vibe. And the song is pretty catchy, too. Doesn’t overstay its welcome.
  5. The Fray, “How To Save A Life”: I’ve liked this song for years now, but it really bothers me that he never specifically tells you how to save a life. It’s right there in the title, man! How you gonna let the whole song go by and not do the thing that’s in the title?
  6. The Minus 5, “The Town That Lost Its Groove Supply”: I feel so bad for this town. To completely lose one’s groove supply…how do people know what to do when it’s time to get down? Will they be prepared for next week’s Earth, Wind, and Fire groove explosion?
  7. XTC, “Earn Enough For Us”: Even back in the 80s, XTC knew what was up with shitty economies and the struggle to earn enough money to keep your lady in the finer things like, y’know, enough food to eat.
  8. Leonard Cohen, “I’m Your Man”: He’s confident, suave, and has a voice deeper than the Mariana’s Trench. I’d trust this man.
  9. The James Gang, “Funk No. 49”: Funks 1-48 were all terrible, let me tell you. They really locked it in on number 49.
  10. Ray LaMontagne, “Trouble”: To go from working in a shoe factory to recording some of the most affecting music of all time…it’s not an easy transition, I’m sure, but Ray pulled it off with aplomb. Aplomb, I say.

Playlist #228

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Happy Monday, folks! Another week, another batch of tunes to get you started on the right foot.

  1. Hurray for the Riff Raff, “Alibi”: The ease with they toss off song after beautiful song never fails to impress me.
  2. Van Morrison, “Domino”: There are few performers alive who have as much energy as Van when he’s on.
  3. The Wallflowers, “Nearly Beloved”: Reckless runaway rhythm. This song always feels like it’s just on the verge of falling apart to me.
  4. Lord Huron, “Fool For Love”: A long-lost Springsteen song with more reverb than is strictly called for? Could be.
  5. Statler Brothers, “Flowers on the Wall”: Who doesn’t want to be smokin’ cigarettes and watchin’ Captain Kangaroo?
  6. Michgander, “Important (with Taylor Goldsmith)”: A beautiful piano ballad. I’ve loved everything this guy’s done.
  7. Leonard Cohen, “Anthem”: I’ve been thinking of Leonard Cohen songs all weekend. Dunno why. This one remains one of my absolute favorites, though.
  8. Stone Temple Pilots, “Interstate Love Song”: If you’re listening to this song while driving down the highway and suddenly find yourself doing 90 mph, don’t be surprised.
  9. Supertramp, “Goodbye Stranger”: Rick Davies, leader of the band Supertramp and singer of most of their hit songs, died over the weekend. I always enjoyed Supertramp. Stupid name, great band.
  10. Josh Ritter, “Galahad”: For some reason, I always imagine this song is about the Monty Python and the Holy Grail Sir Galahad, and it cracks me up.

Playlist #77

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Happy Monday! Today brings with it ten fresh, exciting songs in the form of today’s playlist!

  1. Queen, “Face It Alone”: A “new” Queen song with previously-unreleased Freddie Mercury vocals? Count me in.
  2. HAIM, “Now I’m Into It”: Heard it in She-Hulk this weekend. Dig it.
  3. The Rolling Stones, “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)”: How ballsy do you have to be to name a song “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo?” That’s not a song title (or a chorus), that’s the filler my father sings when he can’t remember the lyrics to the song.
  4. Langhorn Slim & the Law, “Put It Together”: I love the piano in this one. I wish I could play like that.
  5. M. Ward, “One Hundred Million Years”: “And this love, this love between you and I/Is older than that burning ball of fire up in the sky.”
  6. Pearl Jam, “Spin The Black Circle”: Sometimes, you just have to put on a loud, angry song, crank up the volume, and headbang. I do still have enough hair to headbang, right?
  7. The Wallflowers, “Some Flowers Bloom Dead”: And sometimes you need some rootsy rock and roll.
  8. Wilco, “Tried And True”: And sometimes you need to feel like you’re tripping out on shrooms while listening to the Beach Boys.
  9. Leonard Cohen, “Anthem”: “There is a crack, a crack in everything/That’s how the light gets in.”
  10. The National, “Fake Empire”: I’ve been reading a book about the making of the album this song is from, Boxer, and I really just want to sit and listen to the record on repeat.

Playlist #39

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Happy Monday, folks. Does the Wife get to come home this week? Who knows! Her doctor, possibly. Anyway, here’s a new playlist of songs to get you through the week.

  1. Andrew Bird, “Tin Foiled”: “What is moving will be still/What is gathered will disperse/What’s been built up will collapse/All of your dreams, they’re all fulfilled.”
  2. Bo Diddley, “Bo Diddley”: I hope to someday have the brass balls to write a song and just give it my name as a title. I doubt I ever will, though.
  3. Leonard Cohen, “Anthem”: “There is a crack, a crack in everything/That’s how the light gets in.”
  4. Les Paul and Mary Ford, “How High The Moon”: Les Paul just tears it up on this song.
  5. Tom Petty, “This Old Town”: There you go, Dad. A Tom Petty song from Highway Companion.
  6. Sean Lennon, “Would I Be The One”: Feels much like a song his dad would’ve written (admittedly, so does most everything else on this album. It’s a good album).
  7. The Rolling Stones, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”: Sometimes, you just need a rootsy Rolling Stones rocker in the playlist. Here’s this one’s.
  8. Ray Charles, “Unchain My Heart”: And sometimes you need some Ray Charles.
  9. The Mountain Goats, “Going Invisible 2”: Don’t look for “Going Invisible 1,” as there isn’t a song called that. This is rather a D&D reference to Invisible 2, a spell. I’m now going to go crawl back into my cave.
  10. Ronnie Spector, “Be My Baby”: I would die to have written the drum part for this song. Or the lyrics. Or the guitar. Or literally any part of it. It’s a damn fine song.

Did you know I don’t just write about music I like to listen to, but that I also write music? It’s true, and you can support me on Patreon in this endeavor! I’ll be releasing a new song there every month this year, so check it out!