over the rhine

Playlist #184: Election Day

/ xeyeti / Leave a comment

Happy Monday, folks. Tomorrow is the day here in the United States: Election Day. Have you voted yet? You ought to. I’d tell you who I voted for and who I think you should vote for, but that seems crass. Besides, if you’ve talked with me or seen my comics from the past decade or so, you can probably guess how I voted. Anyway, here’s a playlist of songs to encourage you to vote!

  1. Radiohead, “Electioneering”: I definitely expect some shenanigans from at least one side of the aisle this year.
  2. Billy Bragg & Wilco, “Christ for President”: Could there be a better man for the job? No, there could not. Would be flip some tables? You bet your ass.
  3. The National, “Mr. November”: I kinda hoped they’d release an updated version of this called “Mrs. November” this year. Alas, it was not to be so.
  4. Molly Lewis, “Pantsuit Sasquatch”: An ode to former candidate Hillary Clinton, who after the 2016 election fucked off into the woods like the mythical Bigfoot, only wearing a pantsuit.
  5. Toad the Wet Sprocket, “Old Habits Die Hard”: I know this election cycle has flipped a lot of voters from one party to the other, or at least away from one slightly orangish candidate.
  6. The Byrds, “I Wanna Grow Up To Be A Politician”: No, guys, you really don’t.
  7. The Doubleclicks, “President Snakes, Part 1”: A president who is nothing but a bunch of snakes? Wouldn’t be the worst we’ve dealt with.
  8. Drive-By Truckers, “The President’s Penis Is Missing”: It very well might be, guys. It very well might be.
  9. Over the Rhine, “If A Song Could Be President”: I find it amusing that they name check Neil Young in this song, a famously Canadian songwriter.
  10. The Presidents of the United States of America, “Lump”: Like I wasn’t going to include a song from this band.

Playlist #43: Presidents’ Day

/ xeyeti / Leave a comment

Happy Presidents’ Day, ‘Murica! Here’s some executive branch love in aural form. And hey, don’t forget I’ve got a Patreon, where February’s song is about to drop!

  1. They Might Be Giants, “James K. Polk”: Educational, entertaining, and a banger. Yup, it’s a TMBG song, alright.
  2. The Presidents of the United States of America, “Lump”: I get exhausted just typing out the name of the band. Thank goodness the song title is so short.
  3. Hamilton, “History Has Its Eyes On You”: The only song from the show I can play on the guitar, and a great vocal delivery from Christopher Jackson.
  4. Mark Knopfler, “Don’t Crash The Ambulance”: A changing of the guard. A handing over of the keys to the kingdom. And a brief explanation of just how things work around here.
  5. The National, “Mr. November”: “I was carried in the arms of cheerleaders.”
  6. Billy Bragg & Wilco, “Jesus Christ For President”: We could do worse, honestly.
  7. Molly Lewis, “Our American Cousin”: A three-part look at Mr. Lincoln’s infamous trip to the theatre. Funny and dark and heartbreaking.
  8. XTC, “Here Comes President Kill Again”: The ’80s? Subtle? No.
  9. Drive-By Truckers, “The President’s Penis Is Missing”: A damn tragedy, to be sure.
  10. Over The Rhine, “If A Song Could Be President”: Again, we could do worse. And I have a whole murderer’s row of talent in mind for the Cabinet.