the raconteurs

Playlist #232

/ xeyeti / Leave a comment

Happy Monday, folks. It’s SAT week here in Fairfax County, so I get to help administer that test this Wednesday. Joy. I love testing. These songs will hopefully carry me through the week.

  1. Taylor Swift, “Wood”: Yes, there’s a new Taylor Swift album out, and it’s all anyone is talking about. While I enjoy this song, it’s also rather amusing to me. Hearing Taylor sing double entendres is like hearing your middle schooler try out the word “fuck”: it’s mildly adorable to hear them trying, even though it sounds kinda cringey.
  2. Rhett Miller, “The El”: This could’ve come off an Old 97s album, honestly, but I can’t blame Rhett for keeping it for this solo record. It’s a bop.
  3. Neko Case, “Dirty Knife”: What is this song about? I have no idea, but there’s mention of the titular knife and a chorus (?) sung in, I think, Latin. It’s great.
  4. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, “California”: I’m just a sucker for the She’s the One soundtrack, as we are all well aware by now.
  5. The Raconteurs, “Intimate Secretary”: This just always seemed like an extremely fun band to be a part of, like these guys really synched up well and were all on the same page. This song is a perfect example of that chemistry.
  6. Robert Plant, “Chevrolet”: Robert Plant still makes pretty compelling music. His latest feels even more in line with the stuff he’s been making with Allison Krauss, even though she’s not even involved with the project.
  7. Spoon, “Chateau Blues”: A Spoon song that does and does not sound like a Spoon song is quite an accomplishment, but it’s one they pull off here.
  8. Lord Huron, “Meet Me in the Woods”: Still rather obsessed with Strange Trails. Will not apologize for that.
  9. Pearl Jam, “Hail, Hail”: When you need a little pick me up first thing in the morning, put it on this song and crank the volume. You’re welcome.
  10. John Prine, “Souvenirs”: And when you need someone to make you wistful and nostalgic and maybe just a little bit angry at the past, you could do much worse than Prine.

Playlist #224

/ xeyeti / Leave a comment

Happy Monday, folks. We’re up bright and early today because it’s the first day of teacher in-service week, when they see if they can crush the desire to teach out of us via the medium of meetings. We’ll see if they succeed this year or not.

  1. The Wallflowers, “Some Flowers Bloom Dead”: One of the first Wallflowers songs I tried to learn (after “One Headlight,” of course). The chords are easy enough, as I recall, though I don’t think I ever sang it very well. That has never stopped me from singing a song, though.
  2. Neil Young, “Harvest Moon”: Speaking of songs I don’t sing well, I kinda love this one. It’s a simple love song, but it just sounds so beautiful.
  3. Fleetwood Mac, “Seven Wonders”: ’80s Mac just hits different.
  4. Glen Phillips, “Men Just Leave”: I still love how stripped down and countryish that first Glen Phillips solo album is. Even almost 25 years later, it’s still very immediate and evocative.
  5. Van Morrison, “Once In A Blue Moon”: Mid-2000s Van is a strange beast, taking elements from all the other versions of him that are out there and amalgamating them into something that still feels relevant, joyful, and vital.
  6. The Raconteurs, “Carolina Drama”: Sometimes you’re the preacher man, and sometimes you’re the milkman.
  7. The Band, “Acadian Driftwood”: It’s always interesting hearing about the treatment of Native Americans/Indigenous Americans/First People (depending on where and who you are) in places like Canada, though a lot of it still boils down to, “Same shit, different government.”
  8. Wilco, “Summer Teeth”: A perfect encapsulation of the wanning days of summer.
  9. Old 97s, “Every Night Is Friday Night (Without You)”: Gotta love a shout-along song from these guys. It’s always fun.
  10. The Decemberists, “Sons & Daughters”: It’s so rare that you hear a song sung in the round in this day and age, but they manage to pull it off.

Playlist #126

/ xeyeti / Leave a comment

It’s a Tuesday following a holiday on a Monday, which makes it a Playlist day! The next Eddie Hazzard book, a short story collection titled Quick Cases, is up for pre-order! I’ll post the cover reveal as soon as I have it back from my illustrator.

  1. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, “Death Wish”: Isbell’s latest album, Weathervanes, continues to drill deep into my soul.
  2. Pearl Jam, “Corduroy”: Was Vitalogy the last truly great Pearl Jam record? Or was it Vs?
  3. EL VY, “Happiness, Missouri”: This is a two-minute shot of adrenaline right in the arm.
  4. The Raconteurs, “Carolina Drama”: Who is Billy’s daddy? Is it the priest or the milkman?
  5. Rhett Miller, “The El”: The most romantic song written about a public transit system since…um, ever, I guess. I can’t think of any other romance songs based around public transit.
  6. Yola & the Highwomen, “Hold On”: No, it’s not a Wilson Philips cover, sadly. It’s still a good song, though.
  7. Fun., “Carry On”: It’s a fun song by Fun. I’m always a bit suspicious of bands that include punctuation in their name. I’ve got my eye on you, band that hasn’t released an album since 2012.
  8. Foo Fighters, “These Days”: Hey, it’s a Foo Fighters song I can play on guitar! What fun!
  9. Florence + the Machine, “Shake It Out”: Every Florence + the Machine song feels like running an anthematic marathon, and I am exhausted at the end of it.
  10. Electric Light Orchestra, “Eldorado”: I had an argument (or a debate or whatever) with my brother over the weekend in regards to this album. I claim it’s their most consistent album, thematically and stylistically. He argues that the point of ELO is that Jeff Lynne had so much more diverse inspirations than your typical ’70s rock band and that cohesion was never the point. I think he’s just mad about “The Whale” on Out of the Blue).