I've Always Liked The Sad Songs...

It really doesn't matter how I'm feeling, I love me a good sad song. Life can be as chipper as possible (and in most ways it has been lately) and still I'm a glutton for some melodic misery. I've been questioned about it a million times and my only great explanation is that it's definitely the emotional vicarious thrill and not the therapy that most people suppose it to be. There's just nothing like that wash of bummedness drifting over you. On that note, here are some of my recent faves; they aren't thoroughly bummed, but they deliver nonetheless. Enjoy.

Right Away, Great Captain - "Down To Your Soul".
Right Away, Great Captain - "Memories From A Shore (Anna No)".
Royal City - "I Called But You Were Sleeping".
Saxon Shore - "Nothing Changes".

The Boss (Covered & Covering)

Knowing that my 18-year old self would be reeling in horror right about now, I press on with a blog post about Bruce Springsteen. A few days back I heard yet another version of his classic "Tougher Than The Rest" (courtesy of Camera Obscura this time) and was reminded what an incredible songwriter he can occasionally be (if you have not heard "Nebraska", stop everything and go purchase it right now; seriously). I've loved this song ever since the Everything But The Girl cover back in 1992 and though Camera Obscura's version doesn't stray much from that one, there's a refreshingness to it all the same.

All of this mainly just reminded me that I really needed to post Springsteen's version of Suicide's classic "Dream Baby Dream". Bruce's version tops the original by a mile and shows an almost shoegazey side of Bruce that I would have never suspected. This 2005 live version was released recently as part of the 10" vinyl series on Blast First Petite celebrating Suicide's Alan Vega's 70th birthday (along with an insane live Suicide box set from 1977-1978). Enjoy.

Camera Obscura - "Tougher Than The Rest" (Springsteen Cover) (Live KEXP 06-June-2009) (removed by request).
Everything But The Girl - "Tougher Than The Rest" (Springsteen Cover).
Bruce Springsteen - "Dream Baby Dream" (Suicide Cover). Youtube.

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 15

Some faves over the past four months or so. Enjoy.

01 - Johnny Foreigner - "Feels Like Summer".
02 - Two Door Cinema Club - "Undercover Martyn".
03 - Phoenix - "Countdown (Sick For The Big Sun)".
04 - Fanfarlo - "Fire Escape".
05 - Marching Band - "Travel In Time".
06 - Parachutes - "Tree Roots Turn To Forts".
07 - Peggy Sue - "Lover Gone".
08 - Jessica Lea Mayfield - "For Today (Live "Have You Heard" Session)".
09 - Bowerbirds - "Northern Lights".
10 - Airship - "Algebra".
11 - The Answering Machine - "Obviously Cold".
12 - Anamanaguchi - "Dawn Metropolis".
13 - Winston Audio - "Troubles".

A Century Removed: The Soup Dragons - "Whole Wide World"

The "I Hang Suspended" blog recently posted the first three singles by The Soup Dragons, all of which were released by The Subway Organization between 1986-1987. The first of these, the "Whole Wide World" single, remains one of my all-time favorite singles. I was fortunate enough to buy it on a trip to England with my parents in 1987 thanks to an awesome shop owner in Preston, England (who also fortunately convinced me to pick up the first three Talulah Gosh singles; proof that record-store owners can be great taste makers). I wore out the grooves of this 7" that summer and only later found the additional 12" track of "Pleasantly Surprised". I realize that it's 22 years later now, but these songs still have the bounce of the best Buzzcocks tracks. Enjoy.

The Soup Dragons - "Whole Wide World".
The Soup Dragons - "I Know Everything".
The Soup Dragons - "Pleasantly Surprised".