There’s Something About Jonathan Richman’s Shitty Car

Once you get past the 2-minute intro to this Modern Lovers song there is a paradise awaiting you. As grating as Richman's slacker toned one-sided conversation can be at times, I think it’s worth it for you to resist fast forwarding on your first listen for two reasons: (1) It provides a context for the song’s hilarious subject matter and (2) heaven is all the sweeter if you’ve been scorched by the flames of hell. Maybe that’s a bit dramatic. Anyways, enjoy the tune. And if you like it, get more like it here.

Dodge Veg-O-Matic

Early 90’s Ramones

Even though their hey day was 15 or so years before Mondo Bizarro hit the flip racks, The Ramones proved that they’d never really lost a sense of what made their music so great: infectious hooks with simple memorable lyrics that burrow themselves way down passed the cerebral cortex and into the corpus callosum area (see diagram). The songs on this album have to fight early 90’s production values that suffocate that raw Ramones power under glimmering guitar and washed up drums, but they usually overcome. None more so than on today’s song, a sweet little ditty that owes more than a little to “I Should Have Known Better” by The Beatles.

I Won't Let It Happen

Unicorns Are Also Forever

As much as Nick Diamonds & J'aime Tambeur band Islands occupies the place in my heart set aside for really great and quirky music created by Canadians, the void left by their former band was far too big for any other band to completely fill. The Unicorns lone album, Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? had so many strange thematic and musical choices that worked so brilliantly that the album sounds fresh with every play. Enjoy this track, it’s one of three songs about ghosts on the album.

Ghost Mountain

Shuffle

I apologize to anyone who popped in today to read and/or listen to some actual music, but the Bears played so great last night I can’t believe it. I know it’s only 4 games into the season and I shouldn’t be thinking about the Super Bowl, and yet that’s exactly where my head is. So, for your listening (and viewing) pleasure, here is the cockiest football team in the history of the NFL, the 1985 Chicago Bears with a little ditty they like to call, The Super Bowl Shuffle. They actually made this video BEFORE the Super Bowl. Also, I love that they let Steve Fuller (their backup QB) have a verse. At least Kyle Orton has that going for him.

Super Bowl Shuffle

Chrome Mixola

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that there is no other label that gives away nearly as much great music as Stones Throw Records. I mean, it’s insane. It seems like every week my iTunes is downloading yet another hour long podcast of great material. Now they’re at it again. With the Chrome Children album on it’s way into stores on Oct. 3rd, the label dropped this 21 minute mix on their website for all the world to have. There’s nothing I can possibly say that could put it better than how they describe it on the website:

“Half the songs are from Chrome Children, and the other half are just plain dope.”

How’s that for concise. I’ve linked to the mix below, but go here for the breakdown of what’s on it…

PB Wolf's Chrome Mix

Monk Rock

If you’re an American GI based in Germany and you decide to:

1. Form a band with other GI’s
2. Get Monk haircuts
3. Buy Monk robes
4. Name your band The Monks

Well, then, you’d be wise to bring the rock. And that’s exactly what The Monks did on their 1966 release Black Monk Time. Every song on this album seems like it’s going to explode at any second. And if you’re wondering why the songs are so lyrically simple and repetitive, keep in mind that they were playing for non-English speaking audiences. So please, open your ears and hearts for some angst ridden, electric banjo driven proto-punk…

Shut Up

And here’s a little bonus video…

Sail Plane

There are few things more enjoyable to listen to than Brian Wilson tapping out a tune on his piano and singing some high notes. Top that off with mouth made airplane sound effects and you’ve got something extra blissful. The Beach Boys would also record an amped up version of this song under the title “Loop De Loop (Flip Flop Flyin' In An Aeroplane)” with none other than Al Jardine helming the production. This stripped down version, however, shows just how brilliant a songwriter Wilson was even without his bells and whistles. Both versions of this song are available on the Endless Harmony Soundtrack, which I highly recommend picking up.

Sail Plane Song

Moby Grape

Much like yesterday’s band, Moby Grape is another band that should be a household name, but aren’t. They were one of the most talented and inspired bands to come out of the 60’s Haight-Ashbury scene, but they were also one of the most mismanaged. Despite making some amazing music, their singles didn’t chart much and they watched as their peers went on to become legends. Here’s a little taste from their second album, Wow.

Murder In My Heart For The Judge

Eleventh Dream Day

In an alternate dimension Eleventh Dream Day is a very well known band with scores of fans and Sonic Youth is an incredible band that some how went criminally unnoticed by the masses. But in this universe, it happens to be the other way around. Prairie School Freakout is one of the most brilliant debuts ever and every release since has been beyond solid. They just released yet another critically acclaimed album called Zeroes and Ones, but I don’t have it yet. When I get it I’ll post a track, but in the meantime enjoy this track from their last album. And hey, while you’re at it, check this one out from Prairie School Freakout. Enjoy!

Ice Storm - from Stalled Parade

Among The Pines - from Prairie School Freakout

Van Dyke Parks & Madlib

Sometimes I get the feeling that Madlib has some secret machine that he plugs into his encyclopedic mind that materializes his musical whims on command. His knowledge of music is so vast and well digested that he can seemingly effortlessly crank out albums, mixes, and side projects at the speed of thought. That is why I was caught off guard when I actually did recognize one of the many obscure musical references on The Beat Konducta: Vol. 1-2. The rest are still a mystery to me. For your listening pleasure I’m posting ‘The All Golden’ by Brian Wilson’s SMiLE collaborator Van Dyke Parks (off of Song Cycle) and Madlib’s re-working of it ‘Left On Silverlake (Ride)’. Enjoy!

The All Golden by Van Dyke Parks

Left On Silverlake (Ride) by Madlib

Disc Jockey Shadow

Like yesterday, I thought I’d put something of a mini-epic up for your listening pleasure. Today it’s from the ultimate crate digger himself DJ Shadow off of his deluxe re-release of the masterpiece Entroducing. Aside from all the alternate versions and imaginative re-mixes, there’s this little gem of a live set to dig into. So if you’re like me and haven’t grabbed his new album just yet, or you’re like Pitchfork and just didn’t flip over it, soak in these beats for the next 12 plus minutes. You’ll feel better for it.

DJ Shadow Live in Oxford, England, Oct. 30, 1997 [Live]

Skyyyyyyyyyy Pilot

I just wanted to post this song because The Animals are one of my favorite rock bands and this is one of their great under appreciated tunes. It's one of those mini-epics (along the lines of 'A Quick One While He's Away') that seem all too rare these days. It very much bares the mark of it's '68 release date, it's 'delic' in all the right places, and if you like it there's more where that came from on The Twain Shall Meet. Enjoy!

Sky Pilot

Cealed Kasket

Nothing like a little Spinal Tappian metal to start off your Tuesday. These guys hail from Chicago and they bring the death. If you're in Chicago, you really have to check out their show for the full experience. It's like going to a pub sized Medieval Times, and their zealous fan base has a way of sucking you into the theatrics. Check out this hilarious track I grabbed from their myspace page, but be warned, you may be repeating the words "you and your horse" over and over again in your head (and perhaps out loud) for the rest of the day.

Horse

Check out 'Chivalry and Honor' while your at their page too, it's a goooooood one. And buy their cd. And buy a t-shirt. And give your soul to the Soul Collector. And have a nice day.

Verlaine

Just so you know, Tom Verlaine still has the goods. First he fronts the insanely brilliant Television, then he does some quality solo releases, then he takes 14 years off from releasing music, and now he's back and hasn't lost a step. That (arguably) puts him in the elite Tom Waits class of musicians who never really released a dud. Even Dylan took a hit in the 80's. See for yourself, give this track some ear love...

Lovebird Asylum Seeker

Polysics

My friend Myke introduced me to Polysics, and they are everything this picture of them promises and more. On their myspace page they have some songs you can check out, definitely start off with "I My Me Mine" though. Also for your eyeball pleasure, I'm embedding this really cool video for "Electric Surfin' Go Go". All their videos are sweet! Go to youtube! Now!

Western States Motel

They're Western States Motel and skip right to the track 'Southwest Planez', it's a sweet little Shin-ish number with a ridiculously catchy guitar hook. All the tracks are sweet, but that one's sweeterest. Enjoy.