Wednesday, December 30, 2015

2015 Year End Countdown!


AWOLNATION
Well, it's the end of the year and boy what a year it was! Great songs all over this countdown.

Happy New Year's!


2015 Year End Countdown

***Featuring***
AWOLNATION
Beck
Cage the Elephant
Cold War Kids
Elle King
Mumford & Sons
Muse
Panic! At the Disco
twenty one pilots
Walk the Moon
X Ambassadors

Top Ten Tuesday: Selena Gomez "Same Old Love"

What an INTERESTING video! I swear, some of these hit pop songs are doing really interesting and fun stuff and are probably getting ignored by people because of the celebrity of the artists. I'm glad I do this segment because it's really opened my eyes to some good songs and cool videos


Thursday, December 24, 2015

New Countdown: Bicenquinquagenary As Hell.


Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats

This is the 275th regularly scheduled countdown I've put together. That is kind of staggering, isn't it? Thanks for sticking with me :) If this is your 1st episode or your 275th that you've "tuned in" for, I want to thank you so much for taking the time!

Oh, and Merry Christmas! Hope that, if you're celebrating, you're having a lovely time with family, friends, and people who are somewhere in between.


Countdown #275

***Featuring***
Cage the Elephant
Cold War Kids
Coldplay
Coleman Hell
Death Cab For Cutie
Elle King
Happy Fangs
Kendrick Lamar
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
Silversun Pickups
twenty one pilots
X Ambassadors


Top Ten Tuesday: Justin Bieber "Love Yourself"

I thought I'd posted this on Tuesday. But I guess I didn't.

I really enjoyed both this song and the video for it. It's simple and plainspoken and I really enjoy that.


Wednesday, December 16, 2015

New Countdown: Someone's Favorite Band?


Cage the Elephant
It's time for another countdown of the hottest Alternative Songs in the country according to Billboard! There's only one more regular countdown before the Year-End countdown! Can you believe it??




Countdown #274

***Featuring***
Cage the Elephant
Cold War Kids
Coldplay 
Coleman Hell
Death Cab For Cutie
Elle King
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
Silversun Pickups
St. Vincent
twenty one pilots
The Weeknd
X Ambassadors

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Justin Bieber "What Do You Mean?"

I'm actually really surprised that I haven't posted this one already. It's been in the Top Ten for several weeks now. In fact, I may have done a UK edition unnecessarily because I thought I'd already posted this song.

3/5 of the Top 5 are Justin Bieber songs this week. He has truly made a comeback.


Thursday, December 10, 2015

New Countdown: Life Getting in the Way


Cage the Elephant

Ugh, things are so busy leading up to the holidays this year. But we're muddling through somehow! I'm really enjoying the bonus song plan that I have going leading up to the end of the year. I hope you're enjoying it too.


Countdown #273

***Featuring***
Cage the Elephant
Cold War Kids
Coleman Hell
Death Cab For Cutie
Desaparecidos
Elle King
Muse
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
Silversun Pickups
Speedy Ortiz
twenty one pilots
X Ambassadors

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Meghan Trainor featuring John Legend "Like I'm Gonna Lose You"

I feel like I should check out this album. I think that it could be either really good or really samey. This is a nice little ballad featuring John Legend!

Thursday, December 3, 2015

December 2015 Media Update

Alright, so this is a little out of date. These are all "the last..." things from 11/30. That's how these things work. I talk about the last thing I [verb] on the last day of the month. It's just that...well, we'll get to it. Right...now.



Last Thing I Watched - See, there's this show called Jessica Jones on Netflix and I have been watching that with pretty much all of my free time. The episode I was watching at the turn of the month was called "Top Shelf Perverts" because Jessica was trying to get locked in SuperMax prison. I'd recommend it to anyone that's ok with some language and violence. If you're pretty ok with it, this show was great (I finished it last night).

Last Thing I Listened To:

I love this song. I should revisit the Blue album. I think I will!

)

Last thing I Read - I'm currently reading a Pulitzer prize winner called Gilead and it's a very interesting read. It's super dry, but it makes me miss my Midwestern relatives. There's a lot of consideration about God and faith and predestination and stuff. I'm glad that I'm reading it now and not 5 years ago, because I don't know if it would have held my interest.


Things I've Been Seeing on the Internet: Lots of people posting about Thanksgiving, Lots of people posting about Christmas. Often they were relating these holidays to the Syrian refugee situation. In the days since the turn of the month, there have been a bunch of shootings, so I'm also seeing a lot of rhetoric about gun control. Which is always a civil discussion..................

..........

Ok. I'm going to spend the month of December considering whether I want to continue these into 2016. If you have any thoughts one way or the other, leave a comment!

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

New Countdown: Gems


Cage the Elephant

The last episode of November. Crazy how time is always flying. Pretty soon, we'll be back here at the last episode of November again! And again. And again. All while listening to the most popular Alternative tunes.

Enjoy :)


Countdown #272

***Featuring***
Cage the Elephant
Chvrches
Cold War Kids
Coleman Hell
Death Cab For Cutie
Elle King
Jason Derulo
Muse
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
Silversun Pickups
twenty one pilots
X Ambassadors

Top Ten Tuesday: Justin Bieber "Sorry"

My sister says this whole album is pretty great. I don't know how quick I'll be to check it out, but I have heard a couple of songs from it and I don't hate them! I haven't heard a lot of this one, but I probably will in the coming months as it's the song sitting right under Adele's "Hello" on the Top Ten.


Wednesday, November 25, 2015

New Countdown: Hittin' Those T's!


X Ambassadors

Well here's another countdown for you enjoyment this Thanksgiving (if you're in America) or Same as Normal (if you're not in America) week!

Listen for me hitting the middle T in "twenty" for twenty one pilots in a weirdly enunciated way!

Enjoy!




Countdown #271

***Featuring***
All-Time Quarterback
Atlas Genius
AWOLNATION
Cold War Kids
Coleman Hell 
Death Cab For Cutie
Diet Cig
Doomtree
Elle King
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
Silversun Pickups
twenty one pilots
X Ambassadors

Top Ten Tuesday: Alessia Cara "Here"

Fun new song that's sort of been blowing up of late. Enters the Top Ten at #10

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Throwback Thursday: 1951



1. Overture
2. Cotton Blossom
3. Make Believe


4. Ol Man River
5. Can't Help Lovin
6. Life Upon the Wicked Stage
7. You Are Love
8. Why Do I Love You
9. Bill
10. Nobody Else But Me

It's so interesting to hear a musical's soundtrack because you can ALMOST get what the story is. Almost.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

New Countdown: Less' Talk, More Rock


The Struts
I think this may be the shortest episode we've had in years, but it's a great one with great music. Just less umming and ahing from your humble host! :)

Enjoy!



 
Countdown #270

***Featuring***
AWOLNATION
Cold War Kids
Coleman Hell
Death Cab For Cutie
Elle King
Mike Mictlan featuring Aby Wolf
Muse
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
The Struts
twenty one pilots
X Ambasaddors

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Elle King "Ex's and Oh's"

Entering the Top Ten at #10 this week, this makes the 3rd song this year to make the Hot 100 Top Ten that has also made the Alternative Songs Top Ten (and there for the podcast)!

Thursday, November 12, 2015

2015 Festive Fifty Shortlist Vote!

 It's that time of year again! Time to vote for the songs that will comprise the Festive Fifty for 2015!

Here are the songs (instructions are below):

Alabama Shakes - Don't Wanna Fight
Alabama Shakes - Future People
Arborist - Twisted Arrow
BC Camplight - Grim Cinema
BC Camplight - Thieves In Antigua
Beach House - PPP
Beirut - No no no
Ben Folds - Phone in the Pool
Björk - Lionsong
Blur - Ice Cream Man
Blushing Satellite - Arul
BORNS - Electric Love
Brandi Carlile - Wherever is Your Heart
Brian Jonestown Massacre - Dust (13th Floor Elevators cover)
Cairo Gang - Ice Fishing
Calexico - Falling From the Sky
Catfish & the Bottlemen - Kathleen
Catfish & the Bottlemen – Cocoon
Chvrches - Bury It
Chvrches - Leave a Trace
Courtney Barnett - Depreston
Courtney Barnett - Pedestrian at Best
Daughter - Doing the Right Thing
Dawes - All Your Favorite Bands
Dawes - Things Happen
Decemberists - Make You Better
Decemberists - The Singer Addresses His Audience
Diet Cig - Dinner Date
Diet Cig - Sleep Talk
EL VY - Return To The Moon (Political Song for Didi Bloome to Sing, with Crescendo)
Elle King - Ex's and Oh's
Escondido - Heart is Black
Ezra Furman - Body Was Made
Fall Out Boy - Jet Pack Blues
Fall Out Boy - Novocaine
Father John Misty - Chataeu Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)
Fenne Lily - Stranger
Florence & the Machine - Ship to Wreck
Garden of Elks - This Morning We Are Astronauts
Girlpool - Before the World Was Big
Grimes - Flesh Without Blood
Grimes - Realti
Hamilton soundtrack - Wait For It
Helio Sequence - Leave or Be Yours
Hop Along - Waitress
Houndmouth - Sedona
Imelda Staunton - Everything's Coming Up Roses
Jamie XX - Stranger in a Room
Jason Isbell - 24 Frames
John Grant - Disappointing
Joywave - Tongues
Kacey Musgraves - Dime Store Cowgirl
Kacey Musgraves - Pageant Material
Kendrick Lamar - i
Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta
Khruangbin - White Gloves
Kopecky - Talk to Me
Kurt Vile - Pretty Pimpin
Leftfield - Head & Shoulders
Legs - Top of the World
Leon Bridges - Coming Home
Leon Bridges - Smooth Sailin'
Lord Huron - Fool For Love
Low - What Part of Me
Major Lazer - Lean On
Marlon Williams - Strange Things
Matthew E White - Rock and Roll is Cold
Max Richter - Space 11 (invisible pages over)
Memory Tapes - House on Fire
Modest Mouse - Lampshades on Fire
Mumford & Sons - The Wolf
My Morning Jacket - Believe (Nobody Knows)
Mynabirds- All My Heart
Mynabirds- Believer
Naoise Roo - Sheets
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats - S.O.B.
New Basement Tapes - Kansas City
New Blue Death--Silo
New Order - Nothing But a Fool
Passion Pit - My Brother Taught Me How to Swim
Passion Pit - Where the Sky Hangs
Patrick Watson--Love Songs For Robots
Pierce Brothers - Mama Please
Pierce Brothers - Overdose
Protomartyr - Why Does It Shake
Public Service Broadcasting - Gagarin
Public Service Broadcasting - Go!
Rihanna, Kanye, Paul McCartney - Four Five Seconds
Rodney Cromwell - Barry Was an Arms Dealer
Roots Manuva - Don't Breathe Out
Shifters - Creggan Shops
Slaves - The Hunter
Sleater-Kinney - Bury Our Friends
Slug - Greasy Mind
Small Black - Boys Life
Speedy Ortiz - Raising the Skate
Sufjan Stevens - No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross
Sufjan Stevens - Should Have Known Better
Tame Impala - Let It Happen
Tame Impala - The Less I Know The Better
Tobias Jesso Jr - How Could You Babe
Torche - Minions
TV On the Radio - Trouble
The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid To Die – You Can’t Live There Forever
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Multi-Love
Wave Pictures - Pea Green Coat
Weepies - No Trouble
Wilco - Random Name Generator
Wolf Alice - Moaning Lisa Smile
Yang Fan - Autumn in Your Town
Zun Zun Egui - African Tree

Here's the spotify playlist I made:
https://play.spotify.com/…/…/playlist/1z4I7kd14CO36lOJT3lIDK

And here are the leftovers:
Pierce Brothers - Overdose (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQhRKxRd4RE)
https://soundcloud.com/blushingsate…/blushing-satellite-arul
The Shifters - Creggan Shops (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXe-FxNWPJc)
https://soundcloud.com/fenne-lily/stranger
The Cairo Gang - Ice Fishing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd2z4EJBuLc)
https://newbluedeath.bandcamp.com/track/silo
https://genjingrecords.bandcamp.com/tra…/autumn-in-your-town
The one song I can't find anywhere is Pierce Brothers - Mama Please. If you can find a nice playable version, please post it in the comments

Send me (contrastians@gmail.com) your top 10 favorites (#1 being your favorite) and if you want, 1 song that you want to vote AGAINST! by midnight pacific time on Sunday 11/22/15.

Throwback Thursday: 1952


1. Overture / Because You're Mine (Mario Lanza) 1:31
2. Addio alla Madre (Cavalleria Rusticana) (Mario Lanza) 3:40
3. The Song of the Angels Sing (Mario Lanza) 2:54
4. Fluffy Foam (Mario Lanza) 0:45
5. You Do Something to Me (Doretta Morrow) 2:00
6. Lee-Ah-Oh (Mario Lanza) 1:32
7. The Lord's Prayer (Mario Lanza) 2:51
8. Because You're Mine (Mario Lanza and Doretta Morrow) 2:42
9. Be My Love (Doretta Morrow) 1:45
10. Addio! Addio! (Mario Lanza and Paula Corday) 0:56
11. O Paradiso (Mario Lanza) 1:46
12. Granada (Mario Lanza) 3:04
13. Because You're Mine II (Mario Lanza and Doretta Morrow) 2:21


Lots of soundtracks coming up in the next couple of weeks. I think it would be interesting to see what caused so many #1 soundtrack albums around this time. Is it that people mostly bought singles but when it came to soundtracks, they were willing to buy the whole thing? 

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

New Countdown: Barely Knowing What's Going On


Coleman Hell
Boy it sure is a good thing I have notes because if I was just going based on my gut instincts about some of these songs, we'd be in big trouble!


Countdown #269

***Featuring***
AWOLNATION
Cold War Kids
Coleman Hell
Death Cab For Cutie
Elle King
J. Cole featuring Miguel
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
The Struts
twenty one pilots
Walk the Moon
X Ambassadors



Top Ten Tuesday (Wednesday Edition): Ariana Grande "Focus"

This song debuted at #7 on the chart this week. It's another Ariana Grande video that is walking this weird line between trying to be sexy and trying to be silly. It's a very catchy song.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Throwback Thursday: 1953



Another Jackie Gleason album this week. This one ruled the charts from the week of July 4th through the week of December 19th (as well as a week in May and a week in June). That is insane.

1. Alone Together
2. My Funny Valentine
3. But Not For Me
4. Love (Your Spell is Everywhere)
5. I'm In the Mood For Love
6. Love is Everywhere
7. I Only Have Eyes For You
8. Body and Soul

Here's the whole thing again. But remember: this is for lovers only, so if you have no one, go check out Frank Sinatra's Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely



Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Adele "Hello"

This song is pretty much the biggest song to come out this year. It debuts at #1 and is breaking all sorts of streaming records. Her new album 25, comes out on 11/20 and is already slated to sell much more than 1 million copies. I even saw speculation about whether it might break 2 million. Unreal. This has more than 200 million views on Youtube and it came out last week, I believe.


And here's something fun. BBC1 got David Attenborough to narrate the beginning of the video as he would a nature documentary. What an age to be alive!


New Countdown: Can You Still Be SPOOOKY in November?


Death Cab For Cutie

Wrapping up October in the SPOOOOOKIEST way possible: with a return to our regularly scheduled programming :)

This is a good one. Lots of great music from up and coming bands as well as a song by a particular established act (pictured above)!


Countdown #268

***Featuring***
AWOLNATION
Cold War Kids
Coleman Hell
Death Cab For Cutie
Elle King
Jack White
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
The Struts
twenty one pilots
Walk the Moon
X Ambassadors

Sunday, November 1, 2015

November 2015 Media Update

Coming in a little late on this one, but we've been preparing for the week and last night was, of course, Halloween. Fortunately, this month was really easy!


Last Thing I Watched: We watched a very enjoyable, non-Treehouse of Horror, Simpsons Halloween episode last night called "Halloween of Horror" and it was very enjoyable!


Last Thing I Read: I'm finishing up It which has felt very appropriate for the Halloween season. I love Stephen King books so much. More than being scary, I find them often quite touching. Tales about friends banding together and fighting evil. Really works for me. This book has been a lot of that!


Last Thing I Listened To: We had Pandora on while we were looking at Disney pictures that we want to put in a photo album. I made sure to note what was playing at midnight and it was this soul classic. You GOTTA love this song.


Things I'm Seeing on the Internet: Tons of Halloween pics, of course. I love seeing everyone's ideas. And, the image that I posted is one I found on Reddit from the 1890's. It's a costume design that I'm still seeing around these days. And then there are the more typical old Halloween costumes like the one from 1911 posted below. Basically terrifying.


Also terrifying and on the horizon...Election Day is this month. On Tuesday, in fact!

Have a great month, you guys!



Thursday, October 29, 2015

Throwback Thursday: 1954



1. Once in a While
2. I Can't Get Started
3. I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good
4. My Ideal
5. Yesterdays
6. I Love You (Je T'Aime!)
7. Unforgettable
8. How High the Moon
9. I'll Be Seeing You
10. Shangri-La
11. I Remember You
12. It Could Happen to You
13. Somebody Loves Me
14. Time On My Hands
15. The Nearness of You
16. The Song is Ended

Here's the whole thing! Hope it sends you straight "to da moon"!

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: One Direction "Perfect"

Only the 6th Top Ten song for the British pop titans, it debuts at #10. I guess I thought they had a stronger singles discography than that. Weird.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Bonus Countdown: All-Time Top Alternative Songs (ca 2013) (Part 2)


Fuel
Well ladies and gents, it's the episode you've been waiting for all your...week. The thrilling conclusion to the two-part, nail-biting, down-to-the-wire, All-Time Top Alternative Songs countdown... according to Billboard more than 2 years ago...

It's just a time to reflect on some choice cuts of decade-spanning Alternative goodness, so sink your teeth in and enjoy!


All-Time Alternative Songs (Part 2) (ca 2013)

***Featuring***
Foo Fighters
Fuel
Green Day
Incubus
Imagine Dragons
Marcy Playground
Muse
Neon Trees
Peter Murphy
Rise Against

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Throwback Thursday: 1955 (Disney Edition!)



Since we're in Disney this week, and since there was a feature-length Disney movie released in 1955, let's throw back to that!

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday (UK Edition): Naughty Boy feat Beyonce and Arrow Benjamin "Runnin' (Lose It All)"

It feels like maybe the top ten has a lot of movement within it, but not a lot of songs entering that we haven't covered before. So it's back to the UK charts.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Bonus Countdown: All-Time Top Alternative Songs (ca 2013) (Part 1)


Gorillaz
As you read this, I am in a van driving to Disney, Florida. I hope you are having a great Saturday so far and I hope this episode makes it better! You should go for a drive, too. Let's sync up our experiences! I'll try to put this on around noon (when it posts) as long as I think of it.

So in 2013 Billboard celebrated 25 years of our beloved Alternative Songs (nee Hot Modern Rock Tracks) chart. We celebrated by listening to the first Top Ten. Now we're going to spend the next two weeks counting down the Top 20 on this list that is just over 2 years old. I don't know how the past two years have affected things and I guess we won't know until 2038, when the chart celebrates 50 years ;-) (jk. I'm sure that there'll be something to commemorate the 30th anniversary)

So enjoy Part 1 of 2 Bonus Countdowns!


All-Time Top Alternative Songs (ca 2013) (Part 1)

***Featuring***
Audioslave
Gorillaz
Green Day
Lit
Live
Love and Rockets
Nickleback
Nirvana
Oasis
Staind
U2

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Throwback Thursday: 1956



 I was in a thrift store this weekend and came across this album on vinyl for $9. It seemed a little steep for something that I'd never heard before, but it felt cool to find it so close to posting about it.

1. To Love Again


2. Manhattan
3. Shine on Harvest Moon
4. It Must Be True
5. Whispering
6. Dizzy Fingers
7. You're My Everything
8. Chopsticks
9. On the Sunny Side of the Street
10. Brazil
11. La Vie En Rose
12. To Love Again (Finale)

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday (UK Edition): Sam Smith "Writing's on the Wall"

This is #3 on the UK Charts and I'm excited to hear it because I think he was an interesting choice for a Bond theme. I'm also hoping the video has lots of Bond stuff in it!


Ok, good amount of Bond stuff, enjoyable song, and a fun way to end the video. Well done Mr. Smith!

Monday, October 12, 2015

New Countdown: Lazy Contrarians


Cold War Kids

Last countdown for the next two weeks! It goes out with a bang, though! And stay tuned till the end to see how I'm going to fill the next two weeks! I think it's pretty exciting!


Countdown #267

***Featuring***
AWOLNATION
Beck
Cold War Kids
Coleman Hell
Death Cab For Cutie
Elle King
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
New Found Glory
New Order
The Struts
Walk the Moon
X Ambassadors


Thursday, October 8, 2015

Throwback Thursday: 1957



1. Mean Woman Blues
2. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear


3. Loving You
4. Got a Lot o' Livin' To Do
5. Lonesome Cowboy
6. Hot Dog
7. Party
8. Blueberry Hill
9. True Love
10. Don't Leave Me Now
11. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?
12. I Need You So


This was Elvis's 3rd Album!

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Shawn Mendes "Stitches"

A new rags-to-riches story where a guy uploads covers of songs on Vine (which, as you'll remember, are 6 second, looping videos), gets signed to a label and eventually makes the Top Ten. I think we're going to be seeing more and more of this kind of thing.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

New Countdown: Welcome to October!


Walk the Moon

Well here we are in the 10th month. This year is just flying by and the air is getting colder. My thoughts are turning to the Festive Fifty and that email will go out at the end of the month.


For now, enjoy the Alternative goodness :)


Countdown #266

***Featuring***
AWOLNATION
Beck
Bleachers featuring Elle King
Cold War Kids
Coleman Hell
Elle King
Florence + the Machine
Neon Trees
The Struts
twenty one pilots
Walk the Moon
X Ambassadors

Thursday, October 1, 2015

October 2015 Media Update



How can it be October already?? The year is flying by, you guys. TV is back in full swing. My oldest is finishing her 3rd week of Pre-K. The leaves are going to start turning in earnest very soon. It's crazy how quickly Fall becomes Winter.


Last Thing I Watched: Well, I knew that this was coming up, so I made sure I noted what show I was watching when it struck midnight. I have my hands full of shows to watch, so I wasn't at a loss for things to include in this category.

I happened to be watching the second episode of the second season of a show called Scorpion. It's about a group of certified geniuses who save the world. It can be pretty silly and it doesn't get a lot of love on the internet, but I really enjoy watching it, and I think that that's good enough!

The episode was called "Cuba Libre" and involved the gang going to Cuba to track down a war criminal. Solid episode


Last Thing I Read: I'm reading a book called Personal Days which is sort of like maybe if you wrote an episode of The Office in prose form, but you wanted it to appear in The New Yorker. It's fun. But the weird thing is the narrative voice it's written in. It's almost, like, collective 1st person? The narrator says "we" and "us", but the narrator isn't one particular person, so there will also be "he" and "she". It's very odd to wrap my brain around. Especially for such a light read.


Last Thing I Listened To: The last song I listened to was a new song by Walk the Moon called "Different Colors" and I really like it a lot. I really like the whole Talking is Hard album. These guys are having a pretty terrific year!


Things I'm Seeing on the Internet: Lots of news items. There have been flash floods in our area the past couple days, including the college I went to being quite a bit more underwater than it ever was when I was there.

We also had a supermoon full lunar eclipse on Sunday, so there were lots of pictures of that.


Plus, the Pope was here this week! I know that the Catholic church has issues. And I maybe have some issues with organized religion in general. But this Pope seems like a solid dude.


When we next meet, my whole family and I will have been to DisneyWorld! Have a great month!

Throwback Thursday: 1958



This was the first classical album to go Platinum. It's amazing to think of a classical album at #1, but this guy had just defected from the Soviet Union, been on Steve Allen. He was pretty hot news. So it makes sense.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

New Countdown: I Feel More Comfortable Now, I Feel More Comfortable Now


The Struts

After a whirlwind weekend, I'm finally back with a new countdown! To make it up to you, there are two additional tunes on this one! Enjoy!


Countdown #265

***Featuring***
AWOLNATION
Beck
Cold War Kids
Coleman Hell
Dessa
Elle King
Florence + the Machine
Mumford & Sons
Sisyphus
Speedy Ortiz
The Struts
twenty one pilots
X Ambassadors


Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Taylor Swift "Wildest Dreams"

Her 16th Top Ten Single of her career and the 5th from the 1989 album. I'm excited to see this video, because I haven't yet. The album sure is enjoyable.



Very lovely and very nostalgic. I can dig it.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Throwback Thursday: 1959







1. M.T.A.

2. All My Sorrows
3. Blow Ye Winds
4. Corey, Corey
5. The Seine
6. I Bawled
7. Good News
8. Getaway John
9. The Long Black Rifle
10. Early in the Morning
11. Scarlet Ribbons
12. Remember the Alamo

I haven't listened to this one all the way through yet, but I know "MTA" from the Dropkick Murphys cover of it. So I basically think of these guys as proto-punks!



Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Drake "Hotline Bling"

There doesn't appear to be an official video for this one, as is often the case with songs just coming into the Top Ten. It'll probably be released in the next week or two.

I like this song. It's very chilled out.


Monday, September 21, 2015

New Countdown: Ladies and Gentlemen, We Have Blurryface.

Mumford & Sons
Believe it or not, this is a milestone episode!

Enjoy!



Countdown #264

***Featuring***
The Airborne Toxic Event
AWOLNATION
Beck
Cold War Kids
Coleman Hell
Elle King
Florence + the Machine
The Struts
twenty one pilots
X Ambassadors

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Throwback Thursday: 1960



1. Abe Lincoln vs Madison Avenue
2. The Cruise of the U.S.S. Codfish
3. Merchandising the Wright Brothers
4. The Kruschev Landing Rehearsal
5. Driving Instructor


6. Nobody Will Ever Play Baseball

This album won Album of the Year, a first for a comedy album. It was the third Album of the Year. "Driving Instructor" is probably the most famous track from this album. It's still hilarious.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Ed Sheeran "Photograph"

What a fun, weird little video. It was put together by Ed's Dad and you can see the love that went into it. Very cool. And congratulations to Ed for his 3rd Top Ten song from X!


Monday, September 14, 2015

New Countdown: Do YOU Know What FIFA Stands For?


Florence + the Machine

We're going to chalk this one being late up to the Labor Day holiday and leave it at that.

But all of that is going to fly out the window when you hear this episode. It's a VERY exciting one :)


Countdown #263

***Featuring***
AWOLNATION
Beck
Cold War Kids
Coleman Hell
Elle King
Florence + the Machine
Mumford & Sons
Paramore
The Struts
twenty one pilots
X Ambassadors

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Throwback Thursday: 1961



1. There's Always Me
2. Give Me the Right
3. It's a Sin
4. Sentimental Me
5. Starting Today
6. Gently
7. I'm Comin' Home
8. In Your Arms
9. Put the Blame on Me
10. Judy
11. I Want You With Me
12. I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell


I've never seen Wild in the Country, so I'm not sure what this video is comprised of. It's better than just a series of photos, but the plot of the video is a little ambiguous since there are clearly repeated clips. I don't know. We'll take what we can get, I suppose

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Top Ten....Wednesday: Skrillex and Diplo featuring Justin Bieber "Where Are U Now"

The truly difficult choice of picking which Justin Bieber-related song to play today. I went with the one that isn't debuting at #1, since that one might stick around for a while.

I guess he's figuring out how to be an adult in the world, which is a good thing!

This is a pretty fantastic video for a pretty fantastic song. It definitely makes me want to check out the whole album.


Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Guest Review of Countdown Tracks (Episode 7)

 When my daughter was about to be born, I had a problem. How was I going to keep the podcast going? She was coming 5 weeks sooner than expected and it was in the first year of the podcast, so the idea of having a pretaped episode hadn't occurred to me (although, now that I think about it, I had done that Memorial Day episode, so perhaps I just wasn't thinking because her birth took us by surprise). So anyways, I asked my friend Andy if he could listen to the current songs on the chart and send me a review of them that I could publish. And that's what happened. And now every so often, I get someone to listen to the tracks that I have compiled into a CD-length mix and give their honest (often VERY honest) reviews of them. My sister is that guest this time. You've heard her before on podcasts both bonus and regular.

She didn't have a tracklist to start, so you'll see that a lot of her reviews are based on her not knowing who it is. That's really how I prefer it. Everything you read after this that isn't italicized is hers. The italicized stuff is mine. Because sometimes it's fun to add my own commentary.

Songs reviewed in this post appeared on episodes published between 3/1/14 and 5/16/15 (Which I think is roughly Episodes 187-246. Quite the span.)

ALT LISTENING NOTES


Track 1 (alt-j - Left Hand Free):
Ahhh, the new Alt-J.  I was really into their last album a few years ago and actually saw them in Boston with my good friend Greg.  I love Boston and that night was really fun so I always have positive associations with Alt-J. I’ve been seeing things online making fun of their sometimes nasally harmonies but I think it’s just their fun, unique sound and this song reflects this sound well.    


Track 2 (Arctic Monkeys - Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High):
I definitely have limited experience with the Arctic Monkeys.  I think I’m so instantly turned off by their name that I’ve never taken the time to listen which is probably a little ridiculous on my part.  I think they’re a little overrated but probably going to be remembered 50 years from now--there’s definitely a big enough cult following.  This song’s kind of fun.  If it came on the radio I probably wouldn’t switch it off. (It *is* a ridiculous name. I'm trying to think if you would like the rest of their stuff. I think it's possible if you were in a certain mood.)


Track 3 (Bastille - Bad Blood):
I know that once I look it up, I’m gonna kick myself for not being able to come up with the band. Yup. Fuckin Bastille. I’m super into this song! It’d be cool to come up with a mash-up of this Bad Blood with Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood. (I would be very interested to see how that turned out. I'm almost universally FOR mashups with Taylor Swift)  His voice is beautiful!   


Track 4 (Bastille - Flaws):
This song is kind of catchy? Is this Bastille again? They sound the same but with different electronic stuff.  Oh.  Hah.  It is Bastille again. Huh. Welp. This song is pretty cool too.  I liked the other song better though.  


Track 5 (Bear Hands - Giants):
I know it’s called I’m Loving You More but I can’t remember the band.  Is it like the Bleachers or something? It’s kind of catchy but also everything about it is sort of generically “alt”.  I have literally never heard of the band Bear Hands and the song is called Giants.  Huh. Well that song is alright.  


Track 6 (Big Data featuring Joywave - Dangerous):
Killer bass riff.  I like this song a lot! I’ve never heard it, but I like it.  I have never heard of the band Big Data. 10/10 would listen again. I like the steel drums--or whatever drums they are.  


Track 7 (Black Keys - Fever):
The electronic riff is very 1st wave alternative like Oingo Boingo or B-52s which is kind of fun but everything else is kind of generic.  I’ve never heard of this song but I feel like I’ve heard the vocals before.  Oh it’s the Black Keys.  I’ve never been wild about them.  This song is okay.  They’re another band with a really big, cult-like fan base that are intensely into the Black Keys.



Track 8 (Black Keys - Gotta Get Away):
This has a mid-late Beatles vibe which is probably a very grand statement but oh well.  The solo is fun and very classic. I like this song! I’ve never heard it! The chorus is really catchy.  Lol. It’s the fuckin Black Keys *eats words* (Ha ha. Made you say something nice about them.)


Track 9 (Bleachers - I Wanna Get Better):
I WANNA GET BETTER! The Bleachers!!!! I am super into this song.  It never gets old.  Some of the feelings conveyed are definitely relatable to a certain degree.


Track 10 (Coldplay - Magic):
I’m gonna say Jamie XX has something to do with this.  That guitar is all too familiar.  I don’t know this song isn’t bad.  I don’t love it but I don’t hate.  Oh weird! Coldplay? I didn’t even know they had a new album coming out. Huh. I thought I recognized the vocals.  Still, it has a sound similar to The XX.  I was really into Coldplay in like 8th grade.  They came to my hometown and this girl from a group of acquaintances I hung out with invited everyone else in the group but I wasn’t invited.


Track 11 (Coldplay - A Sky Full of Stars):
Jk I forgot that this song was a thing. Of course Coldplay released a new album.  I like this song a lot! I admire Chris Martin’s attempts to stay relevant in the music world after all these years.  


Track 12 (Dirty Heads - My Sweet Summer):
I don’t like this song but I do appreciate the ambiguousness of Summer, a girl, and summer, a season.  But yeah, I’m not a fan of Dirty Heads and this song just reinforces my distaste.


Track 13 (Fall Out Boy - Centuries):
FOB! I don’t like this song but I can see how others would like it.  The chorus is annoying.  I like Uma Thurman from the new album better.  The only music video I have on my iPod is This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race.               


Track 14 (Fitz & the Tantrums - The Walker):
This song is in every commercial on TV I feel like.  I don’t like this song.  It’s annoying.  Nothing about is really original but then again I’ve never written a song so who am I to judge.  Idk.  Something about this song is really off-putting. I don’t even care who it is. (This is one of your niece's favorite songs. So, I don't know how you feel about that, but it is the case. It went on her 2014 Christmas Mix)


Track 15 (Hozier - Take Me to Church):
TAKE ME TO CHURCH! UGHHHHHH this is a great song. His voice is beautiful.  It’s such an intimate song.  I can’t wait to see what else Hozier comes out with. (You and me both. I get excited by this kind of up and coming musician)


Track 16 (Jack White - Lazaretto):
The first band I thought of was RHCP. But I doubt it’s them.  Whoops. It’s Jack White.  Never been a huuuuge fan but this song is pretty cool!  The middle part is fun n trippy.  Interesting usage of violins/violas.  There’s a lot going on in this song.


Track 17 (Kings of Leon - Wait For Me):
The intro sounded like the intro to Twin Peaks a little bit...like maybe if you had an ear infection or something.  I know the vocals… oh yeah Kings of Leon.  Idk.  This song is ok I guess.  Kinda pretty.


Track 18 (KONGOS - Come With Me Now):
NOOOO I can’t stand this song. It’s so obnoxious. It’s also on every TV commercial for like beer or like ice hockey or something now. Ughhhhhhh. I would instantly switch the station if this came on the radio. (Right but you have to understand what a breath of fresh air this song was when it came on the countdown. And then advertisers discovered it, too)


Track 19 (Milky Chance - Stolen Dance):
The chorus ruins it but everything else about this song is kind of fun.  I like the parts when there are no vocals...I feel like I’m at a bleak, minimalist disco. I’ve never heard of the band Milky Chance.   


Track 20 (Vance Joy - Riptide):
Damnit. Everything about Riptide is super catchy. It’s a very solid song.  I’m eager to see what else Passenger comes up with. (I totally get how you made this mistake. I don't hold it against you one bit.)


Track 21 (Weezer - Back to the Shack):
Duh. This song rocks. Long live Weezer. (Amen sister. Amen.)

Thanks to my sister for doing this. It's always awesome to pick the brain of someone as into music as I am, hearing these songs with new ears!