The second installment of notes on a playlist

Here's the second installment of notes on the playlist I did for someone awhile back. I realize most of these tunes are way under the radar for most, but I happen to like a lot of different music and much of that is a bit off the beaten path of mainstream/popular stuff, which of course there's nothing wrong with. Some of this stuff I've liked for a long time, some of it is relatively new to me - but all of it has its place for me. One friend told me that she wouldn't have found music like this on her own, but wanted to after seeing what I had to say about these songs - so I'm glad at least a few people actually got it.

1. Real One – John Doe. I'm pretty sure this is a John Hiatt song, yet I've never heard him do it, and I don't think he recorded it. JD nails this and it's such a well written song that it has from time to time, given me chills at various points. Can't say much really, I just smile at Hiatt's incredibly strong song writing abilities. I can't imagine writing something this beautiful and basically tossing it aside in favor of other work, and that is what moves me to warm and happy here. Silly, I know...but for a guy who loves putting words together to get sincere meaning...
2. I'm On Your Side – Keb Mo'. Ok, this is just one of the greasiest shuffles I've ever heard – which is just how I like 'em. I dunno if mine ever sounded that way, but I know I wanted 'em to. Love greasy shuffles. They make me smile, sometimes even laugh – what's not to like about that?
3. Still – Glenn Tilbrook. I hope he wrote this one from his own experiences, because he takes what could be cheesy and makes it work. Half the creative power behind Squeeze, when I hear him post-Squeeze, I see how valuable he was to that band. Again, Brit pop writing genius to me. This could easily go all over the board here – I like to think that given the subject matter he's choosing wisely so as not to lose someone's attention. That kind of thing is beautiful. Beautiful = smiles, laughs - at least for me.
4. Everybody Has The Blues – James Taylor. What's not to like about JT....and I was a huge fan of this particular drummer, but that's really boring stuff to write to YOU about! Consider yourself spared!
5. I'm Only Sleeping – The Vines. If there is a Beatles tune I'd want to see someone take liberties with and ruin, this would be among the last ones to suffer such a fate. I like this version of one of my favorite Beatles tunes, but there are a lot of those...seldom fails in lifting of spirits.
6. Bad Chardonnay – Graham Parker. Only GP would do a song and make that line work, while basically making fun of the very delivery of it. Perhaps only a former drummer turned foodie like me would get it and like it, no matter – it works for me sometimes and I've had some ba-ba-baba,ba-ba, baba, ba-ba bad Chardonnays...
7. Please Please Please – Fiona Apple. Liked her since her first hit, Criminal. Had no way of knowing how deep a writer she is and I absolutely love how she sometimes plays w/lines that hint at not sounding right together and makes them sound like they do. I know, a nerdy music snob thing to say huh? Okay, I just think she's really good.
8. A Fuse About To Blow – The Figgs. To me this is a funny power pop gem. No fluff, no guilty pleasures, minimalist power pop from an American band. These guys are backing Graham Parker on the stuff I put here too, but by now you may be mad at me for that....I like these guys because they're not gear heads or posers – they play great, play hard. Never been impressed by guys who like seeing lots of drums, always hated it when I was asked to bring “lots of drums”...always lose interest when drummers would talk to me at their gigs and brag about all the stuff they have at home. Check please, but I'm well aware that is a SO musical snob statement.
9. Drive By – Glen Phillips. I couldn't believe it when I heard the line about him praying to God – hear me out on this, I say that because I love it when a writer lets you know he's any of the following at times: foolish, silly to embarrassment, vulnerable and completely at the mercy of something or someone. Why? Because all of us are at times. I think it takes stones to say so. I can think of some times I've thrown some pretty silly prayers at God – some of them had half of that line in them, but I can't say which half. My point here is that I've often had these completely silly notions about God being mad at me for things that he just couldn't be, but how was I to know? I love how this song alludes to a young boy thinking at times he's out of God's sight, yet knows full well he never is. One should be able to talk to God about anything, so I like this line on account of that belief. I can't say that I'd want my teenage son singing it around the house – at least in front of relatives, but I don't have a teenage son and if I did, I would do my best to keep an open mind and get this. I'd certainly rather hear him sing that line than many others...but my rambling-alert function just kicked in and said I'm WAY over the limit here – yours may have kicked in minutes ago...
10. I Am A Leaver – The Damnwells. My friend and former coworker Matt gave me a dvd that he threw tons of music on for me in appreciation for inviting him down from Pittsburgh to see a show w/me and some other Turner's Mill people – including Tiffany Reed. Ever have one of those nights where it just feels great to be with a group of friends? I love it when that happens, it did that night. Somehow I just now got around to these guys. Both tunes from these guys here just floor me...
11. Human Thing – The Be Good Tanyas. I can't remember where I found this band. Boot Liquor radio on iTunes, I think...but no matter. This song is stunning to me when I'm sitting on a quiet Sunday morning with my coffee and the paper. It's like having someone around before you're entirely awake who knows exactly what to say to you before and after coffee – comfortable, soothing. I just like it.
12. By Your Side – Squeeze. I struggled with the LP this one came from. This one haunted me, despite the tacky 80's crafting on this one, Glenn Tilbrook still nails this. I hate the way they crafted this song, but I can kind of see how there was no other way. I guess I like how the melody still finds a way to reach me as pretty. I know, musical snob. Am I still in your phone? Hope so.