Music you should own

As an ongoing public service, we here at simsisms like to point out music that doesn't suck and that should be a part of your iTunes library. Here's what's on our playlist of late:

1) Vagabond by Wolfmother

I'd all but forgotten about this song til recently, but it is a sorely overlooked tune that everyone should hear, by power trio Wolfmother.



2) Hang on St. Christopher and 16 shells from a 30 ought 6 by Tom Waits.

Anyone who's talked music with me in the past couple months knows that I have been on a HUGE Tom Waits kick. I'll admit that his voice is an acquired taste, but once you start to get what he's going for, you learn to LOVE the voice. It's the voice that Marilyn Manson could only dream of. The expressive growl which gives life to masterfully written songs. These are two of my favorites, taken from the ludicrously surreal live video Big Time. I actually like these versions better than the album versions. I think they're more energetic. 16 Shells is so frenzied you absolutely believe Tom when he screams at the blackbird who laughed at him as he learned to play guitar. Songs like these are why Waits is on the top of my list of people to see if he ever comes back to Vegas.





3) Tightrope by Yeasayer

This is what music should be. Ugly people using crazy intrumentations and great harmonies to make trippy, experimental music. Bonus points to any group willing to throw a sitar on to their studio tracks. Here's a live performance from a radio station, still pretty good.



4) You can't stand in my light anymore by Bob Mould.

If you've ever actually seen a Bob Mould, you might think "Who is this old, bald dude, and why should I know who he is?" Mould used to be part of a group you've never heard of (but should have) called Husker Du, who were an innovative music group about 150 million years ago, or so. Bob still makes great tunes and they deserve a listen.



5) Bigcitydreams by Neversaynever

Who are these guys with shallow but catchy lyrics who refuse to use the space bar? I don't know but dangit, this song is infectious. It's like the swine flu of the music world.


6) Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez

Yeah, so I like mellow, acoustic music. So shoot me. This song is still great. The kind of thing James Taylor might have written before Carly Simon had him shot and killed and replaced with a clone. I don't even care that this song is used in Sony Commercials.

7) The Ship Song by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

This is a great song, I don't care if Nick has the worst 70's mustache in the history of mankind in this video.

8)Sax Rohmer #1 by the Mountain Goats.

Not their most famous song, but definitely best. And no, I don't care that the song doesn't feature a saxaphone or a famous Yankee second baseman. Stop being so literal.

9) Hey Julie by Fountains of Wayne.
Why aren't these guys more popular? How is Stacy's Mom their only hit song? MTV, you sicken me. Everyone who owns a guitar should know how to play this song.




10) Pretty Much anything that has ever been written by Greg Laswell

That's right. Our last entry is everything Greg has ever written. You should just run and go download. Quick, before any mor eof his songs are viciously defiled by being featured on Grey's Anatomy. Here's a live performance of mone of my fav's.

Ouch.

Seriously, harsh criticism.

Why mods don't happen?

The government has a 75 billion dollar program to help bank modify mortgages. They were hoping by now to have some 3-4 million people in the program, so far, they've got about 180,000. Turns out, the problem isn't on the government end, it's that the banks collect a ton of fees dragging your home into foreclosure so it's in their interest to drag the process out as long as possible.

Great story in the New York Times about the issue. To read it, click HERE