Song of the Day

January 2, 2022

Asleep Among Endives

Ichiko Aoba Spirit-lifting lullaby, anachronistic in the best way. Imagining a countryside in Kyoto.

January 3, 2022

Gold Sky

The Avalanches (feat. Kurt Vile) Love Kurt’s spoken word approach. How he says ‘Alright’. After hearing it, Toni Di Blasi of the Avalanches said it was the best thing he'd ever heard. I had a similar reaction.

January 4, 2022

Kitty Winn

Advance Base A story song that haunts me. Not sure if the protagonist is growing bored or if he's been saved by love. Perhaps both.

January 5, 2022

Nothing

Adrian Borland (Lovefield) Track is from Adrian’s failed Lovefield project Neon and Stone. Excavated and released posthumously, Adrian's ghost returns twenty-one years later to remind us. ♥️

January 6, 2022

Loveliest of Trees

Josephine Wiggs It's a track I hope to license and use in my next film. She played bass for The Breeders and her original compositions are beautiful, complex and cinematic.

January 7, 2022

Shadow

Chromatics An orphan single. Too good to be on an LP because when it fades out, you just want to play it again. After their 2021 break-up, SHADOW lives in the Roadhouse, forever linked with S3 Laura Palmer.

January 8, 2022

Song of the Mogwai

Moon Racer Woke up with this in my head. Love everything about this. Nostalgic band name with twee lo-fi sound. Their purple cassette I play in my car. And Autumn E's own animation that screened at Cucalorus.

January 9, 2022

Molly Malone

A sad day. Shane O’Connor, Sinéad’s son, took his own life at 17. This is Dublin’s unofficial anthem about a young and beautiful fishmonger who died young and haunts the city.

January 10, 2022

Let Me Roll It

Paul McCartney and Wings Incredible track my older brother played as kids. I've kept it close to me my whole life and loved seeing it resurrected and used so cinematically in one of my favorite movies of the year.

January 11, 2022

Aries

Gorlliaz (feat. Peter Hook) Damon Albarn's virtual band has been at it 25 years and only getting better. Love Peter Hook's New Order vibe + Albarn's vocals here. Rise up / rise up / rise up / rise up / rise up...Love their animations too.

January 12, 2022

Death Dream

Frightened Rabbit I often think of this song. Our darkest thoughts seem to come at night, so I find it very comforting. We usually feel better in the morning if we can get through the night.

January 13, 2022

Just Be Simple

Songs: Ohia Another lovely, tragic figure. Like Scott Hutchison, Jason Molina suffered and seemed too talented for the music biz and too good for this world. He left us a lot of songs that can help ward off the darkness.

January 14, 2022

Smoke and Mirrors

The Magnetic Fields I woke up thinking about The Magnetic Fields. This sublime track landed on many of my mix tapes — specifically my first home-burned CD’s gifted to friends in the mid 90’s. Now this gorgeous song lands on Apple Music playlists which is not the same.

January 15, 2022

Sheela Na Gig

PJ Harvey She arrived fully formed in ‘92 with DRY and watching her bemused reaction to the Reading Fest mosh pit is a delight this morning. Such a smart, powerhouse singer/song writer, performer, bad-ass rock star.

January 16, 2022

Cattle and Cane

The Go-Between In a way, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan chose the perfect band name. Both enigmas, they don’t fit easily into categories. Calling them a poor-man’s Lennon/McCartney might feel like a backhanded compliment, but somehow that’s what they were and for many years created magic together…

January 17, 2022

un rayo de luz

MCENROE I’ve been turned on to some great indie bands from Spain over the years. McEnroe is one of my favorites. This song is soothing/mesmerizing — feels like a love song for a Sunday with the beautiful male/female trade-off vocals that translate: I will row / always toward you / no matter / if the…

January 18, 2022

Toy Automatic

The Afghan Whigs GENTLEMEN knocked us all out in ‘93 — a dark and explicit song cycle at the peak of grunge. Twenty years later we get this beauty from IN SPADES.

January 19, 2022

Let Down

Radiohead My favorite song by the band who needs no introduction — the kind of track headphones were made for — how disastrously misguided was I in ‘92 to think CREEP would give them one-hit-wonder status? 🤦🏻‍♂️ 30 years and 9 albums later — each unique/terrific — they are the seminal band of our …

January 20, 2022

Moll & Zeis

David Long & Shane O’Neill The gorgeous title track is from their terrific 2021 release. It’s a true record — the kind you’d play front to back if you had the vinyl. Born from remote, pandemic sessions — these longtime friends (legends) struck solid gold together.

January 20, 2022

Trouble with Boys

David Bazan A track (and video) for fathers with daughters everywhere — this one is slaying me over coffee this morning. I have so many superlative feelings of appreciation and confidence for my daughter. How quickly this daydream shatters when I allow myself to fear for her future relationships.

January 22, 2022

Song to the Siren

This Mortal Coil So dated, yet perfection for ‘83 — I love re-watching this. Elizabeth Fraser has no idea of what’s ahead — the entire story…but mostly, that her little 4AD B-Side cover of Tim Buckley’s song would be the one people remember and revere.

January 23, 2022

Favorite Song

2nd Grade A little song that feels big early this morning — infatuation in first person from April through July. Emotions defined by an eight song playlist, Up in my room / I hid all June / My favorite song was Sixteen Blue . Going with the demo, but the full band version rips. I played this beautif…

January 24, 2022

Pale Green Things

The Mountain Goats This has always felt like a Sunday morning song to me. Before dawn, our hero rides with the windows down to the racetrack to watch his abuser from a distance. He notices those little weeds coming up through the cracked asphalt. The way Darnielle repeats At Last in verse three is b…

January 25, 2022

A Violent Yet Flammable World

Au Revoir Simone I woke up early this morning thinking about Twin Peaks, which is not unusual for me, and heard the opening drums to this surreal song. I don’t want to lose myself — It’s a whisper — It’s a funny thing . A good omen on this first day of the week.

January 26, 2022

Still Space

Satoshi Ashikawa I have a fresh mix of ambient, classical and electronic music playing as I write this new screenplay every morning. This breathtaking track is from an early pioneer of Japanese ambient music — an 80’s movement that believed sound and music need a physical space to exist. The result …

January 27, 2022

Carnage

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis Another stunner from Nick Cave — who I’ve been listening to for decades. Likely more of his music will appear before this 365 day playlist comes to an end. I played this new record often during the pandemic, and the title track has this beautiful refrain and chorus that woul…

January 28, 2022

I Am John

Loney Dear It’s hard not to give yourself over to this once it begins; a relentless, melodic confession that builds to a kind of triumph of devotion and self-doubt. Never gonna let you down / But I’ll always I’ll always let you down Emil Svanängen is responsible for every sound on this record and hi…

January 29, 2022

Fresh Feeling

Eels Probably my favorite “encouragement” song — with base & drums, and these gorgeous strings. And I love E’s direct and positive lyrics, because there’s also a kind of subtext working here with these two characters. That fresh feeling we crave each day is not guaranteed. A long time ago, Annie and…

January 30, 2022

Better off Alone

Salem The best mix tapes cover the highs and lows of living — and this witch-house track brings things way back down with the artist SALEM. The vocal is a disarming, off-kilter electronic moan. Over and over we hear Do you think you’re better off alone? The answer sure feels like no, because the yea…

January 31, 2022

Young Lion

Vampire Weekend Feels like a Sunday morning post-sermon benediction — this track that closes one of the best albums of the last decade. When this record came out in 2013, Flannery was only 6 and so this tiny song will forever remind me of her. ❤️ You take your time, young lion

February 1, 2022

Into Love / Stars

The Notwist From their fantastic VERTIGO DAYS (2021) — this track jumped out and grabbed me first and has been hopping from playlist to playlist. Now that you know the stars ain’t fixed / The roads ain’t straight / Now that the sky can fall on us The melancholy electronica evolves into something unu…

February 2, 2022

Lions

Jenny Hval A spellbinding track for Tuesday — which is typically the day I find myself getting serious about the hours I’ve been given this week and the ones I’ve squandered. For almost four minutes, this song makes me feel like I have no creative limits. There is nothing holding me back. Jenny is o…

February 3, 2022

Four Leaf Clover

Badly Drawn Boy I can imagine Maude singing this one to Harold — a rousing, Beatles-esque, worry-free track — sweet strumming guitar, melody, piano, drums and a lovely understated vocal from Damon Gough. The lyrics are directed at you, and he does it without pretense. Even the applause at the end is…

February 4, 2022

Between the Bars

Elliott Smith Equally sweet and terrifying — anyone who knows addiction or has flirted with it will understand this brand of self-loathing. And if you know Elliott Smith, you know his best songs are these beautiful labyrinths with dead-ends, ironies and secret chambers.

February 5, 2022

Doomin’ Sun

Bachelor, Jay Som & Palehound Tears this morning hearing this wonder of a song again — the end of an apocalyptic love story. They hold on to each other as the end draws near. Something we’re all feeling more these days and not just because we’re getting older. The melody and guitar is so beautiful, …

February 6, 2022

All I Gave

World Party Palpable joy here, with one foot in the 60’s and one in the 80’s — this track walks a tightrope into rare timeless territory. A love song celebrating people who are lost or on the fringe, with an unforgettable singalong chorus I was lost / I was blind / I was you / All I gave was me To t…

February 7, 2022

Wander

Black Swan Lane It stops me at the beginning. Neuropsychologists say we can only focus on one thing at a time, and I’m pulled into that first guitar and vocal I see you... It almost feels like it’s ending already — but then this stunner evolves over four minutes into something mysterious and soaring…

February 8, 2022

Now I’m In It

HAIM Craving momentum — this track and video (PTA!) was the catalyst to get me writing. Our three sisters moving through LA doing EVERYTHING to help Danielle find her way back is a big lift this morning. Can’t love this more. What a band.

February 9, 2022

The Mechanical Bull at Our Lady of the Valley

Old Saw That meditative strumming and droning. That pedal steel. That chapel bell — which begins striking at six and a half minutes. A sprawling soundscape that haunts and stirs. Creative soil. And thirteen minutes is enough time to get lost in it.

February 10, 2022

Letter From an Occupant

The New Pornographers This landed with a bang on my 1st generation iPod via Napster in 2001. I still have no idea what it’s about, but it introduced A.C. Newman and Neko Case to the world This song, this song, this song has shaken me With nothing held back SHE’s the occupant, and she’s fighting for …

February 11, 2022

Love Trinity

Life Without Buildings One of these tracks that’s always in rotation — it just makes me feel good. The Sue Tompkins vocals are legendary and this melodic guitar work feels divine. Another great Scottish band, and there are so many. Life Without Buildings recorded one studio album while in art school…

February 12, 2022

Mythological Beauty

Big Thief A song about her tumultuous childhood — somehow Adrianne Lenker channels family terror and heartbreak and still finds beauty. Even the falling railroad spike that nearly killed her when she was five. Big Thief might be the most prolific band right now, and Adrianne might be the best Frontp…

February 13, 2022

Fine

James A spectacular, unusual love song. This guy is a mess of contradictions, but his humility and devotion are endearing. He’s right where he wants to be and I’m guessing he's loved in return. Tim Booth’s soaring vocals and pop sensibilities have been reaching me since Morrissey asked them to open …

February 14, 2022

My Mistakes

Eleanor Friedberger A dense pop song that’s rich with melody and contradiction — a Sunday morning deep dive into past regrets, future hopes. How do we break our negative patterns? He’s ignoring me like it’s 2001 I love the little story details — chased along Park in Brooklyn and the crash on Banker.…

February 15, 2022

Blue Moon

Big Star Alex Chilton wrote so many great songs, but here’s his sweetest on this Valentine’s Day. Our first dance at our reception so many years ago — I’ll take the time, to show you’re mine What a beautiful wedding vow, knowing the demons may come. ♥️🌕

February 16, 2022

Nothing Better

The Postal Service An epic break-up song for the day after Valentine’s Day. From the great long distance, indie-pop collaboration record GIVE UP — I love this call & response story as their doomed relationship teeters on the edge of heartbreak. He still clings to an idealistic future, but she’s alre…

February 17, 2022

This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)

Talking Heads A song that keeps giving to me — ever since SPEAKING IN TONGUES came out in ‘83. It has somehow bottled up this beautiful feeling of going home or being home. That elusive, surreal place of safety, happiness, love.

February 18, 2022

Time of the Assassins

Charlotte Gainsbourg A meditation, a melody, and Charlotte’s vocal intersecting with my life this morning, as I battle familiar feelings of dread and futility. It’s the kind of song that meets the middling part of you in the verses but recharges you in the chorus. It doesn’t take a miracle to raise …

February 19, 2022

SUPERSTAR

Beach House A triumphant piece of dream-pop perfection that has been playing from my speakers since early November. But the real news this morning is that their new record is finally (all) here and it’s a beautiful gift. Four EP’s released over several months — ONCE TWICE MELODY feels like four side…

February 20, 2022

The Big Music

The Waterboys Mike Scott channelled the gods with this one — perhaps the most epic, enlightened and meaningful song I’ve ever loved. Nothing left to say except: You’ll never get there / You’ll never get there / You’ll never get there / But I will ❤️

February 21, 2022

Jackson

Lucinda Williams Yesterday’s triumphant (big) music is tempered with heartbreak this morning. What a brilliant vocal from Lucinda here, live in Austin — as our protagonist tries to outrun her pain and grief. A track I hoped to close Redwood Highway with, yet could not afford. There were still highwa…

February 22, 2022

Coming Up Close

‘Til Tuesday One night in Iowa, he and I in a borrowed car… So good and cinematic. So familiar and exciting, but still breaks my heart after all these years. Don’t you know that I could make a dream that’s only half awake come true?

February 23, 2022

Control

Majical Cloudz I think about this beauty a lot. It’s a question I ask myself looking in the mirror: Will you let me change? I want to, but I think you want me the same. Ruminating on all my writing and filmmaking this morning, I track my obsession with characters finding personal fulfillment.

February 24, 2022

Get Free

Major Lazer (feat. Amber Coffman) A gorgeous outlier track — call it melancholy, Jamaican electronica maybe, but the devastatingly beautiful Amber Coffman vocals are these unusual, layered, glorious cries for social justice. My most played track back in 2013 — it is still so haunting and timeless th…

February 25, 2022

When the Tigers Broke Free

Pink Floyd Today, peaceful cities in Ukraine are under attack after Vladimir Putin launched a full scale invasion. A country that poses no threat to Russia. “This is a war of aggression. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.” - Ukrianian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba

February 26, 2022

Montana

Youth Lagoon Still thinking of war today and love the healing, sad, sleepy vibe — but then the tempo change at 1:51 — that relentless clang begins and builds with drums, percussion. I can’t hear this without seeing this beautiful video in my head. Children who lose their fathers in war. The pain nev…

February 27, 2022

The Gunner’s Dream

Roger Waters Incredible live, pandemic version from Roger and his band. From the greatest anti-war album ever made The Final Cut. A requiem for the post-war dream. ❤️

February 28, 2022

Movement 6

Floating Points & Pharoah Sanders (feat. London Symphony Orchestra) From the most overwhelming and rewarding record of 2021 — these nine movements should be heard consecutively and in one sitting. Sanders is 80 now and his saxophone work throughout is remarkable. For several weeks I played this ever…

March 1, 2022

Tu viendras

Zbigniew Preisner Ukraine and Europe on my mind — the unification of Europe — and it got me thinking of the brilliant Kieślowski composer. Hearing this lullaby brings light this morning and I’m smiling at the thought of Véronique holding her last note in the rain when The Double Life of Véronique be…

March 2, 2022

You Wanted a Hit

LCD Soundsystem Love this anthem. It helps me celebrate this artist life I’m trying to live each day. A reminder to excavate creative work with my own voice. “Make it as personal as you can, because you are a miracle…if you're going to make art? Let it be very personal to you.” Francis Ford Coppola

March 3, 2022

Good Weather

Baby Bird Feeling happier this morning and this melody found me — a sweet mid-week vibe from my all time favorite lo-fi artist. I often crave these ‘95-96 home recordings — Stephen Jones left to his own devices on five magical albums. Love the spontaneous feel, the layered vocals, the reverb, the cr…

March 4, 2022

Luminous Rose

Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians A surreal track of war, death and memory, from the enigmatic, genius songwriter, performer. I love this sparse arrangement — Robyn’s poetic, wailing vocals, the keys, harmonica and how the bass drum kicks resemble distant bombs. And those who are left behind must se…

March 5, 2022

A Forest

The Cure I heard this mesmerizing track for the first time on my original Sony F1 Walkman. I was just a little kid in the Bay Area and found Steve Masters doing his modern rock hour at 105.3 on the FM dial. Up to this point in my little life, I was a fan of the Beatles, Men at Work, Queen, The Eagle…

March 6, 2022

Heartbeats

The Knife One of the few tunes that can catapult me into the clouds with nostalgia and emotion. Saturday morning medicine. Ten days of perfect tunes The colors red and blue We had a promise made We were in love ❤️

March 7, 2022

Romulus

Sufjan Stevens I love when Sunday morning music puts me in a reflective mood. Today I played GREETINGS FROM MICHIGAN and Romulus hit me hard — an early song about his mother Carrie — who he later wrote an album of songs about.

March 8, 2022

California

EMA A song that amps me up for a big writing week. This beautiful, hard-hitting track is stream of consciousness, yet sung conversationally by Erika M. Anderson, aka EMA. A bed of drones and feedback and violins and buried drums. It was once my official leaving Hollywood for Oregon song back in 2010…

March 9, 2022

I’ve Heard that Song Before

Harry James & Helen Forrest Woke up thinking of the end of Broadway Danny Rose — Danny’s sweet, sad frozen turkey Thanksgiving with all his misfit acts — then catching up with Tina on the street after not forgiving her. I’m so glad Woody put so much of this era of amazing music in his films, or it m…

March 10, 2022

Motorhome

Underworld A hazy, blissful daydream of a track that begins with a mantra — What don’t lift you, drags you down / Keep away from the darksides Just one of those songs (and duos) that keeps giving to me after all these years. Ever since their ‘89 single Underneath the Radar.

March 11, 2022

Under Your Spell

Desire It reminds you of what infatuation feels like. A gorgeous track made complete with these mind-blowing keyboards, silly teen girl talk and la-la-la-la-la’s. ITALIANS DO IT BETTER is a treasure-trove of these lovely, retro yamaha dx7 releases. To cap it off, Megan Louise, the singer of DESIRE i…

March 12, 2022

Afterlife

Arcade Fire Few songs are simultaneously this triumphant, sad and meaningful. And you can’t call this a music video — it’s a hallucinatory short about grief and family that’s subtle and cinematic with outstanding performances. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

March 13, 2022

Transatlanticism

Death Cab for Cutie Love that Benjamin Gibbard made up this useful word. He needed something to describe the incomprehensible emotional gap between lovers — when the physical distance is known. So much longing in this song, that gradually builds and soars. The transition between I need you so much c…

March 13, 2022

Ceiling Gazing

Mark Kozelek & Jimmy LaValle It’s one of my favorites — and it’s almost like a hymn this Sunday morning with these major chords on the organ. So many beautiful details as Kozelek remembers his Grandpa, his dad, his sister and her children. But at 5:28, the song seems to levitate into the present, wi…

March 14, 2022

I’m New Here

Smog Like the best short stories, this feels incomplete until you realize it’s like a kaleidoscope and you need to keep the rotating the chamber. Even though he’s likely up to nefarious things, I love this unreliable narrator who begins with no, no, no, no — probably saying it to himself or to this …

March 16, 2022

Anti-glory

Horsegirl Every now and again, new music Friday gifts the world a song I’ll be playing the rest of my life. Horsegirl’s single dropped on 3/9/22 and I’ve since played it about 250 times. The bass, the drums, the whiny electric guitar and the two beautiful merging vocals have almost killed me. Someth…

March 16, 2022

Snow Globes

Black Country, New Road Another new UK band to celebrate — this sprawling tune feels like a requiem for a good friend. It tiptoes in quietly for three minutes until we hear the undeniable vocals of Isaac Wood. I love how the drums and percussion eventually fight with the tempo and mix — as if expres…

March 17, 2022

Tarifa

Sharon Van Etten Another stunner from S3 of Twin Peaks the Return. I go back to this track often because I love how she sings her dream-like lyrics with such conviction. I don’t wanna / Everyone else pales / Send in the owl / Tell me I’m not a child I can see why Lynch asked Sharon play the Roadhous…

March 18, 2022

Leather Jacket Love Song

The Cribs Some authentic, passionate indie UK Rock n’ Roll to start Friday. Another track that will sound great forever — a shot in the arm for any playlist. That love story buried in that dusty box in your garage. And in boxes and drawers, I’ll hide our memories / In case I need to live my life aga…

March 19, 2022

In Spite of Me

Morphine These guitars and mandolins sound beautiful and crisp this rainy, Saturday morning — especially under Mark Sandman’s almost whispered baritone. Feeling respect and love for this narrator — who remains in the rearview of someone special. And the vision he has in his living room still feels h…

March 21, 2022

Heavyweight Champion Of the Year

Nilüfer Yanya Everything about her little electric guitar riff juxtaposed with her vocals is so right. No one sounds like her in the same way no one sounds like Robert Smith. Love the studio version so much, but this live version really jumps out today and showcases her talent. She’s a miracle and w…

March 21, 2022

Out Getting Ribs

Zoo Kid Playing Nilüfer Yanya yesterday got me thinking of UK prodigy Archy Marshall. Just a teen when he made this (!) I’m still blown away by his sublime vocals and this guitar riff. And the vulnerable, wandering low fi video shows so much maturity. I remember feeling a little betrayed when he swi…

March 22, 2022

Híbakúsja

Ben Frost So love the piano, cello and french horn trio at the beginning of this masterful piece of music. But then they change and evolve and give in to these menacing growls and unsettling short breaths. Again, I chose this live version which is very much like the studio version. Fun and unsettlin…

March 24, 2022

Sad and Beautiful World

Sparklehorse This morning I woke up thinking about Mark Linkous and this song, which I’ve always found so empowering and uplifting. I love the way his guitar sounds and the simple beauty of his whispered, genuine vocal. Some days go speeding past Sometimes this one seems like the last

March 24, 2022

Star Eyes (I Can’t Catch It)

Sparklehorse, Danger Mouse (feat. David Lynch) Still thinking of Mark Linkous this morning — and this beautiful Danger Mouse record he left us called DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL. This song in particular feels like one of those rare collaborations where each person is necessary and contributes substantial…

March 25, 2022

A Place to Hide Away

Robert Forster This beauty has me thinking of weekend hideaways to find peace — a song that somehow always feels fresh and new. I go into a different gear when I hear it — slowing down without losing momentum. There’s a long line of underrated songwriters out there, but Robert Forster deserves a pla…

March 26, 2022

California Stars

Billy Bragg & Wilco Continuing on these two threads of great collaborations and places to hide away…this unlikely trifecta of Billy Bragg, Wilco and the words Woody Guthrie wrote in ‘38 is magical. An all time favorite, especially on a Saturday. The struggle, the hope, the dream. I’d like to dream m…

March 27, 2022

The Milkman of Human Kindness

Billy Bragg I’ve been feeling Billy Bragg, the legend today ever since yesterday’s tune. And this ‘83 performance just kills me — the guitar playing and just how he sings these declarations with such conviction, laying it out unapologetically. Another great Billy Bragg social activist song really. D…

March 28, 2022

Mogwai Fear Satan

Mogwai A good, long palatte cleanser today — for many reasons unmentioned. But it’s also a monday morning and a brand new week — a fresh start where good things can happen. I’m opening that space of possibility up now with this incredible, beautiful, sprawling post-rock track that, even at 16 minute…

March 29, 2022

You Were Right

Built to Spill Such gorgeous guitar work and insane vocals from Doug Martsch. Live on Conan — wow, what a band. And the concept of pulling lyrics from the soundtrack of your life to define a heartbreak has never been done better — not even in a film. Shivers…as the track slows at 2:44 to unabashedly…

March 30, 2022

Too Deep

J Mascis He has this unmistakeable voice and this song’s dream-like and perfect. Effortless — like he wrote and recorded it all at once upon waking. There’s no obvious context to the lyrics — except that these two people are separated and it’s a hell that feels permanent. 💔

March 31, 2022

Little Sable Point Lighthouse

Advance Base Released TODAY — and I’ve already played it ten times and purchased it via Bandcamp. So Elise and CJ are on my mind this morning. I can see them swimming in Lake Michigan. And I see the lighthouse and can feel that endless imagined horror. And her school friend’s wedding years later. Ow…

April 2, 2022

My Friend

CINDY One of my favorites in 2021 — a track that landed on many of my pandemic playlists. These understated vocals are so perfect with these major chords. I love the Oh that starts each verse and the ironic title, because you feel the depth of their separation and her longing for something more. And…

April 2, 2022

10,000 Miles

Mary Chapin Carpenter Funny how the brain makes associations — and for me those rabbit holes usually lead back to a song or a film. Today it was both, as the spring had me thinking about geese migrating north.

April 3, 2022

Festival

Sigur Rós This morning I woke up thinking about 127 Hours — specifically the BOULDER. I chose all this. This rock…this rock has been waiting for me my entire life. The next thing that came to me was this song Danny Boyle used — a resurrection song for Aron Ralston. He gets his life back.

April 5, 2022

Rez

Underworld This is what finishing a screenplay sounds like — what it feels like. Rick Smith and Karl Hyde have a way of championing joy and melody into rave music. It’s hypnotizing, and I find their records emotional and warm — easy to listen to.

April 6, 2022

The Backyard

Miracle Legion One of the great unsung bands — who were sadly drowned out by a flood of mid-eighties, jangly college-rock/pop after R.E.M. hit. It’s a song and voice that triggers so much nostalgia. I loved the days I spent with you And I still have all you could offer The backyard looks so empty no…

April 7, 2022

All For the Best

Thom Yorke Miracle Legion has been on my mind since yesterday’s track, and this Thom Yorke cover is so good — that startling :28 guitar riff at 1:56? It should be too much but it’s perfect. And those layered harmonies and spiking percussion during the last 1:40 are haunting and sublime.

April 8, 2022

No Known Drink or Drug

Japandroids Thursday momentum — this track’s an infectious burner that never gets old. A cinematic story where a trite feeling bar encounter becomes an anthem to romantic love and devotion. The kind of relationship everyone wants. Red ammo, romance in the summer heat In parks, on patios and in the s…

April 9, 2022

Re: Stacks

Bon Iver Regarding Stacks circles back every twelve months. A song that helps me face my hopes and regrets. Both stack up over a year, and hearing this beauty helps me dig through the junk — the baggage weighing me down and impeding my path.

April 10, 2022

Southern Belle

Leftover Salmon I must’ve played this 1000 times before directing this music video, and never grew tired of it. What a song — an unusual ballad for Leftover Salmon that recalls a squandered love affair. It’s a timeless sounding single with a beautiful arrangement. This guys have been playing music t…

April 10, 2022

Twin Peaks Theme

Angelo Badalamenti This one opens an important door for me. It feels overwhelming to try and explain why or to quantify the decades long impact this show has had on me. Someday I will write about it, but it’s daunting to even consider. It would take 10,000 words to cover the thirty-two years of wind…

April 11, 2022

It’s Been a Long Time

TJO Tara Jean O’Neil makes experimental, ambient music and this track just mesmerizes and drifts — evoking beauty and terror over eight minutes. Something about the textures and chord progressions is masterful and has been a highlight of my ABOVE THE TREES writing playlist.

April 12, 2022

Medication

Damien Jurado Damien’s best songs are like these timeless short stories, and this one would be right at home on NEBRASKA. It is filled with disturbing details that haunt and just feel real. The hero of this sad story tries to keep his affair a secret and also keep his brother from losing his mind.

April 14, 2022

Save Me

Aimee Mann It’s a minor miracle I made it to April without choosing an Aimee Mann song. This one is perfect — with a gorgeous vocal that’s clever, direct and cinematic and a melody, base line and accordian wrapped in a stunning Jon Brion arrangement. A song for the misfits and freaks looking for lov…

April 14, 2022

So You’d Like to Save the World

Lloyd Cole I suggest you start with one person at a time And start with me Aimee’s SAVE ME from yesterday had me thinking about under-the-radar love songs — the clever ones with bold ideas that have slipped through the cracks. This charmer is from Lloyd Cole’s terrifically underrated BAD VIBES where…

April 16, 2022

Life’s What You Make It

Talk Talk Last night I was thinking about what great 80’s bands transcended its tropes and why — and I immediately thought of TALK TALK. Mark Hollis and company left us 5 great record, remarkably between 1981 and 1991. Somehow these records still sound fresh to me and aren’t betrayed by the trends a…

April 17, 2022

Pretty Pimpin

Kurt Vile There’s an ease and understated quality to his vocals that draws me in. Something about them — something about his guitar playing and chord progressions that makes me drop down into his beautiful, surreal vibe. This song speaks to me as I get older — as the days pass by, mocking me — But i…

April 18, 2022

greeneyessing

David Long & Shane O”Neill These beautiful, electric guitars sank their hook into me this weekend — because it’s the first track on a new record called AGE OF FINDING STARS. It was released two days ago. I’m so excited, encouraged and impressed with the resolve and output of these two songwriters wh…

April 19, 2022

Returning to the Fold

The Thermals Love the loose, loud feel of this — guitars, bass, drums and vocals. I think of this great Portland band often because they were fun and rocked — AND they had records released by Sub Pop, Kill Rock Stars and Saddle Creek. 🤔 If this career was hard for them, just think about those great…

April 20, 2022

Things Are Gonna Be Alright

Acetone Few things bum me out more than great artists killing themselves. There are obvious ones like Ian Curtis, Elliott Smith, Nick Drake and Scott Hutchison. But the ones that really hurt are the songwriters who flew under the radar a little bit more like Adrian Borland, Vic Chestnutt and Mark Li…

April 20, 2022

Fire

Waxahatchee I needed Katie Crutchfield’s euphoric conviction this morning — she really lets loose on SAINT CLOUD with awesome vocals that venture into Lucinda Williams territory. This is the first time she sings with a twang and it suits her well, especially because she didn’t abandon her indie rock…

April 22, 2022

Dear Prudence

The Beatles One of my rules for Song of the Day was to avoid double dipping on bands if possible. Here is my first Beatles song and it probably won’t be my last. If I had to pick one band only it would be the Beatles. And if I had to pick one song it would be Dear Prudence. It is one of these perfec…

April 22, 2022

Striving for the Lazy Perfection

The Orchids One of my favorite bands — and I’m so thrilled they’re still playing gigs and have a new record coming out this year. There are many Orchids songs I could choose this morning, but this one jumped out. The spirit of this song celebrates a kind of reoncilialition, and the vocals and electr…

April 24, 2022

He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s the Pilot

Grandaddy THE SOPHTWARE SLUMP is 22 years old. Y2K came and went and I remember playing this record about a million times in 2000. It was my soundtrack as I felt young, talented and ambitious — trying to fly somewhere, but feeling adrift like this pilot. A dumb pilot who lost the maps and plans, and…

April 24, 2022

Q. Degraw

Wild Pink Jason Lytle’s voice had me pondering other singers that are easy to listen to. John Ross of Wild Pink has this effortless beauty to his singing. Very easy on the ears and I can see why Wild Pink is touring with the Antlers as Peter Silberman shares a similar kind of voice. So love this Bro…

April 26, 2022

Barria Alta

The Sound THUNDER UP was the first Sound album I owned and I have cherished it on vinyl since it came out in 1987. The album is timeless and holds up so well — definitely a top ten record for me. (top 5?) And, it’s difficult to pick a favorite track, but Barria Alta might be it. It’s a song about ri…

April 27, 2022

Weight of Stuff

Adrian Borland & the Citizens I’ve got a dawn in my heart Twenty-three years ago today, Adrian took his own life. He suffered from a relentless, spiraling schizoid-affective disorder and heard voices in his head. From his lyrics and music, from his candid interviews — it was clear Adrian was doing a…

April 28, 2022

Thank you Mario But Our Princess is in Another Castle

The Mountain Goats & Kaki King John Darnelle is one of these incredible songwriters who can write a song about anything. So he doesn’t need to hoard his great songs — he can always write more. And on any subject. This beautiful piece of art is told from the perspective of Toad who is frightened, but…

April 29, 2022

The Big Ship

April 30, 2022

I’m Deranged

David Bowie David Lynch’s masterpiece LOST HIGHWAY might be my most memorable movie going experience — a packed house, opening night in ‘97 at the old Laemmle Sunset 5. In the first few seconds I remember this song playing loud in 5.1 as we began barreling down the lost highway in the opening credit…

May 1, 2022

Sleep the Clock Around

Belle & Sebastian Jack Black called this band “sad bastard” music in High Fidelity 😂 which, admittedly, is a genre I like. Yet another great Scottish band, indie pop at it’s finest led by Stuart Murdoch, who is very hard to put into a box. This tune has made so many of my playlists over the years —…

May 2, 2022

Green Grass of Tunnel

Múm A song I’ve been in love with since 2002. We had just moved to LA after a script I wrote called MVP was optioned by a new production company. The entire experience turned out to be a nightmare though. But, Annie and I persisted and it took another 5 years and a 2nd option to get re-titled CALVIN…

May 3, 2022

Me and My Charms

Kristin Hersh Throwing Muses was already a favorite, but this solo record from ‘94 is mind-blowingly good — no one plays like her and no one sings like her. And so very few write songs this stunning. Kristin’s guitar playing and her big vocals on ME AND MY CHARMS are overwhelming to me this morning.

May 4, 2022

Chain Reaction

Joy Downer feat. Beck It’s only about a week old, but it’s already the most popular track on my May playlist. A perfectly infectious song — a beautiful song — wow. Joy’s vocals are such a pleasure to listen to and these lyrics pack a meaningful punch.

May 5, 2022

Messin’ With the Kid

The Saints ♥️ An overdue post as Chris Bailey of THE SAINTS passed away at 65 last month. So love this track and the beautiful punk swagger of his vocals. And that last little infectious, repeating guitar riff in the final minute. A little slice of loneliness that feels so mature. Shocking that (I’M…

May 6, 2022

New Year’s Kiss

Katie Bejsiuk Katie’s sweet, hushed version of Owen Ashworth’s NEW YEAR’S KISS is from a wonderful collection of covers called You Were Alone: An Owen Ashworth Almanac. It features 26 Casiotone For the Painfully Alone and Advance Base songs. This one especially feels like a revelation, mining the da…

May 7, 2022

All Her Favorite Fruit

Camper Van Beethoven CAMPER could very well be the first U.S. indie band I loved growing up. Most music I discovered through radio and releases that hit the shelves at Tower Records. I’m not sure where I first heard Take the Skinheads Bowling, but somehow I purchased the 12 inch single. I thought of…

May 8, 2022

Down By The Sea

Men at Work I could’ve chosen many tracks from this band — who only blessed us with 3 albums. This is the last track on their debut BUSINESS AS USUAL and for some reason it’s the one I put on my playlists most often. I love how it takes it’s time with a slow groove. It wasn’t built for radio. I don’…

May 9, 2022

Sister Jack

Spoon As infectious as a song can get, this one has made so many of my playlists over the years. I’m not exactly sure what it’s about, but it’s definitely for the outsiders and for the misfits. Always on the outside Always looking in, I was in a drop-D metal band we called Requiem

May 10, 2022

Fourth Zone of Gaits

Young Jesus Those grinding electric guitars that bookend this song are so beautiful — over three minutes of zen. And the minute in between is this vocal drop from John Rossiter — a kind of relentless Buddhist poem that washes over you.

May 11, 2022

Transcendental Blues

Steve Earle So hard to pick one song from Steve — there are so many — but this one jumps out as an unusually beautiful recording and mix — the title track from his 9th record. I love the many influences you can hear, yet it all works together. And I love his metaphysical pursuit of happiness and ful…

May 12, 2022

Where Do the Children Play?

Cat Stevens Released in 1970, TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN is a top 20 record for me. Somehow Cat could write real, artful protest songs that celebrated life and humanity and the struggle. They rarely feel didactic, but push all the right buttons and ask all the right questions.

May 13, 2022

Hangover Game

MJ Lenderman Another great DEAR LIFE RECORDS release, BOAT SONGS came out on 4-29-22 and I’ve had it playing loud. At the top of my head, it lives somewhere between WILCO and BUILT TO SPILL. I don’t love making comparisons like this, but find them helpful if they’re somewhat accurate and I think it …

May 14, 2022

Sacrifice (For Love)

Wednesday feat. MJ Lenderman Sometimes this song finds my brain like a radio signal landing on the right frequency. I love covers that create new context like this during these massive times of instability. Some days it feels like the ground will give way. It’s a funny thing loving life and worrying…

May 14, 2022

My Drug Buddy

The Lemonheads Evan Dando has written some genius songs — some hilarious, some self-deprecating — but most have this startling honesty to them. At first glance this song might seem to celebrate drug culture and it kind of does. But like a great short story, there is more going on here than meets the…

May 16, 2022

Empty Cans

The Streets This morning Mike Skinner’s voice popped in my head with an “Oy” and it made me laugh. What a voice. And this brilliant 8 minute album closer is from my favorite STREETS record. He had an original voice from the beginning — and I don’t just mean the sound of it, but his ability to weave …

May 17, 2022

Unsmart Lady

Dry Cleaning After Mike Skinner’s EMPTY CANS yesterday, I was thinking of certain British accents I really dig in music — like Billy Bragg, The Beatles, Robert Smith — off the top of my head, it’s a pretty long list. But then I thought of Florence Shaw who brought her beautiful speaking voice to DRY…

May 18, 2022

We Rot

White Ring I’ve been thinking about Witch House music and how much I’d love to include some in my next film ABOVE THE TREES. This song is so haunting, dark and beautiful — so much emotion in it. Kendra passed away in 2020 at just 37. The band lives on now with Brian and Adina. After GATE OF GRIEF th…

May 19, 2022

Zelda

The Antlers My first Antlers experience was HOSPICE — a masterpiece about death and grief. I’ve followed this band ever since and often reach for their UNDERSEA EP with ZELDA being the closing track. I love the instrumentation on this one and the mood it sets. It makes me think of Twin Peaks season …

May 20, 2022

True

Concrete Blonde I knew nothing about this band because it was their first tour and they were opening for the Alarm — both on I.R.S. Johnette Napolitano looked like she was in high school at the time. Probably 25, but I was blown away by her. As much as I loved the Alarm, I don’t remember their set t…

May 21, 2022

We Can Get Together

The Hold Steady Very hard to pick a favorite HOLD STEADY record because they’re all exciting to me — especially the swagger of those early story songs from ALMOST KILLED ME, SEPARATION SUNDAY and BOYS AND GIRLS IN AMERICA. But today, even as Craig Finn’s great new solo record A LEGACY OF RENTALS dro…

May 22, 2022

Souvenir

Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark In celebration of 80’s keyboard pop that trancended the decade? I see myself going down a little rabbit of hole of some the greatest keyboard songs of the decade. Songs that still sound great today. They have aged, but like fine wine. They have avoided sounding outd…

May 23, 2022

Only You

Yaz More 80’s pop perfection performed on an analog synthesizer. This isn’t just timeless because the great Alison Moyet is singing — most of the credit goes to Vince Clarke — who not only wrote it, but his sensibilities made the music timeless and transcendent.

May 24, 2022

Chosen Time

New Order My God, this video just fires me up with emotion. What a band. After Ian Curtis took his own life, the rest of JOY DIVISION grieved in the studio and made the first NEW ORDER record MOVEMENT. What I love about this track, is that it feels like one foot’s still firmly planted in the past, b…

May 24, 2022

Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)

Book of Love Another synth pop band who followed their own path, writing songs that transcended 80’s trends. They have a European feel, but were from Philadelphia. This track is a revelation, named after the tragic French painter who died at 35 and only had posthumous fame and success with his unusu…

May 26, 2022

Everything Counts

Depeche Mode Continuing down the rabbit hole of great 80’s synth pop tracks that still sound amazing and transcend the decade. I think of this terrific single whenever capitalism gets me down. What a career this band has had — all after losing mastermind Vince Clarke. But there was another genius lu…

May 27, 2022

Atmosphere

Joy Division Is this the most New Order sounding Joy Division song? That’s still Ian’s unmistakable voice though. Originally a B-side released after Ian Curtis took his own life…this gorgeous, haunting track feels profound this morning. Somehow the light in this song eclipses the dark shadow cast by…

May 28, 2022

Close to Me

The Cure I love the breathy vocals and unusual lyrics — those horns on this singles version. Since I’m still thinking about 80’s synth-pop that isn’t trapped in the 80’s, it’s worth noting The Cure embraced and used synths better and more timelessly than most 80’s bands. Ironic because Robert Smith …

May 29, 2022

I Got You

Split Enz Love how these post-punk guitars and creative synths & keys combine to create pop perfection. Those guitars and that bouncy Beatlesque chorus keep the song timeless. It’s still great after all these years. At times I can hear THE CARS influence— especially in the verses and the echoes on “…

May 30, 2022

Smalltown Boy

Bronski Beat When it comes to meaningful, influential 80’s synth pop, this is one of my favorite tracks in electronic music. Another great Scottish band. For me, it’s easy to draw a line from this early groundbreaking song to Sigur Rós. Like Jónsi, Jimmy Sommerville’s vocals soar in falsetto with pa…

May 31, 2022

You Are This Perfect

Petracovich A 2009 track has hit me again today (also with gorgeous keyboards) from a terrific album called CREPUSCULO. A masterful song that I think of every Memorial Day. It just makes you cry and celebrate life. Those little moments of joy we get to have now and then. I love the feeling this song…

June 1, 2022

Since You’re Gone

The Cars Easily one of my favorite singles from that decade. I love the way they carried those late seventies post-punk guitars with them into the 80’s and still embraced keyboards along the way. What a run they had beginning in ‘78 — just in time for MTV. Their music videos were always clever and f…

June 2, 2022

This Is The Day

The The Was so tempted to choose a song from MIND BOMB, but realize now I should encourage people to play that masterpiece straight through. As much as I love KINGDOM OF RAIN and AUGUST & SEPTEMBER…..So my favorite Mat Johnson tune chose me once again instead. From their first release, this track fe…

June 2, 2022

All My Life

So many tracks this morning, thinking of Echo — but ALL MY LIFE is the one I seem to love most as I get older. Strange times we live in and the lyrics are profound. Oh how the times have changes us Sure and now uncertain Men not devils have claimed us Purity deserting God's one miracle Lost in circl…

June 4, 2022

Ft. Worth Blues

Big curve ball today — as I’m helping shoot video in Sheridan, Wyoming for a friend who’s live streaming a Buck Brannaman horse training event. The cowboy hats and country music have put me in the mood for some Steve Earle. And this tune is just one of those special songs I remember putting on a hun…

June 5, 2022

If I Needed You

Townes Van Zandt Apparently Townes wrote this in his sleep and it was fully formed when he woke up. I think the best songwriters almost excavate their songs — even while they’re awake writing them, they are still finding them. This beautiful track, with its gentle tempo and major chords is so full o…

June 6, 2022

No Sense In Lovin’

Uncle Tupelo Can’t talk great Alternative Country in the 90’s without mentioning Jeff Tweedy. For me, his UNCLE TUPELO songs stood out and still sound fresh thirty years later. He’s the kind of songwriter who easily taps into melancholy — usually in a simple, but profound. way. This beauty has gorge…

June 6, 2022

Passenger Side

Wilco I love the wit in this story song as this couple quarrels and our singer wants to be the one behind the wheel. But the subtext seems to suggest he might not be fit for driving either. A metaphor for life when the road seems long and you’re falling asleep at the wheel. And, not enough money to …

June 8, 2022

Salome

Old 97’s Back from Wyoming, I’m coming up for air after going down this little Alt-Country rabbit hole with a song from one of my favorite records TOO FAR TO CARE. This is one giant record from ‘97 that features 13 great songs — so it was hard to choose just one. Twelve of these songs are carried by…

June 9, 2022

Come Pick Me Up

Ryan Adams Thought I was done with this little Alt-Country run, but nothing jumped out at me today except this tune from Ryan Adams. And this live version with Neil Finn watching him in awe?? It’s so beautiful and kind of ridiculous. Neil is a LEGEND, but here he is being blown away by this tune and…

June 10, 2022

Modern Romance

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Found my transition out from the alt-country train I was riding because a new, wonderful YEAH YEAH YEAHS track just made my June playlist. I remember this NYC band’s 2003 debut FEVER TO TELL making me feel like we weren’t in the 90’s anymore — with Karen O’s unique, volatile vocals a…

June 10, 2022

Mysteries of Love

Julee Cruis RIP Julee, your suffering is over. We had one brief, but funny conversation and it was a beautiful. One I will always remember. Your voice and your work with Angelo Badalamenti and David Lynch are on my mind today. FALLING is the one people know you for, but THIS is the song. It’s the on…

June 12, 2022

13 Months in 6 Minutes

The Wrens We aren’t in the 90’s anymore with another sprawling 2003 ballad that still blows my mind after all these years. That little high guitar riff that carries us to the final minute? So beautiful and maybe says more than the lyrics — which also carry real damage. THE WRENS might be the most un…

June 13, 2022

How to Disappear Completely

Radiohead The idea of disappearing or not being relevant or being displaced or just being gone and forgotten…😳 In a little while I'll be gone The moment's already passed Yeah, it's gone And I'm not here This isn't happening I'm not here

June 14, 2022

Exit Music (For a Film)

Radiohead I played the brilliant KID A several times yesterday while I was working, and today backtracked to OK COMPUTER — because I just couldn’t help myself. What a band. When I first heard CREEP I wondered (no pun intended) if they were a one hit wonder. But THE BENDS made it clear they absolutel…

June 15, 2022

Lurgee

Lurgee Lurgee is an ailment if you’re curious. Am I really picking three RADIOHEAD tunes in a row? Yes, I am. It’s not really my fault as I’ve been diving back into PABLO HONEY with nothing held back. I am so appreciating these tunes that have taken on a whole new shine all these years later. With t…

June 16, 2022

I Can’t Escape Myself

The Sound I am so awestruck with the talent of ADRIAN BORLAND. This was the first track off the miraculous debut record from THE SOUND and here he was — already writing about his sickness from day one. This incredible bass line, those ragged left-handed guitars and those doubled vocals leave me spee…

June 17, 2022

Allein

White Rose Transmission God, I love this thumbnail photo…it just makes me happy. This great song is from Adrian’s side project WHITE ROSE TRANSMISSION, a two album collaboration with the brilliant Carlo Van Putten. Carlo wrote the words and Adrian wrote this gorgeous music. I don’t have a translatio…

June 18, 2022

Before the Day Begins

Adrian Borland God I love how Adrian named this album 5 AM and ended this terrific record with a song called BEFORE THE DAY BEGINS. Because those demons come for us at night. In our sleeplessness. Especially as we get older, because we don’t sleep as well. All those fears. All those feelings of doub…

June 19, 2022

Spanish Hotel

Adrian Borland When I think of Adrian, I often think of this song and it gives me a glimpse into one of his darker days. I love his guitars here too — how they grind and carry us through this dark day with an ironic sense of toughness and swagger. Another dark day, but it will end. This one is from …

June 20, 2022

The Tide is Turning

Roger Waters Heard this 1987 song from the pool in Palm Springs today...this one makes me think of our culture evolving and changing and? Getting better. So often it can feel like things are getting worse.I was fortunate to see this concert as a young kid and Roger had a big impact on me. His empath…

June 21, 2022

Part of Me Died

Roger Waters This pandemic has really played with my sense of time — like it managed to push three years into one. Still, this might be my favorite album title of the new millennium, IS THIS THE LIFE WE REALLY WANT? It’s a great question and one Roger isn’t afraid to ask or contemplate. This terrifi…

June 22, 2022

Do You Realize?

The Flaming Lips My heart is full and I realize it right now in this moment. And so it made me think of this one, which might very well be a top ten song of all time. I can’t think of a more adventurous, creative band to be honest — Wayne Coyne and company are true artists who have been at it a long…

June 22, 2022

Sunshine

World Party This beauty has such a wonderful guitar riff and lyric. Without being too sugary sweet, it’s a song that just calls out the mystery and joy of being alive in the present with profound, delirious clarity. 😊

June 23, 2022

Fisherman’s Blues

The Waterboys Tune might be my all-time favorite opening track to any album. 👀 The title track to the startling, brilliant FISHERMAN’S BLUES from ‘88. It just rips and moves me. And MIKE SCOTT as a front man is special. What…a…band. 🥰

June 25, 2022

Theme from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Jon Brion An astonishing piece of work. The piano, the arrangement and mix just sweeps me up in the air. It’s an emotional tune, with highs and lows. And it has a whimsical quality at times. But most of all, it captures the strange, beautiful, devastating plight of Joel and Clementine. 💔

June 26, 2022

She’s Gone Away

NINE INCH NAILS From Twin Peaks the Return’s S3 EP08 which premiered 5 years ago today! Without spoilers, this episode is a hallucinatory deep dive into the origin of evil and BOB — how he came to be. How the seeds of corruption might be planted, take root and begin growing. This NIN song will alway…

June 27, 2022

Spitting On the Edge of the World

Yeah Yeah Yeahs From their first album in 9 years…what a single and what a terrific collab w/ Perfume Genius. Hearing this on JPR radio the other day while I was driving was an anachronistic experience. I rarely hear new music like this these days and it was wonderful! The “never had no chance” kill…

June 27, 2022

Dawn Chorus

Thom Yorke It is the 3 year anniversary of ANIMA — perhaps the best pre-pandemic record and film eerily telegraphing the absurdity of what was coming down the pike. So many of us are still making our way through this bizarre time, searching for purpose, for meaningful experiences, for love — but the…

June 29, 2022

Unproud Warrior

Cass McCombs This song’s only a few weeks old and it’s been haunting me. Such an underrated singer/songwriter who always surprises me. This is an early single from an album called HEARTMIND which will come out August 19th. I love the feeling this song evokes. How his discharge date is etched in his …

June 30, 2022

It’s Summertime

The Flaming Lips We were out in the park shooting footage for our film in shorts last night at 11:30 PM. The warm evenings are here and it felt so good not to have my jacket along. It got me thinking about this great song from YOSHIMI which celebrates the beauty of summer, even with significant inte…

July 1, 2022

Memphis Egypt

The Mekons NEXT TO MY TURNTABLE I have an old 80GB iPod hooked up directly to powered speakers in my office — thousands and thousands of songs ready for quick shuffling. This morning MEMPHIS EGYPT came on and it just set the momentum for a happy, happy day of prepping for tomorrow’s film shoot. Thes…

July 2, 2022

Ghosts of American Astronauts

The Mekons I’ve been thinking about this great band since I hit the jackpot on my iPod shuffle yesterday morning. And I can’t stop thinking about Sally Timms who sings on so many great MEKONS songs. In this one, her vocals are so sublime and melancholy and soothing — punctuated with those little ele…

July 3, 2022

Last Weeks of the War

The Mekons This one’s from perhaps my favorite Mekons record called JOURNEY TO THE END OF NIGHT. I say perhaps because they have so many I love — but there’s something gorgeous about the production on this album and how Sally and Jon trade vocals. It also feels like it was their turn to leave the 80…

July 4, 2022

Gin Palace

The Mekons From an 80’s album that does not sound like ‘87 — one of their first forays into full fledged COW PUNK — the terrific HONKY TONKIN’. This track is special as Langford just has a way of making a political statement by telling a sweet story with clever phrases. Never didactic. He paints a p…

July 5, 2022

Mirage

The Mekons MEKONS stay political with DESERTED — their pre-pandemic 2019 record which is angry, beautiful and profound. This song just rocks and makes me sad on July 4 because I DO feel guilty when I pass tent cities in LA and Portland. Actually, they are in EVERY city in America, aren't they. You s…

July 6, 2022

Rolling of the Eyes

Jon Langford, Richard Buckner An unlikely partnership at first glance actually becomes a huge opportunity for magic. To feel the COW PUNK in Richard Buckner is new. And this tune just hits with Buckner’s playful vocals and Langford’s falsetto. These guitars and that bass shred and this tune becomes …

July 7, 2022

(A Year Ahead) …and a Light

Richard Buckner This man is an artist through and through. Just listen to his records — he’s mad genius songwriter and an excellent guitar player. His music transcends genre — don’t even call him alt-country because it doesn’t quite fit. This tune right here is infectious with lyrics that almost fee…

July 8, 2022

It’s the Sun

The Polyphonic Spree This LARGE band came rushing back to me after playing the ETERNAL SUNSHINE soundtrack yesterday. They have a reckless, joyous FLAMING LIPS spirit to them, and they embrace these big CHOIR sounds, with love and positivity. I was about to choose LIGHT & DAY from the OST but this o…

July 9, 2022

Dark

Buellton Hard to move on from this record. After playing it several times yesterday, I played it again this morning. I love the logic of this song — how sadness or doubt or negativity can just take root and pull you down — often for no good reason. When everyone is rooting for you. The playful guita…

July 10, 2022

Bumper Crop

Buellton Can’t pivot from Buellton just yet, as I’m thinking of this perfect single from their 2nd album SILENT PARTNER. Love this vocal and melody. They actually partnered with Santa Barbara’s Telegraph Brewing Company to release this album on a collectible bottle. Ingenious. And I have to wonder i…

July 11, 2022

Grammy’s 97

BUELLTON What a song that laments the state of the Grammy’s and music biz in ‘97 — a time capsule complete with Boyz II Men and Shania Twain references. But ironically, it morphs into this slow building beauty, escalating into a thunderous celebration of indie rock. And it doesn’t need any more lyri…

July 11, 2022

Mirror

BUELLTON Sleeper track from SILENT PARTNER. Great recording and mix — with that gorgeous little Beatlesque vocal bridge :50 in. So good. You’re not as lost as you think you are. Folks always know who you are.

July 13, 2022

Ames

Tracker Listening to AMES this morning was so invigorating and refreshing. The album holds up so well and is meticulously put together in the studio on reel to reel — with great sounds and atmosphere and catchy riffs and little samples. I love everything about this little two minute title track and …

July 14, 2022

The Swimmer

Tracker THE SWIMMER has stunning production quality — I love the doubled vocals and also the drums and grinding guitars in the bridge at 1:30. And that pedal steel over the chorus is pure gold. And what about those big crashing cymbals and piano at 2:45 that carries us out? What a track and a pretty…

July 15, 2022

Snow

Tracker I was obsessed with BLANKETS in the 90’s — a graphic novel masterpiece by Craig Thompson — who happened to be a friend of John Askew’s. Ultimately it led to this beautiful collaboration which serves as the third and final record from TRACKER. We had this song SNOW playing softly in the PHOEN…

July 16, 2022

The Castle

The Flaming Lips This beautiful track is from 2017 — they just keep making great music. Wayne Coyne strikes me as a happy person — also someone who is most happy when he’s creatively satisfied. That joy comes through in this one — also a great video. From a great record called OCZY MLODY. ❤️ Her fac…

July 17, 2022

You Have to Be Joking (Autopsy of the Devil’s Brain)

The Flaming Lips This melancholy tune feels right this evening. I feel disillusioned tonight and I’m not sure why. It’s nothing specific, just a general sense of disillusionment. Oh my vision is blurred again This song speaks to it for some reason — the very first song I loved by the Flaming Lips. I…

July 18, 2022

Sad Face

The Choir This is a band I love and this song is from their terrific record CHASE THE KANGAROO. I love Derri’s guitars in this and the mediative drumming from Steve Hindalong. And it’s true — the ebb and flow of sadness strengthens the heart. In my late teens and early twenties, THE CHOIR was a pivo…

July 18, 2022

Wide-Eyed Wonder

The Choir One of my favorite songs about being a dad — or specifically having a daughter like Flannery who’s 16 now — but still wide-eyed and learning to live in this world. Like we all are. Even as adults I think living wide-eyed is a great way to be. Staying hopeful, expecting great things. Fearin…

July 20, 2022

Clouds

The Choir This sprawling song is about doubt and the shadows that veil our eyes. I’m not sure how this band cooked up this fantastic record — but they sure caught lightning in a bottle. It still sounds great and it transcends both genre and the 80’s. To me it sounds like 2022. And this seven minute …

July 21, 2022

Long Drawn Sunday Night

The Orchids A band I’ve loved for a long time — one of those special groups who are totally unique and still together making music. And their records just make me feel good when I play them. This tune is a heartbreaker — the great bass line and guitars and those melancholy vocals from James Hackett.…

July 22, 2022

A Kind of Eden

The Orchids A little slice of pop heaven today — a song more people should know because it’s special. A real love song that’s full of infatuation and joy. A guest vocal, I know but it’s Pauline’s voice that surprises in the spotlight — and carries the choruses too. Hackett’s vocal is buried, but it’…

July 22, 2022

Pelican Blonde

The Orchids Another nostalgic tune that captures melancholy and infatuation. What a thrill to be able to use this one in Phoenix, Oregon as Bobby stays up all night drawing his graphic novel, remembering falling in love with Nikki. Love these guitars, bass drums and layered vocals. ❤️

July 24, 2022

Welcome to My Curious Heart

The Orchids Another perfect song from this great Scottish band. I love the youthful admission in the title — young, curious heart who’s on some kind of mission. The yearning and anticipation is palpable — those guitars and chord progressions, the hushed vocals in the verses. And then the chorus — so…

July 25, 2022

Everyday

Yo La Tengo It was THIS album from 2000 that really blew my mind. And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out is another record that announced the new millennium for me. It got us out of the 90’s and in hindsight feels ahead of it’s time. I love to play it on vinyl, dropping the needle down on SIDE A …

July 26, 2022

Deeper Into Movies

Yo La Tengo One of those songs that just feels like great 90’s indie rock — but it’s more than that. Taken in the context of their great record I CAN HEAR THE HEART BEATING AS ONE — it’s much more. Just listen to the record — the new 25th anniversary deluxe edition. Just one of 16 main tracks. And t…

July 27, 2022

Our Way to Fall

Yo La Tengo This is one of my favorite love songs. A stunning track that paints a picture of two specific people — their way to fall. It’s difficult not to imagine this is how Ira and Georgia met and fell for one another and so I love the vulnerability of writing this song and putting it out into th…

July 28, 2022

Sugarcube

Yo La Tengo Another great love song this morning from these legends — one that landed on some of my first home-burned mix CD’s. 90’s indie rock at its best with fuzzed out guitars, bass, drums. But most of all this song just sneaks up on you — those addictive, skate-punk riffs with those lyrics? The…

July 29, 2022

I’ll Be Around

Yo La Tengo This gentle song is moving and taking me home today — from their 2015 record FADE which I’ve played on vinyl so many times over the past eight years. Love’s last episode. Nowhere to go. Phil Morrison’s video made me laugh again this morning with James being the guest, helping cook dinner…

July 29, 2022

Concorde

Black Country, New Road Too many songs I could post from this great record, so I will linger here for a bit to celebrate what might be my favorite of 2022. I previously posted SNOW GLOBES, but it was this song that first jumped out and grabbed me. I love how that gentle guitar and drums lure you in.…

July 30, 2022

The Place Where He Inserted the Blade

Black Country, New Road This might be my favorite track on this album, but don’t hold me to it. The chamber pop label makes sense — and you can hear it — the flute, piano, the horns, the shuffling tempos. Still, it’s so much more than this because Isaac’s vocals are rock and roll. The GOOD MORNING k…

August 1, 2022

St. Bonaventure

Friendship It was a great coincidence to be back in Texas playing the new countryfied Friendship record, which is terrific. This song just jumped out at me and not because it’s track one. It happens to be a great album opener. Love the bass line and the easy, melancholic vibe. Great sounding guitars…

August 2, 2022

Smooth Pursuit

Friendship Only a nose hair away / From inner peace today… Had this song going through my head today, the three minute closing track to their new record LOVE THE STRANGER. This is one of those records that just makes me feel good and I can see myself returning to it frequently this year. Love the tw…

August 2, 2022

Alive Twice

Friendship Compelled again — as I head back to Ashland from Austin tomorrow — to choose another track from LOVE THE STRANGER. This beauty has muffled keyboards and piano. The kind of track that normally doesn’t appear on an alt-country sounding record. But the twang is there in the vocals, and this …

August 4, 2022

Strung Out On You

2nd Grade Big surprise to me this great song was released yesterday — a week after LOVE THE STRANGER came out. Love the guitars and tempo — radio friendly and fun. Bonus points for the Liv Ulmann reference. It will be on their new album EASY LISTENING which comes out in September. Can’t wait for thi…

August 5, 2022

As Long As We Can Talk About It

2nd Grade The opening track to their little masterpiece WISH YOU WERE HERE TOUR REVISITED — it is so catchy and cool. Ultimately it tries to build bridges between people who disagree. Something profound and jubilant in this tune that celebrates people overcoming their differences. I know that we don…

August 6, 2022

Held Back

2nd Grade The closing track to WISH YOU WERE HERE TOUR REVISITED has this amazing guitar solo 1:15 in. And then 2nd Grade spends the last two minutes deliberatly talking out the album credits. And these two things aren’t even the most amazing thing about this song. The most amazing thing? It’s the f…

August 7, 2022

Try to Be on My Side Now

2nd Grade Had to get one more track in — this time from their record HIT TO HIT. This is one of 24 songs — many of which I almost chose today. They have a great song about riding your BIKE to the record store and telling everyone else to take a hike 🤣. Another about filling out a dreaded 1099. Clea…

August 8, 2022

Something I’ll Have to Remember

2nd Grade Have to do one more before moving on. I love the sincerity in this song. There’s a heart-on-sleeve quality that lifts up the importance of our friendships and relationships. The give and take — how the love goes both ways. What we need and what we can give. It’s all that really matters in …

August 9, 2022

Natural Light

Often covered, but I prefer Owen’s original — just the piano, drum kit and a little bass. It’s so simple and short. Lovely and sad. So much subtext. Another melancholy story song which he’s known for and this one has teeth. The “I guess he’d be 15” just kills me.

August 10, 2022

White Jetta

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone It’s the first track I ever heard by Owen Ashworth and it was way back in 2009. I love the drums and bass in this — the cymbal crashes. The little tinkering keyboards. But mostly it’s the story and how he recounts adolescent pain, loneliness and a mother who’s ill. …

August 10, 2022

Man O’ War

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone Like a great short story, this one haunts. A freak accident leaves a 9 year old girl fatherless. I love how it begins like a warning — with those little bass thumps before the story begins. Dual vocals. Daughter and father singing together. 💔 Love the visual detail…

August 12, 2022

New Gospel

Advance Base There is a beautiful kind of maturity to these records which I really love and appreciate. This one is another story song from A SHUT-IN’S PRAYER — a guy home drinking and watching game shows. The subtext is full of loneliness and dulled pain with some soul searching. But the sermonizin…

August 13, 2022

Dolores & Kimberly

Advance Base A song that still blows my mind. Just how good the songwriting is — the story, the subtext. The heartache, The hope. It’s a tender, big-hearted song with great piano, melody and a little echoing drum machine. Love the studio version, but today I can’t resist this little in studio that O…

August 14, 2022

Reason To Believe

Bruce Springsteren One more from NEBRASKA — the closing track suggests the notion of hope being ‘kinda funny’. Love this because it is absurd, especially as we hurdle through space with a 100% chance of suffering and dying. Everything’s stacked against us and we’re told to show gratitude each day. A…

August 15, 2022

Open All Night

Bruce Springsteen Couldn’t name drop this one and not reach for NEBRASKA. Ten grim songs recorded on 4-Track at home, running 40+ minutes. Bruce’s 6th LP was released forty years ago and I remember playing it on vinyl as a little kid (thanks to my older brothers) and trying to wrap my head around th…

August 15, 2022

Little Pieces

Juliana Hatfield When I first got to LA, I won tickets to her show calling into KROQ and saw her perform in a small club on Sunset Blvd. I remember being moved by her set. And this track in particular — something about the loose guitar production and drums, but mostly her vocals. It’s like she’s rea…

August 17, 2022

Waiting For the Great Leap Forward

Billy Bragg And how many great artists had their network television debut on LATE NIGHT? I’m sure there is a list somewhere, but this one is a favorite of mine. Watch 30 year-old Billy Bragg here sing this great song he wrote — backed by the World’s Most Dangerous Band. Somehow Bragg could combine p…

August 18, 2022

Sister Madly

Crowded House I love these little Leterman time capsules and was giddy to see Dave holding a vinyl copy of TEMPLE OF LOW MEN like the one I’m spinning right now in my office. Hard to believe this masterpiece was the follow up to their S/T debut. This is a dark album full of personal songs and great …

August 19, 2022

To the Island

Crowded House I’ve put this incredible song on at least 10 random playlists this year. Even the thought of escaping to an island is healing right now. And the whole record DREAMERS ARE WAITING is a huge achievement. You could say they don’t make ‘em like they used to, except this one came out last y…

August 20, 2022

Here to Forever

Death Cab For Cutie This new Death Cab tune came out a few weeks back and really landed with me — like so many Ben Gibbard songs have. It’s from their forthcoming record, the oxymoronic-titled ASPHALT MEADOWS. I love this bass line and how the verse sets up the chorus — both musically and lyrically.…

August 21, 2022

Saturdays

Broken Bells The human voice can sure mean a lot to great pop music because it’s often where the emotion is. This tune is pop perfection with haunting lyrics and mood — a sad song about the “slow decline”. But somehow the past being remembered remains magical. I love hearing Mercer’s great vocals ag…

August 21, 2022

Divine Intervention

Matthew Sweet From GIRLFRIEND — one of the most stunning albums of the 90’s. This opening track is a killer that really connected with me. High school was over and college had me thinking philosophically about where my life would go. Was there really a kind of divine intervention that would steer my…

August 23, 2022

Not Miserable

Frightened Rabbit Some bands are difficult for me to write about. I have so many complicated feelings around Scott Hutchison because I love his music and find it meaningful and cathartic. The memory of hearing about his death is still fresh in my mind. We were in production on our movie PHOENIX, ORE…

August 23, 2022

I Wish I Was Sober

Frightened Rabbit This is the greatest song I’ve ever heard about addiction. I love that it’s in 1st person and not 3rd — so confessional, honest, poetic, heartbreaking. Beautiful restrained vocal from Scott and what an arrangement and mix from Aaron Dessner. And this video just kills me. My love yo…

August 25, 2022

Head Rolls Off

Frightened Rabbit Still going down the rabbit hole here…🐰 I love the humility in Scott’s songs — but also his swagger and confidence. He was fearless and wasn’t afraid to tell his truth. He believed certain things and had enough faith to articulate them in his songs. This is a brave, beautiful song…

August 26, 2022

Floating in the Forth

Frightened Rabbit This one’s a killer — so I won’t end this Frightened Rabbit detour with this, which guarantees at least one more track from this terrific band. Kind of brilliant to listen to a song that shows Scott literally keeping his suicidal tendencies at bay. He does this by imagining how he …

August 27, 2022

Old Old Fashioned

Frightened Rabbit Wow. What an incredible performance — live on KEXP from 2013…🥰 An unusual song from this great band. Today it feels beautiful, sincere and truthful with a danceable bass riff and some of my favorite lyrics. Especially that first verse. ❤️🎶🎵🎶🎸🥁🪕 I'll turn off the TV It's kill…

August 27, 2022

Wait ‘Til the Morning

Frightened Rabbit So this piece of advice from Scott popped in my head at 1AM. It’s a great phrase that’s helped me over and over the last few years. It’s good wisdom that feels more true the older I get. Wait ‘til the morning. Before you feel too deeply about something personal. Before you jump to …

August 29, 2022

The Concept

Teenage Fanclub Needed something lighter today, but I still managed to keep us in Scotland. What is it about this country? So many unbelievable bands. I remember playing Bandwagonesque to death in ‘91. The perfect summer record that’s loose, jubilant and full of hooks an harmonies and these big, cru…

August 30, 2022

Suspended From Class

Camera Obscura This tune came out of nowhere this morning and I’m not sure why. Yes they’re from Glasgow, but I think it has more to do with school beginning this week. We saw Camera Obscura play Neumos in Seattle back in 2004 when Carey Lander was still alive. It was right when we were finishing po…

August 30, 2022

Thinking of a Dream I Had

The Walkmen We caught them when they were touring with their record BOWS + ARROWS. This was one of the more unique sounding bands — who borrowed from the early nineties but sounded fresh and new with Hamilton Leithauser’s giant vocals and interesting production choices. It still sounds great and thi…

September 1, 2022

To Be Alone With You

Sufjan Stevens This is my favorite love song by Sufjan Stevens. So beautiful and sensual. I love how the focus is blurred and the story of love takes on new meanings as it unfolds. I would swim across Lake Michigan… To be alone with you. This sure feels like physical love between two humans. But the…

September 2, 2022

Rake (Greenpoint Version)

Sufjan Stevens Another great love song from Sufjan. It’s on his first album called A SUN CAME — and I particularly love this version which I find stirring and vulnerable. I never felt so safe A line I once told her Warm, resting place Her arms on my shoulder It could be a love song for a spouse, a m…

September 3, 2022

Tonya Harding (in D major)

Sufjan Stevens Have to go with Sufjan one more time because he’s one of those rare artists who occupy their own category of music. He somehow can bring his artistic voice to every style — low fi, art-rock, pop, electronic, indie-rock. And like his eerily beautiful John Wayne Gacy Jr track, Sufjan ca…

September 4, 2022

Limitless #1 (Joy)

The Orchids It’s new music Friday and we get a new record from the Orchids. Their last true album BEATITUDE #9 came out in 2014, so it’s been eight years. DREAMING KIND is full of great songs with hooks and melodies — and they sound better than ever. Songs that make you feel good, which is a great r…

September 5, 2022

Birthday

The Sugarcubes I was thinking about Bjork today. Good Lord, what a talent right out of the gate. As a combined artist, performer, singer, songwriter she ranks near the top. I remember being stunned by this song in high school. The lyrics. The bass line and vibe, the vocals. Still sounds amazing. And…

September 6, 2022

Human Behavior

Bjork The opening track from her amazing debut — still a stunning song. I love it so much — the lyrics, the vocals, the music. How human beings are irresistible with no logic and so much confusion. There’s no map. How we can suddenly turn happy. 😂 So great. And I marvel that this tune was played no…

September 7, 2022

I’ve Seen It All

Bjork It’s been a Bjork Labor Day weekend and my mind drifts back to the devastating DANCER IN THE DARK. This song is so good — the strings, the call and response, how the train sounds create the percussion & tempo. And Bjork’s soaring vocals? This musical is her ONLY film role and she’s sublime in …

September 8, 2022

Hyperballad

The Twilight Singers Good luck covering Bjork because there’s a solid chance it’ll just make people turn you off and play her original. This is the one exception I know of — an extraordinary cover, because somehow Greg Dulli hijacks the song and makes it his own. It’s as if he wrote it and you exper…

September 9, 2022

Stonemilker

Bjork Hard to wrap my head around VULNICURA being 7 years old already, as I’m still discovering its riches. This opening track is one of my favorite Bjork singles, with an intimate 360 VR on location in Iceland. These opening strings are so gorgeous and I can’t resist the drifting melodies that foll…

September 10, 2022

The Queen is Dead

The Smiths It’s true. Sad day, regardless of what you might think of the British Monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II’s reign began in 1952. RIP Queen. So this album has been on my mind today after hearing the news. I’m playing the record now and it sure takes me back to ‘86 when I abruptly acquired a raven…

September 11, 2022

My Curse

The Afghan Whigs Their landmark album GENTLEMEN is closing in on its 30 year anniversary. So I just gave that one a listen and it’s still wonderful — still as honest, beautiful and disturbing as I remember it. And it was MY CURSE that stood out — a confessional song about a woman who finds herself i…

September 12, 2022

Domino and Jimmy

The Afghan Whigs This is the magic of art and music. Right here, released yesterday! I’m speaking of this track from HOW DO YOU BURN?, the new Whigs record. He brought back Marcy Mays to sing this new song — which feels like an unofficial sequel to yesterday’s MY CURSE from GENTLEMEN — a record that…

September 13, 2022

In Flames

The Afghan Whigs Greg Dulli has never gone away, really — not with the Twilight Singers, his solo records, Gutter Twins, etc. But this specific record feels like he’s newly inspired and focussed with an impressive batch of songs that deliver. And I love the call back to the album title IN FLAMES, th…

September 14, 2022

Concealer

The Afghan Whigs Had to go back to HOW DO YOU BURN? for thirds today because this song and melody has been making it’s way through my mind and stirring my emotion. Not even three minutes, this still might be the stand out track on a record with many stand-outs. I love the little classical guitar at …

September 15, 2022

Holiday

Turnstile One more from GLOW ON just to celebrate these sub-genres colliding against their unique hard rock landscape. Love the way it begins — the little bass riff and electronic percussion drips before those big metal guitars and vocals hit. Now what about that Beastie Boy-esque verse at :38? And …

September 16, 2022

Mystery

Turnstile Love the cinematic video and this big song is easy on the ears — great sonically and Brendan Yates is a true frontman with a nice voice. I love how these guitars are big but the production is complicated with emo, electronic music and pop sounding elements woven into their hard rock canvas…

September 17, 2022

Your Name’s Not Ned

Sioux Falls I sense a kind of fearlessness to their songwriting and record making. I own ROT FOREVER on cassette and often play it LOUD in my car. They seem like good people too and were generous enough to let me license this amazing track for my fourth feature Phoenix, Oregon. So love this song and…

September 18, 2022

Bigger Than Love

Benjamin Gibbard I often think of this song which is about F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda’s correspondence detailed in their book of letters called DEAR SCOTT, DEAR ZELDA. It’s a book I became very excited to read at one point, but now we have this incredible song. And I think it’s enough for me. Thi…

September 19, 2022

Apparently

Random Rab This song is so beautiful and perfect. The final “I’ll be letting go now” refrain is an all timer for me that I go back to often. It can be so healthy and empowering. Whether its an opportunity or expectation, or letting go of a painful thought or memory. It’s a song I’ve played so many t…

September 20, 2022

Beyond the Garden of Earthly Delights

Random Rab Often score and needle drop music play a big part in creating powerful subtext in good filmmaking. And this Random Rab song was always about the Aliens in our film Phoenix, Oregon — just the simple idea that maybe they are on our side instead of against us. I love the little bit of sample…

September 21, 2022

I Alone

Random Rab This was the first Rab song that hit me: this guy is really good. And I mean amazing-good and allwhile living right here in Ashland. Mind blowing — because I’m hearing Depeche Mode and Lou Barlow and something new, fresh and original. It was this particular single that brought me in. It f…

September 22, 2022

A Little More Free

Random Rab Long way to say this song brings to mind that idea. Each day, small moves towards what we desire. If we can be even just a little more free? Then it’s a victory. Love Rab’s subdued, melancholy, deep register vocals in this. This is one of those tunes that gets stuck in my head. ❤️ I don’t…

September 22, 2022

Ålen

Amason Today I was in a strange mood after being out of state filming…and I wanted to break my current pattern. I wasn’t feeling 2022 this morning and so I decided to take the time machine back to 2014. I found my top 60 songs of that year and hit shuffle. I know very little about Amason, except the…

September 23, 2022

What Happened to My Brother

Mark Kozelek & Jimmy LaValle This track is from an underrated collaboration called PERILS FROM THE SEA. Alas, it was not the huge success that The Postal Service was. Still, it’s terrific and it’s a record I go back to a lot. Love this song and it makes me think about friends I knew, loved, admired …

September 25, 2022

Caroline

Mark Kozelek & Jimmy LaValle There is a palpable, melancholy ache in this love song. I love the pace and stream of consciousness of the wordy verses vs this simple, beautiful chorus. Caroline You're always in my heart Caroline Though I've lied before and I don't deserve your — Caroline I don't deser…

September 26, 2022

With a Sort of Grace I Walked to the Bathroom to Cry

Sun Kil Moon I think of Theresa every now and then — and her two daughters. I imagine her playing Cat Stevens in her Ohio living room. I hope she is alive and doing well. But in this song, she’s sick and Kozelek is visiting her and her kids in their hometown. Kozelek has these songs where he’s weepi…

September 27, 2022

Weed Whacker

Mark Kozelek The first time I heard this song I was living in a cheap Klamath Falls hotel room making a film called Phoenix, Oregon. Something about this song inspires a lazy, care-free feeling in me. It’s another story song and I love how Kozelek tells it — and it’s a long one with some crazy, unce…

September 28, 2022

Crayon Angels

Judee Sill Songwriting doesn’t get much better than this — a perfect little two and a half minute gem. Today I was thinking about Judee’s voice and this one in particular as it reminded me of Flannery singing along with it when she was nine. I love the song’s innocence, but also the poetry and how t…

September 29, 2022

The Kiss

Judee Sill Watching these intros and then Judy perform gives me the chills. What a talent. These rising vocals against that Bach-esque piano are gorgeous, addictive. And just knowing Henry Lewy produced her first two records, I know he gave her tremendous freedom — which was uncommon back then. No d…

September 30, 2022

The Phoenix

Judee Sill I love the emotion in her songwriting — an overwhelming sense of hope drives it, even though the imagery and ideas are esoteric, dramatic. Another two and a half minute jewel of a song — I love this guitar and Judee’s melodic vocals are magical. You can hear that beautiful 70’s analog in …

October 1, 2022

Lady-O

Judee Sill She wrote so poetically and hopefully about spiritual longing, that I can’t help but think about her life. This is another profound song from her debut. I love the melody and hopefulness — this prayer for Lady-O, whoever she is. I love those beautiful strings a 1:18 that tee up a perfect …

October 2, 2022

The Circle Game

Joni Mitchell Henry Lewy recorded all of Joni Mitchell’s records — not only an astounding feat but a rare creative partnership between artist and producer. I remember my favorite English teacher in High School played this song from a little tape recorder. Stopping it occasionally, he lectured on the…

October 3, 2022

A Case of You

Joni Mitchell A song I’ve always loved — from her classic record BLUE that Henry’s fingerprints are all over — the production style, the approach and Joni’s vocal performances. Could be a top ten favorite love song. I’ve never made that list, but before I do, I’ll just start with it at the very top.…

October 3, 2022

Gymnopédie No. 1

Erik Satie From another unforgettable Woody Allen film — a brooding drama with Mia Farrow in a sad performance playing pregnant and depressed. Her story is overheard (at first inadvertently) by a philosophy professor played beautifully by Gena Rowlands. The experience makes this successful educator …

October 4, 2022

Concerto for Harpsichord in F Minor — 2nd Movement

Johann Sebastian Bach Since remembering A CASE OF YOU, I’ve been planning to revisit the film WAKING THE DEAD — and it got me thinking about other movies that introduced me to music. Funny how good movies can do that. And I love the fact they often elegantly introduce you to other things — like the …

October 6, 2022

Kill For Love

Chromatics I love the way they tinkered with songs over time, and always willing to release a new and improved version. This track first appeared in much different form on the record DRUMLESS, but it remerged with a vengeance in 2017 — the title track to perhaps their best known record. Those openin…

October 7, 2022

He’s Sure the Boy I Love

The Crystals (feat. Darlene Love) When I think of Billy Batts — which happens way too often than it probably should — it’s hard not to hear this unbelievable pop song from ‘61 that plays during his “get-out-of-jail” party. As great as this song is alone, it’s hard to not to connect it back to Billy.…

October 8, 2022

Atlantis

Donovan And there’s a second song that makes me remember Billy Batts — it’s this terrific single from ‘69. We go from the innocence of the Crystals to this late 60’s anthem in the SAME sequence. This beautiful chorus and Donovan’s voice carry us to a sacred place. Atlantis — the place we long for, t…

October 9, 2022

Oh La La

The Faces The kind of track you could play all day back in ‘73. That addictive acoustic guitar picking. Great lyrics and vocals from Ronnie Wood and an unforgettable chorus. But now I can’t hear it without thinking of this final dance at Grover Cleveland High School. Max Fisher and Mrs. Cross. ♥️

October 10, 2022

Heaven

Series70 One of my favorite uses of music in filmmaking that I played a part in is from our movie BLACK ROAD. Michelle Lombardo played Sarah and had to come off like a minor pop star in 2029. And not just in the future, but within a crumbling economy unfolding in the independent, free state of Jeffe…

October 11, 2022

Time and Space

Jandek Another favorite use of music in a film I directed is this track from Mr. Sterling Smith himself — who has operated Corwood Industries since 1978 releasing his own music. I was intrigued by the man and his massive, expanding catalog and fell in love with quite a few of his records over the ye…

October 12, 2022

Metal Detektor

Spoon Still probably my favorite track by this great rock band, even though each new record feels stronger than the last. This is more CALVIN MARSHALL needle drop — the perfect fit for our tryout montage, because it’s upbeat and fun, even though something sad is happening. I love those guitar and vo…

October 13, 2022

Monument

The Sound Last one from our CALVIN MARSHALL soundtrack — this music placement is special to me. I love Calvin’s clutch baseball moment unfolding in beer league softball with Tori watching. From an all time favorite songwriter of mine, Adrian Borland wrote and recorded some amazing post-punk records …

October 14, 2022

Spoiled

Sebadoh I haven’t seen the film KIDS since I saw it in the theater back in the day. I remember feeling equally inspired and disturbed by it. Mostly I remember this beauty closing out the story in the credits. Those little guitar plucks are cinematic and lovely. Sad, lo-fi production and melancholy v…

October 14, 2022

Come Get to This

Marvin Gaye There’s something about his music — how it makes me feel. So many of his songs make me feel like love, joy and personal happiness are actually possible. And this track is one of my favorites. In a six episode series I wrote called FAIRWAYS — one of the characters has a mix going in his t…

October 16, 2022

Nobody Home

Pink Floyd From THE WALL, this song is the center piece of the record. Pink isolated at home alone. Grasping at meaning. Unpacking painful memory. The danger of tipping over the edge and losing sanity (like Syd Barrett did) feels very real and lurks in the subtext. This is ultimately a long form mus…

October 17, 2022

Mother

Pink Floyd This track? Wow. The greatest collaboration between Gilmour and Waters? Maybe. There are others, but this one truly flies to special heights. Melody? Oh yeah. Lyrics and ides? Profound. Shredding guitar solo? No doubt. And it also features some of their best Pink Floyd vocals — a call & r…

October 18, 2022

A Real Hero

College / Electric Youth I love when an under the radar indie pop tune gets a spotlight — especially when it’s featured in a terrific film. Somehow DRIVE feels like cinematic art and pure entertainment at the same time. Not many films can walk that tightrope. And this song? It’s a huge centerpiece f…

October 18, 2022

Tell Me Why / If I Fell / I Should Have Known Better

The Beatles When I think about music on film — Richard Lester’s A HARD DAY’S NIGHT is near the top of my list. He captured the Beatles cinematically at their initial, youthful peak as they took over the world, verité. The screaming teens, the harmonies, the exhilaration in that auditorium. What a pr…

October 19, 2022

Blackbird

The Beatles A song I almost don’t want to comment on. A song so unbelievable and timeless and meaningful that I just want to leave the lyrics and the link here. I will say that growing up, I thought it was about death and the afterlife. But it is actually — according to Paul — a civil rights song ab…

October 21, 2022

Here Comes the Sun

The Beatles George wrote some of the very best Beatle songs when it was all said and done. And this one was probably the first Beatles song I absolutely loved as a kid. I remember it made me happy. That beautiful acoustic guitar, the melody and the idea of a brand new day still makes me happy. 🌅☀️�…

October 21, 2022

I’ve Got a Feeling

The Beatles From their last released record LET IT BE — one of my favorite tracks — so soulful and raucous, infectious. I have to go with the ROOFTOP VERSION take 1 because we see the boys playing it with real excitement. Love the call and response of John and Paul and the fact Billy Preston joins t…

October 23, 2022

Don’t Let Me Down

The Beatles I have a soft spot for some of these “new” songs recorded during the LET IT BE sessions. After watching GET BACK three times (!) — this one makes me giddy out of the gate, because Billy Preston gets a writing credit. For me, this is one of Lennon’s finest moments with the Beatles. So man…

October 24, 2022

Oh! Darling

The Beatles Even though it came out in November of 2021, Peter Jackson’s GET BACK is still probably my movie event of both ‘21 and ‘22. Sometimes I just put it on in the background — it’s that good — and watch/feel/sense the Beatles working out their songs. Their wit, humanity, their harmonies and t…

October 24, 2022

Two of Us

The Beatles One of my favorite Beatles songs and it feels like Paul in every way — so simple and infectious — the melody, the earnestness. Fun to watch him walk the band through the song in GET BACK. It’s about he and Linda getting lost in the woods together, so you can feel the tenderness and that …

October 26, 2022

Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End

The Beatles Getting misty eyed with this one. Even though LET IT BE was their last record released, these ABBEY ROAD recordings are the final Beatles collaborations. And this medley is their mesmerizing finale on Side Two. They knew it was the end of their run and that they would carry that weight f…

October 27, 2022

The Honest Truth

Typhoon No easy way to transition away from the Beatles, so I didn’t need a clever reason to land on this great band. It was just that their A NEW KIND OF HOUSE EP came to mind over coffee this a.m. I often think of Portland bands. It’s just one of those great west coast cities where you find great …

October 28, 2022

Post to Wire

Richmond Fontaine Such a great alt-country single — on perhaps my favorite RF record — the first Fontaine LP I ever heard. So many great songs on this one, but this title track’s an all-timer. A fun, emotional call & response love song about sticking it out together. Love those those guitars and tha…

October 29, 2022

The Eagles Lodge

Richmond Fontaine When I consider the great northwest bands, and specifically Portland bands, RICHMOND FONTAINE is near the top of my list. Willy Vlautin has a voice you just don’t forget — and not just his singing voice, but the artistic voice you feel in his songs and books. This one’s a love song…

October 30, 2022

Watch Out

Richmond Fontaine One more from Willy and the band — 2009’s WE USED TO THINK THE FREEWAY SOUNDED LIKE A RIVER is becoming the Fontaine record I reach for most often. I have it on vinyl and it’s just one of these LP’s that’s easy to play with numerous tracks that make me happy. For this great tune, t…

October 31, 2022

Cherry

Chromatics Another amazing Portland band — and my favorite artist from the outstanding Italians Do It Better record label. They put out a lot of work together over 20 years (!) and it’s a catalog worth celebrating. All their music features gorgeous vocals from Ruth Radelet and melodic synths and eng…

November 1, 2022

Famous Monsters

Chromatics Feels right to close out this Chromatics chapter with a newer song fit for Halloween. The freaks come out at night, but also in the daylight, especially in LA — those pining for celebrity status and power — cruising the Hollywood Hills and drinking strange blood. There’s a darkness in tho…

November 2, 2022

In The City

Chromatics Had this one going through my head today — a track with a palpable dangerous vibe, complete with melancholy streaks. And it has a perfect mix of electronic and analog instrumentation. Bass, real drums, electric guitar and these incredible synths — even a swirling synth solo. It’s the titl…

November 2, 2022

Needle In the Hay

Elliott Smith Sometimes I still imagine Steven Paul Smith walking the streets of Portland looking to score and get high. 6th and Powell, unable to quit. What a songwriter though. He’s on that short list of songwriters who has made some records that will outlive us. This one captures his harrowing dr…

November 4, 2022

Clementine

Elliott Smith Another track from his self-titled LP — one of these stunners that you can’t believe exists. A million to one song that’s just perfect and emotional and exponential in meaning. A cinematic beginning as our hero wakes up on a stool with the bar closing. It’s raining outside and the bart…

November 5, 2022

Somebody That I Used to Know

Elliott Smith The beginning of this song sounds like Dear Prudence sped up…just wanted to point that out up front. The more you pour over his songs, little traces of the Beatles show up in subtle, amusing ways. Even in ways I’m sure Elliott never realized. The way he sings a word, or plays a chord —…

November 6, 2022

Intil

Menomena Another Portland band that makes sublime, original music in the studio using loops and beats — pianos, guitars, melodies and sounds. I love the way this band makes music. You really feel their commitment because all the layers and tracks sound so good together. It sounds perfected. And this…

November 7, 2022

‘Cello Song

Nick Drake The guitar picking in this great tune might be more outstanding than the cello — and both fall second to his lyrics and vocals. To think this young man died in relative obscurity at 24? What a loss. His record deal came as a college student and he released his debut FIVE LEAVES LEFT in ‘6…

November 8, 2022

Fly

Fly Nov 6 Low 😭 I was already writing my song of the day — FLY by Nick Drake — when I heard Mimi Parker of LOW passed away from ovarian cancer. For some reason this news just shook me up this morning. Unexpected emotion. She has the voice of an angel and I’ve been a fan for so many years. I remembe…

November 9, 2022

Over the Ocean

Low The first Low song I loved from their early album THE CURTAIN HITS THE CAST (‘96) — a true slow-core record. This track is like a lullaby with a dreamy guitar and brushed drum soundscape. For me, this song teed up the simple fact both Mimi and Alan would be trading off on vocals. And it showed s…

November 10, 2022

Laser Beam

Low Still thinking about Mimi Parker today and so I’ll pay tribute with a few more songs. This one is so simple and startling — from their masterful record THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE. So good. I love how her vocals and lyrics are front and center — so pure, beautiful, hypnotizing. No one wrote and s…

November 11, 2022

Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

Marvin Gaye Death has been hovering this past week — and with the election results trickling in today, I can’t help but meditate on this life we get to live in 2022. I’m not a big fan of mixing art and politics, but sometimes it works though, like in this incredible song from 1971. Such beautiful, m…

November 12, 2022

More Than Ever

Dan Fogelberg From his stunning debut HOME FREE — still mind blowing because he recorded it when he was 19 and played just about every instrument. And it’s a complicated record with mature songs. This guy was a rare talent and it still sounds amazing. And he even painted the cover — a self portrait.…

November 13, 2022

So Lonely

The Police So easy to forget Sting was once the front man of a truly great rock ‘n roll band and OUTLANDOS d’AMOUR is their masterful debut from ‘78. They had an interesting sound out of the gate — I’m sure it felt new at the time — because it isn’t really punk, and pop elements are lurking, percola…

November 14, 2022

The Sound of Sinners

The Clash Originally I imagined this amazing gospel punk track from SANDINISTA! in our final tryout montage in CALVIN MARSHALL. It felt like destiny! But the six figure price tag kept it out of the film. 😕 Our entire music budget was far less than this. But when you’re dreaming about filmmaking, so…

November 15, 2022

The Magnificent Seven

The Clash One summer afternoon in my late teens, I was killing free time in a record store and they had SANDINISTA! spinning on vinyl — blasting from a great sound system. Almost on cue, they seemed to be spinning side one, track one for me . And this song — I’ll remember that moment forever — made …

November 16, 2022

Know Your Rights

The Clash A seminal band for me. Meaning — they were a gateway to punk rock, post-punk, new wave. So I’m going down this rabbit hole with intention. I don’t want to linger too long down here, but I also want to enjoy myself. The original lineup (the only lineup) was together 7 years — so I will try …

November 17, 2022

Janie Jones

The Clash Imagine putting on the self-titled debut by THE CLASH back in ‘77, not knowing anything about this band. What a beautiful experience that would have been. It announced to the world who the Clash was. It’s all here in track one — melody, guitars and drums. Great vocals from Strummer and Jon…

November 18, 2022

Train In Vain (Stand By Me)

The Clash Excited to put two out there for Mick Jones before moving on from the Clash — he may not have had the swagger of Joe Strummer, but whenever he takes a lead vocal, you realize he could’ve done it a lot more often. This first one is the last track on their masterpiece LONDON CALLING — it’s a…

November 19, 2022

E=MC2

Big Audio Dynamite Mick Jones came right out of that broken CLASH gate in 84 with this amazing track that somehow works so well — even as it mixes samples, genres and new 80’s sounds. I love these samples and those little random stories in this track. They could be bad dreams Mick had or maybe they’…

November 20, 2022

About Today

The National I heard this EP called CHERRY TREE back in 2005 when prepping to shoot our movie CALVIN MARSHALL. I remember playing it a lot at the time and this track became an anthem of sorts, marking this particular hurdle in my life and career. This song also announced THE NATIONAL as a seriously …

November 21, 2022

Green Gloves

The National Like a little drop of ink in a glass of water… The lyric popped in my head today and I had to remember where it came from. This song. My favorite from BOXER — a record with a slew of great songs. Not sure why this one’s the track I always stick a pin in. There’s something really mysteri…

November 22, 2022

Sorrow

The National I used to play HIGH VIOLET in our car back in 2010 and I’d watch Flannery in the rear view, strapped wide-eyed in her car seat, only 4 — and I’d wonder and worry about sorrow. Specifically — if, when and how it would eventually find her. Love the tempo of those guitar strums and those b…

November 23, 2022

Oblivions

The National Another gorgeous one from the perfectly titled I AM EASY TO FIND — which has become my most played National record and my second favorite behind BOXER. I love this arrangement — how the song begins with piano and competing drums and tempos. The Brooklyn Youth Chorus adds an epic element…

November 24, 2022

So Far So Fast

The National These Lisa Hannigan vocals feel so important — they have gravitas and are performed so well over this exquisite music from the Dessner brothers. The fact the National uses so many incredible female vocalists on this record is such an important creative decision. I can’t remember exactly…

November 25, 2022

Where Is Her Head

The National Love the energy in this beautiful track — it’s like a celebration. It’s almost comical. The percussion, the strings. Those layered male/female vocals from Eve Owen and Matt Berninger. It feels like a celebration of a woman, even though it’s a complicated, frustrating portrait. There’s o…

November 26, 2022

Light Years

The National The 16th and final track on I AM EASY TO FIND just kills me. That little piano refrain, the haunting strings and that tragic baritone vocal from Berninger. I don’t know the context of these lyrics — it’s probably a break-up… But sometimes I like to adopt my own context with certain song…

November 27, 2022

Don’t Forget Your Neighborhood

Cola Boyy & The Avalanches This has been all over my playlists. It is from Cola Boyy’s 2021 debut LP PROSTHETIC BOOMBOX. Now, Cola Boyy is Matthew Urango from Oxnard, California. He’s a tremendous artist and inspiration who is disabled and an advocate for postivitity and for people on the fringe. Yo…

November 28, 2022

Because I’m Me

The Avalanches Oh man….this one’s a minor miracle that has brought me big joy over the last six years. Studio wizards the Avalanches return after sixteen years (!) to release their sophmore record WILDFLOWER. With this single, they’ve taken a sweet, little street vocal from 1959 and put it in the sp…

November 29, 2022

The Divine Chord

The Avalanches (feat. MGMT & Johnny Marr) One of the reasons I love this band so much is because it’s difficult to recognize where one sample ends and another begins. It just feels like great music in the end, and it took some alchemy to get there. Fusing Karen Carpenter with Cola Boyy and making it…

November 30, 2022

We Will Always Love You

The Avalanches (feat. Blood Orange) Night time, I’m fine Dreaming of another life. Another timeless, miracle of a song. Somehow they’ve cooked up the melancholy title track of this outstanding record to include Smoky Robinson, The Roaches and a new sublime, vocal from the uber-talented Dev Hynes. It…

December 1, 2022

Up on the Sun

Meat Puppets I so admire their commitment to music, rather than their image. They have lived the art life — it’s so obvious in hindsight because their entire catalog holds up. It’s a sign of a band working at a very high level. A band who knows who they are. And it makes me so happy to see their ori…

December 2, 2022

Nine Pins

Meat Puppets I’m not sure how well known this record is, but it’s alt-country in the best way and from their most recent DUSTY NOTES. Pre-pandemic goodness abounds on this one from 2019 and this little song is a mid-week uplifter for me. It makes me grateful for our place that we were lucky to get i…

December 3, 2022

Ambulance Blues

Neil Young Sadly, only one more Neil tune — just not enough December days left for me to mess around. I’m sticking with ON THE BEACH, my favorite Neil Young record. I reach for it most often because it makes me feel good. Great picking and guitar work and I love that fiddle — and Neil’s baritone fee…

December 4, 2022

Motion Pictures (For Carrie)

Neil Young The Nine Pins video yesterday got me thinking about Neil Young, who just released his 42nd album WORLD RECORD. I left Hollywood three different times in my life. The second time I left, Annie and I packed up our things, feeling disillusioned and broken by this dream of making movies. We h…

December 5, 2022

All I Think About Now

Pixies I was feeling HEY from DOOLITTLE, but then started thinking about Kim Deal. 💔 Specifically how sad I feel when great bands break up and go their separate ways. Luckily though, we’ve been in the Paz Lenchantin years. And I really like her. Just listen to this tune — it already sounds like cla…

December 5, 2022

With or Without You

U2 A band that needs no introduction. In the running for greatest frontman ever, Bono’s passionate singing and performing presence has been the focus, along with Edge’s jagged, beautiful guitar work. But the thing I love most about this band is how they stood the test of time and stayed together for…

December 7, 2022

Beneath the Zenith

Dramarama A band I loved and followed closely as a kid — I remember their debut LP CINEMA VERITE holding a strange power over me in ‘85. It had real mystique. It was rock n’ roll. It was post-punk. It was even pre-grunge, and ahead of its time. And their single Anything, Anything was one of the grea…

December 8, 2022

Hard Drive

Evan Dando The Jon Brion produced BABY I’M BORED showcases some of Evan’s best songs. Love this record so much and the deluxe edition is a real treat, unearthing twelve new tracks. Played this album a lot back in 2003 — we even caught his solo gig that year at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica be…

December 9, 2022

Always Forever Now

Passengers From ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACKS I — I played this one to death during film school and wrote many of my first screenplays listening to this little masterpiece. I love this little six minute meditation. The tempo — the bongos, percussion, keys, bass. How it starts small but builds, grows, evolves…

December 10, 2022

Easy On Your Own?

Alvvays I love a song with a question mark. Don’t see that very often but usually it’s a good sign. Especially a song that soars with such confidence and melody. And the questions keep coming. Does it get easier on your own? So many questions when we’re young and wide-eyed and starting out. Still so…

December 11, 2022

Planes in Front of the Sun

Strange Ranger Formerly Sioux Falls — these guys keep shapeshifting and making music that’s artful and original. The post-grunge sound has faded and replaced with eclectic, genre-bending records. I love this band and look forward to each release. This indie-rock, indie-pop fusion on REMEMBERING THE …

December 12, 2022

All Apologies

Nirvana This one transcends. A gorgeous, confounding, mysterious track with an addictive riff — bass, guitar, drums. Kurt’s great vocal. Quiet, loud, quiet. In the sun, in the sun. I feel as one. We tend to think we’re special when we’re young. Invincible even — with our whole lives in front of us. …

December 13, 2022

I Am The Greatest

A House One of these great Irish bands I love so much and sadly forget about sometimes. A distant cousin to the Go Betweens — just a great sounding band — a fusion of post-punk and indie pop/rock. They possessed an unwavering conviction and commitment to making the records they wanted to make. I adm…

December 14, 2022

Let’s Make Some Plans

Close Lobsters Another Scottish band I fell for after hearing I Kiss the Flower in Bloom — either on 120 Minutes or Live 105’s Modern Music Hour. I went out and bought FOX HEADS STALK THIS LAND on CD in San Francisco and have been a fan ever since. This early single jumped out at me today — a favori…

December 15, 2022

Wop-A-Din-Din

Red House Painters A love song to a house cat. Love this acoustic guitar and serenade. Thoughts of our pets moves me today. That unconditional love, the tenderness — you can feel it in Kozelek’s vocal and in this recording. And that beautiful little duet refrain at 2:18 in Spanish means: she is very…

December 16, 2022

Your Dog

Advance Base Yesterday’s Red House Painters track got me thinking about pets. Here’s another one from the Advance Base record ANIMAL COMPANIONSHIP. It has a beautiful premise — our hero happens upon his ex’s dog tied up in front of the coffee shop they used to frequent. I swear that there were some …

December 17, 2022

Window Paine

The Smashing Pumpkins This debut hit me at just the right time. I was out of the house and in college. Grunge was cathartic, even though I never completely bought in. Some songs have transcended. GISH is still a great listen — what an inspired debut that wasn’t so much a product of grunge but more o…

December 18, 2022

Escape

Black Swan Lane New music Friday — and I wanted to sneak the new record BLIND in from BLACK SWAN LANE — a band who I’ve played a lot the past few years. They have that global, timeless post punk sound. Love those first bass notes and Jack’s echoing guitars. ❤️ Do you need to go And run to the sun? E…

December 19, 2022

Seaweed

Mount Eerie A CROW LOOKED AT ME is an emotional song-cycle about profound grief and loss — poetically observed and felt by Phil Elverum after losing the love of his life to cancer. This song guts me. Just so beautiful — the melody, subtlety. The details. I love the way Phil sings and plays it. There…

December 20, 2022

1972

Broken Social Scene Have always loved Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl and Lover’s Spit — but today I’m drawn to something newer. This tune made so many of my pandemic playlists, that I had to get it in here. Love Ariel Engle’s vocal and the energy in this beauty. We’re dying. What a thing to g…

December 21, 2022

I Follow Rivers

Lykke Li You can see why David Lynch is a fan — her music and vibe has this dreamy, intoxicating quality that just draws you in. We live inside a dream. This one has a groove, but never tries too hard. It’s organic, original, mysterious — never obvious. It breaks rules but still manages to be a catc…

December 22, 2022

Snow Comes Down

Lori Carson From EVERYTHING I TOUCH RUNS WILD — this confessional love song sets a wintery, romantic mood, and it’s hard not to think of Keith Gordon’s mesmerizing film. Those chords and that melody…those subtle vocals. I think you feel the way I feel Though you don’t want to say I think you feel th…

December 23, 2022

Frontwards

Pavement This just might be favorite EP of all time. I’m guessing it’s my most played. It’s perfect. Four album worthy tracks that flow and fit together like a little puzzle or a four course meal. The songs feel carefree, loose and wild. I love the way these guitars sound and how Malkmus sings these…

December 24, 2022

About to Explode

Luke Jenner Here’s another pandemic record that was so easy to play. I love the little doc style spoken word at the intro/outro of this track. Another final track on a record that makes the rounds on my playlists. Formerly of the Rapture, this is one of my favorite songs from Luke. Love the directne…

December 25, 2022

Only At Christmas Time

Sufjan Stevens A bit like Stephin Merritt, Sufjan can write a whole lot of songs in short order, comparatively. And he’s also written some of the best Christmas songs in the past twenty years. This one has a familiar Sufjan guitar and tempo. The lyrics are honest, iconic, but also ironic. The peace …

December 25, 2022

Christmas Time Is Here

Vince Guaraldi Trio This incredible composition always reminds me of Christmas Eve — of all those memories of anticipating Christmas coming. The melacholy in this song still kills me. The longing and joy are wrapped up in equal measure which is powerful. That tinkering piano and children’s voices. A…

December 26, 2022

Just Like Christmas

Low From a favorite EP — it’s one I play every year and it’s especially poignant this Christmas after Mimi Parker passed away too young, too soon. Listening to it now, remembering her — I love these lyrics. Traveling through Stockholm in the snow doesn’t feel like Christmas. Not until they get to Os…

December 27, 2022

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

David Bazan One last Christmas song for December 26th. I like to play Christmas music on the 26th, because it’s the last day I feel okay about it. Along with our ornaments and decorations, the songs will be packed away now until next year. The gall for Bazan to write a new verse to this carol penned…

December 28, 2022

Spirit

The Go-Betweens I’ve been reading Robert Forster’s book GRANT AND I: INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE GO-BETWEENS. It’s the kind of memoir I find myself taking slowly, cherishing each detail. I don’t want it to end. In 2000, the Go-Betweens got back together after a twelve year hiatus. 1988’s 16 LOVERS LANE w…

December 29, 2022

Mr. Blue Sky

Electric Light Orchestra Vissionary Jeff Lynne is still with us — going strong, still touring at 74 in 2023! The man seemed to have a crystal ball in the early seventies, embracing electronic music in a new way — mixing classical music with Beatlesque pop/rock and technology. This one’s not only the…

December 30, 2022

Soon It Will Be Fire

Richard Youngs Death has been lurking more it seems the past few years. It feels like every other day someone falls that I feel emotionally connected to. Perhaps this is par for the course when you keep growing older, and lucky enough to keep on living. We’ve buried a few of our beloved pets this pa…

December 31, 2022

More Than This

Roxy Music AVALON is an album I never tire of. It’s been called one of the most romantic records ever made, and I also find it equally melancholy. I’m not sure how many records out there can cast this kind of spell. Choosing this track was tricky at first — because I love every song. But something a…

January 1, 2023

The World Spins

Julee Cruise Today is New Year’s Eve — the day Annie and I were married. ❤️ And it also marks the close of this 365 song of the day exercise. I will miss it. This is one of the most beautiful songs in Twin Peaks. And this morning, it reminds me once again that love is here to stay, even as our world…