The Psychedelic Furs - "India"

The Psychedelic Furs - "India": "I just saw the Psychedelic Furs last night and it's nice to see a band still retaining its fire, some 33 years on. Singer Richard Butler is still a giddy showman and tunes like this one retain their punch, easily as aggressive sounding - if not more - than the original when they used it to close their set. When bassist Tim Butler aimed his bass like a machine gun during the closing drumbeat fire, it was the right visual to end the show with.
(On record, this track often causes speaker destruction - if you turn up the volume enough to hear the intro section, you'll get your speakers blown out when the song really kicks in. Kind of a messed up thing to do on the first track of your first album, but it speaks volumes for the Furs.)"

Bettie Serveert - "Semaphore"

Bettie Serveert - "Semaphore": "Classic Betty S, but just as sharp as ever. Rhapsody just posted a feature on Bettie Serveert giving a tour of Amsterdam, which shows a different side of the town, check it out: http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/06/rock-star-guide-to-the-galaxy-bettie-serveert-amsterdam-1.html."

Crowded House - "Saturday Sun"

Crowded House - "Saturday Sun": "A new tune, but classic wistful pop from Crowded House, with light psychedelic touches."

Fischerspooner - "Cloud"

Fischerspooner - "Cloud": "Because I'm so sick of hearing about The Cloud in the tech world...Maybe we will soon have synergy with the cloud..."

Jennifer Trynin - "If I Had Anything To Say"

Jennifer Trynin - "If I Had Anything To Say": "A little sweet, a little salty, this is an economic mid-90s rocker from a great album that never quite connected with an audience, largely due to misguided promotion."

Chavez - "Nailed To The Blank Spot"

Chavez - "Nailed To The Blank Spot": "I have not been able to get this song out of my head lately! So much of this song is probably challenging to most - from the abrasive verse vocals to the thundering bass - but then it surges into this anthemic (if brief) chorus moment and that's the part I can't get out of my head. Another classic, aggressive rock moment from Chavez."

Spoon - "Small Stakes"

Spoon - "Small Stakes": "Once one of my least favorite Spoon songs, hearing it live (where they kick out the ending into a full-band rockfest) has really brought me around to it. Today I'm using it as a kickstart to get me amped up for all I need to do."

Grandaddy - "Hewlett's Daughter"

Grandaddy - "Hewlett's Daughter": "A song that's essentially about how you should be someone's son-in-law (not to mention stolen guns) should be creepy, but somehow Grandaddy make it sweet and sad instead. In Grandaddy's off-kilter world, it all makes sense. I remember seeing them live a ton on this record and it was magic every time - magic that I miss."

Yo La Tengo - "A Sudden Organ"

Yo La Tengo - "A Sudden Organ": "One of my favorite songs of all time. The beat is almost tribal in its pounding, punctured at dramatic moments by cymbal hits that feel like crashing waves. Like an ocean storm building, the organ part starts out minimal, but becomes increasingly frantic, the hard wind pushing the waves. Frontman Ira Kaplan's vocals are the calm in the middle of that storm, restrained but yearning. Pure YLT magic."

The Damnwells - "H.C.E."

The Damnwells - "H.C.E.": "Nashville, for lots of different reasons, this one's going out to you."

Mike Patton - "Deep Down"

Mike Patton - "Deep Down": "'Deep Down' is the lead song from Ennio Morricone's kitchy, classy soundtrack to the decadently Eurocool 60s action flick Danger: Diabolik (highly recommended, even if it's more style than substance). Almost impossible to find except as an import - with the rest of the D:D soundtrack allegedly lost to the ages - the last person I thought would ever revive the tune would be Faith No More's Mike Patton...which is exactly who did it. It's largely faithful to the original, which is not only somewhat impressive, given Morricone's arrangements, but it's also perfectly fine since most folks will never hear it any other way."

Ken Andrews - "Secret Things (Live)"

Ken Andrews - "Secret Things (Live)": "Ken Andrews' live record is more of a best-of from his various bands (Failure, On, Year of the Rabbit - all worth checking out!) than anthing else, but it's nice to hear his (sometimes) overly-pristine studio work dirtied up live like this, particularly this track."

Dio - "Holy Diver"

Dio - "Holy Diver": "Sadness at the thought of a world without Dio in it! Dio, the horns are at half-mast for you."

Torche - "Sundown"

Torche - "Sundown": "Heavy with a touch of sludge, but melodic with a surging chorus, it's hard rock that indie kids can love. (Somewhere in Rhapsody, I think I saw the term "stoner pop" get used and that might work too.) Either way, I wish this song was twice as long as it is, it's that awesome."

Talking Heads - "Found A Job"

Talking Heads - "Found A Job": "I'm sure David Byrne was just being silly, but it's pretty easy to imagine that this song's absurdist tilt presaged reality TV, in a way. Possible intent aside, it's a sprightly little jam that already shows growth from the first Talking Heads record to this, their second (More Songs About Buildings and Food)."

Jeff The Brotherhood - "Heavy Damage"

Jeff The Brotherhood - "Heavy Damage": "It seems like it's been a long time since I did a "it's Friday, rock it out!" post - so, here you go. Do it."

Local Natives - "Warning Sign"

Local Natives - "Warning Sign": "Normally, I have no interest in Talking Heads covers. They're one of my favorite bands and I don't feel the need to hear re-interpretations, particularly since part of the Heads' appeal is in their performance, along with the song itself. But here, Local Natives capture some of my favorite musical elements of the original song, while introducing some very different elements that make the song distinctively theirs, like the vocal harmonies. Thanks to Andy B. for pointing me at this."

764-HERO - "Sunburnt"

764-HERO - "Sunburnt": "I first discovered 764-HERO opening up for the Spinanes in L.A. in the mid-90s. They were the reverse versions of each other - both only guitar/drums, but female/male in the Spinanes and male/female in 764-HERO - but both equally dynamic for their limited instrumentation. While my favorite 764-HERO songs come later in their catalog, when they shifted to include a bassist, this is a great early song for them - jaded and emotional, quiet and loud, rocking all the while.
Also, a bit of trivia - "764-HERO" is the number to call in carpool lane violations in Washington, where the band was from.
Bonus - the rest of the 764-HERO catalog is finally hitting Rhapsody shortly, so there will be more choice songs from them in the near future."

Portastatic - "The Great Escape"

Portastatic - "The Great Escape": "I can't believe it's been so long since I've listened to this album. Once one of my faves, it somehow fell off my playlist, but it popped back into my head tonight and it's like an old friend I've missed. Simple and pure, it's the Mac I fell in love with."

Veruca Salt - "Volcano Girls"

Veruca Salt - "Volcano Girls": "I admit that even I am guilty, like most, of thinking only about "Seether" when I think about Veruca Salt...which is so wrong because this song ROCKS. Please expand your Veruca Salt world by listening to this song now."