#s 80-71

#80: "I'll Be By Your Side"

artist: Sally Shapiro

album: Disco Romance (2006)

location: Göteborg, Sweden

interest: no one really knows who "Sally Shapiro" is. Using a pseudonym, she has never performed live, given real-life interviews or revealed her real name.

(1) the darkness will end / the dawn will shine

(2) all those synths!! come on 80s.

(3) that insistent 4-on-the-floor kick drum gets me every time in this genre.

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#79: "Casa Nova"

artist: Mia Doi Todd

album: Manzanita (2005)

location: Los Angeles, CA

interest: she spent some time studying Ankoku Butoh (an avant-garde dance) in Japan

(1) hip hip hurray, oh hallelujah

(2) her music is typically voice and acoustic, highlighting her muted back-of-the-throat kind of singing. so this song is a fun tip-toe into another musical genre.

(3) great horns throughout this track!!

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#78: "I Wanna Be Like Johnny C"

artist: Loveninjas

album: The Secret of the Loveninjas (2006)

location: Stockholm, Sweden

interest: band began playing live wearing ninja masks and having one member in a giant heart costume. (also has a song called "She Broke His Penis in Two" which is interesting and disturbing...)

(1) a voice that shook my body / you sing and girls go naughty

(2) the vocal delivery from 2:36 through 2:48 is fabulous! the way the vocal hangs over as the band drops out, helping to punctuate the yearning spirit

(3) for a lyric that so desperately wants to be like someone else, it's delivered very confidently. the band isn't timidly performing this track.

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#77: "Dead Meat"

artist: Sean Lennon

album: Friendly Fire (2006)

location: New York City, NY

interest: son of John and Yoko, he co-wrote a song ("All I Ever Wanted") with Lenny Kravitz at age 16.

(1) you better run out of here / i'll close my eyes and count to ten / and then I'll come find you

(2) it's a threatening song, but how can someone be frightened by that singing voice?!

(3) two chords kill me every time: during the second verse at 1:40 and 1:44. fabulous!!

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#76: "Stay Where You Are"

artist: Ambulance LTD

album: LP (2004)

location: Spanish Harlem, New York

interest: band has since split, but lead singer (Marcus Congleton) has kept the name and is writing new material in LA with The Velvet Underground's John Cale.

(1) i might not be the one, that's true / but i'm trying, don't you know

(2) the long shoe-gazing instrumental really helps this track! i can imagine the tension and excitement in a room growing as that is played live

(3) great guitar parts throughout, especially during the choruses.

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#75: "Heart Attack"

artist: Longwave

album: There's A Fire (2005)

location: New York

interest: after a (self-imposed?) three-year hiatus, the band's new album (Secrets Are Sinister) will be released on November 11, 2008.

(1) it all comes back to this

(2) the tremolo rhodes, with it's R&B vibe, that opens the song draws me in immediately.

(3) the long dynamic build keeps this song really interesting. how many guitar tracks are here anyway?!

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#74: "God Knows (You Gotta Give To Get)"

artist: El Perro Del Mar

album: El Perro Del Mar (2006)

location: Gothenburg, Sweden

interest: meaning "seadog" in Spanish, behind this alter-ego is the sole member of the band, Sarah Assbring. (which I would hope isn't her real name either... must have been a tough childhood.)

(1) God knows / I've been asking a lot without giving back

(2) what a throwback sounding song! it's got that Nancy Sinatra vibe with the strings and muted drums. very cool

(3) the vocal performances are really good--maybe the background vocals are best in fact.

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#73: "Aaron & Maria"

artist: The American Analog Set

album: Know By Heart (2001)

location: Austin, Texas

interest: band recorded second album "under threat of eviction" because of complaining neighbors as they recorded in a living room.

(1) and loving you is just enough

(2) I have always loved this low-fi band. the instruments chosen really capture the indie spirit - has an everyman kind of vibe, leading one to believe you can make music like this too!

(3) the whispered vocals are really engaging! the way they are mixed in the track causes me to really pay attention to the lyric and melody

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#72: "Half Light"

artist: Athlete

album: Tourist (2005)

location: Deptford, London, England

interest: TV and movies like this band! A Good Year, The Last Kiss, "One Tree Hill", "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Diagnosis X" have all featured an Athlete tune

(1) and all that I've seen / means nothing to me / without you

(2) yes there are the guitars and accents and epic choruses, but what continues to differentiate this band from contemporary Britpop has to be the great use of synths. This track highlights their great use of that texture.

(3) the bridge (2:28 ) is so bizarre and makes me smile every time the song reaches that point. Really? A flute?!

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#71: "Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me"

artist: The Pipettes

album: We Are The Pipettes (2004)

location: Brighton, England

interest: trio is backed by an all-male band, The Cassette, who never appear in interviews or photoshoots. grrrrl power!!

(1) you better hear me clear (boy) / I want you out of here (boy)

(2) so much attitude here! it's got that old do-wop vibe, but with the empowered female mindset.

(3) listen to the echo vocal during the pre-choruses (:37 and 1:27) – I picture someone peeking around her girlfriend's shoulder, throwing in an extra verbal jab for good measure.

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#s 90-81

#90: "It's All In My Mind"

artist: Teenage Fanclub

album: Man-Made (2005)

location: Bellshill, Scotland

interest: band is composed of 3 songwriters who sing lead vocals on their own songs

(1) i looked into the clouds for war solutions

(2) i love the muted opening drum sound

(3) i like how the chord progressions of the verses, though repetitive, keep the listener a little off balance

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#89: "Phantom Limb"

artist: The Shins

album: Wincing the Night Away (2007)

location: formed in Albuquerque, NM and now located in Portland, OR

interest: name of the band based on a fictional family from the Broadway musical The Music Man

(1) and they could float above the grass / in circles if they tried / a latent power i know they hide

(2) such a pleasing sounding song – clean electrics and smooth singing – but that distorted bass under it all adds just the needed bit of edge

(3) it's amazing how a couple little vocal melodies get stuck in one's head for hours. the nonsense syllables do that along with the little falsetto turn in the choruses (:58, 1:59 and 2:15)

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#88: "Is A Woman"

artist: Lambchop

album: Is A Woman (2002)

location: Nashville, TN

interest: lead singer, Kurt Wagner, laid wood floors for 14 years before turning to full-time music

(1) more than a Sony / to make the words throw up / or show me the way

(2) the simplicity of the song's instrumentation draws me in – and there are a lot room noises throughout as well

(3) there is something about listening to a baritone sing. pop music wouldn't let this happen. ¡viva la indie!

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#87: "The Go In The Go-For-It"

artist: Grandaddy

album: Sumday (2003)

location: Modesto, CA

interest: lead singer, Jason Lytle, spent time working in a sewage treatment facility

(1) the broken but pretty mess

(2) so many instrumental sounds throughout – and as usual, I can't get enough of the 80's synth lines.

(3) i love how the background vocals during the choruses (:36 and 1:29) are more like a keyboard or chorusing effect than actual duet singing

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#86: "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House"

artist: LCD Soundsystem

album: LCD Soundsystem (2005)

location: New York City, New York

interest: musical project for record producer James Murphy that includes various musicians when playing live

(1) I bought fifteen cases for my house, my house / all the furniture is in the garage

(2) Murphy has done a great job of capturing the spirit of a big house party – this might be how an excited person's insides sound before the big party starts.

(3) the bass sounds Murphy gets are fantastic. the slightly distorted bass throughout is becoming a signature sound for him

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#85: "Lights"

artist: Editors

album: The Back Room (2005)

location: Birmingham, England

interest: band has gone through three name changes before deciding on Editors: Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield.

(1) if fortune favours the brave / I am as poor as they come

(2) the disco hi-hat and delayed Edge-like electric help this song feel broad and always pushing forward

(3) the song is the perfect length – it's funny how the song is only 2:31 but the singer evidently has "a million things to say."

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#84: "It Ended On An Oily Stage"

artist: British Sea Power

album: Open Season (2005)

location: Brighton, England

interest: the band generally closes their live shows with a semi-improvised song (called "Rock in A") which can often last over 20 minutes

(1) I wrote elegiac stanzas for you / I hope and pray that they come true (really? elegiac?!?!)

(2) this song could have easily been on the soundtrack for The Breakfast Club!

(3) i like how the electric guitar during the choruses (:51 and 1:57) uniquely mimics the sung melody line

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#83: "Recurring Motifs in Historical Flirtings"

artist: Say Hi To Your Mom

album: Ferocious Mopes (2005)

location: Seattle, Washington

interest: essentially a one man band (Eric Elbogen) who writes and records the songs in his bedroom

(1) but here's another chance: / I'll fight him in a dance off and I'll win / to a slow, slow BPM / or you choose the tune / my repertoire of moves it really huge / just put your selection in.

(2) and to me you say "let's just be friends" / the four worst words in our language

(3) what a unique break-up song!! one more lyric: and your cool bangs have gone off with him

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#82: "We'll Never Sleep (God Knows We'll Try)"

artist: Rilo Kiley

album: Take Offs and Landings (2001)

location: Los Angeles, CA

interest: band is fronted by two child actors: Jenny Lewis appeared on Troop Beverly Hills and Blake Sennett on Boy Meets World

(1) sailing away just isn't right / just because you're angry

(2) there's a sadness and a little desperation in this song that kind of sucks me in. When this album came out, I listened to this song hundreds of times.

(3) Jenny Lewis is one of my favorite female singers of all time. Oh that whispy and gentle voice...

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#81: "We Can Have It"

artist: The Dears

album: No Cities Left (2004)

location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

interest: basically a venue for lead singer Murray Lightburn's interesting songs, the band is constantly changing and growing. it's made up of 4 males and 3 females these days.

(1) somewhere is the one that never will burn out/ is out there looking for a heart / looking for a home / looking for a hand to stroke its head/ you're not alone

(2) like most music collectives, the band isn't afraid to throw in a lot of varied instruments and sounds, keeping the sound unexpected and fresh

(3) the musical change at 1:59 bumps the earnest nature of the song up a couple notches and then climaxes with Murray's repeating "you're not alone" (3:07)

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#s 100-91

#100: "Baby In Two"

artist: Pernice Brothers

album: Yours, Mine & Ours (2003)

location: Dorchester, Massachusetts

interest: band's song "Chicken Wire" was named by AOL Music the "#1 Most Exquisitely Sad Song in the Whole World"

(1) I'd be the king if I could say to you / "Cut the baby in two"

(2) I really like Joe Pernice's voice. it's a bit whispered and makes me want to lean in closer to the speakers so I don't miss anything he's singing

(3) the snare sound is great on this track.

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#99: "Stop"

artist: Ghosts

album: The World Is Outside (2007)

location: London, England

interest: band was previously known as "Polanski". Good name change...

(1) a pretty sight I may not be / not always right but I mean well

(2) I am a sucker for the 80s synth stuff. This Brit band incorporates those sounds really well

(3) the subject matter is something we've all thought and felt – it can be really frustrating but the music kind of makes you feel good. nice juxtaposition.

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#98: "I Think I Love You"

artist: The Guggenheim Grotto

album: ...Waltzing Alone (2006)

location: Dublin, Ireland

interest: band "born" out of Dublin song-writing circuit, which also produced Damien Rice

(1) opening lyrics are a big deal to me: I think I love you / but to say so would bore you / 'cuz we only just met and I'd look dumb.

(2) such good textures (as is typical in alt-country). I especially love the steel guitar that sneaks in the second verse.

(3) I love lyrics that are sung the way someone might actually speak them. The delivery of "I wanna say it / hell I wanna scream" does that very thing. It's like the singer interrupts himself. So good!

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#97: "Forgiveness"

artist: Engineers

album: Engineers (2005)

location: London, England

interest: the band finished recording their second album in mid-07, split with their label and have yet to release the album. Fans are clamoring.

(1) commit yourself to reason failing / extreme comforts ever pleasing

(2) the yearning vibe (along with a little Moody Blues-like psychedelia) really fits the main subject

(3) starting at 2:21, I love the repeating lyric and musical crescendo to the end

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#96: "My Valentine"

artist: Rhett Miller

album: The Believer (2006)

location: Dallas, Texas

interest: his given name is Stewart Ransom Miller

(1) sex in war-time is sweeter than peace / yeah, it's the one sweet thing about war

(2) all the m's in the chorus! "mind, my, my" is really fun to sing

(3) so many nice electric riffs here – especially all the times it climbs up the fret board, between verses and into the choruses

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#95: "All Green"

artist: Clem Snide

album: Soft Spot (2003)

location: Brooklyn, NY

interest: "Clem Snide" is a fictional character in several novels by William S. Burroughs

(1) so feed me a kiss / chapped lips and all

(2) the little interludes are so unique. the guitar lines and bells are a fun combo

(3) this song mentions the Reverend! Al Green!! Very cool lyrical twist to use "Al Green" and then "all green".

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#94: "The Laughter"

artist: The Mary Onettes

album: The Mary Onettes (2007)

location: Jönköping, Sweden

interest: the band's songs "Explosions" and "Lost" have been featured on Grey's Anatomy

(1) I'll hold us together / for you

(2) some bands are obviously influenced by the 80s. This band still believes it IS the 80s. This band sounds more like Echo & the Bunnymen than Echo does these days! (see the Glastonbury performance for proof)

(3) listen to that snare drum! and how many keyboards are there starting at 4:17?!

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#93: "Don't Tell Your Eyes"

artist: Joseph Arthur

album: Nuclear Daydream (2006)

location: Akron, Ohio

interest: discovered in the mid-90s by Peter Gabriel

(1) your mind is mine

(2) i really like the acoustic guitar and simple drum loop combo

(3) there are a lot of unique uses of vocals all over this song. especially the low voice during the choruses

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#92: "Rebellion (Lies)"

artist: Arcade Fire

album: Funeral (2004)

location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

interest: band's song "Wake Up" was played immediately before U2 took the stage on their Vertigo tour

(1) sleeping is giving in / so lift those heavy eyelids

(2) so much energy! feels like at any moment it just might blow up and come off the rails. i really appreciate the restraint and wise use of dynamics

(3) the chord changes during "every time you close your eyes" at 1:50 and 3:34 give me chills. EVERY TIME!!

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#91: "Misfit"

artist: Elefant

album: Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid (2003)

location: New York City, New York

interest: guitarist is named Mod. very cool!

(1) wrote a poem on the back of your shoulder

(2) such an economical use of the bass. a consistent trait of this band

(3) i like the tone of the two main electrics at each chorus (:40 for example)

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the first words

well, not ever written, obviously, but the first in quite a long time from me...

it's been almost 2 1/2 yrs since I've posted something. now, I am "unveiling" the list.

there has been a decent reception over the past few months as I mentioned to people this idea. I hope it introduces some to new music and rouses in others the desire to verbally assault me. either way, the next ten weeks will feature, in descending order, my 115 favorite songs from 2000-2007.

the format is/will be simple: a little biographic info, including one point of interest, and three reasons why I chose the song. following the third reason, there's a link to download (for free) that particular mp3. my hope is that you will consider purchasing music from these artists, but you are obviously free to do whatever.

each Friday I will post ten more songs, inching closer to my favorite song of this decade's first seven years.

read. listen. comment. spread the word.
keep coming back.

and now....

the first 15

#115: "Attagirl"

artist: Bettie Serveert

album: Attagirl (2005)

location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

interest: Lead singer is NOT named Bettie Serveert. Translated: "Bettie Serves"

(1) not profound lyrics, but i like this turn of phrase: you look like hell / you're looking for something.

(2) the main surf guitar is very cool

(3) the final chorus (at 3:08) is a nice change of pace

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#114: "Home"

artist: Breathe Owl Breathe

album: Climb In (2005)

location: various locales in Michigan (Ann Arbor and Lansing)

interest: Micah Middaugh (guitar and singer) runs marathons. Trevor Hobbes (various percussion) is a geologist.

(1) and if I wear the same clothes / I wore today tomorrow / would I fool you to think / you were standing still

(2) such a clean and natural and organic recording – and yet notice how dynamic the song becomes, beginning at 2:06

(3) the way the vocals function like instruments in multiple spots is very cool, even the repetition of the word "home" accomplishes that kind of thing

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#113: "Hummingbird"

artist: Wilco

album: A Ghost Is Born (2004)

location: Chicago, IL

interest: the band is giving away a free mp3 to anyone who "pledges" to vote in the 2008 election. (link)

(1) Incredible opening lyric: His goal in life was to be an echo. I'm not even sure what it means, but I love it!

(2) that bouncing piano...does it for me virtually every time

(3) i love the singing at the second chorus (1:57), starting off more whispered and ending up more dynamic

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#112: "La Breeze"

artist: Simian

album: We Are Your Friends (2002)

location: Bristol/Manchester/London, England

interest: have since disbanded and formed an electro-pop band called Simian Mobile Disco.

(1) the absolute lack of any decent lyrics is made up for by the killer drum programming that begins the song and then transitions into live drumming

(2) the background singing is fantastic! in fact, i really like all the singing, especially the verses

(3) 1:10 to 1:45 is such a needed sonic break!

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#111: "N.M.A."

artist: Eef Barzelay

album: Bitter Honey (2006)

location: Brooklyn, NY

interest: lead singer of alt-country/indie band Clem Snide was born in Tel Aviv, Israel.

(1) i love the opening lyric, but especially these from the second verse: what if we dipped you in gold / well at least then the outside would shine

(2) "nothing means anything" sings really well

(3) the very subtle background singing at the "chorus" is really beautiful

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#110: "Bend and Break"

artist: Keane

album: Hopes and Fears (2004)

location: Battle, England

interest: In 1997, Tim Rice-Oxley (piano/songwriter) was invited by Chris Martin to join his newly formed band Coldplay, but Rice-Oxley declined.

(1) seems like such a loving sentiment, but it's really quite depressing: "i'll see you in the morning if i don't die."

(2) i really like the drumming on this track. the verses are especially helpful

(3) the soft synth that sort of over-takes the chorus is a refreshing break from the banging away of the electric piano

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#109: "The World Is Yours"

artist: Ian Brown

album: The World Is Yours (2007)

location: Manchester, England

interest: Former lead singer of The Stone Roses, he had a cameo in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

(1) well you might have it all but you'll still want more / there's a law for the rich and another for the poor

(2) great musical combination: mediocre British singing and, basically, hip-hop backing track. killer strings too!

(3) the pacing of each pre-chorus is very catchy!

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#108: "Pounding"

artist: Doves

album: The Last Broadcast (2002)

location: Wilmslow, England

interest: trio is made up of a left-handed bass-playing lead singer and two brothers

(1) simple line, but fits the vibe of the song so well: so why / is it so hard to get by?

(2) I love the incessant pounding (!!) of the band. I can imagine an arena fist-pumping to this in concert

(3) there are a lot of nice guitar tones throughout – especially the melodic playing starting at 3:58

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#107: "Crane Wife 3"

artist: The Decemberists

album: The Crane Wife (2006)

location: Portland, Oregon

interest: Colin Meloy (lead singer) majored in creative writing and has the same birthday as his wife (October 5, 1974)

(1) the letter u is under used, especially in singing: all under the boughs unbowed

(2) that unique sound at the beginning of the song:

bouzouki

(3) the drum and bass playing (starting at :48) is really unexpected, but helps effectively push this song forward

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#106: "Do You Realize??"

artist: The Flaming Lips

album: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002)

location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

interest: In 2002, Q Magazine named The Flaming Lips one of "50 Band to See Before You Die"

(1) you realize the sun doesn't go down / it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning 'round

(2) the lyrical shift at 1:11 kind of ruins the musical feel good party doesn't it??

(3) i love all the acoustic tracks recorded here.

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#105: "Alala"

artist: Cansei de Ser Sexy (CSS)

album: Cansei de Ser Sexy (2005)

location: São Paulo, Brazil

interest: band name translated to English: "got tired of being sexy"

(1) common plight expressed so well in song lyric: I'm so worried / I bought that posh clothing / but it still looks ugly.

(2) i love the keyboard bass part! bring back the 80s

(3) the snare dropping out at :56 and moving to fills is very cool

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#104: "Strange and Beautiful (I'll Put a Spell On You)"

artist: Aqualung

album: Aqualung (2002)

location: London, England

interest: song was featured in a television add for new Volkswagen Beetle in summer of 2002

(1) sometimes the last thing you want comes in first / sometimes the first thing you want never comes / but I know that waiting is all you can do / sometimes

(2) maybe the best example of romance and stalking being combined in music - this song is beautifully creepy!!

(3) the bass is very simple and spacious, almost like it's sneaking around (sort of like the narrator)

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#103: "Godhopping"

artist: Dogs Die In Hot Cars

album: Please Describe Yourself (2002)

location: Glasgow, Scotland

interest: band has invited fans to remix demos of newly recorded songs for their upcoming album

(1) high-heeled they are always looking down

(2) that bouncy piano again. really unique "riff"

(3) the pre-chorus chords (:33) go all over the place and then you land at the chorus (:41) and have some needed musical space, letting the quick vocals take over

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#102: "Your Nervous Heart"

artist: Rhett Miller

album: The Instigator (2002)

location: Dallas, Texas

interest: lead singer of band Old 97's is married to model Erica Iahn

(1) let me scoop you up and love you as you are

(2) the song has such a caring sentiment, combined with quirky lyrical moments – my favorite kind of song-writing!!

(3) i adore the sound of the drums on this track

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#101: "Underdog (Save Me)"

artist: Turin Brakes

album: The Optimist LP (2001)

location: Balham, London, England

interest: two man song-writing team with unique first names: Olly and Gale (aka Magpie)

(1) a thirty-seven thousand foot wonderlust

(2) the opening groove is really pleasing and the way the bass enters is very musical

(3) don't hear a lot of good acoustic guitar solos anymore, but this one has a really nice one (starting at 2:36)

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