#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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