Songs You Should Listen To Part Two

So far I'm ahead of schedule. I own over 1,000 CD's and have 25,000 songs on my ZUNE and about 40,000 mp3's total. I could very easily publish musical suggestions everyday and with tastes very diverse-- everything from country to rock to blues to hip hop to dance to classical-- you'd never be bored. There'd be something for everyone. I hope you enjoy this second volume and find at least one new song to enjoy!

Now, for the next set of ten songs:

Circa Survive is my favorite band (supplanting the long mainstay of Sonic Youth) and, as such, I am biased towards them. Their best album is this one, On Letting Go (2007, Equal Vision), though you would be well served to own each and everyone. This song is my favorite on this record and talks about both the difficulty in writing a song, and the silliness and triviality of fame. The video is amazing, drummer Steve Clifford has created a terrifically intricate drum track, vocalist Anthony Green (who shares an anchor tattoo with me, just saying) croons beautifully at the top of his range, the guitars of Frangicetto and Ektrom work in perfect concert with bassist Nick Beard's simple yet effective riff. In short, this song nears perfection. Look up the lyrics if you can, they're amazing. Here's a sample:

"Don't call me by my full name, all this is temporary it feels much better to know that you won't feel a thing"

This song has such a nice groove and 50 Cent's delightful mumble melds nicely with the rapid fire raps of Eminem. When these two forces of the hip hop world collide, there's nothing but good things in store. The groove forces you to dance and the hook gets stuck in your head. If you're a hip hop fan, you know this song, if you're not a hip hop fan, you're missing out. Too bad Curtis Jackson has largely retired his 50 Cent moniker to focus on acting. We could use more tracks like this.

"I'm innocent in my head like a baby born dead. Destination heaven"

Flipping through channels one day about five or six years ago, I came across Starsailor. Based on out of Wigan, England, Starsailor plays British influenced (duh) indie rock in the vein of Stereophonics. (In fact, when they come on my Zune, if I'm not paying close attention, I usually think they are Stereophonics.) This song, Shark Food is very interesting to me and almost seems to be two different songs, with the first half being slow and methodical and the second half being uptempo and melodic. The lyrics are a repeating pattern which also change from the first half to the second, like a pair of mantras just thrown together under the guise meaning one thing. I have no idea what this song is about but the prospect of becoming shark food is certainly scary. This band is currently on hiatus, but I hope they return soon, as they wrote some pretty good tunes!

"We're stepping through the door/We're shooting from the heart/And if we get it wrong/They'll feed us to the sharks."

Jimmy Eat World has written so many good songs. There's no reason to believe that I won't eventually I'll post every song they've ever written as suggestions, but, today, when Bleed American off of the follow up to their magnum opus, Clarity, I knew I had to post this one with it's high intensity punchy chorus and interesing lyrics. Jimmy Eat World (Dreamworks/Geffen, 2001) was originally released in June 2011 as Bleed American but was re-pressed and re released as the eponymous Jimmy Eat World after the September 11th terrorist attacks over fears that the albums meaning would be misinterpreted. Most people still call the album Bleed American .) came on my Zune, I had to post it. This song is fast and aggressive, so very catchy and just amazing in so many ways. The story behind how this album got made is also fascinating and I've posted a link to a documentary DVD they made which tells that story and also has a killer live concert. This song should be listened to loudly and, if you're out of coffee, makes a good substitute for caffeine in doing a great job to wake you up!

"Salt sweat, sugar on the asphalt. Our hearts, littering the topsoil. Tune in and we can get the last call!"

Residing in my home state of Oregon, Matthew Price was the Bite of Oregon's songwriter of the year in 2008. He writes catchy yet assuming folk/rock/country songs reminiscent of Jack Johnson, John Mayer and other singer/songwriters that are chock full of stories and quirkiness. Matthew Price exudes genuineness and humility. Freedom Machine tells the story of being a child and owning a bike and using the metaphor of the bike as a symbol of freedom. it's instantly relate able and interesting. The video is very entertaining and, after conducting some research, I found the video actually happened as filmed. No CGI or special effects. if you'll watch it, you'll be impressed by the song as well as the feat in the video. This song is from his debut EP, Stranded , and is available (for free, if you want) from his website.

"I Held my handlebars as my dad held the seat/I pedaled my Huffy down a dead end street"

Not that I condone the use of cocaine, but there's something to be said for the use of drugs in creating amazing music. Elton john, who has claimed to have spent over $1 million dollars on cocaine during his drug and musical heyday in the 70's, seemed to be at his creative peak while high. Levon is one of his most underrated songs, but I believe it's perhaps the best of the Taupin/John collaborations. The lyrics are quite ambigous but basically tellt he story of a wealthy war vet and his son, Jesus and the trials they go through. Sir Elton's voice is in peak form and the piano riff he plays suits the song perfectly. You're probably overly familiar with Candle in the Wind, Tiny Dancer and and Rocketman . You should be more familiar with this one.

"Levon, Levon likes his money/He makes a lot they say/Spend his days counting/In a garage by the motorway"

London's Elvis Costello (Born Patrick Declan McManus) is one of the great living English songwriters. I've heard it said that he could write a song before breakfast after lunch and before dinner and they'd all be excellent. From Wikipedia, "Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader than that of most popular songs. His music has drawn on many diverse genres; one critic described him as a "pop encyclopedia", able to "reinvent the past in his own image". Accidents Will Happen is one of his earlier songs, but it has his trademark catchiness with just a touch of quirkiness. The hook for this song will get stuck in your head so I advise you to either not listen at all or listen all the way through. Still going strong 34 years after the release of his debut record, if you're not listening to Mr. Costello, the only question I have for you is, why not?

"There's so many fish in the sea that only rise up in the sweat and smoke like mercury."

Queen is one of the greatest rock bands to ever roam the earth, and Freddy Mercury is, without a doubt, the greatest front man in the history of rock music (and don't just take my word for it. Buy Queen Live at Wembley Stadium and see for yourself.). He was a pure showman and a phenomenal musician. He once told guitarist Bryan May that he wanted to be reincarnated as Aretha Franklin and it is clear that he is channeling her on this gospel tinged rock track. The four part harmonies, the playfully melancholy piano riff and major melody coupled with the instantly relate able message all make this a song that should be in everyone's favorite rotation. Look for many more queen songs in future installments!

"Got no feel, I got no rhythm I just keep losing my beat. I'm ok, I'm alright. Ain't gonna face no defeat. I just gotta get out of this prison cell. Someday I'm gonna be free, Lord!"

You're going to see a lot of Steve Earle on coming lists. He is this generations Johnny Cash. He's done more drugs then Ozzy and he's got more stories then Stephen King, and he has a unique and calming voice. From monster hits like Copperhead Road, The Devil's Right Hand and Guitar Town to favorites like Johnny Come Lately and Number 29, Steve Earle is a slice of Americana pie. Galway Girl is infinitely catchy and charming. Of the later stuff Earle has written and performed, it might be my favorite. I recommend seeing him live, but be prepared to be cussed at and heckled. As a liberal in a conservative country world, he's not shy about his opinions. When I saw him in July of 2010, he began to talk about the trapped coal miners. When someone in the audience began to heckle him and say "If we wanna hear that liberal garbage we'll just watch CNN!", Earle responded with "well, you bought a f*cking ticket! So you'll listen to what I have to say." There's something charming about that. Something very Johnny Cashy.

"When I woke up I was all alone/With a broken heart and a ticket home."

I kinda feel like an old man with this week's list and now I'm including Boston's Aerosmith, a group of old men. But, they can still rock and Janie's Got a Gun is one of the most interesting songs that came out of the 80's hard rock scene, and the best song from 1989's Pump (Geffen), an album which also includes the deliciously naughty Love in an Elevator. The song tells the violent tale of a sexually abused girl who takes revenge on her abuser by shooting and killing him. The song has enough hooks to snag a marlin and enough drama and intensity to satisfy William Shakespeare. You've probably heard this song before, but maybe it's been awhile, and try to forget that vocalist Steven Tyler is now a judge on American Idol . Enjoy!

"They said when Janie was arrested/they found him underneath a train/But man, he had it comin' Now that Janie's got a gun/she ain't never gonna be the same."

Thanks for Reading.

A FREELANCE WRITER, HONORS STUDENT AND GOVER PRIZE FINALIST, JUSTIN W. PRICE (AKA, PDXKARAOKEGUY)IS A POET, SHORT STORY, BIOGRAPHY AND HUMOR WRITER. HIS POETRY COLLECTION,DIGGING TO CHINA, WAS RELEASED FEBRUARY 2ND, 2013 BY SWEATSHOPPE PUBLICATIONS AND IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM, BARNES AND NOBLE AND THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOOKSELLER.

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All rights reserved. Copyright Justin W. Price, October 29th, 2011.

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