Center Of The Universe #22
Giant Sand, “Center Of The Universe”
The Apples In Stereo, “Stream Running Over”
Parliament, “Gamin’ On Ya”
Courtney Barnett, “Here’s The Thing”
Welcome to the Center Of The Universe! After our theme song is a track that wasn’t on The Apples In Stereo’s “hits” compilation, but was a big fave at my college radio station. Then Parliament ironically rues the audacity of Dr. Funkenstein and Courtney Barnett earnestly rues the distance of a lover. It’s gonna be another random week of semipopular sound on here, but a vaguely wistful one.
Dismemberment Plan, “Ellen And Ben”
Bjork, “5 Years”
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, “Bridges, Squares”
T. Rex, “Mister Mister”
Vague wistfulness ahoy! The Dismemberment Plan, pondering romantic monogamy from an ironic distance on Change. Bjork, refusing to tolerate ironic distance in her romantic monogamy on Homogenic. Ted Leo, getting perspective from a nice, long walk on Hearts Of Oak. T. Rex, refusing to give up, on Tanx.
The Adverts, “Safety In Numbers”
Van Halen, “I’m The One”
Dr. Octagon, “Blue Flowers - Revisited”
The Gap Band, “Early In The Morning”
The Adverts, sounding less than confident about the revolutionary potential of “new wave” in 1978. Van Halen, sounding so confident about themselves in 1978 that they throw a doo wop breakdown into a Side B rave-up. Kool Keith, confident enough on the classic Dr. Octagon debut to sing snatches of “Sailing” and “Up, Up And Away.” Did you ever catch the double meaning of “get up early in the morning” (as in, dance til closing time) on The Gap Band’s classic jam or is it so obvious it’s not worth mentioning?
Paul Simon, “Can’t Run But”
Mahavishnu Orchestra, “Awakening”
Spoon, “30 Gallon Tank”
illuminati hotties, “MMMOOOAAAAYAYA”
Paul Simon’s In The Blue Light - a 2018 album of remakes meant to signify the end of his songwriting career (a retirement that ended this year) - is enjoyable but inessential, “Can’t Run But” one of the rare tracks that brings something both new and noteworthy to the song (originally found on The Rhythm Of The Saints). Then Mahavishu Orchestra puts the rock in fiddle-festooned jazz-rock. “30 Gallon Tank” is a relative goddamn epic on A Series Of Sneaks at four minutes. The title of this song from illuminati hotties’ latest is also the song’s chorus. Sarah Tudzin rhymes “self-appointed startup” with “brand-approval markup” in the second verse, before comparing her stoned self to an old tortilla.
Alex Chilton, “Little GTO”
Urge Overkill, “Follow My Shadow”
Kate Bush, “The Morning Fog”
Daft Punk, “Give Life Back To Music”
Alex Chilton playing every instrument on a Ronny & The Daytones cover in 1990, because WHY NOT?! Then Urge Overkill, still intense and swinging medallions on their 2022 album Oui. After that, we've got a relative deep cut on Kate Bush’s The Hounds Of Love and a relative deep cut on Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, two albums that the kids reportedly care a lot about.
Barry White, “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me”
AC/DC, “Riff Raff”
felicita & Kero Kero Bonito, “Cluck”
Amber Mark, “Cosmic”
I put Mary J Blige’s “You Bring Me Joy” on an earlier episode, and here’s the Barry White hit that interpolates. Angus Young is the kind of guitar hero who rarely centers his staggering skill, and if someone balked at the idea of him being him a phenomenal guitarist, I’d play them “Riff Raff.” I don’t know much about PC Music (is it still a thing?) but I dig this new felicita album. And I’m already on record as having dug last year’s Amber Mark album.
Chuck Jackson, “Any Day Now”
Love, “The Daily Planet”
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion “Mo’ Chicken/Let’s Get Funky”
Electric Six, “Little Lies”
Chuck Jackson in 1962, covering Bacharach-David’s “Any Day Now” so well he was able to sign to Motown, where his career was promptly sidelined. Thankfully, he still gained some renown in the R&B scene, if not the level of stardom he might have found with better promotion. I go back and forth on the merits of Jon Spencer’s vocal shtick, but - as this instrumental from Year One spotlights --Anthony Bourdain wasn’t wrong to exploit their musical attack. Finally, Electric Six covering Fleetwood Mac. I really hope Christine McVie heard how Dick Valentine attacks the melody before she passed. And with that profound wish, we depart from the Center Of The Universe. Thanks for your time!