Center Of Universe #9
Giant Sand, “Center Of The Universe”
Too Much Joy, “The Song I Didn’t Write”
Interpol, “Obstacle 1”
Ah, Interpol. You know those people who seemed so hot and cute in your 20s and it’s impossible to explain why today, even when you’re looking at a photograph from back then? Before that was a new single from Too Much Joy, some kind of bonus track/outtake for the reissue of last year’s All These Fucking Feelings. It’s a keeper, and a reminder yet again I have to hear their ‘90s output already! And starting us off was the theme song to Center Of The Universe, one man’s journey through the musical cosmos within his navel. Up next is Tall Dwarf Alec Bathgate, with the single from his ‘90s solo album Gold Lamé. Played stuff from that a lot back in the day at Penn State. Can't remember if anyone else did!
Alec Bathgate, “Pet Hates”
Electric Six, “Rock’n’Roll Evacuation”
Stone Temple Pilots, “She Knows Me Too Well - Demo”
Willie Nelson, “With A Little Help From My Friends”
I don’t know who had the idea of having Willie Nelson cover “With A Little Help From My Friends” and not make it an obnoxious collaboration cut, but I’d like to shake their hand and thank them. That was from his fine 2021 album A Beautiful Time. Before that was Stone Temple Pilots running through the Beach Boys’ “She Knows Me Too Well,” an unexpectedly worthwhile bonus track on their deluxe reissue of 1994’s Purple. And Electric Six demanding a president who can truly rock on the opening track of 2005’s Señor Smoke. In an atrocious segue, I must note that the Time recorded a song called “Donald Trump (Black Version)” before they could have imagined how poorly it would date. “My Drawers,” from 1984’s Ice Cream Castle, is a much more enjoyable listen today.
The Time, “My Drawers”
Beta Band, “Smiling”
Lemonheads, “Fragile”
Rod Stewart, “Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me)”
Those shrieks! Well done, Rod! That was the title track from his fantastic comeback album 1981’s Tonight I’m Yours. Actually, is it a comeback if the following album is almost unlistenable? And commercially he did fine throughout? Whatever, Tonight I’m Yours is the last album of his you need to fuck with, a startling burst of enthusiasm for the dawn of the MTV era. Before that was the Lemonheads covering Wire on 2009’s Varshons, and the Beta Band reveling in smiles and munchkin vocal effects in 1999. I like to think we’ve hardly ignored the honeys, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t throw on “Somethin’ 4 Da Honeyz” either way.
Montell Jordan, “Somethin’ 4 Da Honeyz”
Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestra, “Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)”
Cypress Hill, “Hole In The Head”
Hot Snakes, “Salton City”
Hot Snakes in 2000, swinging heavy, lyrics inscrutably referencing some heavy shit. Before that Cypress Hill threatening a “Hole In The Head” and “Scooby Doo, y’all, Dooby Dooby Doo” in 1991. The Kasenkatz-Katz Singing Orchestra get their own violent bubblegum on in 1968. And now, keepin’ it weird, Nick Lowe sighing you’re so nice on drugs over a Bo Diddley beat in 1978.
Nick Lowe, “Big Kick, Plain Scrap”
Bloc Party, “This Modern Love”
Blink-182’s “Always”
Tamia feat. Jermaine Dupri, “Imagination”
Former Quincy Jones protege Tamia riding a Jackson 5 sample on “Imagination,” which cracked the Top 40 in 1998. Before that, two songs I’ve always found sonically and sentimentally similar, from two very narcissism-of-small-differences circles in the mid-00s. Would you believe the Blink song came first? If all you know about Local H is their gold record in the ‘90s, you might be surprised to know they’ve been solid throughout the years and that “Hold That Thought,” from their latest album, 2020’s LIFERS, heavies up a Burt Bacharach-via-Love quote. If you know the band’s commitment to sardonic sludge for 25 years and counting, you’re not surprised at all.
Local H, “Hold That Thought”
Missy Elliott feat. Beyonce, “Crazy Feelings”
The Originals, “Baby, I’m For Real”
Before Marvin Gaye got to produce himself, he had to help a group of veteran Detroit backing-singers make the Top 20 as proof of concept. “Baby, I’m For Real” was their first hit in 1969, and while they stuck it out til the ‘80s, they never scored as high after Marvin Gaye focused on his own albums. “Crazy Feelings,” Missy Elliott & Beyonce’s first collaboration, released a minute before Missy guested on Destiny’s Child’s The Writing’s On The Wall in 1999. And now my favorite deep cut on Fleetwood Mac’s Mirage, Lindsey Buckingham wondering if the Cali kid born & raised might be happier in new wave New York.
Fleetwood Mac, “Empire State”
Friendly Fires, “On Board”
Trini Lopez, “If I Had A Hammer”
The Grifters, “Last Man Alive”
While I’d read about The Grifters for years in SPIN & Rolling Stone, I never actually heard the band until “Last Man Alive” appeared once or twice on 120 Minutes in 1996. Sold! Trini Lopez’s spin on the old Pete Seeger folk anthem, the first song I’ve put on an “episode” of this playlist twice, other than the theme song. And why not? Before that, The Friendly Fires working up a froth on their 2008 debut. I’ve always vaguely remembered the Big Aunt Energy of the Roches in 1989 via VH1, and I appreciate that even more today as an uncle. We’ll leave the Center Of The Universe with their tribute to a lack of transcendence, “Big Nuthin.” Thanks for your time!
The Roches, “Big Nuthin’"