What's Everyone Listening to?

[cortez the killer]

I wasn't really paying attention to or enamored with The Killers or this album when it came out on the early 00s. Being removed from the scene, the hype, the pretension, etc., I can confidently say this is a really strong album. Of course my recent foray/obsession with post-punk & 80s alternative/underground rock (whatever the fuck you wanna call it) has recalibrated how I hear music. Some might say The Killers are too derivative, but I'm perfectly fine with it.

That was big my junior year of college.

All These Things Ive Done is pretty close to being a perfect song. Somebody Told Me was one of those rare tunes that got cranked at every house party that was actually good.

My boss at the time (2004) was a big Killers fan. There was no escaping hearing "Mr. Brightside" or "All These Things I've Done" in the mid-2000s. I liked both songs, but never felt compelled to get the album or dig any deeper. During that time, I was deep into Neil Young, Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Steve Earle, The Jayhawks, Wilco, Son Volt & Magnolia Electric Co.

[cortez the killer]

[Iowan]

I wasn't really paying attention to or enamored with The Killers or this album when it came out on the early 00s. Being removed from the scene, the hype, the pretension, etc., I can confidently say this is a really strong album. Of course my recent foray/obsession with post-punk & 80s alternative/underground rock (whatever the fuck you wanna call it) has recalibrated how I hear music. Some might say The Killers are too derivative, but I'm perfectly fine with it.

That was big my junior year of college.

All These Things Ive Done is pretty close to being a perfect song. Somebody Told Me was one of those rare tunes that got cranked at every house party that was actually good.

My boss at the time (2004) was a big Killers fan. There was no escaping hearing "Mr. Brightside" or "All These Things I've Done" in the mid-2000s. I liked both songs, but never felt compelled to get the album or dig any deeper. During that time, I was deep into Neil Young, Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Steve Earle, The Jayhawks, Wilco, Son Volt & Magnolia Electric Co.

Definitely a different wheelhouse. I passed through the post-punk (for brevity's sake) world in my transition from a punk and jam band oriented phase (I realize how absurd that pairing sounds) to the wheel house you described. A full on obsession with the Stones, Who, and Pearl Jam defined that period for me and the Killers/Modest Mouse seemed like natural links between the spirit of punk and sonic ambition of classic rock.

Not life changing, but certainly a worthwhile stop that holds up well a decade later.

[cortez the killer]

That was big my junior year of college.

All These Things Ive Done is pretty close to being a perfect song. Somebody Told Me was one of those rare tunes that got cranked at every house party that was actually good.

My boss at the time (2004) was a big Killers fan. There was no escaping hearing "Mr. Brightside" or "All These Things I've Done" in the mid-2000s. I liked both songs, but never felt compelled to get the album or dig any deeper. During that time, I was deep into Neil Young, Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Steve Earle, The Jayhawks, Wilco, Son Volt & Magnolia Electric Co.

Definitely a different wheelhouse. I passed through the post-punk (for brevity's sake) world in my transition from a punk and jam band oriented phase (I realize how absurd that pairing sounds) to the wheel house you described. A full on obsession with the Stones, Who, and Pearl Jam defined that period for me and the Killers/Modest Mouse seemed like natural links between the spirit of punk and sonic ambition of classic rock.

Not life changing, but certainly a worthwhile stop that holds up well a decade later.

Yeah, I went on a massive Post-Punk binge this spring/summer. So many incredible bands and songs. I take some liberties with what I consider Post-Punk (I include Television, Suicide, Talking Heads & The Soft Boys), but here's a playlist I put together in April if you're so inclined to dip your toe in.
Essential Post-Punk Vol. 1
1. Public Image/Public Image Ltd.
2. I Am the Fly/Wire
3. Boys Don't Cry/The Cure
4. Disorder/Joy Division
5. Modern Dance/Pere Ubu
6. Uncontrollable Urge/Devo
7. I Found That Essence Rare/Gang of Four
8. The Helicopter Spies/Swell Maps
9. That's When I Reach for My Revolver/Mission of Burma
10. The Boy with Perpetual Nervousness/The Feelies
11. Ghost Rider/Suicide
12. Shot by Both Sides/Magazine
13. Marquee Moon/Television
14. Fairytale in the Supermarket/The Raincoats
15. Rebellious Jukebox/The Fall
16. Brand - New - Life/Young Marble Giants
17. Stop It/Pylon
18. Too Many Creeps/Bush Tetras
19. Typical Girls/The Slits
20. Falling and Laughing/Orange Juice
21. I Wanna Destroy You/The Soft Boys
22. I Will Follow/U2
23. She is Beyond Good and Evil/The Pop Group
24. Requiem/Killing Joke
25. Psycho Killer/Talking Heads
26. Hong Kong Garden/Siouxsie and the Banshees
27. Mind Your Own Business/Delta 5
28. A Place in the Sun/Marine Girls
29. We're So Cool/Au Pairs
30. Ambition/Subway Sect

[Iowan]

When I'm back to Spotify access, I plan to dip my toes in those waters and see what sticks.

The 80's are definitely my most neglected decade of rock and roll.

[cortez the killer]

The 80's are definitely my most neglected decade of rock and roll.

Was, and to a certain extent, it still is for me. But I continue to work on rectifying that, particularly with the help of Spotify.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

9. That's When I Reach for My Revolver/Mission of Burma

such a great song!!!

[Iowan]

Turnpike Troubadours "A Long Way From Your Heart"

Between this and Bash & Pop for my album of the year this far.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

[Iowan]

How is it?

Harvest isn't conducive to checking out new stuff

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

How is it?

Harvest isn't conducive to checking out new stuff

only 5 or 6 songs in but I like it a lot. Perhaps not as much as the previous one, but that's a pretty high bar. Love Pay Gap, great lyrics and love the Tejano flair to the music. Nowhere Fast is great as well, music sounds like a twangy take on Oh! Sweet Nothin'. Her batting average at this point in her career is stellar. Two records isn't enough for me to make broad declarations, but that said, she gives every indication of being the real deal. Really love how she avoids the cliches so often found in country/alt country- it's a thin line for sure but she walks it with finesse

ETA: Loner is a great song as well

Being born is a curse
Dying young is worse
Finding love is the meaning of life
And in the land of the freedom, invisible chains
You get what you pay for
Sometimes you pay twice
And you go through the motions
Confused and alone
And wonder why truth ain't easy to see
And they put you through school
And tell you you're grown
And put you to work to buy shit you don't need

also ETA: All American Made is another great, powerful song. Thematically it made me immediately think of Wasteland of the Free by Iris Dement. Really curious as to what she's getting it in this lyric:

1987 and I didn't know it then
Reagan was selling weapons to the leaders of Iran
And it won't be the first time and baby, it won't be the end
They were all American made

But I was just a child unaware of the effects
Raised on sports and Jesus and all the usual suspects
So tell me, Mr. Petty, what do you think will happen next
It's all American made

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

You and I both know this river will surely flow to an end
Keep me in your heart keep your soul on the mend

I hope you're haunted by the music of my soul
When I'm gone

.........

Still on and on I run it feels like home is just around the bend
I got so much left to give
But I'm running out of time, my friend

[Tequila Cowboy]

Me too. What a loss.

I didn't know Porter really well but I knew him some and he was a kind soul. I've loved everything he did but I'm having a hard time with this one, not because it isn't great (it is), not because I don't love the songs (I do), it just makes me sad. Maybe some time will help that. I love Shonna's bass on this, John Calvin Abney's playing is amazing, Will is obviously a friend of ours so anything he touches sparkles in my eyes and as great as some of Porter's earlier work was I think this might be his best. I just think I have to wait a while to really listen more than the couple of times I already have because right now all I can think about is what a loss we've all suffered.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

Me too. What a loss.

I didn't know Porter really well but I knew him some and he was a kind soul. I've loved everything he did but I'm having a hard time with this one, not because it isn't great (it is), not because I don't love the songs (I do), it just makes me sad. Maybe some time will help that. I love Shonna's bass on this, John Calvin Abney's playing is amazing, Will is obviously a friend of ours so anything he touches sparkles in my eyes and as great as some of Porter's earlier work was I think this might be his best. I just think I have to wait a while to really listen more than the couple of times I already have because right now all I can think about is what a loss we've all suffered.

Love John Calvin Abney's Far Cries and Close Calls

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

Lillie Mae- Forever and Then Some

[Tequila Cowboy]

Hurray for the Riff Raff- The Navigator

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

talk about a blast from the past

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

[Iowan]

Bash & Pop "Anything Can Happen"

Such a perfect little record

[Iowan]

Margo Price "Midwestern Farmer's Daughter"

[Iowan]

Jerry Jeff "Ridin' High"

[Iowan]

This is excellent. Surprised the board isn't losing its shit.

Clams, where you at on this?

[Clams]

This is excellent. Surprised the board isn't losing its shit.

Clams, where you at on this?

Yes it's vvg, Margo is the real deal.

[cortez the killer]

Pure Comedy Father John Misty

[Mundane Mayhem]

Been a while since I "spun" this one. Heard "Church on White" at a restaurant the other day and I've been back on a Malkmus kick ever since. I'll always love this record.

[dime in the gutter]

[Mundane Mayhem]

Been a while since I "spun" this one. Heard "Church on White" at a restaurant the other day and I've been back on a Malkmus kick ever since. I'll always love this record.

Also, just checked and realized there's no Pavement/Malkmus AOTW. Are those still happening? I might not be the most qualified to do it, but they seem deserving of some love.

[cortez the killer]

In Spades The Afghan Whigs

[cortez the killer]