Wilco - Box Full of Letters

This selection is in response to Marty's comment about the "Drown." I would like to read about the break up, it seems like there were a lot of unresolved issues that surfaced both in Son Volt and in Wilco. You can really see the split happening on Anodyne - there doesn't seem to be that much collaboration going on. To me, "Box Full of Letters" seemed to be Tweedy's response, and I might add, it seems like a more tempered one than Farrar's.

Son Volt - Drown

"Doesn't make a difference now, you're causing it." I can't help but think Tweedy was causing it. I can remember when I first heard this song - Fall of 1995. For whatever reason it really sunk its hooks into me. Up until that point, I was listening to a lot of alternative and indie stuff, but I dropped most of that for alt.country or Americana as it has come to be known. The rest is history. On a side note, not a bad video.

The Hold Steady - Sequestered In Memphis

Sandy's last post got me thinking about those moments when a song hits you at the right time. The example that came to mind is such a beat-you-over-the-head coincidence that I hesitate to mention it. I was driving in a rental car on the Northern State Parkway ('cause the LIE's for suckers) while on a business trip last September. I asked for a car with satellite radio, something I've become dependent on for long road trips. The Hertz in Greensboro had two options that morning that would meet my request: a minivan or a new Mustang. I cringed at both because the minivan was a minivan and the Mustang said M-U-S-T-A-N-G in big letters on both sides AND had one of those over-sized spoilers in the back. I opted for the second option because at least I'd blend in with the scenery while driving through certain parts of Jersey. By the time this song came on, 10 hours into the trip, I was almost too delirious to notice that Craig Finn was singing about riding in a girl's "rented" Mustang that had satellite radio. Coincidences aside, I think this is a great song and a pretty decent performance too.

Modest Mouse - Little Motel

Yeah, so this is a repeat artist, but this song came up on my mp3 player today and it caught me at the right time. I was on a bus headed across Hong Kong, just staring out the window. For some reason the song seemed to match the moment. I alternate between thinking this is hopeful and completely depressing. Usually that is a good sign when there is such an ambiguity to a song. For some reason I could not link to the Modest Mouse video so you get this one which shows footage of the Outer Banks which is strange because that is basically like home to me.

Pavement - Range Life

Pavement is one of those bands that you either loved or hated. Full of indie pretentiousness, but yet they produced some great albums. Slanted and Enchanted and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain stand out in particular. Their mixed appeal was not just from fans either. Their frequent name checks in songs often alienated their peers, although there were some bands, like REM, that got positive shout outs. I only selected "Range Life" because for some reason I can't access many of their videos from Hong Kong. Perhaps they pissed off the people's republic?

Steelers

I'm not a football fan, but I watched the Super Bowl with some folks from outside Pittsburgh, so I was for the Steelers. I also remember as a kid actually thinking the Super Bowl Shuffle was an awesome song. So, for my childhood worship of the Bears as MCs, and for my friends Matt and Heather from Pittsburgh.....the closest I could find to a Steelers song



and of course this, the ultimate in rural Pennsylvania football culture:

The Bears - Super Bowl Shuffle

Why don't we get this kind of genius anymore? There needs to be some sort of documentary done that investigates everything from the inception of the idea to the lyrics to the making of the video. This was a part of what made the 80s a great era. Over the top, ego-inflated, awesomeness. On a side note, there really should be a law against athletes and actors singing.