j's indie/rock mayhem - 24th/25th october 2003

[a bizarre week for music with the passing of elliot smith (see previous post). definitely very sad. but a fantastic week for new releases from one of my favourite artists. up and down is all we seem to do. let's take a look.]

Theme Songs - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Grandpaboy - "MPLS" [this was a set of songs from both the new paul westerberg releases, grandpaboy's dead man shake and the soundtrack to the come feel me tremble tour documentary dvd with fourteen new songs.]
Paul Westerberg - "What a Day (for a Night)"
Grandpaboy - "Souveniers" [a great cover of the classic john prine song]
Paul Westerberg - "Crackle and Drag (original version)" [two version of this song appear back to back on the new soundtrack. and both are very good. the alternate version that appears is more acoustic and actually adds lyrics that aren't in this version, both both have a very real vitality that make them some of my favourite songs from this album]
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Q and Not U - "X-Polynation" [from their new 7". greatly anticipating the new full length]
Teenage Fanclub - "Don't Look Back" [ah, the grandeur of pop music. i love these guys]
The Pogues - "The Old Main Drag"
Mary Lou Lord - "Sayanora" [a pair of pogues songs, one by the pogues and then one from mary lou lord's live city sounds album. both are lovely]
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Uncle Tupelo - "Moonshiner" [for eben's birthday. a great, great song]
Blur - "For Tomorrow" [classic blur from modern life is rubbish]
Gary Numan - "This Wreckage" [from telekon]
Public Image Limited - "Swan Lake"
Snatches of Pink - "Moonage Daydream" [local band from chapel hill. not a bad cover of the classic david bowie song]
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Elliot Smith - "Junk Bond Trade" [from his last completed album, figure 8.]
Damien Rice - "Volcano" [from his O album which is really quite good. if you are a fan of tom mcrae, damien rice will be right up your alley]
Bob Dylan - "If You See Her, Say Hello"
Josh Rouse - "Flight Attendant"
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The Dream Syndicate - "Tell Me When It's Over" [the days of wine and roses is a brilliant album that you rarely hear anything about. if you're a fan of the 80s school of caustic guitars-cum-the velvet underground then you will find much to like about this band]
The Afghan Whigs - "What Jail is Like (live - KCRW)" [this is from the "what jail is like" vinyl EP with several live versions of the song in addition to some others. you may know KCRW as the western radio station that does the rather fantastic 'morning becomes eclectic' show]
Primal Scream - "Damaged" [such a lovely standout track from their classic screamadelica album]
The Church - "Kings" [from priest = aura]
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Whiskeytown - "Blank Generation" [quite a treat i stumbled on. this is from a 1995 richard hell tribute album put out entirely by north carolina (and one south carolina) artists. the only band (other than ashley stove) that i recognized was whiskeytown, who seem to be the long-forgotten north carolina band sometimes. ryan adams' north carolina heritage isn't always something he plays up. but this country-rave up of the richard hell anthem is quite a unique piece]
The Autumn Defense - "Written in the Snow" [slightly funny song title aside, this is a very nice track from the side project of john stirrat of wilco.]
Willie Nelson - "I Never Go Around Mirrors" [from his to lefty, from willie album]
Kathleen Edwards - "Hockey Skates" [beautiful]
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Jay Farrar - "Hard is the Fall II" [the second version of this song on his new album, terroir blues]
Yo La Tengo - "Season of the Shark" [happy birthday to emily]
Toad the Wet Sprocket - "Nightengale Song" [easily one of my favourite toad songs ever]

Thanks for listening.