J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 10th March 2010

[Welcome to another edition of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem. Tonight's show is dedicated to the memory of Sparklehorse founder and creative force, Mark Linkous. Mark killed himself on Saturday, March 6th. He was 47 years old.

This is a space where I celebrate music in all its misshapen glory, but I have to confess that Linkous' death, along with the December suicide of Vic Chesnutt, and the tragic OD death of Jay Reatard, has me pretty sad. Chesnutt's death has lingered with me in ways I would never have expected, and now Linkous' death is echoing this sentiment. Around the midway point of the show, I took some time to share a set of Sparklehorse songs and then a few Sparklehorse related ones in the later part of the show. Rest in peace, Mark.

Now, onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 10th March 2010

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
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Frightened Rabbit - "Swim Until You Can't See Land" [from the winter of mixed drinks which dropped this week. really great record from a really awesome band. can't wait to see them at cat's cradle on sunday, april 25th.]
Brian Eno - "Burning Airlines Gives You So Much More" [from taking tiger mountain (by strategy), his second album. been revisiting a lot of my eno lately thanks to going back to the trainspotting soundtrack. so expect to hear more over the coming weeks.]
the New Pornographers - "Your Hands (Together)" [from their forthcoming album together. this song is pretty righteous, so i'm excited to hear the whole album, no question.]
Rilo Kiley - "With Arms Outstretched" [by request. from the execution of all things. this was a request from weeks ago that i just kept blanking on. so there you go, coulton.]
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the Morning Benders - "Promises" [from the excellent big echo which came out this week. you can read my review of it over at aquarium drunkard. it's a must-hear. they're playing this friday, march 12th at local 506 in chapel hill.]
Social Distortion - "So Far Away" [from their self-titled album. this is a staple of my 'i need a rocker here' songs. this and the clash's "safe european home." great stuff.]
Robert Pollard - "I Can See" [from we all got out of the army. bob's on a roll these past couple of years. GBV fans really have something to sink their teeth into here.]
the Lemonheads - "The Great Big No" [from come on feel the lemonheads. one of my favorite alltime lemonheads songs. i've been really caught up in listening to them lately. can you tell?]
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Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - "I Learned the Hard Way" [the title track from her forthcoming album. they'll be at the cat's cradle on tuesday, may 11th. oh, god. choices. josh ritter is at the carolina theatre in durham on the same night. argh! cruel fate!]
Harlem - "Goodbye Horses" [yes, a cover of the q lazarus classic. hey, patrick. you're good at hunting down musicians who go off the radar. how 'bout tracking down q lazarus and doing an interview?]
Decoration Ghost - "Camera Bag and a Back Pack" [from the lovely the haze of wine and age. see these guys while you can because they are no joke live. really great rock and roll.]
Son Volt - "Tear Stained Eye" [from trace. almost played a jay farrar solo acoustic version of this that i picked up off of an EP the other week, but decided to go with the classic studio version. i can see myself starting to listen to it all over again soon.]
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Sparklehorse - "Someday I Will Treat You Good" [from vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot. i mistakenly credited this album to 1996 a few times in the podcast, but it's from 1995. this song was for me, and a lot of others, i'd imagine, the introduction to the work of mark linkous. i remember watching this video on 120 minutes on mtv and then promptly writing the word 'sparklehorse' on my chuck taylors alongside the other band names i had on them.]
Sparklehorse - "It's a Wonderful Life" [the title track from the 2001 album. a commenter over at aquarium drunkard talked about this being one of his favorite songs, so i thought i'd throw it on as well.]
Sparklehorse - "Don't Take My Sunshine Away" [from dreamt for light years in the belly of a mountain, the last released sparklhorse only full length. a great, great album. saw them at the cat's cradle on this tour and it was a dynamic, lovely show.]
Sparklehorse/Danger Mouse - "Revenge" [by request. from the forthcoming dark night of the soul. got this request via email this week and am really into the song. this song also features wayne coyne from the flaming lips. when this album finally drops later this year, it'll be a marvel to behold.]
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Free Electric State - "Matching Scars" [from caress. this excellent durham band is going to be at westerwood tavern here in greensboro on friday night along with greensboro bands citified and mutant league. i've heard amazing things about mutuant league, but haven't heard them yet. citified is always awesome and the new free electric state album is awesome. should be a great night of rock.]
the Strugglers - "Limerece" [from the latest rights. one of my favorite songs from this awesome record from raleigh, north carolina's the strugglers. a severely slept on album.]
Citified - "Overseas" [from their self-titled debut. they'll be at westerwood tavern on friday night, as previously mentioned. going to be an awesome show.]
Lake Inferior - "Spiders" [from their self-titled EP. oh, yes! finally playing in greensboro at the green bean on saturday, march 20th. i can't wait!]
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Portugal the Man - "The Dead Dog" [from american ghetto. admittedly i've known of this guy, but haven't listened to any of his stuff until now, but if the rest of this album is as good as this track, get set for a end-of-year-list run.]
the Duke Spirit - "Lassoo" [by request. from neptune. forgot how much i enjoyed this record back when it was in rotation. glad to be reminded of how much it rocks.]
Blair - "Die Young" [the title track from her debut LP. blair is playing down in athens, georgia tonight. that's the closest she's coming. for now. she and i still have a date here in the WQFS studio at some point.]
Radiohead - "15 Step" [by request. from in rainbows. caller wanted to hear "pyramid song" but it would make sense that the only one of their albums that hasn't been stolen from our stacks would be the one they gave away for free.]
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Johnny Cash - "I Corinthians 15:55" [from american VI: ain't no grave. this is the only original song on the record, but it's a doozy. ]
Ryan Adams - "Political Scientists" [from love is hell. pitchforkmedia picked up on greensboro's sticks and stones restaurant and its ryan adams themed menu this week. so, just randomly, here's one of my favorite tunes from this album. what would a "political scientist" pizza have on it?]
Travel by Sea - "Return to Me" [from that horse yonder. from a sparklehorse tribute album, the lovely travel by sea take a great run through this song originally from dreamt for light years in the belly of a mountain. gorgeous.]
Vic Chesnutt - "Flirted With You All My Life" [from at the cut. there's an odd feel about the fact that vic, too recently a suicide as well, is on the forthcoming sparklehorse/danger mouse album as a contributing vocalist. this song, so quickly turned from a triumph over suicide into a losing battle hymn, feels appropriate in the case of mark linkous' death as well. both men were musicians of depth and sensitivity in their craft and it makes their unbearable struggle with depression all the more saddening.]

That'll do it for this week. I'll be back with more great stuff next week including a chunk of Irish related things for St. Patrick's Day. Until then, Go Quakers!, and take care.