Mr. Charles Darwin had the gall to ask

I had such a lovely weekend that I've completely neglected my blog friend (I love you, blog friend). SOoooo, hmm, hmm, what shall it be? A twofer, naturally. I'm going with R.E.M. for the night is winding down. Here are the songs: Catapult and Man on the Moon. These goodies are turning into oldies. Weird. Alright then, Happy Holidays!

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Punk/Pop? That's a contradiction. I've noticed music is beginning to straddle lots of these lines lately. Electro/Pop, Indie/Rock, Folk/Blues, etc., are all ways to remain "unclassifiable." But sometimes I just want to say TAKE A STAND! PICK A SIDE! In all fairness, I guess they just don't want their creativity smashed. Seems like many musicians want to break out with music so transformative that people will make up a new genre for it like braintastic, eccentricianist, or curmudgeon. And that's why I like this guy NOSAJ THING. I think his music is Dubopolis. And he's taking his own beated path, if you will. Check out as much of his music as you please, especially the song Fog. It's a dubstep away from complete and total awesomeness. Trancey, ambient, hip-hopish. Way to push the boundaries...or the, uh, slash.

To Authenticity

I feel exhilarated after a wonderful day with a lovely friend. This song just came up on my shuffle and it captures the leisurely, romanticized feeling I'm latching onto right now. I'll be dawdling around my room with my records for the rest of the night. I can only hope you're doing the same, dear friend. Here is Mantovani's Charmaine.

My Soul Oh Oh Oh

It's about time I pull the Led out. I'm not a cheesy radio personality, I swear, I just love me some Led Zeppelin. D'yer Mak'er is a personal favorite from House of the Holy.  Apparently it's some kind of Jamaican throwback, so that's fun. But the song originally caught my attention because of its unusual punctuation. Huzzah! Long Live Zep!!

Joie de vivre

Charles Trenet was one of the few in the 1930's writing and singing his own music. So it's true, the French are always one step ahead. Naturally WWII had an impact on Trenet as he was forced to live in barracks when Germany invaded France because he was thought to be a Jew. After the war he moved to America befriending folks like Louis Armstrong and Charlie Chaplin. Even still, he rigorously performed his own music and now he is an immortal legend. Here is his most famous song La Mer (Beyond the Sea as recorded by Bobby Darin several years later) and for the hell of it, his original rendition of Tiger Rag. The Crème de la crème.

Let fall the pieces

This is some pretty folk rock if I ever did hear it. Ruby by Utah Carol comes from their 2007 record Rodeo Queen. The group is a husband & wife duo from the Windy City and they still make lazy folk songs that feel like you're wrapped inside a big warm blanket. 

Sinatra Sunday

I give you, The Voice- Mr. Frank Sinatra. Because this is a song-a-day blog and because I missed yesterday, you get two fine tunes by Only the Lonely. You're welcome. [How Little It Matters] How Little We Know is the first song and it is without the original outtake at the beginning where Frank jovially pounds the mic calling for the bartender and later says, "You can't cheat with notes, got to sing 'em." Limited findings on the internet, my friends. And the other Frank song is one of the saddest you'll ever here: Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry. The voice, the voice, I can't say enough about the voice. Cheers to Old Blue Eyes.

1970

Draggin' the Line - is this a song about drug use? I'm suspicious. I suppose the only ones who know for sure are Tommy James and The Shondells. One critic appropriately called it a "lazy, hypnotic shuffle," and I believe that critic was right. I can't help but sway along to that groovy bass. Whatever it's about, I dig it. And hey, it's Friday, so enjoy another narcotized number by the same group- Crimson & Clover.

THE KING

It's Now or Never by Elvis Presley may be one of my favorite songs of all time. Who can sing like Elvis? NOBODY. I would love to throw an elvis party and wear gold lamae all night. Maybe I don't need to throw an Elvis party, maybe I should just do it. Story has it Elvis first heard this song while stationed in Germany in the 50's, only he heard the spanish version (O Sole Mio). Upon being discharged, he came home and had english lyrics written for him. Nice choice, Elvis.