Chronic Listaholic

To inspire Belinda, who has upcoming surgery … and a new iPod

Why do some songs make us feel good, just hearing them? Sometimes it’s the lyrics. Sometimes it’s the music itself. Sometimes it’s simply a memory associated with the song. And sometimes you can’t explain why, it just does. What songs make you feel good? Post your choices in the comments!

1. I Can See Clearly Now, Jimmy Cliff
2. Rock Of Ages, Def Leppard
3. Eggs And Sausage, Tom Waits
4. Blister In The Sun, Violent Femmes
5. Brown-Eyed Girl, Van Morrison
6. Heartache Tonight, The Eagles
7. Follow Me, Uncle Kracker
8. Pink Cadillac, Bruce Springsteen
9. Blue Bayou, Linda Ronstadt
10. The Boys Of Summer, Don Henley
11. Ripplin’ Waters, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
12. Kryptonite, 3 Doors Down
13. Summer In The City, Lovin’ Spoonful
14. All Night Long, Lionel Richie
15. Crocodile Rock, Elton John

As seen on Blogography, a long, long time ago

Songs That I Loathe To The Core Of My Being
1. “Boobs Alot” by The Fugs. Too annoying to be funny.
2. “Because Of You” by Kelly Clarkson. If I want to be depressed, I’ll watch the news.
3. “Rape Me” by Nirvana. Whatever it does or does not mean, it offends me.

Musical Artists That I Loathe To The Core Of My Being
1. ABBA. Their songs can change my mood from great to bitchy in three notes. (Sorry, Dave2)
2. Britney Spears. Neither musical nor artist, in my opinion. Blech. See also: Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson, et al.
3. James Blunt. A lot of people (my daughter included) really like him. For me, his singing is actually painful to listen to.

Rolling Stones Songs I Love
1. “Sympathy For The Devil.” LOVE it. I know every word, and can barely sit still when it’s playing.
2. “Play With Fire.” Early Stones, almost too melodic to believe it’s them. If you’ve never heard it, do yourself a favor and look it up.
3. “Start Me Up.” A damn sexy song. What woman doesn’t want to be thought so hot she’d “make a dead man come?”

Beatles Songs I Love
1. “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away.” The quintessential unrequited-love song, and Lennon’s voice never sounded lovelier.
2. “Norwegian Wood.” A mellow, beautiful song that makes you feel gently stoned even when you’re not. Too bad it’s so damn short!
3. “Don’t Bother Me.” From their first album, written and sung by George Harrison. And he hadn’t even met Eric Clapton yet …

(more…)

If every song’s worth listening to, it’s a Perfect Album. I really struggled with this list, and no one is more surprised than me at what’s on it — and what’s NOT on it. Had to dig pretty far back to come up with ten flawless ones!

1. Godsmack, Godsmack. Yes, it includes one of my favorite songs of ever, “Voodoo,” but what earns the album top spot on this list is the raw richness of Sully Erna’s voice, and that no two songs sound the same. Unmistakeably Godsmack, yes, but not cookie-cutter anger rock. The band’s so good, you actually enjoy hearing how pissed off they are.

2. Nighthawks At The Diner, Tom Waits. A live recording from 1975, this is quintessential Waits: raspy-voiced slices from the grittier side of life, served on wry with a whiskey chaser.
3. The Shore, The Shore. Every time I listen to this CD, I decide a different song is my favorite. Lyrically and musically a work of art, you couldn’t ask for a better soundtrack for a night of love. Ben Ashley’s voice gives me warmbumps.
4. 15, Buckcherry. One of my current favorites, there’s not a single track I don’t enjoy. A rare case of one song (”Crazy Bitch”) leading me to an album full of fun stuff. And a surprisingly melodic love song, too. Well worth every penny.
5. Guero, Beck. Since the day I bought it, this has been one of my “feel-good” CDs. I can’t listen to it without feeling upbeat and bouncy. That’s the best thing about Beck: His music makes you feel (usually in a good way). Love, love, love this guy!
6. Blood Sugar Sex Magic, Red Hot Chili Peppers. If someone held a gun to my head and forced me to choose a favorite track from BSSM, I’d pick “Breaking The Girl.” But ONLY if there was a gun to my head, because I love them all.
7. Rubber Soul, The Beatles. To be honest, most Beatles albums would qualify to be listed here, but after 40 years, this one’s still my favorite. It’s also the only Beatles album I own in CD format. That’s right, kids — I’m a child of the Age of Vinyl.
8. Discipline, King Crimson. Less prog-rock Crimson, a masterpiece of musical chemistry infused with the mad brilliance of Adrian Belew. All but two of my favorite KC songs come from this one album, and I never get tired of hearing it.
9. Heartbeat City, The Cars. Five of the 10 songs on this album were released as singles. At least two of the others, “It’s Not The Night” and “Looking For Love,” should have been. I’d name this as one of the five best albums from the ’80s.
10. Synchronicity, The Police. Brilliant and innovative and timeless. Back in the day, I used to keep this on repeat all day long. When I listened to it today, it sounded just as good.

By request, from a reader who LOVES my music memes!
(One of the most fun lists I’ve ever done!!!)

If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack include?
The opening title: Suzie Lightning, Warren Zevon
The waking-up scene: Waking Up Tired, HooDoo Gurus
The average day/menial tasks montage: I Turn My Camera On, Spoon
The secret crush: What Would Happen (If We Kissed), Meredith Brooks
The first date/blind date: Someone Like You, Van Morrison
The party: Suzy Got Her Big Hair On, David Clayton-Thomas
The dance sequence: Velcro Fly, ZZ Top
The falling in love/”spark” scene: The Consequences Of Falling, k.d. lang
The lovemaking scene: Afterglow, INXS
The fight scene: Awake, Godsmack
The break-up: There There, Radiohead
Long night alone: The Drugs Don’t Work, The Verve
The reconciliation: Love Don’t Lie, Def Leppard
The mental breakdown: Meltdown, Ash
The stalking: System, Chester Bennington
The explosion/shoot-out: Bodies, Drowning Pool
The get-away/driving scene: Work, Jimmy Eat World
The learning-a-lesson montage: Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime, Beck
Deep thoughts: Serenity, Godsmack
The flashback: I Remember You, Skid Row
Regrets: It’s Been Awhile, Staind
The death scene: Amazing Grace [sung in Cherokee], Walela
As the closing credits roll: I Can See Clearly Now, Jimmy Cliff

No exposition needed . . .

1. My Girlfriend Sucks, But She Don’t Swaller
2. Chaw Spit Bottle Boogie
3. One Pen, Two Hogs, Ham Sandwich
4. Keep Them Dirty Hands Off My Truck
5. (Look Out) Sadie’s On The Rag Again
6. Come On Out Of The Closet, Daddy
7. I’d Trade My Old Lady For A Six-Pack Of Bud
8. DNA Don’t Lie (But Honey, You Do)
9. He Loves That 12-Gauge More Than Me
10. I Wear One Man’s Diamond Ring (And Another One’s Pearl Necklace)

In the entry, my two favorite Deep Purple LPs.

In our dining room, a “History of Rock & Roll” poster by Tony Meers.

In my bathroom, Pearl and a posterized Bret.

In a double frame in the hall, Bret and me as swimsuited kids.

In Bret’s bathroom, Zappa on da crappa and a painting of Ritchie Blackmore.

In our computer room, a “motivational” poster from Despair, Inc.

In the living room, Pink Floyd’s Back Catalogue poster.

1. Neil Young. There are no words for how much I detest this man’s voice. NOTHING gets me in a bad mood more than being subjected to his nasally whine. For Bret’s sake (because he thinks this guy is a musical god), I have tried to overcome my aversion. Nope. Can’t be done. Neil Young’s is one of the few human voices officially categorized as scree-scraw. Evidence submitted: Pick a song. Any song. Too bad, because he wrote some good lyrics.
2. Bon Jovi. Jon Bon Jovi has more talent in his nose hairs than most bands have in all their members put together. He has a marvelous voice, and — with sidekick Richie Sambora — has written a plethora of excellent songs, resulting in platinum albums for the group. He’s a fine actor, as well. Evidence submitted: An entire genre of music (”unplugged”) was born with Jon and Richie’s acoustic performance of “Wanted Dead Or Alive” at the 1989 MTV Music Awards. JBJ was nominated for both a Grammy and an Academy Award for his song “Blaze of Glory,” from Young Guns II (and he won the Golden Globe). Also, check out JBJ’s performances as the heroic chief engineer in U-571, and as the alcoholic wife abuser in Pay It Forward.
3. Joni Mitchell. Bret thinks this woman is the greatest female musician of all time. I’m sorry, but her voice is so shrill, it makes my teeth hurt (literally). Although I DO have a decent version of her doing “Stormy Weather.” But she’s no Etta James, that’s for sure. Evidence submitted: Three words: BRAND. NEW. KEY. Ouch.
4. Rod Stewart. I adore this man. Pretty much everything he’s done is in my musical library. Bret admits to liking “Gasoline Alley” and “Maggie May,” but detests all Rod’s other work. This is incomprehensible to me. Evidence submitted: “Reason To Believe,” one of the best songs ever done. Plus, compare any of Rod’s covers (”The First Cut Is The Deepest,” “This Old Heart Of Mine”) to the original versions, and hear the marvelous improvement.
5. Frank Sinatra. B-O-R-I-N-G. What good is a wonderful voice if your songs sound dull and lifeless? There is no heart in Sinatra’s music. He sounds so insincere — like he’s singing just to hear his own voice. If a song doesn’t make me feel something, I don’t want to hear it. Evidence submitted: Compare Sinatra’s version of any song with Tony Bennett’s version. You’ll hear what I mean, just as Bret did.
6. The Rolling Stones. Bret does NOT like them. At first, I thought he just didn’t like to look at them. Nope, he doesn’t like their music. He’ll actually ask me to turn it off. In fact, he’s not even familiar with some of their most famous songs! I was quite shocked. Evidence submitted: How can you not love “Sympathy For The Devil”? It’s a masterpiece! And “Satisfaction” is a genuine classic. What about “Start Me Up,” with its infamous line: “You’d make a dead man come…”? [Author's anecdote: I once had a guy sing that line to me at a party. Which would have been amusing except that: A. The song wasn't playing at the time, B. He was my husband's best friend, and C. My husband then knocked him flying into the swimming pool.]
7. John Lennon. Bret considers Lennon to have been a musical genius. Maybe so, but I still didn’t care much for either his voice or his lyrics, with a few notable exceptions (”You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away,” a killer song). I have always preferred Paul McCartney’s sweet, “silly love songs.” Evidence submitted: The incredibly irritating “Imagine,” which has inexplicably become a near-religious mantra to millions, generating exactly what it denigrates.
8. Van Halen. Bret thinks they are an overrated group of mediocre musicians with a damn good agent. I think — whether their frontman is Dave or Sammy — they have made a bunch of wonderful songs, and evolved with time. Has anybody ever had more fun playing guitar than Eddie Van Halen? Just look at his face in any of their videos — he’s got a grin like a kid with a new bike! Evidence submitted: Where to start? OK, with my personal favorite, “Finish What Ya Started” — an irresistable, instantly-recognizable guitar intro, slyly ambiguous words and Hagar’s pleading yowl. But there’s also “Running With The Devil,” “Jump” and don’t forget “Hot For Teacher”!!!
9. Paul Revere and The Raiders. These guys were musical jokes! Pure bubblegum buffoons. It amazes me that my musically-literate husband and in-laws hold them in such esteem. Did they never watch Where The Action Is ? Evidence submitted: “Cherokee Nation,” a silly stereotype-laden lament in which they cite the tomahawk and Bowie knife as part of the Cherokee “way of life.” Neither was ever used by any of the Five Civilized Tribes.
10. Donna Summer. She was the Queen of Disco, and I spent many an evening burning up the dance floor to her infectious tunes. Bret thinks they’re infectious all right — like Ebola (he loathes disco). Evidence submitted: Ask anyone to name five disco songs, and I guarantee at least one of them will be a Summer hit. But she didn’t do only disco! “The Woman In Me,” from her eponymous album, is one of the most sensually literate songs I’ve ever heard.
11.11. Yanni. I finished this list, then realized I’d left off the guy who should have been #1! There is no other artist that will make Bret leave the house faster than Yanni, with his New Age, electronically-enhanced piano melodies. They grate on Bret’s nerves like sandpaper. I, on the other hand, find them soothing and lovely. They make perfect background music for writing or reading, and are marvelous accompaniment for a bubble bath. Guess it must be a chick thing. Evidence submitted: “Winter Light,” an exquisite collection of evocative music that flows over you like liquid beauty. It was my first introduction to Yanni (at a Wiccan celebration of Yule), and is still my favorite.

[Author's footnote: No, these differences of opinion DO NOT create disharmony in our home. Music (of ANY kind) is like oxygen to Bret and me — if we're awake, it's on. And we enjoy a passionate debate about music, or anything else. Life would be dull indeed if we were all the same!]

1. Korn, Korn. Now, some people may see that shadow as her watchful father’s, but not me. And that’s not a teddy bear he’s got in his hand.
2. Make Me Bad, Korn. [CD single] The graphic portrayal of my childhood recurring nightmare. Obviously, I was not the only child The Dark Man terrorized.
3. Kill ‘Em All, Metallica. So simple — a shadow, a tool and a puddle of red, and yet so very gruesome. Thank God there aren’t bits of brain tissue clinging to that sledgehammer.
4. Plastic Surgery Disasters, Dead Kennedys. It’s the hand that gets me. Not the human hand. The . . . other hand. Damn it, now I’m going to be seeing it in my head right at bedtime.
5. Mob Rules, Black Sabbath. Surprisingly, I find most of Black Sabbath’s covers too stereotypical to be even slightly disturbing, but this one is a definite exception. The faceless hooded figures carrying whips and the bloody sheet just exude an aura of evil.
6. Untouchables, Korn. Could these children be any more disturbed-looking? I don’t think so! It’s a whole crowd of future serial killers. WAY creepy.
7. Power Tool Stigmata, Godhead. Let me just say that this image is NOT what I want in my mind as I send my husband off to work on a huge TABLE SAW all day!!! Or in his, I might add.
8. The Sickness, Disturbed. MENTAL sickness, I’m thinking. SEVERE mental sickness. Psychopathic-murderer-of-his-entire-family mental sickness. His eyes make me shudder.
9. Retro Active, Def Leppard. This ambiguous image (Is it a girl looking in a mirror, or a skull?) is familiar to everyone now, but it originated on this cover. Sadly, as much as I love these guys, they’ve never had an album cover I liked. Why can’t they make one with that shower scene from the end of Historia? Woo hoo!!!
10. Mechanical Animals, Marilyn Manson. What I find disturbing about this cover is the knowledge that attractive, intelligent women (like Rose McGowan, for instance) have sex with this man. Voluntarily. I hope he takes the fake boobs off first.

1. Burn, Deep Purple. The heads of the five band members portrayed as lit candles, floating in a purple haze. On the back, the group’s faces hover in flames above the melting candles. Deep. What were they trying to say? (I would have put In Rock on here too, but I promised myself only one cover per group.)
2. In Search Of The Lost Chord, The Moody Blues. My personal favorite from a band known for their surrealistic cover art. Birth, death and all the chaos in between.
3. Houses Of The Holy, Led Zeppelin. Any rock album with a cover inspired by sci-fi (Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End) HAS to be on my list. Well, maybe not any . . .
4. Revolver, The Beatles. This was my most difficult choice, because The Beatles produced a number of superb covers. But Revolver’s striking line drawings won out over the Peter Max-designed Yellow Submarine and the sullen disparity captured on Hey Jude.
5. Steal This Album! System Of A Down. Absolutely brilliant — if simple — concept. Unfortunately, 13,000,000 adolescents are suing them for stealing their idea.
6. Exile On Main Street, The Rolling Stones. Sure, Sticky Fingers — with its zippered crotch — was more controversial, but it doesn’t haunt you like EOMS does. Did you know that is NOT a collage, but rather a single photo taken of the wall in a tattoo parlor somewhere on Route 66? (I think the guy with the balls in his mouth was the inspiration for Wallace & Grommet.)
7. In The Wake Of Poseidon, King Crimson. I love faces in art. This cover has six fascinating ones to ponder in your, ahem, state of heightened consciousness. And anything’s better than that creepy Schizoid Man.
8. Beauty And The Beat, The Go-Go’s. A retro-cool portrayal of ultimate girliness (the naughty nipple peeking through the bubbles on the back cover was a bonus for male fans). And has there ever been a more perfect album cover to hang in the bathroom?
9. Supernatural, Santana. Gloriously colorful ethnic art, filled with symbolism, that mesmerizes you for hours. And Shaman is damn near as wonderful.
10. Mother’s Milk, Red Hot Chili Peppers. A superb example of computer-generated artistry, with four miniaturized Peppers cradled in the arms of a lovely madonna. I’d bet money the pink rose covering her nipple was demanded by the record company.

Honorable Mention: Surrealistic Pillow, Jefferson Airplane. It’s PINK. Awesome songs. It was my first psychedelic album (Randy sent it to me for my 16th birthday). It’s going on my wall.

[Author's Note: There are many, many album covers by favorite groups of mine that are highly artistic, but they're so damn disturbing, I wouldn't want to hang them in my house! But that's a whole 'nother list . . . ]

Don’t agree? Post your suggestions below!

1. The Air That I Breathe by k.d. lang. I have never heard a song that more perfectly captures the euphoric lassitude of post-lovemaking than this throbbing, sultry rendition of the old Hollies ballad.
2. Suzie Q by Creedence Clearwater Revival. So damn good, most people don’t even remember the 1964 Rolling Stones version (which was itself a remake of a 1957 Dale Hawkins non-hit)! CCR slowed down the pace, amped up the sex and made this song their own. Applebee’s can go to hell for bastardizing it.
3. Some Kind Of Wonderful by Joss Stone. I have always loved this Grand Funk Railroad song, but this Brit singer’s rich bluesy treatment is pure auditory chocolate. Juli, you were right AGAIN.
4. Darlin’ Be Home Soon by Joe Cocker. My most favorite Cocker song EVER. I love the emotion he brings to this wistful plea for reconnection, originally done by the Lovin’ Spoonful.
5. Turn The Page by Metallica. More raw and somehow more real than Bob Seger’s classic life-on-the-road lament. James Hetfield is a man in resigned despair, sharing the achingly lonely side of fame.
6. Summer Breeze by Type O Negative. The Jeckyll and Hyde of remakes, taking the song from Seals & Crofts’ mellowness to growling, foreboding goth. Absolutely fascinating, and I thank Ashley for introducing me to this deliciously disturbing group.
7. Viva Las Vegas by ZZ Top. Elvis’ ode to Sin City takes on new life in this just-made-for-cruising version. Makes you want to jam that pedal to the metal and leave some rubber smokin’ on I-15 through the Mojave.
8. Ice Ice Baby by Korn. Only someone of Jonathan Davis’ caliber could so thoroughly tear this dated Vanilla Ice song apart, and reassemble it as something this genuinely cool.
9. Downtown Train by Rod Stewart. OK, let’s see a show of hands from those of you who even knew this was a remake! Gravelly bluesman Tom Waits released the original (which he also wrote) back in 1985. I much prefer Rod’s version — still yearning, but less depressed.
10. Light My Fire by Train. There are only two good reasons for remaking a song: to significantly improve on the original, or to transform it into something entirely different. It took some big cojones to undertake either with such a beloved classic. Train succeeds admirably with the second, by giving this Doors seduction an irresistibly danceable beat without turning it into pop glop.