Monthly Archives: September 2008

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Song of the Day #64: ‘Jesusland’ – Ben Folds

Ben Folds is one of my very favorite artists. He’s another one I could feature in the Song of the Day spot every day for weeks without hitting a bad song.

His second album, Songs for Silverman, is his most mature and nuanced work yet, something that didn’t go over well with a lot of his fans. Now, I’m not sure what sort of Ben Folds fan you are if you don’t like that album, but I suppose you’re the sort who is drawn to jokey stuff like ‘Song for the Dumped’ and ‘Rockin’ the Suburbs’ and oblivious to such sublime work as ‘Alice Childress,’ ‘Missing the War’ and ‘The Luckiest.’

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Great Scenes: Nigel shows off his guitars in This is Spinal Tap

After the firestorm of discussion about another Rob Reiner film, I’m returning to his catalog for the next installment in my ‘Great Scenes’ series.

Pound for pound, This is Spinal Tap is probably the funniest movie I have ever seen. The laughs are constant, and they come in all different forms — one-liners, sight gags, absurb situations and simply the hilarious behavior of the airheaded metal-rock has-beens in their natural habitat. I can quote this movie line-for-line, start to finish.

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Song of the Day #63: ‘Jesus Was an Only Son’ – Bruce Springsteen

I’m a Bruce Springsteen fan, but not a fanatic. I like his albums, but I’m not too keen on the idea of spending three sweaty hours watching The Boss blow the roof off of an arena.

I’m much more drawn to his quieter music than the anthemy stuff. My favorite Springsteen albums before the millennium were Nebraska and Tunnel of Love.

In the past 6 years, though, he’s put out some of his very best material. Starting with Devils & Dust, moving on to the covers album We Shall Overcome and finally delivering last year’s Magic, he’s been on a run that should make him the envy of musicians half his age.

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Song of the Day #62: ‘Jesus Walks’ – Kanye West

I believe this is only the second rap song I’ve featured out of 62 Songs of the Day.

It’s not that I don’t like rap. I do, sometimes. I like Eminem, Outkast and Kanye West. A little Public Enemy. I think the main barrier to me being more of a rap fan is the subject matter. I know it’s a cliche, but so much of what I hear deals almost exclusively with bitches, thugs and the gangsta life.

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Song of the Day #61: ‘Jesus Etc.’ – Wilco

Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is one of those albums that is known more for the circumstances of its release than its actual music. Initially the suits at the label refused to release it because they found it too arty and inaccessible, so Wilco offered it up for free on its Web site. After thunderous critical acclaim, the same parent company bought the album back and gave it an official release.

A win for The Artists vs. The Man. And a hell of a great album to boot.

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