Monthly Archives: October 2012

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Song of the Day #1,567: ‘Crazytown’ – Aimee Mann

A month ago, I focused on Aimee Mann as part of my genome project, declaring her the most melancholy of all the melancholy artists I love.

A couple of weeks later, she surprised me by releasing her poppiest, most upbeat album since her Til Tuesday days, or at least since 1995’s alt-pop I’m With Stupid.

Charmer is heavy on synths and heavier on hooks, a real triumph of pop songwriting and a great next step for Mann, who might have been accused of treading water had she released another album in the vein of her last few.

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Song of the Day #1,566: ‘Do It Anyway’ – Ben Folds Five

Yesterday I wrote about the nostalgia for 90’s acts that contributed to a new release by The Wallflowers. No doubt many people will look at the reunion of Ben Folds Five in the same light.

The band put out three studio albums between 1995 and 1999 then broke up unexpectedly. Their output generated one medium-sized hit (‘Brick’) and a small but devoted legion of fans like myself who couldn’t believe something so great ended so quickly.

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Song of the Day #1,565: ‘Hospital For Sinners’ – The Wallflowers

Riding a wave of nostalgia for 90s acts, The Wallflowers returned this month with their first album since 2005’s Rebel, Sweetheart.

The Wallflowers made a big splash with 1996’s Bringing Down the Horse. Hit singles ‘One Headlight’ and ‘6th Avenue Heartache’ were radio staples that sound as fresh today as they did 16 years ago. But their brand of earnest roots rock felt out of place as grunge gave way to hip-hop, dance and electronica.

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Song of the Day #1,564: ‘Scarlet Town’ – Bob Dylan

In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Bob Dylan was told about a critic who said that Justin Bieber couldn’t sing any of the songs on Tempest, Dylan’s new album. Dylan replied, “I couldn’t sing any of his songs either.”

That exchange captures what’s great about Dylan’s output over the past two decades.

The man’s voice is shot, no question. He has never had much range, but he sounds like Bono on his early albums when compared to his recent work.

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Song of the Day #1,563: ‘Drifted Apart’ – Tift Merritt

It’s been a very good year for new music releases, particularly if you’re me.

New albums from Ben Folds Five, Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright, Bob Dylan, The Shins, Tift Merritt, The Wallflowers, Garbage, Lyle Lovett and Bruce Springsteen, all in one year? Talk about a dream lineup.

I’ve hardly had any time to discover new artists because I’m so busy listening to new music by my favorites.

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