Paramore claims the #11 spot on Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop poll with their sprightly single ‘Hard Times.’
Despite the calypso beat and pop art video, this is song was inspired by a bout of depression suffered by lead singer Hayley Williams. The juxtaposition of music and lyrics makes for a pleasantly disorienting experience.
Rounding out the top ten of Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop poll, surprise!, are more pop and rap songs.
Charli XCX lands at #8 with her minor summer hit ‘Boys’, while Selena Gomez (‘Bad Liar‘) ties for the 9th spot with Future (‘Mask Off’). Gomez’s ‘Bad Liar’ has emerged as one of my favorite 2017 songs.
I know ‘Natchez Trace’ as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Dusty Springfield’s seminal classic Dusty in Memphis, but it turns out its backstory is rather interesting.
This song was originally recorded for an album titled Faithful, which was to be Springfield’s seventh studio recording. In 1971, Atlantic Records released two singles from the album but neither made the charts. Disappointed with the response, the studio shelved the album and declined to renew her contract.
Today’s Random Weekend SOTD, ‘Electron Blue,’ is one of the best songs on R.E.M.’s worst album, 204’s Around the Sun. It’s the album’s second track and third single.
‘Electron Blue’ is lead singer Michael Stipe’s favorite track from this album, and one of his favorite R.E.M. songs, period. I like it well enough, and agree that it’s a highlight of an otherwise unforgettable album, but I’m sorry, this doesn’t stand up to the best of R.E.M., not even close.
Indie rocker St. Vincent takes the #7 spot on Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop poll with ‘New York,’ a single from her fifth studio album, Masseduction.
Annie Clark (the woman behind the pseudonym) teamed up with super-producer Jack Antonoff to deliver a pop twist on her usual alternative sound and garnered some of the best reviews of her already critically-adored career.
Meet Me In Montauk 