Category Archives: song of the day

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Song of the Day #2,970: ‘Brass in Pocket’ – The Pretenders

the_pretendersI’ve never paid much attention to The Pretenders, in part because my wife has a visceral dislike of lead singer Chrissie Hynde (to clarify, it’s Hynde’s voice she dislikes, not the woman herself). I’m not sure why that matters all that much, because my wife dislikes many of the musical acts I enjoy, but it’s one reason I’ve neglected to explore the band’s music.

Another reason is my own dislike for the song ‘I’ll Stand by You,’ one of those syrupy power ballads either speaks to you on a deep emotional level or makes you want to wretch.

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Song of the Day #2,969: ‘Back in Black’ – AC/DC

ac-dc_back_in_blackFrequent commenter Dana suggested last week that looking at commercial hits rather than critically acclaimed albums might produce more palatable results. Several of the albums I’ve featured so far have been best sellers as well as critics darlings, but none to the degree of today’s selection.

AC/DC’s Back in Black is considered one of the best rock albums of all time, and has sold more copies worldwide than anything but Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Embarrassingly, I don’t own it.

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Song of the Day #2,968: ‘Private Idaho’ – The B-52’s

b52s_wild_planetAh, a nice refreshing respite from the abrasive punk rock of last week! My next 1980 album is the sophomore effort by New Wave band The B-52’s.

Wild Planet and the band’s self-titled debut (released a year earlier) are considered The B-52’s best work, at least until 1989’s comeback album Cosmic Thing, which featured the hits ‘Roam’ and ‘Love Shack.’ The first two records established their flamboyant, retro style and put Athens, Georgia, on the musical map a few years before R.E.M.’s first record.

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Song of the Day #2,967: ‘The Breakout’ – John Mellencamp

mellencamp_dance_nakedJohn Mellencamp’s 13th album, 1994’s Dance Naked, was recorded and released by Mellencamp in a rush to spite the record company.

He was unhappy with the suits’ lukewarm response to his previous album, the excellent Human Wheels, so he aimed to deliver the sort of mindless rock-n-roll record they preferred.

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Song of the Day #2,966: ‘Spend Some Time’ – Eminem

eminem_encoreEminem’s fifth studio album, 2004’s Encore, is easily the worst record he’s ever recorded.

As a follow-up to the excellent The Eminem Show, release just two years earlier, this record couldn’t have been more disappointing.

And ‘Spend Some Time,’ today’s Random Weekend SOTD, might be the worst song on the album. Along with Obie Trice, Stat Quo and 50 Cent, Eminem spews tired, misogynist garbage about the women (make that “bitches”) who’ve let them down.

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