PSoTD

From their best album, imho - Systems of Romance.

Blodwyn Pig - The Modern Alchemist

A quirky detour of late-'60s British progressive/blues rock, Blodwyn Pig was founded by former Jethro Tull guitarist Mick Abrahams, who left Tull after the This Was album. Abrahams was joined by bassist Andy Pyle, drummer Ron Berg, and Jack Lancaster, who gave the outfit their most distinctive colorings via his saxophone and flute. On their two albums, they explored a jazz/blues/progressive style somewhat in the mold of (unsurprisingly) Jethro Tull, but with a lighter feel. They also bore some similarities to John Mayall's jazzy late-'60s versions of the Bluesbreakers, or perhaps Colosseum, but with more eclectic material. Both of their LPs made the British Top Ten, though the players' instrumental skills were handicapped by thin vocals and erratic (though oft-imaginative) material. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

How did this song not make it as a hit?

27 Jennifers by Mike Doughty

David Bowie, of course.

Sex Pistols, Decemberists, Kasabian, Rilo Kiley ... not bad taste for an offspring of McCrank.

"Back in my past life," admits 23-year-old Meghan McCain in a recent posting on McCainBlogette.com, "I wanted to be a music journalist."

McCain is the daughter of Arizona Senator and Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, but don't think she's abandoned those music journalism aspirations completely. As one of the three women behind McCainBlogette.com, the potential future First Daughter and her pals have taken it upon themselves to share a series of playlists "of the songs we just can't get enough of."

As young McCain writes, "I love the vibe and emotion I get from music...I take that energy and run with it."

Turns to Blue

Husker Du's last tour, Finland, June 1987

Notice the subtle dance moves of bassist Greg Norton.

Yeah, I kinda like this video. I don't know why I like Pink's in-your-face attitude, but I do. Her little hand gesture at 3:00 is subtle enough to be funny.

Check out these Top 100 Hits of 1968. Not many keepers here.

I vaguely remember this song - number 29 on the list. But just barely.

It's a little rougher and more cussing than anything she sang, but for whatever reason, Pink's You And Your Hand sounds like something that Pat Benatar would have done 20 years ago.

The things you hear and think about when you have a preteen daughter...

Miss Jennifer Warnes' voice in this, however.

Wishbone Ash - "Throw Down The Sword"

I guess we're coming up to the time of the year where people talk about top love songs. My personal opinion is that a good love song has to be VERY malleable - after all, everyone's idea of a song to represent "love" or their "relationship" is going to be different, right? You'd almost think that the best love songs would be instrumentals without any lyrics, since that would be pretty open to interpretation.

They also have to be timely. Eight year olds aren't looking for love songs, and 80 year olds aren't necessarily looking for love songs. Love songs have to be out there for those who are actually looking for something "to represent". Christian music is full of love songs (albeit, usually a different kind of love) but you rarely here somebody refer to them as love songs. I think it's because they are out of frame for most of the population. The song has to be somehow in the moment.

In fact, if you look at the songs on the linked compilation, you'll see they're old songs. Some might say they've survived the test of time. I think they were, in general, just lucky, released within the time frame where a lot of people were looking for love songs.

I don't think love songs absolutely equate with wedding songs, either. YMCA and Who Let the Dogs Out seem to be at every wedding. They are not love songs. They are, at this point, barely songs at all, more like chants that everyone at the wedding party does.

So - here's the question: what "love songs" do you really love, or really hate? And what makes it a love song?

Last Saturday I posted a New Pornographers YouTube and last night Atrios followed suit. Hmmmmm... we'll have to see if Vampire Weekend shows up on Eschaton in the near future. Being Tastemaker would be considerable responsibility but I believe I'm ready to lead on Day One.

Thankfully there has been no sign of England Dan and John Ford Coley.