For some strange reason all of my late-90s/early-2000s middle school dances included “build me up buttercup.” It would be sandwiched between “Baby One More Time” and “Hot in Here.” So bizarre. Those dances really made me hate it, 5/10 for me.
Any one of those other songs could have gone to #1 and would’ve been just as worthy. “Preacher Man” is such a great song. I’m starting to realize that 60s soul > 60s rock by a landslide.
I first read the story of this song in a Beatles edition of Disney Adventures magazine. No idea why a kid’s magazine in the 90s did a Beatles edition, but it was great. This story was my first indication that John Lennon wasn’t all that great a guy. Also, apparently when McCartney tried to buy the Beatles song rights he wanted to give this one to Julian. We all know how that went.
9/10 for me, but the Tenenbaums moment is an 11/10. Anderson uses music so well
That cemetary is worth a trip if only for all the weird gravestones. My two favorites are the inventor whose tombstone is a statue him amd his wife in bed in their pajamas and Man Ray’s grave, because it’s just a terrible photo of him. I like to think he did it on purpose.
Drunk neverabadidea has tried to get every one of my exes to slow dance to “These Arms of Mine” and every one has refused. Suffice it to say there’s a reason they’re exes. Song is perfect.
And as an aside: I took a tour of Monroe Terrace in Madison. On the roof there’s a plaque dedicated to Otis. The tour guide rolled her eyes and said “the Otis Redding fan club insisted on it.” As if it ruined the building (which is pretty ugly, not one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s best). Lady, it’s Otis Redding, he gets all the plaques.
What makes this song a ten is that in many ways it’s outlasted the tragic story that put it at #1. Most people who hear it now don’t know that it was released after his death or that Otis died so young. It’s just a great song.
I love not spoiling myself on the songs in this column because just yesterday I was complaining about how terrible 1968 was for music. Then Otis pops up and I’m tearing up just reading this.
I mean, I don't hate it. Maybe it's because the last two songs were so bad.
No spoilers, but is the rest of 1968 full of turds? Does it get better or are we just downhill from now on?
Bloc! Have you ever read this Grantland story about the punk kids that created the "Yankees Suck!" tees? It's great:
http://grantland.com/features/yankees-suck-t-shirts-boston-red-sox/
I fucking hate “I am the Walrus” with every fiber of my being. As a child the “you’ve been a naughty girl you ket your knickers down” line was so creepy and uncomfortable, it’s even worse as an adult knowing what kind of asshole John Lennon was. I just hate it. It’s a song people love and I think it’s weird and dumb.
Suffice to say I am ok with “Hello, Goodbye” as the a-side. 7/10.
Excited for anything Rosenstock, bummed they’re playing Chicago the same night as Los Campesinos! Fortunately Rosebstock comes through at least twice a year.
I had to choose between Florence and Titus tonight. I ended up going with Titus because I like the venue better, but I'm sad to miss Florence because she is electric live. Hoping she comes back again soon and plays Chicago Theatre...or pretty much any place but United Center.
I never comment on shut up, dude, but this week I discovered Waxahatchee's "Out In the Storm" and I needed to post about it. This is one of those albums that I'm over a year late for but it's the perfect album at the moment. I have a love/hate for associating albums with breakups, but this one is pretty spot on. Hopefully y'all have a nicer weekend than I, because I'm looking forward to some hardcore wallowing.
I grew up in a Beatles household. My mom figured out how to program a vcr so she could tape “The Beatles Anthology.” I’d seen all their movies by 8. One Christmas there was a bitter fight for a hardcover Beatles coffee table book during a White Elephant. So, I view the Beatles through a very biased lens. When Tom said he doesn’t like Beatles songs I was mad, but then allowed myself to think critically and agree that yes, they have some terrible songs. This is bery much one of them. I really hate John Lennon’s bullshit hippy love garbage. It never felt sincere.
This was the first song that I scrolled down to check the score first. I shouldn't have worried, it would be hard to knock it.
I've always loved "Respect," but only got into Otis Redding a few years ago. I love that he wrote the song and love his version, but even he knew Aretha's was better. As much as he says "a girl took it from me" he also refers to her as a good friend. It's a bummer that both only had one #1 each (though Otis's is for a very different reason).
Nah. 7/10 at least.
This column has educated me on many things, but the thing I’m most grateful for so far is that I had no idea just how massive the Supremes were. I know all their songs but had never added up just how many there were.
Also wasn’t featured onthe soundtrack. He was only able to get Stones songs in the movies but not on soundtracks until Darjeeling.
Also, stereogum should rank Anderson soundtracks. I’d go Rushmore/Tenenbaums/Darjeeling/Life Aquatic for my tops
Now I wish I could hear this song for the first time as an afult, rather than as (assumably) a toddler as it played on an oldies station while my mom drove me somewhere. Toddler me didn’t appreciate it.
I remember very clearly watching Kurt Loeder announcing Cobain’s death. I was 6 at the time and my big sis had mtv news on. I remember little else from Mtv of the early 90s except Kurt Loeder.
This is also the first time I’ve watched footage of Nirvana and thought “they were such babies back then!”
Please god no on the 1975 or 21 pilots. Both bands have played Lolla or one of the Q101 fests in the last few years. It would just feel repetitive. I love some of the festival staples, like Matt and Kim, but it worries me when RF starts to have the same line up as every mid-tier festival put there.
While this year’s RF was a bit of a letdown, lineup-wise, it was still really fun. Bleachers killed it, I wish they had been after Young the Giant (which, why did they book Young the Giant? Another generic festival staple). I’d never heard of Bully until two weeks ago but I am definitely seeing them again, great performance. Interpol was fantastic, I wish the set had been longer. Twin Peaks clearly loved playing for the hometown crowd.
I came into RF skeptical, but left ready for next year. Hopefully their lineup issues don’t haunt them in 2019.
I had no idea Donovan ever got to #1. His stuff always seemed too weird for it.
My sister met Donovan about 10 years ago when she was waitressing at Logan Airport. She said he was this wacky old dude who kept telling her he used to be a singer and was writing a script. She knew who he was after a while but he didn’t seem to care. Sounds about right for Donovan
Good god, why would anyone be embarrassed about liking The Cure? The Smiths I can see, because Moz has become such an asshole, but The Cure are awesome. I’m pretty sure everyone got over the way Robert Smith looks by like 1980.
I’m on mobile and can’t do gifs but can someone post Cartman saying “Disintegration rules!” Even the South Park guys genuinely like The Cure.
Oh hell yes. It was a slow burn of a song for me, I think it took a year for me to realize how good of a song it is. I just love the line “please just let me be the one to keep track of the frexkles and the moles on your back.” As a pale, freckly person who has panicked about moles and had exes check them, I relate a little too much. I’ve only heard it live once and I lost my shit.
It’s been so much fun following LC! for ten years. Their output has always been solid. RIB is my favorite mostly for “I just sighed.” I am so excited to hear “you’ll need those fingers for crossing” for what I think is the first time when I see them in November. Their live shows are so damn cathartic, there’s nothing better than screaming “sweet dreams, sweet cheeks” with a crowd of people.
My friends are so sick of me talking about it, but seriously this is my favorite. Some people like podcasts, but I prefer reading columns. Much more concise and interesting.
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