Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor @ citypaper.net.) This week, Meal Ticket editor and professional drink slinger Felicia D’Ambrosio serves up a tuneful 10-pack.

Word of warning:  As a bartender, I am obliged to play DJ during my shifts. This has led to my iPod being less a reflection of myself and more a neutered, family-friendly Felicia that can charm the beer geeks with both high-alcohol Belgians and ample Led Zep and Bowie.

1. The Dixie Cups – “Iko Iko” (Goin’ to the Chapel)
This is a traditional Mardi Gras song that was later covered in lavish ’80s style for the wicked cool Lamborghini scene that opens Rain Man. The mythology on the Cups version says that the girls were just singing together in the studio for fun, with someone tapping out percussion on an ashtray — which should account for the tinny, homey recording.

2. The Breeders – “Invisible Man” (Last Splash)
Forbidden from viewing MTV’s trashy whores and dangerous music videos by my parents, I wasn’t exposed to ’80s and early ’90s music until a decade than my peers. Call me Lisa-come-lately, but I just found out that the chick from the Breeders was in the Pixies first. The sighing vocals and thrumming guitars of “Invisible Man” make me proud to wear my flannel shirt today.

3. Architecture in Helsinki – “Like it or Not”
Picture a circus of Fraggles hopped up on sugar and meth, singing and bobbing in their creepy underground lair, and you have a pretty good visual on the chorus of “Like it or Not” — bellow “Wah wah wah wah wah wah, my mom thinks she’s in love with you.” Like, whoa. Reminds me of Man Man’s more frantic efforts.

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Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor @ citypaper.net.) This week, listings editor Holly Otterbein stops working long enough to temporarily treat her ears nice.

1. Woody Guthrie –  “New Found Land” (Columbia River Collection)
I have my snobby friends to thank for this one. I’d want to rock out to the jangly, metallic-y and unarguably brilliant Blonde on Blonde, and they’d hate on it. “Screw Bob Dylan,” they’d say. “He’s just a ripoff of Woody Guthrie.” It turns out this is only half-true, applying to a measly six of Dylan’s 32 studio albums. But I’m glad I got to know Guthrie because of it. He’s wholly American and makes for great roadtrip music.

2. Radiohead – “Kid A” (Kid A)
A friend of mine once said that this album captures our zeitgeist. And that’s all I’m going to say, because otherwise I’ll sound like a slobbering fangirl.

3. The Decemberists – “Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)” (The Crane Wife)
This album, The Crane Wife, is based off an an old, bittersweet Japanese tale. (Read about its fantastical plot here.) It’s epic and involves soldiers and lovers, just like every great Decemberists album. By the way,  I never heard of the term “lit-rock” before The Decemberists came around. Did it exist before them? Surely another band must like the thesaurus as much as The Decemberists do.

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Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor @ citypaper.net.) This week, brand-new intern Jasia Kaulbach scores one (ten?) for the music nerds. (Check out her Local Support writeup on Critical Mass.)

1. Jimi Hendrix – “Castles Made of Sand” (Axis: Bold as Love)
One of my all-time favorite Hendrix songs! Whenever i listen to it, I always think about the lyrics in a different way (”so castles made in the sand fall in the sea eventually … “). So many possible meanings — not to mention the amazing guitar playing — but of course that’s a given for any Hendrix song. My best memory listening to this song is in my friend’s car on the way home from school like every day for an entire year. Ah, traditions.

2. Fleetwood Mac – “The Chain” (Rumours)
Don’t be ashamed to love this song just because it’s probably definitely played on Ben FM! It’s freaking inspirational whether you like it or not.  You’ll end up closing your eyes, bobbing your head and maybe even get a toe tap in there, woah now. I never noticed this jam session at the end. So nice.

3. Voxtrot – “The Start of Something” (Raised by Wolves EP)
British pop rock. Mmm. Sort of makes me want to skip down a street somewhere … or throw up, depending on my mood. Sweet orchestral touch at the end of this one that gives the song a bit more overall depth.

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Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net.) This week, Phillybits blogger Ray Skwire shares some bits of his music.

1. Roni Size / Reprazent – “Brown Paper Bag”
This is a great track I came to like several years ago when I was more interested in electronica and drum and bass. I’ve never been able to let go of this one. It fits best when I’m in the city and it’s all just crazy out with people everywhere spouting gibberish at each other that I’m trying not to pay attention to in the first place.

2. Pink Floyd – “The Final Cut” (The Final Cut)
There’s something about the voice Roger Waters has, as well as his singing style (which in much of his earlier work was very throaty and raw), that just appeals to me and adds emotional emphasis to his lyrics. I’ve never before heard an artist whose voice cuts straight through a song right to my ears quite like he does.

3. The B52’s – “Love Shack” (Cosmic Thing)
C’mon, it’s “Love Shack” for crying out loud.

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Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net.) This week, IT hero extraordinaire John Tarng gets random.

1. Blake Babies – “Tom and Bob” (Nicely, Nicely [EP])
Juliana Hatfield definitely did her best work with the Blake Babies. I guess I’m a sucker for the spunk and infectious melodies that are typical of Blake Babies.

2. Marvin Gaye – “Trouble Man” (The Very Best of Marvin Gaye)
One word to describe Marvin: genius. He was blessed with unmatched songwriting skills and devastatingly poignant vocal delivery. On this particular track, he somehow maintains the street-tough persona while using a crooning and seductive voice. I can’t think of anyone today who could faithfully cover this song and not sound inept.

3. Ryan Adams & the Cardinals – “This is It” (Follow the Lights [EP])
It’s hard for me to reconcile the fact that Ryan Adams is both a well-documented jerk and a brilliant songwriter and vocalist. Personality goes a long way, I suppose. There can’t be another reason why he’s not a bigger star. I guess it’s for the best that I remain in denial of his jerkitude. Now I can keep listening to his music.

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1. Unlimited Touch – “I Hear Music In the Streets”

2.  Black Riot – “A Day In the Life”

3. Tears for Fears – “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”

Posted in 10-track mind, Music | No Comments »

Every week (slight hiatus here!), we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net.) This week, Daniel Delaney (@danieldelaney), host of the soon-to-be-launched street food podcast VendyTV and creator of the Rittenhouse / Twitter experiment, makes sound waves.

1. Stevie Wonder – “Overjoyed”
As if I was living under a rock for the first 20 some odd years of my life, Stevie Wonder was simply this name I knew. He was anonymous musician “other” people listened to, and far too mainstream for anything I would dare to put on my iPhone. One evening while forging up the FDR Drive, “Superstition” came on. At the time, I didn’t know it was Stevie, but somehow knew the lyrics and loved the beat. I rolled down my windows on that 30-degree evening, blasted the heat and cranked the radio for all to hear. The rock was lifted, and I found my new musical love: Stevie Wonder.

2. Bach – “Goldberg Variations: Aria”
Renowned psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi was the first to document the concept of Flow. A state of mind so intense, so focused, that all external feelings, troubles and woes fade away. While doing my undergraduate studies in Philadelphia at The University of the Arts it was imperative for me to achieve or come close to Flow for my work. As such, I set out on a quest to control my environment to edge closer toward flow. I altered the lighting, temperature and workspace. Still, something was missing. ENTER: Bach. Bach got me into Flow. He was the missing piece of the puzzled that capped off external stimulation and allowed me to focus on my work.

3. Herbie Hancock feat. Luciana Souza – “Amelia”
Combine Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, heaps of amazing artist and the album’s Grammy and it’s hard to NOT have River: The Joni Letters in your library. I first got into Herbie while in my freshman year at college. I was lucky enough to have dormed with a jazz head eager to share his passion. We went to see the likes of Winton Marsalis, Chick Corea and Ornette Coleman. I was intrigued, confused, and excited about this newfound genre, and have been hooked ever since, snatching up every album that passes through my ears.

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Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net.) This week, Jen A. Miller, author of The Jersey Shore: Atlantic City to Cape May and the Down the Shore with Jen blog, makes sound waves.

1. The A-Sides – “Diamonds” (Silver Storms)
Between 2005 and early 2007, I went to a lot of shows — I reviewed concerts for Phillyist and I did a few music profiles for magazines. When I started writing my book, I couldn’t dedicate that much time to keeping up with new music, so I missed this album when it first came out. I first heard it at marsRED (what had been a great music store in Haddonfield), so I bought it. Just listened to it the other day. I like the instrumental on this song. Is it OK to say I don’t get what it’s about? OK, good. But I like listening to it.

2. Ari Hest – “The Memories You’ve Forgotten” (52 Songs in 52 Weeks project)
I got an Ari Hest sampler CD in a tragic gift bag from some schmaltzy PR event — tragic in that it included a Von Dutch trucker hat. I threw out everything but the sampler, which I liked, and later picked up his debut album. It’s strong singer/songwriter stuff. I’ve seen him twice in concert, once at World Café Live (the post card his signed hangs in my office) and at Tin Angel. He’s put out two albums so far, but his EPs are far better. I heard he felt hemmed in by his contract with Columbia. After the contract was up, he started a “52 Songs in 52 Weeks” project — he’d produce one song a week, and you could buy per song or you could sign up for the entire series. I did the latter, and this song is from it. I found out about it just as I was finishing my “52 books in 52 Weeks” project. It’s a great way to stretch yourself within your craft. Some of his songs are so/so, and some stellar — this is one of the best.

3. Oasis – “Some Might Say” ((What’s the Story) Morning Glory)
I liked the Oasis stuff when it first came out, but after Liam Gallagher said that they were better than the Beatles, I started changing the radio station whenever their songs came on. When 104.5 started up its current format, they played songs from this album every hour or so, so I finally bought it and “got it.” This is probably my least favorite track on the album. Liam’s a putz, but “Wonderwall” is a great song.

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Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net.) This week, give it the hell up for Matthew Quick, author of The Silver Linings Playbook: A Novel (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). Read an excerpt of Quick’s book here.

1. Black 47 – “Funky Céilí” (Live in New York City)
This is that Irish-sounding pop song about a lad who gets his girl pregnant, leaves the old country and moves to the US of A. At the beginning of this live version the lead singer says he wants to make 16 red-haired babies. Does anyone really need to make 16 red-haired babies, especially considering the state of today’s economy and global warming? So I’m thinking this song might be dated. “Don’t let the door hit your ARSE on the way out.” Indeed. Although you do have to like a song that lets the musical protagonist choose between “castration or a one-way ticket to New York.” And I like me “fidily-didily-diedily-dee.”

2. Regina Spektor – “Your Honor” (Soviet Kitsch)
I find Regina Spektor so wonderfully sassy — at least on this album. She’s like a Tori Amos with whom you could actually imagine yourself having a beer. I dig the crazy mood swings in this song — in-your-face punk rock drums and guitar and yelling changes abruptly to heartfelt piano and wistful singing. Maybe I like this song because I can be moody myself, but it really works for me. And I definitely have a thing for Regina Spektor. Love her song “Us.”

3. The Goats – “Rumblefish” (No Goats No Glory)
Ah, some Philly rap from college days. Whatever happened to The Goats? We need politically smart rap now more than ever. But this song is from the sophomore album, which I think I lamented in the La Salle Collegian back in the day. This song is not really political. And it’s not as good as anything from Tricks Of The Shade, which was one fine disk.

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Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net.) This week, Clog editor Drew Lazor I will be handling the milestone 50th edition of 10-Track Mind. Here’s to 50 more.

1. Mike Doughty – “Nectarine (Part One)” (Golden Delicious)
The dude from Soul Coughing. This particular track is really catchy and a little bluesy but features a little too much twee onomatopoeia for my tastes. One time Mike Doughty made out with a female friend of mine, if I remember correctly. Or was it Evan Dando? Wait, that was me in a dream I had. I’ve always liked Doughty’s voice. For some reason, the first thing I think of when hearing it is the bizarre Soul Coughing song “The Bug,” which appeared on the Batman and Robin soundtrack.

2. Saves the Day – “Sell My Old Clothes, I’m Off to Heaven” (Another Year on the Streets)
This is bringing back terrifying memories. Junior and senior year of high school (and partially into my freshman year of college), I fancied myself kinda emo and tried to look the part — the glasses, the corny studded belt, the skinnyskinny jeans, being an insufferable bitch, etc. It took me awhile to realize that I was too fat to pull off the look successfully. It took me even longer to realize that most of the bands I listened to sucked/sounded the same. I still dig STD a bit, though. I remember a few friends of mine and I took to singing Chris Conley’s noxiously self-absorbed lyrics with Fs in front of all the words based on the part of this song where he goes “… if we only FFFFFLet it!” So it would be like “Maybe just a minute” = “Flayflee flust a flinuteeeeee.” I’m really, really digging myself a hole here.

3. Taj Mahal – “Popular” (Welcome to the City of Realadelphia)
Look everyone, rap! I’m cool again! This off a dope Philly mixtape cohosted by Benja Styles and DJ Drama aka Barack O’Drama. Taj is a local MC with a cocky, grinning flow. I honestly haven’t heard too much of him beyond this track, which samples the song “Popular” from the original Broadway cast recording of Wicked. Ballsy or ill-advised? Your call. Best rhyme: “I’m your top friend/ like MySpace/ MySpace got your girl at my place.” E-game, motherfuckers. Appropriately enough, I found this awesome picture of Taj on his MySpace.

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Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net.) This week, urban planner/occasional CP contributor Andrew Zitcer draws up some tune-y blueprints.

1. Son House – “Pearline” (The Original Delta Blues)
Son House is the rawest, most amazing bluesman I have ever heard. He is pretty good when he’s playing the guitar and singing — but he’s untouchable when he sings a cappella and just claps real hard, like on “John the Revelator.” You can hear the connection with gospel inherent in his music. Son House wasn’t afraid of the sacred or the profane. Favorite line of his: “Woke up this morning with the blues three different ways/two of them said to leave here/only one of them said stay.”

2. June and the Exit Wounds – “Highway Noise” (A Little More Haven Hamilton, Please)
No idea how I found this band, and for an album I like this much, it surprises me that I have not really followed their career or found out every last detail about them. But listen — they’ll make your day brighter with sunny melodies and unabashed emulation of the Burt Bacharach/Todd Rundgren brand of love(lorn)liness. In fact, I blame this band’s jazzy, breezy goodness for a weak moment recently where I downloaded two Steely Dan records. Great band name, though.

3. LCD Soundsystem – “Sound of Silver (McSleazy Remix)” (LCDremixed.com)
This remix is lame in near-exact proportion to the greatness of LCD Soundsystem. It sounds like something somebody did in Garageband, on his laptop, trying to impress a girl who worked at a comic book store. I did get a chance to see LCD itself in the summer of ‘07 on Randall’s Island, and I was floored. My friends had never heard of them, heard their music or seen them before. Then James Murphy came out, looking like an accountant, and my friends stood in disbelief, as they were rocked out of their minds. I thought this must have been what it was like to see the Talking Heads play live in their prime.

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Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net.) This week, Andrew Zitelli of  Von Hayes writes a love letter to new jack swing, among other things. The band dropped their debut, Evident Eyelid, last month, and are releasing an EP, Quartered Lots for the Umbrella Soldier, on State Capital Records later this year.

1. The Time – “Jerk Out” (Pandemonium)
The Time sound a lot like early Prince (who wrote this song) albeit a slightly regressive, everyman version of The Purple One. Amongst the numerous hits in the Paisley Park catalog, I’d rank this somewhere in the middle third, which is definitely saying something.

2. The Cows – “Allergic to Myself” (Orphan’s Tragedy)
Catchy riff, clever lyrics, slick mid-’90s pop-grunge production, loads of quirky fun — why wasn’t this a big hit? The Cows were sort of like the grunge Devo in that they subverted their genre just enough to stay fresh and stand out from the pack, but maybe a bit too much to truly catch on with the buying public. The crazy bendy slidey notes at around 1:40 border on self-parody, but that’s The Cows. One of the great, un-heard alternative rock songs.

3. Miaow - “Sport Most Royal” (C86 compilation)
This is honestly the first time I’ve knowingly listened to this song. Sort of a twee-ish new wave “rave up” with husky female vocals. Not doing much for me.

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Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net.) This week, Jason Fetz of seminal techno band Timecop offends everyone. Check out Timecop this Sunday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. at the Khyber. Stream their song “Guys” below.

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1. Air – “Left Bank” (Pocket Symphony)
If i was a robot, this would be the song I would kill myself to. Which reminds me of Bender in Futurama: “Well, it was nice meeting you Fry. I’m gonna go kill myself.” I actually believe AIR is actually two robots disguised as sexy French men. I might be gay for them.

2. Suburban Kids with Biblical Names –
“Funeral Face” (#3)
This actually just went on a mix tape for this engaged lady I am in love with who is currently in Arkansas getting married to someone else. LIFE RULEZ!!! These guys are probably pretty annoying to hang out with, but it’s still a great song.

3. The Police – “Roxanne” (Outlandos d’Amour)
This is the song I sing to myself when I masturbate. Which is like all the time, due primarily to the general lack of sex I get.* This also reminds me of that amazing scene in Moulin Rouge where they do that crazy operatic cover. Shitty movie, amazing scene. Why did I buy that fucking DVD?

* Who wants to have sex?

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Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net.) This week, ramblin’, rovin’ staff writer Isaiah Thompson holds still long enough for us to get 10 tracks out of him. He’s also submitted the first-ever 10-TRACK MIND PODCAST, which you can check out below.

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1. Big Bill Broonzy – “This Train is Bound For Glory” (Trouble in Mind)
Big Bill was an activist, a thinker, and a hell of a musician. Blues was his main thing — and protest songs. Famous song line: “If you’re white, you’re all right, if you’re brown stick around, and if you’re black, oh brother, get back, get back.” “This Train” is an old spiritual — but he gave it a new twist.

2. Rumpole and the Age of Miracles – “John Mortimer” (Recorded Books Inc.)
Ugh, I knew this would happen. Mainly, I don’t listen to music. I listen to words — news, mostly, but also audio books. So here’s my current project, embarrassing as it is: Rumpole and the Age of Miracles, the adventures of a curmudgeonly British defense lawyer. Go ahead. I don’t care what you say.

3. Randy Newman – “God’s Song”
Randy Newman is one of the bitterest, funniest songwriters and one of the most talented piano players ever. His song “Louisiana 1927,” written before Katrina, gave that latter tragedy an anthem for decades to come. “God’s Song” is pretty intense — it takes a certain kind of someone to mock all mankind in three minutes.

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