Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#185)

(#185, Doubleheader by Dan Bern with Common Rotation)

This was a gift from Howard Goldstein in the summer of 2012, after I got back from the hospital.  Wasn't even aware this was recorded.  I've probably listened to this album more than any other album since I received in from Howard, mostly from April through October, as it combines two huge passions, music and baseball.  Dan Bern has become one of my favorite artists since the same Howard Goldstein introduced him to me in 2004.  Just bought his new one, "Songs of Fall", and featured two Dan Bern songs on newgazzi Vol 17 ... check that out, too !





Here is "Ballpark" and "Year by Year Home Run Totals of Barry Bonds"

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#186)

(#186, How I Knew Her by Nataly Dawn)

This is has documented and notarized several times over the past few years.  This is my favorite voice in popular music at this moment.  1/2 of the charming Pomplamoose put out her debut solo album early in 2013, and it is fantastic.  There is not a single weak track in the bunch.  But if I could ask Nataly one question, I'd want to know the story behind the album art ... the two pictures.  Then I'd immediately feel like I wasted my question on something so trivial.  It is my understanding that Pomplamoose is recording an album right now.  Can't wait ...







Take a listen to "Araceli" and "Leslie" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#187)

(#187, Lonely Avenue by Ben Folds and Nick Hornby)

A fantastic idea.  Ben Folds adds music and melody to Nick Hornby's words.  Yeah, that Nick Hornby, the guy who wrote High Fidelity, About a Boy and Fever Pitch.  Just like the William Shatner album that Ben Folds added music to, this is NOT a novelty record.  This is the real deal.  If you're a Ben fan, check this out RIGHT NOW !!










This is "Picture Window",  "Password" and "Things That You Think", featuring Pomplamoose ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#188)

(#188, Blue Valentine by Tom Waits)

First and foremost, Tom Waits is a poet.  What brings me back to all of these Tom Waits and Elvis Costello records are there words, and the way they deliver them.  The music here pretty much serves the songs, but the highlight is Waits' vocals and lyrics.  There are some great characters portrayed, and some great stories told on this record.  A must listen ...











Here is "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolist", preceded by Silent Night, and "Romeo is Bleeding" ...

newgazzi Vol 17

Rock n Roll !  It's newgazzi Vol 17 ...

Track #1 ("On the Roof" by Dan Bern, from the LP Songs of Fall)

New Dan Bern record?  Yes, please!  Dan Bern has become one of my favorite singer-songwriters over the past 10 years, thanks to Mr Howard Goldstein.  This is a great collection of songs that Bern wrote last fall.

If you're not familiar with the work of Dan Bern, check out his website here

Track #2 ("Is This A Breakdown?" by Echo & The Bunnymen, from the LP Meteorites)

This band was featured on Paste in late 2005, but they've been around since the late 70s.  Their twelfth studio album just dropped, and was produced by Youth, who is the other half of The Fireman.  This was the first song I chose for this month's installment of newgazzi.


Check out their website here

Track #3 ("Let It Burn" by The Orwells, from the LP Disgraceland)

This Chicago band formed a few years ago, and this comes from their second album.  This is one of my favorite songs this month, and I want to play catch on the yard featured on the cover.

Check out their website here

Track #4 ("Bob Pollard's Mind" by Cocktails, from the LP Adult Life)

I don't know anything about this band, except that they wrote a song about Robert Pollard, and I guess they like pictures of old women holding ice cream.  Great song!  I need to buy the record soon.

Track #5 ("Habits (Stay High)" by Tove Lo, from the EP Truth Serum)

This EP is fantastic, and her performance on Late Night with Seth Meyers was really good as well.  I look forward to seeing what young Ebba Nilsson has in store for the future.

Check out her website here

Track #6 ("Black & White" by Parquet Courts, from the LP Sunbathing Animal)

I just discovered this band for the first time, and I already know that I need to call in sick from work to get caught up on their discography.  They are that good.

Learn more about them here

Track #7 ("Just One of the Guys" by Jenny Lewis, from the LP The Voyager)

Ah yes, Jenny Lewis ... my 2008/2009 crush.  This is her first solo record since then, but you have to wait until July 29th to grab it.  I'll be first in line ...

Learn more about Jenny Lewis here

Track #8 ("Rent I Pay" by Spoon, from the LP They Want My Soul)

This is another album you'll have to wait a little bit for, as this doesn't come out until August 5th. Britt Daniel is a favorite of mine, so this is well worth the wait.  From what I've already heard, this is going to be a solid long player.

If you are not familiar with this band, check out their website here

Track #9 ("Bloodlines" by Mimicking Birds, from the LP Eons)

I've been wearing this song out the last few weeks.  This song was considered for newgazzi Vol 16, but I fell in love with a girl, so a few songs had to be bumped as if they were so much Matt Damon or Lindsay Buckingham.

Here is their official website.

Track #10 ("Kathleen" by Catfish and the Bottlemen, from the EP Kathleen and the Other Three)

Three things :

1) Great album art
2) Great name for the EP
3) Great song

You can learn more about Catfish and the Bottlemen here

Track #11 ("Snug as Fuck" by Liam Finn, from the LP The Nihilist)

It's a family affair here at newgazzi, as I featured Liam's father on newgazzi Vol 13 back in February.  I discovered Liam Finn's music back in late 2007, and have really been enjoying this record for the past four weeks or so.  And for my readers who do not like cursing, feel free to refer to this song is as "Snug as All Get Out"

Check out his website here

Track #12 ("Like I Need You" by Kan Wakan, from the LP Moving On)

Probably the best album art featured this month.  I don't know a lot about this band, but I really do like this song, which I found around 2:00am last weekend.

Here is their website

Track #13 ("Anna Bella" by The Pharmacy, from the LP Spells)

This past weekend, I was on a mission to find one more song that would round out this batch of tunes.  It didn't happen quickly, but I knew about 7 seconds into this one that I had a winner.  I'm a fan of The Pharmacy, and I will have to buy this when the album comes out later this year.

Check out their website here

Track #14 ("Hundreds of Ways" by Conor Oberst, from the LP Upside Down Mountain)

I have an unusual relationship with Conor Oberst's music.  Some days I love it, some days I don't.  I currently love this song, so welcome to newgazzi Vol 17, Mr Oberst!

Here is his website

Track #15 ("Estelle" by Dan Bern, from the LP Dan Bern)

This is my favorite Dan Bern song of all time, and I've listened to it multiple times every day for the last few weeks.  I figured since I wanted to feature Dan Bern to kick off the playlist this month, that I would let him finish it as well.

















Thanks again for checking out newgazzi!  Keep checking back every day to see if your favorite album has made Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums, and check back on July 25th for newgazzi Vol 18 !!

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#189)

(#189, Hold On Now, Youngster by Los Campesinos!)

The story goes down like this.  I'm at Best Buy, I've got a $25.00 gift card burning a hole in my pocket, and my intention is to buy two records.   I give Todd Kemper a call.  I ask him to make a recommendation on something new, and for the other one, I'm buying something on impulse based on album art and track names.  This is what Todd recommended.  This album is complete energy all the way through.  A great album to work out to, a great album for the car, you get the point.






Take a listen to "Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats" and "My Year in Lists" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#190)

(#190, The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle by Bruce Springsteen)

I grow more fond of the early Boss records with each passing year.  This is definitely going to be a vinyl purchase in the near future.  The video for "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" is one of my earliest MTV memories, and one of my favorite Springsteen songs.  Every note of this record is great.










Here's "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" and "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#191)

(#191, Trouble by Ray LaMontagne)

This gentleman is one of my favorite singer-songwriters going today.  This is his debut album, and to misquote one of the Bob's from Office Space, "I pretty much celebrate his entire catalogue".  I'm still warming up to the new one, Supernova, but I'm sure it will be in heavy rotation soon.









Here is "Trouble" and "Jolene" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#192)

(#192, Widow City by The Fiery Furnaces)

I've gone on record several times that I could not sit down and listen to Blueberry Boat all the way through if my life depended on it.  But this record, and Bitter Tea are fantastic.  I wish I were friends with Eleanor Friedberger, and I could listen to this on repeat for days.  The band has been on hiatus for about three years as the two principal members work on their solo careers, and if they are done, thank goodness they left us a pair of masterpieces.









Take a listen to "Automatic Husband" and "Ex-Guru" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#193)

(#193, Perennial Favorites by Squirrel Nut Zippers)

I'm still not sure what was behind Tom Maxwell leaving the Zippers shortly after this record was released, but the only thing that prevents this record from being higher on this list is that it's bittersweet, in that it's his last album with the band.  There is not a weak tune in the bunch.   I just bought an SNZ live album, recorded 12 years ago, and while I enjoy it, the Zippers without Maxwell is like BNL without Steven Page.  Just not quite the same ...








Take a listen to "Suits are Picking Up the Bill" and "Ghost of Stephen Foster" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#194)

(#194, Mellow Gold by Beck)

There were three albums that Scott Radke and I listened to in the summer of 1994 while we'd drive to and from the bowling alley in Menomonee Falls every Friday.  Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Greatest Hits ... Weezer's Blue Album ... and this record.  Scott introduced me to Weezer and Beck, so it's fair to say that he has shaped a sizable portion of this list.  Beck is one of the few artists these days that I will buy a new record the day it comes out, regardless of what the last one sounded like.  He's earned the right ...







Here are "Loser" and "Pay No Mind (Snoozer)" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#195)

(#195, The Colour and the Shape by Foo Fighters)

While this is technically the second Foo Fighters record, it's the first recorded with the full band, and is still their biggest seller to date, and I've contributed to that in a big way, since I've purchased this three times.  Once new, once used and the deluxe reissue.











Take a listen to "Doll" and "Everlong" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#196)

(#196, Matt Sharp by Matt Sharp)

No electric guitar.  No percussion.  No synthesizers.  Matt Sharp decided to strip his first solo record down to basically vocals, acoustic guitar and piano.  Not exactly what I was expecting from the original bass player of Weezer and the brainchild of The Rentals, but this is one of my essential rainy Saturday afternoon records.  I gotta find this on vinyl.










Here is "Everytime in Blue" and "Some Days"

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#197)

(#197, Out of Time by R.E.M.)

This is the album that turned R.E.M. from a cult favorite into giant rock stars.  Songs like "Losing My Religion" and "Shiny Happy People" may have turned the purists away, as Michael Stipe was doing something he had never done on an R.E.M. record before ... annunciating.  It's funny, I've crucified albums before for sounding like the songs didn't fit together, and this album does sound like someone hit shuffle, but I'm still drawn to it, and still love it.








Take a listen to "Shiny Happy People" and "Belong" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#198)

(#198, Harvest by Neil Young)

This record is at the top of many lists for greatest album ever by a Canadian artist.  So I need to ask all you Neil Young fans what his second best album is.  I've only heard this and a live album of his, and I love both, so it's time I got caught up on the rest of his discography.  This one sounds better every time I listen to it.











Here are "There's A World" and "Words (Between the Lines of Age)" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#199)

(#199, Electric Ladyland by The Jimi Hendrix Experience)

This was the last album that Jimi Hendrix would ever put out before his untimely death in 1970.  Because it clocks in over 75 minutes, I don't make as time for it as other albums that will rank this high, but when I do make time for it, it's as close to a religious experience as a rock record can produce.  This man was a genius, and his effect on the world of music is immense.










Ladies and gentlemen, I give you "Gypsy Eyes" and "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#200)

(#200, Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles)

This is a unique recording in that the first six songs of this record are the film soundtrack, and the last five songs are singles that were released in 1967.  EPs were not to common back then, but essentially, this is a double EP.   The music here is fantastic, some of the greatest Beatles songs ever recorded can be found here.











Here is "Your Mother Should Know" and "Penny Lane" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#201)

(#201, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy by Elton John)

I'm sure I've said this a billion time in my life.  In my opinion, there was no better era for albums than early to mid 70s Elton John records.  This was one of those masterpieces, and was the very first album to debut at #1, and spent 7 weeks at the top of the charts.











Take a listen to "Tower of Babel" and "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#202)

(#202, Foo Fighters by Foo Fighters)

Legend will tell you that Dave Grohl recorded this entire album alone on a boom box.  Six singles came from it, and shortly after it came out, he recruited a great group of musicians to play these songs live.  The rest is history.  Now Foo Fighters are the first band the world calls if they need someone to rock.











Here is "Big Me" and "For All the Cows" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#203)

(#203, We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes by Death Cab For Cutie)

I became a fan of this band in 2003, and still think they are one of the best bands out there today.  I listen to this constantly, and Nick Harmer may be my favorite bass player.  My understanding is that this album is a concept record about a failed relationship, which makes me wonder why two guys are jogging on the cover ..... great, great album regardless of the album art.










Here are "Title Track" and "No Joy in Mudville" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#204)

(#204, 29 by Ryan Adams)

I am the biggest Ryan Adams I know.  I don't know of anyone of my friends who is a fan of this guy (perhaps Jamie), but most of my friends haven't heard of him, or don't like him at all (Todd).  This is another great album.  Each song on this record represents a single year in his 20s. I've listened to this album well over a hundred times since I bought it.  I love the album art, too, which Adams did himself.









Take a listen to "Strawberry Wine" and "Carolina Rain" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#205)

(#205, The Courage of Others by Midlake)

Is there anyone out there that subscribed to lala.com, or was it just me?  They offered a streaming service where you could buy a full album for 90 cents, or individual songs for 9 cents, and you could stream them from any device, you just couldn't download the items.  Which sucked for iTunes users, but I actually liked the service.  I was disappointed to see iTunes buy them in 2010.  This was the first album I bought on lala.com, so of course, six months after I bought it, and fell in love with it, I had to buy it again on iTunes to enjoy it.  The mood of this record is very chill, as the kids used to say in the, what was it, early 90s?  Great album ...



Here are "Acts of Man" and "The Courage of Others" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#206)

(#206, From a Compound Eye by Robert Pollard)

Although Pollard had recorded a solo albums in the past, this one was significant for a few reasons.  First, it was the first record he released after disbanding Guided by Voices.  Second, this is a double album, and at 70 minutes and 32 seconds, this is still the longest Pollard album ever recorded.  This record has two less songs than Alien Lanes, but is 29 and a half minutes longer.  Many great songs here, and like almost every Pollard album, despite ranking this at #207, there are a handful of songs that are beyond terrible.  But you'd expect that from a Bob Pollard release.




Here is "Dancing Girls and Dancing Men" and "Cock of the Rainbow" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#207)

(#207, Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin)

My appreciation for this band grows with each passing day.  These records are incredible.  Plant's vocals.  Page's guitar.  And not to mention, John Paul Jones and John Bonham were perhaps the best ever at their instruments respectively, JPJ on the bass and Bonham on the skins.  Another solid Zepp long player, and all eight songs here are great.










The two songs I'd like to share with you are "The Song Remains the Same" and "Dancing Days" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#208)

(#208, Reggatta de Blanc by The Police)

It's still amazing to me that one of the greatest bands of all time only recorded five albums, all in a five year span.  This is their second album, and it is a masterpiece.  I know I've said this a million times, but it needs to be documented one more time.  I had a chance to see The Police and Elvis Costello play a show together in 2008, and I passed.  Well, "passed" is not a fair term.  At the time of the show, I was in the middle of six game, 8 day baseball trip with my boy, Tracy.  Well, at least I have the Certifiable DVD ...





This is "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#209)

(#209, Warning by Green Day)

This is the album that propelled Green Day from a punk band to a great band.  The band used some colors that weren't displayed on previous records, and would be a sign of things to come in the future.  I pull this out quite frequently, and this has become a favorite for the car.

*** Random thought ... This Hart Foundation / Rougeau Bros match is just brutal.









Take a listen to "Warning" and "Minority" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#210)

(#210, The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele by Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele)

I can't tell you a whole hell of a lot about Dent May, or his Magnificent Ukulele for that matter, but when I heard "Meet Me in the Garden" on Paste in 2009, it was one of the most unique songs that I had ever discovered on Paste.  I think I bought the record the very next day, and bought his follow up, Do Things, on vinyl, the day that it came out in 2012.  This gets better with each listen.

*** Random Thought ... my Dad always liked that Blue Blazer.





Here is "Meet Me in the Garden" and "Howard" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#211)

(#211, Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette)

Six singles were released from this album between July of 1995 and December of 1996.  Those are Michael Jackson type numbers.  I'll be honest, my girlfriend at the time was into this back then, and had it not been for her, I may have never given this the time of day.   I actually have two versions of this record ... the original, and an acoustic version that Starbucks released a few years back.

*** Random thought ... I'm watching an old WWF card from late 1988 as I write this.  I still can't believe that Paul Roma was a Horsemen.





Take a listen to "All I Really Want" and "Your House" ...

newgazzi Vol 16

Sorry this is late.  I fell into something recently, and I don't see myself ever coming out of it.

This is for She.

Tracks 1 and 2 ("Uptown Girl" and "The Longest Time" by Billy Joel, from the LP An Innocent Man)

This was my first cassette, and 30 years after these two songs were all I would listen to, I now have someone to sing them to.

Track 3 ("Just Kiss Me" by Harry Connick Jr, from the LP Blue Light, Red Light)

My heart has been dancing to this song non-stop for a while now.

Track 4 (Running Wild by La Sera, from the LP Hour of the Dawn)

La Sera's "Break My Heart" was my #2 song of 2012, and when I saw that she had a new record out, I had to see what was up.  This is another fantastic song.  I think it's time I invest in a long player ...

Track 5 (Tied Up Tied Down by TEEN, from the LP The Way and Color)

This was the first "new" song that I chose for newgazzi Vol 16.  Great sounding band from Brooklyn ...














Hear it here !!  Tied Up Tied Down

Track 6 (Sing by Ed Sheeran, from the LP x)

This is my cousin Melanie's favorite singer, and although I kind of tired of his first album after a while, I cannot deny how damn catchy this song is.  He's got a little bit of a Justin Timberlake thing going on here.  For a few days last week, this was the most downloaded song on iTunes.  Definitely worth checking out ... and he looks like a teller I hired recently.  Let's see if he's reading this!

Track 7 (Waiting for the Sun by Jolie Holland, from the LP Wine Dark Sea)

Jolie Holland is the goods, and it's only a matter of time before I eat up her entire discography.  This song is great.  The vocals, the bass line.  Check this out !!

Track 8 (Still Knocking at the Door by Papercuts, from the LP Life Among the Savages)

This was the last song that I chose for this particular volume of newgazzi.  If you haven't heard their cover of Don Henley's "Boys of Summer", you must ... this is great, too.

Track 9 (Camera by Thee Oh Sees, from the LP Drop)

This band was featured on newgazzi Vol 3, and I'll never forget my sister describing "Toe Cutter - Thumb Buster" as "too heavy metally" ... This is another solid album from this San Francisco outfit.

Track 10 ("Happy" by John Fullbright, from the LP Songs)

This is my favorite new song this month.  On February 16th, I made a decision to get help so that I can one day be happy.  I didn't think it would only take about eight weeks to reach that plateau.

Track 11 ("She's the One" by Ray LaMontagne, from the LP Supernova)

Ray LaMontagne has become a favorite of mine over the past five years or so.  I haven't spent as much time with this album as I'd like to, but I keep coming back to this song.  I'm a softy.

Track 12 ("I'll Believe Every Word" by Patrick Joseph, from the LP Moon King)

I discovered this album on NoiseTrade a few weeks back.  It's way too good to be offered for free.  There were a few songs from this record I could have chosen, but this is the one I keep coming back to.












Download the entire album here, and make sure to tip accordingly !

Track 13 ("Slow Show" by The National, from the LP Boxer)

Some times, we all borrow lyrics from songwriters to help us express how we feel.  Thank you, Matt Berninger.

Track 14 ("Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, from Music from the Motion Picture "Once")

Glen Hansard, welcome back to newgazzi!  As it turns out, a different version of this song was featured on Paste about seven years ago, but I just heard this version for the first time recently.  I knew the first time that I heard it that it would be featured on newgazzi this particular month.

Track 15 ("She" by Elvis Costello)

She 
May be the reason I survive 
The why and wherefore I'm alive 
The one I'll care for through the rough in ready years 
Me 
I'll take her laughter and her tears 
And make them all my souvenirs 
For where she goes I've got to be 
The meaning of my life is 

She
She, oh she