You know what? You're getting 12, and that's the heavily edited version. And you know what else? You'll
like it. (Besides, the iTunes playlists aren't limited to 10 songs. I saw a few going over 20.)
1. "In Heaven (Lady In The Radiator Song)" by The Pixies: All the Eraserhead fans should know this one. I just think this song is such a perfect little sample of the Pixies: simple and complex, beautiful and creepy, quiet and loud. Great stuff. (Kim Deal did a fantastic version of this, when I saw them in Camden, a couple of years ago.)
2. "I'm The Man Who Loves You" by Wilco: For the longest time, this has been a favorite of mine. The way the well-written, romantic, and playful lyrics just flow through the lighthearted music, it's a beautiful thing. '
All I can be is a busy sea'. Jeff Tweedy's voice is easily one of my favorites of all time. I can't get enough of him.
3. "Graceland" by Paul Simon: One of my fondest memories from my childhood is being raised on two albums: Springsteen's
Born In The U.S.A. and this Simon album. I'd have a hard time finding an album with better-written lyrics than this one.
'And she said losing love / Is like a window in your heart / Everybody sees you're blown apart'. Nothing sets me at ease quite like Paul Simon and, particularly,
Graceland.
4. "Tweeter and The Monkey Man" by The Traveling Wilburys: In order to keep the number of tracks down, I decided to condense Bob Dylan and the Traveling Wilburys into this one Dylan-fronted Wilburys track. (My Dylan track was going to be "Lay Down Your Weary Tune," by the way.) It sounds like Dylan had a lot of fun with this epic, blatant Springsteen parody. And how can I not respect a song with the line,
'In Jersey anything's legal / As long as you don't get caught'.
5. "Love For Sale" by Talking Heads: I adore this example of the more 'rocking' side of the Heads, as well as the more spastic David Byrne vocals; but it's
the video that gets me the most. It's a fun sequence of '80s commercials cleverly intercut with the band doing, well, clever things.
6. "Invisible Sun" by The Police: Say what you will about the later, more 'thoughtful' Police, but I really like the not-quite-so-punk/ska/reggae material, like this one. The music is foreboding and beautiful, and the some of the lyrics are quite cutting. In my opinion.
7. "Ice Cream" by New Young Pony Club: Yeah, I know, you've never
heard of them. I really have a thing for Euro-electro-trash-whatever music. (
Trash, not thrash.) Very sexual, but in a dry, sassy, and intriguing manner. One's definitely going to need a shower of some kind, after listening to this. Apart from the lyrics and tone, I just adore the new wavish (or is it post-punk? I just don't know) musical style.
8."It's Summertime" by The Flaming Lips: Just an absolutely beautiful, almost heartbreaking, song. If I ever get assumed into heaven by an elaborate chorus of angels and cherubs, I want the last 1:30 of this song to be playing. And no, I'm not high right now.
9. "Radio, Radio" by Elvis Costello: Of course, I first heard of this from his infamous SNL performance of it. I can see why he wanted to play it. I'm quite against the big-label, corporate music industry, so this song sits especially well with me, nevermind its being a great, fun rocker from a good album.
10. "He War" by Cat Power: I can't tell you how in love I am with the tortured Ms. Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power, dur-hay). Well, I suppose I could, but it would be lame. This is probably her most awesome song, even though she hates it.
11. "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel: Another guy that I grew up on, now that I think about it. When I was a kid, this was one of the first videos I really liked. (Little did I know that it was about a penis.) I would've picked one of his other, more thoughtful songs, but this one just has such an energy to it. It makes me want to get up and dance and sing or something, and that's a hell of a feat.
12. "Dancing In The Dark" by Bruce Springsteen: Another fond memory from my youth. Now that I listen to it as an adult, I can really identify with its 'sick of myself and I want to change' mentality sung, of course, in Springsteen's usual passionate style.
'I check my look in the mirror / I want to change my clothes, my hair, my face'.
If anyone is interested enough to actually want to hear a song from the list, or even the whole list, just PM me and let me know. I might be able to, uh, assist you.
It's no trouble whatsoever.