Don’t Turn The Lights On by Chromeo
This is easy. Last concert I was at was the Sasquatch Music Festival. Chromeo was the last band we watched before heading out.
The Bubblemen Are Coming by The Bubblemen
While it seems clear in hindsight, there was actually some debate whether these guys were Love and Rockets at the time. They opened for L&R at a show at UC Irvine. We were “acquainted” with the band, so we had passes to the show. Backstage, it all became clear when the Bubblemen costumes were in the L&R dressing rooms…
Nanci by Toad The Wet Sprocket
Not really a guilty pleasure, but I have been known to hit repeat a couple of times when this track comes on. It’s probably a good thing I have never seen this out at karaoke before.
Something I Can Never Have by Nine Inch Nails
Well, hate is a strong word. This song, and really the whole album, was the soundtrack for a heart-rending breakup. And yes, at times the misery transformed into hate so as to become bearable. In the years since then, the girl in question and I have made amends and have established a friendly détente, but this song still has the power to bring me right back to that point in time.
Blow Your House Down by A Guy Called Gerald
My old roommate, Gary Blitz, would play this song on repeat. Always. Typically it would be when we got back from a show and hadn’t loaded all the sound gear and records back into the living room. As soon as the coffin was in, he’d connect to the “normal” sound system and fire it up. Once “The Destroy Earth Sound System” was loaded in, the house would move into full after-party mode.
Freemasons of Enochian Magick by Penal Colony
Since Robert Anton Wilson and Richard Dawkins didn’t put out any tracks, I’ll go with a musical inspiration. This one is easy, and close to home. My old friend and sometimes musical cohort Dee Madden. Give him any instrument and he’ll be able to play it. Name a genre and he’s been in a band that kicked its ass. His latest Mimeograph recordings keep me plugging away at my projects. In return, I gave him an unhealthy fear of the number 23. It’s a fair trade.
Uncertain Smile by The The
There are plenty worse earworms that infect my brain from time to time, but for an actual song that will pop in and stick around for awhile, this one takes the cake. In fact, tracks 1 – 4 of the Soul Mining album have been known to play on repeat here for loops on end. Part of the appeal of this song, for me, is that it “feels” like it should have been in a John Hughes movie, so even though I know it wasn’t, my brain stumbles trying to place it.
Now for a few real earworms:
Blister in the Sun by Violent Femmes
It is a near visceral reaction that I have to this song. A bad one. I was tempted to not even post a link to a video, but this Grosse Pointe Blank version takes some of the edge off.
Nellie The Elephant by The Toy Dolls
The Toy Dolls are amazing but this live version from Top of The Pops puts them over the top.
