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14 Other Songs As Irresistibly Fun As ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ by The Darkness

Jerod Morris — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:49:48 +0000

There were so many great things to come out of Super Bowl XLVI.

Tom Brady lost, making his life now only 99.98% perfect. We got the first supermodel-induced scandal in NFL history. MSF had its great single-day traffic total ever.

But for me, the single greatest outcome of Super Bowl XLVI is that “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” by The Darkness is back in regular rotation on my iTunes and all of my portable music devices. And for that we have Samsung Mobile to thank, because the company featured the song in what our own Keith Mullett called the best commercial of Super Bowl XLVI.

Here is the video for the song itself, which I have always felt is one of the most irresistibly fun songs of all-time:

I’ve always had a special relationship with this song, which I became aware of as soon as it came out back in 2003. When I first heard it, I instantly liked it; but for some reason my love for “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” scared me. It was because, I think, at that time I still somewhat cared what other people thought of my music tastes, and this song had enough of a cheesiness factor that I was afraid to fully embrace it.

It was getting heavy rotation on VH1, which has never been cool, and Justin Hawkins’ vocals are just so over the top as to be bordering on absurd. Plus, the lyrics are ridiculously sappy:

Touching you, touching me
touching you, god you’re touching me

I believe in a thing called love
Just listen to the rhythm of my heart
There’s a chance we could make it now
We’ll be rocking ’til the sun goes down
I believe in a thing called love
Ooh!

But you know what? I ultimately didn’t care. I found myself absolutely loving this song every time it came on, as cheesy and/or embarrassing as I may have considered it.

And that’s when my relationship with music changed in a subtle but profound way, with this realization: some pop songs are beyond ridiculous in their levels of cheesiness, and perhaps even their lack of lyrical gravitas, but they still absolutely rock and prove irresistibly fun. And I’d be damned from that point forward if a fear of judgment was ever going to prevent me from enjoying these guilty pleasures that I refused to feel guilty about anymore.

Right Justin Hawkins, lead singer of The Darkness and rocker of the awesome mustache?

Some day this picture will be featured in a post titled Irresistible Musical Mustaches

So…inspired by the reemergence of “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” (which I have found out since the Super Bowl that damn near everyone loves, thus proving that I had little to fear in the first place) here are 14 other songs that at some point in my life I may have been embarrassed to admit loving, but that have always captured the rhythm of my heart.

14 Other Irresistibly Fun Songs

1. “Can You Feel It” – The Jacksons

Don’t be surprised when you see Michael Jackson pop up on this list a few times. No artist created more irresistibly fun songs than MJ. And if you get a sense of deja vu seeing “Can You Feel It” on another one of my music lists, you should. I can almost always find a way to convince myself that it belongs, because this song is greatness.

2. “The Warrior” by Scandal

I first became acquainted with this song, as probably many of you did, while watching the first NBA Superstars VHS tape. This was the song for Charles Barkley’s mixtape (though we didn’t call them mixtapes back then), and it was an inspired choice that was edited perfectly.

Contrast it with a later Barkley Superstars video featuring “Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf, and the difference is obvious. Thanks to Scandal, the first Barkley highlight video is a classic.

But even without Charles Barkley, this is a great song that some 20 years later always finds its way onto my driving and workout playlists. I can’t help it.

3. “Small Town” by John Mellencamp

Speaking of the NBA Superstars videos, this was the song for Larry Bird’s highlight montage. As great a fit as “Warrior” was for Barkley, “Small Town” for Bird was perfect, summed up by the quote that kicks of the video: “There’s only one place I’d rather be: French Lick.”

I’ve always loved this song. First off all, it describes me, being from Bloomington and all, and growing up so close to where Mellencamp himself great up. In addition, liking the erstwhile Johnny Cougar hasn’t always been the cool thing to do, but it’s never stopped me from doing it.

A fellow Hoosier, I’ve always loved Mellencamp, especially when he’s singing words like these that I can relate to so well, tucked within a triumphant beat and easily sing-along-able chorus.

4. Run-Around by Blues Traveler

I’ll be interested to see what people say about this song, because I feel like most people like it, or at least did like it. Do they still? The John Popper lyrics? The harmonica? The quintessential 90s vibe?

5. Motownphilly by Boyz II Men

There was a pretty long time period during elementary school when I listed Boyz II Men as my favorite musical group. And it all started with this song.

My affinity for “Motownphilly” faded over time as I was drawn more to Boyz II Men’s subsequent ballads about love and loss, relating so well to them as I did when in 5th and 6th grade, but as I look back on the careers of Nate-Mike-Shawn-Wan now, I think this song stands above all others.

Without question, it’s the most irresistibly fun song in their catalog. So check this out. See if this one still moves you.

6. “A Little Respect” by Erasure

I must admit, I have no idea when this song came out because I didn’t listen to it when it first came out. But thanks to Scrubs and SingStar ’80s, it’s become one of my favorite irresistible guilty pop pleasures.

Turk and the dude being operated on may not like this song…

But Ted does, and so do I.

7. “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You” by Heart

It’s not always cool for a dude to admit that a band full of chicks rocked, but I do indeed believe that Heart rocked.

Granted, I didn’t necessarily think this back when I was a kid and my mom played this song over and over again on shopping trips and such (which now seems really strange since I actually understand the lyrics. WTF Mom?), but I’ve now come to appreciate this song on my own, in part because it does such a good job of telling a compelling story while still including ridiculously cheesy lyrics like these:

I told him I am the flower, you are the seed,
We walked in the garden and planted a tree

Regardless, great song.

8. “Together Forever” by Rick Astley

And speaking of songs that to this day I blame my mom for me liking…

It seems impossible for a single song to encompass both the best and worst of an entire decade of music in three minutes and thirty seconds, but the ironically iconic Rick Astley does it here. He may be more well known for this song, but I actually, dare I say, like this one (I can’t help it!):

9. “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” by Michael Jackson

Okay, since I know the last two choices will probably be controversial – with some of you agreeing loudly, some of you agreeing but keeping it to yourself, and others of you contemplating not reading anymore for me unironically including Rick Astley – let me now go with a song that I bet no one will say they don’t like.

How could you? This is irresistible pop music perfection.

10. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston

And speaking of pop music perfection, it doesn’t get much more perfect or irresistible than pre-crack Whitney Houston, with this song a quintessential example.

Also, here is a fun fact you’d probably never assume about me: I do a killer rendition of this song on SingStar. (Okay fine, so it probably sounds like cows dying to all ears except my own, but after one or eleven whiskey and cokes I promise you I do about as well as any white dude could do on this song.)

11. “Wonder” by Natalie Merchant

For our next song, let’s slow the tempo down just a bit.

This is my favorite of Natalie Merchant’s songs. It’s upbeat. It’s positive. It’s optimistic. It’s triumphant. This is just a great song, and Merchant’s voice is the definition of irresistible.

12. “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen

And speaking of irresistible voices…

Rest in peace Freddie. No one’s stopping you from anything now. I don’t really need to say anything else about this song.

13. “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the News

Yes, this song is one of my ringtones. And yes, it’s always gotten extra credit for its prominent role in Back To The Future. But the fact is, strip all of the peripheral stuff away, and this is just an awesome song by a fun band. Irresistibly awesome.

14. “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell (with Michael Jackson)

In the history of music, no song has ever gotten a bigger lift from guest vocals than this one, which is why it both makes and ends this list.

This song is irresistible on a number of levels. First, Rockwell’s ridiculous spoken-word singing is both comical and inviting – I can laugh at it while speak-singing right along and feel like I’m participating in the song as well as Rockwell himself did.

And second, of course, is that it features one of the most iconic and memorable choruses in the history of music, and no song can be irresistibly fun without a great chorus.

All Michale Jackson does is sing “I always feel…like somebody’s watching me!” (with some “Oh-oh-ohs” and “He-he-hes” mixed in) over and over again – literally, he doesn’t say anything else in the entire song. Yet the chorus is so infectious that this song is one of Jackson’s most recognizable, despite not even being his own song! Incredible.

So there they are, 14 songs that I consider to be just as irresistibly fun as “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” by The Darkness.

But I know that there are many, many, many more such songs out there. Use the comment section liberally to provide your own recommendations, because one can never have too many irresistibly fun songs in his or her iTunes.

Also, while writing this, I got a sense of deja vu feeling like I’d written a post similar to this before, possibly even with some overlap. And sure enough, a quick search of my music posts revealed this one: My 18 Favorite Guilty Musical Pleasures. Surprisingly, only two songs overlap: “Scandal” and “Don’t Stop Me Now”. So apparently I really like those songs.

But now I’m starting to wonder why I suddenly feel this need to reveal all of my deepest, darkest musical secrets. Despite my daily quest to find the best indie songs on the web, I apparently also have an irrepressible old school pop music junkie inside of me bursting to be unleashed.

Let’s all hope I’ve now gotten it out of my system.

Bonus: Grand Finale

But wait! There’s more!

In closing, I want to add two more songs to this post, perhaps the two most irresistibly fun songs I currently own, but for whatever reason they just didn’t seem to fit with the these of this post, as inspired by The Darkness. My hypothesis is that the first one is too new, the second is too old, and they both are so supremely good that they felt out of place being lumped in with the others in this post.

Either way, songs don’t get much more pleasant and fun to listen to than “What You Know” by Two Door Cinema Club and “Good Times” by Sam Cooke. So if for some reason you didn’t agree with my choices above, at least I’ll leave you with two songs that, frankly, are impossible to dislike.

“What You Know” by Two Door Cinema Club

This song always seems to pop up on any mix or “Best of” playlist I make. The beat has infiltrated my soul, latched itself on, and won’t let go. And I’m okay with that.

“Good Times” by Sam Cooke

And here is perhaps the most irresistibly fun song of all-time. It’s got it all:

Sam Cooke’s iconic voice.
A happy, uptempo beat.
Cheesy nonsense lyrics (“Whoa-oa-oa la-na-ta-da, Noo-oa la-ta-na, La-na-na all night long…”)
A simple, sappy, fun message: have fun, let the good times roll

If you can resist this song, then you and I will never get along. It’s musical perfection, and easily the best note to close this post on.

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Duwende’s ‘The Music of Michael Jackson’ Is A Capella Heaven

Jerod Morris — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:47:36 +0000

Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared at IndieChristmas.com, my other site where I make music recommendations of underground or underexposed artists. Since I’ve posted numerous times about Michael Jackson before here at MSF, I decided to post this here as well.

I love you Lost At E Minor.

I visit at least 2-3 times a week not only to find great new bands like Keston Cobblers’ Club, but also for unique musical experiences like the video below, which features Duwende, a supremely talented a capella group.

(And having gone to Indiana University, home of the incomparable Straight No Chaser, I know a little something about a capella groups.)

As a lifelong Michael Jackson fan and aficionado, I typically do not like most remakes and remixes of his songs, but I am thoroughly enjoying these Duwende versions of Billie Jean, Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, and others.

You will too:

Also, I just checked and their tracks are available on iTunes. I’ll be downloading.

Connect with the band here:

Facebook
Twitter
Website
Buy entire “Music of Michael Jackson” album on iTunes (I just did.)

The 19 Best Pearl Jam Songs That Were Never Singles

Tyler Juranovich — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:32:01 +0000

Pearl Jam celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2011 by throwing a two-day concert festival at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre that I was grateful enough to attend, a documentary showcasing the history of the band, and releasing a PJ 20 soundtrack, as well as many other “goods”.

Pearl Jam is one of the best live bands today, and if you get a chance to see them, I recommend that you go. They play big venues but without all the flashy light shows, pyrotechnics, and all that other crap. It’s all about the music, and everyone is a friend.

In my short life of 18 years, there hasn’t been one single band that has had more of an impact and has changed my life more than Pearl Jam. But this post isn’t about me, but rather what Pearl Jam has always been about since they’ve started: the music.

Pearl Jam has plenty of good songs, but I didn’t want this to be like every other list, so I decided to pick out what I think are the best PJ songs that were never officially released as singles.

I hope you enjoy!

*Songs are in no particular order.

1. “Release”

The last track of Ten holds as much power and emotion a song could have. It’s a personal song, written as a tribute to Eddie Vedder’s dad, whom he never got to really know. Instead he was told that his stepdad was his real dad. His real dad was just a “family friend,” stopping by every once in awhile.

Vedder cried the first time the band played this, and it often makes fans cry when it’s chosen as the opening song of the concert.

2. “Indifference”

Vedder said Indifference was about “[trying to] do something to make some other peoples’ lives better than they are, even if it means going through hell. Three Faces of Me.”

The song is from the band’s second album, VS. I think it’s also one of the most underrated PJ songs. It has absolutely great lyrics and very fitting/soothing music behind it. You feel the emotion, and that’s what all great songs are able to do.

3. “Nothingman”

Speaking of power, emotional songs like Nothingman might just be the epitome of songs that have and give off pure emotion. Personally, this is one of my favorite PJ songs. So many good lyrics.

“The idea is about if you love someone and they love you, don’t fuck up…’cause you are left with less than nothing.”- Eddie Vedder on Nothingman

4. “Corduroy”

A fan favorite, Corduroy gets its’ name after Vedder found out a corduroy jacket he bought for $12 was being sold for $650.

“It is about a relationship but not between two people. It’s more one person’s relationship with a million people. In fact, that song’s almost a little too obvious for me. That’s why instead of a lyric sheet we put in an X-ray of my teeth from last January and they are all in very bad shape, which was analogous to my head at the time.”-Vedder on Corduroy

5. “Smile”

Smile comes off of the “No Code” album, (Probably my favorite PJ album) and is actually written by Vedder’s friend Dennis Felmion of the The Frogs, who left the lyrics written in Vedder’s notebook for Vedder to find.

It’s also one of the few PJ songs to feature a harmonica, and I am kinda a sucker for harmonicas.

6. “Red Mosquito”

Also from “No Code” comes this guitar riff heavy song inspired from the cancellation of Pearl Jam’s short 1995 concert due to Vedder’s catching food poisoning. It’s just a great rock song.

7. “Faithfull”

Off of “Yield,” Faithfull is a great example of what great lyrical writing and great music writing can make when brought together.

8. “Soon Forget”

Sometimes simplicity is the best. Enough said.

(Sometimes even the great forget how to play their songs…only for a moment, though.)

9. “Inside Job”

This song’s greatness is completely attributed to lead guitarist, Mike McCready, who wrote both the lyrics and music to this song. This song blew me away the first time I heard it, and it still has that same power every listen.

One of the many things I love about Pearl Jam is they’re a band that gets its’ music from every single member of the band, not just one. All five members are extremely talented.

10. “Come Back”

Come Back is the type of song that hits the core of anyone who listens to it. When performed live it’s even better. The Avocado album, as fans like to call it, really was Pearl Jam returning to their roots and proves that this band’s success is far from over.

11. “Unthought Known”

Arguably the best song of PJ’s 2009 album, “Backspacer”. Pearl Jam excels in making very hard-driven rock songs that build as the song progresses.

12. “Sad”

Sad comes off the album “Lost Dogs”, a b-side, to a disc compilation of songs that didn’t make the cut onto the albums. Not surprising at all is the fact that there are a lot of great songs on “Lost Dogs”.

I remember reading a comment that said “Pearl Jam’s b-sides are better than a lot of bands’ a-sides.” It’s hard not to agree with that when you hear the song Sad.

13. “Down”

Down was a written for the historian, social activist, and friend of Pearl Jam, Howard Zinn. It’s an uplifting song with a fantastic guitar riff and closing minute. This and “Sad” could have been charting singles. Their absence from any of the albums still puzzles me.

14. “Alone”

Alone was recorded during the “Ten” sessions, but wasn’t released until the “Go” single. It was re-released on the “Lost Dogs” album but changed just a little bit. I personally like the original. There’s just something badass about this song.

15. “Undone”

Vedder said this song was best to listen to just before an election…and it’s election season in the Untied States.

16. Fatal

Here’s another song off of “Lost Dogs” that is an absolutely incredible song. This song never gets old. Written by rhythm guitarist, Stone Gossard, Fatal stands out as the best song, hands down, on “Lost Dogs.”

“If he’s truly out of sight, is he truly out of mind.”

17. Hard to Imagine

The band cites this as the most written lyric on signs. I don’t blame anyone for doing that. The real seller on this song is the last 2-3 minutes where Vedder screams “Things were different then. All is different now. I tried to explain, somehow.”

It gets me every time.

18. “Drifting”

It’s the harmonica again.

19. Yellow Ledbetter

I think it’s fitting to finish this list with Yellow Ledbetter. Arguably, the fans’ favorite song, Yellow Ledbetter is often the ending song for most of Pearl Jam’s concerts.

Fans are excited to hear it because it’s a great song, but sad also because the show is over, and if there’s one thing a PJ never wants to happen, it’s for the concert to end.

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Unique Christmas Gift Idea: The ‘MintyBoost Kit’ Portable USB Charger

Jerod Morris — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:25:37 +0000

In what is becoming something of annual tradition around these parts, it’s that time of year again for me to present you with a most unique Christmas gift idea.

Last year, I told you all about beard hats (and gave them as Christmas gifts myself). This year, I’m all about the MintyBoost Kit portable USB chargers, which are great for iPhones, iPods, iPads, other iThings, as well as any other devices that can be plugged into a USB port.

And yes, just like last year, I stumbled upon this most excellent gift idea while clicking on the beautiful blue links (this one in particular) at Reddit.

So what is the MintyBoost Kit you may now be wondering? It’s a neat little device that a Redditor’s mother made for him as a gift and is now smartly selling. I’ll let the photos do the talking and build the impulse, then I’ll let you know where you can get your very own.

(All photos taken from here.)

Pretty cool, huh? I thought so.

For dudes who don’t carry purses, this is probably best kept in the car, which is where I typically store my tins of Altoids. And for the ladies (or dudes who do carry purses and/or satchels) this is obviously stored and carried quite easy in handbags.

Here is where you can get one, either for yourself or for use as a stocking stuffer: MintyBoost Kit v3.0

Note: they don’t send you the kit ready-made with an Altoids tin. They send you the good stuff for inside of it, and then you provide whatever container you want. It fits perfectly in the Altoids tin, of course, but you could choose another method of storage if you wanted.

Also, they have adapter cords for devices like Nintendo DS’s or PSPs. Here is a compatibility page if there is a specific device you want to check and see if it is right for.

I have not yet ordered one of these myself, so I cannot give it my personal stamp of approval beyond saying that I think it looks like a cool idea and a useful product. But check it out and feel free to write a review below if you do end up getting one.

And now, for absolutely no good reason at all except that I also just found it on Reddit, here is a video of Elton John improvising a song based on an oven manual.

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(In case you are wondering, no, I nor MSF make any money if you buy one of these. The Redditor who posted this and his mother have no idea I’m even writing this post. I just think it’s a cool, fun, innovative gift idea, and I wanted to share it with you while helping the spread the word about it.)

The 12 Best Conor Oberst Songs…So Far

Tyler Juranovich — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:50:05 +0000

One of the things I love more than watching, reading, and writing about sports is listening to music. Music is great on so many levels, and like everyone else, I have my favorite artists. Conor Oberst falls into that category for many reasons.

But I won’t got into too much detail. Instead, I’ll let the music speak for itself.

Honorable Mentions

“Haligh, Haligh, a Lie, Haligh“- Fevers and Mirrors

“Falling Out of Love at This Volume“- A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997

“We Are Nowhere and It’s Now“- I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning

“I Must Belong Somewhere“- Cassadaga

“If Winter Ends“-Letting off the Happiness

**12. “I Believe in Symmetry“-Digital Ash in a Digital Urn**

The first time I heard this song I didn’t like it. It wasn’t until I actually listened to the lyrics that I truly began to appreciate it. Since then, it’s one of those songs that I get addicted to every other month or so.

After the two minute mark, the song dives into my favorite part both musically and lyrically. The lyrics and combination of drums makes this song.

Favorite Lyric:

The argument for consciousness
The instinct of the blind insect
Who never thinks not to accept its fate, that’s faith
There’s happiness in death

Happiness Meter

**11. “Moab“-Conor Oberst**

Moab is undoubtedly the most polished song off of Obert’s 2008 solo album. Once I picked up the album I couldn’t help but listen to this song over and over again. Oberst has a great group of musicians behind him and it shows in this song.

Favorite Lyric:

Some would spend their precious time
trying to decorate their lives
Taking measurements for some new look they want
So from one to ten – ten’s exactly what I am
Zero being everything I’m not

Happiness Meter

**10. “Coyote Song“**

Coyote song isn’t on any Bright Eyes record, but, rather, it was recorded in protest of Arizona’s tough immigration law and sold on The Sound Strike’s website. Immediately I fell in love with this song. Oberst doesn’t write many love songs, but when he does, he absolutely nails it.

Favorite Lyric:

Inside the time I tried to occupy or waste
Since you’ve been away
It’s hard our plans are stalled on calling cards
I can’t see your poker face
While your voice is sounding so brave

Happiness Meter

9. “If the Brakeman Turns My Way”-Cassadaga

Cassadaga, though different in style compared to other Bright Eyes albums, is full of gems. “Brakeman” is one of those examples. One of the reasons Oberst is so loved is his ability to make his music seem real and genuine.

Favorite Lyric:

All this death must need a counterweight always someone born again.
First a mother bathes her child then the other way around.
The Scales always find a way to level out.

Happiness Meter

**8. “No Lies, Just Love“-Don’t Be Frightened of Turning the Page**

I couldn’t think of a more personal and depressing Oberst song than “No Lies, Just Love.” Do not listen to this song if you’re in a good mood because it will ruin your day. With that said, this has to one of the most powerful Bright Eyes song and another example of Oberst’s knack for making touching music.

Favorite Lyric

So I’d prefer to be remembered as a smiling face.
Not this fu**ing wreck
That’s taken its place.

Happiness Meter

7.”You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will.“-Lifted

One of the many great songs off my favorite Bright Eyes album, Lifted, or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground. I can’t really put my finger on why I love this song as much as I do, but it probably has to do with the fact that it’s a completely true and accurate depiction of what some people feel after a break up.

Favorite Lyric:

You are a boomerang. You’ll see.
You will return to me.

Happiness Meter

6. “Man and Wife, the Latter (Damaged Goods)“-Read Music/Speak Spanish

This song comes off the “Desaparecidos” one and only album “Read Music/Speak Spanish,” and it is by far the best song on the album. The band was short-lived, but the nine song punk album shows just how versatile Oberst is when it comes to music.

Favorite Lyric:

And it reads just like the Bible,
twenty centuries of scandal.
Yeah, it all depends on how you interpret it.
The word is love!
The word is loss!

Kickass Meter

5.”Ladder Song“-The People’s Key

When I first picked up Bright Eyes’ latest album, “The People’s Key,” I didn’t exactly know what to think at first, but what I did know was the “Ladder Song” was my new favorite song. Written after Oberst’s dear friend committed suicide, the “Ladder Song” was the last song to make the album. We’re all glad that it did.

Favorite Lyric:

This whole life’s a hallucination.
You’re not alone in anything.
You’re not alone in trying to be.

Happiness Meter

4. “Easy/Lucky?/Free“-Digital Ash in a Digital Urn

This was the first Conor Oberst song I ever heard, and I loved it immediately. It also jump-started my obsession with anything Oberst, so I owe this song a lot. Its message that there’s nothing as easy, or lucky, or free as death really rings true to me.

Favorite Lyric:

Sometimes I worry that I’ve lost the plot.
My twitching muscles tease my flippant thoughts.
I never really dreamed of heaven much,
Until we put him in the ground.

Happiness Meter

3. “At the Bottom of Everything“-I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning

This was, for a long time, my favorite Bright Eyes song. It’s catchy, it has amazing lyrics, it tackles such a big and depressing subject but somehow makes it happy and even fun. It’s a simple, yet so powerful. It never grows old.

Favorite Lyric

I’m happy just because,
I found out I am really no one.

Happiness Meter

**2.”Poison Oak“-I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning**

Poison Oak is what every song should be. It has meaning (Oberst wrote the song after his cousin committed suicide), emotion, and lyrics that make me shiver. It’s a remarkable tribute song that has even made Oberst cry on stage while performing.

When you listen to “Poison Oak” you feel the sorrow and that feeling stays with you for a long time.

Favorite Lyric:

And I’m glad you got away,
But I’m still stuck out here.
My clothes are soaking wet
From your brother’s tears.

Happiness Meter

1. “Bowl of Oranges“-Lifted

Every time this song comes on when my iTunes is on shuffle I never skip it. To me, that’s the sure sign that this song belongs at the number one spot. Like most Bright Eyes songs, “Bowl of Oranges” is both sad and uplifting and a perfect song to play at any time.

Favorite Lyric:

But if the world could remain within a frame
Like a painting on a wall,
Then I think we’d see the beauty then,
And stand staring in awe.

Happiness Meter

My 18 Favorite Guilty Musical Pleasures (And Yours Too)

Jerod Morris — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:35:38 +0000

Reader, before you move forward in this post, I want you to promise me something: that you will pay heed to my call to action and contribute in the comment section. I’m not asking you much, and I bet it will even be something that you’ll enjoy thinking about and sharing (anonymously if you must).

For the subject of this post is both fun and universal; it is something that we all have but may be hesitant to admit (even though we always feel better after doing so). So if you are going to be entertained by the admissions that I and the MSF are about to make, you damn well better be willing to step up to the plate with at least one of your own.

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Now that I’ve spoken my peace in an attempt to galvanize an excited commentariat, let’s get down to brass tacks and reveal some embarrassing but thoroughly entertaining guilty music pleasures.

You won't have to wait long to see why this picture of Shakira is included here. (Not that one ever a needs an excuse to use a picture of Shakira.)

Background

This post was inspired by a Facebook comment that Keith Mullett made yesterday. He listed three songs that he is proud to listen to despite said songs often being the butt of jokes or insults from others. I cannot remember what two of them were because for the last 24 hours I have been able to do nothing but hum and sing the third: “Easy Lover” by frequent South Park punchline Phil Collins.

Yes, that’s right. I love the song “Easy Lover” and I don’t care who knows it. That’s why it kicks off this list of my favorite guilty musical pleasures.

And in case you are wondering how I define “guilty musical pleasure,” here you go:

Guilty Musical Pleasure:

If you were hosting a house party of both close friends and random acquaintances, at least some of whom you wanted to impress or at least cared about their opinion on trivial things, and your iTunes was being shuffled as the party music, what songs would make you do a double take if they started playing because your gut reaction would be slight (or even extreme) embarrassment at said song coming on?

Now, I am giving and asking for your favorite of these guilty musical pleasures, so even though you might feel a tinge of embarrassment, these are the songs you’d still be secretly to have play — judgment be damned.

Reader Action Item

So here is your action item dear reader, which is the exact same action item that I gave to our writing stuff: suck it up and head to the comment section at any time during your perusal of this post to admit your gavorite guilty musical pleasure. Don’t worry, you’re among friends here. This is a safe place. (Plus, after I’m done admitting mine and become the laughingstock of this site, I’m sure you’ll feel emboldened.)

Now here’s my list, which was originally going to be just 10 songs but grew to 18 as I proved unable to whittle the list down any more than this.

Guilty Pleasure #1: “Easy Lover” by Phil Collins

I really just do not understand how people hate this song – not that everyone does, in fact many you probably love it like I do, but there is definitely plenty of hate for it out there. The beat, the tempo, are just irresistible. And the lyrics, while not particularly insightful or rich with meaning (at all), are catchy and eminently singable.

And, for those wondering, yes I do always try to sing along with Philip Bailey, even if I can’t come within two octaves of him. Someday.

Guilty Pleasure #2: “Don’t Bother” by Shakira

I’ve always loved Shakira. I enjoy her singing, she’s a very likable person who gives plenty of time and resources to good causes, and…well she’s not difficult to look at. Also, her dancing lives little to be desired. (Wait…that’s the wrong way to use that phrase. It leaves a lot to be desired, oh does it ever, while leaving little to the imagination. There, that’s better.)

And not that it’s uncool to like Shakira, or necessarily embarrassing, because millions upon millions of people around the world love her, but there are certain songs performed by female artists that make a grown man sound like a chump to sing out loud. “Don’t Bother” is definitely one of these songs. It’s basically a girl power song in which Shakira overcomes her insecurities after a relationship ends to move on strongly, promising never to let the idiot who let her get away (and for someone else! WHO!?) see her cry.

But despite not being able to relate with it, I like it. So don’t bother making fun of me. I’ve come to terms with it.

Also, I’ve seen the video enough that it plays in my head whenever I hear the song. Knowing that fact, after you see the video you’ll probably understand a little bit better why I like the song.

Shakira sure is purdy, ain’t she?

Guilty Pleasure #3: “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson

I promise you that this post will be more than me admitting and then rationalizing liking chick songs. (At least I hope.) Either way, if I don’t include this song I would just be masking my clandestine love affair with it, and that would defeat the purpose of this post.

First off, Kelly Clarkson’s voice is awesome. I’m pretty sure that if she sang Keith’s article about Daily Joust I’d love it and start singing along…because when I like a song, I always sing along. (Yep, I’m one of those.)

What makes this song great is that even though the lyrics are simplistic, they are universal and espouse an optimistic, hopeful view of life that anyone could benefit from adopting. That’s right damnit, out of the darkness and into the sun, Kelly Clarkson is inspiring.

Spread my wings? Make a wish? Touch the sky? You’re damn right I will! And I’ll sing along as I’m doing it.

Guilty Pleasure #4: “Heaven” by Live

I don’t know if this song should really be here.

And by that I mean, I’m not sure there is really anything “guilty” about this pleasure. It’s a great song, even if it’s more religious in theme than most songs I like. Maybe it’s just that there is something kind of derivative-sounding about the actual music and instrumentation of this song to my admittedly not-musically-sophisticated ears (so take that assessment for what it’s worth).

I think I can best boil it down thusly: I feel like people might pass judgment one way or another if this song came on at the fictitious party we’re using as the basis for choosing these songs, but I really wouldn’t care either way. I think this song. In all its potential derivativeness, it’s awesome. And if I ever have a daughter, I’m sure I’ll like it even more.

Now I’m curious. I’m really starting to think that this song shouldn’t be listed here, but that’s good because now I can add a poll and get your opinion and we can settle this once and for all.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Guilty Pleasure #5: “Everything” by Michael Buble

I feel cheesy when I belt this song out in my car, but whatever. This is an enjoyable ditty from the modern day Sinatra (just kidding, I find that laughably ridiculous too), and I actually feel like I hold up pretty well when I sing it.

It kind of pisses me off when the record label (I assume) won’t let you embed the official video, but I won’t hold that against the song. I still guiltily love it anyway.

Guilty Pleasure #6: “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5

So far none of these songs have been very current. Thus, I figured I should try to find a current song that I’m not proud to say I like. Here it is.

I’ll admit that while the video does nothing for me, and I’m not a huge fan of the cartoonish whistling, the beat and rhythm of “Moves Like Jagger” sucks me in every damn time I hear it. And though I don’t care much about Adam Levine’s Jagger-like moves, he can sing well enough.

And speaking of singing, I am a sucker for anything sung by Christina Aguilera. (Full disclosure: I contemplated putting “Lady Marmelade” on this list, but I really only like Aguilera’s part in that song while being annoyed by the rest of it, so I chose this song instead since I like the whole thing.)

Guilty Pleasure #7: “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen

It’s much more an indictment of my own occasional musical insecurity than anything else that this great song from this transcendent band is on here. Why the hell should I feel guilty about listening to this pop masterpiece, performed by one of the greatest bands ever, and sung by one of the five greatest vocalists of all time?

I don’t know. I guess I just feel kind of dorky belting out lyrics like “I’m a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva / I’m gonna go go go / There’s no stopping me!” But belt them out I do, though unlike when singing a Michael Buble song I do not flatter myself into thinking I sound anything like the great Freddie Mercury, may he rest in peace.

Guilty Pleasure #8: “Life Is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts

Yep, you read that right. Not only is “Life Is a Highway” on this list, but I didn’t even have the decency or good sense to get hooked on the original Tom Cochrane version. I like, damn near love, the Rascal Flatts version. I’m not sure I can really explain why, so I won’t try.

Here it is, made even cheesier (that’s possible?) when accompanied by the visuals in this video:

Guilty Pleasure #9: “Another Day” from Rent

Yes, in addition to enjoying Phil Collins, Adam Levine singing about Mick Jagger, and cover songs by Rascal Flatts, I’m kind of a sucker for a catchy Broadway tune. And I count among my favorite shows Rent, which also happens to be the first show I ever went to.

I am actually quite fond of the entire soundtrack, but I list this song because, as I am wont to do when in the privacy of my own home or car, I will try to sing both parts as if I were on stage. Predictably, it goes much better when Roger is singing as opposed to Mimi.

Guilty Pleasure #10: “The Warrior” by Scandal

Anyone who owned the NBA Superstars VHS tapes back in the day knows exactly where my love affair with this song started.

Of course the Larry Bird video, which featured my personal theme song “Small Town”, was my favorite, but Charles Barkley’s was a close second, because he and this song are badass and don’t care if you love or hate them. So fine. Neither do I.

Guilty Pleasure #11: “California Love” by 2Pac

Don’t be alarmed, but I’m white.

It’s true. Ask @BlkSportsOnline. He’ll confirm it.

But I swear you wouldn’t know it by how I “rock the mic” and “spit rhymes” went this jam comes on…this jam for which I’ve known every single lyric for what feels like a time span of now to back when ladies first started wearing Vidal Sassoon.

Okay fine, I’m kidding. While I do know all of the lyrics, I can’t really “rock a mic” despite my best efforts.

However, you can’t say that my Bloomington upbringing doesn’t add a certain sense of gravitas when I rap along through the shoutouts that range from Oakland to Sactown, then from the Bay Area and back down, including Englewood (which this song teaches us is always up to no good).

Screw it. I take it back. I don’t feel guilty when this song comes on. I went to West Lafayette High School baby…WEST SIDE! // throws up requisite hand signal with ring finger crossed over middle finger.

Guilty Pleasure #12: “Rockin’ the Suburbs” by Ben Folds

In stark contrast to the previous song, which I totally relate to, I really have nothing in common with Ben Folds here. “Male, middle class, and white”? Pppshh. Since when?

Curiously I love the song anyway, despite it’s overt (intentionally, I think) cheesiness. It’s probably the Michael Jackson reference and the invitation to curse loudly and with zeal at the end.

Guilty Pleasure #13: “Say Goodbye” by Dave Matthews Band

It’s occurring to me as I type this that you can pretty much (caution: I’m about to over-generalize here) demarcate the life of a person of my general age and background’s into two sections: the carefree, simple time when liking Dave unabashedly was the cool and hip thing to do; or the time after that when the real world hit and suddenly “#41″ became just a song without a name that you were forced to listen to in the shadows of your responsibility-filled life.

Anyway, here is my favorite of those old Dave classics, which I happen to think is Dave’s storytelling at its best (since this song actually, you know, makes some sense and tells a story).

Guilty Pleasure #14: “Geek In The Pink” by Jason Mraz

I pretty much like everything by Jason Mraz and have since I picked up his first CD back in my sophomore year of college. And after seeing him in concert – at which his remarkable voice was on jaw-dropping display – I’m even more enthralled by his overall ability as a musician.

The title alone makes this song somewhat embarrassing, as do a few of the lyrics, but as usual Mraz is clever enough with his wordplay and skilled enough with his flow and backed by the right beat to make it all work. At least for me anyway.

Guilty Pleasure #15: “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey

I’ll admit that my affection for this song went into overdrive based on it being the unofficial official song of the White Sox run to the ’05 World Series title, but I’ve always liked it. A lot. And even now, six years after that White Sox championship, it’s one of my favorite songs, even if other people think it’s overplayed, lame, cheesy, or any number of other derogatory things.

I mean come on, it’s Steve Perry. He’s more than just a psyche out. He’s a legend, thanks in large part to the sublime 4:00+ minutes of music delivered by this track.

Guilty Pleasure #16: “In For The Kill” by La Roux

This is another great example of a song that I try to sing along to when alone, and I can only image how hilarious it would be if someone was cruel enough to film me with a hidden video. (Don’t get any ideas.)

The lyrics to La Roux’s songs don’t really do anything for me, but damn if they doesn’t come up with some intoxicating beats. (Other examples here and here.) I’m learning that I am something of a sucker for good synth-pop. This is about as good as it gets.

Guilty Pleasure #17: “Better Life” by Keith Urban

I actually find the lyrics of this song to be just about the most meaningful “simple” lyrics of any song I own. They’re awesome. Who can’t get behind a song that’s all about finding the one you love and settling into a great life with them through thick, thin, or otherwise? Isn’t that what most of us are ultimately seeking anyway?

Add in a catchy hook, an uplifting beat, and Urban’s palpable energy, and it creates a pretty dadgum good song in my book (whether I’m proud to admit it or not, though I guess I am…since I’m admitting it).

Guilty Pleasure #18: “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley

I have little commentary to add here except to say that I’m not kidding and that I blame my mom, who cursed me to a life of not hating Rick Astley by listening to his music – without irony – back before it became a cultural punchline and when my ears were still impressionable.

Well, impression made.

Yes, I actually kind of, sort of, almost, maybe, perhaps, a little bit...like this song.

And I’m not about to give that up, or any of the songs on this list, just because it’s a little embarrassing to admit.

So there are my favorite guilty musical pleasures…all 18 of them…presented with my rationalizations for you to ridicule, mock, and secretly enjoy.

The question now, once again, is what are your favorite guilty musical pleasures? I and every other reader that comes to this post anxiously awaits your revelation in the comment section. Don’t cop out! We all have guilty musical pleasures. Share yours.

Before I leave this post with you, I want to get the rest of the MSF crew involved by sharing some of their guilty musical pleasures, which they posted in our Facebook group after I let them know about my idea for this post. Here is what they came up with:

Amanda Lawson’s Guilty Pleasure: “All By Myself” by Celine Dion

Because of this admission, Amanda will now have to drive and sit all by herself when we have our MSF writers retreat sometime in the next decade. But we appreciate the admission regardless.

Tyler Juranovich’s Guilty Pleasure: “Lava Monster” by Conor Oberst

Definitely the most shocking admission was Tyler’s totally out-of-nowhere recommendation of Conor Oberst. I didn’t even know he listened to Conor Oberst, but I guess you learn something new every day.

Drew Lange’s Guilty Pleasure: “Only Wanna Be With You” by Hootie and the Blowfish

Darius Rucker would surely appreciate this submission, but he definitely would not appreciate Drew’s propensity to refer to him as “Hootie”.

I’m glad Drew suggested this one, so that when someone wonders aloud indignantly why a post like this is on a sports blog, we can point them to this video…and totally redeem ourselves! Except that Atlantic Records won’t let this video be embedded, which sucks. So you’ll have to click here to remember why this song has sports relevancy (Or just watch a Miami Dolphins game, because now Hootie is far from the only one crying.)

Chris Callaway’s Guilty Pleasure: “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie

As easy as it would be, I can’t really make any snarky comments on this one (not that I should be anyway, since this is supposed to be a “safe place”) because, yes, I too went through a short phase when I secretly liked this song.

I can say that I never felt as silly singing a song out loud as with this one, which is what ultimately soured me on it…but I may just be a biggirlsdontcryaholic because now that I’m hearing it for the first time in years I’m having to fight the urge to start singing…

…And I’m gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket, but I’ve got to get a move on with my life…it’s time to be a big girl now…AND BIG GIRLS DON’T CR–

Oh, hey! You’re still here. Oops. I wasn’t singing just then. I swear. I wasn’t. I was just…

Oh hell.

Moving on now…

Josh Tinley’s Guilty Pleasure: “Rock Me Gently” by Andy Kim

It should be noted that Josh’s first choice was “Easy Lover”, which makes him cooler than a polar bear’s toenails. His second choice is pretty spectacular too.

Andy Bottoms’ Guilty Pleasure: “Love On The Rocks” by Neil Diamond

For anyone who has a problem with this selection, just know that Andy Bottoms will smack you in the mouth (he’s Neil Diamond!).

I can’t really be too hard on Andy for this one either. I almost listed Sweet Caroline among by favorite guilty pleasures above, except that it cannot really be considered a “guilty” pleasure when I’ve done it at karaoke nights four or five times.

Robert Crowe’s Guilty Pleasure: “Party All The Time” by Eddie Murphy

Robert Crowe is now my favorite MSF writer for suggesting this song, which I had totally forgotten about. Eddie Murphy at his…well, certainly not his best…but perhaps his most unintentionally hilarious.

Keith Mullett’s Guilty Pleasure: “Everything” by Fefe Dobson

Fittingly, we end with Keith Mullett, whose Facebook post got the whole ball rolling for this post…which very well may signal MSF’s shark jump moment if we’re not careful and don’t churn out some good sports content soon to compensate for admitting all of this publicly.

You’ll especially appreciate this selection by Keith when you know that a) he chose this song from among 35,000 on his iTunes, and b) he describes himself as a “metal Rainman”. Your secret’s safe with us Keith.

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All right reader…you’re up.

What is your favorite guilty musical pleasure?

Break the shackles of timidity and escape the throes of embarrassment so you can feel the cool breeze of unabashed musical honesty. That’s why we’re here. It’s okay. Remember: you’re among friends. Hit us with your best shot.

Video: IU’s Victor Oladipo serenades Hoosier Hysteria crowd with impressive performance of Usher’s “U Got It Bad”

Jerod Morris — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:09:36 +0000

College basketball teams opened practice around the country this past weekend, and nowhere was said opening done with more rhythm and rhyme than in Bloomington, Indiana.

Yes, thanks to sophomore Victor Oladipo, reputations and stereotypes were turned on their heads Saturday evening at the school once known for short shorts and white boys with silky shooting strokes. Not anymore, not after Oladipo serenaded some of the country’s best basketball fans and visiting high school recruits with a rather impressive version of “U Got It Bad” by Usher.

Watch:

Hat tip to @InsideTheHall for tweeting the link to the video.

Impressive: Oladipo’s singing and ability to play to the crowd (something I hope he has many opportunities to do this year after thunderous dunks.)

Not so impressive: The struggles of Oladipo’s background “dancers” to get their steps correct. Let’s hope their defensive rotations occur a bit more in sync.

From all reports, it sounds like IU’s Hoosier Hysteria practice was a rousing success. 16,000+ fans were in attendance with lots of energy, which can only be a good thing with so many top recruits on hand. The best part of Indiana basketball is the energy that still rattles the walls of Assembly Hall, despite three straight awful seasons. Glad guys like Gary Harris were able to see that.

As for Oladipo, looks to me like he’s got a career as a performer if he’s unable to play basketball at the next level (which is not out of the question). Next year, how about some Michael Jackson? Billie Jean perhaps?

3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Be Upset that R.E.M. Broke Up

Josh Tinley — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:00:42 +0000

R.E.M. announced last week that they’d be calling it quits. A few thousand awful it’s-the-end-of-the-band-as-we-know-it headlines later, I still feel fine.

I’ve been an R.E.M. fan for at least 20 years. There have been times in my life when they were my favorite band, and I still have several albums worth of R.E.M. material on my iPod. But when I heard that Mike, Michael, and Peter were disbanding, I shrugged and went on with my day. Here’s why:

R.E.M. hasn’t been R.E.M. since 1997

That’s when drummer Bill Berry left the band. I don’t know exactly what creative contributions Berry made to the band during its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s (aside from playing the drums); I just know that R.E.M. wasn’t the same after he left.

Up, the first post-Berry album, was such a disappointment that I nearly closed my account with R.E.M. in 1998. 2008′s Accelerate was a good record, but nothing that R.E.M. recorded after Berry’s departure was as good as anything they recorded when he was in the band.

Don't underestimate the value of Bill Berry.

R.E.M. fans can devote their time and money to up-and-coming artists

Music fans have trouble breaking up with the artists we have loved. We don’t like to let go of the bands whose logos we drew on our notebooks in high school and whose shows we traveled across 5 states to see when we were in college. We continue buying their albums and going to their concerts even when we know it’s no longer a good investment. (This is why I have the last two Weezer albums on my iPod.)

We aren’t rational when it comes to our favorite bands. We don’t like to admit that they’re past their prime or that they haven’t released a quality record in more than a decade. So the break-up of an established band can be liberating.

When I was young I could spend my entire Wendy’s paycheck on CDs and concert tickets. Now that I’m older and have children and a mortgage and such, I have to be more discriminating. About 60 percent of the music I purchase is music recorded by bands I loved in high school and college that I buy because I feel obligated to. When one of those bands stops releasing albums, I have more money to spend on Delta Spirit, Jason Isbell, Mates of State, and Nobility records or to spend on bands I haven’t yet discovered.

Spend your R.E.M. money wisely.

Break-ups are rarely permanent

The Pixies released 5 albums in a span of 4 years then broke up in 1991. They reunited 12 years later. I saw the Pixies at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in 2004. It was a fantastic show, one that wasn’t sullied by material from mediocre albums the band might have released in the late 1990s if they hadn’t broken up.

In 1995 the Ramones announced a farewell tour. They played my home town of Indianapolis, but they played at the Vogue, a club that only admits patrons who are 21 or older. I wasn’t 21. Assuming I wouldn’t get another chance to catch the Ramones live, I spent the evening standing outside the back door of the Vogue, listening to the show and trying to get a glimpse of the band each time a security guard opened the back door to shoo me away. (Listening through the back door was my last remaining option after I had unsuccessfully lobbied Vogue management to book my band as an opening act.) The next year the Ramones announced that they would do the Lollapalooza Tour. My last chance hadn’t been a last chance at all.

Unless a key member of the band dies (and sometimes even if he or she does), most any band that breaks up will eventually get back together. Even Sex Pistols did a reunion tour. So if you want to see one more R.E.M. concert, or if you want to see your first R.E.M. concert, you’ll probably get your chance.

In the meantime, listen to Murmur or Life’s Rich Pageant or Automatic for the People and enjoy what was.

R.E.M. proved that you don't need good hair to make good music.

Top 18 Indie Tracks from 2011 (so far)

Drew Lange — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:50:47 +0000

Much like Jerod did last week, and Tyler earlier this week, I have put together a playlist of music. My list is my favorite indie songs from the first half of 2011.

Unlike Jerod and Tyler, you will probably recognize a few of these bands or songs. Even though they may not be as obscure and under the radar as the bands and songs posted last week, they are still out of the mainstream (at least they are here in North Dakota).

The beauty of indie music is that there is so much of it and so many different types of genres. I can almost guarantee that if everyone tried hard enough, they could find a band or three to cling on to. That’s how I started, and now this is really the only kind of music I listen to.

So this is my tentative list of indie songs from the first 6 months of 2011. I am 85% sure these are my favorites anyway. Like I said, there are so many good artists and songs out there that my list could look completely different by the end of the year.

1. April Fool – Manchester Orchestra

Manchester Orchestra was one of the first indie bands I listened to, and I instantly loved them. “Mean Everything to Nothing” was one of my favorite albums of 2009. When they released their new album this spring, I found myself coming back to this song every time I put the CD on.

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2. Aberdeen – Cage the Elephant

Yes, this song is grungy and loud. That’s how I like my music.

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3. Under the Gun – Apex Manor

Apex Manor is signed to one of my favorite record labels, Merge Records. I was cruising through the site one day when I came across their website and a download link for this song. Again, it has a great rock feel to it, and is catchy as hell.

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4. Under Cover of Darkness – The Strokes

Speaking of catchy as hell, The Strokes came back on the music scene after five years with this lead single. If you can listen to it and not have that guitar stuck in your head all day, there is something wrong with you.

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5. Don’t Carry It All – The Decemberists

Known for their folk-style music, The Decemberists switched things up with ‘The King is Dead’ heading for a blue grass/country type feel. As the opening, and in my opinion the best, song on the album, ‘Don’t Carry It All’ sets the tone for one of my favorite albums this year.

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6. Weekend – Smith Westerns

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7. World News – Local Natives

The simplicity of this song is what attracts me to it. It’s not overly complicated and still manages to keep me listening the whole time.

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8. Spooky Jookie – Man Man

Man Man is the definition of an “experimental band”, no two of their songs sound the same. This can lead to hit or miss songs, but this one definitely did it for me.

Sean Carey was hired to join Bon Iver on the road and contributed to their new album. Since then he has been signed to Jagjaguwar, the record label in which Bon Iver is signed to. Not surprisingly, his sound isn’t much different from that of Bon Iver, but still has that touch of personality that (good) solo projects always carry.

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15. Stuck on the Puzzle – Alex Turner

“Something in your magnetism must have pissed them off” might very well be my favorite lyric from this playlist. Alex Turner is also the lead singer for the popular group Arctic Monkeys, who just released a new album.

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16. Coyote – The Lonely Forest

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17. Bizness – Tune-Yards

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18. Wash. – Bon Iver

I’m going to try and keep this one short, because it could easily go 1,000 words. I’ll actually let Ellen Page and Drew Magary do the talking for me.

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Bonus Track: Freaks and Geeks – Childish Gambino

I had to include this song, but because it is a rap song, it doesn’t quite flow very well with the rest of the playlist. Who would have thought that Troy from ‘Community’ could actually rap?

10 More Indie Songs You Should Be Listening to This Summer

Tyler Juranovich — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 11:22:22 +0000

If it was up to me, I would lock myself in my room and listen to music all day. There are a few things that give me more enjoyment than listening to my favorite songs, as well as searching for and experiencing new music.

Whether I am just relaxing, writing for Midwest Sports Fans, or just surfing the net, I always have music playing in the background. I truly believe music saves, so anytime I can share some of that with people I do.

Below are 10 indie songs I’m listening to that I recommend everyone check out. They are a nice complement to Jerod’s 18 Spectacular New Off-the-Radar Songs for the Summer from last week. Hopefully these are songs that you haven’t heard before, and hopefully you’ll enjoy one or two of them.

With that said, let’s get right into the music.

1. Souled Out!!-Conor Oberst

(Itunes)

18 Spectacular New Off-the-Radar Songs for the Summer

Jerod Morris — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:35:34 +0000

There are few things in life I enjoy more than proactively seeking out new music far away from the mainstream.

There is so much of it out there, created by so many off-the-radar musicians who are deserving of more recognition than they get, and I am always blown away by how many songs I can add to my regular rotation with just a weekend of patient but thoroughly enjoyable “work”.

Last April I posted a playlist entitled 17 Essential New Songs for Spring and now it is time to share this year’s playlist, officially titled Indie Christmas in July 2011 (name explained below), which features 18 terrific tunes, a nice balance of genres, and more than a few songs with truly spectacular videos.

Image source: Screenshot from “Holy Grail” video by Tidelands

I went through hundreds of songs at Indie Rock Cafe, Lost at E Minor, Waiting to Explode, and The Undercard, among others, to come up with this year’s list. It’s a rigorous process. Every song on the final list went through four or five different cuts. I even chopped two off after I thought I was done with cuts and ready to move on on the all-important song order. They didn’t fit anywhere though and weren’t knock-my-socks off awesome, so they got chopped; only the strongest survive.

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6. If I Wanted Someone – Dawes

(Download here)

I absolutely love the honesty of the lyrics in the chorus:

If I wanted someone to clean me up, I’d find myself a maid;
If i wanted someone to spend my money, I wouldn’t even get paid;
If I wanted someone to understand me, I’d have so much more to say;
I want you to make the days move easy.

13. Merrymake It With Me – The Republic Tigers

(Download here)

It’s hard to pick a favorite song, but as of this moment, I’d say it’s this one. That is subject to change though…

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14. Turned Tables – Should

(Download here)

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15. Madagascar – The Black Atlantic

(Download here)

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16. Dig Down Deep – Vandaveer

(Download here)

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17. Rising – Son Lux

(Download here)

Like “Candles on Open Water” this song has a very unique sound. It’s one of those I went back and forth on, but I ultimately had to include it. It’s unique, powerful, and it reminds me of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. See if you can figure out why…

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18. Les Enfants Du Paridis – World’s End Girlfriend

(Download here)

As soon as I heard this song for the first time, I knew it would be the closer. No words, just right.

———-

So…what do you think?

Which song is your favorite?

What awesome new indie songs can you add?

Your comments, positive and negative, are welcomed below, as are YOUR recommendations for new under-the-radar songs that everyone needs to be listening to.

I love supporting smaller, up-and-coming bands, so don’t hesitate to post links to bands or musicians you think are worthy.

*********

Why the name “Indie Christmas”? For that, I must give credit to Edie and Nico, two of my best friends in the world, who four years ago started a tradition of making an indie song-laden Christmas CD that continues today. And because we all lived together in Indianapolis at the time, the name “Indie Christmas” had a fun, appropriate double meaning.

It is always one of my favorite gifts every Christmas, so I try to return the favor in the middle of the year. Their copies of Indie Christmas in July 2011 will be in the mail shortly.

The 33 Most Underrated Workout Songs of All-Time

Jerod Morris — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:37:18 +0000

This post is what I was going to work on yesterday morning before I got side-tracked by this topic. All in all, I think that post was a much more important use of my time.

However, this one will be 10X more fun. And for many of you, those who don’t care about the blogger/media relationship or the tired discussion about steroids in baseball, this post will probably be far more entertaining and, hopefully, even useful.

Today, I am going to present to you a list of 33 songs that I think are underappreciated from a workout standpoint. They may not all be great songs, per se, but they serve the purpose of keeping the energy high during a workout.

All of these tracks are no-brainer automatics when I’m creating or editing a workout playlist, and hopefully you’ll find at a least a few of them to your liking.

I don’t know about you, but a great mix of songs is what makes an intense work out not only bearable, but enjoyable. And as anyone who has seen my body transformation over the last 24 months knows, I need all the motivation I can get right now to spend more time in the gym.

Well, I finally mustered up the consistent motivation to work out regularly again. The first step, of course, was to sculpt my voluminous iTunes library into a tight, shuffleable workout mix in which only songs that I never have the urge to skip make the cut (because, let’s be honest, nothing sucks more than being in the middle of interval sprints on the treadmill and trying to switch songs.)

Now, you’ll notice that my tastes in genre are rather eclectic; however, there is one characteristic that each of these songs shares: they have an intense beat and/or tempo. I simply cannot stand anything else when I’m in a workout zone.

I don’t expect all of these songs to be your cup of tea, but perhaps you can find 5-10 of them to add to your own workout mix. Nothing gets me more excited for a workout than knowing I have new songs in the workout playlist; and as we all know, any extra ounce of motivation to hit the gym is worth its weight in, well, you get the idea.

In no particular order, except for the first song and the last two songs, here are the songs that I consider to be the among the best, and definitely the most underrated, workout songs of all-time.

(Oh, and see if you can guess what movie soundtrack is my favorite ever…)

Update: I created a Sports iMix with this entire playlist (minus Lateralus, because Tool isn’t on iTunes). If you like any or all of these songs, you can either buy the entire playlist, or download each song individually. How easy is that?

iMix: The Best and Most Underrated Songs of All-Time

Training Montage – Vince DiCola (from Rocky IV)

This is a great song for a warm-up run when you want to get a good sweat going before hitting the weights. Nice tempo throughout with a crescendo at the end to get you moving.

Before moving on, And let me say this about the Rocky soundtrack: I know that a lot of people work out to it, so you may balk at me listing this and other Rocky-inspired songs here. But unless everyone has Rocky music on their workout iPod – and I doubt that’s the case – then Rocky music is underrated. It’s the best music to work out to bar; bar none.

Be Yourself – Audioslave

Another good one by Audioslave: Like a Stone

Machinehead – Bush

This has always been one of my favorite songs to lift to. It’s frenetic throughout.

Thanks for the Memories – Fall Out Boy

I don’t particularly enjoy this band’s other songs, nor would I ever listen to this song while not working out, but I can’t deny that it’s a good song to run too.

Beat It – Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is very underrated from a workout perspective. I’ll be honest: I could workout to just a mix of MJ songs, but I thought I’d try to make the tough decisions and only pick a couple. This is the easy #1 choice.

No Easy Way Out – Robert Tepper (from Rocky IV)

Can You Feel It – Jackson 5

And here’s the other MJ song, this time with his brothers.

Numb & Encore Remix – Linkin Park and Jay-Z

Somebody Told Me – The Killers

Also a great one for Sing Star…if anyone else enjoys karaoke with their friends on a weekend evening.

Easily – Red Hot Chilli Peppers

A lot of good songs to choose from in the RHCP catalog. Again, these are underrated songs, so I chose one I thought not many people would think about.

Panic Switch – Silversun Pickups

Love this song. When I’m doing interval running and getting ready to crank it up an MPH or two, I try to time it with the last 2 minutes of this track.

Hearts on Fire – John Cafferty (from Rocky IV)

Lateralus – Tool

Tired of the Rain – Black Stone Cherry

Wild Nights – John Mellencamp

Rainy Monday – Shiny Toy Guns

Burning Heart – Survivor (from Rocky IV)

It’s My Life – No Doubt

I will probably draw some criticism for this poppy selection. The thing is, for whatever reason, this is just one of those songs that gets me moving when I’m running; and I can’t argue with that. Listen to the beat of the chorus. It was made for running. Her voice may annoy you (it does me), but I learned to get over it.

You Will Leave a Mark – A Silent Film

What You Know – Two Door Cinema Club

This song may have more energy than any other song I’ve ever heard.

Lip Gloss and Black – Atreyu

Lots of screaming, but the piano at the end is great.

Here I Go Again – Whitesnake

Small Town – John Mellencamp

A second song from Johnny Cougar. Growing up in Indiana I used to do basketball workouts to him all the time.

Eye of the Tiger – Survivor (from Rocky)

A certified classic. Again, you may balk at this being on a list of “underrated” workout songs. I say that until it’s on everyone’s workout iPod, it’s underrated.

Barricade – Interpol

Mr. Jones – Counting Crows

Better Life – Keith Urban

What!? Country!? Yes, country. And yes, Keith Urban. I can’t explain it. I just like it.

All the Same – Sick Puppies

This song starts out kind of slow, but I enjoy songs that build to a powerful crescendo, which this one does.

Life Is a Highway – Rascal Flatts

Yeah, country again.

Get Down With the Sickness – Disturbed

Uprising – Muse

I contemplated removing this one because it was in the commercial for a Tom Cruise movie…but it barely made the cut because, outside of that, it’s a really good workout song.

And now, let’s end this with a bang…

Don’t Stop Believing – Journey

Yes, it’s true. This song somehow finds its way onto pretty much every type of song list I create. What can I say? This song has always been a favorite, even before the 2005 White Sox won it all with this song as the anthem. Who doesn’t get pumped up by the chorus?

War – Vince DiCola (from Rocky IV)

Folks, it doesn’t get any better than this.

For as long as I can remember, I have organized my workouts around the most difficult part coinciding with the final two minutes of this song.

What I like about this one is that it starts out with a nice tempo that easily keeps you moving, but then there is a really slow part in the middle. If you’re in the middle of a long run, or a series of sprints, this part is difficult to push through because you have no musical help. It’s a good test of wills and mental toughness.

But then, once the grand finale is ready, it’s on. I’m not exaggerating when I say that every time this song hits 3:46, I get a huge burst of endorphins and a second win, and can knock out the next two minutes at any intensity. I don’t know why, but it’s a great lesson in mind over body. (Now if I could just figure out how to do it without the music…)

Anyway, this is and will always be my favorite workout song of all-time. I don’t care how many other lists this song ends up on (and surprisingly, I didn’t find it on any), it will always be underrated in my mind.

Okay, now it’s your turn. This is just my list, but I know there are other great workout songs out there. Please post your favorites in the comments. I like to keep my playlists fresh, so any additions will be much appreciated.

Video: Incredible Jackson 5 / Nirvana Mashup

Jerod Morris — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:11:21 +0000

If you are a regular reader of this site, you may know that Michael Jackson (inclusive of his time with the Jackson 5) is my favorite musical artist of all time. I’m not even sure there is anyone in second place.

To me, Michael Jackson compared to other musicians is like Jerry Rice compared to other WRs; there is no comparison.

So when I see mashups with MJ songs, I tend to watch them with apprehension, expecting something awful and sacrilegious. That was how I went into viewing the video below earlier this morning.

Let’s just say that my expectations were turned completely upside down.

Video: Smells Like Rockin’ Robin (Michael Jackson v Nirvana)

[H/T: Reddit for link and Go Home Productions for video]

Young Michael has the right idea here. This mashup is definitely A-OK.

In fact, I was so entertained by this video that I may have to go out and look for some other mashup videos using Michael Jackson or Jackson 5 songs. Perhaps I have been overly judgmental and not objective in viewing them.

If you know of any good ones, drop links in the comment section.

Also, I believe one of our writers has submitted a post about Arrested Development for me to review this morning. Thus, I can make no guarantees that we will actually talk about sports today.

But, in our defense, it is just a random Friday the 13th in August; football isn’t here yet, baseball is about three weeks from September, the PGA Championship isn’t to the weekend yet, and, well, you get the idea.

Have a great Friday.

A white guy’s literal interpretation of Tupac’s classic attack track “Hit ‘Em Up”

Jerod Morris — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 20:13:14 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I ended up on the Wikipedia page for the classic 90s hip hop track “Regulate” by Warren G and Nate Dogg. The synopsis section includes a hilarious literal interpretation of the song’s lyrics. For some reason, I thought it would be a fun, entertaining idea to borrow this idea for a new post series.

I emailed longtime friend of MSF Robert Littal of Black Sports Online and shared with him the following idea: I’ll take rap songs and give a white guy’s literal interpretation of the lyrics and then he takes rock/country songs and gives a black guys’ literal interpretation of the lyrics; then we post the the results for the entertainment of our readers.

He liked the idea so we’re giving it a try.

I’m up first. So for your amusement, here is a white guy’s literal interpretation of Tupac’s NSFW classic “Hit ‘Em Up”.

(And yes, I do admit that on more than one occasion in high school I unabashedly rapped along with this track in the privacy of my own car. You got a problem with that?)

Just in case you are unfamiliar with the song, I’ve embedded the video below and here are the lyrics I used as a guide.

Note to anyone who has never heard “Hit ‘Em Up”: the language in this song is TERRIBLE. If you have a problem hearing the F-word and threats of murder every five seconds, I suggest you not listen. Consider yourself warned.

And now that you have the proper frame of reference, here is how I would describe the lyric of this song:

Background

“Hit ‘Em Up” is a rather sad, tragic tale about a once solid friendship between Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace (commonly known as “Biggie Smalls” or “the Notorious B.I.G.”) that has gone wrong. The song is performed from Mr. Shakur’s perspective and directed towards Wallace and his colleagues at Bad Boy Records.

Intro

The song begins with master of ceremonies Tupac Shakur claiming that he no longer has any friends. He actually cites this lack of friends as the reason why he engaged in sexual intercourse with Mr. Wallace’s wife (who is never explicitly named but who we know to be singer Faith Evans). Mr. Shakur then punctuates this salacious claim by emphasizing Wallace’s well-known physical girth.

Mr. Shakur then goes on to emphasize his affiliation with the “West Side” in the infamous rivalry between rappers who took up residence in California and those who were based on the East Coast of the United States. He emphasizes his commitment to always acting in a way that is germane to his upbringing and surroundings and claims that he and his cohorts from the West Coast are not happy with the African-Americans from the East Coast.

First Verse

This verse lays the foundation for the entire song, with every verse after it simply reiterating the claims and threats Mr. Shakur makes here.

The verse begins with a reminder from Shakur that he had coital relations with Mr. Wallace’s wife and that he does not like the people Wallace associates himself with. Shakur boasts that he and friends understand the intricacies of how to get females interested in them and that they utilize this knowledge when they go out. He says that Wallace claims to possess similar knowledge about what interests women before claiming, yet again, that he slept with Wallace’s wife.

From there, the verse devolves into chest thumping boasts about the superiority of Shakur and his friends in comparison to Wallace, someone described as “Puffy” (which I assume is a reference to Sean Combs, a musical performer and the businessman behind Bad Boy Records), and other members of their organization.

At one point Shakur threatens the life of a member of Wallace’s entourage who is eponymously named after the greatest of all Roman emperors. Mr. Shakur also implores a woman named Kim, who is described as diminutive in stature, to not get involved with he and his friends because of how genuinely committed to a life of intimidation and crime they are. Despite not finding the aforementioned Kim attractive, Shakur claims that he will come after her anyway and that peace is not a possibility at the present time, nor will it likely ever be possible.

The verse ends with non-specific threats of violence at anyone employed by or associated with Bad Boy Records.

Chorus

The chorus begins with the gentlemen performing the song instructing listeners to gather their firearms should they happen to spot Mr. Shakur. It is also suggested that the cops be called in this instance — and based on the threats made to this point in the song, such an action certainly seems like a reasonable safeguard. Mr. Shakur then wonders aloud who shot him a few years earlier and mocks the unknown shooters for merely injuring, but not killing him. He then threatens to be a pain in the rear end and uses the song’s title to reiterate his intentions to go after and inflict harm on Mr. Wallace and his friends.

Mr. Shakur then acknowledges that his listeners are aware of the current time before claiming to not even know why he has decided to perform this particular song, claiming that Mr. Wallace and his friends are not worthy of his efforts. This is when he turns the proceedings partly over his friends and claims, again, that Mr. Wallace and the people from Bad Boy have not attained their wealth and success by genuine means.

Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Verses

At this point, Shakur’s friends (also known as the “Outlawz”) take turns discussing their lack of respect for the individuals who comprise Bad Boy Records, with Shakur himself also performing intermittently.

It is important to note that, frequently, what is said during these verses borders on unintelligible and is almost always repetitive, having to do with a small spectrum of topics. Thus, a summary of said verses is far more productive than a redundant line-by-line interpretation

Among the claims made:

A hypothetical description of Mr. Wallace being physically assaulted.
Threats of violence involving guns that are concealed beneath the performer’s clothing, which includes articles from Guess and Eddie Bauer.
The acknowledgement that the current song is not intended to be a challenge for rapping supremacy, but rather a legitimate threat of impending felonious homicides.
Various references are made to the inhalation of marijuana smoke.
Mr. Shakur himself reminisces about a time when he let Mr. Wallace sleep on his couch. He then claims that Mr. Wallace’s priorities changed and became more about material possessions, which resulted in Mr. Wallace trying to emulate Mr. Shakur’s style. At this point, Mr. Shakur also accuses Mr. Wallace of masterminding the shooting that sent Shakur to the hospital. This is cited as the reason why Shakur is now seeking revenge, and he even alludes to having a weapon ready to be deployed for such aims.
The aforementioned Kim is discussed again, with the performer wondering if she has been inhaling marijuana smoke or ingesting cocaine.
Various references are made to the Bad Boy performers copying off of things that have been done by Mr. Shakur and his friends.

Concluding Verse

Mercifully, we eventually get to song’s last verse, which is undoubtedly among the most venomous and malevolent in the history of popular music.

Mr. Shakur begins by wondering aloud if one of the gentlemen from the group Mobb Deep suffers from sickle-cell anemia. Mr. Shakur advises them that arguing with him could result in a seizure or heart attack, ostensibly because of the pre-existing sickle-cell condition (although that connection is not made explicitly clear).

Mr. Shakur also issues a challenge to anyone from the New York area. He says that if anyone wants to challenge him, he will not shy away from said challenge. He also says that his intentions should not be misinterpreted solely as a threatening song, but rather that he and his friends are willing to back up their words with actions that one would presume would be quite menacing. This becomes clear when he coldly threatens to kill anyone who steps up to accept his challenge.

To further punctuate his feelings, Mr. Shakur then begins naming the subjects of the track person-by-person and leaving no question about how little respect he has for them. In fact, a word renowned as the most egregious of all curse words is used before each person’s name to leave no doubt about Mr. Shakur’s anger and hatred. This anger and hatred is never more clear than when Mr. Shakur implores his enemies to die slowly and suggests that he and his .44 magnum pistol could be the cause of their death.

Finally, Mr. Shakur reiterates his commitment to his friends and associates from California, then boasts of their superiority in selling music records. He then ends the song by issuing a few more veiled threats of violence.

**********

And with that, I issue the next challenge to Mr. Littal: “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks.

Site Recommendation for Music Lovers: IndieChristmas.com

Jerod Morris — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:59:00 +0000

You may noticed a little bit less activity around these parts the last 36 hours. There are a few reasons for that.

First, I think we all needed to catch our breath a bit after one of the most exciting (and content intensive) NCAA Tournaments I can remember.

Second, and the real reason I was MIA yesterday, is that I had a Eureka! moment a few nights ago and decided to launch a brand new site.

After the positive response I got for my 17 Essential Songs for Spring post, and after realizing how much fun I had writing it, I thought it might be fun to launch a music site on the side. So I did.

Check it out: IndieChristmas.com

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The premise is pretty simple. I am going to post one new song recommendation every morning. Right now, that’s it, with perhaps some artist profiles, playlists, and “sneak peaks” of as-yet-unreleased songs sprinkled in. Hopefully the site does well and attracts a following; if so, I’m sure there are hundreds of different directions it can go in and features that can be added.

But right now, simplicity: one new song, every morning, posted at 8:00 am CT.

If you want to learn more about my thinking behind the site and why it’s named IndieChristmas.com, check out the about page.

There are a few ways to very easily follow IndieChristmas.com:

Subscribe to the RSS feed
Subscribe to the daily email digest (just go to any post and you’ll see the form right before the comment section)
Follow on Twitter: @IndieChristmas
Become a fan on Facebook: IndieChristmas.com Facebook Fan Page

Each of these outlets is updated automatically when a new post goes up. Just click through, listen to whatever song is featured, and you can buy it right there for iTunes or Amazon. Pretty easy and convenient right? Hopefully so. That’s the goal.

Thanks for allowing me to promote the new site here for a few minutes on a Friday morning. Have a great final day of the work week. Now back to your regularly scheduled sports banter.