Top Songs of All Time??

(So, when you click on that title it takes you to a clip of High Fidelity. I tried to find the clip of when the journalist asks Rob on the phone what is top records are, but had to settle for the "side ones, track ones" discussion.)

So, a friend on Twitter today asked me what my top 10 songs of all time would be. And the truth is I don't really know. I think they'd be different tomorrow than today, and today they're probably different than yesterday. It depends on mood...and a whole crapload of other factors. What I also know is that I'm in a real state of flux in terms of listening and appreciation and all that right now (and have been for...a couple of years now), and that my favorite records are changing, or being added to...I am allowing for the possibility that new, wonderful things are out there waiting to be discovered, not only in the record store but in my own collection.

Having unloaded so many CDs in the last year or two has really allowed me to see the records I still have that deserve more attention. I am a hell of a lot prouder to show off my collection now than I ever have been, because I know that the stuff I have is worth owning. It has passed through some pretty rigorous sifting over the last 3-4 years. So I'm really looking forward to putting together a new list of top 100 songs some time soon. In the meantime, here's a list I made in 2008. It has issues, I know, but it should be posted here so that we can all compare when I make a new one:

A NOT EVEN REMOTELY DEFINITIVE, KIND OF JUST HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW (CIRCA 2008) LIST OF MY TOP 100 FAVORITE JAMS OF ALL TIME.

1. SOMETHING-THE BEATLES
2. WATERMELON IN EASTER HAY-FRANK ZAPPA
3. I SAW HER STANDING THERE-THE BEATLES
4. PURPLE TOUPEE-THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
5. TEN YEARS GONE-LED ZEPPELIN
6. NOWHERE MAN-THE BEATLES
7. EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE-THE POLICE
8. IT’S TRICKY-RUN-D.M.C.
9. BLISS/BILLY BREATHES-PHISH
10. FIND THE RIVER-R.E.M.
11. BIRDHOUSE IN YOUR SOUL-THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
12. THE OCEAN-LED ZEPPELIN
13. IN MY LIFE-THE BEATLES
14. ONE LONG PAIR OF EYES-ROBYN HITCHCOCK & THE EGYPTIANS
15. OH! DARLING-THE BEATLES
16. NOT THE SAME-BEN FOLDS
17. GOLDEN SLUMBERS/CARRY THAT WEIGHT/THE END-THE BEATLES
18. TAKE THE SKINHEADS BOWLING-CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN
19. THE DRINKING SONG-MOXY FRUVOUS
20. BREAK MY STRIDE-MATTHEW WILDER
21. BEST IMITATION OF MYSELF-BEN FOLDS FIVE
22. I FOUGHT THE LAW-THE CLASH
23. SUPERMAN-R.E.M.
24. SO WHAT’CHA WANT-BEASTIE BOYS
25. VIBRATING-ROBYN HITCHCOCK & THE EGYPTIANS
26. INCA ROADS-FRANK ZAPPA
27. BOOK OF LOVE-MAGNETIC FIELDS
28. REBA-PHISH
29. A MILLION TEARS-K.C. CLIFFORD
30. FAKE PLASTIC TREES-RADIOHEAD
31. DEATH OR GLORY-THE CLASH
32. THE LUCKIEST-BEN FOLDS
33. JIG-SAW PUZZLE-THE ROLLING STONES
34. ALBERTO BALSALM-APHEX TWIN
35. ME MYSELF & I-DE LA SOUL
36. SO CRUEL-U2
37. EVAPORATED-BEN FOLDS FIVE
38. ACCIDENTALLY LIKE A MARTYR-WARREN ZEVON
39. MOTHER OF GOD-PATTY GRIFFIN
40. ORANGE CRUSH-R.E.M.
41. IMAGINE-JOHN LENNON
42. VISIONS OF JOHANNA-BOB DYLAN
43. THE WISH SONG-K.C. CLIFFORD
44. THE ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW YORK-SIMON & GARFUNKEL
45. RAIN-THE BEATLES
46. THE END OF THE TOUR-THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
47. IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT (AND I FEEL FINE)-R.E.M.
48. BRAIN DAMAGE/ECLIPSE-PINK FLOYD
49. WALLS (CIRCUS)-TOM PETTY
50. CHALK DUST TORTURE-PHISH
51. SIR DUKE-STEVIE WONDER
52. PEACHES EN REGALIA-FRANK ZAPPA
53. NOBODY’S FAULT BUT MINE-LED ZEPPELIN
54. GLASS-ROBYN HITCHCOCK & THE EGYPTIANS
55. SWEETHEARTS-CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN
56. I AM A TREE-GUIDED BY VOICES
57. FORGIVENESS-PATTY GRIFFIN
58. MR. BROWNSTONE-GUNS N’ ROSES
59. STRAIGHT TO HELL-THE CLASH
60. SEARCHING FOR ANNIE-K.C. CLIFFORD
61. SHE SAID SHE SAID-THE BEATLES
62. THE BALLAD OF DOROTHY PARKER-PRINCE
63. SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT-ELTON JOHN
64. GOD ONLY KNOWS-THE BEACH BOYS
65. HEY NONNY NONNY-VIOLENT FEMMES
66. THE FRENCH INHALER (LIVE VERSION)-WARREN ZEVON
67. SHE’S AN ANGEL-THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
68. LEAVE-R.E.M.
69. SUCK MY KISS-RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
70. REGYPTIAN STRUT-FRANK ZAPPA
71. THE ENEMY-GUIDED BY VOICES
72. WHY DON’T WE DO IT IN THE ROAD?-THE BEATLES
73. WHITE KNUCKLES-ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS
74. PURPLE RAIN-PRINCE & THE REVOLUTION
75. (WHITE MAN) IN HAMMERSMITH PALAIS-THE CLASH
76. BABA O’RILEY-THE WHO
77. AMERICA-SIMON & GARFUNKEL
78. LINCTUS HOUSE-ROBYN HITCHCOCK
79. BLESSED RELIEF-FRANK ZAPPA
80. GOODBYE YELLOWBRICK ROAD-ELTON JOHN
81. A NEW CAREER IN A NEW TOWN-DAVID BOWIE
82. ALL THINGS MUST PASS-GEORGE HARRISON
83. IF I WAS YOUR GIRLFRIEND-PRINCE
84. TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP-THE ROMANTICS
85. FAITHFULLY-JOURNEY
86. POSSE’ ON BROADWAY-SIR MIX-A-LOT
87. UNDER PRESSURE-QUEEN & DAVID BOWIE
88. THREE DAYS-JANE’S ADDICTION
89. FISH HEADS-BARNES & BARNES
90. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET ME GET WHAT I WANT-THE SMITHS
91. SIGN O’ THE TIMES-PRINCE
92. WAKE UP TIME-TOM PETTY
93. DINOSAUR-KING CRIMSON
94. CHARMING-JONATHA BROOKE & THE STORY
95. THIS ONE-PAUL MCCARTNEY
96. SMOKIN’ BANANA PEELS-THE DEAD MILKMEN
97. (REACH OUT) I’LL BE THERE-THE FOUR TOPS
98. WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME-U2
99. PORK ROLL EGG & CHEESE-WEEN
100. SKATING AWAY ON THE THIN ICE OF THE NEW DAY-JETHRO TULL

The Mixtape Jones Radio Show, Playlist, 9/21/10

Here's the playlist from last night's show. Featured an interview segment in the second half w/ Daniel Walcher, hence 3 of his songs in a row. :) Tune in this Sunday, 9/26, at 5pm if you missed it.

SON OF A GUN-NIRVANA
DIGGING FOR SOMETHING-SUPERCHUNK
SAFE EUROPEAN HOME-THE CLASH
HILLSIDE-ARNOLD
I CAN SEE THE PINES ARE DANCING-AA BONDY
MR. WRONG-CRACKER
THE BREAKERS (A FLOOD)-SHORTWAVE SUNSHINE
ISOLATION-JOHN LENNON
FROZEN ZOO-TERA MELOS
COME ON BABY GRACE-BOSTON SPACESHIPS
HORSES-BRAD YODER
SCISSOR RUNNER-JENNY & JOHNNY
MIRROR, MIRROR-UNICYCLE LOVES YOU
WILD SEX (IN THE WORKING CLASS)-OINGO BOINGO
DR. D-THE MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES
FLUORESCENT LIGHTS-DANIEL WALCHER
OLD MAN AT THE BAR-DANIEL WALCHER
WE KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING-DANIEL WALCHER
PUT THE MESSAGE IN THE BOX-WORLD PARTY
HOME-MEG HUTCHINSON
NOT THE SAME-BEN FOLDS
VILLA ROSIE-BLUR
HAPPINESS BURNS-TWO HOURS TRAFFIC
THE LOVE I'M SEARCHING FOR-THE RENTALS
VINCE LOMBARDI SERVICE CENTER-THE DEAD MILKMEN

Tune in next week for another two hours of awesome.

The Mixtape Jones Radio Show, Playlist, 9/14/10

So, I hope everyone stuck it out for at least part of the marathon last night. If you want to see the playlist for the WHOLE marathon, go HERE.

Oh, and good news: SOON, all my posts here will also now be syndicated on doctorpants.com. I'll post the link to that when I have it. Now to business:

THE MESOPOTAMIANS-THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
HARDEST GEOMETRY PROBLEM IN THE WORLD-MARK MOTHERSBAUGH
THE AGE OF CALYPSO-GROCERIES
YYZ-RUSH
DIGITAL-JOY DIVISION
HIDE IT AWAY-RETRIBUTION GOSPEL CHOIR
3 LICKS-THE GROWN UPS
AT THE DRAWING BOARD-CHUCK E. COSTA
SHOOT OUT THE LIGHTS-RICHARD & LINDA THOMPSON
MADELINE EVERY GIRL-CAMERON MCGILL & WHAT ARMY
LITTLE UMBRELLAS-FRANK ZAPPA
KNOW YOUR CHICKEN-CIBO MATTO
UPULAR-POGO
MORNING CORNERS-MOBILE WASH UNIT
HOLD ON TO ME-COWBOY JUNKIES
ATTA GIRL-K.C. CLIFFORD
GREEN AGAIN-J. WAGNER
PUSH-THE CURE
RASPBERRY BERET-HINDU LOVE GODS
IT ALL DEPENDS-DR. PANTS
TRANSATLANTICISM-DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
GLASS-KING MISSILE
SHUT EM DOWN-PUBLIC ENEMY
THE DRUM EZRA POUNDS-EUTOPIAN ACCIDENT
SPINETTE-ARP & ANTHONY MOORE
U.S. MUSTARD COMPANY-ROBERT POLLARD
CROOKED-JAIME MICHAELS
DUKE OF EARL-FRANK BLACK
PLAISTOW FLEX OUT-SQUAREPUSHER

The Mixtape Jones Radio Show, Playlist, 9/7/10

THE EVIL CHILDREN-KING MISSILE
VIRGINIA REEL AROUND THE FOUNTAIN-HALO BENDERS
MOUTH TO MOUTH-FAITH NO MORE
FIVE LITTLE ROOMS-MENOMENA
BLESS THIS MESS-DAVID BAZAN
GOOD TO GET OUT-DEVON SPROULE
I HEART CALIFORNIA-ADMIRAL RADLEY
HONEYCHAIN-THROWING MUSES
(HAVE A HEART, BETTY) I'M NOT FIREPROOF-THE SOFT BOYS
THE STALLION PT. 5-WEEN
FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY MORNING-THE SPECIALS
NATALIE (THE MICHAEL)-THE FIBS
HARD YEAR-STEVEN BACON
BELLY OF JUNE-HORSE FEATHERS
JESUS-THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
SWEETHEARTS-CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN
PARACHUTE PANTS-SUGAR FREE ALLSTARS
F.U.N.K.-PRINCE
BEATS TO THE RHYME-RUN-D.M.C.
WHERE IS MY MIND?-THE PIXIES
COUNTRY WIND-THE SHAMBLERS
FALL TOGETHER-WEEZER
CITY WITH NO CHILDREN-THE ARCADE FIRE
GO OUTSIDE-CULTS
BOYS CLIMBING SKULL-TEXTILE RANCH
AQUAMAN-GRANDPA GRIFFITH

The Mixtape Jones Radio Show, Playlist, 8/31/10

Oops. This was supposed to go up 5 days ago. My apologies. Hope you listened to the show...we had a great interview with Green Corn Revival.

BANKROBBER-THE CLASH
THE GOOD THAT WON'T COME OUT-RILO KILEY
DUDE'S HOUSE-SIFL & OLLY
ROUND & ROUND-ARIEL PINK'S HAUNTED GRAFFITI
MOO MOO (MY HEART WON'T DIE)-THE GROWN UPS
MOTION OF ARIEL-THE LOUD FAMILY
AIKEA-GUINEA-COCTEAU TWINS
THE GHOST WHO WALKS-KAREN ELSON
DIRTY LITTLE SECRET-CARY COOPER
(UNTITLED) 1-DIRECTIONS IN MUSIC
I AM THE VOICE OF SARAH STRICKLAND'S RAGE-BRING BACK THE GUNS
PARTY WITH CHILDREN-RATATAT
I MET UP WITH THE KING-FIRST AID KIT
LEAVE-R.E.M.
NEW WAY BACK-GREEN CORN REVIVAL
MANY WORLDS-GREEN CORN REVIVAL
BLUE WATER-GREEN CORN REVIVAL
I LIKE FOOD-THE DESCENDENTS
THE INCREDIBLE MEDICINE SHOW-MOXY FRUVOUS
VIDEO-BEN FOLDS FIVE
OLD MAN AT THE BAR-DANIEL WALCHER
DOWN TO THE WATER-MAI BLOOMFIELD
SOFT SKIN-MOUNTAIN MAN
CUCKOLD'S ADMONITION-BUFFALOFITZ
COMANCHE-CAKE
(WHAT'S SO FUNNY 'BOUT) PEACE, LOVE & UNDERSTANDING-ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS

See y'all tomorrow night for the new show.

Okay, Sufjan Fans, Are You Ready For the GREATEST TEST OF YOUR LIFE??

Okay, so remember when I posted my blog about Sufjan Stevens'Illinois and how I had kind of gone sour on it once everyone started to constantly tell me how awesome it was? And remember when I talked about the Arcade Fire on my radio show a few weeks ago and talked about how I hadn't been a fan to speak of, and then their new album came out and it BLEW MY MIND?? Not only that, but remember how all the really big Arcade Fire fans were acting all jaded and disappointed in the album??

Another similar event is about to come to pass. I am sure of it.

Sufjan Stevens is about to release a new album, and from the description given to us on the InSound preorder listing (click above link to go read it), it sounds like Sufjan is about to take a little bit of a left turn in terms of his sound. Now, mind you, last year he released The BQE, which was mostly orchestral and instrumental, but I wouldn't be surprised if most Sufjan fans didn't sweat it, because it was a FILM SCORE. This album, however (titled The Age of Adz), is a full-fledged ALBUM OF SONGS WITH VOCALS, and is mostly electronic in nature (and not based in delightfully melancholy acoustic guitar and piano), from what the InSound description says.

Are you ready, folks? Are you ready to give liking this album a real, honest try? Are you ready to allow the guy to truly express himself and put something new into the world that he worked hard on and is proud of, without letting YOUR preconceived notions of what a Sufjan album SHOULD sound like get in the way??

Expectations are a bitch, folks. And I suggest you shed them quickly if you're gonna really allow this album to be heard the way it should.

But who am I to say? Ultimately this is all subjective. Maybe all the Sufjan fans are way more open than I think, and will happily approach anything he gives them with as little bias as they can muster. But it's not every day that an artist has to follow up a record that was named "Album of the Decade" by a respectable publication like Paste Magazine (R.I.P., BTW).

And you're either gonna be part of the "backlash", or you're not. It's probably a decision that must be made before you actually hear the record.

Oh, and if you think that I must hate the guy, you should really go back and read my Illinois entry, where I talk about the fact that it really IS a great album.