newgazzi Vol 19 PREVIEW

I know newgazzi Vol 18 just "dropped", as the kiddies say, but here is the first song chosen for newgazzi Vol 19, which will be posted on Friday, August 29th ...

It's "Workingman" by Strange Majik ... and they are letting you download it FOR FREE, for a limited time ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#158)

(#158, There is Nothing Left to Lose by Foo Fighters)

Foo Fighters.  America's rock band.  If the Grammy's need a rock band, they call Dave Grohl.  This album is partially responsible for that, as this is probably their most accessible record to date.  Many great songs here, and I can't wait for the next one ...











Take a listen to "Breakout" and "Next Year" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#159)

(#159, Lifes Rich Pageant by R.E.M.)

For my money, R.E.M. were the best album artists of the 80's, and this is one of their masterpieces from the decade that gave us the pet rock and Ms. Pac Man.  If there were eight days a week, instead of seven, I'd spend a good portion of that eighth day listening to R.E.M. records from the 80's ...












Here is "Begin the Begin" and "Superman" ...

newgazzi Vol 18

newgazzi Vol 18 is dedicated to my father, James Robert Buchholz.  If he hadn't filled his home with great music all the time (Beatles, Stones, Lennon, etc), I may never have thought to start writing about music ...

R.I.P. Dad, you will be missed, and I will miss sharing new music with you ...

Track #1 ("Nowhere Man" by The Beatles, from the LP Rubber Soul)

About 20 years ago, my dad made a video of him drumming to his favorite songs, and this is the tune he used to lead into the video.  I always think about my dad when I hear this song.  This was also my dad's favorite album of all time, and will certainly high up on Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums.

Track #2 ("Trade All the Lights" by Caleb Caudle, from the LP Paint Another Layer on My Heart)

The harmonies and lyrics are fantastic.  The song has really grown on me in the last few weeks.  Kind of reminds me of Jason Isbell.

Track #3 ("Lion" by The Felice Brothers, from the LP Favorite Waitress)

Personally, this is my favorite song of the volume.  I've been wearing it out for a few weeks now.  I will have to purchase the long player soon.

Track #4 ("Used to Be the Shit" by Miniature Tigers, from the LP Cruel Runnings)

I believe this is the second song we chose for the playlist this month.  Very poppy, but in a good way.  Great song !

Track #5 ("Breaking the Angle Against the Tide" by Craft Spells, from the LP Nausea)

I love the sound, great mood all the way around.  This feels like a timeless record to me.

Track #6 ("You Got Out" by Lily $ Madeleine, from the LP Acoustic Sessions)

This is so damn good.  That is all.

Track #7 ("I'm Not" by Matt Stansberry & The Romance, from the LP Crash Landing)

Matt, if you're reading this, you are formally invited to the wedding, and if you want to bring The Romance and play a few tunes, we'd be more than cool with that.  You are a gent, and you rocked our fannies off in Cedarburg last month.












Check out a sample of the song here, and buy the hell out of it !!

I'm Not by Matt Stansberry and The Romance

Track #8 ("The Mistakes" by Army Navy, from the LP The Wilderness Inside)

This is Heather's pick to click this month.  I love it, too.
















Check out the song here !

Track #9 ("Diamond Mind" by Johan Tolchin, from the LP Clover Lane)

This was the last song that was chosen for newgazzi Vol 18, but as the old saying goes, last but not least.  This is fantastic ...

Track #10 ("Slow Motion" by PHOX, from the LP PHOX)

Songs like this, are exactly why I do newgazzi.  Goddamn, I love discovering new music.

Track #11 ("Are You Behind the Shining Star?" by Trampled by Turtles, from the LP Wild Animals)

This is a band I discovered on NoiseTrade a while back, and almost used them about a year ago.  This month, it was a no brainer.  I'm sure we'll hear more from this band in the future.

Tracks #12, #13, #14 and #15 have been chosen by my father. These were the four songs he wanted played at his memorial service, and they will also serve as the anchor for this playlist.  Dad gave me a love for music, so this is for him ...

#12 is Baby Blue by Badfinger
#13 is In My Life by The Beatles
#14 is All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
#15 is Let It Be by The Beatles
























I love you, Dad.  I hope this playlist somehow finds you ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#160)

(#160, Marquee Moon by Television)

Without doing a ton of research tonight, I would guess this is the highest ranking album from an artist I know absolutely nothing about or have heard nothing else from.  I'm not even sure how, why or when I was introduced to this album, but I do know that I love it.  It must have been featured on some bullshit VH1 show years ago.  A great listen ...











Here is "Marquee Moon" and "Prove It" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#161)

(#161, Picaresque by The Decemberists)

With the exception of The Hazards of Love, which I haven't fully embraced yet, The Decemberists have become one of my favorite album artists of the past 15 years, right up there with The National and Death Cab For Cutie.  This album was also produced by Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie.  Many great songs here ... "The Infanta", "We Both Go Down Together", "Sixteen Military Wives" and "Of Angels and Angles" to name a few.









Take a listen to "We Both Go Down Together" and "Sixteen Military Wives" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#162)

(#162, The Magnolia Electric Co. by Songs: Ohia)

This album meant so much to Jason Molina, he renamed his band after the record.  Molina is one of my all time favorite musicians, and his death last March crushed me.  This is a fantastic record, and the deluxe reissue has demos of every track.












This is "Farewell Transmission" and "I've Been Riding With the Ghost" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#163)

(#163, Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins)

While most of my classmates were bonkers over Nirvana and Pearl Jam (who I've grown to appreciate over time), I was more of an Alice in Chains and Smashing Pumpkins guy.  This is another Butch Vig masterpiece, however, the lyrics can get pretty depressing ...













Here is "Today" and "Disarm" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#164)

(#164, Tapestry by Carole King)

This album is on pretty much every relevant "best albums" list ever made, and now it's on mine!  Carole King is one of the iconic voices in popular music history, and this record has been, and will always be a staple in my household.














Take a listen to "So Far Away" and "Beautiful" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#165)

(#165, Seven More Minutes by The Rentals)

It's been 15 years since the last full length album from The Rentals.  This is that album.   Most of this album was written by Matt Sharp while he was vacationing in Spain, and you can hear many references to this in the lyrics.  If anyone can get their hands on Little Russell Street, which is a collection of demos from these sessions, give me a shout ...











Take a listen to "Big Daddy C" and "My Head is in the Sun" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#166)

(#166, Rock of the Westies by Elton John)

Musically, this is one of Elton John's finest creations, and I'll say it for the millionth time ... Elton John was the greatest album artist of the early to mid 70's.  If anyone wants to buy this on vinyl for me, I will not stop you.  The highlights here are "Island Girl", "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)", "Street Kids" and "Feed Me".











Here is "Island Girl" and "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#167)

(#167, Slanted and Enchanted by Pavement)

A big thank you to Todd Kemper for introducing this band to me.  This is their debut album, and in my opinion, one of the greatest debut albums of all time.  The deluxe reissue of this album is fantastic as well, with a bunch of extra goodies.













Take a listen to "Conduit for Sale" and "Two States" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#168)

(#168, Astral Weeks by Van Morrison)

I've gone on record as saying that Tony Bennett is the greatest singer of all time.  Van Morrison may very well be my #2.  There are only a handful of people that I would love to hear recite the phone book (Bennett, Morrison, Vin Scully, Mark Huehns, etc ...).  This album is perfect.












Put your feet up and give me 47 minutes of your time.  Here's the album in its entirety ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#169)

(#169, Relish by Joan Osborne)

It wasn't "One of Us" that made me buy this.  It was "Right Hand Man".  I still blare it in the car and sing it to this day.  For you trivia buffs out there, I purchased this and a John Lennon tribute album called "Working Class Hero" at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in November of 1995, the day before "Pat Modell is a Whore" became a household phrase.  I love this album more and more each time I listen to it, and could listen to it every day, if only I had the time.  I was thrilled to see that Joan Osborne was opening for Dixie Chicks about 12 years ago, and for that reason, I did not fake a migraine that night.







I would like to share "Right Hand Man" and "Pensacola" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#170)

(#170, The Rising by Bruce Springsteen)

The Boss's 9/11 record, and significantly, the first album recorded with the E Street band in 18 years, the last one being Born in the USA.   This was Springsteen's response to the 9/11 attacks, and while the album is one of his biggest political statements, he's also presenting stories about people here, and it's easy to make a connection with these characters.  This certainly isn't a record we spin and dance to, but to quote (or misquote) Chris Chambers from Stand By Me, "maybe it shouldn't be a party".








Take a listen to "Lonesome Day" and "You're Missing" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#171)

(#171, Hombre Lobo by Eels)

The first of three in a trilogy of records about Desire, Loss and Redemption.  This is the only one of those three that I really love.  The other two are ok, but this is great.  One day, I'll grow that beard, and it will be feared.














Here is "Prizefighter" and "In My Dreams" ...

R.I.P. Dad

LOST

My Dad has been missing since Sunday night.  My daughter made this so that we can find her Grandpa, and newgazzi will be on hiatus indefinitely ... 

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#172)

(#172, Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars)

John and Joy were featured on the first ever mPlayer for Paste in the summer of 2011, and they might be my favorite band to come from the mPlayer since its inception.  This album is absolutely gorgeous, and I could stream this all day, every day.  Just fantastic ...













Take a listen to "20 Years" and ""Girl With the Red Balloon" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#173)

(#173, The Inevitable by Squirrel Nut Zippers)

Andy Fefer knows what I'm talking about.  I miss the hell out of this band, and have thought on more than one occasion how cool it would be more Tom Maxwell to come back and home so we can revive this one more time, the right way.  This album is a lot of fun, and I will never, ever tire of it.  If anyone wants to find this on vinyl for me, my birthday is October 2nd.











Here is "La Grippe" and "Wash Jones" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#174)

(#174, Pink Moon by Nick Drake)

I discovered Nick Drake in 2002, the summer I moved to Eagan, MN.  I used to talk music with two members of my staff, and they both were huge Nick Drake fans.  This album is stripped down to just his vocals, guitar and a brief piano overdub on the title track, and would end up being his final record before his life ended at age 26.  This is the reason I don't regret the move to Minnesota, I may have never heard this man's contribution to music had I not made the move.








The record is 28 minutes long.  Take the time to listen to the entire thing, and I dare you to tell me you don't love it ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#175)

(#175, This Year's Model by Elvis Costello)

So apparently there are about five different versions of this album floating around.  The original UK version does not include "Radio, Radio", and a few of the US versions don't include "(I Don't Want to Go To) Chelsea" and/or "Night Rally".  My version has all three.  There are some great, great songs here ... "This Year's Girl", "Pump It Up", "Living in Paradise", "Lipstick Vogue", to name a few ...  great album.










Take a listen to "Pump It Up" and "Lipstick Vogue" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#176)

(#176, My Head is an Animal by Of Monsters and Men)

I saw this band on Fallon, performing "Little Talks", and bought the record at Best Buy the next night for $6.99.  I didn't rank it as my top album of 2012, but it was probably the best value of 2012, considering what I paid for it.













Here is "Little Talks" and "From Finner" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#177)

(#177, If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle and Sebastian)

This record has made a bunch of "best of" lists over the years, with the biggest praise coming from Pitchfork, calling this the 14th greatest album of the 90's.  While I can't rank it that high, it's hard for me to name 13 albums from the 90's I've listened to more since this came out.  I'm really looking forward to their next one ...










Listen to "The Stars of Track and Field" and "Like Dylan in the Movies" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#178)

(#178, Feed the Animals by Girl Talk)

There really isn't much original music to be heard here.  This is mostly samples and mashups, but the end result is genius.  This has become one of my most played albums in the car (when Gracie is with her mom) and at the gym (when I go).  This is also probably in my top 10 all time for album art.  You won't find this in iTunes, but you can download an mp3 of it on amazon now.

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#179)

(#179, Desire by Bob Dylan)

Best thing I've heard all year ... I'm playing this in the car, and Gracie says, "Bob Dylan is trying to sound like Dan Bern."  Howard Goldstein introduced this album to me about 11 years ago, as there is a twelve minute song called "Joey" on it.  As it turns out, this is the only Bob Dylan record I own, and the only reason I don't own more, is that I have a three disc compilation called "Dylan" that gives me my fill.  Bob Dylan is a poetic genius, that I enjoy in small doses.  That's not a knock on Dylan.  I wouldn't rank this #179 if it was ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#180)

(#180, The Photo Album by Death Cab For Cutie)

I guess the band isn't too proud of this album, but I don't care.  I've always connected with this one, and listen to it quite frequently.  Twice today, even.  And I understand this is a horrible thing to say, but DCFC records are better the more Ben Gibbard drinks.












Here is "We Laugh Indoors" and "Coney Island" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#181)

(#181, Turnstiles by Billy Joel)

My mom had an 8-track of Songs in the Attic, and I heard live versions of half of the songs on Turnstiles before I ever heard the album proper.  I'd also heard "Prelude / Angry Young Man" on KOHUEPT prior to hearing it on here.  This is the first Billy Joel album to feature the band he's most frequently associated with ... Liberty Devitto on drums, Russell Javors on guitar, Doug Stegmeyer on bass and Richie Cannata on saxophone.  Some of Joel's better songs were written for this album ... and this album also features many live staples over the years.  A must listen ...







Here is "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" and "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#182)

(#182, Blood & Chocolate by Elvis Costello and the Attractions)

I've been a fan of Declan MacManus for quite some time now, but it was Bobby Tanzilo that got me into this record about five years ago.  I still haven't heard all of his long players, and after hearing this for the first time in 2009, I couldn't believe that it had escaped me for so long.  This is probably the Elvis Costello record I listen to the most in the car.  Great, great songs all the way through.






Here is "I Hope You're Happy Now" and "Tokyo Storm Warning" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#183)

(#183, Double Fantasy by John Lennon & Yoko Ono)

I'm not a big fan of the idea of posthumous releases, especially because I have no idea if John Lennon wanted Milk and Honey to see the light of day, so I will always consider this his last album.  And you can make your fun, but I like the Yoko tracks, too.  But not enough to feature them here ...  sorry.  Next time you'll think before you break up the greatest band of all time.










Take a listen to "(Just Like) Starting Over" and "Woman" ...

Fugazzi Grand III : My Top 500 Albums (#184)

 (#184, 69 Love Songs by The Magnetic Fields)

For those of you just paying attention to this list to see where the greatest triple albums of all time fall, the road ends here.  This is the greatest triple album of all time.  This album is not an ode to the popular sexual position the kiddies are all talking about, but rather Stephen Merritt's attempt to write 100 love songs.  He stopped at 69, and recorded them all.  This is nearly a three hour experience, and I still make time for it frequently, usually on weekends.








Take a listen to "Come Back From San Francisco", "Papa Was a Rodeo" and "I Can't Touch You Anymore" ...