by Jail Weddings (2010)

A strong douse of Scott Walker, a touch of Elvis Costello, a whole lot of 60’s pop mixed with the funnest side of Nick Cave.. put it all together with a ten piece band and you’ve got Jail Weddings. I was psyched when the video for “I Thought You Were Someone I Knew” popped up while browsing facebook and not just because that dapper front man is my cousin. Yes, a relation to me, and so cool! This is not his first music project. Los Angelians may know him from his previous band, The Starvations or Dante Vs Zombies. The album for this song, Love is Lawless comes out Oct. 26th.

by Afrika Bambaataa (1982)

Do surprise mystery songs ever show up on your ipod? Ones you know you never downloaded but suddenly appear in a shuffle? Some are frustrating, boring emo rock or some sort of Pavement song from Jim, but Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa is one of the most delightful for me. The summer’s road trips have been that much more fun with the Kraftwerk sampled 80’s techno gem.

by Suzi Quatro (1974)

I saw The Runaways. Thought it was shot nicely, the costumes were cool, but am I the only person that was totally bored by the end? No matter, it did remind me of the great Suzi Quatro hit abroad, (she rarely made the charts in the USA) The Wild One.

Click here to see the rest of The Wild One

by The Inner Space with Rosemarie Heinikel (1969)

While there are no doubt tons of great unknown gems to find in this week’s blog pick, Berlin Beatet Bestes, Kamera Song by Rosemarie Heinikel (aka Rosy Rosy) and the band The Inner Space (no affiliation with Dennis Quaid) that eventually became the revered Krautrock band, Can caught my eye and ear instantly.

Made for a film called Agilok and Blubbo, of which I found precious little info about except for a few lines here, the album seems to have gained more cult acclaim recently as marking the beginnings of Can.

The song is a bit Nico, a bit Giallo, a bit progrock, and wholly enjoyable.

Click here to see the rest of Kamera Song

by Bob Seger (1973)

Yes, Bob Seger’s been here before (see Still the Same). His songs are just too good to ignore. Turn the Page is a somber lament about a rock stars life on the road. I am particularly partial to the references to Midwestern boobs making fun of the long hair since both my dad and husband sport the do, I’ve seen the confused faces plenty. While Metallica’s take on the song was not as mismatched as one might expect, I still prefer the lonely original that evokes the empty sound of deserted roads passing by.

by Dio (1983)

Green screen demons (in this case a demon named Murray, the bad’s mascot), two handed swords, battle axes, Barbarians, rats and cat eyed monks – yes, Dio’s Holy Diver has many things to comend it as one of the greatest metal videos of all time.

Click here to see the rest of Holy Diver

by Next (1998)

I love that the late ninties dance hit Too Close by Next is an ode to getting a boner while grinding a girl. It brings me back to my Jr. High years where my class had the dubious distinction to be the first to cause a scene with the lude dance craze. Like the girls singing in this undeniably catchy tune, “Step back, your dancing kind of close, feel a little poke come through, on you” we weren’t ever more than slightly giggly, grossed out and pitiful of the constant occurrence. I was about to write that the R&B trio had no other hits, but wikipedia informed me of the inferior “Wifey” which has nothing to do with the Judy Blume novel.

Click here to see the rest of Too Close

by Tanya Tucker (1972)

The Southern Gothic tale of Delta Dawn is a sad one, and even sadder as it was based on a real lady. Once stood up my a suitor, she became obsessed with his return to her and aimlessly walked the town growing more and more mentally ill. Doesn’t make it any less catchy and engaging as an old timey country hit though in the hands of Miss Tanya Tucker. It calls to mind the memorable Faulkner short story A Rose for Emily.
Click here to see the rest of Delta Dawn

by Malcolm McLaren (1983)

Malcolm McLaren, punk pioneer and provocateur, passed away this week at the age of 64. Let us all remember his hit single, Buffalo Gals, which (ever on the cuting edge) introduced American hip hop’s art of scratching to the UK. Only McLaren would think to combine hip hop and square dance chanting.
Click here to see the rest of Buffalo Gals