Blue Moon Playlist Review Club - Season 2 - Episode 32 - threespires - Could have been a Contender (pg 472)

Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
I mostly didn't want to repeat the themes from Season 1, but now see that was a totally differently weekly concept without the current Episode format. My current idea is clear of a repeat of the Episodes in Season 2.

If someone wants a go of it, that's fine, but I'm ready with one (just in case).
Click to expand...

If it doesn't repeat the recent ones after the restart, go for it pal. All yours for monday then.
 
This particular week did not have anything obvious that stood out, in the sense that I was immediately taken in and would go on to explore it further.

But it had lots of good stuff and is a nice listen. It also seemed to have a much more clear distinction of genres, so I'll go with that and split it into the main groups for ease.

'Country Pish', was the biggest category with a Lot of 'americana'. Which is just not for me. The few I did like though were the songs by Dar Williams, Be Good Tanyas, Londen Wainwright, and even the Alison Krauss song, someone I have not previously warmed to that much. Looks like when it comes to this genre, female singers sit better with me. I did like the banjos in those songs however, and that is not a joke.

'Heavy / Shouty Nonsense' there was a good bit of that, a lot of which were my contributions, so focusing on ones that werent, Drowning Pool was good, and new to me. And the Soundgarden track a classic.

'Generic Indie' as Rob would call it was what I liked most here. Most of it known but still great to hear, in My Morning Jacket, Portugal.The Man, Manchester Orchestra, Granddaddy, Band of Horses etc.

Finally the 'oldies'. I thought I liked Led Zeppelin more than I did, and Rush still don't swing me, but loved Al Green.
 
Water

Thanks again to @Mancitydoogle for another great Episode playlist theme.

I originally was targeting a Top 5, but there just were too many standout tracks for me that I really enjoyed. Always a good thing!

My top 8 new tracks (with the top 4 really hard to order!):
  1. “Ocean Deep” – Greenleaf, better after every listen, @Coatigan was spot on with this one
  2. “Waves” – Blancmange, apparently the band that got away from me in the ‘80’s. Sounded a lot like Midge Ure and Ultravox, so right up my alley and sweet spot, thanks! @BimboBob
  3. “Holy Water” – Biffy Clyro, really enjoyed this one from start to finish, the music and lyrics both powerful
  4. "Rain and Snow" - The Be Good Tanyas, I’m with Rob, this song is good all around, thanks @stoneblue
  5. “Hudson River” – The Duke & The King, really enjoyed the flow of this song matching the feeling of traveling the title body of water here
  6. "Horizontigo" – Lau, fantastic instrumental I really liked, as advertised and repeat listens planned
  7. “The Crystal Lake” – Grandaddy, reminded me of The Flaming Lips, good song! (and notice how well it transitions into my MMJ selection – very cool on the ordering)
  8. "Summer Rain" - A-Ha, a beautiful song of theirs I’d not heard, amazing vocals as anticipated. Special thanks to missus @BimboBob for chiming in and making the leaderboard.
Best of a song I know quite well:

"The Rain Song" - Led Zeppelin – sorry Bruce, but sometimes a little rain’s gotta fall…

Best of the list that I hadn't previously heard

"Bread & Water" - Ryan Bingham
"River Man" - Nick Drake, not familiar with him prior, will check out more, and a sad story indeed
"Swim Until You Can't See Land" - Frightened Rabbit
“Water Mains” – Crow Moses, extra credit for mentioning Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy with two tracks making the list
"The Ocean" - Dar Williams
"Lady of the Lake" – Starcastle, Yes, I think I heard a band I was familiar with, then looked them up and saw how intentional this was. Close to the edge of owing someone some royalties.
"Ship on Fire" - Zeal & Ardor
"River Runs" - Rod Picott, he’s not from NJ
“Tales from The Riverbank” – The Jam
“Downstream” – Supertramp, still a big fan of Rick Davies’ vocals and that band
"Down to the River to Pray" - Alison Krauss
"Waves" - Sam Baker, sad song, I knew who nominated this with the first words I heard. Inspirational artist and his backstory from a 1986 near death experience
"The Snows of Banquo IV" - Wo Fat, heard of the group, but hadn’t heard this one yet
“Water On Glass” - Kim Wilde, from the same album as the song us kids in America all heard.
"Wash Me Clean" - Lillie Mae, pretty cool family and Jack White backstory
"Lake Charles" - Lucinda Williams, references to Louisiana bodies of water I’ve visited, nice

Tracks I knew but enjoyed listening to again

"Harlem River Blues" - Justin Townes Earle
"The Ocean" - Led Zeppelin, hmm, two songs from one nominator from the same album?
"The Tears of a Clown" - Smokey Robinson
“Lake Marie” – John Prine, a classic on the power of love to transcend time and history
“River” – Joni Mitchell (Tracey Thorn), one of my favorites from Joni
“My Wave” - Soundgarden
"When the Levee Breaks" - Led Zeppelin
“The Ocean” - Manchester Orchestra
"The River" - Bruce Springsteen – “Is a dream a lie that don’t come true, or is it something worse?” Bruce’s narration of how this song came to be in concert is simply amazing
"Lakeside Park" – Rush, @OB1 always hitting those classic sweet spots, huh?
“Rock Me on the Water” – Jackson Browne, can’t go wrong with JB
"Rain in the Summertime" - The Alarm, and 80’s favorite from this band
“Hole In The River” – Crowded House
 
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Coatigan said:
This particular week did not have anything obvious that stood out, in the sense that I was immediately taken in and would go on to explore it further.

But it had lots of good stuff and is a nice listen. It also seemed to have a much more clear distinction of genres, so I'll go with that and split it into the main groups for ease.

'Country Pish', was the biggest category with a Lot of 'americana'. Which is just not for me. The few I did like though were the songs by Dar Williams, Be Good Tanyas, Londen Wainwright, and even the Alison Krauss song, someone I have not previously warmed to that much. Looks like when it comes to this genre, female singers sit better with me. I did like the banjos in those songs however, and that is not a joke.

'Heavy / Shouty Nonsense' there was a good bit of that, a lot of which were my contributions, so focusing on ones that werent, Drowning Pool was good, and new to me. And the Soundgarden track a classic.

'Generic Indie' as Rob would call it was what I liked most here. Most of it known but still great to hear, in My Morning Jacket, Portugal.The Man, Manchester Orchestra, Granddaddy, Band of Horses etc.

Finally the 'oldies'. I thought I liked Led Zeppelin more than I did, and Rush still don't swing me, but loved Al Green.
Click to expand...
Bodies was released in May 2001, gained a lot of momentum and then...9/11
 
Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
Water

Thanks again to @Mancitydoogle for another great Episode playlist theme.

I originally was targeting a Top 5, but there just were too many standout tracks for me that I really enjoyed. Always a good thing!

My top 8 new tracks (with the top 4 really hard to order!):
  1. “Ocean Deep” – Greenleaf, better after every listen, @Coatigan was spot on with this one
  2. “Waves” – Blancmange, apparently the band that got away from me in the ‘80’s. Sounded a lot like Midge Ure and Ultravox, so right up my alley and sweet spot, thanks! @BimboBob
  3. “Holy Water” – Biffy Clyro, really enjoyed this one from start to finish, the music and lyrics both powerful
  4. "Rain and Snow" - The Be Good Tanyas, I’m with Rob, this song is good all around, thanks @stoneblue
  5. “Hudson River” – The Duke & The King, really enjoyed the flow of this song matching the feeling of traveling the title body of water here
  6. "Horizontigo" – Lau, fantastic instrumental I really liked, as advertised and repeat listens planned
  7. “The Crystal Lake” – Grandaddy, reminded me of The Flaming Lips, good song! (and notice how well it transitions into my MMJ selection – very cool on the ordering)
  8. "Summer Rain" - A-Ha, a beautiful song of theirs I’d not heard, amazing vocals as anticipated. Special thanks to missus @BimboBob for chiming in and making the leaderboard.
Best of a song I know quite well:

"The Rain Song" - Led Zeppelin – sorry Bruce, but sometimes a little rain’s gotta fall…

Best of the list that I hadn't previously heard

"Bread & Water" - Ryan Bingham
"River Man" - Nick Drake, not familiar with him prior, will check out more, and a sad story indeed
"Swim Until You Can't See Land" - Frightened Rabbit
“Water Mains” – Crow Moses, extra credit for mentioning Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy with two tracks making the list
"The Ocean" - Dar Williams
"Lady of the Lake" – Starcastle, Yes, I think I heard a band I was familiar with, then looked them up and saw how intentional this was. Close to the edge of owing someone some royalties.
"Ship on Fire" - Zeal & Ardor
"River Runs" - Rod Picott, he’s not from NJ
“Tales from The Riverbank” – The Jam
“Downstream” – Supertramp, still a big fan of Rick Davies’ vocals and that band
"Down to the River to Pray" - Alison Krauss
"Waves" - Sam Baker, sad song, I knew who nominated this with the first words I heard. Inspirational artist and his backstory from a 1986 near death experience
"The Snows of Banquo IV" - Wo Fat, heard of the group, but hadn’t heard this one yet
“Water On Glass” - Kim Wilde, from the same album as the song us kids in America all heard.
"Wash Me Clean" - Lillie Mae, pretty cool family and Jack White backstory
"Lake Charles" - Lucinda Williams, references to Louisiana bodies of water I’ve visited, nice

Tracks I knew but enjoyed listening to again

"Harlem River Blues" - Justin Townes Earle
"The Ocean" - Led Zeppelin, hmm, two songs from one nominator from the same album?
"The Tears of a Clown" - Smokey Robinson
“Lake Marie” – John Prine, a classic on the power of love to transcend time and history
“River” – Joni Mitchell (Tracey Thorn), one of my favorites from Joni
“My Wave” - Soundgarden
"When the Levee Breaks" - Led Zeppelin
“The Ocean” - Manchester Orchestra
"The River" - Bruce Springsteen – “Is a dream a lie that don’t come true, or is it something worse?” Bruce’s narration of how this song came to be in concert is simply amazing
"Lakeside Park" – Rush, @OB1 always hitting those classic sweet spots, huh?
“Rock Me on the Water” – Jackson Browne, can’t go wrong with JB
"Rain in the Summertime" - The Alarm, and 80’s favorite from this band
“Hole In The River” – Crowded House
Click to expand...
Blancmange still release albums these days. A bit more electronic and stripped back though. Less is more.
 
@threespires, there's a 2 part documentary about Peat and Diesel on bbc iPlayer or via sky. I haven't seen any of it btw, not recommending it as such, just passing on. I'll get round to watching it, hopefully interesting
 
This week’s episode may not prove as easy to come up with song ideas as the last few ones, but I’m hoping it will be an enjoyable search, and hopefully we’ll all get some new tunes together in the process.

Episode 8: “Historical Figures”

I’m going to use the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr holiday in the US on Monday, January 15 (when the full playlist is ready) to use this episode to focus on historical figures. They don’t have to be specifically named in the song title, but they have to be referenced at least in the song, and hopefully part of the song’s focus, and not just in passing or ancillary to an event. We’ll see what is possible here. History is not my main focus or study, but when done well in a song, it is something that is greatly enhanced and make up some of my favorite ones.

On with my initial selections to kick it off.

“Abraham, Martin, and John” – Dion

I recall hearing this song a lot in my early youth in the US, as this song came out in 1968 after MLK and Bobby Kennedy were both assassinated that spring. Performed by Dion, and many others in the future would follow and cover, this song was written in about 10 minutes by Dick Holler.

You can read about it here: https://www.tennessean.com/story/en...ohn-story-behind-song-dick-holler/5758632002/

With these and other events happening in 1968, there would be no follow up to 1967’s Summer of Love in the US that year.


“Galileo” – Indigo Girls

I’ve been a big fan of this duo from Atlanta, GA who became popular in the early 90’s. This is one of my favorites of theirs on the seventeenth century Italian astronomer, physicist, and philosopher Galileo Galilei, considered one of the pioneers of modern science. This song manages to cover the tension between knowledge and authority, the search for meaning, and the impermanence of life.

How long ‘til my soul gets it right?


“Danko/Manuel” – Drive-By Truckers

At the rate we’re going in these various Blue Moon music threads, we’ll have almost covered “The Dirty South” song by song well before we ever get a chance to listen to the album start to finish in that thread. Many here probably know that @bennyboy just won the Christmas Playlist with “Where the Devil Don't Stay” from this same album. Here’s another.

This is my favorite Jason Isbell song from his time with the Drive-By Truckers. Probably top 5 of his of all time too. This song pays homage to two influential musicians, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel, who were members of the rock group, The Band. This song captures the essence of friendship, loss, and the bittersweet nature of life. The song title alone is a symbol of the great respect and admiration Isbell holds for these two bandmates and the struggles and challenges they faced in their many contributions to music.

Let the night air cool you off… can you hear that singing, it sounds like gold?


“Heart Songs” – Weezer

Probably my favorite historical song on musical artists and bands from Weezer’s Red album in 2008. It should nearly have something for everyone here. I like how Rivers Cuomo cleverly and comedically takes his own artist and band heroes from his childhood “heart songs” and transitions it into the inspiration for his own band. Now that I’ve listened to this recently, I’m thinking of certain Blue Moon posters as the artists and songs get highlighted, not to mention the interestingly aged (and strangely predicted?) “if the Fresh Prince starts a fight”.

And when I wake, for goodness sake, these are the songs I keep singing


“Pride (In the Name of Love)” – U2

It’s hard to believe later this year in “October” will mark “40” years since this song and The Unforgettable Fire album were released (some will see what just I did there). I chose this song for MLK Jr’s birthday celebrated in the US as I always listen to in his honor. U2 were one of the first bands I heard address King’s legacy in a rock song from my teenage years. This song is as powerful to me now as it was then.

What more in the name of love?
 
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If I do this correctly, here is the link to the Spotify list. Hopefully no issues:

(unfortunately, the version of "Ohio" available on Spotify in the US is not by CSN&Y. My apologies I could not add that original version. If you are outside of the US and are able to access the original version of "Ohio" by that band, please give that a listen to instead)


 
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Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
This week’s episode may not prove as easy to come up with song ideas as the last few ones, but I’m hoping it will be an enjoyable search, and hopefully we’ll all get some new tunes together in the process.

Episode 8: “Historical Figures”

I’m going to use the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr holiday in the US on Monday, January 15 (when the full playlist is ready) to use this episode to focus on historical figures. They don’t have to be specifically named in the song title, but they have to be referenced at least in the song, and hopefully part of the song’s focus, and not just in passing or ancillary to an event. We’ll see what is possible here. History is not my main focus or study, but when done well in a song, it is something that is greatly enhanced and make up some of my favorite ones.

On with my initial selections to kick it off.

“Abraham, Martin, and John” – Dion

I recall hearing this song a lot in my early youth in the US, as this song came out in 1968 after MLK and Bobby Kennedy were both assassinated that spring. Performed by Dion, and many others in the future would follow and cover, this song was written in about 10 minutes by Dick Holler.

You can read about it here: https://www.tennessean.com/story/en...ohn-story-behind-song-dick-holler/5758632002/

With these and other events happening in 1968, there would be no follow up to 1967’s Summer of Love in the US that year.


“Galileo” – Indigo Girls

I’ve been a big fan of this duo from Atlanta, GA who became popular in the early 90’s. This is one of my favorites of theirs on the seventeenth century Italian astronomer, physicist, and philosopher Galileo Galilei, considered one of the pioneers of modern science. This song manages to cover the tension between knowledge and authority, the search for meaning, and the impermanence of life.

How long ‘til my soul gets it right?


“Danko/Manuel” – Drive-By Truckers

At the rate we’re going in these various Blue Moon music threads, we’ll have almost covered “The Dirty South” song by song well before we ever get a chance to listen to the album start to finish in that thread. Many here probably know that @bennyboy just won the Christmas Playlist with “Where the Devil Don't Stay” from this same album. Here’s another.

This is my favorite Jason Isbell song from his time with the Drive-By Truckers. Probably top 5 of his of all time too. This song pays homage to two influential musicians, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel, who were members of the rock group, The Band. This song captures the essence of friendship, loss, and the bittersweet nature of life. The song title alone is a symbol of the great respect and admiration Isbell holds for these two bandmates and the struggles and challenges they faced in their many contributions to music.

Let the night air cool you off… can you hear that singing, it sounds like gold?


“Heart Songs” – Weezer

Probably my favorite historical song on musical artists and bands from Weezer’s Red album in 2008. It should nearly have something for everyone here. I like how Rivers Cuomo cleverly and comedically takes his own artist and band heroes from his childhood “heart songs” and transitions it into the inspiration for his own band. Now that I’ve listened to this recently, I’m thinking of certain Blue Moon posters as the artists and songs get highlighted, not to mention the interestingly aged (and strangely predicted?) “if the Fresh Prince starts a fight”.

And when I wake, for goodness sake, these are the songs I keep singing


“Pride (In the Name of Love)” – U2

It’s hard to believe later this year in “October” will mark “40” years since this song and The Unforgettable Fire album were released (some will see what just I did there). I chose this song for MLK Jr’s birthday celebrated in the US as I always listen to in his honor. U2 were one of the first bands I heard address King’s legacy in a rock song from my teenage years. This song is as powerful to me now as it was then.

What more in the name of love?
Click to expand...
Hats off to you because this is a brilliant playlist theme.

I echo what you said about if done right, it makes for an interesting song. This is going to be interesting coming up with ideas for this list.
 
RobMCFC said:
Hats off to you because this is a brilliant playlist theme.

I echo what you said about if done right, it makes for an interesting song. This is going to be interesting coming up with ideas for this list.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I had nightmares this was going to go over as well as the Hindenburg's final minutes in the air.

We shall see. I've got 19 more songs I came up with to choose from, but will keep the obvious ones back for others I think will get them. @BimboBob just got another I figured would get played, so well done!
 
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Black&White&BlueMoon Town said:
This week’s episode may not prove as easy to come up with song ideas as the last few ones, but I’m hoping it will be an enjoyable search, and hopefully we’ll all get some new tunes together in the process.

Episode 8: “Historical Figures”

I’m going to use the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr holiday in the US on Monday, January 15 (when the full playlist is ready) to use this episode to focus on historical figures. They don’t have to be specifically named in the song title, but they have to be referenced at least in the song, and hopefully part of the song’s focus, and not just in passing or ancillary to an event. We’ll see what is possible here. History is not my main focus or study, but when done well in a song, it is something that is greatly enhanced and make up some of my favorite ones.

On with my initial selections to kick it off.

“Abraham, Martin, and John” – Dion

I recall hearing this song a lot in my early youth in the US, as this song came out in 1968 after MLK and Bobby Kennedy were both assassinated that spring. Performed by Dion, and many others in the future would follow and cover, this song was written in about 10 minutes by Dick Holler.

You can read about it here: https://www.tennessean.com/story/en...ohn-story-behind-song-dick-holler/5758632002/

With these and other events happening in 1968, there would be no follow up to 1967’s Summer of Love in the US that year.


“Galileo” – Indigo Girls

I’ve been a big fan of this duo from Atlanta, GA who became popular in the early 90’s. This is one of my favorites of theirs on the seventeenth century Italian astronomer, physicist, and philosopher Galileo Galilei, considered one of the pioneers of modern science. This song manages to cover the tension between knowledge and authority, the search for meaning, and the impermanence of life.

How long ‘til my soul gets it right?


“Danko/Manuel” – Drive-By Truckers

At the rate we’re going in these various Blue Moon music threads, we’ll have almost covered “The Dirty South” song by song well before we ever get a chance to listen to the album start to finish in that thread. Many here probably know that @bennyboy just won the Christmas Playlist with “Where the Devil Don't Stay” from this same album. Here’s another.

This is my favorite Jason Isbell song from his time with the Drive-By Truckers. Probably top 5 of his of all time too. This song pays homage to two influential musicians, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel, who were members of the rock group, The Band. This song captures the essence of friendship, loss, and the bittersweet nature of life. The song title alone is a symbol of the great respect and admiration Isbell holds for these two bandmates and the struggles and challenges they faced in their many contributions to music.

Let the night air cool you off… can you hear that singing, it sounds like gold?


“Heart Songs” – Weezer

Probably my favorite historical song on musical artists and bands from Weezer’s Red album in 2008. It should nearly have something for everyone here. I like how Rivers Cuomo cleverly and comedically takes his own artist and band heroes from his childhood “heart songs” and transitions it into the inspiration for his own band. Now that I’ve listened to this recently, I’m thinking of certain Blue Moon posters as the artists and songs get highlighted, not to mention the interestingly aged (and strangely predicted?) “if the Fresh Prince starts a fight”.

And when I wake, for goodness sake, these are the songs I keep singing


“Pride (In the Name of Love)” – U2

It’s hard to believe later this year in “October” will mark “40” years since this song and The Unforgettable Fire album were released (some will see what just I did there). I chose this song for MLK Jr’s birthday celebrated in the US as I always listen to in his honor. U2 were one of the first bands I heard address King’s legacy in a rock song from my teenage years. This song is as powerful to me now as it was then.

What more in the name of love?
Click to expand...
Great Idea for a playlist, I think there’s quite a few songs out there, unsurprisingly most of mine will relate to US history.
first one is a coincidence as we just finished watching the TV series ‘Gaslit’
well acted series about Martha Mitchell , Watergate and the fall of Tricky Dickie.

‘Line ‘Em Up’ James Taylor
 
BimboBob said:
Joan of Arc - OMD
Click to expand...

One of the most fascinating historical figures ever, brought to life by both her trial transcript and that of the subsequent appellate trial. Heady mixture of facts and subsequent mythology make her one of the most compelling saints for me.

Could build a playlist just for her (Cohen, OMD x2, BOC, Arcade Fire amongst others).

Cause i'm quite poppy, of the OMD two I'd have gone for Maid of Orleans but I like this one a lot too.
 
threespires said:
Much too fey for you Gornik, but there's a very good Everything But The Girl song about her - Ugly Little Dreams.

@Black&White&BlueMoon Town a great theme this, way too many to choose from though.
Click to expand...
Thank goodness on the "way too many", I was fearing the opposite. Much appreciated, and I'm seeing songs I hadn't thought of, which is perfect!
 
Leon Thomas - Malcolm's Gone

It's a meditation on loss including a bit (ok a lot) of avant garde stuff that evokes the confusion and dissonance of grief. It's got Pharoah Sanders on it so it's a bit out there.
 
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