Welcome to our lists page, where we at one times one share our playlists and favorites.
The Five CDs That Blew Out My Driver's Side Backseat Door Speaker:
-Joel Armato
With no exaggeration and some feeling of regret, I have assembled a list that will, with any luck, act as a warning to motorists of all ages and levels of experience. So whether you’re just a class C guy going to and from work or an asphalt cowboy grindin’ his gears and burning the midnight oil, take great caution and know the threshold of your craft’s audio specs. I have recently suffered the loss of a key component to my state of the art, factory included, surround (If you’re riding ‘bitch’) sound system and I am walking away from the incident with no one but myself to blame. Be careful weary traveler, know the warning signs, I cannot stress enough the fact that education is the first step. So for those times when the threat of permanent damage to the Tympanic Membrane just isn’t enough, I offer to you:
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It Still Moves
My Morning Jacket
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Big guitars, southern rock, and the howl of Jim James. By far the quintet’s most massive sounding album full of riffs, builds, releases, and some great horns. There was a period
of about a month or so where the disc didn’t leave the inside of my dashboard. Pat Hallahan murders drumheads. Fact.
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OK Computer
Radiohead
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Talking about Radiohead always make me want to listen to OK Computer. It’s not that I’m not into the other greatness, it’s just that somehow conversation usually ends up at this record and I am always more than happy to reacquaint. Electioneering steals the decibels every time, but Paranoid Android always makes the old folks swerve. I just kind of disappear with Ok Computer sometimes.
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You Forgot It In People
Broken Social Scene
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KC Accidental over and over and over again. It’s a good peaks and valleys album. When you get to the down tempo numbers that kind of have a groove you’re touching ground again from the up tunes. Dave Newfield’s harmonious pasticcio approach to production gives the songs a sonic depth worth exploring and as we all know the best time to let your mind wander of into the caves of the blatantly unseeable is when you’re navigating a multi-ton bone crusher through residential areas.
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Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
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I bought this at an FYE where it was labeled as, "Extreme Rock" and while I have to feel like it's such a dumb thing to say about music, this album is actually pretty extreme. Caleb Followill's voice deserves just as much volume as the instruments. I look forward to back tracking a bit as I bloomed late on these boys. Kings of Leon pound and wail. The speaker never really had a chance.
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Thunder, Lightning, Strike
The Go! Team
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A lot of the blown speaker confusion began with TLS. If you’ve heard the record, you know that it’s an EQ bloodbath; if you haven’t, rent a bunker and bring gauze. The speaker was just starting to wear itself thin around the time of the Team’s arrival. So I would be driving along thinking, “Man what’s going on with that driver’s side back seat speaker? Is it blown or is that this CD?” Imagine my surprise when I found out that the answer was both. I just don’t see how a person can’t crank tunes like, “Panther Dash” and ”Bottle Rocket” which is to say that I myself fell victim to crank.
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Sitting with a sound system that makes Bright Eyes sound more like Hank Williams than anything on I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, I am certainly witnessing an unfortunate transformation in some of my transport staple albums and mixes. My bass has been tuned to Z.E.R.O. and I can only go loud in exceptional cases. So what do I do? Do people actually replace a factory speaker in their car if it blows? Maybe I’ll get t-boned and make mum the word, I dunno. One down, seven to go.
Those Leaves Ain’t Brown Yet:
-Joel Armato
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Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
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This is the reason we are gathered here today ladies and gentleman. The record’s ability to evoke a sense of wondering and discovery is perfect for the graciously accepted warm fall days that we’ve been having in Southeastern, PA all through October and into November. The freedom of the music combines with the stories of solemnity, joyous frolicking, and magical displacement laid out by Van. With lyric sheets that read like scrolls, this album will keep you busy, but the payoff is worth a keen ear.
Whether you have loved this album forever or are thinking about picking it up, you gotta check this out
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Closing Time
Tom Waits
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With just as much atmospheric power as Astral Weeks, Tom Waits’ debut album is a more specific ride with lyrics that will put you in the scene as easily as they will cast you as a character. In my eyes, it rivals Neil Young’s Harvest as “That CD”. Closing Time has been the most perfectly appropriate music so many times this autumn that it may king the list despite its placement. With strong period producer Jerry Yester, Waits’ amazing Asylum period began with this classic record.
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Gravelled & Green
The Actual Tigers
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Masterfully produced by Dennis Herring (Elvis Costello, Modest Mouse, Sparklehorse, Camper Van Beethoven), the disc is a collection of great pop routed around creative colorful, inventive playing and verbal gymnastics. This is classic autumn material of the highest regard. Released in 2001, the album always works its way back into my rotation at some point during the year. Actual Tigers, where ever you are, come back!!!
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The Cosmic Game
Thievery Corporation
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After spending much of the summer hooked on The Outernational Sound, this release has got me by the belt and is leading my waist all over the room. A great collection of Thiev Corp’s infectious rhythms, earthy drums, and stellar production paired with vocals by favs like The Flaming Lips, David Byrne, and Perry Farrell. It is the vocal additions of Gunjan that really make this record happen for me. The Indian vocalist lends herself to a handful of tracks, complimenting the Corporation’s sound perfectly.
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My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
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Nick Lowe produced, Elvis ruled, from first track to last- great listening. A bit of a leap from the rest of the list in most respects, this record is about as rockin’ as my autumn has been. The great feel of Costello’s emotion, the curiously rocking pedal steel, and background vocals make this album a fine addition to the woodsy drives that have gotten me from the beginning of this list to the end.
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five songs that make me feel less of a loser
-Brigham Vicious
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Forever Blue
Chris Isaak
Forever Blue
1995 Warner Brothers
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I don’t think I know anybody that has it worse than this guy. He seems to get screwed over by every girl he meets. Like how many songs does he have about getting the shit end of a relationship? At least five albums worth…and that’s approximately 12-15 songs an album and so that would give us a ball park total of being screwed over by about 70 women. What the hell dude? Can you not get it right?
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Alone Again, Or
Love
The Best of Love
Rhino Records
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Seriously the most depressing song I’ve heard. These guys just gave up.
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Broken Hearted, Ragged and Dirty Too
Sleepy John Estes
I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More 1929-1941
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I think the title says it all. I have a house where I can shower and a job where I can afford to buy food. I still got a few more miles left.
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Commit a Crime
Howlin' Wolf
Howlin' Wolf: His Best, Vol. 2
Chess
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Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever made a woman mad enough at me to where she’d try to poison me with lye. Goddam Wolf, what did you do?
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It Gets the Worst at Night
Lucero
Lucero
Madjack Records
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This guy is stalking his ex-girlfriend. Then gets drunk and drives around until he’s lost. Then leaves the state. I’ve never done any of that except for leaving the state.
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extra crispy autumn tunes
These are some songs that I've been enjoying a lot this Autumn, a season that's sort of like my springtime - a time with a lot of magic, beauty, energy, a time for something new. -Jennifer Hall
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Paw Paw Tree
The Fiery Furnaces
Blueberry Boat
2004 Sanctuary
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These guys put the "crispy" in this list - offering up something entirely unique and catchy at the same time. Sure they have lyrics like "they make mango mush outta me," but they soooo work.
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High on a Mountain
Loretta Lynn
Van Lear Rose
2004 Interscope
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Holy crap - this woman is in her 70's and can still rock as well as the youngsters! Lots of good stuff on here, but I chose "High on a Mountain" because it makes me happy - just like Autumn does.
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Over the Pond
Album Leaf
In a Safe Place
2004 Sub Pop
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Following in the tradition if Sigur Ros, this song layers high pitched, often indecipherable vocals over beautiful instrumentals including twinkling keyboards. This is another unique song that just catches the magic of the season for me.
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Thinking of a Dream I Had
The Walkmen
Bows + Arrows
2004 Record Collection
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Driving, suspended guitar chords create a dreamy, yet high energy tune - a combination of feelings I get this time of year. The essential rock tune - what kind of list would it be without one?
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The Weather
Built to Spill
Ancient Melodies of the Future
2001 Warner Brothers
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Okay, I know this was released three years ago - but it's such a classic, it found its way back on my playlist and it's so appropriate... "As long as it's talking with you, talk of the weather will do..." If you haven't checked it out before, I'd definitely recommend it.
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