Hyena Redux: September 2009

Friday, September 11, 2009

Robert 'Birdy' Mullen

There aren't enough pages in this blogosphere to contain the words I could say about Birdy. He was the top. Gone entirely too soon and there's part of my heart that has never mended. He was my guardo camino. My muse, my compadre, my brother. I can state 100% truthfully that without him I would not be who I am today. He taught me. He helped me. He showed me that music isn't just what you hear, it's what you feel. He helped me understand that music that isn't shared isn't meeting its potential. He was the best musician I have ever seen, heard, or imagined. I'm truly sorry if you didn't know him because you're life would have been all the better if you had.

Every song I've ever heard reminds me of Birdy. Every song I will ever hear will remind me of him.

These are the ones that have special meaning to me and the ones that are the soundtrack to the movie in my memory.

New Order-True Faith

the Clash-Stay Free

the Gun Club-Walking With The Beast

the Nipple Erectors-So Pissed Off

the Rave-Ups-In My Gremlin

Screaming Trees-Beyond This Horizon

Michael Hutchence-Rooms For The Memory

Love And Rockets-Haunted When The Minutes Drag

Stranglers-North Wind

I miss you brother.

the Wonderstuff-Sing the Absurd

Natalie Wall

Natalie was probably my closest friend in high school. She understood me better than I understood myself. She is one of the (if not the) smartest friends I've ever had. Her mind worked in ways that I can only imagine. And, of course, she was one of the very few that could get me to shut up.I miss her more every day and I wish I could know she was well.

She was the John Lydon expert at the age of 14 and yet she couldn't drive a stick shift...
PiL-Seattle

She liked this tune and so do I.
Sarah Brightman-Meadowlark

Brandon Sjogren

Brandon is one of the most unique characters ever. He follows the beat of about 38 of his own different drums. If not for Brandon I most likely would have been in a book tower somewhere at a very early age. Of course, being his friend was one of the craziest ideas ever...

I miss him a lot and I know that one day soon he'll drop back into my life again.

the Meatmen-One down Three To Go

Metallica-Last Caress

Dale Sjogren

Dale is Brandon's mother. She is one of the most beautiful souls I have ever had the pleasure to meet. I always marveled as she went from playing her cello with the finesse of a master and then up and decided that she should learn the harmonica. I spent hours with her discussing everything from opera to film to sociology to politics to mythology and fairy tales to Samuel Beckett to the finer points of junk food.

10,000 Maniacs-Verdi Cries

Jason Phillips

Jason and I were always on the fringe of each other. It wasn't until his last year of school that we started to hang out more. Unfortunately, I always knew that when his senior year was done he would be getting out while I was still stuck getting by. He was a good friend and taught me a lot about underground newspapers, fun music, and the benefits of Friendly's bottomless cup of coffee. He's certainly no Deadbeat. Wait a second...yes he is.

He really does say bzzz bzzz bzzz just because...
The Cramps-Human Fly

God I really want a coffee now. Who has a pad of paper and a pen?
? & the Mysterians-96 Tears

Stewart Erlich

Stewart is one of the best people I know. I didn't spend a ton of time with him, but he'll always stick with me. His passion for music made me realise just how much I still loved music. He accompanied me to a magic Neil Young show and it's one of my all time favorite gigs. I never thought anyone could do Neil better than Neil...until I heard Stewart's rendition of this tune.

Neil Young-World On A String

By the way, check out his new gig Wadirum

MaryStarr

So, what to say about MaryStarr? Well, she's got a heart of gold and is one of the most inspirational people on the earth. She has more talent in her little toe than most people have in their entire body. If she ever stopped dancing, the world would cease.

Whenever I hear this song, it's her voice that soothes my mind.
Judy Collins-Jerusalem

And this song? Well she certainly was, and is, a truly free spirit. She will always be my friend.

Phish-Wading In the Velvet Sea

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Letting the discovery begin...

These are a few of the songs that inspired me to start seeking out music that wasn't easily accessible to me. That has all changed with the internet, but it was a fun and fulfilling journey back in the late 80's-mid 90's.

the Mekons-Trevira Trousers

the Photos-Barbarellas

Madness-Benny Bullfrog

Cristina-Don't Mutilate My Mink

'Neil Pye'-My White Bicycle
(Yes, it's Neil from 'the Young Ones'...)

the Skids-Into The Valley

XTC-Making Plans For Nigel

the Undertones-More Songs About Chocolate and Girls

the Specials-Doesn't Make It Alright

Otis Redding-the Dog

the Other Half-Mr. Pharmacist

Monday, September 7, 2009

Here's the first round of covers...

So, here is the first of my cover posts. As most of you know, I love cover versions. Even the crappy ones. But, it all started innocently enough. In fact, it began with songs that I thought were originals because they fit so well with the band in question...
So here, for your perusal, are the covers that grabbed me and the originals (or the closest I could find).

Angst-Richard Cory (1986)

Simon & Garfunkle-Richard Corey

They Might Be Giants-Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

The Four Lads-Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

the Clash-Brand New Cadillac

Vince Taylor-Brand New Cadillac

the Pogues-And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda

Eric Bogle-And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda

I Can't Explain

Yeah, over the course of the years there were a number of songs that I, for some unknown reason, always liked. Usually they were the only songs I liked by an artist, so maybe there was something about them that I identified with at the moment. Whatever it was, I still like them to this day. Maybe it's just the sound. Not the melody, not the tune...just the sound of the song.

the Buckpets-Pearls

Cactus World News-Church of the Cold

Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry-Hold Yourself Down

Frank Tovey-Collapsing New People

Kraftwerk-Boing Boom Tschak

Friday, September 4, 2009

By the way...

I forgot this song in the sister post. I've decided to post it separately because it has it's own special place in the pantheon of memory songs.

By the by, I'm totally getting her one of these for Christmas...

The Kinks-Come Dancing

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Foreigner is awesome.

Nooooo, not that Foreigner! I fell in love with these songs because of my love for languages. It's always fun to actually know what you're singing about and I have been known to speak the mother tongue for these songs.

Plastic Bertrand-Ca Plane Pour Moi

Nena-99 Luftballoons

Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin-69, Annee Erotique

Professor Longhair-Tipitina

Die Toten Hosen-Reisefieber

Cruzados-Flor De Mal

Ewa Demarczyk-Karuzela z Madonnami

Pixies-Isla De Encanta

France Gall-Hippie Hippie

Marianne Mendt-Wie A Glock'n

I'd hate to fuck up worldwide brotherhood...

So, as I'm sure a lot of us did, I went through the phase of being pissed off at the world (basically up through age 21). However, music was just the thing to tame my tongue. I found a ton of music that I could listen to and think "Fuck yeah, someone gets it!" And to think I could have been in a book tower somewhere, plastered all over the news. Damn you music! Damn you to hell for smoothing my furrowed brow!!!

The music I discovered was something wonderful.It was passionate, or cynical, or just downright petulant.Many of the qualities that I have groomed to perfection in my version of 'adulthood'.

Is it any wonder I'm such a dick?

Here's the track I forgot to include originally...

John Doe-Worldwide Brotherhood

Stiff Little Fingers-At The Edge

Men They Couldn't Hang-Rabid Underdog

the Jam-Billy Hunt

the Alarm-Marching On

Consolidated-Friendly Fascism

Superchunk-Slack Motherfucker

Fishbone-Subliminal Fascism

Gang of Four-Guns Before Butter

Rollins Band-Hard

Public Image Limited-FFF

XTC-Dear God

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Cats and Dogs

When we were younger (think early to late teens) my sister and I enjoyed fighting about everything. Everything that is except music. Granted, my tastes were much more refined and my music selection was highly superior, but she had the odd gem here and there. At least we had something that could transcend the petty bickering and bind us together. In fact, many of those songs I still hold dear and they always, always make me think of my sister.

Even though I'm smarter and better looking...

David Bowie-TVC15

Mott the Hoople-Whiskey Woman

B-52s-Rock Lobster

Blondie-Hanging On The Telephone

the Cult-She Sells Sanctuary

Echo & the Bunnymen-My Kingdom

Madness-Night Boat To Cairo

Oingo Boingo-Fools Paradise

And just to prove that my tastes were WAY better...here's one for your Wayback Machine Alison...
Duran Duran-the Chauffeur

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Pop Will Eat Itself-Not Now James, We're Busy!

Ah yes, the discovery of music that was just for fun. Good times...

Pop Will Eat Itself-Not Now James, We're Busy!

Bauhaus-Three Shadows Part II

Bauhaus also came along and proved that happiness was what you made it.
And that being a little odd didn't mean that you were unique.

Bauhaus-Three Shadows Part II

13th Floor Elevators-Slip Inside This House

Around the same time as Hitchcock, I discovered the 13th Floor Elevators and Roky Erickson. I knew it would all be okay.

13th Floor Elevators-Slip Inside This House

Robyn Hitchcock-Flesh Cartoon

Robyn Hitchcock came into my life when I started to think being absurd was wrong.
What timing.

Robyn Hitchcock-Flesh Cartoon

Iggy Pop-Dog Food/ Michael Hutchence-Dogs In Space

Part one of my Dogs In Space fetish. Iggy is at his finest here. Michael Hutchence never had this much fun in INXS. Expect many more from the disc in the future.

Iggy Pop-Dog Food

Michael Hutchence-Dogs In Space