#11 Understanding in a Car Crash

Car crashes are hilarious.



That might not actually be true but it makes for good music.

Thursday- Understanding in a Car Crash

#10 If I Told You This Was Killing Me, Would You Stop

Emotion Is Dead by The Juliana Theory is one of the landmark albums of my life. It was the last album I listened to before I left on my mission. One time Charlee Hawkins and I went to see Juliana Theory at Bash on Ash. One of the opening bands was this band called Vendetta Red who were terrible. The singer looked like Peter Frampton. I told him so. He got ticked and told me I looked like an "every other scenester in North America" I laughed in his face because even though I was a stereotype, he looked like Peter Frampton. Digressing, sorry. So they had this T-shirt at their merch booth that had a picture of a hand with its in index finger chopped off. Charlee had just had her surgery removing the index finger a few weeks before. After some coaxing I got her to go up to the merch guy and say "If I have nine fingers, can I have that shirt?" He replied that he would be willing to make that trade. She showed the goods and he gave her the shirt.

That's a story that has nothing to do with The Juliana Theory, but it is still a good story.

The Juliana Theory- If I Told You This Was Killing Me, Would You Stop

#9 Atlantic City

The album Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen is dark and stark and a third characteristic that rhymes with ark. Rather than the uptempo traditional E-street band that people either loathe or love, this is just Bruce, as opposed to the Boss, on an acoustic guitar and a harmonica, singing in his kitchen into a four-track. He is really the John Steinbeck of America singing about crappy lives in America. This is probably the darkest out of them all (e.g. gambling, loan sharks, getting tied up with the mob). It is really quite haunting. I recommend either following it up with some ska, or you could go the other way and slip into an all encompassing depression. You know, whatev.

Bruce Springsteen- Atlantic City



P.S. If you want to hear an awkward story about this album, ask David Fletcher

#8 Moth-eaten Deer Head

So, there's this CD I bought when I was sixteen called "The Locust" by the Locust. It was twenty-one songs in eighteen and a half minutes. The longest song was maybe 1:40. It was amazing. I could also really only listen to in about once a month. It is basically grindcore sprinkled with angry calliope music. When Laura and I were dating, I tried to convince her to make this "our song". She toyed with the idea for a while but came to her senses and politely declined. So, with no further ado, I bring you:

The Locust- Moth Eaten Deer Head



Love it.

#7 When I Say Wife

A minute of your time please. Make that a minute and forty-four seconds. That's how this song is and that's how long it takes Jonathan Richman to plead his case against labels. Yes he loves his wife, but saying husband and wife makes him feel old.

Jonathan Richman- When I Say Wife

http://www.last.fm/music/Jonathan+Richman/_/When+I+Say+Wife

Sorry friends, no video available.

#6 Round Kid

Ah 1997, such a simpler time. The biggest troubles we had were El Nino, Heaven's Gate, and Spice World. In the years before Dubya and metalcore explosion, third wave ska was able to flourish.

Buck-o-Nine- Round Kid



It was a toss-up between this and "My Town"

#5 Our Love

This song started many a mixtape, back when mixtapes were on cassettes. It never fulfilled its purpose, wooing girls. Just another laughable chapter in the teenage years of Devin Fletcher.

Rhett Miller- Our Love

#4 Lozin Must

So I first heard this song on Punk-o-rama 3. This song has one of the least complex guitar solos in the world, but it is definitely one of my favorite solos. Also the chord changes at the bridge are stellar.

Millencolin- Lozin Must

#3 Domino Effect

Okay so number three is a long time favorite of mine, Ozma. Their album "Rock and Roll Pt. 3" should be on everyone's infinite playlist. You'll get a strong weezer vibe from them. If weezer could play their instruments and knew musical theory. In fact, the first time I heard them, I asked Darson Allred, "When did Weezer get a keyboard player?"

Ozma- Domino Effect

#2 Accidents Will Happen

This one is a gem. I discovered this song about twenty three years after its initial publication which put me at negative four years old when it came out. I was mesmerized by it. I just don't know where to begin.

Elvis Costello- Accidents Will Happen

# 1 Lola Stars and Stripes

Hey team, I have decided that facebook is hardly a permanent place to keep a record of my musical obsessions, so I have decided to include my daily posts here as well. To recap, a few weeks back, I started thinking about a lot of songs I used to obsess over. So here is the first one.

"Lola Stars and Stripes" by The Stills.



Not the first song I heard by the Stills, not even on the first record I owned by them, but definitely my favorite of their work.