This Boy Is Exhausted - The Wrens

This Boy Is Exhausted - The Wrens

4:17

The Meadowlands, 2003

Written by Charles Bissell, Greg Whelan, Kevin Whelan, & Jerry MacDonald

A self-referential anthem.  Tired of being on the outs with record companies, no promotion for their record, tired of being told their sound isn't radio friendly.  Why not quit?  This boy is exhausted.  "But then once a while / We'll play a show / Then it makes it worthwhile."  But he "can't tell a hit from hell."  Soaring double guitars and powerhouse drumming belie the broken hopelessness of the lyrics.

Oogum Boogum Song - Brenton Wood

Oogum Boogum Song - Brenton Wood

3:06

Oogum Boogum, 1967

Written by Brenton Wood (as Alfred Smith)

There's always something that's new to you, no matter how much of an expert you are.  Despite nearly four decades of listening and learning about music, I had never heard of Wood until he died, yesterday.  Too bad.  An urgent, falsetto soul vocal makes this silly song ("When you wear your bell bottom pants / I just stand there in a trance") more than a novelty, despite the equally silly title.  After some funky piano and drum chords, Wood hits us with that out of sight vocal.  Go on with your bad self! 

Battleship Chains - Hindu Love Gods

Battleship Chains - Hindu Love Gods

3:08

Hindu Love Gods, 1990

Written by Terry Anderson, 1985

This song was written by the front man of a little-known band called Woods and made famous by the Georgie Satellites.  Woods released their own version in 1987.  I haven't heard either band's take on it, just this one.  Zevon's muscular vocals carry the day here.  Its lyrics consist of verse, chorus, same verse as before, chorus, same verse as before, chorus.  Super repetitive, but its catchiness helps.  There was just something magical about the collaboration of R.E.M. and Zevon and we're lucky to have it on wax.  Tape.  The cloud.

C'mon C'mon - The Von Bondies

C'mon C'mon - The Von Bondies

2:13

Pawn Shoppe Heart, 2004

Written by Jason Stollsteimer

After a few beats of surf guitar this song erupts into a super-catchy, rollicking swagger of a rock track.  The vocals are booming, the bass line is thumping, the chorus hooks into you and demands you sing along.  The quiet/loud approach is the Pixies, the lyrics are Danzig ("With my teeth locked down, I could see the blood / Of a thousand men who have come and gone").  This is the band's only successful single; they're best known for being produced by, and then punched by, Jack White.

After the War - Peter Breinholt

After the War - Peter Breinholt

4:30

single, 2024

Written by Peter Breinholt

I've never heard of this musician, but he's a recording artist based out of Salt Lake City who's been publishing music since 1993.  I was surprised to learn this, as I thought I heard a faint but distinct German or Nordic accent in his singing.  This song is the homecoming of a soldier at Christmastime, set after some unspecified war.  He is stunned, ebullient at what he sees, the town all covered in white and a choir singing.  It's a story song, an epic, chugging to a triumphant finish punched up with bells and horns.