What'll I Do - Bob Dylan

What'll I Do - Bob Dylan

3:16

Shadows In the Night, 2015

Written by Irving Berlin

I haven't put in a great deal of time listening to Dylan's four albums of Sinatra covers, which is a shame, because he made some great versions of classic songs from the greatest songwriters of the era.  In this song, the narrator laments that his love is gone, and he has only a photograph and dreams that won't come true.  The pedal steel guitar really shines on this track, giving it a hollow, noir feeling.

V-Neck Sweater - The Greyboy Allstars

V-Neck Sweater - The Greyboy Allstars

2:35

What Happened To Television?, 2007

Written by ?

A blend of old school funk jazz informed by modern hiphop sensibilities.  The band is apparently named after its founder, a DJ, but there's little of that sound on this particular track.  It's all horns and organ and wailing funk vocals that have a lot of soul but not much semantical content.  It's a decent song, but I'm a bit underwhelmed; it never really gets in your face like it seems it wants to.

Us Of Lesser Gods - Flogging Molly

Us Of Lesser Gods - Flogging Molly

3:19

Float, 2008

Written by Dave King

I'd say this is an almost archetypical Flogging Molly track: a slow-burning Celtic rock with traditional instruments blended with electric, backing Dave King's off-brand Shane MacGowan voice.  The lyrics convey anger, but are rather abstruse: something about how life is a hell on earth now because of, possibly, acid rain, coastal erosion, sex on TV?  But whatever King's shouting about, this post-punk with an Irish lilt makes it sound great!

This Must Be the Place - Wild Hands

This Must Be the Place - Wild Hands

3:21

I Want To See Some Color, 2022

Written by Max Patzner

I thought this might be a Talking Heads cover (and what a great juxtaposition of band names that would be!), but no.  It's quiet, restrained folk-pop, mellow with almost a rocksteady beat.  The vocals have a faint echo as Patzner sings about some object of his affections — a partner, a place, someplace that feels right.  "I saw you in my dreams / Well, goodbye, lonesome / I see home every time I close my eyes."  A terrific laid back pop paean.

Some Other Time - the Shazam

Some Other Time - the Shazam

2:48

Godspeed the Shazam, 1999

Written by The Shazam, probably?

Another band totally new to me, this is power pop heavily influenced by the 1960s sound, with catchy hooks, similar to Big Star.  This is a wistful "coulda-been" love song: "Maybe in a fantasy / Or a memory / You and me could've really been something."  And the dry witty hook that turns the usual cliché on its head: "But now you're old / And I am everything I said I would be."  Hints of Beach Boys harmonies, with a theremin at the end nodding to "Good Vibrations."

Part-Time Love - Elton John

Part-Time Love - Elton John

3:16

A Single Man, 1978

Written by Elton John and Gary Osborne

Working with the pen of his lesser-known writing partner, John made this bouncy little tune about what appears to be adultery.  "You've been seen running around... Don't tell me what to do / When you've been doing it too / Because you, me and everybody's got a part-time love."  Everybody does it, apparently.  "I've got someone at home / But she's got a love of her own."  It's a jaunty tune you can bob your head to, until perhaps the lyrics start sinking in.

Valentine's Day - David Bowie

Valentine's Day - David Bowie

3:02

The Next Day, 2013

Written by David Bowie

I was not much interested in Bowie as a young man, but the older I get the more I come to think of him as a towering genius.  Thing song seems to be the plans of a school shooter, Valentine, who is telling the narrator what will happen.  "It's in his scrawny hands / It's in his icy heart / It's happening today."  The song doesn't go into the reasons why Valentine might feel this way, just that he resents the football stars and dreams of having the world at his mercy.  I think Bowie could have approached this subject with something a little more complex, but that's nitpicking because I think Bowie has the talent to do better.

Poison Love - Johnnie & Jack

Poison Love - Johnnie & Jack

2:20

single, 1951

Written by Tillman Franks and Elmer Laird

Fun fact: This song is traditionally credited to Laird's widow, though not written by her.  Laird was an automobile dealer in Shreveport who had once employed Franks.  It's a heartbreak song by this honky-tonk country duo, who trade verses.  One of them has a particularly juicy tenor.  "For your poison love has stained the life blood in my heart and soul dear / And I know my life will never be the same."  But is the narrator done with this two-timing lady?  No!  Still he pleads and cries out for her, though his better judgement tells him he's making a mistake.  Not so fun fact: Jack Anglin ironically died in a car accident on the way to a memorial service for Patsy Cline in 1963. 

Your Love Belongs Under a Rock - The Dirtbombs

Your Love Belongs Under a Rock - The Dirtbombs

2:20

Ultraglide In Black, 2001

Written by Mick Collins

This song happens to be the only one of this album that is not a cover.  This song is soul music, but revved up and mixed with garage rock and punk sensibilities for the modern palate.  Its message is one familiar to soul and R&B: the narrator's love turned out to do him wrong, bat eyes at other guys, make a fool of him.  "You're always tryin to get the best of me / Tryin' to make me feel small."  '60s surf guitar riffs and "yeah yeah" choruses keep the tempo fast and the sound a wall.  This band should be as famous as the White Stripes.

Daddy Loves Mommyo - Tommy Duncan

Daddy Loves Mommyo - Tommy Duncan

1:58

single, 1956

Written by Bill Woods

This guy toured with Bob Wills and was a founding member of the Texas Playboys, but apparently Wills' drinking was too much for Duncan, who struck out on his won.  Sadly, he never made it big.  That's incredible to me, because if this amazing song is anything to go by, Duncan should have been bigger than Elvis Presley.  He could play piano, guitar, and bass, and sang everything from standards to rockabilly.  This particular song is a blend of rockabilly and Western swing, with lyrics that are ahead of their time.   "Daddy-o go out prowlin' / He meet a little dish downtown / It's Daddy-o's time for howlin' / Hmm, he really get around / This Daddy-o go in a honky-tonk / Pitch a little woo / But Daddy-o find his momma / She's in there pitchin' too."