KCRW Playlist from 12/13

I'll keep this brief, but boy does it feel good to be writing here again. It's not been for lack of great pop songs, that I've been so silent lately. There have been many times within the past few months where I have wanted to share my thoughts on some incredible piece of music that I've recently encountered, or an old favorite that's found it's way to the forefront of my mind. It's just that every time I've thought of something to write about lately I've been inconveniently nowhere near a computer, and when I am near a computer again the words seem to have disappeared. I figured the best way to get back into the swing of things would be to begin posting my playlist from each radio show. My favorite thing about putting these shows together is always when my first set reveals itself to me. I usually have a song or two in mind for each of my nine sets during any given show, and then I build from there. Once I know what my entire first set will be, I feel like the rest of the show just sort of falls into place. This week I knew that I wanted to play Belle & Sebastian's "Your Cover's Blown," and that I wanted to play something from Jonathan Richman at some point during the show since I saw him put on a totally characteristically awesome show at the Mint last week. Regardless of the fact that I missed this show, I knew that he opened for Belle & Sebastian in 2001. "I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar" has been a major highlight for me both of the times I've seen a Johnathan Richman show so presto, "I Was Dancing in a Lesbian Bar" into "Your Cover's Blown," and then somehow that just set the tone for everything else in the show. I hope that moment where everything falls into place is never even a shred less exciting than it is now. I suppose that's all just to say that I really like the way this one turned out, and if you have a moment to check it out, I do hope that you'll feel the same way. And as a friendly reminder I'm on every other weekend for now, Sunday mornings from 3 A.M. until 6 A.M. Pacific Standard time. It's 89.9 on your radio dial, or kcrw.com. The schedule will be a bit off course for the next few weeks, but excitingly enough my next time on the air will be Saturday December 26th from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M.! I'll be filling in for Anne Litt who is something of a personal hero to me.

There is a link to listen to the show below this paragraph, and the playlist is posted below that. But I'll leave you with this thought since I did broach the subject. Is there any performer around today that is as uniquely engaging as Johnathan Richman? I was awestruck the first time I saw him live, and I the exact same way this time around. I just can't get past his songwriting style wherein which he explores subject matter that most people might not give a second thought to in a way that is thoughtful, and well expressed in an often hilarious yet somehow always poignant manner. Plus the man just knows how to put on a SHOW. Given that his band consists only of himself and drummer Tommy Larkins, the level of showmanship that he accomplishes is no small feat. If you've never seen him live I strongly, strongly recommend that you do just that the next time you have a chance.


Alright, on to the radio show link. You can listen to the it in the archives here. It will be up through Sunday December 20th.


... And here's the playlist:

Leaving Mornington Crescent - Seventeen

The Magnetic Fields - Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree

Jonathan Richman - I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar

Belle & Sebastian - Your Cover's Blown

Nouvelle Vague - Ca Plane Pour Moi

Kisses - People Can Do The Most Amazing Things

Bricolage - Footsteps

Comet Gain - Movies

Atlas Sound - Shelia

Annie - Bad Times

Quadron - Slippin

Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds - I Found A Peanut

Ray Davies - Village Green Preservation Society

The Clean - Tensile

The Pop Group - She Is Beyond Good & Evil

The Slits - Pay Rent

The 24-Carat Black - I'll Never Let You Go

Mos Def - Auditorium

The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

Oh No - Carnival

John Boswell - We Are All Connected (Triobelisk Remix)

Coconut Records - West Coast

Inara George - Bottlecaps

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Even Heroes Have To Die

Best Coast - When I'm With You

Felt - All The People I Like Are Those That Are Dead

Girls - Headache

Laura Veirs - Silo Song

Sister Vanilla - Delicat

The Pastels/Tenniscoats - About You

Devendra Banhart - Goin Back

T. Rex - Cosmic Dancer

Daniel Merriweather - Impossible

The Monkees - Forget That Girl

The Clientele - Never Anyone But You

Yo La Tengo - And The Glitter Is Gone