Song #32 On My MP3 Player - Bad Luck by Social Distortion

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'Bad Luck' is the second track on Social Distortion's 1992 album Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, which was a great follow-up to the band's 1990 album titled Social Distortion. Social Distortion is a band from Southern California and their career has spanned four decades.

Music is a great stress reliever and 'Bad Luck' is a song I need to hear when I'm having one of those days when nothing is going according to plan. This is one of those songs that I liked back in the day, but somehow forgot about it for some reason. I heard it on the radio circa 2003 and I realized that I forgot that I actually liked Social Distortion. 'Ball and Chain' and 'Story of My Life' are cool songs, but 'Bad Luck' is my jam.

I teach a class on rock and roll history, and my students have a weekly assignment where they review ten random songs. Last year I asked the students to review 'Bad Luck' and a majority of them ripped the song to shreds. I recall a few reviews said the song was "bad 90's music". That's straight up hatin', folks. This is a good song! Enjoy!



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll.

Song #8 On My MP3 Player - 18 Wheels by The Murder City Devils (Explicit Lyrics)

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Someone sent me a copy of The Murder City Devil's 1998 album Empty Bottles, Broken Hearts as a gift years ago for some reason. '18 Wheels' is the third track on the album and it is the eighth song on my MP3 player. The Murder City Devils are a rock band from Seattle, Washington that has released two EPs and four LPs.

'18 Wheels' is on my MP3 player because it is a kick ass rock song that gets me motivated to do things like mow the lawn or move boxes at work. This song is what the kids refer to as garage punk because it has the 60's garage sound mixed with Spencer Moody's angry as hell vocals. You can't go wrong with a track like '18 Wheels'. Give it a listen, but this song does drop the f-bomb at times, so don't blast this one at your cubicle at work.  

TonyDoug Wright is the Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. Check out his webcomic The Red Devil because it is totally awesome.

Song #3 On My MP3 Player: Old Empire by Nova Mob

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I have a feeling that my less than stellar alphabetizing and organization of my MP3 player is driving my OCD and anal retentive readers nuts. Listed as '01-Old Empire' on my MP3 player, this song was the opening track to Nova Mob's 1994 eponymous release. Nova Mob was formed in 1989 by Grant Hart who was the drummer and co-lead singer of the post-punk band Husker Du until the late 80's when they disbanded.

Grant Hart and Bob Mould shared the lead vocals in Husker Du and there have been many debates regarding who was the better singer-songwriter. After the breakup there were debates regarding who had the better solo career. Mould's solo career has overshadowed Hart's, but Hart had some amazing solo work that has been ignored.

I'm a fan of Husker Du and of Mould and Hart's solo careers. Hart in my opinion has the ability to write some great pop-rock songs and that's why I have 'Old Empire' on my MP3 player. The Nova Mob album is very good, and 'Old Empire' will appeal to fans of alternative rock, especially fans of the Foo Fighters. Enjoy.



TonyDoug Wright is the Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. He is also the author of two webcomics titled The Red Devil and Day 165. Be cool and check them out.

Fugazi: Waiting Room - Song of the Day for February 26, 2013

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The Song: Waiting Room

The Artist: Fugazi

Song Info: 'Waiting Room'is featured on the 1989 album 13 Songs.

Artist History: Ian MacKaye, Guy Picciotto, Joe Lally, and Brendan Canty are Fugazi. This Washington DC based band formed in 1987 and have released seven studio albums. Fugazi is currently on hiatus, but this do-it-yourself quartet is the finest example of a band that gained success without any assistance from major record labels, MTV, major music magazines, and corporate radio. The success of Fugazi has been based on an extensive touring schedule and a word of mouth reputation. Fugazi has been labeled punk, but they are a rock band with what I describe as a funky punk sound filled with an intensity equal to a hurricane. If you want to know more about Fugazi then click here and get educated.

Why I Picked This Song: 'Waiting Room' is in my opinion the gateway song for Fugazi. It's one of their best songs, but please note that Fugazi never releases weak material. The driving bass and the wonderful blend of vocals from Ian MacKaye and Guy Piccotto makes 'Waiting Room' one of the best rock songs of all time. That's right, I said all time. I'm like Kanye jumping on stage at the VMAs and interrupting Taylor Swift. "I'm gonna let you finish, Taylor, but Fugazi had one of the greatest songs of all time" I really needed a musical kick of motivation this morning because I tweaked a muscle in my shoulder yesterday, which led to an evening of major pain. My wife decided to take me to the ER where we faced a two to three hour wait in a waiting room full of characters. There was a guy with a bandaged finger with blood all over his shirt. His wife or girlfriend was holding something in a plastic bag, so if that dude was waiting then there was no way in hell I was getting in to see anyone. Click on the video below and enjoy the music.

Download The Song: Get your Fugazi fix from Dischord Records, so click here for some great music.



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

My Super 70's: Roadrunner by The Modern Lovers

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My Super 70's has come to an end and there is no better act to close this week than The Modern Lovers. This Boston, Massachusetts band was led by the eccentric Jonathan Richman and were active during the 1970's and 1980's. 'Roadrunner' is the opening track to their 1976 classic pre-punk masterpiece The Modern Lovers.

Simplicity in rock and roll should be appreciated. Some bands can create complex masterpieces, and I truly appreciate those works, but a teenage Jonathan Richman took three chords and created a punk anthem about the joys of driving in your car and listening to some great rock music. 'Roadrunner' is in my opinion one of the greatest songs in the history of rock and roll.

Released in 1976, The Modern Lovers debut was an influential rock and roll album that spent some four or five years in development hell. The Modern Lovers were pursued by various record companies in the early 70's, but tensions in the band and some other issues delayed the release. By 1976, Richman was essentially a solo artist that used a variety of backing musicians that were labeled 'The Modern Lovers'.

I don't think there is a better song to open an album than 'Roadrunner'. Richman's count to six leads into a true rock and roll experience that is second to none. It might not hit you at first, but 'Roadrunner' takes the listener to a time when rock and roll was fun and kids could jump on the stage with a band that had a handful of songs that used a couple of chords.

On a side note, a lawmaker in Massachusetts is trying to make 'Roadrunner' the official state song. Enjoy!





TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

My Heavy Rotation For January 2013: Brickfield Nights by The Boys

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The heavy rotation comes to an end this week with the 1978 power poppin' punk song 'Brickfield Nights' by The Boys. They were part of the UK punk scene during the late 70's and early 80's. The first time I heard The Boys was on the Rhino DIY series CD Teenage Kicks - UK Pop I.

If you can get your hands on those Rhino DIY compilation CDs then it is worth the investment. I have four of those CDs at home and not a single one of them is weak. When I search the used CD bins, I'm on the lookout for more, and I will share more music I discovered via Rhino.

'Brickfield Nights' is the only song that I know from The Boys, and this has earned its rightful place in my heavy rotation. This is a straight up rock and roll song about remembering the good ol' days. If you are a fan of bands like Green Day and Weezer then you are really going to dig this little number. Enjoy.






TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.