Song #65 On My MP3 Player - Date With IKEA by Pavement

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I have decided to share with the Lost Soul faithful every song that is stored on my MP3 player which is a Philips GoGear Vibe 4G model. All posts are in alphabetical order. Song #65 on my MP3 player is 'Date With IKEA' by Pavement which is the fourth track on their 1997 album Brighten The Corners.

You can't go wrong with Pavement. 'Date With IKEA' has been a favorite of mine for many years, and this song features Scott 'Spiral Stairs' Kannberg on lead vocals. I have been to one Pavement show in my life and they opened with 'Date With IKEA', which was fantastic. Enjoy.



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll

Getting Caught Up On Wednesday - When I'm With You by Best Coast

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The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll is late to the party, but I am getting caught up on the music of the past fourteen years. I will use every Wednesday to get caught up on the music you kids are listening to these days. My selection for this week is Best Coast and the song I picked is 'When I'm With You', which is the thirteenth track on their 2010 album Crazy For You. 

I first heard Best Coast on NPR because they were interviewing the band and talking about their album Crazy For You. They played some clips and I was impressed because they had a lo-fi sound comparable to Yo La Tengo. I made a mental note to check out their music. Something happened to that mental note and it is four years later. I'm digging their music and the Lost Soul is now a fan of Best Coast. 



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll

Song #47 On My MP3 Player - California by Low

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I have decided to share with the Lost Soul faithful every song that is stored on my MP3 player which is a Philips GoGear Vibe 4G model. All posts are in alphabetical order. Song #47 on my MP3 player is 'California' by Low which is the second track on their 2005 album The Great Destroyer.

I used to know this guy named Brandon and he made me an awesome Christmas mix CD back in 2003, which I still listen to during Christmas time. The opening track to the CD was Low's 'Just Like Christmas'. I really liked the song and wanted to hear more from Low. A few years after discovering Low, I heard 'California' and thought it was a magnificent track. I hope you enjoy this song and are staying warm.




TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll

Song #44 On My MP3 Player - Bull in the Heather by Sonic Youth

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I have decided to share with the Lost Soul faithful every song that is stored on my MP3 player which is a Philips GoGear Vibe 4G model. All posts are in alphabetical order. Song #44 on my MP3 player is 'Bull in the Heather' by Sonic Youth which is the second track on their 1994 album Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star.

Sonic Youth is a cool band, but I need them in small doses. If I hear one or two Sonic Youth songs then I'm good, but for some reason if I hear more then I get angry with Sonic Youth. There is no logical explanation. I've been a fan since 1992 when my friend Miles gave me the 'Sugar Kane' CD single as a Christmas gift. 'Bull in the Heather' is a damn good song, so enjoy the official video below which features Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill.

Song #40 On My MP3 Player - Brand New Love by Superchunk

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Superchunk's cover of Sebadoh's 'Brand New Love' is the fortieth song on my MP3 player. Superchunk's version is the thirteenth track on their 1991 album Tossing Seeds (Singles '89-'91).

I had a decent collection of Guided By Voices bootlegs and rarities tapes during the mid to late 1990's, so there were people on the Guided By Voices mailing list willing to trade me a mixtape for a copy of a bootleg or rarities tape. Someone sent me a mixtape with 'Brand New Love' by Superchunk on it and I was really impressed with the song despite the fact that the quality of the mixtape was poor. I was familiar with Superchunk at the time and I decided to find a better quality version of the song on CD.

Sebadoh is a band that I like, but Superchunk's version of 'Brand New Love' blows Lou Barlow and company out of the water. Enjoy!



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll.

Getting Caught Up On Wednesday - Mr. November by The National

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Catching Up On Wednesday is a new feature at The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll where I try and get caught up on the music that has been released over the past fourteen years. During the late 1980's and 1990's, I was a good Lost Soul, but I've got a great deal of catching up to do in order to be cool and hip. I picked a band at random and decided to check out The National. The song I selected was "Mr. November" which is the thirteenth track from their 2005 album titled Alligator.

Today is the first time that I heard this song. I'm getting a Joy Division and Interpol vibe from these cats, which is a plus in my book. "Mr. November" is a good song, but it hasn't hooked me as a listener. I'll give them a few more chances, so if you have any recommendations then let me know. Maybe I'll take a trip to the library and check out some of their music on CD. I'm old school and that's how I roll. On a side note, I discovered that this band was formed in Cincinnati, Ohio. I'm from Ohio and I refer to Cincinnati as "The Nasty" because I get a real scummy vibe from that city when I visit.

Song #33 On My MP3 Player - Best Thing by Bob Mould

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Happy Thursday, everyone! 'Best Thing' is the eighth track on Bob Mould's 2005 solo album titled Body of Song. It is the song of the day at The Lost Soul of Rock & Roll, and it is song #33 on my MP3 player.

I'm a fan of Bob Mould's work with Husker Du, Sugar, and as a solo artist. He has a great catalog of music for people who love rock, hard rock, and punk. Mould is also a great acoustic performer as well and I encourage people to see him perform acoustically because he is amazing.

Some Mould fans have been critical of his solo efforts because they claim the work is not as good as anything he did with Husker Du and Sugar. I disagree. Mould's solo work is very good and 'Best Thing' is a fine example of a great Mould solo song. If you are looking for an upbeat rocker with some pop goodness then you've come to the right place.

Mould's also a songwriter who loves to drop a few relationship tunes on his albums. Some are pretty depressing, but 'Best Thing' is a great "f--k you" song for people who have tried and tried to show someone that they are a damn good catch, but they go off and date a total tool. Enjoy!



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll.

Song #31 On My MP3 Player - Back To The Lake by Guided by Voices

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Guided by Voices' (GBV's) 'Back To The Lake' is the song of the day at The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. 'Back To The Lake' is the seventh track on the 2002 release Universal Truths and Cycles.

GBV was active from 1983 until 2004, but they should have called it quits in 2002 when they released Universal Truths and Cycles. It would have allowed the band to ride off into the sunset on a high note, but they stayed active for a few more years and released two forgettable albums, Earthquake Glue and Half Smiles of the Decomposed. I'm a diehard fan of GBV, and I thought Universal Truths and Cycles was their best album since 1997's Mag Earwhig!

'Back to the Lake' is one of my favorites from Universal Truths and Cycles because it was a song that made me believe in a band that I saw as an act on cruise control collecting checks. Mag Earwhig! ushered in an era of a studio version of GBV. The days of 4-tracks and lo-fi experimental rock was gone. While I enjoyed the big studio version at times, I felt that I was following a band desperate for a top 40 hit or an alternative rock radio hot rotation hit.

Do The Collapse (1999) and Isolation Drills (2001) showed moments of brilliance, but something didn't seem right in my opinion. The two aforementioned albums lacked something honest. My interest in GBV was on the decline in 2000, but they captured my attention once again with Universal Truths and Cycles. It is interesting to note that the album that brought me back to GBV was the album that was one of the best selling releases for GBV. Greatness had returned and all was well in the universe.




TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll.

Song #14 On My MP3 Player - A Life of Possibilities by The Dismemberment Plan

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The Dismemberment Plan is a band from Washington, D.C. that formed in 1993 and gained critical acclaim for their 1999 album Emergency & I. This album was well received by critics and is considered one of the best indie rock albums of the past twenty years. 'A Life of Possibilities' is the opening track to Emergency & I and it is the fourteenth song on my MP3 player.

I moved to Southwest Michigan in 2000 and a few months later I discovered the awesome college rock radio station WIDR. One day they played a track from Emergency & I and I had to call the station to find out the name of the band. The disc jockey said they were called The Dismemberment Plan, so I went to Flipside Records in Kalamazoo, MI (RIP) and purchased a copy of Emergency & I.

'A Life of Possibilities' is one of many great tracks on Emergency & I . The album is a wonderful blend of punk, hip-hop, dance music, and R&B. 'A Life of Possibilities' starts off with a bouncy beat and then someone finds the distortion pedal and then everything accelerates into an all out rocker. I highly recommend this album and I hope you enjoy the song of the day.





TonyDoug Wright is the Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. He made some awesome no-bake cookies last night.

Song #9 On My MP3 Player - 30 Gallon Tank by Spoon

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Spoon is a band from Austin, Texas that formed in 1993 and they have released seven albums. '30 Gallon Tank' is the fifth track on their 1998 album A Series of Sneaks and it was also released as an EP. This is the first of a few tracks on my MP3 player from Spoon.

My first Spoon experience was when I purchased the What's Up Matador CD. It was a compilation CD of various artists from the Matador label. What's Up Matador featured two songs by Spoon, 'Don't Buy The Realistic' and 'Telamon Bridge'. I was hooked by Spoon and had to check out their albums. I've been a fan of Spoon for years and they are one of a handful of bands that have not disappointed me as a listener.

It's hard to describe the sound of Spoon to someone who has never heard their music. They can be a noisy rock band, they can crank out a nice acoustic jam, or they can also deliver a slick pop influenced song. '30 Gallon Tank' is one of Spoon's best and it is one of their noisy rockers. If you like The Pixies, Sonic Youth, or Nirvana then give '30 Gallon Tank' a listen. Enjoy.





TonyDoug Wright is the Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. Follow him on Twitter @TonyDougWright.

Song #4 On My MP3 Player: Shoot Your Way To Freedom by Nova Mob

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Listed as '02 - Shoot Your Way To Freedom', this track by Nova Mob is the fourth song on my MP3 player. Yesterday's song was 'Old Empire', which is the opening track to Nova Mob's eponymous 1994 album. I promise that my MP3 song list gets more organized as we go on in this series.

Nova Mob is a great rock album, and 'Shoot Your Way To Freedom' keeps the listener rockin' following a killer opening track. 'Shoot Your Way To Freedom' was added to my MP3 player because it's a damn good song that rocks. I'm not always in the mood for something flashy and songs like 'Shoot Your Way To Freedom' keep it simple, plus it has that catchy as hell chant of 'Shoot, shoot, shoot' added in for good measure.



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.

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.

Songs On My MP3 Player: (I'll Name You) The Flame That Cries by Guided by Voices

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The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll is back in business. It has been five months since I last posted and I am glad to be back blogging about rock and roll. It was sometime last week when I decided to share with the Lost Soul faithful every song that is stored on my MP3 player which is a Philips GoGear Vibe 4G model.  All posts will be in alphabetical order.

'(I'll Name You) The Flame That Cries' by Guided by Voices (GBV) is the first song listed on my MP3 player because of the parentheses. '(I'll Name You) The Flame That Cries' is featured on the 'I Am A Tree' single that was released in 1997 by Matador Records.

GBV is a band that was formed in Dayton, Ohio during the early 1980's, and they became a favorite of music critics and alternative rock bands during the early 1990's following the release of the albums Propeller and Bee Thousand. The band has a sound that is influenced by various genres including The British Invasion, punk rock, post-punk, psychedelic rock, and progressive rock. Their lead singer is a former fourth grade teacher named Robert Pollard and he is quite possibly one of the most prolific songwriters of the past thirty years. Many of the GBV's releases are considered lo-fi due to the use of inexpensive recording devices to record their releases, but they would venture into the studio to produce some polished rock albums. The history of GBV includes numerous personnel changes and their career came to end in 2004 when Pollard decided to retire the band. GBV's retirement ended in 2010 when pollard got the band back together to tour and to release new music.

I became a fan of GBV in 1994 and saw my first show in Dayton, Ohio a year later. This was the time of the lo-fi era GBV and the lineup was Bob Pollard on vocals, Jim Greer on bass, Tobin Sprout on guitar and vocals, Mitch Mitchell on guitar, and Kevin Fennell on drums. Greg Demos would replace Greer on bass and this lineup from 1992 to 1996 was known as the "classic lineup".

What I've always liked about this band, especially the "classic lineup", was that on stage they looked like a bunch of regular guys playing solid rock and roll. The sets were long, the energy was high, and the band always played a great show. The "classic lineup" had a run featuring some incredibly amazing albums including Bee Thousand, Alien Lanes, and Under The Bushes, Under The Stars.

Everything seemed to be going well from my point of view as a fan during the mid to late 90's, but Pollard made a decision that shocked me in 1997 when he announced some major personnel changes. Pollard had the entire band replaced by members of Cobra Verde, a Cleveland rock band. I was on a GBV mailing list for fans and from what I was told on the list was that Pollard wanted a more savvy group of musicians to join him for a big studio album project. Doug Gillard was lead guitar player, John Petkovic was the rhythm guitar player, Don Depew was on bass, and Dave Swanson was on drums. The sound went from lo-fi to studio rock and the end result was a 1997 concept album titled Mag Earwhig!

Mag Earwhig! is a good album overall, but it was a clear statement from Pollard that the lo-fi era was over. The Cobra Verde lineup did not disappoint fans at shows, but for some reason, Pollard decided to keep Gillard and replace the remaining band members with new musicians less than one year after disbanding the "classic lineup".

'(I'll Name You) The Flame That Cries' is the first song in this MP3 series and it opens with a lovely acoustic sound that builds up to a great progressive rock explosion. It seems to me that it is a crime that this song was placed on the 'I Am A Tree' single instead of Mag Earwhig! because '(I'll Name You) The Flame That Cries' is quite possibly one of GBV's strongest songs from this Cobra Verde era. I've always been of the opinion that Pollard really wanted a hit at this point in his career and Mag Earwhig! could have been the album to take him to radio hitsville. For some reason, it did not happen. '(I'll Name You) The Flame That cries' has everything that a band needs for a radio hit, so it has been a myestery to me why this didn't make the album.

Progressive rock or prog rock is not something I want to listen to on a daily basis, but '(I'll Name You) The Flame That Cries' is an exception that deserves to be on my MP3 player because it is that kind of rock song that will get your head bobbing and your fist pumping in the air. For those of you that have not converted to the rock awesomeness of GBV then give this song a listen because it is definitely a gateway song one can use to get new converts to join the Church of GBV. The club is open.




TonyDoug Wright is the Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. Follow him on Twitter @TonyDougWright or join The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll page on Facebook.

Mogwai: I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead - Song of the Day for February 27, 2013

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The Song: 'I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead'

The Artist: Mogwai

Song Info: 'I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead' is featured on the 2008 album The Hawk is Howling.

Artist History: This Glasgow band has been stamped with various tags like math rock, post-rock, and instrumental rock, but Mogwai has been producing some fantastic music during their 18 year career.

Why I Picked This Song: There were four or five song of the day candidates in my head this morning as I was shoveling the snow. Then I went to work and all of those song choices got deleted. I couldn't decide on a song of the day, so I went over to YouTube to find something cool to post to The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. For some reason I did a search for Mogwai and found the song 'I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead'. This is a really nice instrumental and Mogwai is the right kind of music for me when I'm doing work at the computer. Mogwai is a band that I first heard back in '98 or '99 and I thought they were terrible. Don't ask me why. I've grown to like Mogwai and I hope you enjoy today's song.

Download The Song: Click here to download the song from Amazon.com!



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.

Grant Hart: 2541 - Song of the Day for February 25, 2013

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 Then I put down the money

And I picked up the keys

We had to keep the stove on all night long

So the mice wouldn't freeze

The Song: '2541'

The Artist: Grant Hart

Song Info: '2541' was featured on Grant Hart's 2541 EP which was released in 1988 on SST Records.The song is also featured on Hart's 1989 solo album debut, Intolerance.

Artist History: Grant Hart was the drummer for Hüsker Dü, a Minneapolis trio that started off as a hardcore punk band but blossomed into a fantastic rock band. Hüsker Dü was a college rock darling that did not gain major fame during their nine year career (1979 - 1988), but they did influence many alternative rock bands like Green Day. Hart was the drummer and shared songwriting and singing duties with guitar player Bob Mould. Tensions and drug use broke up the band, so Hart and Mould went their separate ways. Mould went on to a great solo career that included the formation of a new band called Sugar. Hart has been in Mould's shadow since the break up of Hüsker Dü, but Hart has had produced some incredible music as a solo artist.

Why I Picked This Song:There are times when songs pop into my head and they stay there for an entire weekend. '2541' popped into my head on Saturday morning and it was refreshing to have a great song stuck in my head instead of some god awful racket from Barney and Friends. I have kids. I'm a fan of Hart and Mould's solo efforts, and one of my favorite songs by Hart is '2541', a tale of a struggling rock band living in a crummy house. This is a really catchy acoustic rock song that will get you singing "2541, big windows to let in the sun". Enjoy.

Download The Song: Click here to get the song from Amazon.com.



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 90's Flashback: Neptune Ave (Ortho Hi Rise) by Sammy

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This week I am sharing some of my favorite songs from the 90's, and today's selection is 'Neptune Ave (Ortho Hi Rise)' by Sammy, a New York City band. Luke Wood and Jesse Hartman were Sammy, and their 1996 debut Tales of Great Neck Glory was their last album.'Neptune Ave (Ortho Hi Rise)' is featured on that overlooked 1990's gem.

Sammy was unfairly labeled a Pavement rip-off band. I'll admit that they do have a similar sound at times, but when you listen to Sammy they are also influenced by the likes of fellow NYC rockers The Velvet Underground and Sonic Youth. In all fairness, take a look at some of your favorite 90's bands and make a list of who was ripping off The Velvet Underground or The Fall or The Beach Boys. Hell, The New York Dolls ripped off the Stones at times, but the Dolls rocked. Sammy rocked as well, kids.

I first heard 'Neptune Ave (Ortho Hi Rise)' on 120 Minutes. The Lou Reed inspired vocals by Jesse Hartman, the warm and fuzzy 90's indie guitar sounds, and the sexy hipster lyrics made this song great. I connect with this song lyrically in spots. As a History major I love the line, "Tell me a story 'cause I'm a history hound". Another good part in the song is when they break into, "What ever happened to you on this beach? What ever happened to you in that bar? What ever happened to you on the street? What ever happened to your old guitar?" Damn that's good.

This is one of many great songs on their major label debut, Tales of Great Neck Glory. As I stated earlier, this is an overlooked indie album of the 1990s because it is pretty solid from start to finish. Take a listen to the song below and enjoy. Also, you gotta dig The Soul Train Line at the end of the video.


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.

Artists I Get: Guided By Voices

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Guided By Voices - Pitch.Com

I love Guided by Voices. They are my favorite band and have held the number one spot in my rock and roll heart for the past eighteen years. I've seen them in concert thirty-five or thirty-six times since 1995. Their music was played at my wedding. I even sang a Guided by Voices song to my kids when they were born. This blog is named after a line in a Guided by Voices song and they earned the very first post. I get Guided by Voices.

My wife doesn't like Guided by Voices. My family doesn't like Guided by Voices. Some of my friends don't like Guided by Voices. My co-workers don't like Guided by Voices. I've taught two classes at a community college about the history of rock and roll, and all of those students didn't like Guided by Voices. I even had some record store ding-dong give me grief for buying a Guided by Voices record at the store where he worked.

What's not to like?

Here are some complaints I've received about Guided by Voices. Lead singer Robert Pollard sings with a fake British accent. The lyrics are weird and/or pretentious. The band hit it big while they were in their late 30's, so they are "really old". Their music is "boring" and "really stupid". They are from Ohio, so they must suck.

Guided by Voices is a great rock and roll band that formed during the 1980's in Dayton, Ohio. Robert Pollard is the key player behind this band. He is their heart and soul, and yes he does sing with a fake British accent at times. Pollard is a student of rock and roll, plus he is a prolific songwriter that has cranked out thousands of songs. Guided by Voices newbies are in awe over the sheer volume of music they've produced, and trust me, it's great music.

What's not to like?

Guided by Voices has an impressive discography that ranges from REM inspired college rockers to lo-fi masterpieces inspired by the British Invasion and punk rock. Their later albums went into the realm of pop rock and a sort-of-kind-of-not-really progressive rock realm. Guided by Voices also has numerous solo and side projects that stay true to the Guided by Voices "sound", but also goes into some strange and incredible musical territories.

Here are some great selections from the Guided by Voices catalog to show you what I "get"about the band. My first selection is 'Hardcore UFOs', the opening track to their classic 1994 album Bee Thousand. This was the "I get it" song that turned me on to Guided by Voices. I played this album religiously back in '94, and what I love about 'Hardcore UFOs' is that it sounds like a lo-fi transmission from an alternate universe where The Beatles recorded some power-pop tunes.


Guided by Voices have released many fantastic albums. What's incredible about this band is that they have many hidden gems out there on 7" releases, singles, splits, EPs, and LPs. One superb hidden gem is '(I'll Name You) The Flame That Cried', which is featured on the 1997 I Am A Tree single. For those of you that have some sort of hatred of lo-fi music, then I have a killer song that was recorded in a studio.


I placed 'Paper Girl' from Self Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia to showcase the brilliance of this band. How can you hate on this track. C'mon, man!


Guided by Voices is still going strong. last year, they released a great album titled Let's Go Eat The Factory. They were invited to play Letterman and they had a memorable performance thanks to bassist Greg Demos. Watch below and enjoy.


I get Guided by Voices.

 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.

Artists I Just Don't Get: Neutral Milk Hotel

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Neutral Milk Hotel - Photo courtesy Last.fm

The Neutral Milk Hotel is the selected artist today for the 'Artists I Just Don't Get' series.

There are albums that are considered major game changers in the world of indie rock. The Velvet Underground and Nico by The Velvet Underground, Marquee Moon by Television, Zen Arcade by Husker Du, and Spiderland by Slint are just a few examples of some of the most influential and beloved indie albums of all time. Every decade has its share of fantastic albums, and the 90's were a good time for indie fans.

The angst-fueled and grungy sounds of the early 90's faded away and it was replaced by a new group of mid 90's lo-fi darlings. Lo-fi was replaced by a group of artists moving in a direction that embraced some elements of lo-fi but were more rooted in an Americana type of mold.

The Neutral Milk Hotel changed the game in 1998 with their second studio album, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. It has been a influential album since its release and some believe it is one of the most perfect albums from the indie rock universe. For the past fifteen years, I have tried to like this album. Although I view the Neutral Milk Hotel as a good band, I don't view them as a great band, and In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is at best in my opinion a mediocre concept album.

I first discovered the Neutral Milk Hotel in 1998 when In The Aeroplane Over The Sea was released. Back then I was subbed to Postal Blowfish a Guided by Voices mailing list, and some of the list members were posting their praise for In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. The good people of Postal Blowfish introduced me to some great artists, so I decided to get a copy of the red hot Neutral Milk Hotel album.

My memories are not as solid as they once were, but someone agreed to make me a copy of In The Aeroplane Over The Sea. Saving twelve or fifteen bucks on a CD was a great idea, so I awaited the tape via snail mail. Kids, this was the Dark Ages of the internet when you did not have the luxury of iTunes or Napster.

The tape arrived and I was excited. After a few listens, I wasn't overly impressed. It wasn't a terrible album, but I wasn't as excited as my fellow friends on Postal Blowfish. There were some more listens and some more listens for good measure. My excitement for In The Aeroplane Over The Sea did not change.

For those of you that are not familiar with In The Aeroplane Over The Sea then take a listen to 'Holland 1945':


If you felt an Anne Frank vibe then you are not off target. However, it is my understanding that Jeff Mangum, the lead singer of Neutral Milk Hotel, has not admitted this is an album about Anne Frank. Some people hear 'Holland 1945' and fall in love with the genius that is Jeff Mangum. All I hear is a creepy dude's voice with an unhealthy obsession for Anne Frank or for someone who reminds him of Anne Frank.

In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is one of those albums that will always make me scratch my head and think, "This is one of the best albums of the 90's?" I've never connected with this album, and I just don't get what is so great about the Neutral Milk Hotel. You might think I'm slamming this album because everyone else likes it, but that's not the case. As I mentioned earlier, I've given this album plenty of chances. Mangum's lyrics are not that great, and maybe it's just me but Magnum at times sings as if he is on the verge of a mental breakdown.

My not getting the Neutral Milk Hotel is based on the opinion that I view them as a good band, and not one that is brilliant or groundbreaking. I'm not going to complain about this band any further, so let me share with you my favorite track from the Neutral Milk Hotel. The song is 'You've Passed' which is featured on their debut studio album On Avery Island.



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.  

Artists I Just Don't Get: Arcade Fire

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Arcade Fire - Courtesy of Merge Records

I've decided to switch gears at The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and go from the song of the day format to an article format. I'd like that know what the faithful followers think of this format change. January is 'Artists I Just Don't Get' month, where I examine artists that have failed to impress me as a listener. This series will have an Andy Rooney kind of tone, so this is your first and last warning.

Let me state for the record that there is no need to examine artists like Creed, Nickelback, and Insane Clown Posse. We know they are terrible, so why waste time writing an article on their sad contributions to music? Let's move on to today's selection which is the Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire.

I've been a fan of indie rock for many years, so my article is not fueled by anti-indie feelings. It is my opinion that indie rock has experienced a decade that has been more disappointing than impressive. This article is based on my personal opinion, so I am ready for the angry comments. Come at me, bro.

Arcade Fire is my first selection for 'Artists I Just Don't Get' because I've never understood their popularity. I'm no stranger to touchy-feely artists. I'm not afraid to admit that I like Bread, James Taylor, or Belle and Sebastian. Sensitive artists are good for my rock and roll soul, but Arcade Fire does nothing for me as a fan of rock music.

My first exposure to Arcade Fire was their 2004 debut album, Funeral. A music related mailing list I was subscribed to was buzzing about them, so I decided to give them a listen. My local library has a good reputation for having all the hip albums and they had a copy of Funeral. 'Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)' was the first song I heard, and it left me with lukewarm feelings. It wasn't terrible song, but it wasn't a good song either.Take a listen below:


As I listened to Funeral, I realized Arcade Fire was more hype than hope. The more I listened to their music, the less I liked Arcade Fire. Why? There was too much whining. Yes, I like Bread and they whine in their songs, but they whine with style and grace.


Another issue was that Funeral failed to connect with me as a listener. Not every album needs to rock, but there has to be something to get my attention. The lyrics were nothing memorable. The music was fine, but they were layered with whine icing. A band can be emotional or whiny but not with every song. 
  
Now, don't start a list of Arcade Fire tunes I need to listen to in order to truly appreciate their greatness, because I've given them plenty of chances. Plenty. Neon Bible and The Suburbs did not impress me either. Why am I not a fan? I find the Arcade Fire to be an artist I don't get because they try to be something important, but the end result is they are more irritating than meaningful. If you need an example then let me submit Exhibit A to my case. I really like U2 as a band, but they also take themselves too seriously at times which makes them unlikeable. Also, some Arcade Fire fans are overly militant in their liking of this band, which also fuels my dislike.

The important thing to note in this article is that I respect the Arcade Fire. Although I do not like their music, I will not place them with the worst of the worst like Creed, Nickelback, and Insane Clown Posse. Agree or disagree with my statements? Share them below in the comments section.



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.  

Pantherz by Guided by Voices

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Strong words and big black birds on a telephone wire

Secretly placed at the end of Jellyfish Reflector, a live Guided by Voices album, are three songs: Pantherz, I'll Buy You A Bird, and Bughouse. Of the three, my favorite is Pantherz, a power chord rocker that was supposed to be a track on The Power of Suck, a concept album which chronicled the history of Guided by Voices. The Power of Suck was shelved and some of the songs made their way to Under the Bushes, Under The Stars while the rest were eventually released. As a Guided by Voices fan, I have been amazed to find some of their best material in the strangest of places. Some are B-sides to singles, some have existed as unreleased demos only to be found on tapes traded between fans, some can only be found on fan only releases, and some are at the end of a live album. Listen to the song and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. Enjoy.