"New Age" by Blitz

Released:1983
Album: 7" single
Label: Anagram
Genre: Oi, Punk, Street Punk
Lyrics: @ lyrics.time

Is it weird that this is my favorite Blitz song? You know, seeing as how this isn't really a typical Blitz sounding song? A lot of people like to make fun of them for this song. They think it is a bit too New Wave-ish sounding. I see nothing wrong with that.
There's only one thing you need to know: I'm dancing to this at my wedding. I don't care how much it doesn't make sense. I don't care that it's kind of difficult to dance to, I'm doing it. Let's enjoy:





R.I.P. Alan "Nidge" Miller

"Click Click" by The English Beat

Released: 1980
Album: I Just Can't Stop It
Label: Sire
Genre: Ska, Two Tone, New Wave
Lyrics: @ lyrics.time

Okay, so I will forever call them The English Beat. I know they're real name is The Beat, but here in the good ol' U.S. of A. they were known as The English Beat(per legalities and confusion concerning another band of the same name). Sometimes they're even known simply as English Beat, without the "the", but I prefer to keep it in.
"Click Click" is my absolute favorite song by The English Beat. It is a shame that it is only 1min. 28sec. long. Being as it is so short, you can understand that I have to listen to it about three times in a row before I'm satisfied.
It's funny because I love The English Beat as a band, I love their music; but I dislike them as people. They're the types that played for causes like Nuclear Disarmament and effing Nelson Mandela. Which is great if that's your thing, but I'm not into. Honestly I just don't care. And no, it's not the same as what Oi bands do, or Trojan, or even R.A.C. bands. I mean, who isn't playing for some kind of cause these days? Whatever happened to just being a band? Let's not even start on the horrible bands that the members branched out into. Can we say, "Fine Young Cannibals"? *shudders*
It's okay, It's okay. The world can take comfort in knowing that nothing will ever tarnish my love for "Click Click".

"Oi! Oi! Oi!" by Cockney Rejects

Released: 1980
Album: Greatest Hits Vol. 2
Label: EMI
Genre: Oi, Street Punk, Punk
Lyrics: @ lyrics.time

I'm just in one of those moods today. I don't really feel like writing but it's worth mentioning that this song is said to be the inspiration for the name of the entire Oi music genre. I don't know how true that is but it would make sense, of course.
I'll just post a video made for the song. It's a really great video to watch just for the insight into the Skinhead culture in general. Love it.

"Count In Fives" by The Horrors

Released: May 15, 2007
Album: Strange House
Label: Loog
Genre: Garage, Indie
Lyrics: @ LyricsMania

The Horrors are currently on tour in the U.S. to support their latest album. Their tour has stopped in California right now, this very second! I tried desperately to make it to a show but alas, it just was not meant to be. Do you know how often The Horrors are here? Never. So bummed.
Anyway... "Count In Fives" is still my most favorite Horrors song, ever. It's difficult to choose. I love anything with keyboards/synthesizers, but this song stands out the most. It's good for jumping around, it's good for dancing, it's even good for working out. Triple threat.
"Count In Fives" was originally released back in 2006 as a 7" single(the band's third). It later made it onto The Horrors debut album , Strange House, which was first released in March 2007 in the U.K.; May for the U.S.
I don't remember where I first heard this song. I think it may have popped up while I was listening to my last.fm radio. All I know is, when I heard it I immediately fell in love. Both with the song and the band itself. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have an obsession with Rhys "Spider" Webb's amazing hair. I'm a little bummed that he switched over from the keyboard to the bass for the new album and I'm even more bummed that I can't see his hair in action this weekend!

"We're Coming Back" by Cock Sparrer

Released: 1983
Album: Shock Troops
Label: Razor
Genre: Oi, Punk
Lyrics: @ plyrics

First off, wow. This song is as old as I am! Second, yay. I'm seeing these guys in San Francisco later this year! Third, I hope they don't die. They're pretty old. ;-) I love Cock Sparrer. They are my (2nd)favorite band. I remember once telling this to an ex-boyfriend whose response was something like, "Yeah. They're a girl band." Jerk. I should have known it was going to be all down hill from there.
This particular song, is also, my second favorite Cock Sparrer song. It is in heavy, heavy rotation in my daily life. No special stories here, so let's just enjoy it.

"At Your Funeral" by Saves The Day

Released: July 2001
Album: Stay What You Are
Label: Vagrant
Genre: Inde, Pop Punk, Emo
Lyrics: @ Sing365

I'm having serious 2001 flashbacks today. This song reminds me so much of the end of senior year of high school and the ridiculous summer that followed. I had some BIG milestones, I met some interesting people, lost some friends, gained some friends... All with having to hear, and see, this song every single day.
When my dog, Tim Armstrong Jr.(the first dog I ever adopted and took care of all on my own) died, this song used to have me on the verge of tears. I wouldn't cry because I'm not that lame, but I was close.
I love how Saves The Day can be blamed single-handedly for the whole Emo genre. If Emo were a country, "At Your Funeral" could definitely be its national anthem.

"Cassius" by Foals

Released: March 2008
Album: Antidote
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Indie, Dance Punk
Lyrics: @ lyricsmode

OhMyGod. "Cassius" is one of the catchiest songs in the entire world history of music. Ever. Period. It is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to listen to this song just once. They've got a serious Lay's Potato Chips thing going on. I'd like to thank my sister, Samantha, for inflicting this upon me.
The good news is, I love Foals. I love this song. Zillions of others do not share my sentiments. I can see how one might feel that way, I can; but I'm a big champion of indie pop, dance-punk, math rock type stuff so, points for me! High five!
Winning points of this song are a good beat, good tempo, and simple lyrics which repeat. Some may have a bit of trouble understanding what those lyrics are thanks to a lovely Oxford accent, but this is one of those songs where it doesn't matter. Just make up your own.
I'm not exactly sure how this song got away without making a big splash given how infectious it is. It managed to peak at #26 on the UK Singles Chart and was song #45 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008. It's album, Antidote, did manage to make it all the way to #3 on the UK Albums Chart and also at #28 on the US Top Heatseekers Chart, respectively.
And hell, I've been listening to it non-stop while I wrote this. Here, let it invade your life as well:

"Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" by Stars

Released: 2005
Album: Set Yourself On Fire
Label: Arts & Crafts
Genre: Indie
Lyrics: @ AZLyrics

If you like The Postal Service then you're going to like this song, and Stars itself. They're basically the same band, only Canadian.
"Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" was originally released in 2005(2004 in Canada), but I myself didn't discover it until 2 1/2 years ago. I love it because it's the exact same way I feel when I see a certain someone from my past. It probably describes the feelings of just about every person in the world in regards to relationships of the past. The lyrics are so spot on!
I don't have much else to say about this song, it speaks for itself. Some lyrics for your time:

"It's nothing but time and a face that you lose
I chose to feel it and you couldn't choose
I'll write you a postcard
I'll send you the news
From a house down the road from real love...

Live through this, and you won't look back...
Live through this, and you won't look back...
Live through this, and you won't look back...

There's one thing I want to say, so I'll be brave
You were what I wanted
I gave what I gave
I'm not sorry I met you
I'm not sorry it's over
I'm not sorry there's nothing to save

I'm not sorry there's nothing to save..."

"Days Of The Phoenix" by AFI

Released: 2000
Album: The Art of Drowning
Label: Nitro
Genre: Punk
Lyrics: @ Sing365

Okay, so I put my iPod on shuffle and "Days Of The Phoenix" is what came on. This song always reminds me of Pismo Beach.
During the summers of 2002-2003 my BFF and I were really into water sports. No, not those kinds of water sports, pervs. Every week we would go to the waterpark and we'd take a road trip to the Central Coast to go to our beach. We had a routine. We'd leave around 9a.m., arrive at our beach about 2hrs later, do some boogie boarding, and then we'd go to our sandwich shop. The sandwich I always got came with the worlds largest pickle, seriously. After we'd get our sandwiches we'd got to our special spot where I would throw my pickle off of a cliff and let the seagulls dive for it and then continue to beat eachother up for a piece. It was good times.
Might I add that last summer we went back there(and did our routine), for the first time in five years! It was so weird because our beach wasn't our beach anymore. There were condos and hotels built up everywhere and stupid shops. :-( I didn't even get to see my "boyfriend", the guy who owns the wetsuit rental place. We would go and see him everytime and he would call me a snowcone because my bright red hair dye was always dripping! lulz Oh, how much things can change in five years...
Anyway, "Days Of The Phoenix" reminds me of all of that because we would basically listen to this song on repeat the whole 2hrs there and the 2hrs back. We would listen to all of The Art of Drowning, but when this particular song came on we had to hear it about a zillion times!
I continue to listen to it on a daily basis. It is firmly implanted on my playlist.
I wasn't really sure what to call this song Is it "Days Of The Phoenix" or "The Days Of The Phoenix"? It comes up as both. I guess "Days" is what is on the album and "The Days" is what is listed on the AFI EP of the same name(The Days Of The Phoenix EP), which I didn't even know existed until now. lulz, again
My BFF and I are planning another beach trip in the next couple of weeks and you better believe we'll be listening to this song at least once.

"Natural's Not In It" by Gang Of Four

Released: September 1979
Album: Entertainment!
Label: Warner Bros.
Genre: Post Punk
Lyrics: @ Sing365

First off, How was this song never a single?! It's so darn catchy. I must listen to it everyday. There was a time when I couldn't stop listening to it thus, it became a ringtone.
If you have ever seen the movie Marie Antoinette, starring Kirsten Dunst & Jason Shwartzman, then you probably recognize this song from the opening credits. Perfect choice Sofia Coppola/music guy; and awesome movie too.
When I listen to this song I get a serious 60's Northern Soul vibe. I guess it just reminds me of beat music and the stuff that mod revival bands, like The Jam, were putting out in the late 70's and early 80's. I suppose it's not really that far off considering they were around during the same time. Both bands can be lumped together as post-punk but where The Jam is definitely "mod", Gang Of Four is not. Blah blah blah, whatever. "Natural's Not In It" is some serious dancing music. It's hard for me not to do at least a little head bob when I hear it.
I also have to say that the entire album is amazing. Entertainment! ranked #490 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Not too shabby