DON'T HANG THE DJ'S

"New Age" by Blitz

2009-05-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-27T13:29:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-21T15:08:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-13T14:35:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-08T17:18:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

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

"Gotta Go" by Agnostic Front

2009-04-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

Released: June 1998
Album: Something's Gotta Give
Label: Epitaph
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Oi
Lyrics: @ plyrics

I have decided to continue on with my ringtone theme for the rest of the week. Agnostic Front's "Gotta Go" is just one of many I have stored. It's currently retired but it used to be assigned to my parents.
I first heard this song on a volume of Punk-O-Rama. I think it was actually the first time I had ever heard an Agnostic Front song. For me, they were one of those bands that you always heard about and constantly saw merch for, but never actually listened to. To be quite honest, I'm not a real big Agnostic Front fan. I like this song and I like Roger Miret(lead singer), but I don't actively seek them out to listen to.
With that said, I don't have a whole lot to say about "Gotta Go", except that it's a great song and it makes a pretty good ringtone. ;-)

"Love My Way" by The Psychedelic Furs

2009-04-27T14:37:00.001-07:00

Released: September 1982
Album: Forever Now
Label: CBS
Genre: Post Punk, New Wave
Lyrics: @ Sing365

My phone will not stop ringing today. I'm receiving a barrage of text alerts, as well. One of my ringtones is set to "Love My Way" :-)
When the caller is one assigned to this particular tone, I don't mind it so much. This song NEVER gets old. I could listen to it on repeat all day. In fact, it is very rare that I don't immediately play it again(at least once), when I listen to it on my daily playlist.
I don't have any particular associations with this song. It doesn't evoke any special memories. I just happen to love it. I'm surprised more people didn't... It peaked at #30 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks and at #44 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, respectively. It's album, Forever Now, wasn't certified gold until May 1991, a little over 8 1/2 years after is original release.
I think this is one of those songs you appreciate more and more as you get older. It starts to make more sense, maybe it echoes a bit of your life where it hadn't before. I see it now. Love My Way is no longer a question -- Love My Way? No, it is a statement.

"Watch Me Rise" by Have Heart

2009-04-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

Released: 2006
Album: The Things We Carry
Label: Bridge Nine
Genre: Hardcore
Lyrics: @ lyrics.time

Well it's only fitting that I post about "Watch Me Rise" after "Watch Me Sink", right? Now this is my favorite Have Heart song. I love it for all of the reasons that I love other. How about another excerpt, shall we?

"I'd rather die on my feet
Than live on my knees
I'd rather die on my feet
So you can watch me,
You can watch me
Watch me rise
With the things we carry
The loss,
The scars,
The weight of heavy hearts"

To me this is song is about rising above expectations. It's about doing things your own way. It is about proving others wrong.
"Watch Me Rise" is, in my opinion, Have Heart's best song in their set list. If you ever get a chance to see them perform live, I highly recommend you do so; if only to hear Pat Flynn sing this song.
Buy it, download it, steal it. Whatever. Just listen to it.

"Watch Me Sink" by Have Heart

2009-04-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

Released: 2006
Album: The Things We Carry
Label: Bridge Nine
Genre: Hardcore
Lyrics: @ lyrics.time

What can I say about this song? I have no words. It is my (2nd)favorite song by Have Heart.
I love everything about it; the rhythm, the tempo, the breaks, the yelling, the WORDS. How can you not love a song that's smart enough to incorporate the word "licentiousness"? It starts off powerful and stays that way. An excerpt:

"(A breaking!) in spirit, (A breaking!) in promise, (A breaking!) in me.

How can I find the peace inside me of a world I can see?
(Taking and taking!) all for ourselves,
(Taking and taking!)
And it's dragging me down, (Deeper and deeper!)
Watch me sink (Like a stone!)
Like a stone, like a stone.
Like a stone, like a stone.
Into a sea of selfishness, (Selfishness!)
Selfishness, (Selfishness!)
Where me is more and you is less."

UGH, love it! You tell them, Pat Flynn. People are sucky. So as not to go down a meaningful reflection on society road(who cares about that?), I'll just say that I work out a lot to this song. Maybe not your average jogging soundtrack but it does the job for me. It's an angry song and that's what I need to push myself. Thank you "Watch Me Sink", motivation achieved.

"The Hell Song" by Sum 41

2009-04-20T17:30:00.000-07:00

Released: November 2002
Album: Does This Look Infected?
Label: Island
Genre: Pop Punk, Punk
Lyrics: @ LyricsFreak

I listen to Sum 41. I even like it, ngl. I'm posting this song because frankly, it's hot as hell today. A lovely 96deg. today here in horrible Central California.
I thought this song came out later than 2002 but I guess not. I always get it confused with "Still Waiting". That's a whole other song I'll save for a different time.
You know, I can never understand why it's necessary to edit out the "spitting" noise in the beginning. Are we really that offended by the sound of spitting?! I definitely hate spitting, in real life. I could care less about the sound in a song. It's actually a welcomed accompaniment in Mad Sin's "Speak No Evil", but again that's a whole other song for a different time.
My memories of this song are of me staying up all night on the couch watching t.v. Yup. This video would come on MTV every night. That's how late at night it was, MTV actually showed videos!

"Girl and the Sea" by The Presets

2009-04-20T16:40:00.000-07:00

Released: 2005
Album: Beams
Label: Modular
Genre: Electro
Lyrics: @ allthelyrics

My BFF went to the beach(without me!!), and anytime I think of the beach this song always pops into my head. I immediately think of beaches and mermaids :-/
This was the very first song I ever heard by The Presets. Technically it was en EP released in 2004 but I didn't get a listen until the debut album(Beams), actually came out. Speaking of which, what is up with Beams? I know for a fact I had it in 2005 but the release dates on it range from 2004-2006. There's no definite date in sight. Whatever Beams, Whatever...
Oh yeah, back to the song. It's good. That's all you need to know right? It doesn't make for very good concert material though. I can't even remember The Presets performing this song when I saw them at the Detour Festival last year. Maybe they didn't?? It's not uptempo enough for that kind of crowd. All I really remember is getting elbowed in the head over and over by a guy with a backpack. That's what happens when you're five-foot-nothing.

"Cool Kids" by Screeching Weasel

2009-04-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Released: 1996
Album: Bark Like A Dog
Label: Fat Wreck Chords
Genre: Punk
Lyrics: @ LyricsMode

Screeching Weasel was one of the first punk bands I ever got into. You know, besides all of the "77 punk" bands we all seem to know about since birth. I used to have a "thing" for Ben Weasel. I can be a real fan-girl sometimes.
It all started in the early-mid 90's for me, during my elementary/junior high days. The popularity of Green Day led me to bands like Rancid, NOFX, and my ultimate favorite, Bad Religion. Other, "smaller" bands came pouring in; Teen Idols, Good Riddance, Pulley, Zeke, Anti-Flag, Millencolin, Guttermouth etc. Bands you'd find on Epitaph, Lookout!, FWC, and the earlier rounds of the Vans Warped Tour, so to speak. Screeching Weasel was there in the midst of it all.
"Cool Kids" is probably one of the first songs most people think of when you say Screeching Weasel. It is for me anyway :-P I used to put it on in the living room and jump around like a fool while my parents were at work. Probably not very "cool". This song and most of their music is what I like to call "happy punk": no matter the lyrical content it's always upbeat... and the keyboards are pretty sweet too.

"Rock This Town" by Stray Cats

2009-04-15T15:08:00.000-07:00

Released: September 1982
Album: Built For Speed
Label: EMI America
Genre: Rockabilly
Lyrics: @ Sing365

My BFF and I have started this thing where we are all about finding new skills. In recent weeks we have started taking East Coast Swing dance lessons. We meet every Wednesday night so in honor of our lesson tonight I'm enjoying some Rockabilly.
I should mention that we don't actually listen/dance to Rockabilly at our lessons. It's mostly classic 1950's Rock & Roll. haha
"Rock This Town" was originally released in 1981 on the Stray Cats first(and self titled), album but that album was only released in the UK. It went all the way to #9 on both the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100.
This song is kind of a guilty pleasure for me. If asked, I wouldn't immediately own up to liking it. It's big on the cheese scale. I think this is a song that more girls like than guys. That always says something.

ETA: We did in fact dance to this very song tonight at out lesson :-)

"Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" by Mike Ness

2009-04-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

Released: April 1999
Album: Cheating at Solitaire
Label: Time Bomb
Genre: Rock & Roll, Country, Folk
Lyrics: @ lyrics.time

This has got to be one of my most favorite covers ever, if not just my flat out favorite. Of course this is originally a song by Bob Dylan released in 1963 on his album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.
I know a ton of people who cringe at just the thought of Mike Ness "butchering" a Bob Dylan classic. Whatever. I think he did a fantastic job.
This was a song I'd listen to after a break-up here and there and yet, I never get sad listening to it. The good times I've had with this song far outweigh the bad. Besides, this is not a "sad song" by nature. It's... "empowering". Ugh, I hate that word, empowering. Empowerment. It sounds so cheesy.
Regardless, if you've never heard this song, or its original, you owe it to yourself to do so.

"Radio" by Rancid

2009-04-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

Released: June 1994
Album: Let's Go
Label: Epitaph
Genre: Punk
Lyrics: @ Rhapsody

This song always reminds me of senior year in high school. Granted that was 2001 and the song was actually released while I was in the 6th grade, but whatever. I listened to it a lot in 2001 okay?!
Only in recent years did I find out that is was co-written by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. I wonder what Rancid would sound like if he had decided to stay in the band?...
Anyway, this song was actually first released in 1993 on their Radio Radio Radio 7" on Fat Wreck Chords. It's my understanding that it's a different arrangement, I don't know. I've never heard it. I really don't care to. My memories are with the Let's Go version.

"Panic" by The Smiths

2009-04-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

Released: 1986
Album: 7", 12" (singles)
Label: Rough Trade
Genre: Alternative
Lyrics: @ Lyrics Depot

Okay, so obviously I named this blog after "Panic" lyrics. A zillion other people did too. It took me a few tries to find a variant of "HANG THE DJ".
Honestly, I love this song but I don't love love it. Let's just say it's in the top 10 of my favorite songs by The Smiths but it's not in the top 5. Given how many songs they've recorded, I'd still say that's pretty darn good.
In May 2007 NME placed "Panic" at #21 on their list of the "50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever". Oh, and it even went all the way to #1 on the UK Singles Chart. Score!

"Transmission" by Joy Division

2009-04-14T16:14:00.000-07:00

Released: November 1979
Album: 7", 12" (singles)
Label: Factory
Genre: Post Punk
Lyrics: @Lyrics Depot

Ahh, "Transmission". Doesn't it always seem like it's overshadowed by "Love Will Tear Us Apart"? Maybe that's just me.
In 2007 NME placed it at #20 on their list of the "50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever". Do you know what came in at #19? That's right, "Love Will Tear Us Apart". :-)
Doesn't matter. Simply put, I love this song. I contemplated naming this blog "Let it Ring On"(lyrics from Transmission), as a nod to Joy Division. In the end The Smiths won but that can always be remedied.