Heavy Rotation: Jan & Dean, No Age, the Stooges + More

Death and sexual mayhem are the subtexts we're working with for this edition of Heavy Rotation. As always, the jukebox's on the homepage and the angst is in your heart.

Jan & Dean, "Dead Man's Curve"
I love surf a whole lot, but nowhere near as much as I'll love surf in a couple months from now: my annual bout of SoCal-centricity tends to reach its fever pitch around mid-July, for obvious reasons. Jan & Dean's tragically unrecognized Drag City is one of my all-time favorite records; its a proto-concept album about all the different types of cars (hearses, "schlock rods," Stingrays, Popsicle trucks) and all the different things you can do in said cars (drag race, give girls the time, drag race). "Dead Man's Curve" is one of the most breathtaking songs I've ever heard, and is easily the most melodramatic pop song of the sixties. It's one of my favorite songs to DJ- it's fun to watch people's faces go ashen at the theatrical intro, then flip out as it reaches its thrilling climax. This song is also pretty amazing to walk around listening to on headphones, if you're able to resist the urge to act out a pantomime of the hyper-engaging narrative. I rarely am. So if you ever see me running down the street punching the air and miming a car crash, you can safely bet that there I was, on "Dead Man's Curve." (Laura)

Kasenetz-Katz Super Circus, "Quick Joey Small"
This is the second-most punk rock song of all time, trumped only by Count Five's "Psychotic Reaction." That's all. (Laura)

No Age, "Things I Did When I Was Dead"
If you're into doing as you're told, you will have already purchased a copy of No Age's new record Nouns by this point. And if not, maybe this track will urge you in the right direction. You could get the record on iTunes, but then you'd miss out on its accompanying booklet of beautiful pictures, so better to head on down to your local record store or Insound or wherevs else you please. I fully guarantee that more of those slasher-movie effects and droney vocals and really pretty guitar will await you there, along with poppier/slammier stuff like "Ripped Knees" (which probably ties "Things I Dead When I Was Dead" for my personal favorite track off Nouns). It's all so triumphantly great, I've been spinning it even more than the new Madonna - and I LOVE the new Madonna!! (Liz)

The Beta Band, "Dry the Rain"
Speaking of record stores and Nouns, I was kinda hoping that when I went to dutifully buy my second copy at Amoeba on Tuesday, the checkout person would look at the CD and go "This is good," just so I could answer with a semi-smug/dickish "I know" a la John Cusack in High Fidelity. He does that a few times throughout the film, but the best is in the "Dry the Rain" scene. I'm not totally sure why, but that 30-second bit is one of my favorite parts in the whole movie - maybe it has do with my getting some possibly perverse pleasure out of watching people listen to music. I also adore that self-satisfied yet secretly curious expression on John Cusack's face as he glances around the store - totally priceless. Oh, and the song's just golden and so hopeful in that springtime-perfect sort of way. The Beta Band e bom! (Liz)

The Stooges, "Dirt"
I'm only doing one song this week, but it's like seven minutes long so it's like two tracks in one! How economical! Anyway, I feel like I should issue a warning before you listen to this. Don't worry, there aren't any really offensive lyrics or anything like that, unless the idea of Iggy Pop singing about how he's dirt but he's okay with it unnerves you in any way. Then you might not want to listen, because that's pretty much all he says here. No, I must warn you because this sexy, sweaty hot mess of a rock dirge might incite you to leap over your cubicle wall and make out with that guy from Sales or something. So be careful, okay? You never know what the Stooges will make you get up to or get down with; that's why they're so awesome. (Kat)

Posted by Kat, Liz and Laura in Heavy Rotation
Link back to this entry
+ Stumble This! | Digg This!
Contact Us
HOME

© K. Asharya, L. Barker and L. Faulds. All rights reserved. All content cannot be reproduced without prior written permission.

;