How awesome are the Kinks? a) Kept writing the same song over and over … and had a hit with it every time! b) First major group to have a hit with a song about a transvestite. c) Disco Superman.
That’s how awesome they are.
Author: Joe
King Sunny Ade
How cool is my jazz buddy Marcia? When we saw a poster for a highlife band coming to a local club, she said, “Let’s go. I used to dance to highlife in New York all the time.” Of course, she—my white, Dutch Catholic friend from New Jersey—did. That’s how cool she is. (I know technically King Sunny is juju. Work with me here.)
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett was quite the looker in his younger days. Sorry, Keith, that’s all I got.
Jungle
Jungle is also known as drum ‘n bass, which a) is a very unimaginative name for a musical style, and b) must be ironic, given that the music is based 100% on synthesizers—not a drum or a bass to be found anywhere. Of course, synthesizers aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a jungle, either. Those wacky Brits.
Joy Division/New Order
When my cool coworker Lori made me a “new wave” mixtape in the early 80s, my favorite song on it by far was “Love Will Tear Us Apart.” I guess it makes sense that years later I was rocking out in the clubs to “Bizarre Love Triangle.” (OK, gay boys don’t rock out … but you get the idea.)
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell is my all-time favorite, period. I can thank Pete (who is light years ahead of me musically, as well as in pretty much every way) for introducing me to her when we were in high school. While our peers were rockin’ out to REO Speedwagon, we would blast For the Roses out of the dining room windows into the backyard. And my mother was surprised when I came out?
Jonathan Richman
Jonathan Richman is the ultimate cult artist. “Cult artist” means, “artist who has six fans who think [artist] is the greatest thing to happen to music since notes, while the rest of the world has never heard of [artist].” As a self-proclaimed music junkie, I can proudly say I’ve heard of “Roadrunner.” Not heard it, mind you—for all I know, it’s a cover of the cartoon theme song. Which would be awesome in its own way.
John Mellencamp
John “Johnny Cougar” Mellencamp burst onto the scene with the awesomely bombastic/vaguely misogynistic “I Need a Lover.” Then he sucked for a while. Then he remembered his last name, grew up, and was awesome for a long time. He gets knocked as “Springsteen lite,” but I’d rather listen to his good stuff than just about any of Springsteen’s stuff any day. I know, more rungs down the cred ladder …
John Lennon
Both as a member of the group and solo, George Harrison is my favorite Beatle, hands down. So I feel bad about not giving him a list. As much as I love his crazy mashup of spirituality and quirky humor, it’s hard to argue that he has 10 “important, influential, or interesting” songs. McCartney gets one, or my sister would never speak to me again. But, with apologies to Ringo, I think it’s clear that John Lennon had the most interesting solo career of any ex-Beatle by far. And that’s before you factor in Yoko “People of earth … how are you?” Ono.
Playlist of the Day 