Hello, friend.

This is a pretty amazing collection, curated by John Davis who played drums in Q and Not U.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Publish My Love" by Rogue Wave →

Share a song that makes time feel like it's standing still.

One of my favorite music memories is seeing Rogue Wave play an amazing set, then having the singer finish with an acoustic version of this song, in the middle of a full crowd sing-a-long. Was amazing.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Shine" by Doughboys →

What song would you dedicate to your younger self?

Spent a good chunk of yesterday trying to remember this band, which I've had a lot of conversations about the last couple years, but for whatever reason it was slipping my mind... anyway, it's a great song and some great lyrics for a teenage kid who's unsure of themself:

Not alone I'm not alone Feel like I'm buried and obscured beneath This non-impressionable I'm not alone I'm not alone I'm like I'm one out of a million faces Bound to your front door And then you call And then you call

Make me feel so bright Make me feel brilliant and so white It's like I shine It's like I shine

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin →

What's a song that feels like magic every time you hear it?

I wrote about this album and this song five years ago during the pandemic start of this site:

My favorite Zeppelin song. Absolutely epic in every way. Apparently it was written after a long trip down a straight, seemingly never ending road in the desert of Morocco. We played this song many times on our two cross-country road trips, so it makes total sense. A perfect song for driving. A perfect song.

The entire Physical Graffiti album is magical, but this song is the centerpiece.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Take It In" by Sloan →

Share a song that makes you want to call an old friend.

Smeared was a crucial part of high school so yeah this song would do it.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Blood" by mary in the junkyard →

Been looking forward to this album for months and it was worth the wait. Review soon on the blog.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Fugitive Motel" by Elbow →

Share a song that feels like it was written specifically for you.

I used to love Elbow back in the early 2000s. Not sure what happened. Maybe it was a string of albums that I wasn't too psyched about? Anyway, it got so bad, that I even skipped seeing them when they played Buffalo. BUFFALO. The kind of band that never comes here... and I skipped.

Anyway, Navidrome picked Cast of Thousands as the top random album today so I put it on... wow. Back in love... this album is SO good.

For this song in particular... as a parent of three, two of which just graduated high school and one just finished their first year of college... I gotta say these lyrics hit:

I'm tired, I said You always look tired, she said I'm admired, I said You always look tired, she said

Tired, but worth it. So proud.

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Song for the Messenger" by Chanel Beads

One of the singles off the new Chanel Beads album, which was a featured album on the blog last week.

Been enjoying the chill vibe this week during the heat wave.

• via Crucial Tracks

🎶 Crucial Track for today: "Place Position" by Fugazi

What's a favorite opening line from any song?

A masterful Fugazi song on xenophobia and "illegal" immigration.

Some of their best guitar work... and this opening verse:

All origins are Accidental You've got no papers and no roads lead home Anymore

Appropriate for today, considering we were allowed to keep the 14th Amendment. 🙄

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Farmer’s market breakfast, sushi for dinner, then Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. Good day with the fam!