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The Current Squirrel Playlist

"There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind."
-Duke Ellington

2009 was a sad year for music. A year which saw the ascendance of disgusting new-age hippies in the form of crap like Animal Collective, and we saw the end of the mighty Touch & Go Records, but fear not kids, we’re going to start the new year right, for I give you:

The Current Squirrel Playlist

Bettye Lavette – “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got”
Eddie Ray – “You Are Mine”
Sam Cooke – “You Send Me (Demo Version)”
Otis Redding – “Champagne and Wine”
Penny & The Quarters – “You and Me”
Otis Redding – “That’s How Strong My Love Is”
Arlean Brown – “I’m A Streaker Baby” (FREE DOWNLOAD)
Lee Dorsey – “Give It Up”
Ricky Allen – “No Better Time Than Now” (FREE DOWNLOAD)
Little Walter – “My Babe (Single)”
Mos Def – “24 Hour Karate School” (FREE DOWNLOAD)
Magnolia Electric Co. – “Little Sad Eyes” (FREE DOWNLOAD)
Kris Kristofferson – “Closer To The Bone” (FREE DOWNLOAD)
Langhorne Slim – “Diamonds and Gold” (FREE DOWNLOAD)
Dolly Parton – “Jolene”
The Stanley Brothers – “Rank Strangers”
Kris Kristofferson – “From Here To Forever” (FREE DOWNLOAD)
Elbow – “Some Riot (LIVE)” (FREE DOWNLOAD – from the KEXP live podcast, listed as #97)
Smog – “The Orange Glow of a Stranger’s Living Room”
I Am Kloot – “Mermaids”
Elliott Smith – “Somebody That I Used to Know”
Tom Waits – “Way Down In The Hole”
The Kinks – “Dreams”
Josh Ritter – “Mind’s Eye (Live)” (FREE DOWNLOAD – From NPR’s All Song’s Considered Podcast, listed as #149)
The Undertones – “Teenage Kicks”
Michael Nesmith – “Grand Ennul”
Steve Earle – “Feel Alright”
Jace Everett – “Bad Things”

Jawbox on Fallon

I find Jimmy Fallon an annoying, painful person to watch. He's a horrible interviewer. He isn't the least bit funny. But whoever books the musical guests knows what they're doing. The Pixies played not long ago. He also had Jawbox on recently. I was lucky enough to see Jawbox open for Stone Temple Pilots a thousand years ago. It was just after the original release of For Your Own Special Sweetheart. (Now newly remastered by Bob Weston AND on Discord.) It was good to see them reformed, at least temporarily, and still just as potent a band as they ever were. But don't take my word for it, until NBC and Hulu pull it...

Jesus Lizard

I've wanted to see Jesus Lizard since the mid to late 90's, but for one reason or another never got the chance. Finally got my chance Friday night at The Metro here in Chicago. The Jesus Lizard are legendary. The rhythm section especially. Goat is considered by some to be one of the greatest records ever forged. It's certainly up there.

The show was odd though. For the most part I blame the audience for this feeling; old drunks looking for fights and some exhibitionists in the balcony having sex for most of the second half of the show, all very distracting. Plus, Yow seemed to be holding back. I believe this is because of the filming they were doing for an upcoming DVD. Shame, because the rhythm section was blistering. They were jaw-droppingly staggering at times.

Jim DeRogatis review of the show is pretty accurate. But don't take our word for it, check out these obligatory YouTube videos from the show:

Jesus Lizard - Glamorous


“Yow sounds like a kidnap victim trying to howl through the duct tape over his mouth.”
Michael Azerrad from Our Band Could Be Your Life

Jesus Lizard - Destroy Before Reading


"For the record, the resuscitated Jesus Lizard is just as good as the regular old everyday one from the early 90s, and pretty much destroys any other band working right now. They have been playing brilliantly and blowing minds anew, and I hope they wring the sponge and get everything they can out of this revival."
-Steve Albini