Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 12)

12. "A Girl Like You"
Artist: Edwyn Collins
Year: 1994

It was Oct. 10, 1995. I had just moved to Washington, D.C., after two years in rural East Asia and was still playing catch up with all things pop culture. The television was on late that evening, nothing but background noise while I thumbed through the paper, when my ears picked this up from Conan O'Brien: "Ladies and gentlemen, my next guest is here to perform a song currently climbing the U.S. charts after enjoying huge success worldwide. His new album is called 'Gorgeous George.' It's a real pleasure to welcome Edwyn Collins."

What?

I really had been gone a long time.

The album had come out more than a year earlier, and "A Girl Like You" had already been a smash around the world, including peaking at No. 4 in the UK nearly five months earlier. America was discovering it as a single spawned from the soundtrack to the film 'Empire Records.' Like Nick Lowe with "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding," Mr. Collins finally had his song to pay the bills, and I couldn't have been happier for him. For you trivia buffs, "A Girl Like You" would make it all the way to No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The way the song was performed on TV that night didn't really prepare me for the studio version. In fact, the music was almost secondary. I remember thinking "there's no way that's Edwyn Collins on my television." Those of you in the UK may not understand this, but I had never actually seen him move before. I only knew Edwyn from stills in magazines and on album sleeves. Then I wondered if that could possibly be Paul Cook from the Sex Pistols back there on the kit. It turned out Cook played that catchy vibraphone part on the record. I also thought Collins' guitar seemed pretty hard and not all that jangly, but I thought it sounded great anyway. I bought 'Gorgeous George' the next day.

To this day, I don't think "A Girl Like You" sounds like Edwyn Collins, but I love it anyway. I liken it to Nilsson's "Jump Into the Fire." Great song, a big hit, but not much like the work that defined him. I dedicate this one to Mrs. LTL. This will be her second favorite song in my little group of 100. Her No. 1 is still about a week away...

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 13)

13. "French Disko"
Artist: Stereolab
Year: 1993

After Komeda's Stereolab-inspired "Disko" at No. 14, did you really expect something else?

I go back to Tim Gane's '80s days with McCarthy, but I didn't immediately take to his new band with French girlfriend and McCarthy mate Lætitia Sadier when they formed in 1990. By 1993, though, Stereolab really hit its stride, and I think the addition of one of my heroes, Sean O'Hagan of the High Llamas, made the difference. I like every album, single and EP from 'Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements' through the seminal album 'Emperor Tomato Ketchup.' The 1997 album 'Dots and Loops' ain't half bad either.

The list of reasons to love Stereolab is long. Like McCarthy, I respected the band's willingness to wear its politics on its collective sleeve. Stereolab was extremely experimental and created a sound so far from what was being listened to at the time and, yet, they were able to bust onto unwelcoming Billboard charts. It seemed like they were influenced by every genre... krautrock, electronica, lounge... you name it. Well, maybe not country, but just about everything else. I thought it was cool they played vintage instruments, particularly Vox organs and Moog synths too. Like a couple of other bands on this countdown, I really took to the back-and-forth vocals of Sadier and the late Mary Hansen. Sigh. Let's not be sad. This is a celebration of the music.

There were a few songs that were thought of for this spot, including "Jenny Ondioline," "Ping Pong" and "Cybele's Reverie," but not really. The ferocious pace of "French Disko" has been and will always be tops. You can (and should!) find this song on the "Jenny Ondioline" EP or the 'Serene Velocity' anthology.

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 14)

14. "Disko"
Artist: Komeda
Year: 1996

No single today. Going deep into Komeda's first English-language album, 'The Genius of Komeda.' By 1996, I was back from Japan and living in Washington, D.C. I had not paid much attention to the music scene the previous two years, and I got my footing from a most unlikely place. MTV launched a sister station that year, called M2 at the time, and it was actually good... for a few minutes, anyway. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit on that brief timeline, but the promise of delivering nothing but music videos, and with a heavily alternative bend, was short lived. This was probably the busiest period in my life, and I didn't have much time to watch television. So, a four-minute music video now and again was perfect for me.

My introduction to Komeda was the video "Rocket Plane (Music on the Moon)" one early morning while standing in front of the TV with a bowl of cereal in one hand and a spoon in the other. It sounded like interstellar lounge music, and I took to it immediately. After one listen to 'The Genius of Komeda,' however, I picked up influences from many places, including Serge Gainsbourg, Neu!, Can and, of course, the contemporary Stereolab. You'll definitely hear them in today's pick.

The band's music often had an art-film soundtrack vibe, and its namesake was taken from Krzysztof Komeda, the composer probably best known for scoring many of Roman Polanski's '60s movies. Komeda's Markus Holmberg told Billboard in 1996, "In his film scores, Komeda made strong music by small means using rhythm and melodies in unexpected ways to form a nice mood... but we tend to think and say that we play pop music." Yes, it's pop music, but it always felt like the many moods of Komeda pushed that simple pop label to exciting places. If you're new to these Swedes, 'The Genius of Komeda' is a nice place to start, but more critics and fans would probably push you to followup 'What Makes It Go?' If you're looking for Komeda's legacy, pick up 'Oscillations' by Cosines. It's one of the best albums I heard in 2014.

Catch Me

Lush is giving it another go. Anybody else feeling lightheaded? Here are a few minutes with the lovely Miki Berenyi from earlier today when she was on BBC Radio 6 Music. Take a deep breath, fellas.

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 16-No. 15)

16. "Sense"
Artist: Terry Hall
Year: 1994

15. "Change"
Artist: The Lightning Seeds
Year: 1994

"I'm standing high on tiptoes, looking over fences
Waiting for somebody like you to kiss me senseless"

It only seems appropriate for Terry Hall and Ian Broudie to make the countdown together. They were joined at the hip during this period anyway. This is also a way for me to sort of sneak two songs onto the countdown that were made famous by the Lightning Seeds. "Sense" was co-written by Hall and Broudie for the Lightning Seeds' album 'Sense' in 1992. Hall also provided background vocals for that recording, and the song peaked at No. 31 in the UK.

Then, in 1994, Hall recorded his first proper solo album, 'Home," with Broudie producing. "Sense" was rerecorded for that one with Hall on lead vocals and Broudie providing the brilliant guitar parts. The two versions of "Sense" are quite similar, but there are some differences, including the addition of harmonica parts and a slightly dancier tone on the Lightning Seeds' version. I love Hall's vocal and Broudie's guitar solo. So, Hall's version gets the nod today. I would also like to take a moment to plug 'Home.' There were no less than six songs from the album considered for this spot, including the two Hall co-wrote with Andy Partridge and, of course, the fantastic single "Forever J." As far as the UK chart goes, the public didn't like Hall's version quite as much, but it still peaked at a respectable No. 54.

For me, Broudie is one of a handful of artists that made the '90s tolerable. There are so many great songs from the Lightning Seeds that could have made this list, but I decided to go with a smash that even did well on this side of the Atlantic, thanks to its inclusion on the very listenable 'Clueless' soundtrack in the summer of 1995. "Change" made it all the way to No. 13 in the UK. Play it loudly in the car on a warm sunny day and just try not to smile. “Put your foot down and drive, oh you’re such a pretty thing..."

More Chances to Wake Up to the Wake

Anybody out there enjoying the latest from New Order? Listening to Bernard & Co. always gets me in the mood to listen to all of those Factory bands from the label's heyday, and one of my favorites is the Wake. For Record Store Day 2012, Brooklyn-based Captured Tracks put together a wonderful vinyl box of the Wake's 'Here Comes Everybody,' the Glasgow band's seminal album from 1985. It also included a second LP of period singles "Of The Matter," "Talk About The Past" and "Something That No One Else Could Bring," along with a lovely album-sized booklet and other extras. These works had not been pressed on wax since the '80s, and it remains just about the best RSD exclusive I have ever come across. As expected, they disappeared in no time, and I'm sure there were many kicking the floor of their favorite shops on that Record Store Day. Fortunately, Captured Tracks has heard the cries of the disappointed and reissued it again, calling it the "Gatefold Edition" this time. I don't believe it will come in the fancy box like it did in 2012, but the music will be there, along with that gatefold. Preorder the two LPs straight from the label for an expected Oct. 30 release. If you don't have it, you need it, as the synth-pop perfection of "Melancholy Man" illustrates.

"Melancholy Man"

After 'Here Comes Everybody,' the Wake left Factory for the friendly confines of Sarah Records. Quite a pedigree, eh? The band went through some personnel paring, and members of fellow label mates the Orchids filled in during this period. There were two albums and two singles before Sarah and the Wake called it a day. LTM Recordings have planned a November reissue blitz of the Wake's Sarah years. Both albums, 'Make It Loud' (1990) and 'Tidal Wave of Hype' (1994) will be remastered on individual CDs and will include the singles. Liner notes will be written by Caesar too. In 2002, LTM had released the two albums together on one CD, calling it 'Holyheads,' but it didn't have either one of the original covers. Yep, it's time for an upgrade. Here's one from 'Make It Loud' that shows the band's sound had shifted a bit from the Factory days. It's a fine time to wake up to the Wake.

"Holy Head"

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 17)

17. "Dry the Rain"
Artist: The Beta Band
Year: 1997

Gimme your top 5 songs from the Beta Band. Go.

If you can do that, you're probably a bigger fan than me, but the Beta Band's first song from their first EP was an undeniable jaw dropper. How could those lads possibly top that? Well, even though there were quite a few fine and varied moments on 'The Three E.P.'s,' especially "She's the One," I don't think they ever did... and that's OK. I love everything about this song, especially the slide guitar and whale-like trumpet. This was the kind of song Beck could have only dreamed of making in the '90s. For some, this pick will be a yawner. After 15 years of watching it over and over on cable, I suppose that scene from 'High Fidelity' might be beginning to feel a bit tired. If you ever worked at a record store, however, it's a moment that will always make you smile... or feel envy. At the shop I worked in among the cornfields of Illinois, I never had the opportunity to sell five copies of a cool record like 'The Three E.P's,' but I have vivid memories of convincing headbangers to buy Lawnmower Deth in a similar vein.

When the Wife's Away, Scritti Politti Will Play

Mrs. LTL is off on another jaunt to the Bay Area. Given the reaction to the last post in this ongoing series, I'm guessing you would like to see her business travel greatly reduced. The other day I learned from the Swede and Friend of Rachel Worth that, in general, the British people aren't big fans of holiday albums, but FORW did put in the good word for Tracey Thorn's 'Tinsel and Lights.' That got me thinking about Ms. Thorn's duet with Green Gartside on that LP. "Snow in Sun" is a real highlight that works any time of year. Let's listen to the original version found on the Scritti Politti album 'White Bread Black Beer.'

The song has a little bit of a Brian Wilson thing going, and I always thought it should have been a proper single. Instead, it was officially released only as a double A-sided digital download. I'll give you a moment to let that ridiculous description settle in your craniums. Anyway, this was a great time to be a fan of Gartside's. As you know, he had returned to Rough Trade after 23 years, and 'White Bread Black Beer' was the first Scritti Politti album since 1999. The LP was celebrated by most critics and nominated for the 2006 Mercury Prize. At the awards show, Green performed "Snow and Sun" with a new band. The vocals, obviously, were complex, and the group was noticeably nervous. So, this might not have been their finest hour, but it sure was nice to see Gartside performing again. After the song, he was presented with his trophy for being nominated. Gartside said something about how the award was going to look nice in his attic.

I loved 'White Bread Black Beer' when it came out, and I still rank it highly in the Scritti Politti library. This was really a Gartside solo album, however, and I still hold out hope he will work with David Gamson and Fred Maher on another long player someday.

"Snow in Sun"

Stardust Memories

The people have spoken... but without any clear majority of what should be heard. So, if you requested a cover of a Bowie song from me the other day, you'll find it below. Thanks yous to Phil, Seamus, Kevinpat, TheRobster, CC, The Swede, alvalmeida, C, syaver, Echorich and Brett Alan for playing along. You too, George, even if I think Associates' cover of "Boys Keep Swinging" is the most historically important song on this comp. Billy and Alan were signed based on that debut single, but that's a story for another day. Of all the unchosen "dogs" on the album, the most surprising to me is Midge Ure's take of "The Man Who Sold the World." I have to admit I kind of like it, even if I'm not usually a fan of his solo work.

My personal favorites from this lot are the ones from the Divine Comedy, Black Box Recorder and the Langley Schools Music Project. I just checked, and I have only posted something from Langley Schools once... and that was "God Only Knows" way back in 2009. I'm going to try and rectify that in the next week because the story behind the album 'Innocence & Despair' is a great tale to tell, and it's one of the most brilliant examples of outsider art I have ever heard. Anyway, enjoy the music. Hope you find a diamond here. If you run into any problems with my file-sharing account, please let me know. I'm probably nearing bandwidth capacity.

Ian McCulloch - "The Prettiest Star"
Culture Club - "Starman"
Guy Chadwick - "Fall In Love With Me"
Edwyn Collins - "The Gospel According To Tony Day"
The Divine Comedy - "Life On Mars"
Alejandro Escovedo - "All The Young Dudes"
Big Country - "Cracked Actor"
The Polecats - "John, I'm Only Dancing"
Blondie - "Heroes"
The Langley Schools Music Project - "Space Oddity"
Black Box Recorder - "Rock'n'Roll Suicide"

Top 100 Songs From the 1990s (No. 18)

18. "Cannonball"
Artist: The Breeders
Year: 1993

If I'm honest, I would give the nod to "Safari," Tanya Donelly's last hurrah with the band and one of my all-time favorite EPs, but there is no denying "Cannonball" is one of the catchiest songs of the era, and I identify this song with my last great summer. So, it gets the nod by a whisker. Like the album title, this really was my 'Last Splash.' I was 23 years old in the summer of '93, but I got to live like a kid one more time. I had just graduated from college and already knew I would be moving to Japan later in the year. Adulthood could wait. My life couldn't have been more carefree. I moved back home. Here was my schedule: Wake at dawn, play nine holes of golf, "work" at the record store from 10-3, swim, eat a home-cooked meal, read, watch movies or listen to music, repeat. Four years earlier I couldn't wait to get out of the house. Now it was a comforting refuge from the world.

This was also the summer I discovered my brother was cool. He was six years younger and a real sponge. He was at that age when he soaked up all the music I played for him. 'Last Splash' didn't come out until the tail end of August, but "Cannonball" preceded the album and was already garnering plenty of excitement and airplay when we received an early promo copy of the LP at the store. I commandeered that sucker and taped it. As my brother and I played that Maxell XLII together for the first time, one thing became instantly clear. Kim Deal shouldn't have been iced out of 'Trompe Le Monde.' In fact, the stops and starts and singalong vocals reminded me of Pixies in their heyday, just poppier and more accessible. Try to give 'Last Splash' a spin today. I did, and it still sounds great. Do yourself a favor and find time for "Safari," too.

Stop By Quality Street This Holiday Season

This isn't really the place to get tour info, there are plenty of other great spots for that, but I rarely pass up an opportunity to laud the great Nick Lowe. I was really excited when Lowe was backed by Los Straitjackets last December for the Quality Holiday Revue, a series of shows to tout his holiday LP 'Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection for All the Family.' Unfortunately for this fan from the Pacific Northwest, their travels were limited to towns east of the Mississippi. Well, no coal in the stocking this year. Lowe and Los Straitjackets will be reprising the program this December, and the West Coast will be receiving the bulk of the dates.

Lowe describes how 'Quality Street' came about in a short video below, and I have to say I'm surprised about one of his comments. He says holiday albums are really an American thing, and that those in the UK find the concept a bit naff. Any of my British pals care to comment? This American loves holiday albums, and I eagerly take 'A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector' off the shelf the moment I begin cleaning the Thanksgiving dinner dishes. I put 'Quality Street' in that upper echelon of Christmas classics, alongside the Beach Boys, Booker T & the MG's and several others. I don't seem to be alone. Rolling Stone already ranks 'Quality Street' in the top 20 of its list of 40 Essential Holiday Albums. We are receiving another gift from Lowe and Yep Roc Records this holiday season. 'The Quality Holiday Revue Live' LP is set for a Black Friday release. The album was recorded in Boston last year with Los Straitjackets in tow.

Here are the 2015 dates and a few interesting clips, including a video for "Christmas at the Airport." That's the one you may have heard last year while in the shops searching for gifts. The second video is Lowe's rockin' appearance on Letterman, and the third one is the aforementioned making-of 'Quality Street' mention.

Dec. 2: Durham, N.C. – Bryan Center Reynolds Industries Theater
Dec. 3: Charlotte, Va – Visulite Theater
Dec. 4: Atlanta – Variety Playhouse
Dec. 5: Nashville – City Winery Nashville
Dec. 9: Solana Beach, Calif. – Belly Up Tavern
Dec. 10: Los Angeles – El Rey Theatre
Dec. 11: San Francisco – The Great American Music Hall
Dec. 12: Napa, Calif. – City Winery Napa
Dec. 14: Sacramento – Harlow’s Restaurant and Nightclub
Dec. 16: Portland, Ore. – Aladdin Theater
Dec. 18: Seattle – Neptune
Dec. 19: Vancouver, B.C. – The Vogue Theatre

Boyracer Crosses the Finish Line

Back in December, I wrote about rediscovering Boyracer... and not a moment too soon. As a victory lap after nearly 50 band members and a quarter century of entertaining us with their particular brand of pop punk, the Sarah and Slumberland vets had just released the "Pete Shelley" 7". Quite a swan song it was, too, only it turns out I buried Stewart Anderson's band without checking for a pulse. Oops. Boyracer recently split a 7" with an Emotional Response labelmate, and it's another doozy. Check out "Everyone's a Critic" below. It's one of two greats from the band on the A-side, and the debut of Denver's American Culture will have you thinking of "Starry Eyes" with just a smidge of the Reid brothers thrown in for a fuzzy powerpop peach of a B-side.

Stewart and his wife Jen (co-founders of Emotional Response Records) say "these recordings are part of the final piece of the Boyracer jigsaw." That's just ambiguous enough to make you wonder whether we could hear Boyracer circle the track again. In case this 7" really is it, though, I suggest you do a little racing yourself because the single has been out for a while and stock is said to be dwindling. Only six bucks for a bit of history, and the sound is far from a relic.