Names, A: Aly

"Aly, Walk With Me," The Raveonettes

From the album Lust Lust Lust

Raveonettes:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: We're off to a loud, fuzzy start today. This is fitting, as UI alum Sam Paxton has helped curate this show. Wait until you see some of the testosterone tunes he picked! Joanna Newsom fans, run and hide! (Can someone please explain to me why she is sooooooo great, yet a band like Vampire Weekend supposedly sucks? She sounds like a giraffe dying while Edward Scissorhands runs his blades along a chalkboard. Seriously.) — cwc

Check their performance of this song on “Letterman.” Cool stuff. The robotic drummer rocked my world. — sp

Ep. 10, A: Architecture in Helsinki, "Imaginary Ordinary"

From the album Fingers Crossed

Architecture in Helsinki:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I still say these guys, at least on the Fingers Crossed album, sound like a bunch of band geeks who get locked in a band room and decided to record some goofy shit. It also sounds like they sampled sounds from an old Atari video game system. Which means I like 'em. — cwc

Ep. 9, A: Alice in Chains, "Get Born Again"

From the album Music Box

Alice in Chains:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: My brother Shannon got me hooked on Alice in Chains back in the '90s. It was very difficult to choose a song. Either way, this one goes out to my boys at the Pita Pit. F'ing metalheads.

This song was one of the last recordings featuring Layne Staley. It wasn't on any of their albums -- only their Best Of box set. — BJ

Ep. 8, A: The Apples in Stereo, "Strawberryfire"

From the album Her Wallpaper Reverie

Apples in Stereo:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Wikipedia says these guys are "an American indie rock band associated with the innovative Elephant Six Collective." This reminds me of one of my favorite exchanges in The Big Lebowski...

The Dude: Did you ever hear of the Seattle Seven?
Maude Lebowski: Mmmm.
The Dude: That was me.....and six other guys.

Indeed. Go see Apples in Stereo in Lexington, Kentucky, later this month, or wait until July when they hit Chicago for the Pitchfork fest. — cwc

Ep. 7, A: American Analog Set, "Sharp Briar"

From the album Set Free

American Analog Set:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I felt this was an appropriate opener considering how shotty the weather is. Arrgh...
The only US show they have is in NYC on April 22. So, unless you plan on heading overseas, you may have to hold off for another tour. — BJ

Covers, A: "All Along the Watchtower," Dylan/Hendrix

The Original

From the album John Wesley Harding

Bob Dylan:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Anyone going to see I'm Not There at the Bijou in the next few days? — cwc

I was shocked and amazed the first time I heard the Bob Dylan version of "All Along the Watchtower". I lost my "All" Dylan virginity when I bought John Wesley on vinyl for a dollar at Granny's Attic last year. I about crapped my pants. OK, that may be an exaggeration, but I was taken aback. — BJ

The Cover

From the album Electric Ladyland

Jimi Hendrix:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Hendrix fuckin' owns this song. — cwc

Can you say that? Viewer warning -- contains adult material not suitable for children or hymen-owning freshman girls. Wait, there are none of those on campus. — BJ

Ep. 5, A: "Agony Of DeFeet," Parliament

From the album Gold

Parliament:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: George Clinton is currently touring. He and his posse will be at Summer Camp in Chillicothe, IL, on May 25. Who wants to get Funked up? — BJ

Not to be confused with:

Ep. 4, A: "Anyone Else But You," Michael Cera and Ellen Page

From the Juno soundtrack

Juno's MySpace page

DJ comments: Finally saw the movie. Loved it. Worth the hype. Moldy Peaches, maybe not so much, so here's the superior Cera/Page version. — cwc

Ep. 3, A: "Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl," Broken Social Scene

from the album You Forgot It In People

Broken Social Scene's Myspace

DJ comments: I've been mildly obsessed with Broken Social Scene since I bought my tickets for the 2006 Lollapalooza. You Forgot It In People has the best production value of all the band's albums. In my opinion, it's a must-have for any collection.

The female vocals for this song are those of Emily Haines (Metric). When the band went on tour in 2006, they created the sound by harmonizing the vocals all of females who've ever been involved with the band. One of the two videos posted is their Lolly performance. — BJH

Ep. 2, A: Asobi Seksu, "New Years"

From the album Citrus

Asobi Seksu web site
Asobi Seksu on MySpace

Pay attention to local live-music venues — you never know who might roll through town. These guys opened for Appleseed Cast at The Picador not too long ago, and I totally missed it. (And how were they not headlining that bill?)

Ep. 1, A: Ambulance Ltd, "Anecdote"

From the album LP

Ambulance Ltd web site
Ambulance Ltd on MySpace

DJ Comments: I fell in love with these guys when they played Lollapalooza in 2005. They were staying at our hotel and were really nice guys when we approached them.

I decided to post a video, although it is not the song Anecdote. "Stay Where You Are" was the song that started my brief LTD obsession. (At some point you will notice I have had a lot of band obsessions over the past six years.) -- BJH