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. 9, B: Beastie Boys, "Sabotage"

From the album Ill Communication

Beastie Boys:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I'm pretty sure this was the first Beastie Boys song I ever heard - my brother made a tape with music videos from 1996 (back when Mtv was worth two sh*ts). This was the second video. I've been ill ever since. — BJ

Would that be the video tape Shannon borrowed from me and never returned? (The answer is yes.) That tape ruled. — cwc

Ep. 9, C: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, "Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away"

From the album Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: If you don't have this album, you need to go buy it. (Period.)— BJ

Ep. 9, D: The Dodos, "Fools"

From the album Visiter

The Dodos:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This band is just another reason why I want to move to San Francisco. According to their Myspace page, they're a "Happy Hardcore" band. I think I could live a Happy Hardcore life -- what about you, Chris?

If you dig them -- go check them out in Minneapolis (July 8) or Chicago's Pitchfork Festival (July 20). — BJ

Happy Hardcore: sounds like porn. — cwc

Ep. 9, E: Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton, "Our Hell"

From the album Knives Don't Have Your Back

Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: So what if I'm playing Emily Haines twice in one show! I'm showing her versatility -- this is her "slow side." — BJ

Ep. 9, F: The Fugees, "Ready or Not"

From the album The Score

The Fugees:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: One of the first albums I ever owned. What a hip group of 5th graders we were. Too bad they stopped making music together (until they released "Take It Easy" in 2005) a year after the album was released. — BJ

Ep. 9, G: Al Green, "I Can't Get Next To You"

Al Green:   Web site

DJ comments: Doesn't Al Green just put you in the mood? He's the ultimate love/funky-feeling-in-the-pants artist. — BJ

Ep. 9, H: Handsome Boy Modeling School, "If It Wasn't For You (feat De La Soul and Starchild Excalibur)"

From the album White People

Handsome Boy Modeling School:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I love their promotion work. Below is a promo video for their music. Check out their photos if you haven't already. — BJ

Ep. 9, I: Iggy Pop, "Real Wild Child (Wild One)"

From the album Blah-Blah-Blah

Iggy Pop:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Seeing as most of my other songs fulfill some nostalgic hole in my music collection, I decided to go with an old Iggy Pop favorite for "I" today. — BJ

Ep. 9, J: James Brown, "It's a Man's Man's Man's World"

James Brown:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Fun James Brown facts:

• He had 17 #1 singles -- his first being "Try Me" in 1958


• He had 98 songs on the Billboard Top 40


• He served four yeas in prison before becoming a gospel singer


• His aunt ran a brothel, where he lived for a while

— BJ

Ep. 9, K: The Kinks, "Mr. Churchill Says"

From the album Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)

The Kinks:   Fan site

DJ comments: Can't ever decide which Kinks album is my favorite. It's either Arthur or Village Green Society. For a band that kind of died with the '60s (l don't feel like a ton of people know who The Kinks are anymore), they've been picking up some steam in the past few years. For instance, "Picture Book" was featured in an HP commercial a few years ago.

Other random note: Chris and I had a math teacher named Dave Davies. Actually, his name was Dave David Davies. What were his parents thinking? — BJ

Ep. 9, L: Lyrics Born, "I Changed My Mind (Stereo MCs Rattlesnake Mix)"

From the album Same !@#$ Different Day

Lyrics Born:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: The new Lyrics Born album came out on 4/22. Check out the Pitchfork review of Everywhere At Once -- that is if you want to trust anything Pitchfork has to say. — BJ

See my commentary in the Y post for my opinion on Pitchfork reviews. — cwc

Ep. 9, M: Metric, "Soft Rock Star"

From the album Grow Up and Blow Away

Metric:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Yes, this is the second Emily Haines song in one day. What can I say? She's a sexy blonde Canadian chick. — BJ

Ep. 9, N: No Kids, "The Beaches All Closed"

From the album Come Into My House

No Kids:   MySpace

DJ comments: There should be a license for having kids. I'm dead serious. — cwc

Here's a clip of the band from SXSW:

Ep. 9, O: Oh No, "Heavy"

From the album Dr. No's Oxperiment

Oh No:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Oh yes! — cwc

Ep. 9, P: The Pipettes, "We Are the Pipettes"

From the album We Are the Pipettes

Pipettes:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Not anymore, you're not: Two Pipettes Enter, Two Pipettes Leave. But hey, my favorite one is still around, so all is well. — cwc

I should started a betting pool: Will Chris Play the Pipettes This Week? I could have made hundreds! — BJ

Ep. 9, Q: Question Mark and the Mysterians, "96 Tears"

From the album 96 Tears

Question Mark and the Mysterians:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Hey, they talk about these guys during the awesome film Punk: Attitude, so I feel OK playing them on KRUI, your sound alternative. — cwc

Ep. 9, R: The Ruby Suns, "Tane Mahuta"

From the album Sea Lion

Ruby Suns:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This song is kinda cool. This video is freakin' awesome. — cwc

Ep. 9, S: Sally Shapiro, "He Keeps Me Alive"

From the album Disco Romance

Sally Shapiro:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I love this woman. She makes me dance. That is a tall order. — cwc

The only video I could find has altered the speed of the song upward. It's not quite Alvin and the Chipmunks, but it's odd. Better than nothing?

Ep. 9, T: Anna Ternheim, "Bridges"

From the ep Anna Ternheim

Anna Ternheim:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Another brilliant Swedish artist. Why am I not surprised? — cwc

Video availability is an issue, so we'll go with my second-favorite Ternheim song, Lovers Dream:

Ep. 9, U: Ungdomskulen, "Modern Drummer"

From the album Cry-Baby

Ungdomskulen:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This band's name would be worth a lot of points in Scrabulous. — cwc

Ep. 9, V: The Vaselines, "Son of a Gun"

From the album The Way of the Vaselines

Vaselines:   Wikipedia entry

DJ comments: 99.9% of people heard Nirvana's versions of this song and "Molly's Lips" before hearing the originals, if they've heard the originals at all. The Vaselines sounded much different than I expected, but cool all the same. Well, this song is cool; not so sure about their original rendition of "Molly's Lips," what with the clown horns and what not... — cwc

Ep. 9, W: A Weather, "Spiders, Snakes"

From the album Cove

A Weather:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: You see, it's OK to use these guys at "W" since you don't account for the articles "a," "an," and "the" when you alphabetize. However, I encourage you to take issue with Brittany for Emily Haines at "E" or James Brown at "J." She says you can e-mail complaints to her at the following address: eatmyass@alphabetsoup.com — cwc

Below, a video for another A Weather song, "The Feather Test":

Ep. 9, X: X-Ray Spex, "I Am a Cliche"

From the single Oh Bondage! Up Yours

X-Ray Spex:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I would much rather look at a young Poly Styrene, but instead, I found this goddamned video... — cwc

Ep. 9, Y: Yellow Swans, "Our Oases"

From the album At All Ends

Yellow Swans:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Hey, I listen to these guys for the first time this week, and what happens? They're breaking up! But not before playing a June 8 show at Iowa City's very own Picador. Anyway, I inserted this into the playlist simply as a springboard for conversation: this sort of music garners an 8.6 rating from Pitchfork, while Interpol's last album landed a 6.0? Goldfrapp's latest a 4.6? Is this noise really 50% better than Our Love to Admire, and almost twice as good as Seventh Tree? Really? Maybe I should just pretend to like Yellow Swans, which would allow me to sing along to the song we just finished hearing at "X": I Am a Cliche! — cwc

No video. Tough shit.

Ep. 9, Z: Zero 7, "Futures"

From the album The Garden

Zero 7:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Zero 7 + Jose Gonzalez = Good shit — cwc

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. 8, B: The Blacks, "Raincoat"

From the album Nom de Guerre

The Blacks:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I'm not sure what was more surprising: that this trio prominently features a tambourine-freakout-dude, or that they almost upstaged Cursive at the Mill during Mission Creek. They put Capgun Snooze, er, Coup to shame, anyway. (And for my friend who attended the show with me, I still refuse to believe that the singer was "making eyes" at you while she was singing. Come on now.) They're taking their act to "the big city," aka NYC, before heading back for some shows in their native California. — cwc

No video for "Raincoat," but here's another Blacks tune, "Elegant Walk":

Ep. 8, C: The Cure, "A Japanese Dream"

From the box set Join the Dots

The Cure:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Reason No. 324 that I like the Cure: they made some killer b-sides, enough to release a four-disc set a few years ago. (If I am being honest, it could have been pared down to three discs and been a lot better.) This song came from the Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me era, when the band was arguably at the top of its game. It was the b-side for the single "Why Can't I Be You?" The video below is an instrumental version of the song, set underneath a soundcheck/on the bus moment. — cwc

Ep. 8, D: The Dodos, "Red and Purple"

From the album Visiter

The Dodos:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Better fly over to Chicago tonight if you want to see these birds. You could always drive to Bloomington, Ind., and see them Saturday, I guess. Might be worth the drive. — cwc

Ep. 8, E: Explosions in the Sky, "Catastrophe and the Cure"

From the album All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone

Explosions in the Sky:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: These geniuses (or genii, if you will) are touring Europe right now. Good thing I made that trip to St. Louis to see them last month. Best show ever. I rule. — cwc

Ep. 8, F: Film School, " 'Lectric"

From the album Hideout

Film School:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: A BAND PLAYING IOWA CITY. GO SEE THEM ON MAY 8 AT THE PICADOR. TICKETWEB LISTS THE SHOW AS ONLY $7; EVEN I CAN AFFORD THAT. SEE YOU THERE! (sorry for all the shouting, I'm excited that I don't have to drive across state lines to see a band I like) — cwc

Ep. 8, G: Grand Ole Party, "Look Out Young Son"

From the album Humanimals

Grand Ole Party:   MySpace

DJ comments: I finally feel good about voting for the GOP. See them tonight or tomorrow in Chicago, or take a Sunday drive to St. Louis. — cwc

Ep. 8, H: Headlights, "On April 2"

From the album Some Racing, Some Stopping

Headlights:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: These cats, fresh off an Iowa City appearance for Mission Creek, will be playing Milwaukee and various Illinois shows in the coming weeks. — cwc

Here's a video for the song "TV":

Ep. 8, I: I'm From Barcelona, "We're From Barcelona"

From the album Let Me Introduce My Friends

I'm From Barcelona:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This band isn't from Barcelona. I'm not from Barcelona. So the song's title doesn't make sense. A few April shows (including Coachella) before this band goes back home...to Sweden, where everyone is from these days. — cwc

Ep. 8, J: The Jet Age, "O, Calendar"

From the album What Did You Do During the War, Daddy?

The Jet Age:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Did I read somewhere that this album is a concept album about an American suicide bomber? Or did someone slip some salvia in my pesto? These guys are playing Des Moines on June 27. — cwc

Ep. 8, K: The Kills, "Cheap and Cheerful"

From the album Midnight Boom

The Kills:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: There's nothing sexier than starting a song with a woman hocking up a loogey. Does she do that live? Find out at nearby concerts: Chicago on May 9, Madison on May 10, and Minneapolis on May 11. — cwc

Ep. 8, L: The Long Blondes, "Here Comes the Serious Bit"

From the album Couples

The Long Blondes:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: These sassy Brits (as opposed to Alphabet Soup's sassy Britt) will be playing Chicago and Minneapolis over Memorial Day weekend. I thought the band's first album was incredible; we'll see how the latest one treats my ears. — cwc

Ep. 8, M: Man Man, "Van Helsing Boombox"

From the album Six Demon Bag

Man Man:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This this song song is is pretty pretty fun fun. You you can can see see these these guys guys in in Minneapolis Minneapolis tonight tonight and and in in Omaha Omaha tomorrow tomorrow night night. — cwc cwc

Ep. 8, N: New Pornographers, "Myriad Harbour"

From the album Challengers

New Pornographers:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I can't help it -- I like Dan Bejar (Destroyer) too much. Most of my my favorite Pornographers songs are those with him singing, like "Myriad Harbour". — BJ

Ep. 8, O: The Owls, "Peppermint Patty"

From the album Daughters and Suns

The Owls:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I think someone should make a Charles Schulz concept album. They already have part of the project finished with "Peppermint Patty". It's a Minneapolis band, so if you're feelin' an itchin' to head north, this is your band.

Below is a York Peppermint Patty commercial from the '70s. What hair! — BJ

Ep. 8, P: Peter Bjorn and John, "Objects Of My Affection"

From the album Writer's Block

Peter Bjorn and John:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Talk about a Swedish indie music invasion. I feel like 1/3 of the bands I listen to anymore are from that freakishly blonde-dominated country. Remember how huge "Young Folks" was last year? It was like Vampire Weekend, but predominately blonde. You can see PB&J in Chicago on April 26. — BJ

Ep. 8, Q: The Queers, "Don't Back Down"

From the album

The Queers:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Punk meets the Beach Boys? Never thunk I'd see the day. For some reason I never envisioned people moshing to "Surfer Girls"... guess I was wrong. "Don't Back Down" is the most Beach Boys influenced song I've heard from these guys. One of the YouTube posts had this to say, "i've been to lotsssss of punker shows and back in the 90's in dallas one of the queers shows I went to was seriously one of the most crazy violent circle pit drunk ass parties I've ever witnessed. good time."

Anyway, these guys are hitting the Midwest in the last two weeks of May. If you want to mosh to surf sounds, enjoy. — BJ

Ep. 8, R: The Roots, "Get Busy"

From the album Rising Down

The Roots:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Anyone heard of 80/35? Well, the Roots, the Flaming Lips and more will be in Des Moines on July 4. Chris called me at work the other day with a tone like someone just smacked him across the face with a board of wood. IOWA HAS A COOL MUSIC FESTIVAL NOW!

The Roots are releasing their newest album in stores on April 29. I saw them at Coachella last year and they are PHENOMENAL on stage. I highly advise that you go seem them this year. You'll have plenty of opportunities -- they're going in and out of the Midwest all summer, starting this month. They'll even be in Iowa more than once, Chris! — BJ

Ep. 8, T: Two Gallants, "Despite What You've Been Told"

From the album Two Gallants

Two Gallants:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Power to the two-man rock bands.

These guys are playing my dream music festival: Outside Lands in San Francisco. They're also playing Bonnaroo. — BJ

Ep. 8, S: Spoon, "Back To The Life"

From the album Kill The Moonlight

Spoon:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I love this band. I could listen to Kill The Moonlight all the time. For anyone who got to see them in Davenport, I salute you. — BJ

Ep. 8, U: Unwed Sailor, "In Search of the Music Box"

From the album The Marionette & the Music Box

The Unicorns:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Can't lie, I had never even heard of these guys until about an hour ago. Not a lot of "U" bands on tour this year. — BJ

Ep. 8, V: The Verve, "Bittersweet Symphony"

From the album Urban Hymns

The Verve:   Web site   MySpace

Ep. 8, W: We All Have Hooks For Hands, "Hold On C'mon"

From the album The Pretender

We All Have Hooks For Hands:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I told my friend Jon that I would play this band from his native land. They remind me a lot of Tilly & the Wall. They go in and out of Minnesota and South Dakota (their home state). — BJ

Ep. 8, X: X, "Johnny Hit and Run Paulene"

From the album Los Angeles

X:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I'm going to name my band "XXX" for two reasons. 1. To top the band X. 2. Because I like to joke about pornography. — BJ

Ep. 8, Y: Jenny Owen Youngs, "Fuck Was I"

From the album Batten the Hatches

Jenny Owen Youngs:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I first heard this song on the wonderful hit show Weeds. It's right after she realizes she had sex with a DEA agent. SCREWED! (In both ways.)

Miss Jenny will be not be near the Midwest -- only New York City and non-US spots. — BJ

Ep. 8, Z: Zappa Plays Zappa, "Flower Punk"

From the album We're Only In It For the Money

Zappa:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I have a poster of Frank Zappa sitting on a toilet with his pants around his ankles. It hangs above my toilet. Until the poster turns to shit (tee hee), it will hang above the many toilets upon which my butt will rest. — BJ

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

Ep. 7, B: Black Keys, "Psychotic Girl"

From the album Attack & Release

The Black Keys:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I have been eagerly awaiting this album. I still haven't had a chance to sit down and make sweet love to its entirety, but I'm sure I'll be touching myself to it later this evening. Call me a psychotic girl if you must -- I love these two boys. — BJ

Ep. 7, C: Cursive, "The Recluse"

From the album The Ugly Organ

Cursive:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: You may have been lucky enough to see Cursive when they played Mission Creek. I was a pretty upset -- I had to work the night of the show. Waah waaah. — BJ

Ep. 7, D: Destroyer, "Blue Flower/Blue Flame"

From the album Trouble In Dreams

Destroyer:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Chris isn't such a big Destroyer fan, but I waited a long time for this album, and this is one of my big "must sees." I had to include it. This is the lead-off track from the band's newest album, which I enjoy, but it's a far cry from Rubies. Then again, Rubies is Rubies.
Do enjoy the wonderful video below -- I think it's the official video put out by Destroyer. — BJ

Ep. 7, E: Editors, "Munich"

From the album The Black Room

Editors:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I teased Chris by telling him I was going to play Explosions In The Sky, but I couldn't find a song I wanted, so I fell back on the Editors. These guys released An End Has A Start last summer. Being that they're from the UK, they don't have anything set up in the US. — BJ

Next week: All 12 minutes and 5 seconds of "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept" by Explosions. — cwc

Ep. 7, F: Flight of the Conchords, "If You're Into It"

Flight of the Conchord:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I'm totally into it. I can only imagine how fun this show must be -- two guys sitting up front playing guitars and singing about women, sex and crying. Oops, my pants are wet.

Do yourself a favor and look at the pictures on their Myspace page. Also check out their Midwest dates in May. — BJ

Ep. 7, G: The Go! Team, "The Wrath of Marcie"

From the album Proof of Youth

The Go! Team:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I always think my head is going to explode when I listen to this band. Holy crap they're hyper. I've heard their show is a crack-head's wet dream. — BJ

a coke head's dream. a— BJ

Ep. 7, H: Hot Chip, "Take Care"

From the album Coming On Strong

Hot Chip:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I remember pulling out a Hot Chip album during one our shows and Chris scoffed at me like I just contracted the Black Plague or something. I think this is good stinking song, Christopher. You can think what you want.
Hot Chip is playing Chicago and Minneapolis on the 17th and 18th of April. You only have a few days left to buy tickets if you're interested. In terms of music festivals, they are a 2008 Coachella band. — BJ

Ep. 7, I: Israel Vibration, "Licks & Kicks"

From the album The Same Song

Israel Vibration:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Gotta have a dose of Reggae! These guys have been around since the seventies, but they're still kicking it. They will be playing a handful of shows later this year. — BJ

Ep. 7, J: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings "How Do I Let A Good Man Down?,"

From the album Naturally

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Lady has some pipes on her. Though this song is from the 2005 release, Jones and the Kings put out 100 Days and 100 Nights last year. I can imagine this would be an interesting show, especially if you like that old school seventies style. I included the video for that album's title track. — BJ

Ep. 7 K: Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)"

From the album Raising Sand

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I freaking love these two together. They are one of the headlining bands at this year's Bonnaroo. —

Ep. 7 L: Les Savy Fav, "Pots & Pans"

From the album Let's Stay Friends

Les Savy Fav:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I don't get the fat man in their video. Is this an effort to distract audience members from the music? — BJ

Ep. 7, M: MGMT, "Electric Feel"

From the album Oracular Spectacular

MGMT:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I can't say enough about this song. It really is fantastic. And fortunately for us Midwesterners -- we have another Lollapalooza act! — BJ

Ep. 7, N: Nine Inch Nails, "Get Down Make Love"

From the ep Sin

Nine Inch Nails:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Headlining Lollapalooza, huh? Too bad he hasn't put out anything good since Downward Spiral. But today's song is from the Pretty Hate Machine era, which wasn't bad. — cwc

Ep. 7, O: Okkervil River, "Savannah Smiles"

From the album The Stage Names

Okkervil River:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: These Austin lads are opening for New Pornographers down in St. Louis on Saturday, April 19, at the Pageant. I think they're also playing in Madison around that time too. The opening act might be better than the headliner in this case (I really wasn't a big fan of Challengers). — cwc

Ep. 7, P: Portishead, "Machine Gun"

From the upcoming album Third (song now available as single)

Portishead:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: New album drops at the end of April. Band will headline one day of Coachella. Touring Europe right now. Entire world will be dominated. — cwc

Ep. 7, Q: Quietdrive, "Time After Time"

From the album When All That's Left Is You

Quietdrive:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: These dudes played this song (among others) on our show way back when (last fall). Nice fellas. They'll be headlining RiverFest here at the end of the month. Free show, check it out. — cwc

I'm not going to comment on this. — BJ

Ep. 7, R: Raconteurs, "Salute Your Solution"

From the album Consolers of the Lonely

Raconteurs:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: They're playing my beloved Pageant in St. Louis in June and Lollapalooza in August. And a zillion other dates between now and Lolla. One band I'd like to catch; if only a band like this would set foot within Iowa City? — cwc

Ep. 7, S: Sons & Daughters, "Gilt Complex"

From the album This Gift

Sons & Daughters:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Among the many festivals these guys are playing is Coachella, so jet on out to Cali! Or if you can't do that, perhaps you should just go see the Long Blondes, who are touring in the Midwest (although — surprise! — not in Iowa). — cwc

Ep. 7, T: Tapes 'n' Tapes, "Just Drums"

From the album The Loon

Tapes 'n' Tapes:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: They're playing the Metro in Chicago tonight. Better hustle if you were planning on seeing them. Of course, our listeners on the East Coast can catch them at several upcoming shows. — cwc

Ep. 7, U: Uh Huh Her, "Say So"

From the album I See Red

Uh Huh Her:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: So, um, do you like PJ Harvey? Enough to name your band after one of PJ's albums? These two ladies are playing Chicago, Minneapolis, Lawrence, Kan., and St. Louis between April 29 and May 2. Notice the loop right around the black hole known as Iowa?! I thought the Lawrence scene and the Picador scene were united? Why no I.C. show? — cwc

Ep. 7, V: Vampire Weekend, "Campus"

From the album Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Places you can catch Vampire Weekend: Coachella, Bonnaroo, Pitchfork Music Festival, various British dates (including Glastonbury, Reading, and Leeds festivals), and a show tonight at Brown University. And I'm sorry, but these guys do fuckin' rule. — cwc

Ep. 7, W: Ween, "The Stallion Pt. 3"

From the album Pure Guava

Ween:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Iowa alert! These guys are playing in, um, Council Bluffs (?????) on July 20. The question marks aren't with regard to the location of Council Bluffs, but why Ween would play there. — cwc

Ep. 7, X: Xiu Xiu, "I Do What I Want When I Want"

From the album Women as Lovers

Xiu Xiu:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Xiu Xiu played Ames last month. They are wrapping up their U.S. tour tomorrow night before jetting over to Europe. Should've been in Ames last month, I guess. — cwc

Ep. 7, Y: Yeasayer, "Sunrise"

From the album All Hour Cymbals

Yeasayer:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Next week, Yeasayer hits Madison, Minneapolis, and Omaha. Are we in some sort of quarantine? Was Mission Creek the only cool thing allowed in Iowa City?

Sorry for all the hate, but I'm getting frustrated. It seems like nine out of ten, if not ten out of ten, of the bands KRUI plays skip right around Iowa while touring. Should we be content to listen to our CDs/mp3s/online streams? Should we not demand more live music?

Is there really no audience for Jose Gonzalez here? Did he need to go straight from St. Louis to Milwaukee? That seems like a tailor-made Englert show if nothing else. Did I really have to drive four hours to go see Explosions in the Sky? (Not that I wouldn't make the same trip tomorrow, but...)

Here's a list of bands coming to the St. Louis venue I keep raving about over the next 10 weeks: Feist, Mars Volta, New Pornos/Okkervil River, BRMC, My Chemical Romance (not my thing, but anyway...), Tegan and Sara, Wilco (twice), Raconteurs, and Iron and Wine (who are at least coming to Davenport). And the aforementioned Explosions show was incredible. That's a three-year span of "gets" here.

At least Film School is coming to the Picador in May.

And Randy-fucking-Newman is playing here soon!

[rant over] — cwc

Ep. 7, Z: Zombies, "Care of Cell 44"

From the album Odessey and Oracle

DJ comments: Sorry, the "Y" comment took everything out of me. Zombies are touring the U.S. in July and August. — cwc

Covers, N: "Theme from 'New York, New York'"/"New York," Frank Sinatra/Cat Power

The "Original"

From the album Trilogy: Past Present Future

Frank Sinatra:   Web site

DJ comments: OK, I know this isn't the original version, but honestly: do you know "Theme from 'New York, New York'" any other way? Ol' Blue Eyes' owns this song. And as a Yankees fan, I love hearing this song, as it usually means victory for the Bronx Bombers. — cwc

I had to cry, kick and scream in order to get this song on the playlist. Chris actually beat me over it. It's ok, though. With every blunt strike I love him a little more. — BJ

The Cover

From the album Jukebox

Cat Power:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This isn't just some karaoke rendition; Chan Marshall makes a whole new gem here. Of course, she's had a lot of practice with this whole "cover" thing, what with at least two albums' worth under her belt. — cwc

Covers, O: "Ocean of Noise," Arcade Fire/Calexico

The Original

From the album Neon Bible

Arcade Fire:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I must admit, I hadn't paid much attention to this song until I heard the Calexico version. Didn't jump out at me while listening to Neon Bible. It does now. — cwc

Yeah, Neon Bible as a whole never really popped for me. I just like the percussion on Funeral so much, and NB was totally lacking on that end. — BJ

The Cover

From the Arcade Fire's 7" single for Intervention

Calexico:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: As much as I like Arcade Fire, it was Calexico's more subtle (or perhaps what I mean is less melodramatic) version of the song that works for me. Not that the AF version sucks; I just prefer what Calexico has done here. Pretty cool that Arcade Fire gave up the b-side real estate for their friends to showcase their talents; also, two of the Calexico fellas played on the Arcade Fire original. (I think Brittany Jade is going to see Calexico soon...correct?) — cwc

Covers, P: "Psycho Killer," Talking Heads/James Hall

The Original

From the album Talking Heads: 77

Talking Heads:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Brittany Jade and I played this song on our general pre-Soup show, and got a phone call about 15 seconds into the song. The caller remarked, "This song is an old one!" which we thought was meant to be an admonishing statement. We got all defensive about it, but were relieved when the caller explained it was out of gratitude that he called. So yeah, some of you geeks actually have some taste. — cwc

Good story, Chris. No, really. That was a fun moment. We relished in the moment. I think Chris actually cried a little. The little man trapped inside of him was happy. — BJ

The Cover

From the album Psycho: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture

DJ comments: I have no idea who this dude is (his common name made linking to anything next to impossible), but I grabbed the "soundtrack" to the 1998 Van Sant remake of Psycho after hearing this version of the Talking Heads classic. I also like the opening credits music, originally done by Bernard Herrmann, which Danny Elfman does quite well. — cwc

Covers, Q: "Quicksand," David Bowie/Dinosaur Jr.

The Original

From the album Hunky Dory

David Bowie:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Like I'm not going to embed the performance with Robert Smith from Bowie's 50th birthday bash. — cwc

According to my good friend Wikipedia, this song was inspired by Buddhism and Nietzsche's concept of Übermensch (Superman/Overman) -- man is something which should be overcome. In honor, Chris and I have created our own branch of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and will be burning incense in studio. — BJ

The Cover

From the ep Whatever's Cool with Me

Dinosaur Jr.:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This isn't a lyrically faithful cover, but cool all the same (and the second time it's been played on the Soup...some letters are tougher than others). — cwc

Other covers include the Portuguese version heard on the Aquatic Life soundtrack and Seal's MTV recording. Mmm... Seal. — BJ

Covers, R: "Rock and Roll," Velvet Underground/Jane's Addiction

The Original

From the album Loaded

The Velvet Underground:   Rock and Roll Hall of Fame page

DJ comments: Even in 1993, it would have been cool to see these guys live. In fact, it would probably be a lot healthier than their shows with the Andy Warhol traveling circus, the Exploding Plastic Inevitable. — cwc

Random note from Britt: Have you ever seen The Rolling Stone's Rock N' Roll Circus? You should check it out if you haven't! The Rolling Stones put on a big concert in a circus tent. It's not just the Rolling Stones, though. It's John Lennon, Eric Clapton and a ton of other people. My favorite part is when they span the audience and you see John Lennon flailing about, obviously tripping his ass off. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH3cZb8XZek&NR=1 Not that scene, but a real scream of a performance with Yoko Ono. — BJ

The Cover

From the album Jane's Addiction

Jane's Addiction:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This is one of 10 songs from Jane's Addiction's...interesting debut. I'm old enough to remember how truly important Jane's was to the alt scene. (Then they had to go and release that crappy Strays album...) — cwc

And now Perry Ferrel is one of the biggest tools in the industry. Heard of Satellite Party? — BJ

Covers, S: "Superstar," Carpenters/Sonic Youth

The "Original"

From the album Carpenters

The Carpenters:   Web site

DJ comments: Like the Sinatra tune, this is not really a Carpenters original, but it is their song. — cwc

It is their song. Karen Carpenters heart-wrenching story-turned-movie is called Superstar, because that's what she was: the easy listening superstar of the 20th Century. You go, girl. Go straight to a McDonalds. (Too soon?) — BJ

The Cover

From the album If I Were a Carpenter

Sonic Youth:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: If you don't own the album this came from (no, not the Juno soundtrack), If I Were a Carpenter, you suck. — cwc

What a beautiful album concept and name. What would your cover concept album be Chris? Mine would be If I Were An A-Ha. Take on me, Chris. Take On Me... — BJ

If I Were Straight Outta Compton — cwc

Covers, T: "Teardop," Massive Attack/Jose Gonzalez

The Original

From the album Mezzanine

Massive Attack:   Web site

DJ comments: Hey, it's the House theme song! — cwc

I'll be honest -- I had no idea who Massive Attack was until I heard everyone responding to Jose Gonzalez covering "Teardrop." — BJ

The Cover

From the album In Our Nature

Jose Gonzalez:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Hey, it's some dude from Sweden named Gonzalez (who put on a most killer show in a chapel in St. Louis a couple of weeks ago) covering the House theme song! — cwc

I enjoyed this show with Mr. Christopher. I vote it "Most Relaxing Show Ever."

Covers, U: "Up Around the Bend," CCR/Elton John

The Original

From the album Cosmo's Factory

Creedence Clearwater Revival:   Web site

DJ comments: Two CCR songs make the Covers Project! I always liked the Creedence mention in The Big Lebowski. — cwc

Good cover-related story: the band's first big hit, "Suzie Q," was a cover of the Dale Hawkins song. — BJ

The Cover

From the album Reg Dwight's Piano Goes Pop

Elton John:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: [cwc comment deleted for inappropriate content]

Is that legit or is Chris trying to be funny? That would be a first. --BJ

[Another cwc comment deleted for inappropriate content]

Covers, V: "Velouria," Pixies/Weezer

The Original

From the album Bossanova

Pixies:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I once argued that Kim Deal was hotter than Cindy Crawford. I stand by that statement! — cwc

I love the end scene in Empire Records where they compare Primus and the Pixies, then go into this great debate as to why they broke up. — BJ

The Cover

From the album Where Is My Mind?

Weezer:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I believe I saw a report that Weezer's next album might be titled Weezer. Yeah, just like the 1994 album, and the 2001 album. Big thumbs-up, Rivers, you nerd. — cwc

He's so artistic. I mean, he wears glasses! — BJ

Covers, W: "Walking with a Ghost," Tegan & Sara/The White Stripes

The Original

From the album So Jealous

Tegan & Sara:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: If I was single, I would try to marry one of these Canadian lasses — for the universal health care, you see. They are playing a show in St. Louis next month, maybe I'll go see them! — cwc

T&A from T&S. Go Chris, go. Maybe you won't have to resort to sex with two hot indie Canadian chicks... If Clinton is elected, we'll have universal health care anyway, right? — BJ

The Cover

From the album

White Stripes:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I have to admit, I didn't know the original until after hearing this version. An equally impressive take on the tune, if you ask me. A lot of T&S fans diss this version in the YouTube comments section. Let it be known: the Stripes large fan base is now turned on to Tegan & Sara thanks to this cover. Then again, perhaps it's the hipsters being territorial with their beloved indie duo. (shrug) — cwc

I'm sooo cool because I heard the T&S version first. Yeah, I was a total hipster-wannabe Frosh year. — BJ

Covers, X: "Xanadu," Olivia Newton-John/Lightspeed Champion

The Original

From the album Xanadu

Olivia Newton-John:   Web site

DJ comments: Xanadu got some love from the show Lost recently. It's about time this cinematic (and musical) gem gets some dap. — cwc

If we ever decide to do a "Best of Alphabet Soup" show -- this moment will probably make #1. Yes, ONJ is on our show. We rule. — BJ

The Cover

From the album Falling Off the Lavender Bridge (bonus disc)

Lightspeed Champion:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: It's a brave soul who tries to tackle this song. Good job, Lightspeed Champion. — cwc

It was a moment of beauty when Chris realized that the Lightspeed Champion song that started with "X" had the same name as an Olivia Newton John song. The lightbulbs exploded in the room at the exact moment. — BJ

Covers, Y: "You Made Me Realise," My Bloody Valentine/Silver Sun

The Original

From the ep You Made Me Realise

My Bloody Valentine:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Reunited after many, many years, they need to play over here. Or put out another masterpiece. I'm easy to please. — cwc

The Cover

From the album Neo Wave

Silver Sun:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Not to be confused with Silversun Pickups (whom I actually like). — cwc

Covers, Z: "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," James Baskett/Jackson 5

The Original

From the movie Song of the South

James Baskett:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: It's satisfactual! This song won an Oscar; Baskett was the first African American to win an Academy Award. — cwc

I feel so happy now. We're promoting a social cause (on the day MLK, JR. was shot) and having a Zip-a-dee-doo-dah day! YEAH! — cwc

The Cover

From the album Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5

Jackson 5:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: We send you off on a wonderful FAC with this. You can thank us later. — cwc

And following up with a song from a man who is the ultimate anti-social causes. Not only did he change from a black man to a white woman, but he also screws little boys. Good choice, Chris. — BJ