Ladies, N: Natalie Merchant

Song: "Carnival"
From the album Tigerlily

Joanna Newsom:   Web site   Wiki

DJ comments: I started with a Joanna Newsom song, but had to go to Natalie Merchant. In 1993, the lead vocalist for 10,000 Maniacs left her band to pursue what would be a very successful music career. This song is off her first solo album.

This song defines a particular time in my life -- one filled with Duckman, Goosebumps and Waukon's giant, rectangular swimming pool. Ah, to be young again and not have to pay my health insurance. — BJ

Ladies, N: Nico

Song: "Chelsea Girls"
From the album Chelsea Girl

Nico:   Wikipedia

DJ comments: In my first life as a college radio DJ, back in the '90s at Iowa State, one of the station directors was talking about Nico as if he had partied with her back in the days of Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable. It always cracked me up. College radio station directors are so dorky! — cwc

Ladies, O: Karen O

Song: "Maps"
From the album Fever To Tell

Yeah Yeah Yeahs:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Just so you know, the O stands for Orzolek.

Fever To Tell came out in 2003. I bought it shortly after it came out, and it probably repeated in my car's CD player 300 times before I moved onto the next album. — BJ

No Embedding: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKvpRKJHUC0

Ladies, O: Beth Orton

Song: "Concrete Sky"
From the album Daybreaker

Beth Orton:   Web site

DJ comments: Beth Orton edges out Sinead for the O. — cwc

Ladies, P: Amanda Palmer

Song: "Coin-Operated Boy"
From the album A Is For Accident

Patty Griffin:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I wish I could have a coin-operated boy. Chris, do you come with a coin slot? If only I could get your comments when I need them...

I love Amanda's sense of humor. For instance, her Web site is called Amandafuckingpalmer.com. Outside of liking her humor, I'm not a big fan of her music, solo or Dresden. Sorry to all the cult followers. I hear there are a lot of you. — BJ

Ladies, P: Poe

Song: "Hello"
From the album Hello

Poe:   Web site

DJ comments: I liked Poe's first album—this is the title track of said album. Then she put out a second album with a cover image that resembles Bowie's Hunky Dory. Haven't heard much about her since. Still doesn't undo the goodness of her debut. — cwc

Ladies, Q: Tegan & Sara Quin

Song: "Monday Monday Monday"

Tegan & Sara:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This is BY FAR my favorite Tegan and Sara song. These girls are identical twins and they are too freakin' cute for their own good. Imagine how many male fantasies take place at their shows... a lot, I'm sure. — BJ

Ladies, Q: Astrid Quay

Song: "The Caterpillar"
From the album Perfect As Cats

Astrid Quay:   Winter Flowers Web site

DJ comments: Even in a show dedicated to the ladies, I find a way for the Cure to represent. Apparently Ms. Quay stepped away from her band Winter Flowers to record this Cure cover. — cwc

Ladies, R: Diana Ross

Song: "Where Did Our Love Go"
Performed with The Supremes

Diana Ross:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I understand that this is not an alternative song, but it's Diana fucking Ross. She is literally Supreme. — BJ

Ladies, R: Leslie Rankin (aka Ruby)

Song: "Flippin' Tha Bird"
From the album Salt Peter

Ruby:   Web site

DJ comments: First Poe, now Ruby. I'm going full-on mid-'90s on everyone. — cwc

Ladies, S: Caroline Smith

Song: "Clench My Teeth"
From the album Backyard Tent Set

Caroline Smith And The Good Night Sleeps:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I realize I've been playing too much Caroline Smith lately, but that should just be indication as to how utterly phenomenal this album is. — BJ

Ladies, S: Sally Shapiro

Song: "He Keeps Me Alive"
From the album Disco Romance

Sally Shapiro:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This is just what the doctor ordered after an annoying day. — cwc

Ladies, T: Tracy Chapman

Song: "Fast Car"
From the album Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman:   Web site   Wiki

DJ comments: Yet another fantastic track from the greatest decade ever... the Nineties. During her peak, Tracy won four Grammys, scored herself an honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts and probably earned herself millions of dollars. Now she's just touring Europe and probably driving several fast cars. — BJ

Ladies, T: Rosie Thomas

Song: "The One I Love"
From the album These Friends of Mine

Rosie Thomas:   Web site

DJ comments: R.E.M. via Rosie Thomas with assistance from Sufjan. An equation that adds up somehow. — cwc

Ladies, U: Tracy Ullman

Song: "They Don't Know"

Tracy Ullman:   IMDB   Wiki

DJ comments: Apparently Tracy Ullman was a singer before she was a comedian. I thought this song was just something she put together for her series. Apparently not. Apparently she was good enough that Ben Gibbard chose to cover this song.

Do yourself a favor and check out some of her other videos. — BJ

Ladies, U: Regina Spektor???

Song: "Us"
From the album Soviet Kitsch

Regina Spektor:   Web site

DJ comments: Yes, I'm basing my U Lady off the song title. Blow me. — cwc

Ladies, V: Victoria Legrand

Song: "Wedding Bell"
From the album Devotion

Beach House:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: If you like this one, hopefully you caught the Beach House show when they played Mission Creek. I heard they did a great job, but I was at the These United States show.

Perhaps someone who attended the Beach House show can clear up some confusion of mine. The Maryland duo claims to play under the Visual genre. I'm not quite sure how a duo could be that visual. The Black Keys are about the only duo I've been utterly impressed with and I still wouldn't call them too visually appealing. I guess that's a lie, Dan Auerbach is pretty sexy. — BJ

Ladies, V: Laura Veirs

Song: "Ocean Night Song"
From the album Saltbreakers

Laura Veirs:   Web site

DJ comments: Laura is another example of someone I assume has way more appearances on our show than she has in reality. Haven't played her since Week 1. What a shame. — cwc

Ladies, W: Amy Winehouse

Song: "Wake Up Alone"
From the album Back To Black

Amy Winehouse:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I was going to make a post about Amy Winehouse not being in the news as much as, say, a year ago. But then I did a news search and found this gem: http://www.welt.de/english-news/article3558506/Amy-Winehouse-s-husband-impregnates-woman.html

Yes, Amy's husband knocked up some chick in a bathroom, "toilet" if you prefer the English term, while in rehab. I guess he couldn't say No, No, No. — BJ

Ladies, W: Leigh and Chandra Watson

Song: "Just Like Heaven"
From the album Fire Songs

Watson Twins:   Web site

DJ comments: Pretty cool version of a pretty perfect song. — cwc

Ladies, X: Exene Cervenka

Song: "Motel Room in My Bed"
From the album Beyond and Back

X:   Web site

DJ comments: A favorite of Alphabet Soup, and not just because Exene and company conveniently fill a tricky letter slot (today is a stretch, but come on....) — cwc

Ladies, Y: Mama Yancey

Song: "Monkey Woman Blues"
From the album Yancey Special, 1951

Mama Yancey:   Wiki

DJ comments: So the name of this song is "Monkey Woman Blues." I had to choose it for historical reasons. Can you imagine if Rhianna came out with a similar song title?

Speaking of Rhianna, we decided to start calling a pint of Black and Blue (half Guinness, half Blue Moon) a Rhianna. Get it? — BJ

Embedding Disalbled http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmvma-b5mVA

Ladies, Y: Yoko

Song: "Kiss Kiss Kiss"
From the album Double Fantasy

Yoko:   Web site

DJ comments: I can't say a whole lot for Yoko's art as a whole, but this song is pretty cool. And PAUL killed the Beatles, not Ms. Ono Lennon. — cwc

Ladies, Z: Moon Zappa

Song: "Valley Girl"
From the album Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch

Moon Zappa:   Web site   Wiki

DJ comments: I can kind of understand naming your child Moon, but to then give that child the middle name Unit -- I'm not sure I agree with that. Maybe I'll name my first boy Huge Unit and assume that one of two things would happen: 1. My son would get laid by default and love his mother; 2. My son would disappoint a lot of women and hate his mother.

Anyway, Frank Zappa and his daughter Moon Unit released this song together in 1982; that's one year before the debut of that fantastic movie starring Nicholas Cage as a teenage heartthrob. Like, oh my god, he is so awesome. — BJ

Music Video:

Moon Unit Zappa - Valley Girl
Uploaded by mrjyn

Movie preview:

Ladies, Z: Zooey Deschanel

Song: "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"
From the album Volume One

She & Him:   Web site

DJ comments: Does Zooey really need to ask such a question? She's welcome anytime. — cwc