As most people who are into music probably know, there’s a new Michael Jackson album being released. I thought I’d celebrate the musical genius that is Mr. Jackson by having what I think is easily his best work as the track of the week. Smooth Criminal is easily one of the best pop songs ever recorded, and the energy of it always gets me in a good mood.
Week 18: Dispatch – The General
During a recent trip to Boston, I listened to the radio when this track came on. I had never heard this song nor did I know the band and I was very happily surprised. The track has a great rhythmic structure, which is what got me instantly hooked.
Week 17: Ben Folds – The Luckiest
Sometimes I feel just the way this track describes. It’s maybe not as often as I should, but still. Right now, however, it’s exactly how I feel, and therefore this track is an obvious choice for track of the week. Enjoy!
Week 16: Aerosmith – Dream On
It’s funny, I don’t actually know how many times I heard this track before realizing it was Aerosmith. I guess I’d blame being young and ignorant, but it wasn’t too long ago which is a shameful fact. Either way, this is a great track by one of the most successful bands of all time, and being from their first album it’s much more raw and unpolished than their later hits.
Week 15: Jonathan Coulton – Code Monkey
Being a senior web developer who have been making web sites and various web applications for about 15 years, this is how I feel at times. I chose the live version of this track, because in my opinion it’s better than the original album version, and it’s slightly slower, which makes it easier to hear what he sings.
Week 14: Daft Punk – Harder Better Faster Stronger
There are some tracks that can change your view of a band pretty much in an instant, for me this is exactly what this track did for Daft Punk. In the late 90s and early 00s, Daft Punk were making a name for themselves, and I remember not really getting it. The first time I heard this song was the first time I got it, and I have been ever since.
Week 13: Richard Cheese – Somebody Told Me
I have a certain place in my heart for great covers. I’m always happy to hear a new version of a track, doesn’t matter if it’s better or worse. However, when I hear a cover of something that I like and the new version is of equal or better quality, then I’m filled with joy. Richard Cheese’s version of The Killers’ Somebody Told Me falls in the group of covers that take a song to completely new levels, and as such, I decided it was worth a mention.
Week 12: Electric Light Orchestra – In The Hall Of The Mountain King
I can still remember the first time I heard this track. I was listening to some random CD I found in my brother’s collection, and when I heard this my mind was blown! Electric Light Orchestra’s instrumental interpretation of the classical masterpiece by Edvard Grieg still holds up in my mind as one of the absolute best examples of symphonic rock.
Week 11: Death Cab For Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart
It may have an intro that’s slightly longer than 4 minutes and 30 seconds, but that’s part of the reason why I love this track. There is, of course, a radio edit, but without the full instrumental section I feel this track loses some of its appeal.
Week 10: “Weird Al” Yankovic – Eat It
Today is Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras if you like, and I was sitting here thinking there’d be no better way to celebrate it than by having Eat It by “Weird Al” Yankovic as track of the week. Enjoy!