FM Mutations #7: New Year Songs

Set 1 (Look back at the best songs from the best albums of 2015, with a few bonus tracks)

Pedestrian at Best by Courtney Barnett (check out the musical affinity between Courtney Barnett and Wreckless Eric—see below)

Holy Holy- Spiders Version by David Bowie

Lazarus by David Bowie (new release 1/8)

Desolation Row, Take 2 Piano Demo by Bob Dylan

When I Was a Boy by Jeff Lynne’s ELO (memoir in 20 words: “I don’t want a job ‘cause it drives me crazy, I just want to sing “do ya love me, baby?”)

Cheshire Hotel by Mary Halvorson (Noel Akchote cover)

(I Thought) You Wanted to Know by Chris Stamey and the dBs

Wind Up by Shopping

The Application by Sonny and the Sunsets

Roulette by Bruce Springsteen (Springsteen's most "punk" song? -He wrote "Hungry Heart" for the Ramones. This outtake from The River sessions first emerged in 1988 as the B side to "One Step Up.")

Free Money by Patti Smith (played A/B with Roulette. Is Smith the link between Springsteen and punk? Flo & Eddie as another link from Springsteen to the Ramones as they also did backing vocals on Mondo Bizarro)

EKG by Wilco

The Joke Explained by Wilco

Honorable Mentions: Wreckless Eric’s AmERICa (November release, the best love letter to America since the Clash’s Sandinista!, listen to alongside Courtney Barnett for strong musical affinity), Paulo Angeli S’U, Gary Clark, Jr. The Story of Sonny Boy Slim, The Velvet Underground’s Complete Matrix Tapes box set (note new arrangement of Sweet Jane, later popularized by the Cowboy Junkies), and How Sad, How Lonely—a reissue from Squirrel Things/Captured Tracks of the fantastic Connie Converse…

Transition: End of the Season by the Kinks

Set 2

Kings of the Wild Frontier by Adam & the Ants (Burundi beat!)

We Had Love by Scientists

Books About UFOs by Husker Du

Good Enough by Mudhoney

Thank You for Sending Me an Angel by Talking Heads

Sometimes I Don’t Know What to Feel by Todd Rundgren

Paul Simon by Golden Grrrls

Starry Eyes by Veronica Falls

Lullaby by Emitt Rhodes

Fallin’ Rain by Link Wray

 Eve of Destruction by Bishop Allen (spin on Barry McGuire)

I Could Be Happy by Altered Images

Ether by Gang of Four

Better Be Good by the Real Kids (recently reformed, played at the Bowery)

 Geraldine by the A-Bones

Get Over You by the Undertones

September Gurls by Alex Chilton (Live at the Ocean Club ‘77)

 Girls by the Beastie Boys

Girls Love Shoes by Benji Hughes (Songs in the Key of Animals) releasing 1/29

Set 3

Bow Down and Die by the Almighty Defenders (supergroup consisting of the Black Keys and The King Kong & BBQ Show)

Peace and Quiet by Waxahatchee

Heat of the Moment by Clem Snide (Asia cover)

Watch the Moon Come Down by Graham Parker & the Rumour

Wild in the Streets by Garland Jeffreys

 Radio King by Golden Smog (supergroup consisting of members of Soul Asylum, Wilco, The Replacements, the Jayhawks, Big Star, and others)

The Unguarded Moment by the Church

Good Time by Donnie & Joe Emerson

Can’t Get Used to Losing You by the Beat (cover of Jerome “Doc” Pomus and Mort Shuman, popularized by Andy Williams)

Cut From the Cloth by the Evens

Sprinter by Torres

Love Love Love Love Love by the Violent Femmes (surprise 2015 Record Store Day offering)

 (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding by Elvis Costello & the Imposters (Live from 2012’s The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook)

Talkin’ Like You (Two Tall Mountains) by Connie Converse

Closing-Live by Les Paul & Mary Ford