15 Songs You Never Saw Coming

As I was going through my iTunes, these songs bubbled up for some reason. No real theme here, except that they’re all reasonably old and somewhat obscure (not unlike yours truly).

Billy Bragg - Jeanne

Chris Knox - A Song To Welcome The Onset Of Maturity

The Cramps - Green Door

Link Wray - Five And Ten

Mazzy Star - By My Angel

Bailter Space - Retro

Jack Waterson - I Could Be With You

Grant Hart - 2541

The Auteurs - Everything You Say Will Destroy You

Big Dipper - Ron Klaus Wrecked His House

Les Négresses Vertes - Les Yeux de Ton Père

Brian Eno & John Cale - Been There, Done That

Roxy Music - Over You

The Vaselines - You Think You're A Man

T.Rex - Mambo Sun

The Verlaines

The Verlaines are one of my favorite New Zealand bands from the storied days of the Flying Nun label. Founded and led by classically trained guitarist Graeme Downes, the band is known for their literate vocals and complex song structures—not surprising, given Downes actually attained his PhD between recordings, and has maintained an academic life with regard to his day job.

Here I’ve posted some of my favorite cuts, which spans through much of their material from their first notable single, 1983’s Death and the Maiden, to a track off their forthcoming release Pot Boiler, which was apparently recorded at the end of 2007. Enjoy!

Death and the Maiden

Joed Out

Angela

Take Good Care of It

Bird Dog

All Laid On

Don't Send Me Away

Jesus What A Jerk

Damn Shame

This Train

Hanging By Strands

Gloom Junky

It's Easier To Harden a Broken Heart