The Lucky Thirteen: 2/17/13

I've decided to move the Lucky Thirteen from Monday to Sunday, because starting tomorrow, I begin a new feature called Kickstart Your Workweek. What is that, you ask? Find out tomorrow.

In the meantime, here are thirteen totally awesome songs for you. As you may have noticed, I have moved from Grooveshark to Spotify for my playlists. On one hand, there is the disadvantage of a more limited song selection with Spotify.  What I like, however, is that my understanding is that artists get compensated when their songs are played through the service.  It may not be loads of money, but nevertheless, every penny (or fraction of one) adds up.  I'd encourage any artists who would like their music to be part of the Lucky Thirteen to add their works to the Spotify catalog.

Now, for what you've been waiting for, the music...

1. "Just One More (Monolith)", These Machines Are Winning
   It's safe to say that if Dylan Silvers is involved in a project, it's gonna be good. Whether he's working with other bands (THe Deathray Davies, The Polyphonic Spree) or his own efforts ([DARYL], The Crash That Took Me), I cannot think of a single exception to this rule. His newest project, These Machines Are Winning, maintains the same level of quality I'd expect from Mr. Silvers. This is more of a return to the electronic music he played in [DARYL], though with a more modern indie dance aesthetic. My only complaint: what's up with these freaky masks on the album cover and in the "Fornication" video? Kinda weird and creepy.


2. "Supernatural", Rahim Quazi
   Rahim, you said in 2011 you'd release your follow-up to Supernatural. Then last year, you promised that it would REALLY for sure be released by the end of that year. 2013 is here, and still there is no new album from you. If this album doesn't come out soon, I'm going to start shouting out requests for Boston songs at your shows. You stand forewarned.


3. "Ripper", The Roomsounds
   The Orange will finally release their first full length album, and the CD release show happens Saturday at Curtain Club. Unfortunately, the new music is not yet available on Spotify. So instead, I offer up The Roomsounds, who are sharing the bill with The Orange. Consider this another reason why you need to be at Curtain Club Saturday


4. "Low Wishes", Air Review
   I loved this song when it was first released as a single, and I still love this song, now the title track of their new full-length.


5. "Old News", Hawk vs. Dove
   Combining elements of prog-rock and sludge into a hypnotic yet thundering sonic landscape, Hawk vs. Dove's self titled debut album is nothing less than amazing and captivating. Fans of everyone ranging from True Widow to straight ahead rock need to check this out. Also, for those who like good drumming, Dallas has no finer drummer at this moment than this band's Joe Hardy.


6. "Annul", Parallel Play
   You remember last year that Parallel Play's Jeremy Drake put on a pretty folkin' cool lineup at The Prophet Bar. Expect more good times the Big Folkin' Festival 2, happening Saturday, March 30th.


7. "Four Leaf Clover", Old 97's
   Rhett Miller, why do you hate me so? Last year, you start a tour celebrating the 15th anniversary of Too Far to Care, my favorite album, then put your show up against my 5 year anniversary show at Curtain Club/Liquid Lounge. Now you return with the tour, and put the show on a school night (Thursday at Granada Theater, to be specific). Come on Rhett, help a long time fan out, won't you?


8. "Like Waking Up From the Longest Dream", Dustin Cavazos
   Had to put this on the Lucky 13 again because I'm just digging this song that hard.


9. "Bragging Type", Trey Johnson
   Mr. Johnson has a new project, The Family Piano, and the first single "We're Together" is available on iTunes. I'd love to put "We're Together" on the playlist, as it yet another argument in favor of why Mr. Johnson is arguably this town's best songwriter. Alas, the track is not on Spotify yet, so I leave you with this wonderfully fun track from his solo debut, Mount Pelee.


10. "You Ought to Know", The Phuss
    After years of creating blistering rock anthems, The Phuss have settled down, creating beautifully introspective folk music. Don't worry, fans, I'm just kidding. No, The Phuss rocks as hard as ever. If you doubt that, listen to this track, then see their show Friday at Sundown at Granada. It. Will. Rock. Hard.


11. "You've Got Your Heart", The O's
    New music from The O's is on the horizon! The band will hold their CD release show for album #3 (not sure of the name of the album yet) Friday, August 19th. Telegraph Canyon and I Love Math open the show. Expect this to be a serious, somber event. Again, I'm just kidding; every O's show is a big old party.


12. "Bet You Know", Vinyl Pilot
    Typically, hearing that a band opened for Forever the Sickest Kids is not the strongest endorsement in my book. But after both hearing their songs online and seeing them perform live, I can say that this band knows how to bust out some great rock and roll tracks. They'll perform next Sunday at Prophet Bar, and I suspect they'll have copies of their new EP, Beautiful Disaster, available for purchase. And yes, you'll want to make sure to pick it up before leaving.


13. "Run Run Run", The Chloes
    Simply put, a great song from a great album (Vanish) by a great band. Any questions?

The Lucky Thirteen: 11/8/10

Standard playlist disclaimer: any artists, record labels, etc. who do not wish to be on the playlist for any reason whatsoever, email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and I will gladly remove the track. And if you'd actually like to be on the playlist, you can use the same email address to email me your mp3's. If I like the song, then odds are it'll wind up on a playlist.

1. "A Black Wave Is Comin'", Doug Burr
   I missed out on Mr. Burr's set at the Cystic Fibrosis benefit Saturday night at Granada. Truth is, I can't recall the last time I've seen him play, and that's not a good thing. I also don't have O Ye Devastator, another matter that really needs to change. For what I've sampled, it's killer, and this opening track to the CD sets a beautifully ominous tone.


2. "Calistoga Blues", Les Americains
   I mentioned last week that Les Americains will be holding their CD release show at Double-Wide this Friday. I felt it was worth repeating.


3. "German Chocolate Cake", Bravo, Max!
   


4. "Young & Reckless", The Roomsounds
   


5. "Troubble Is", Here Holy Spain
   Speaking of Double-Wide, Chelsea Callahan (aka "Cha Cha") will celebrate her birthday this year with her "7th Annual Rock & Roll for Charity Gala." As usual, the lineup is stellar, with all three of the aforementioned bands performing Thursday night at Double-Wide. You can also catch Bravo, Max! Saturday at City Tavern, and The Roomsounds will performing that same night at Opening Bell Coffee. As for Here Holy Spain, if you want to catch them, this is your only chance this week.


6. "Quakertown", Darktown Strutters
   The first time I heard this track, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Between the monotone delivery and the minimal retro beats, I was initially on the fence. Still, there was something about this song that had me oddly fascinated, and with further listens I have definitely been won over by Darktown Strutters. By the way, if you're listening at your job, this track is NSFW. Just thought you should know.


7. "Shivonne", Menkena
   As reported Friday, Jimmy Menkena tells me "[the album] is about to hit." I know I'm just repeating myself, but maybe if I say it enough, the album will hurry up and be released. It's not working.


8. "Born & Raised", Trey Johnson
   Sons of Hermann Hall has itself the best lineup the venue has seen in months, with Trey Johnson, Camille Cortinas, and Chris Holt performing Friday night.


9. "Allison", The Burning Hotels
   


10. "Allison", Luna Matto
    What's the likelihood of two great local acts releasing songs named "Allison" within a matter of a few months? It seems rather unlikely, though admittedly a pleasant surprise. Watch, now someone's going to send me a cover of Elvis Costello's "Allison." Just watch, it'll happen.


11. "Come Closer", Shiny Around The Edges
    Now that We Shot JR is no more, I thought I'd put a couple of songs on the playlist as a tribute. The first is from Shiny Around the Edges, a band that the blog put on my radar. And while I must thank WSJ for doing so...


12. "If My Heart Was a Car", Old 97's
    I could have lived without the constant disses of bands that I consider to be the among the finest in the metroplex. Old 97's were cited in their final post as an example of one of the "boring 90's holdovers" that left stonedranger "wondering what, exactly, was wrong with the local music media and why Dallas hadn't caught up with the rest of the world." Like I said, I consider them to be one of Dallas' finest EVER and are underrated pioneers of the 90's alt-country movement, but maybe I'm just not hipster enough to get it.


13. "Will You Be There", Pale Horse
    A reminder to all that this Thursday is Veteran's Day. It's a holiday that frequently goes unnoticed, and to say that's a shame is an understatement. In honor of the day, I leave you with this Pale Horse tune about life after war and the effects it has on the troops.

The Lucky Thirteen: 10/11/10

Standard playlist disclaimer: any artists, record labels, etc. who do not wish to be on the playlist for any reason whatsoever, email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and I will gladly remove the track. And if you'd actually like to be on the playlist, you can use the same email addy to email me mp3's, and if I like the song then odds are it'll wind up on a playlist.

1. "Born and Raised", Trey Johnson
   Any fans of Lissie out there? If you're going to her show tonight at Granada, get there in time to catch Mr. Johnson. Dallas has few singer-songwriters that are at the same level as Trey.


2. "Allison", The Burning Hotels
   Photographer Thom Jackson shot a music video, except the video was without music. He needed someone to write a song for the video, so he asked Burning Hotels to do just that. One might think that with such short notice, the song would be rather disposable. It turns out that the opposite happened: "Allison" is easily the strongest song the band has done. I may be a little biased because of my love of 80's new wave. The song has a similar groove to Flock of Seagulls' "Wishing", except with a darker feel to it. BH, you might want to start adding synthesizers on a regular basis. Think about it.


3. "The Saint's Id", Hi-Fi Drowning
   I was pleasantly surprised by the positive reaction of last week's flashback Lucky Thirteen. Here's another great song from that period that there just wasn't room for.


4. "Unicorn $", Clay Pendergrass
   fans of mr. pendergrass, take note: clay and his myriad of musical incarnations will be invading good records this thursday. it's a celebration of e.e. cummings' birthday. i'm celebrating his birthday early by giving the caps button a rest.


5. "My Bangs", The Loosies
   I saw The Loosies about a year ago, and I felt the band had potential that had not been fully realized on their first effort, I Love the Loosies. Their newer material is just polished enough to allow the songs to shine without losing any of their sloppy riot grrl sound. And when I say sloppy, I mean that in the best way possible. Check them out Saturday at 2826 Arnetic for their CD release show.


6. "Young & Reckless", The Roomsounds
   The band has some really cool new tunes on their MySpace page. I'd add one of the new songs instead, but no band members have sent me the mp3's. Guys, the email above is there for a reason. Check them out live in Denton this Saturday at Hailey's, along with Gypsy Bravado, The Red 100's, and Luke Wade & No Civilians.


7. "Duelist", True Widow
   Yet another show alert: TW plays this Friday at Double-Wide. Their shows are pretty unbelievable.


8. "Wish", Ronnie Fauss
   My first show of 2010 was the two year anniversary show for Bonafide Darling. Mr. Fauss opened the show, and I heard this track for the first time. In spite of the dark and bitter lyrics (or perhaps because of it), I instantly liked the song and awaited its release. The wait is over: Ronnie Fauss' new EP, Mulligan is out. He's celebrating the release of his CD this Friday at White Rock Coffee, along with GOBL favorite Nicholas Altobelli. Speaking of White Rock Coffee, Mr. Fauss is now taking over booking there. It's a charming place, so let's hope Mr. Fauss can put it on the musical map.


9. "You're No Good", Pale Horse
   Pale Horse has a Bandcamp page featuring their debut EP, Future Dimensions. The price? That's up to you. Pay what you can afford to pay. I'd encourage you to at least donate a couple of bucks before downloading. But please, do download and get to know the songs. You're going to want to know their songs for the next time you see them play. They have several shows coming up, one of which just might be put on by yours truly. Stay tuned for details...


10. "Crutch", Hannah Wilshire
    I stumbled upon this artist while wandering thru MySpace, and thought I'd share her music with you, my readers.


11. "Secular Trends", Grassfight
    Last year, Grassfight was the opening act for one of my showcases at Lakewood Bar & Grill. They're the opening act for another upcoming show, but this one's a little bit higher profile of a show. The band opens for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at Trees (not Lizard Lounge) on October 24th. For those who had tickets to the BRMC show at Lizard Lounge, they'll be honored at Trees.


12. "Aim High", Chris Holt
    If you were at Mr. Holt's CD release show, you know what an amazing show it was. If you weren't, well I guess it sucks to be you.


13. "Walls", The Rocket Summer
    Although I've had difficulty getting into a lot of Bryce Avery's newer stuff, this tune still packs a major emotional punch for me.

The Lucky Thirteen: 8/30/10 (And a Day Late)

Standard disclaimer: any artists, record labels, etc. who do not wish to be on the playlist for any reason whatsoever, email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and I will gladly remove the track. And if you'd actually like to be on the playlist, you can use the same email addy to email me mp3's, and if I like the song then odds are it'll wind up on a playlist. Also, if you just want to upload your songs to Grooveshark, that works too.

1. "City of Hate", Toadies
   On the Weekend Plans post Friday, there was one minor show I left out. Some band called Toadies playing out in New Braunsfel. Hey, it's an easy show to overlook... NOT! My bad.


2. "A Long Time", Trey Johnson
   Tuesday: new Trey Johnson (Where the East Ends) out on iTunes and in stores. I promise I'll share some more tracks off the album, but I've just been enjoying this track too much not to share it again.


3. "Accomplice", Nervous Curtains
   The folks at Gutterth are sponsoring Free Week at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio. There will be free shows all week there; you can go to the Rubber Gloves website for more info. My personal favorite pick? Nervous Curtains on Friday night. I thought "All Yesterday's Parties" was a nice enough song and all, but "Accomplice" is getting under my skin a lot deeper. For those keeping score, that's a good thing.


4. "Katie", Ray Johnston Band
   It would be easy for me to be skeptical of Ray Johnston. Athletes as musicians usually sound as good as actors trying to be musicians. Ray Johnston is the exception to that rule. He might get extra publicity for playing with the Mavericks, but the music stands firmly on its merits.


5. "Her First Party", The Deathray Davies
   DRD is supposed to have finished an album, but no telling when it will be released. The fact that DRD mastermind John Dufilho is touring with Apples in Stereo this fall suggests we'll have to wait longer.


6. "I'm Immune", Chris Holt
   I have to confess I'm only halfway thru Mr. Holt's new album, A Cosmic Joke. Still, if the second half is as good as the first half, this album could be Holt's piece de resistance.


7. "Will You Be There", Pale Horse
   Warning, BAcksliders, Warning!!! Pale Horse is trying to steal the title of "Best Live Band in Dallas" from you! They haven't done it yet, but they're working on it. Don't let this mellow, introspective song fool you: their lives shows rock with an intensity shared only by the best in town.


8. "Emulate", Spector 45
   Sometimes it takes several viewings of a band to finally "get" them. Although I've always thought Spector 45 was good, their EP release at LaGrange was what turned me from a casual fan to fully understanding the talent that Frankie 45 and the gang possess. I see many more Spector 45 shows in my future.


9. "Unicorn $", Clay Pendergrass
   As promised last week, here's a new tune from Mr. Pendergrass.


10. "Devil's Nest", Lalagray
    Ashley Myrick (aka Lalagray) will release her debut album, sharing a name with the above song. Also on the bill is my favorite Austin singer-songwriter, David Ramirez. I hear he used to live in Dallas. Does that qualify him as a "local artist"? Let the debate begin.


11. "Virtue and Vice", The Virgin Wolves
    Do you hate music that really rocks? If so, then do not, I repeat, DO NOT listen to this song and stick with your Michael Bolton. For the rest of you, I offer this song up to again because, well, it rocks.


12. "Pusherman", Nemesis
    While scrolling Facebook statuses, I found the video for this song posted by Pikahsso (PPT, AwkQuaruis). I had heard of Nemesis, not even being aware of the fact that they were from Dallas. The beat is admittedly repetitive, yet that works in the songs favor, as it hypnotizes the listener as opposed to boring the listener. Thanks, Pikahsso.


13. "Star Girl", Katie Carroll
    This beautiful final track from Ms. Carroll's debut album seemed the perfect way to wrap up this playlist.

The Lucky Thirteen: 8/16/10 + Bonus Video

(Standard disclaimer: any artists, record labels, etc. who do not wish to be on the playlist for any reason whatsoever, email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and I will gladly remove the track. And if you'd actually like to be on the playlist, you can use the same email addy to email me mp3's, and if I like the song then odds are it'll wind up on a playlist.)

1. "Punchline Afternoon", Charming Gardeners
   Authors often obsess over the first sentence of a novel, knowing how it establishes the tone of the story. Musicians likewise have to create an opening hook to a song that will be memorable to the listener. "Punchline Afternoon" has a killer intro that sets the tone for this powerhouse of a power-pop song. My hats off to Marc Solomon, Amy Curnow, and the rest of the band.


2. "The Longest Winter's Gone", The Crash That Took Me
   The band plays an all too rare show this Friday at Granada Theater, playing with Speak and Radiant.


3. ""In Reach of Fame", R. Jason Bonner
   You've probably heard that Jason is no longer with THe BAcksliders, opting to focus on his solo career. The man is responsible for writing many of the band's song, such as this track. After seeing him at Lakewood Bar & Grill, it is apparent that he has plenty of good songs in him.


4. "New Dress", The Orbans
   I've said before that this band was on the verge of hitting it big. I'm obviously not their only fan, as their album When We Were Wild is at #74 on the College Music Charts. A forewarning to my readers: expect to see lots of Orbans songs on upcoming playlists.


5. "City of Hate", Toadies
   Kirtland Records has finally released Feeler, the album that was originally supposed to be the follow up to Rubberneck. Here's my question: is it fair to call this a "new Toadies" song?


6. "Harder Than It's Ever Been", Fergus & Geronimo
   Let me make this clear: I have no objection to the music of Fergus & Geronimo. This is catchy indie rock with a slight hint of 60's pop in the songs. I also think that Fergus & Geronimo are as much Funk/R&B as Cake are Rap/Hip-Hop. I do not feel Dallas Observer should have nominated the band in that category, much less let them take home the award. I know it's late to chime in on this, but it's been weighing on me. I feel better now, having gotten that off my chest.


7. "Long Live the Live Long Day", Western Giants
   The band sent me their EP of the same name earlier this year, and while I liked it at the time, it never got the full attention from me that it deserved. After having come up several times on iTunes shuffle, I'm finding that their dreamy alt-country style is really growing on me. Fans of Pleasant Grove and Elkhart will probably really dig this.


8. "A Long Time", Trey Johnson
   I'm not ready to render a final verdict on Mr. Johnson's new album, Where the East Ends, but I will dare say that this track is one of the catchiest songs Trey has ever written. Nice work.


9. "Romance Tried to Kill Me", Cocky Americans
   Cocky Americans are now being represented by Manhandler Booking. In case you're not familiar with Manhandler, it's run by Chelsea Callahan. I wish Ms. Callahan and all her bands much success.


10. "Where the Light Is", Emmeline


11. "Paper Girl", Katie Carroll


12. "Supernatural", Rahim Quazi
    Major announcement: "The Ghost" is turning 25 next week. Really, I am turning 25. Just like last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, and so on. Here's the point. I'm celebrating my birthday this Saturday at Opening Bell Coffee with the three aforementioned artists, as well as two out of town acts (Peter Janson and Corrine Chapman). The show starts at 6:00 with Emmeline, and cover is only $5. Don't miss this!


13. "Autumn Leaves", Danny Balis
    Since Opening Bell Coffee closes at midnight, don't be surprised if I drop by Adair's to check out Danny and the rest of the King Bucks. Oh yes, there will be fun.

As you may have heard already, Ace McNeeley passed away last Monday. My condolences and sympathies go out to his family and friends. In tribute, I offer this video of Ace's band, Grant Jones & The Pistol Grip Lassos. I think the song title sums everything up perfectly.

The Lucky Thirteen: 3/21/10 -3/27/10

1. "Just Wanna Try", Luna Matto
   This is a status update posted from my personal Facebook account: "I've just received several mastered mp3's from Luna Matto and they are freakin' amazing. Opening my email was like Christmas morning!" Not only are the songs wonderful (as I would have expected), but Jimi Bowman's production job leaves no room for complaints or even suggestions. Expect to see lots of Luna's music on my playlists for the next few weeks. Actually, expect to see lots of her music throughout the year.


2. "Will You Be There", Pale Horse
   Pale Horse is keeping their calendar full, but keep an eye out for a really special show in the near future. I'll tell you more as the date come closer.


3. "Nothing Ever Goes Right", Salim Nourallah
   Oak Cliff has slowly been transforming itself into a cool bohemian type neighborhood. Jeffrey Liles' opening of the Kessler Theater will no doubt make the area even more interesting. He has several good shows planned there, including this Friday's show featuring Nicholas Altobelli, Rahim Quazi, Chris Holt, and Mr. Nourallah.


4. "Honky Tonk Angels (Don't Happen Overnight)", Eleven Hundred Springs
   So, you live in Plano and are frustrated because you have to drive to Downtown Dallas to hear good bands live? Saturday will be a nice reprieve for you then, as Eleven Hundred Springs takes the stage at Love & War.


5. "Bragging Type", Trey Johnson
   Ever since I saw Mr. Johnson perform at Poor David's Pub the previous weekend, Mount Pelee is in heavy rotation again. This track in particular has been going through my head a lot lately. There are worse things than that.


6. "Undercover", Bridges & Blinking Lights
   I'm going to make a confession here. It's taken me a long time to get B&BL. Even the first few times I heard this track, I thought it was good but not great. Fortunately, KXT and Mark from The Local Edge have insisted on playing it repeatedly, and with each listen I grew more fond of the song. Mission accomplished: I get it now.


7. "Woman/Free", Calhoun
   Last May, Calhoun played a show at Aardvark that they said would be their last for awhile. That usually translates to "final show" and "breakup of the band". Imagine how surprised I was then to discover that the band is recording new material and planning for a new album to be released this summer. The band also posted three free downloads on their bandcamp site of tracks that will not be on the album. If these are the tracks that didn't make the cut, this bodes very well for the quality of their next release.


8. "Pretty Boys", Sara Radle
   Tonight Ms. Radle returns to Dallas with her new band, Walking Sleep. They will play at Barley House along with Happy Bullets.


9. "Knock on a Nail", Mildred
   This is one of my favorite local tracks from the early 90's, also featured on Tales from the Edge Volume 2.


10. "Sandman", Bonedome
    Speaking of the Tales from the Edge series, I previously said that George Gimarc would have put this track on one of the CDs in a heartbeat. While it's unfair of me to put words in Mr. Gimarc's mouth, the song definitely captures the early 90's alternative rock sound extremely well, and would have fit so comfortably along side such classic local bands as The Spin, Pop Poppins, Moon Festival, Bat Mastersons, and so forth. Bonedome will undoubtedly perform this song Friday night at LaGrange for the CD release show of Thinktankubator.


11. "We Will All Be Changed", Seryn
    Plano isn't the only suburb getting a local music treat. At the Flower Mound Toms shoe store, Seryn will be performing Saturday afternoon, along with possibly my favorite Austin musician, Jaimee Harris. Oso Closo was on the bill, and I'm not sure if Oso Closo offshoot Foe Destroyer will take their place or what will happen. All I know is that you have the opportunity to buy new shoes, hear good music, and help those in need all at the same time. By the way, if you don't know the story behind Toms, click on the link above.


12. "Party Like You Mean It", Damaged Good$
    I enjoyed this song from last week's playlist so much that I decided to keep the party going strong.


13. "Truth on Tape", Smile Smile
    Sometimes you play a song several times before really hearing it. This past week I finally heard "Truth on Tape" for the first time, and it is an amazing song that perfectly balances heartbreak with great soaring catchy melodies. This is easily the best song the band has recorded to date, and the rest of the album is very good as well.