In high school, I played every new album over and over. By day 3 I’d have the lyrics, credits, and run-out groove etching memorized. I stopped just short of chewing on the vinyl to see how it tasted. So this is almost a random pick, but I thought the Buzzcocks could use some love. (Btw, [...]

I could cite just about any track from Mettle. Mimi Goese makes sounds that most human throats are not capable of… B-side: similarly, this perfectly controlled yet flowing vocal displays a skill that is completely unavailable to me, and so I stand in awe. Even the ad-libby line “Here we go again” is powerful.

Sorry for all the ’70s/’80s nostalgia, but this is a perfect pop song–each section is a hook unto itself: B-side: I couldn’t find this one on YouTube, so I made my own vid. Just ignore the video and listen to the (somewhat truncated) song, whose chord changes–in the chorus–never fail to fill me with joy:

The Carino household had a Mills Brothers album that got played a lot. This was one of its highlights. (And, hey–like “Up the Junction” another good “story” song without a real chorus).

Summer, 1981. Elvis C. & Squeeze’s “English Mugs” tour, Capitol Theater in Passaic, NJ. Squeeze focused on songs from Argy Bargy, but they also did a lovely version of this. (This video is great–note the instrument switcheroo.)

In the shower. Outside the shower. Walking down the street. Alone in an elevator. Not alone in an elevator (no, you’re weird, Mister Elevator Man). As Carmine Raguso had “Rags to Riches,” I have “Dark Globe.” Here’s R.E.M.’s attempted cover:

I vaguely recall my parents throwing a few parties way back when, but music wasn’t a part of the festivities. So I’ll post this song, which my mom loved because it was partly in language of her people (“Moja droga, ja cię kocham…”) B-side: another song I associate with my mother. One of the more [...]

Vicki Lawrence, “Your Lies” It’s been years since I’ve made one, but I used to enjoy dropping this into the middle of mix tapes, uncredited. Once the identity of the singer was discovered, it inspired a reevaluation of her many artistic facets. B-side: this made the rounds back in the day as well. A familiar [...]

Day 5. A song you hear when you’re shopping. Iron & Wine, “Tree By The River” I dunno what kinda deal Sam Beam has made with the devil, but over the last six months or so, I’ve heard this song in a few different stores… in a movie theater… I think I heard the voice [...]

Day 3. (A song from your favorite movie.) Joan Jett covering Bruce Springsteen. Ladies and gentlemen, the Barbusters… #1 (Intro/Favorite Cover Version) #2 (Favorite Love Song) Singer-songwriter and American Songwriter contributor Paula Carino lives in Brooklyn, NY. Her latest album, Open On Sunday, is available at paulacarino.com.

Singer-songwriter and American Songwriter contributor Paula Carino lives in Brooklyn, NY. Her latest album, Open On Sunday, is available at paulacarino.com. Now at over a million members, the Facebook 30-Day Song Challenge community page has incited music geeks of all stripes to make torturous daily decisions about favorites–e.g. “a song from a band you hate…a [...]