Sunday Random 10

It's Sunday again! Hey, did we mention that we're in the paper this morning?

Well, let's see what surprises the little green Nano has in store for us today. Ready?

Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

Kristina Train - I Can't But Help
The Suburbs - Rattle My Bones
Dan Zanes and Friends - Gary, Indiana/The Wells Fargo Wagon
Shawn Colvin - I'm Gone
Muddy Waters - She's Nineteen Years Old
U2 - FEZ-Being Born
Miles Davis - All Blues
The Coasters - Smokey Joe's Cafe
Allen Toussaint - Solitude
Professor Longhair - Mardi Gras in New Orleans

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question, already in progress.

Sunday Papers

Hey! We're in the Sunday paper!

Hot, Hot, Hot

We interrupt This Week's Discussion Question to point you--once again--to Fred Clark's blazing work at Slacktivist.

Boy, oh boy, Fred OWNS the internets these days.

Go. Read. Now.

Discuss.

Sunday Random 10

Been a busy day at TWDQ HQ, so we had to wait until tonight to see what the little green Nano would shake out. Ready? Let's...Hit...Shuffle!:

Son Volt - Roll On
The Rascals - See
Wilco - Muzzle of Bees (live)
Wilco - Misunderstood
Johnny Cash - I Walk the Line
Gear Daddies - Get It Right Someday
The Beatles - Rocky Raccoon
Dusty Springfield - So Much Love
The Decemberists - A Bower Scene
XTC - That Wave

We'll have more in a few days on a couple of great shows that book-ended last week, as well as some more pointers to our favorite blogger, who is currently owning the internets, so stay tuned.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question, already in progress.

Sunday Random 10

It's Sunday again, so Let's...Hit...Shuffle!:

The Who - Call Me Lightning
Kirsty MacColl - Caroline
Allen Toussaint - Blue Drag
Tinted Windows - Back with You
Gary U.S. Bonds - Not Me
Muddy Waters - (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
Gear Daddies - No One's Home
Over the Rhine - Here it Is
Joe Henry - Monkey
The Beatles - If I Fell

Hope you've all adjusted your clocks accordingly and will enjoy the later sunset this evening. We're off to a darkened jazz club to see the artist responsible for the penultimate tune and the production on the third track.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question, already in progress.

Monday Morning Rock (Belated Sunday Random 10)

Didn't get around to shuffling the little green Nano yesterday, so here's the mix from Monday morning. Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

Van Morrison - Domino
Joe Henry - Prelude: Light No Lamp When the Sun Comes Down
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Jonathan Rundman - Continental Divide
Joe Henry - Lighthouse
Bob Dylan & The Rolling Thunder Revue - Hurricane
Aaron Neville - Waiting at the Station
Tom Waits - What's He Building?
Brendan Benson - Feel Like Taking You Home
Alice Cooper - School's Out

The little green Nano must know we're going to see Mr. Henry next Sunday evening at a cozy little jazz club. The list also features no fewer than three tracks from the annual faves compilations we've been assembling since 2003.

Mr. Waits' spoken-word track is also a long-time favorite from which some of the TWDQ HQ crew regularly recite lines: "He has no friends, but he gets a lot of mail. I'll bet he spent a little time in jail," or "I'll tell you one thing, he's not building a playhouse for the children," or just "What the hell is he building in there?" (Naturally, one needs to recite these in his/her best Tom Waits growl.)

And last, but not least, the final cut prompts This Week's Discussion Question:

Is there any verse more rock 'n roll than this?:

Well, we got no class
And we got no principles
And we got no innocence
We can't even think up a word that rhymes

Please keep the discussion civil and do not wander off into "Grease is the time, is the place, is the motion; Grease is the way we are feeling," or "Well, since she put me down there's been owls pukin' in my bed..."

Discuss.

I'm Talking to You...

We're pleased to introduce "I'm Talking to You,"* a new feature on This Week's Discussion Question that will consist of open letters to whomever we feel like addressing open letters.

Chuck Todd, I'm talking to you:

While watching the 2010 Olympic Games coverage, we saw the spots for your new show, The Daily Rundown, where you gush about how much you love politics. "I wish every day was Election Day," you say.

Well, every day isn't election day, Chuck. The rest of them are governance days, which are important not for how they impact an elected official's chances of getting re-elected two or four or six years down the road, they're important for how they impact people's everyday lives.

If you want to cover horse racing, apply for a transfer to NBC Sports and knock yourself out every damn day.

(While Googling around for Chuck's line in the commercial, we learned that we're thinking like the pros.)

Sports networks, I'm talking to you:

We're not waiting four more years for our two-week fix. Cut a bunch of your poker programming and give us curling!

John Yoo, I'm talking to you:

If we'd just been given a pass on professional misconduct for our part in writing memos that authorized torture, we'd be keeping such a low profile that we'd be looking up at Dick Cheney's final approval rating. But hey, if you want to keep flapping your yap until somebody finally gets fed up and indicts your arse, be our guest.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question, already in progress.

* We regret that we were unable to find a YouTube clip of Mary Lou Lord performing the title song.

Sunday Random 10

Had shuffle going while painting one of the bathrooms at TWDQ HQ yesterday, so here's a belated posting of yesterday's Random 10.

Let's...hit...shuffle!

Brendan Benson - Garbage Day
Dan Zanes - The Railroad Cars Are Coming
Dusty Springfield - Goodbye
The Beatles - All Together Now
Fountains of Wayne - Peace and Love
The Kinks - Dedicated Follower of Fashion
Uncle Tupelo - Anodyne
Wilco - Far, Far Away
Vince Guaraldi - Star Song
Wilco - Heavy Metal Drummer

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question, already in progress.

Sunday Random 10

We interrupt This Week's Discussion Question for a special "Twins' Pitchers and Catchers Reporting Day" edition of Sunday Random 10, so Let's...Hit...Shuffle!!!

The New Standards - September Song
The New Standards - London Calling
Rickie Lee Jones - It Hurts
Lucy Wainwright Roche - Chicago
XTC - Books Are Burning
Dusty Springfield - Live Here with You
Fountains of Wayne - Strapped for Cash
Van Morrison - Wild Night
The Beatles - From Me to You
Muddy Waters - Don't Go No Farther

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question, already in progress.

You Talk Too Much

Caught a bit of the former Vice President on ABC's This Week with Some Reporter this morning and it prompted This Week's Discussion Question:

How many times can you publically confess to war crimes before you get formally charged with them?

Please keep the discussion civil and do not wander off into "No, we don't miss you either, Dick."

Discuss.

Sunday Random 10

It's Sunday! Let's...Hit...Shuffle!!!

Al Green - You Ought to Be with Me
Los Lobos - Wicked Rain (Live)
Elvis Costello - Alison
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife 3
U2 - Zoo Station
The Clash - Train in Vain
Interference - Gold
The Hold Steady - Don't Let Me Explode
Tom Waits - That Feel
The Beatles - Sea of Holes

Ooh! Couldn't have been a more appropriate opener than the Reverend Green! Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!

Miss You

You never know where This Week's Discussion Question will pop up so you have to keep your eyes open.

A couple of questions arose over the weekend, one in a Nashville hotel ballroom and one along an interstate highway not far from TWDQ HQ, so as Mr. Cub would say, "Let's play two!"

How's that Hopey, Changey stuff workin' out?

and

Miss me yet?

Please keep the discussion civil and please, do not read from the crib notes scrawled on your palm.

The correct answers, however, are "One helluva lot better than it would have if you'd been elected," and "Considering Princess Dumbass of the North Woods, we miss you only in the same way that you made us unexpectedly nostalgic for Dick Nixon," respectively.

Discuss.

O Say, Can You See Who Are You?

The championship of American football was decided this evening, raising several opportunities for discussion.

And now, Bridgestone Tires presents the Doritos/Bud Light/E*Trade Super Bowl Edition This Week's Discussion Questions:

Why isn't "America the Beautiful" the National Anthem?

Could we please give the old rockers a rest?

Did CBS push to have The Who because all 42 CSI shows use a Who tune in their opening credits?

Is Dave Letterman a genius or what?

and

WHO DAT?

Please keep the discussion civil and feel free to wander off into "Ms. Underwood sure has guts to sing that lame anthem after what the Queen did," or "To their credit, after a rusty "Pinball Wizard", Pete and Roger tightened it up nicely," or "Football season's over!!!"

Discuss.

Sunday Random 10

It's Sunday, so Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

The Wild Tchoupitoulas - Here Dey Come
Wilco - Should've Been in Love
Golden Smog - Red Headed Stepchild
Crowded House - In the Lowlands
Ritchie Valens - We Belong Together
Fountains of Wayne - Tell Me What You Already Did
Elvis Costello and The Attractions - Radio Radio
Wilco - I Got You (At the End of the Century)
Vigilantes of Love - Blister Soul (Reprise)
Levon Helm - When I Go Away

We wondered if the first track out of the chute was a sign that Mardi Gras was going to come early this year.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question, already in progress.

Sunday Random 10

Sorry this is late, just got back from a baseball banquet where Danny Gladden was telling some pretty good stories.

Let's...play...shuffle!

Fountains of Wayne - Hackensack
Fountains of Wayne - The Girl I Can't Forget
Old 97's - Friends Forever (Live)
The Beatles - Come Together (Anthology 3 version)
Allen Toussaint - Bright Mississippi
Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs - Care of Cell #44
Jonathan Rundman - Daylight Saving(s) Time
Wilco - You Never Know
Jonathan Rundman - Armyman
The Saw Doctors - I Useta Lover

Nice mix, including two songs from this year's edition of our annual faves compilation (Toussaint & Wilco), plus one from an earlier faves compilation (the second Fountains entry).

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question, already in progress.

Hot Stuff

We interrupt This Week's Discussion Question to say that Fred Clark has been on fire lately. And the footnote in this one is excellent, too.

Go forth and bookmark.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question, already in progress.

Sunday Random 10

It's Sunday and time once again to find out what surprises the little green Nano holds for this week. Ready? Let's...hit...shuffle!

The Wonders - That Thing You Do! (Live)
Neil Finn & Friends (Eddie Vedder, vocal) - Stuff and Nonsense
Talking Heads - Memories Can't Wait
U2 - Peace on Earth
Fountains of Wayne - Baby I've Changed
The Chantrellenes - Hold My Hand, Hold My Heart
Stevie Wonder - Jesus Children of America
U2 - Stand Up Comedy
Elvis Costello - New Amsterdam
Rickie Lee Jones - Road to Emmaus

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question, already in progress.

Sunday Random 10

It's Sunday again! We don't have a question again! (Well, we've got one but not enough time to write it up.)

Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

The Beatles - This Boy
Nick Lowe - Man That I've Become
The Beatles - Roll Over Beethoven
The Beatles - What Goes On
Dusty Springfield - Stay Awhile
Girlyman - Joyful Sign
The Cure - Friday I'm in Love
The Rascals - I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore
Gear Daddies - Party Stomp
The Rascals - Love is a Beautiful Thing

3404 songs and we get three tunes from the Liverpool lads and a couple from Felix and the boys, but we aren't complaining.

Hey, number 11 just popped up the live version on Shawn Colvin's "Sunny Came Home", so here's a This Week's Discussion Question for ya:

Why wasn't "Get Out of This House" a monster hit?

Please keep the discussion civil and do not wander off into "Couldn't people just buy Shawn Colvin records and we could forget about finding another American Idol?"

Discuss.

Sunday Random 10

It's Sunday! Let's...hit...shuffle!!!

Todd Rundgren - You Cried Wolf
Crowded House - Private Universe
Stevie Wonder - Jesus Children of America
Rhett Miller - Haphazardly
Patty Griffin - Go Now
Wilco - Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway (Again)
Marshall Crenshaw - Little Wild One (No. 5)
Dusty Springfield - Just a Little Lovin'
Jonathan Rundman - Sick of Eric Blues
Mark Mallman - The Fool on the Hill

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question, already in progress.

That Toddlin' Town - 08 & 09-01-10

When in Rome, or Chicago...

08-01-10
1. Interstate highways between Columbia Heights and Chicago were way, way, WAY clearer than anticipated. Major props to DOT workers in all three states.
2. Pretzel buns on the burgers at Charlie's Ale House on Clark.
3. Discussing atonement theology on the El.
4. Finding Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren on vinyl at the Reckless Records outpost in the Loop! Also, EW&F on vinyl and Ivy, Kristina Train, XTC, and Beatles Anthologies 2 & 3 on CD.
5. A subdued hootenanny at Casa Oscar Romero.

09-01-10
1. Ann Sather cinnamon rolls.
2. Ann Sather cinnamon rolls.
3. Ann Sather cinnamon rolls.
4. Ann Sather cinnamon rolls.
5. Ann Sather cinnamon rolls.

Oops...

1. Ann Sather cinnamon rolls.
2. Leftover breakfast bruschetta at a beautiful rest stop near the Dells. (Complimented one of the workers on how great it'll look when it's done.)
3. See "Interstate Highways, Clear", above.
4. Turned off the Wild/Blackhawks tilt in disgust when the Hawks were up 4-1 and appeared to be simply toying with the locals. Later, down in the young man's place, he flipped the game on as the foghorn went off to signal the tying goal with about a minute and a half left in regulation. Watched the Wild steal a win in an eight round shootout.
5. Bed & pajamas.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question, already in progress.