Dead Flowers – Fay Wray

Oh Dear Me! – Shakey Bones

My Boyfriend’s Back – The Angels

One Click – The Max Levine Ensemble

I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night – Brenna Sahatjian

Anna Is a Stool Pigeon – Tom Gabel (Heart Burns sucks pretty bad but I actually like this song. I remember reading about this when it happened.)

Born & Raised – Fake Problems

Playing Politics – Fifth Hour Hero (I have never heard Discount, so I’m not sure if they do, in fact, sound similar. And I think it’s kind of weird that Allison from Discount is now like this hipster goddess. Like, she used to be this adorable kinda crusty girl from G-Ville & now she’s kicking it with Kate Moss.)

Nomad’s Revolt – Mischief Brew

Matching Overalls – Matty Pop Chart (I think we’ve already been over how I want to be BFFs with Matty. I want to put him in my pocket & carry him around with me.)

I Live in Hell – Dear Landlord

Kiss the Bottle – Lucero (Probably one of my favorite covers ever. They make this sound like a Lucero song, not like they’re just aping Jawbreaker.)

Pants – Lemuria

The Bangers Embrace – Propagandhi (A bit of humor from super-political Canadians.)

Call to the Comptroller’s Office – Bridge & Tunnel

New England – Billy Bragg

High School Stalker – Hello Saferide

We Are the Few – Streetlight Manifesto

Photo by Max Varkudal

Remember a couple posts ago, when I was talking about songs that make me cry? Remember “Pints of Guinness Make You Strong” by Against Me!?

I punched a dude in the kidneys to this song. It wasn’t a random act of violence–I was at an Against Me! show in Seattle back in October. Ever since the release of their latest album, New Wave, their fan base has grown exponentially and unfortunately it includes more than a few jerks. I had been shoved by hulking Cro-Magnons to the back of the pit and was separated from my friends, not to mention surrounded by huge jocky guys and their girlfriends, who more resembled child prostitutes than kids at a show. So I had to fight my way back to the front, elbows out and teeth gritted. After the show, Stephie said, “I hope some people piss blood tomorrow.”

I have this friend. Against Me! is her favorite band. When she was still at Evergreen, we’d sit around and sing along to our favorite songs. She’d pull out her guitar and begin to strum the familiar chord progression. I can never remember the words to songs, but “Pints of Guinness Make You Strong” is one of the few I know all the words to. So it became my song. The one I always had to sing in my cracking, off-key voice.

And of course, there’s the emotional response. I’m often accused of being an emotional void. This is totally true, unfortunately. But this song manages to melt my cold, cold heart and I usually end up choking back tears because it’s so sad–”I swear to God that I’ll love you forever, Evelyn / I’m not coming home tonight”. It gets me every single time.

Untitled
By Mr. Byrnes
January 2009
The American in Me – The Avengers
We Are the One – The Avengers
Paint it Black – The Avengers
Alone Again – Love
Seven and Seven Is – Love
Fuck and Run – Liz Phair
What a Wonderful World – Joey Ramone
Seven and Seven Is – The Ramones
I Don’t Want to Grow Up – The Ramones
Pet Semetary – The Ramones
Day of Wine and Roses – The Dream Syndicate
The Ledge – The Replacements
Merry Go Round – The Replacements
What’s She Done to Your Mind? – Rain Parade
Love Is All Around – Joan Jett
Hollow Man – R.E.M.
Kids Are Alright – The Who
I Have Had Enough – The Who
John Coltrane Stereo Blues – The Dream Syndicate
World Leader Pretend – R.E.M.
To Susan on the West Coast Waiting – Donovan