Cooked

RAWK SAWNG OF THE DAY: Jet – “Come On, Come On”

Stereophonics – “Rooftop”

Coldplay – “Everything’s Not Lost”

The Soundtrack of Our Lives – “Heading for a Breakdown”

Incubus – “Beware! Criminal!”

My wise comrade SG made a comment about Incubus while we were sitting in downtown Austin traffic listening to S.C.I.E.N.C.E. at SXSW 2008. He pointed out that Incubus got popular because they were a “movement” band that happened to be somewhat talented. Then they just turned into a really damn good band – period. They ditched the dreadlocks and got serious.

Ah, what a coincidence. The SG man himself just called me up. Here’s what he has to say about Incubus as of 9:55 p.m tonight: “I think those have been the most successful bands in history: The ones who come up with an original sound who push it as a movement more than a mainstream style, and then do whatever they want as far as songwriting and developing into songwriters for the rest of their careers…Once you have their attention, it’s all about how smart you are as a songwriter.” This song is a good example of that. Well said, Goldschmithey.

Wilco – “Reservations”

Of all the brilliant lines Tweedy has churned out over the years, this song has an opening verse that’s among the most honest and memorable any artist has ever written: “How can I convince you it’s me I don’t like / And not be so indifferent to the look in your eyes / When I’ve always been distant / and I’ve always told lies for love.”

Wilco – “Can’t Stand It”

LCD Soundsystem – “tired”

Eels – “World of Shit”

R.E.M. – “Exhuming McCarthy”

Guided By Voices – “Peep-Hole”

The Beta Band – “She’s The One”

Head Automatica – “Beating Hearts Baby”

Refused – “Protest Song ‘68″

Uncle Tupelo – “Grindstone”

Against Me! – “Mutiny on the Electronic Bay”

Spoon – “Jonathon Fisk”

Kula Shaker – “Shower Your Love”

This song should’ve been hugh. HUGH, I say! But it was too good. George Harrison must’ve loved it, either way.

Wilco – “Jesus, Etc.”

Merle Haggard – “Hungry Eyes”

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – “Need Some Air”

Ryan Adams – “1974″

Hum – “Why I Like The Robins”

Candlebox – “Simple Lessons”

I liked Candlebox’s second and third records a lot more than their debut – the one with all the singles you still hear on “alternative” radio. The bummer is my Lucy disc is so scratched that iTunes will only import this song. Oh well. At least iTunes managed to swallow Happy Pills, the band’s best and most under-appreciated album. If you like good songs of any kind, you’ll like that record – regardless of what you think of Candlebox.

Willie Nelson – “On The Road Again”

BEST BAND YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD: The Tom Collins – “Cycles”

Ben Kweller – “Make It Up”

Breakdown: 27 songs, 4 places

My old pal David Cook has been bringing as much integrity to American Idol as that show’s ever seen for about three months now, but it’s just starting to sink in that the guy might actually win the thing. Crazy thought for those of us who’ve known David for years. He’ll be playing Tulsa’s new BOK Center this summer for the Idol tour and my gut tells me it’ll be a little bigger than than this Tulsa bar gig we put him on almost a year ago today when his solo record came out:

What a difference a year makes: Upside is broken up, Malan Darras is playing with a band called Born A Number and David’s hamming it up with Neil Diamond on FOX.

I finally gave in and voted for him this week. It was the first time I voted for a contestant on that blasted show, but I didn’t feel guilty about it at all. David’s the real deal, and he makes a mean whiskey-diet when he’s behind the bar! I think it’s safe to say he won’t be bartending again anytime soon. My liver is thankful for this, and my ears are pleased that a real singer is finally getting love at some place besides a smokey bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

Tags: Against Me!, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Born A Number, Boston's, Candlebox, Coldplay, David Cook, Eels, Guided By Voices, Head Automatica, Hum, Incubus, Jet, Kula Shaker, LCD Soundsystem, Malan Darras, Merle Haggard, R.E.M., Refused, Ryan Adams, SG, Spoon, Stereophonics, The Beta Band, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, The Tom Collins, Tulsa, Uncle Tupelo, Upside, Wilco, Willie Nelson