• Tag Archives sonic youth
  • The Ledge #672: RIP Brian Wilson

    Full disclosure here, and it’s sort of controversial. I’ve never been a Beach Boys fan. It’s just never really worked for me. As a kid, it just seemed to be a parent’s version of what rock and roll is supposed to be. The fact they had a song called “Be True To Your School” was enough evidence for me to not buy that Endless Summer collection that came out around the same time as I was discovering The Ramones and Sex Pistols.

    That’s not to say that I don’t have respect for the band, especially Brian Wilson, who passed away on June 11. The fact that so many of my favorite bands revered Wilson (including the Ramones) gave me some new insight. In fact, I always have said that I love the bands influenced by The Beach Boys more than the actual band.

    Plus, I have developed an appreciation for Pet Sunds, although I’m still not prepared to call it the greatest album ever. But I pulled it out after hearing the news of Brian’s death, and I also played the version of Smile that came out in 2011. That may be my favorite album by them, but is it because of the legends behind the creation?

    So tonight’s show consists primarily of Beach Boys covers. Yes, the first track is not a cover. It’s Pavid Vermin’s wonderful (and truthful) track “The Beach Boys Never Surfed”. And, yes, I do include Redd Kross’s cover of Charles Manson’s “Cease to Exist”, which was recorded by the band (with rewritten lyrics) as “Never Learn Not To Love”. Not to mention that the Melvins’ NSFW rewrite of “I Get Around” is probably mroe parody than tribute. It’s still a fun version, though!

    For more info, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

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  • The Ledge #657: The Real Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame (Pt. 2)

    Last week I debuted a new series where The Ledge rights the wrongs of that inept board that handles the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. The previous episode presented artists from the 50s, 60s, and 70s that deserves to be inducted. This week we handle the 80s.

    Take a look at the 33 artists I present on this broadcast. You can’t deny that this would make the Hall a lot more fun. Imagine Jello Biafra’s induction speech for the Dead Kennedys! Or the remarks Henry Rollins would make for Black Flag. Or the emotions that would erupt for the late Shane MacGowan and the rest of The Pogues. How about the ensuing jam session that would involve Nick Cave with members of X, The Cramps, Husker Du, Sonic Youth, and the Fleshtones?

    Of course, any Hall that I curate would have to include The Replacements! In fact, just insert them into the building and all of my complaints would immediately end. (Or would it?)

    For more info, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #604: Odds & Ends Again

    The “odds and ends” series is an opportunity for me to mix all kinds of material. This week’s version mixes a bunch of new releases with a ton of material I’ve been playing around the house in recent weeks. There’s also a tribute to Mary Weiss, the leader of The Shangri-Las who passed away a few days ago. Otherwise, there’s classics by The Clash, X, The Birthday Party, and The Long Ryders, along with a new discovery of The Deviants, a great old band that for whatever reason I had never checked out.

    As for that little sound sample at the beginning of the show, I must thank my buddy Kevin for alerting me to a show called The Listener. I just can’t help but include oddly-placed discussions on The Replacements. 

    For more info, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #557: 1998

    It’s always shocking when you stumble upon tweets or articles noting the anniversary of beloved albums. You can’t help but wonder how something that seems like it came out yesterday is actually…well, old!

    That’s the case with tonight’s show. Every single song you hear is 25 years old. It’s just insane to me that some of my favorite Americana (Son Volt, Golden Smog, Drive-By Truckers), power pop (Sloan, Tommy Keene, Nada Surf), singer/songwriter (Elliott Smith, Silver Jews), and punk (Fugazi, Screeching Weasel, Bad Religion) records have hit this milestone. It just doesn’t feel like nostalgia

    As for the “52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks” entry, I’ve got a fabulous rarity. 1998 saw the release of Scandal Controvery and Romance, the classic debut record by The Prissteens. To celebrate the 45th birthday of their A&R rep, Howard Thompson, the pressed up 45 copies of a tribute song called “Oh Howard!”. The b-side of this single was their Undertones cover that featured a few lyrical changes and retitled “Teenage Dicks”. (Both of these tracks were eventually reissued on 2020’s The Hound collection of rarities and demos.)

    Once again, I’m always actively looking for new covers of “Teenage Kicks”. Please don’t hesitate to create your own personal spin on one of the greatest songs of all time. Contact me at paulisded@gmail.com if you have a version to submit or if you have any questions regarding this project.

    For more information, including setlists, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


  • The Ledge #533: SST Records (Pt. 2)

    Part two of The Ledge’s look at SST Records focuses on the second half of the 80’s. There are a few big names involved, including Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, Buffalo Tom, and future grunge major label heroes Screaming Trees and Soundgarden. There’s a look at the last few Black Flag albums, along with the Greg Ginn solo project Gone. There are also a few veterans of the music scene, including Divine Horsemen, Volcano Suns, and the first solo releases by Husker Du’s Grant Hart. Once again, special thanks must go to Jim Ruland for his fabulous book, Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise & Fall of SST Records, which inspired this series of episodes.

    I would love it if every listener bought at least one record I played on either of these shows. These great artists deserve to be compensated for their hard work, and every purchase surely helps not only pay their bills but fund their next set of wonderful songs. And if you buy these records directly from the artist or label, please let them know you heard these tunes on The Ledge! Let them know who is giving them promotion!

    For more information, including setlist, head to http://scotthudson.blogspot.com

     

    Download MP3 here


  • Live Ledge #208: Number Eight

    Nothing but track eight’s to commemorate that we still have a couple days left in the eighth month of the year.

     

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