Chris’s Picks Volume 2
If volume 1 took a little bit to find its footing, volume 2 presents its thesis of rock n roll right out the gate. The Hold Steady is America’s preeminent bar band, and I mean that in the best way possible. “Stuck Between Stations” is one of their stone cold classic singles, and it does everything The Hold Steady does well in one song. High praise, no doubt, but this track delivers.
Now I won’t simply go track by track running down how I decided to add the songs to Chris’s Picks Volume 2, but I will definitely mention a few highlights. There’s Uncle Tupelo covering The Soft Boys, there’s peak Wilco with “Handshake Drugs,” there’s the best Minus The Bear song ever, and there’s my favorite songs by both The National and Band of Horses. Needless to say, there’s a lot of straight up bangers on this playlist.
There’s also more women, although admittedly not an equal amount in the male-dominated indie rock of the late 90s and early 2000s. While I did include Rilo Kiley, Julien Baker, and Hop Along on this playlist, I’m the first to admit I don’t always do a great job of making these things diverse. As we make our way thru the rest of these, I promise things get more progressive and inclusive.
With all that being said, here’s the complete track list for Chris’s Picks Volume 2.
The Hold Steady - “Stuck Between Stations”
Titus Andronicus - “(I’m) Screwed”
Built To Spill - Three Years Ago Today
The New Pornographers - “My Slow Descent Into Alcoholism”
Magnolia Electric Co. - “The Dark Don’t Hide It”
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - “Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone”
Uncle Tupelo - “I Wanna Destroy You”
Guided By Voices - “Motor Away”
Spoon - “Black Like Me”
Wilco - “Handshake Drugs”
Rilo Kiley - “A Better Son/Daughter”
The Walkmen - “The Rat”
TV on the Radio - “Wolf Like Me”
Interpol - “Slow Hands”
Fontaines D.C. - “Jackie Down The Line”
The Men - “Turn It Around”
Margot & The Nuclear So And So’s - “Quiet As a Mouse”
Superchunk - “Mower”
Pavement - “Silence Kid”
The Mountain Goats - “See America Right”
Modest Mouse - “Never Ending Math Equation”
Dismemberment Plan - “What Do You Want Me To Say?”
Minus The Bear song ever- “Throwin’ Shapes”
Sparklehorse - “Someday I Will Treat You Good”
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - “Anenome”
Hop Along - “Sister Cities”
Yo La Tengo - “Cherry Chapstick”
Sonic Youth - “Incinerate”
The National - “All the Wine”
The American Analog Set - “Cool Kids Keep”
Silver Jews - “Random Rules”
Julien Baker - “Turn Out The Lights”
Band of Horses - “Dumpster World”
Frontier Folk Nebraska - “Smoke King”
Cut and paste the link below to enjoy the jams: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6LARFvNoXJbTCqGmlNjthi?si=8fdufo-zThyLpyiEi1jN8Q&pi=Zq3f5MQ5TquyP
