Sep 12, 2017 - But I digress... So I’m making a Spotify playlist
A few of you have requested a GOACA playlist, so I’m making one for you, and thought I’d give you an opportunity to make requests. I can’t promise that I will honor them—I am picky, picky when it comes to my music. But I do want to hear them, and if enough of you ask for a particular song, I probably will include it. Right now I’m having a 90s moment (who am I kidding? I am always having a 90s moment) so I’m listening to a lot of Yo La Tengo. Their song “Our Way To Fall” in particular, which is everything a love song should be.
Kim France
I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
I’ve been looking for an “if I were cool in the 90s” playlist so I’m very excited about this. I was lucky enough to be in Austin for most of the 90s so I saw some amazing shows but more than that, they had K-NACK, a great alternative radio station. I can find good current playlists (highly recommend the one from the tv show The Bold Type and NPR Music’s Rose Wave) but I can’t find anything that feels like driving around listening to K-NACK.
Yes! I’m from Austin and was in high school in the 90s and always had K-NACK blasting in the car. It was definitely formative in my musical tastes, and I miss it so much!
I’ve lived in Austin most of my life, and while I miss K-NACK too, KUTX is outstanding. Format schmormat, they play everything, and I’ve heard so much great music that I would NEVER hear elsewhere (b/c I’m old). Download the app and you can listen wherever you are!
Ah! Anything on “I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One” is gold.
Agreed.
A whole list of nothing but old Yo La Tengo would do it for this commenter (though I am especially partial to Autumn Sweater).
Also, imho any GOACA playlist would have to have Tina Turner’s Bold Soul Sister on it, but that’s just me!
Radiohead please. Either Black Star or Karma Police would be my first choices but really anything would be fab!
I’m always going to be the vote for David Bowie! If we’re going 90s, perhaps “Little Wonder” or “The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell.” Also, I love his cover of “I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday.”
And you know I’m always going to second that vote for Bowie . . .
Long ago you linked to a pinterest board of your favorite music. Use that! I followed it because it had some of my very favorites on there and some I had not thought of in an age.
Oh, I definitely plan on consulting that! But I wanted your input as well.
Tiny typo – Our Way To Fall, not fail. (Although fail works for a certain kind of mood.)
Ha! That title makes SO much more sense.
You might like The Softies 1994-2000
The Smiths, How Soon Is Now
never gets old
Oh fun! I’m sure I’ll love your taste in music as much as I love your style suggestions. I have “Autumn Sweater” by Yo La Tengo on my September playlist. And I’m loving “Paris” by the Chainsmokers. And I love “15 to 20” by the Phenomenal Handclap band.
Low! I am especially fond of the album “The Great Destroyer”. Start with When I Go Deaf.
OR! Do you know The Pink Martini’s?
Some Sonic Youth never goes amiss..
I walked down the aisle to “Our Way to Fall”!
That is so awesome.
I would be remiss if I did not mention
McClain Sullivan
Also, anything Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. (I am soooo old)
Bonni Raitt
John Haitt
The Avett Brothers (I and Love and You)
Golden Shoulders (I will light you on Fire)
Lifters (Saints, Gods on the Radio, This is, Carolina)
Frightened Rabbit (Living in Colour, Not Miserable, Nothing Like You, Swim Until You Can’t See The Land)
Shinnyribs (Who Built the Moon)
Trombone Shorty (Neph)
Bajofondo (Mar Dulce, Infiltrado)
I’m old, too, so I love some of your suggestions, cw! Bonnie Raitt and John Hiatt are great, the Avett Bros (Laundry Room), Phantogram (Fall in Love), Alabama Shakes (Hold On, Don’t wanna fight), The Pretenders (Brass in Pocket), Blondie (Heart of Glass), Joni Mitchell (A Case of You), The Staple Singers (Respect Yourself), Courtney Barnett (Pedestrian at Best).
I just realized that I was raising two girls thru most of the 90’s and then had another baby in 98. No wonder I don’t recall that decade! 😉
Well, off the top of my head….
Eurythmics, “Thorn In My Side”
Irma Thomas, “Time Is On My Side”
Lauryn Hill, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”
Lizzo, “Worship Me” & “En Love”
Grimes, “Oblivion”
Blood Orange, “EVP” or “It Is What It Is”
Big Thief, “Shark Smile”
Phoenix, “If I Ever Feel Better”
Lucius, “Born Again Teen”
A Tribe Called Quest, “We The People”
Anything Grimes is a+!
+1 for Grimes
Luna- anything off of Penthouse or Bewitched albums,
Matthew Sweet Girlfriend
Mazzy Star
Harvest Moon by Pearl Jam (version)
Autumnal vibe = Fox in the Snow (Belle & Sebastian)
Cuz I’m a Minnesotan by origin = If I can’t change your mind (Sugar)
and now that you’ve got me thinking about 90s music = Here comes your man (Pixies)
Side note: why is it that I want to wrap myself up in an oversized plaid shirt right about now?
Rolling Stones of the “Paint it Black” era
I 2nd that!
cigarettes after sex – apocalypse
also listening to pixies – here comes your man per the previous commenter
lost on you – lp
one of these days – bedouine
the love we almost had – rhiannon giddens
roma fade – andrew bird
roman – mashru’ leila
Roman – Mashru’ Leila
One of these Days – Bedouine
Here Comes Your Man – Pixies (shout out to previous commenter!)
Apocalypse – Cigarettes After Sex
New York – St Vincent
The Love We Almost Had – Rhiannon Giddens
“Our Way to Fall” – such a great love song. And the album cover is beautiful too.
liz phair – stratford
matisyahu – time of our song
andrew bird – nervous tic motion
peter murphy – cuts you up
i passionately love 80’s, new wave, but eveni admit it can all sound alike, so i will limit my suggestions to
echo & the bunneymen – killing moon
siouxsie & the banshees – cities in dust
yaz – don’t go, only you, situation
new order – blue monday
I’m going with a totally non-cool girl selection that makes me dance everytime I hear it: Take On Me, a-ha
😊
Anything from Grace – Jeff Buckley.
Saw Jeff Buckley play at the fez a lifetime and a half ago..
Amazing!
how about Luna? something from the album Penthouse. my male bff is their lead guitarist and they are touring again
Martin Rev-Mari
Pavement-Range Life
Spiritualized-Pure Phase
Sleater Kinney
Sebadoh
Pavement
Guided By Voices
Liz Phair
Superdrag
Pavement & Liz Phair were pretty much my soundtrack for the second half of the nineties.
Oh man, I could’ve written this list. I still listen to Sleater Kinney when I’ve got something to do that I know needs to be done but won’t be easy.
And I know it’s definitely not cool, but I’ve started listening to Depeche Mode again (the live album especially). Holy jesus I love them.
You mentioned you were having a nineties moment so I stuck to the 90’s for my request list. I have a hankering for power pop.
Material Issue – Valerie Loves Me
Matthew Sweet – Divine Intervention
The Posies – Solar Sister
+1 for Matthew Sweet. Going to his concert this Sat. p.m. What should I wear?LOL
So looking forward to your list!!
I’m having a moody girl music moment..
Cat Power perhaps?
Does Morrissey count?
Love me some power pop in the afternoon as well!
Cat Power…Yes!
Please oh please consider “Not Ready to Make Nice” by the Dixie Chicks, their eff-off response to the uproar and music industry sanctions against them for their comments about Pres Bush. Great stand-up-for-yourself song, perfect for GOACA.
“Goldmine”–Kimbra (from 2014 though)
“I’m the best (naega jae jael naga)”–2NE1
Both great for powering through things in different ways
“mr. tough” makes me soooo happy!
(sorry if this is a repeat, i don’t have time to scroll through right now.)
also, rare is the day that the melody of “ghost in you” by psychadelic furs doesn’t lift my spirits.
Man, I had a boyfriend who made great mixtapes (he became a graphic designer, and the tapes were so perfect that even though the relationship crashed and burned I can’t get rid of them even 15 years later) and Our Way To Fall was on the first tape he ever made for me…God, fall + old songs = crippling nostalgia (not as bad as it sounds). Elevator Love Letter– Stars aren’t ’90s, but there’s a definite vibe. And Cold Hands, Warm Heart, by Brendan Benson? For a change of pace: Everybody Got Their Something, by Nikka Costa. I could do this all day!
“Did I Tell You” from Yo La Tengo’s album Fakebook is among my favourite songs of all time. And if you’re willing to include 3 Yo La Tengo Songs on your playlist, Upside Down.
Otherwise, Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective.
Agree about Summertime Clothes!! Great song!
If its the 90’s, you gotta have some Nirvana, right? But maybe something less well-known. Their unplugged cover of In the Pines is outstanding. Also The Killers, Read My Mind. And I second the Radiohead suggestion.
Coathangers. If you’re adding YLT, maybe some Christmas & BigDipper too. Bikini Kill. Elastica. Carolina Chocolate Drops. Cocteau Twins.Katzenjammer. Bats for Lashes. Feist. Alabama Shakes. First Aid Kit. Goldfrapp. New Pornographers. Yelle. Iris Dement. Throwing Muses.
diving deeper back into post -punk: Young Marble Giants, Penetration (Pauline Murray), X-ray Spex, Slits, Romeo Void, Bush Tetras, Pylon. I could go on & on…
Quick dash over here to the blog as a follow-up to your tweet about Tattoo You. Would be happy to have any song from Side 2 on this playlist.
Haunted by the Pogues?
Horchata by Vampire Weekend?
These Important Years by Husker Du?
Josie Cotton or the Go-Gos for retro fun?
Tenderness by General Public?
ANYTHING by Scrawl?
(Runners up: Team Dresch, Superchunk, Bikini Kill, The Breeders?)
A vote for the Breeders. And also Hole while I’m at it.
I feel like the 1990s began when Kate Moss appeared on the cover of the July 1990 issue of the Face in that iconic Corinne Day shoot.
When I think of music from that decade, it’s Stone Roses, My Bloody Valentine, and Clivilles and Cole’s a Deeper Love. I would come to New York City during a few college weekends to dance at Sound Factory, and that song always filled up the dance floor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpjb6bFpNK8
Christine – yes – A deeper love is my lift me up track.
I’m also a 90’s alternative music baby
A Pixies Track has to be on this list – monkey gone to heaven?
Here comes your man?
Yes to Stone Roses and Liz Phair too please.
There has to be a Depeche Mode song on this list. There must be!!! They are my favorites. You can do the cool Personal Jesus – but you have to check out a song Cover Me from their new album – it’s electronic trippiness.
If you were to put a girl of a certain age modern day mix – I would include The Avetts, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, Alabama Shakes, Black Keys, The Killers,
Fun…
I love Alabama Shakes but am not too familiar with them. Which song(s) do you recommend?
Melsybelsy, In 1991, I went to a concert of Primus, the Pixies and Jane’s Addiction in Vancouver, B.C. and I knew that there was never going to be a better rock show in my lifetime after that one.
Depeche Mode’s Black Celebration is one of my favorite albums, but if I had to pick one song, it would be their cover of Iggy Pop and the Stooges’ “Dirt.” Thanks for your recommendation of Cover Me. Will check it out on Spotify!
Christine, your comment reminded me of going to Lalapalooza in 1994 in Vancouver (I think it might have been in Cloverdale). The line-up was insane – L7, the Breeders, Nick Cave, the Smashing Pumpkins, the Beastie Boys, the list goes on. It was such an incredible time for music and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it.
I’m also a huge Depeche Mode fan (saw them in Austin a few years ago – so good!) but I’ve never heard their cover of “Dirt”. I will definitely check that out!
The Dandy Warhols–Bohemian Like You, We Used To Be Friends!! Love love love them!!
Yes! Did you ever see their documentary?
I just googled it! I love Brian Jonestown Massacre as well…too bad there’s bad blood there! Lol! So curious, can’t wait to see it. Thanks, Katherine!
Dig! is my favorite band doc of all time. I went because of the Dandy’s but left obsessed with the BJM and kind of embarrassed for the Dandy’s, who come off as shallow wannabes. I wound up meeting Anton many years ago and he really WAS as difficult to be around as he’s portrayed, and so freaking charismatic.
My pick for a 90’s sounding though actually late 80’s band everyone should know is the Australian band GOD and their song My Pal. It is just such an instantly cool, catchy, kind of grungy song. I think half the band (who were 15 & 16 at the time) OD’d, sadly.
How about Luscious Jackson? Natalie Merchant Carnival?
This is so much fun, love all the suggestions!
There will be Luscious Jackson. I used to be friends with them!
Ridiculously excited!! And beyond giddy that you were friends with LJ! 🙂
Oooh, how about US3 Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)?
Mazzy Star – Fade Into You
Portishead – Glory Box
Elastica – Stutter
Radiohead – Creep
And I’m backing all requests for anything Pixies.
Del Amitri- Always the Last to Know, Roll to Me
Replacements- Waitress in the Sky, Kiss Me On the Bus
The Smiths- Girlfriend in a Coma
The BoDeans- anything!
10,000 Maniacs- anything, LOVE Cherry Tree
Talking Heads- Psycho Killer, This Must Be the Place
R.E.M.! Pick something!
Material Issue- The Next Big Thing
Weezer
Gin Blossoms
U2!!
Violent Femmes- Kiss Off
The Lemonheads- If I Could Talk
Dead Milkmen- Punk Rock Girl
TomTom Club- Genius of Love, Under the Boardwalk
Boomtown Rats- I Don’t Like Mondays
I have to stop.
😜
I love the Bodeans and used to listen to them constantly. I saw them in concert in a small venue a long time ago, it was amazing!
90s New York: blues traveler
Joan Osborne