'NOTHING REALLY MATTERS" MADONNA (1999)

For Women’s History Month, I’m selecting some of my favorite songs from some of the most talented and influential women in music. From frontwomen to singer-songwriters to iconic performers, I’m picking one song a day on Mental Jukebox until the end of March.

An unusual album from Madonna spawned quite an unusual song. This was Madonna’s foray into the electronic world. In a strange twist of events, it barely charted as a single, despite being considered one of the best dance tracks of her career. In many ways, it was the Un-Madonna track. One of a couple of songs about her daughter Lourdes from Ray of Light, “Nothing Really Matters” was deeply personal and a shining example of Madonna’s evolution as a singer.

“Love is all we need. Everything I give you, all comes back to me.”

"SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME" ELLA FITZGERALD (1950)

For Women’s History Month, I’m selecting some of my favorite songs from some of the most talented and influential women in music. From frontwomen to singer-songwriters to iconic performers, I’m picking one song a day on Mental Jukebox until the end of March.

There are few things in life more beautiful than Ella cracking open the Gershwin songbook and paying homage to some of the finest songs ever written. “Somebody to Watch Over Me” showcased the silkier, softer side to the legendary singer. In its coyness, it’s still a serenade of assurance and conviction. And like many jazz standards, it commands your utter silence to truly enjoy what’s unfolding.

“There's a saying old, says that love is blind. Still we're often told, seek and ye shall find.”

"WHAT KIND OF MAN" FLORENCE + THE MACHINE (2015)

For Women’s History Month, I’m selecting some of my favorite songs from some of the most talented and influential women in music. From frontwomen to singer-songwriters to iconic performers, I’m picking one song a day on Mental Jukebox until the end of March.

“Tour de force” is a phrase that gets tossed around a little too easily in music. But it’s not a bad way to describe “What Kind of Man”. The song starts off in a whisper before launching headlong into a vocal rampage, the kind music fans have come to adore about Florence. And gone were the synths and harp. This was the band’s coming out party for powerful guitar riffs and an unrelenting percussion barrage.

“And with one kiss you inspired a fire of devotion that lasts for twenty years. What kind of man loves like this?”

"SPELLBOUND" SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES (1981)

For Women’s History Month, I’m selecting some of my favorite songs from some of the most talented and influential women in music. From frontwomen to singer-songwriters to iconic performers, I’m picking one song a day on Mental Jukebox until the end of March.

You can’t write a book about post-punk without mentioning the swirling, intense musical storm that is “Spellbound”. One of my favorite Siouxsie and the Banshees’ anthems — and there are several of them — this song was brilliantly original in every way. No one else sung like Siouxsie. No one else played guitar like that. And no one sure as hell ever wrote a song like that. “Spellbound” was a ritualistic purge of convention.

“Following the footsteps of a rag doll dance, we are entranced.”

"ONE" AIMEE MANN (1999)

For Women’s History Month, I’m selecting some of my favorite songs from some of the most talented and influential women in music. From frontwomen to singer-songwriters to iconic performers, I’m picking one song a day on Mental Jukebox until the end of March.

Aimee Mann is one of the most underrated singer-songwriters of our time. Being at the helm of ‘Til Tuesday and their mega hit “Voices Carry” may have created a shadow too big to crawl away from. But there is no mistaking the power of one of the greatest soundtracks ever written and recorded: Magnolia. Mann wrote half a dozen brilliant songs on it, but the one song I’ll never forget is her creepy, dystopian and insistent cover of “One” to open the movie.

“One is a number divided by two.”

"SON OF A PREACHER MAN" ARETHA FRANKLIN (1970)

For Women’s History Month, I’m selecting some of my favorite songs from some of the most talented and influential women in music. From frontwomen to singer-songwriters to iconic performers, I’m picking one song a day on Mental Jukebox until the end of March.

Let’s kick things off with Aretha. The queen of soul gave us literally hundreds of memorable recordings, and her rendition of “Son of a Preacher Man” is one of my favorites. She didn’t write it, but it was written with her in mind. “Preacher Man” played perfectly to her vocal range and soulful swagger. Not to take anything away from Dusty Springfield’s version, but Aretha sung it like she lived it.

“Being good isn't always easy, no matter how hard I try.”

"NEVER LET ME DOWN AGAIN - LIVE AT THE ROSE BOWL" DEPECHE MODE (1988)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

The year was 1988. Almost overnight, Depeche Mode was thrust into the masses. They were taking over stadiums on an ambitious tour across the states. On “Never Let Me Down Again” at the Rose Bowl, we experience a band transcending the boundaries of traditional stadium rock. It rode on the back of Martin Gore’s grating electric guitar riff, all while David Gahan steered a new alt rock universe into euphoria with his arms waving in the air.

“We're flying high. We're watching the world pass us by. Never want to come down. Never want to put my feet back down on the ground.”

"GOLDEN - LIVE AT THE FILLMORE" MY MORNING JACKET (2005)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

There’s a magical element to live shows that many of us have been missing since the pandemic began. That special aura that comes with quieter songs. Songs that transport us and immerse us well into the night. That’s “Golden”, one of My Morning Jacket’s slower, sleepier songs. The band’s live recording at The Fillmore is full of live magic—the kind of performance that makes you wish the concert never ends.

“Sure sometimes they thrill me. But nothin' could ever chill me. Like the way they make the time just disappear.”

"OLD FRIENDS - LIVE AT CENTRAL PARK" SIMON & GARFUNKEL (1981)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

On September 19, 1981, Simon & Garfunkel played a benefit concert at the Great Lawn. The first song in the encore was “Old Friends”. There was nothing except Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s vocals and Simon’s acoustic guitar. With no other instrumentation and nowhere to hide, that summer evening performance in Central Park showcased just how good their voices were and how simple and honest their songwriting was.

“The sounds of the city sifting through trees settle like dust on the shoulders of the old friends.”

"ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL - LIVE AT FOLSOM PRISON" JOHNNY CASH (1968)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

There were 16 songs on the set list for Johnny Cash’s legendary concert to the inmates at Folsom State Prison in California. But “Orange Blossom Special” is the one song that has always stood out to me from that recording. It had the rockabilly swagger that we’ve heard throughout a good bulk of his catalog. But it also did something powerful with the inmates that day that you can clearly hear from the rousing cheers. Containing one of Cash’s fastest, most energetic harmonica solos, the song distracted the men long enough to forget where they were or what their predicament was. That’s a powerful performance.

“I'll ride that Orange Blossom Special and lose these New York blues.”

"BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE - LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD" TALKING HEADS (1983)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

At the momentous concert in Hollywood’s Pantage Theatre, Talking Heads slowed some songs down and reinvented others. But with “Burning Down the House”, the band added more fuel and vigor to an already artfully intense song. Jerry Harrison’s keyboard mastery manifested in an impressive combination of power and precision, culminating in the minute long synth solo.

“Watch out, you might get what you're after. Cool babies, strange but not a stranger. I'm an ordinary guy burning down the house.”

"POLLY - UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK" NIRVANA (1993)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

MTV Unplugged had been going for a few years, but Nirvana’s appearance for the acoustic series at Sony Music Studios in New York City felt like a reboot. Just five month’s before Kurt Cobain’s death, they translated the sonic grunge of Nirvana into an unplugged setting. One of Cobain’s finest songwriting showcases, “Polly” was played quieter, slower, moodier. But it wasn’t even an ounce less powerful than the recording on Nevermind.

“I think she wants some water to put out the blow torch.”

"HEY JOE - LIVE AT MONTEREY" JIMI HENDRIX (1967)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

At the time of Jimi’s legendary performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, “Hey Joe” was a brand new song. In many ways, it’s a microcosm of everything that’s incredible about Hendrix. It’s his effortless blend of blues, hard rock and ingenious ability to reinvent other people’s songs with incredible power. “Hey Joe”, more than any other Hendrix classic, is exactly the kind of song that I miss hearing live.

“Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand?”

"MURDER BY NUMBERS" THE POLICE (1983)

This week I’m featuring 80’s deep cuts on Mental Jukebox. They’re the non-charting singles. The forgotten b-sides. The unheralded album staples. While they may not be the first songs that come to mind when you think of the 80’s, they’re some of the most important musical statements of the decade.

With a prolific output of five studio albums in a six year stretch, The Police catalog came together brilliantly and quickly. For my last 80’s deep cut, I’m going with the band’s final studio output—”Murder by Numbers”, the final track on Synchronicity. It’s a song that sounds less like The Police and more like the jazz-infused solo work of Sting that the world would soon hear. “Murder by Numbers” is the foreshadowing of a different era.

“Now you can join the ranks of the illustrious in history's great dark hall of fame. All our greatest killers were industrious. At least the ones that we all know by name.”

"CLOUDBUSTING" KATE BUSH (1985)

This week I’m featuring 80’s deep cuts on Mental Jukebox. They’re the non-charting singles. The forgotten b-sides. The unheralded album staples. While they may not be the first songs that come to mind when you think of the 80’s, they’re some of the most important musical statements of the decade.

Kate Bush stands in two worlds. One foot firmly in the future. Another foot firmly back in time. No other female artist in her era was more influential. But for some reason, her full body of work has gone largely unnoticed in the U.S. Even “Running Up That Hill” was only considered a minor hit in the states. That qualifies “Cloudbusting” as a true deep cut. With its austere, cello-led string arrangement, it’s the antithesis of radio-friendly and the blueprint for genre crossover maneuvering.

“I just know that something good is gonna happen.”

"YOUR SILENT FACE" NEW ORDER (1983)

This week I’m featuring 80’s deep cuts on Mental Jukebox. They’re the non-charting singles. The forgotten b-sides. The unheralded album staples. While they may not be the first songs that come to mind when you think of the 80’s, they’re some of the most important musical statements of the decade.

Listen past the dance anthems and Joy Division carryovers and you’ll soon realize New Order has a more impressive catalog than they get credit for. “Your Silent Face” is one such example. Hailing from one of the most influential post punk albums of the decade, it was living proof that New Order had discovered its own synth-driven world apart from its Joy Division roots. A world that was somehow both shimmering and somber at the same time.

“Rise and fall of shame. A search that shall remain.”

"OSCILLATE WILDLY" THE SMITHS (1987)

This week I’m featuring 80’s deep cuts on Mental Jukebox. They’re the non-charting singles. The forgotten b-sides. The unheralded album staples. While they may not be the first songs that come to mind when you think of the 80’s, they’re some of the most important musical statements of the decade.

it may seem strange to highlight an instrumental from The Smiths. But more than any other song from the band, “Oscillate Wildly” demonstrated Johnny Marr’s musical intellect and diverse palette beyond traditional guitar riffs.

It was the b-side to “How Soon is Now?” and sat quietly on the deep compilation album Louder Than Bombs. To this day, it still remains one of my favorite Smiths tracks. It was the manifestation of an anti-rock persona which they had all along, but only let out for a brief, wonderful moment in time.

"THE CHAUFFEUR" DURAN DURAN (1982)

This week I’m featuring 80’s deep cuts on Mental Jukebox. They’re the non-charting singles. The forgotten b-sides. The unheralded album staples. While they may not be the first songs that come to mind when you think of the 80’s, they’re some of the most important musical statements of the decade.

Rio was full of radio-friendly songs that paired nicely with elaborate and exotic video shoots. But the very last track showed a darker, more mysterious side to the pop band. “The Chauffeur” put Duran Duran’s versatility on full display, with a moodier synth experiment from Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon on the ocarina. “Hungry Like the Wolf”, “My Own Way” and “Rio” grab you, but “The Chauffeur” grows on you.

“With a thought to stiffen brooding lies. And I'll only watch you leave me further behind.”

"REPTILE" THE CHURCH (1988)

This week I’m featuring 80’s deep cuts on Mental Jukebox. They’re the non-charting singles. The forgotten b-sides. The unheralded album staples. While they may not be the first songs that come to mind when you think of the 80’s, they’re some of the most important musical statements of the decade.

Lurking under the shadow of the 80’s alt rock anthem “Under the Milky Way” was the harder, faster “Reptile”. This was The Church song that I was always up for hearing. The opening guitar riff and high hat barrage are relentless, slithering their way through almost the entirety of the track. Together these elements were the epitome of repetition, yet they never grew tired.

“Too dangerous to keep. Too feeble to let go.”

"PRIMARY" THE CURE (1981)

This week I’m featuring 80’s deep cuts on Mental Jukebox. They’re the non-charting singles. The forgotten b-sides. The unheralded album staples. While they may not be the first songs that come to mind when you think of the 80’s, they’re some of the most important musical statements of the decade.

The bass will forever be my favorite instrument. For me, its rhythmic sounds are always in the foreground, not the background. That’s why the rare song “Primary” by The Cure is such a treat. It doesn’t have a single element of electric or acoustic guitar. But it has two bass guitars, played by Simon Gallup, of course, and Robert Smith. Dueling, grating bass guitars playing on separate octaves and achieving The Cure’s ambitious post-punk agenda.

“The very first time I saw your face I thought of a song and quickly changed the tune.”