The Rules: I reset the play counters for all the songs currently on my iTunes. Then at the end of every week, I check to see what the top five most played songs are. Whatever happens to be in this top five are then presented in order here from most played to least. If I have posted a particular song in the past, then I will bypass that song and post the next in line. If one artist dominates the list, then I will write about that artist in lieu of a Top Five list.
This is the very first Top 5 list of 2009!!!!! Pretty exciting, if you ask me… I’ve been doing this list now for an entire year… it’s been interesting to see whether my musical tastes have changed or not. I think, for the most part, my tastes have not changed… but now that country music is a big part of my daily habit, I know that I’m at least broadening my horizons.
And that’s never a bad thing.
So here we go with the year’s first This Week’s Top 5 Most Played Songs From Swap’s iTunes…
In 2003, Miranda Lambert took third place in the television show, Nashville Star. She hit it big with her debut album, Kerosene, and in 2007 Lambert struck again with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
I didn’t really get into Lambert until I heard her latest single, “More Like Her.” I remember hearing it on the radio and wondering who the heck was singing it… when I found out it was Lambert, I wasn’t too surprised because I already dug the title track to her debut album.
That very next week, I picked up both of her albums and haven’t stopped spinning them since. See? There IS something good on pop country radio!!!! (ducking)
My favorite track off of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend isn’t “More Like Her,” though… it’s the track right before it, “Desperation.” Written by Lambert herself, this mellow(ish) tune hits me in all the right places… it’s a relaxing listen, and I haven’t tired of it yet.
I guess I really didn’t tire of it this week, because “Desperation” was played eighteen times on my iTunes, landing it in the number one spot.
If you haven’t picked up her albums, now’s as good a time as any.
Your Dig-It Download:
Download: Desperation (Miranda Lambert)
Buy Miranda Lambert on Amazon
Buy Miranda Lambert on iTunes
In 2008, music lost yet another legend. Odetta Holmes (otherwise known as simply “Odetta“) passed away on December 2 from heart disease. She was 77.
In the 1950′s and 60′s, Odetta was one of the most influential singers in the folk music genre, inspiring such artists like Bob Dylan to drop his electric guitar and go acoustic.
In a 1966 interview Dylan gave to Playboy magazine, he revealed that “The first thing that turned me on to folk singing was Odetta. I heard a record of hers in a record store, back when you could listen to records right there in the store. That was in ’58 or something like that. Right then and there, I went out and traded my electric guitar and amplifier for an acoustical guitar, a flat-top Gibson.”
In 1961, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave her the title of “The Queen of American Folk Music.”
Rosa Parks stated that the most important songs to her were “All of the songs Odetta sings.”
I love this song of hers… “Livin’ the Blues” is a great example of not only her ability to sing a variety of styles, but it also gives you a taste of her singular voice. This song almost made it to number one this week… I played it seventeen times.
Your Dig-It Download:
Download: Livin’ With the Blues (Odetta)
Buy Odetta on Amazon
Buy Odetta on iTunes
I received a copy of Smooth Old-Fashioned High‘s album, What’s Good? and couldn’t stop playing one track off of it, “Coal Black Blues.”
I spun the entire album three times in a row, but for some reason, this last track made me hit “repeat” fifteen times. I totally dig singer Patrick Crozier’s baritone vocals… his conviction throughout the record is definitely a high point for me. I can’t put a finger on who his voice reminds me of, which is a good thing because there’s enough singers out there who sound like someone else.
Smooth Old-Fashioned High just released this album in late 2008, and I look forward to seeing and hearing more from them in the future.
Someday, maybe they’ll grace this site with an interview? (any SOFH’ers reading out there?)
Your Dig-It Download:
Download: Coal Black Blues (Smooth Old-Fashioned High)
Buy Smooth Old-Fashioned High on Amazon
Buy Smooth Old-Fashioned High on iTunes
Depeche Mode is one of my top 10 bands of all time. I’ve written about them before, so I won’t bore you with how awesome they are.
Ok, I’ll bore you one more time… THEY’RE AWESOME.
A few weeks ago, I was reminded of their hit, “Personal Jesus” when Hilary Duff released her single, “Reach Out.” This song not only samples “Personal Jesus,” it might as well BE “Personal Jesus.” I’m not a fan of sampling, and DEFINITELY not a fan of completely ripping off the song and slapping your name on it (a la Kid Rock’s “All Summer Long.” Did the world REALLY need that song? Did the UNIVERSE????)
Anyhow, I was so enraged by Duff’s “song,” that I had to go listen to the original again… and again, and again, and again… and I guess this week I listened to it a LOT, landing it at the number four spot.
Sampling should be a crime. It’s no wonder bands like Depeche Mode allow people to sample their music… they’re laughing all the way to the bank, while these artists like Duff are branded as lacking any sort of creativity or originality.
Before you sample, TRY WRITING SOMETHING FIRST. Who knows? You just might surprise yourself.
Your Dig-It Download:
Download: Personal Jesus (holier than thou approach) (Depeche Mode)
Buy Depeche Mode on Amazon
Buy Depeche Mode on iTunes
Cat Power is another artist that I discovered primarily through music blogs and sites. My first introduction to her music was from a live bootleg… I dug her voice, her style, and her music… it took me two or three bootlegs to get around to buying her records… I should have done it sooner.
For me, Cat Power is an example of how music is being spread nowadays. With the digital age upon us, music is being shared at an alarming rate, but that’s not such a bad thing, because lesser-known artists (like Cat Power) would have never crossed some of our paths if it weren’t for the ease of mp3-file-sharing.
It is my hope that once you dig an artist that you discover either here or on another site like TheFrontloader.com (wait, that’s impossible because there IS no other site like this one!!!! HAHAHA!!!!), you’ll go out and purchase the actual release. Always make sure you support artists that you enjoy, because without your support, they wouldn’t be able to continue making music FOR you to enjoy. Make sense?
So I’d like to thank whatever music blog it was that first introduced me to Cat Power. And hopefully, someday someone will be thanking us here for spreading the word…
Your Dig-It Download:
Download: The Moon (Volksb¸hne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz – 2006) (Cat Power)
Buy Cat Power on Amazon
Buy Cat Power on iTunes
By the way, if you’re an indie artist out there, please don’t hesitate to send us your music. I guarantee you that we’ll take a listen, as we have already for quite a few singers/bands. You can find the mailing address/contact info at the top of the sidebar and on the Contact page. There’s a wealth of good, unheard music out there… don’t be afraid to share it! That’s why you took the time to record it, isn’t it?
One last thing… be sure to zip on over to Addictedtovinyl for a GREAT Lemonheads bootleg from 1994! OUTTASITE!!!!
Popularity: 8% [?]
I was thinking “Swap” has got da Blues, which isn’t all bad, but then, Depeche Mode?
Anyway, I should go check my 14-year old daughters ipod while she’s still sleeping, but I’d bet that “More Like Her” would be her top played song on the week. I’ve heard it blaring out of her room on repeat this week. I know she’s played it more than 18 times that I’ve heard. It’s a great song. I really hope, and think I’m seeing signs that country music is going in a less poppy direction. I like my country rockin’ but not overproduced. I want to hear the singers sing and the players play if that makes any sense? OK off my soapbox.
I like Odetta alot. I love the blues more and more all the time! Man alive why can’t I sing like that??
OK, I’m a little excited, yesterday I went and bought myself a new laptop, it’s mine all mine! I hope to finally organize my music where no one else will delete it rearrange it, mess with it!! I know I’ve asked you before and you ignored me, :P but do you have a method of organizing tagging your digital music? Is it all in itunes?
Good question CindyG! How about it Frontloader, can you give us some good tips on organizing our music? Mine is a big ole mess in iTunes and my music. HELP!
I love Miranda. She’s definitely one of the bright spots on country radio. I’m always thrilled when I hear her being played on the radio since she doesn’t necessarily fit the mold of what’s usual for country radio (I do love all the other stuff, though – I’m a country music lover). I especially like her ballads since most people know her only as the ‘kick-ass, crazy-ex girlfriend, gunpowder and lead’ singer. Her cd’s are great!
Great list this week. I just looked, and my most played song this week was one of the acoustic “Girl in the War” versions you posted awhile back… 4 plays :) I had lots of 1 plays, so I guess I spread out the love this week :)
I really like the Smooth Old-Fashioned High song. Will have to check them out more.
And of course yay for the Depeche Mode.
I agree with you about spreading the music… there are SO many artists I’ve checked out because of you and others. It really is a great thing you’re doing here. Thank you for sharing your finds (and your favorites) with us!
One more thing… I heard that Hilary Duff rip-off awhile back. Talk about ruining a perfectly awesome song. Hilary Duff and Depeche Mode do not belong in the same sentence let alone doing the same song!!!
Nope, Swap, not throwing anything at ya over the country pop radio comment. This rock chick has actually been watching GAC and CMT and listening to a lot of blues to get a better feel for music as a whole. I never realized what a musical rut I had gotten into – listening to the same stuff and never opening up to the new. Thanks for the Frontloader and your willingness to share your musical insights and downloads. I’m diggin’ Coal Black Blues, so off to hear more from this group . . .
I am lovin’ Smooth Old-Fashioned High! Thanks for a new band to check out.
Another interesting list, Tommy. I didn’t know Miranda Lambert was from Nashville Star, I didn’t watch until the brother and sister were on, and then only half the time. I like her. Odetta’s voice is amazing. Thanks!
Your iTunes should do a good job of organizing your music! Are you misnaming the individual songs?
I agree that her albums are unique when you compare it to the others. The songs are rockin’ and her ballads ARE great :)
They, unfortunately ARE mentioned in the same sentence now :(
Glad you’re diggin’ on SOFH! They’re a great band that will hopefully get more attention in 2009
Thank you for checking out the music here!
I never watched Nashville Star, so I didn’t know she was on the show until I did research on her. She’s a great singer and songwriter… deserves all her success! And Odetta has an amazing voice and music collection…
I KNEW that Kid Rock song sounded like something else I’d heard. I had to go Google it to find out for sure after you peaked my interest with the All Summer Long comment.
And I second (or would it be third now) the request for a blog related to music organization. My iTunes keeps everything nice and organized – by artist, album, song title, etc…..but what kinds of playlists do you have? How many different kinds (I think I have something like 12 and that’s too many, I need to get it down to less, but I don’t know what to get rid of) of playlists do you have? Are any of them automatic based on music genre that iTunes loads the songs with? Do you add an album or song to a playslist as soon as you load it?
For example, I have a friend who rates songs as they play based on the playlist he wants them in. 1 star is mellow, 2 stars is acoustic stuff, 5 stars is rockin’ like no tomorrow, etc., etc. I tend to organize mine by mood or by what I’m typically doing when I listen to the playlist. I actually have ne called “House Cleaning” that is all my dancy, upbeat songs.
And since many of us rely on you for new music info, it seems like a logical question. :) So what do YOU do Swap? The world wants to know…..
I’m giving you a big ol hug for the Lemonheads plug. I’m misty right now.
And yes, sampling should be a crime. I’m all about cover songs….like that cover of Heaven a few years back by DJ Sammy. Some cringe…..I am running to find out where I can get my copy!
I LOVE SOFH! I am glad to see others enjoying as well. Wait until you hear the new songs that will be on their next album! HUGE FAN!
SOFH….MORE!