This Week’s Top 5 Most Played Songs From Swap’s iTunes

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.

For those of you that frequent TheFrontloader.com regularly, you may have noticed that things look a bit different here. Yes, you guessed it – we’ve got a new web design! We stayed up all night spiffying this place up for you… it’s a work in progress, so if you come across a page that looks a bit whack-a-doo, that’s because we haven’t gotten to it yet. Please be patient, pardon our dust, and be confident that in a matter of years days, all will be good to go. In the meantime, let’s get on with this post… (but doesn’t it look cool here?)

My buddy President Obama was on The View yesterday. He answered questions about his time in office, about whether Mel Gibson should get some anger management help, and about how he’s still the man when it comes to taking the skin boat to tuna town. I saw the whole segment and was annoyed that he forgot plug the Top 5 list here on TheFrontloader.com. He promised he would “sneak it in there,” as he put it… yet he did not even mention the site, let alone this weekly list! We had a brief text exchange after the segment aired (you might need this site to understand the entire conversation):

Me: Dude, what happened to the plug?
Prez: I thought I did? Did u watch the right channel?
Me: What are u TALKING about? Of course I watched the right channel! U didn’t plug the site!
Prez: ROFL yes I did!
Me: WTF dude u didn’t! Don’t lie to me, holmes!
Prez: 4COL Im 2BZ4UQT
Me: Do NOT do that! I hate it when you do that!
Prez: AFAIC AYSOS
Me: That’s it I’m comin’ ta gitcha
Prez: DKDC IYKWIMAITYD
Me: CUT IT OUT!
Prez: JEOMK
Me: Ok that’s it I’m going.

Here’s This Week’s Top 5 Most Played Songs From Swap’s iTunes!!!!

The Ones You Keep – The New Frontiers

A good friend of mine recommended The New Frontiers to me via their Daytrotter session. At first I thought to myself, “Self? Have you ever heard of The Frontiers?” to which I answered with a resounding “NOPE!” But I guess that didn’t matter because these are the NEW Frontiers. And “new” always means “new,” not “old.” Get that?

So I went checked out the session and totally dug it… I dug it so much that I’ve been playing it on a daily basis.

The New Frontiers are no more, unfortunately. According to their MySpace page, their last show was on January 3rd, 2009. I have no idea what the members are doing now… I’m just grateful they left us with some good music to be discovered.

I played “The Ones You Keep” 18 times this week.

Your Dig-It Download:

Download: The Ones You Keep (Daytrotter session)

[Amazon] [iTunes]

Stranded – The Walkmen

For some reason, I’ve been passing up The Walkmen every time I go through my iTunes. I have no reason for this, it just happens. Well, I finally decided to give them a go this last week and whadyaknow, they end up on the Top 5 list. Just goes to show you how foolish I was.

“Stranded” is off their upcoming album, Lisbon, which is set to drop on September 14th. The song centers around a horn motif that reminds me of a Mariachi band. It’s a unique flavor that I had to hear again and again… it’s incredibly relaxing, which is probably why I played it so much this week.

The Walkmen are set to play Lollapalooza on August 6th in Chicago. If you’re lucky enough to live in Chicago, you not only get to see Lollapalooza in August, but Soundgarden as well. Oh, you didn’t know that Soundgarden is coming to the Vic Theater on August 5th? I bet The Walkmen know this… and I bet they’re gonna try to catch that show since it’s the day before theirs.

Yeah, I’d love to be in Chicago for those two days. Anyhow, I played “Stranded” 13 times this week.

Your Dig-It Download:

Download: Stranded

[Amazon][iTunes]

Sleep Forever – Crocodiles

Crocodiles is another artist that I just came across on my iTunes. They’re set to release their album, Sleep Forever, on September 14th as well, same as The Walkmen. Say… they’re both on the same label, Fat Possum!

Coincidence? Believe it or not!

Crocodiles are Charles Rowell and Brandon Welchez, who met as teenagers in San Diego. Their bio describes their music this way: “Poppy vocal melodies are crushed with harsh electronic drums or lifted and left floating in spaced-out noise and echo. loud, wiry guitars jab wildly like mutant synapses skirting along a tightrope drone.This is the dark side of the California sun.” That’s quite a dramatic way to put it…

“Sleep Forever” struck me as a revisiting of the 60′s California sound. It reminded me of The Mamas & The Papas for some reason. Stereogum describes them as “The Velvet Underground swinging Jesus and Mary Chain.” I don’t know who’s right, but it’s a great sound, though… I dug it so much that I played “Sleep Forever” 10 times this week.

Your Dig-It Download:

Download: Sleep Forever

[Amazon] [iTunes

Everywhere I Go – Lissie

Since I already wrote about Lissie a short while ago, I think now would be the perfect time for this week’s limerick. These limericks are fun to write for me… I’m not quite sure if they’re A) fun for you or B) fun for the artist (if they should come across them), but since it’s all about me right now at 1:33am as I type this, I’m going to indulge myself.

Oh Lissie, your name sounds like “Lizzie”
Which reminds me of “Lizzie McGuire,” see?
But H. Duff you are not
And you sure ain’t no Hottentot
But do I pronounce the “S” as a “Z?”

Not my best work, but give me a break, it’s 1:36am.

“Everywhere I Go” is off her latest album, Catching a Tiger… I played it 9 times this week. I think Lissie is a spectacular artist and highly recommend that you find out all you can about her.

Your Dig-It Download:

Download: Everywhere I Go

[Amazon] [iTunes]

Pass You by – Gillian Welch

I first came across Gillian Welch during my frenzied Ryan Adams bootleg collecting days. The two sang a song called “Revelator,” which I had thought was an Adams original but turned out to be Welch’s. I said to myself, “Self? You gotta check her music out!” and since that was a simple, straightforward, and completely logical thing to think, I could not help but comply.

Welch usually performs with her musical partner, David Rawlings, a fantastic guitarist/singer as well.

“Pass You By” is off Welch’s 1996 debut album, Revival. According to Wikipedia, Rolling Stone magazine gave this album two out of 5 stars. Wow. That’s a kick in the crotch. I can’t seem to find the review online, but I’m extremely curious to see what they didn’t like about it. Welch’s voice is sharp and expressive, the music is right in line with the whole Alt. Country movement back then… they probably didn’t like the fact that “Welch” rhymes with “belch,” and everybody knows that “belch” is the secret word for “Devil.”

So in that respect, I can’t blame Rolling Stone. But TWO stars? Come on, guys… you gave Working on a Dream by Mr. Springsteen FIVE stars…. FIVE.

Anyhow, I played “Pass You By” 6 times this week… if you haven’t given Gillian Welch a listen, I hope this song piques your interest.

Your Dig-It Download:

Download: Pass You By

[Amazon] [iTunes]

Man ALIVE this place looks good! :-)

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