I mentioned before a seminal moment in England where I learned about Supergrass. But I’ve never featured them on #HornSectionsMakeRockBetter. This is from their second album. Its bonus promotional disc has my favorite song they ever did, but alas! It has no horns.
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: A Girl Like You
Well how about some Ed Sullivan? Here are the Rascals, AKA the Young Rascals. Keep watching for the next video, “Groovin’.”
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: What Makes You Cry
You may know twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid from “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles),” but this song from their first album is even more genius. My favorite line: “Then I saw you on the streetYou looked happy, that’s a factI’m impressed – it’s a hell of an act”
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: Making Contact
I’m not sure about the video here, but I guess it’s better than looking at a fixed image of album art. In college I spent a summer in Washington, D.C. I’d like to thank my host family for introducing me to Cockburn and taking me to see him live. Phil and Gail, I miss you!
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: You Can Call Me Al
Paul Simon at the peak, perhaps, of his solo career. Chevy Chase at peak Chevy Chase. As silly as the video is, the making of the Graceland album was filled with controversy due to the apartheid cultural boycott. There is a fascinating documentary that gives Simon’s side. The album is so good that this is maybe the fifth best song …
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: Badhead
On a trip to England in 1995, I stopped by a record shop and asked for a recommendation. The clerk described two albums as “brilliant,” pronounced in a way only the British can do, with bare impressions of Ls, Ns and Ts. I bought both CDs and fell in love with both bands. I own all their records now. The …
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: Night Boat to Cairo
It was only a matter of time before #HornSectionsMakeRockBetter featured ska. Specifically, Madness. Sure, we could go with “Our House,” but this video is far cornier and ridiculous. Plus, it’s an unseasonably cool May, and I need some Egyptian heat.
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: [Nothing But] Flowers
My favorite Talking Heads song. The video is charming: They (including Kristy MacColl and Johnny Marr) are having fun. I wonder how the occasional facts meant to motivate political action rest with Byrne’s claim that he “was an angry young man” who would “pretend that [he] was a billboard.” Regardless, it all seems ahead of its time. How much abandoned …
Horn Sections Make Rock Better: Peace Tonight
Fun fact about me: I have been able to predict, with 90-percent accuracy, which Indigo Girls songs were written by Emily Saliers vs. Amy Ray. This one is definitely Emily.