“Ocean in the Way” — the third track on Farm — recalls the spirit of Neil Young & Crazy Horse. At midpoint, Mascis goes into a melancholic interlude and sing-speaks: “Come on down/Got some work to do”. Then he launches into a short solo that soars like a Raymond Carver story.

Let’s hear it for massive wah wah induced guitar solos. I hope Dinosaur Jr. stick around for 10-more years.

Funny story, any time I meet someone from Gainesville I automatically assume they might be cool, and that they will be familiar with bands like HWM, Radon and Spoke and of course No Idea Records. Strangely, they usually just shake their heads “no” and offer up a tidbit or two about Gainesville’s hometown hero, Tom Petty.

I don’t listen to Hot Water Music nearly enough. But when I do I inevitably turn to “220 Years” the opening track off the band’s awe-inspiring 1997 release Fuel for the Hate Game.

This song makes standing in freezing rain waiting on the dog to drop a load a manageable affair. This song balances out my mind as I ride the elevator to 12th floor for another day at the office. This song reminds me that I still have a pulse amidst the lost and the weary.

The interface works almost identically to Twitter, with a couple of other music oriented features. With Twitter you have followers and with Blip you get listeners. The other community aspect is that when someone likes a tune that you Blip — they give you “props”. It seems like the more props and @mentions you give and get — the more listeners one acquires. This makes you feel incredibly important and self-satisfied. There are people on Blip with something like 12,000 listeners. I’m not sure how they’ve accumulated that many listeners; although, I imagine it comes from spending a lot time blipping. This to me — will eventually be the down fall of Blip unless the admin starts practicing a little quality control.

All in all the popularity contest is pretty silly, but I still dig the site as an opportunity to create online play lists for free. And I have to say, there is a certain satisfaction that comes when some random Joe from Dayton gives me props for throwing up an old Avail tune.

Also, I heard the Real Kids today on the Underground Garage for the first time, and was blown away by their sound. And the tune “Glad”, by Traffic, is as good as Grandma’s oatmeal cookies. How about Wire’s first album, Pink Flag? I am ashamed to say I only came to discover that album last month. Not too many bands can say they were doing post-punk before the hey day’s of punk was even over.

Okay, time to feed the baby, and come check me out on Blip if you get a chance.

Cheers to the guy who invented summer.

The Story: (go to the bottom of this post to download or stream)

1. The Boys — “Monotony”
2. Small Faces — “Tin Soldier”
3. Brant Bjork — “Punk Rock Guilt”
4. Toots & The Maytals — “Time Tough”
5. Seam — “Petty Thievery”
6. Halo Benders — “On a Tip”
7. Drive by Truckers — “Marry Me”
8. King Khan and the Shrines — “No Regrets”
9. Humble Pie — “I Don’t Need No Doctor”

Picking out the records is always fun — yet stressful. That’s because every song counts. And keeping within the spirit of competitive male bonding — someone always wins.

Throughout the week, I’m making out my set list with the hope that I will impress my buddies with a rare Pretty Things LP or some out-of-print Badfinger album I picked up for $3 at a flea market in Maine. Phrases like: “Hey man, who is this?” or “Can I see the liner notes?” earn big points. Excessive talking during your set about other bands people are currently listening to is a bad sign.

It was on one of those nights a few years back that I came in contact with Chubby Checker’s psychedelic album, New Revelation. I don’t recall the name Chubby Checker ever conjuring thoughts of greatness, just “The Twist”. Before he slapped the album on the record player a fellow competitor declared: “This album isn’t what you think. After this, you will never again think of Chubby Checker as the dancing clod from American Bandstand.”

Initially, I was skeptical, and exclaimed, “I don’t know, dude. Chubby Checker is definitely not cool.”

Then he hit play and the song “Goodbye Victoria” erupted. That’s when I apologized. “I should have never doubted you,” I said.

The first track was a stirring groove that slapped me in the face with cool water, and then Chubby:  “We’ll be in heaven. In the light of day,” I don’t fully understand why this song is so good. There are organ solos that merge into piano interludes. Chubby’s voice is deep and powerful. Everything fits together in a room where nothing makes sense.

During the chorus, Chubby talks a little more about Victoria. He says, “Goodbye Victoria. Everyone is going to the moon.” That’s deep.

Either way, I like it. I don’t necessarily get it — but I sure as shit dig it. So here’s to Chubby. And here’s to “Man Night”. And here’s to you.