Mike Frey
mfrey23.bsky.social
Mike Frey
@mfrey23.bsky.social
“What really matters is what you like, not what you are like. Books, records, films—these things matter." — Rob Gordon, High Fidelity
FreyTunes 1/2: "Seven Nights Seven Days" — The Fratellis

The Fratellis have released a handful of songs that I love as much as any I've ever heard. This is one of them.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5QL...
The Fratellis - Seven Nights Seven Days
YouTube video by TheFratellisVEVO
www.youtube.com
January 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
#MemoryMusic
#MusicChallenge

12/31 - Death or funeral
"Don't Believe a Word" — Thin Lizzy

As a kid, I read about Phil Lynott's death in CIRCUS Magazine. I had heard of Thin Lizzy but never would have guessed that they would become one of my favorite bands one day.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6P-...
Don't Believe A Word
YouTube video by Thin Lizzy - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 31, 2024 at 4:15 PM
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#MusicChallenge

12/30 - Wild card
"Keep On Dancing" — The Gentrys

At age 5, I obsessively listened to old 45s on my Fisher-Price record player. 3 songs got me hooked: "Eleanor Rigby," "Ruby Tuesday," and "Keep On Dancing"—my 1st "favorite song" ever.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QDy...
NEW * Keep On Dancing - The Gentrys {Stereo}
YouTube video by Smurfstools Oldies Music Time Machine
www.youtube.com
December 30, 2024 at 3:51 PM
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#MusicChallenge

12/29 - Strange encounter
"Honolulu Blues" — Craig Finn

I once ran into the guy from Hootie & the Blowfish at the Honolulu airport. Since I don't really like his music, here's some Craig Finn.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ijk...
Honolulu Blues
YouTube video by Craig Finn - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 29, 2024 at 9:15 PM
FreyTunes 12/28: The Noise From Above: 23 More Songs From 2024

Every December, I compile two playlists of my favorite songs released during the past year. Here's Part 2

open.spotify.com/playlist/1Ab...
The Noise From Above: 23 More Songs From 2024
Playlist · Mike Frey · 23 items
open.spotify.com
December 28, 2024 at 4:33 PM
#MemoryMusic
#MusicChallenge

12/28 - A house you lived in
"Hostile, Mass." — The Hold Steady

The house I grew up in was in a neighborhood called Charlemagne, just like the guy from all of those songs by The Hold Steady.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fjw...
The Hold Steady - Hostile, Mass.
YouTube video by SmokeyPotatoJoe
www.youtube.com
December 28, 2024 at 2:40 PM
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#MusicChallenge

12/27 - First Kiss
"I Think We're Alone Now" — Tiffany

This song was playing at a party during a game of Spin the Bottle. My first KISS, however, was Lick It Up, which I bought on cassette when I was 8.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsi4...
I Think We're Alone Now
YouTube video by Tiffany - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 28, 2024 at 2:24 PM
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#MusicChallenge

12/26 - Hobbies/interests
"Sports" — Beach Bunny

I like sports, specifically softball, baseball, football, and—to a lesser degree—basketball.

www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
Beach Bunny - Sports (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Beach Bunny
www.youtube.com
December 26, 2024 at 2:48 PM
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#MusicChallenge

12/25 - The holiday
"Christmas Was Better In The 80s" — The Futureheads

Yeah, it was. Merry Christmas!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHNp...
The Futureheads - Christmas Was Better In The 80s
YouTube video by TheFutureheadsTV
www.youtube.com
December 25, 2024 at 11:52 AM
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#MusicChallenge

12/24 - Higher education
"When I Write My Master's Thesis" — John K. Samson

I didn't have to write a thesis, but I did earn my Master's in Secondary Education about a year ago.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S5U...
John K. Samson - "When I Write My Master's Thesis"
YouTube video by Epitaph Records
www.youtube.com
December 24, 2024 at 12:06 PM
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#MusicChallenge

12/23 - Visiting a city
"Almost Crimes (Radio Kills Remix)" — Broken Social Scene

I've been to New York a few times, but one trip in 2003 stands out because that's when I saw Broken Social Scene at the Mercury Lounge.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT7W...
Almost Crimes (Radio Kills Remix)
YouTube video by Broken Social Scene - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2024 at 2:11 PM
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#MusicChallenge

12/22 - World event
"Silver Lining" — Beulah

I typically buy albums on their release dates, but I was too busy watching the news to go buy my copy of The Coast Is Never Clear by Beulah, which came out on Sept. 11, 2001.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OZS...
Silver Lining
YouTube video by Beulah - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2024 at 2:01 PM
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#MusicChallenge

12/21 - Pets
"Greyhound" — The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

I don't have a greyhound, but I do have a Shih Tzu named Spencer.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=292B...
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Greyhound
YouTube video by Shove Records
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2024 at 2:18 PM
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#MusicChallenge

12/20 - A birth
"December 17th" — Hot Water

I discovered this album because my birthday was a song title but still listen to it because it's damn good.Too bad the band name & album title cause confusion with a more well-known band.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaSY...
December 17th
YouTube video by Hot Water - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2024 at 11:51 AM
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#MusicChallenge

12/19 - Failure
"Fall Semester" — The Get Up Kids

Failure notices for the fall semester are due tomorrow, and I'm going to have to fill out a few of them.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkH7...
Fall Semester
YouTube video by The Get Up Kids - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 19, 2024 at 11:52 AM
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#MusicChallenge

12/18 - Success
"C'mon Kids" — The Boo Radleys

My greatest successes are my two kids.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH0t...
The Boo Radleys - C'Mon Kids
YouTube video by WhackaWhacka
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2024 at 12:01 PM
FreyTunes 12/17: A Pocketknife and a Megaphone: 23 Songs From 2024

Every December, I compile a playlist of my favorite songs released during the past year. Here it is:

open.spotify.com/playlist/2Pz...
A Pocketknife and a Megaphone: 23 Songs From 2024
Playlist · Mike Frey · 23 items
open.spotify.com
December 17, 2024 at 11:49 AM
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#MusicChallenge

12/17 - Artistic pursuit
"Everyday I Write the Book" — Elvis Costello and the Attractions

I wrote a book—or at least a very small portion of it: the All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul (3rd Edition)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajw8...
Everyday I Write The Book
YouTube video by Elvis Costello - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 17, 2024 at 11:46 AM
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#MusicChallenge

12/16 - Leaving a job
"Oxford Comma" — Vampire Weekend

When I left my job as a writer 13 years ago to become a high school English teacher, a lot of things changed, but I still had to give a fuck about an Oxford comma.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_i1...
Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma
YouTube video by XL Recordings
www.youtube.com
December 16, 2024 at 4:29 PM
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For some reason, my 8th grade class went on a field trip to the Motorola campus in Schaumburg. My soundtrack for the bus trip was the then-new album by The Cult.

12/15 - Field trip
"Fire Woman" — The Cult

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlYk...
Fire Woman
YouTube video by The Cult - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 16, 2024 at 12:52 AM
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#MusicChallenge

12/14 - Fave color
"Two Blue Lights" — Songs: Ohia

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QnL...
Two Blue Lights
YouTube video by Songs: Ohia - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 14, 2024 at 5:17 PM
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#MusicChallenge

My initial taste in music was heavily influenced by my older sister, which meant this song could be heard regularly blasting out of my boombox when I was 8.

12/13 - Siblings/parents
"Flight of Icarus" — Iron Maiden

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMiE...
Iron Maiden - Flight Of Icarus (Remastered 2021)
YouTube video by Vista Records
www.youtube.com
December 13, 2024 at 11:58 AM
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#MusicChallenge

12/12 - Cooking
"Ham 'N' Eggs" — A Tribe Called Quest

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUsr...
Ham 'N' Eggs
YouTube video by A Tribe Called Quest - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 12, 2024 at 2:56 PM
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#MusicChallenge

12/11 - Children's song
"Roy G. Biv" — They Might Be Giants

When he was young, my son was a huge fan of TMBG's kids' albums (and their regular stuff, too). It's no surprise he has great taste in music today.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf33...
They Might Be Giants - Roy G Biv (official TMBG video)
YouTube video by TMBGkids
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2024 at 11:38 AM

#MemoryMusic
#MusicChallenge

12/10 - Spiritual experience
"Left of the Dial" — The Replacements

The Replacements broke up before I started going to shows regularly. After years of seeing Tommy & Paul solo, Bash & Pop, and Perfect, I finally got to see this.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJQi...
The Replacements, "Left of the Dial", Riot Fest, Chicago 2013
YouTube video by dephot
www.youtube.com
December 10, 2024 at 11:52 AM