Jeff
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noisysun.bsky.social
Jeff
@noisysun.bsky.social
340 followers 80 following 2.9K posts
Interested in pop culture, modernism, and the arts.
Essex County, ON
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noisysun.bsky.social
Nice chord progression here in the last line of the chorus ... B flat is not in C major, but it's the IV major of F, which is the IV major of C, resolving it to move into the next verse.
Chord progress at the end of the chorus of Long, Long, Long Time. It features a B flat chord, which is not typical for C major, but resolves nicely into F.
November 19, 2025 at 12:54 AM
noisysun.bsky.social
Many cities in Southern Ontario are named after cities in England! Ilfracombe is a hamlet in Muskoka that's named after a seaside town in Devon.
Ilfracombe in Devon, England Ilfracombe near Huntsville, a few hours north of Toronto.
November 1, 2025 at 1:20 AM
noisysun.bsky.social
#ALL50RTS
Day 50
⭐12 pts! ⭐

Ambulance Blues
Neil Young
From "On the Beach"
1974 (CA)

Number one was always going to Neil Young, whose 1970s albums mean so much to me. But which song? This lament to the end of the idealism of the 60s seems to fit well here.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA2B...
The cover to "On the Beach" by Neil Young. In the image, Neil is facing away and looking out out at the ocean from Santa Monica Beach. In the foreground is a tacky-looking umbrella and lawn chair set with a floral pattern. A yellow 1959 Cadillac sticks out from the sand.
August 25, 2025 at 12:05 AM
noisysun.bsky.social
#ALL50RTS
Day 49
⭐11 pts ⭐

King of the World
Steely Dan
From "Countdown to Ecstasy"
1973 (US)

The Dan hurtles through the post-apocalyptic remains of New Mexico, as the celebratory, upbeat groove contrasts with lyrics of terror, dread, and sorrow.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Qd...
The cover to "Countdown to Ecstasy" by Steely Dan, featuring some gloopy-looking alien creatures lounging around.
August 23, 2025 at 11:56 PM
noisysun.bsky.social
#ALL50RTS
Day 48
⭐11 pts ⭐

A Case of You
Joni Mitchell
From "Blue"
1971 (CA)

"Canada ... Oh, Ca-na-da". Two of my last three picks are from my home country. Mitchell is starkly confessional and open as she packs her song with quotable lines and literary references.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqYp...
The cover of "Blue" by Joni Mitchell featuring a blue-tinted photograph of the singer.
August 23, 2025 at 1:04 AM
noisysun.bsky.social
#ALL50RTS
Day 47
⭐11 pts ⭐

Jesus, Etc.
Wilco
From "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot"
2002 (US)

This long-time favorite of my mine is from Wilco's highly creative art rock Americana phase. The lyrics have always appealed too ... they were right about the stars!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=USMs...
The cover to "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" from Wilco. The cover features a tinted mono-chromatic picture of the Marina Towers in Chicago.
August 22, 2025 at 1:16 AM
noisysun.bsky.social
#ALL50RTS
Day 46
⭐11 pts ⭐

At Last I Am Free
Chic
From "C'est Chic"
1978 (US)

We associate Chic with sophisticated dance/disco music. But this soulful, pathos-drenched ballad catches most everyone off guard. Amazing vocals by the very talented Alfa Anderson!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA3z...
The cover to "C'est Chic" by Chic, featuring the band lounging in the great hall of a country mansion. Everyone looks at least somewhat uncomfortable.
August 21, 2025 at 12:33 AM
noisysun.bsky.social
#ALL50RTS
Day 45

High to Death
Car Seat Headrest
From "Twin Fantasy (Face to Face)"
2018 (US)

It's another dark night of reckoning, this time after way too many drinks. The singer considers life, relationships, and the "ball on fire at the center of things".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=phzs...
The cover to "Twin Fantasy (Face to Face)" by Car Seat Headrest. It features two cartoon foxes hugging. Awww!
August 20, 2025 at 1:05 AM
noisysun.bsky.social
#ALL50RTS
Day 44

Ignoreland
R.E.M.
From "Automatic for the People"
1992 (US)

I'm out of sync with the R.E.M. consensus, but this politically-charged song is incredibly relevant right now. It sounds out of place on the album, but provides a tonal change of pace.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV63...
The cover of "Automatic for the People" by R.E.M., showing a star ornament from a hotel in Miami over an embossed background.
August 19, 2025 at 12:41 AM
noisysun.bsky.social
#ALL50RTS
Day 43

Perth
Bon Iver
From "Bon Iver"
2011 (US)

Themes of introspection and renewal have featured prominently in my list. The lyrics here (inspired by the death of Perth native Heath Ledger) are ambiguous. But the sound is epic and soaring!

www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
The cover to "Bon Iver" by Bon Iver. It features a painting of a house beside a woodland lake.
August 18, 2025 at 12:11 AM
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Day 42

Wordless Chorus
My Morning Jacket
From "Z"
2005 (US)

My last set before the top 5 returns to a favorite genre -- American college rock/alternative. Wordless Chorus combines some of my favorite musical influences in a feel-good, spacey groove.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOTO...
The cover to "Z" by My Morning Jacket. It features some owls in a fantasy setting. The art is by Louisville artist Kathleen Lolley, who often includes owls in her work.
August 17, 2025 at 12:41 AM
noisysun.bsky.social
#ALL50RTS
Day 41

A Night Like This
The Cure
From "The Head on the Door"
1985 (UK)

The Cure finds the right balance between doomed, mopey boys post-punk and accessible mid-tempo rock. It even has a sax solo! But it's still much darker than the hit parade.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBGz...
The cover to "The Head on the Door" by the Cure. It features a photo of Robert Smith's sister, enhanced with heavy photo-manipulation! Spooky!
August 16, 2025 at 12:42 AM
noisysun.bsky.social
#ALL50RTS
Day 40

Death or Glory
The Clash
From "London Calling"
1979 (UK)

Death or Glory is the Clash at their turbocharged best. It takes a skeptical, satirical view of the rock and roll lifestyle, selling out, and the fading of youthful rebellion. Harsh but fun!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td6I...
The iconic cover of "London Calling"by the Clash, showing Paul Simonson smashing his bass guitar.
August 15, 2025 at 1:07 AM
noisysun.bsky.social
#ALL50RTS
Day 39

Gimme Shelter
The Rolling Stones
From "Let it Bleed"
1969 (UK)

Any good vibes left over from the 60s were good and buried with this song. One of the darkest, most menacing bands of the era rocks & rolls through the shocks of war, rape, and murder.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbmS...
The cover to "Let it Bleed" by Rolling Stones. Figures of the Stones are perched on a cake on top of a tire, clock, and film reel ... all hovering over a copy of this record.
August 14, 2025 at 12:54 AM
noisysun.bsky.social
#ALL50RTS
Day 38

A Day in the Life
The Beatles
From "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
1967 (UK)

One of the Beatles' finest moments and a touchstone of 20th Century art. Lennon & McCartney work separately yet together to great effect. And that E chord!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=usNs...
The very famous cover to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by the Beatles, featuring the fab four in theatrical costumes in front of dozens of historical figures.
August 13, 2025 at 12:53 AM
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#ALL50RTS
Day 37

Panic in Detroit
David Bowie
From "Aladdin Sane"
1973 (UK)

Panic in Detroit highlights some of Bowie's best qualities -- the impressionistic lyrics and apocalyptic, paranoid alienation. But is the real star Mick Ronson's thundering guitar stomp?!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM3f...
The cover to "Aladdin Sane" by David Bowie, featuring Bowie adopting his persona de jour.
August 12, 2025 at 1:44 AM
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Day 36

Anna Stesia
Prince
From "LoveSexy"
1988 (US)

God is Love ... and Love is God. It's the "Dark night of the Soul" Prince style and perhaps the only track that could possibly follow Aretha. He combines so many genres here that I honestly lost track.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X-G...
The cover to "Lovesexy" by Prince, featuring the Purple one sitting naked on a bunch of flowers.
August 11, 2025 at 12:02 AM
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Day 35

Amazing Grace
Aretha Franklin
From "Amazing Grace"
1972 (US)

Here's a little bit of church for you this Sunday. Recorded live at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, this shows Franklin at her virtuoso best!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGN6...
The cover to "Amazing Grace" by Aretha Franklin. It shows the Queen of Soul sitting on the steps of the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.
August 10, 2025 at 1:22 AM
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Day 34

Golden Lady
Stevie Wonder
From "Innervisions"
1973 (US)

Classic soul weekend continues with an all-time favorite artist. I knew I was going to include a Wonder track, but which one? This one is a great example of his effortless charm and flow!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXCT...
The cover of "Innervisions" by Stevie Wonder. It features a portrait of the artist looking up at the sky with some stylized trees and mountains in the background.
August 9, 2025 at 12:59 AM
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Day 33

Where Are We Going
Marvin Gaye
From "You're the Man" (sorta)
1972 (sorta) (US)

This has the most convoluted release history of any song on my list, but the track itself is classic sweet soul. It's a confectionery counterpoint to "What's Going On".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XqI...
The cover to "You're the Man"by Marvin Gaye, featuring a serious-looking Gaye looking straight ahead.
August 8, 2025 at 12:38 AM
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Day 32

Boom Town
The New Seekers
From "New Colours"
1971 (AU/UK)

Likely one of the strangest picks in all of #ALL50RTS! Boom Town is the B-side to "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (the first single I owned), and completely unlike the MOR A-side.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkQS...
The cover to New Colours by the New Seekers. It features translucent images of the band a forest. The photographic style is "of its time".
August 7, 2025 at 12:44 AM
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Day 31

Love Got Lost
Joe Jackson feat. Marianne Faithfull
From "Night and Day II"
2000 (UK)

This record was never as popular as the original, but it's filled with diverse, interesting, and mature songs. Faithfull is great as the world weary career woman.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=G948...
The cover to "Night and Day II" by Joe Jackson. It shows a night-time view of New York City from a cab, with Jackson's face appearing in the rear-view mirror and the World Trade Center in the background.
August 6, 2025 at 12:52 AM
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Day 30

Nanfoulen
Mory Kanté
From "Akwaba Beach"
1987 (GN)

It's "odd-and-ends" time! Yes, the production is "of its time", but this classic soul-inspired bit of World Music is a great showcase for Kante's Griot vocals. It builds, so stick with it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN1q...
The cover to "Akwaba Beach" by Mory Kante. It shows the shadowed outlines of some dancers and musicians.
August 4, 2025 at 11:54 PM
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Day 28

Mysterons
Portishead
From "Dummy"
1994 (UK)

This doomed, gothic track doesn't seem right for summer. Although the whole album seems a bit haunted, this is perhaps the spookiest moment. Music for spirits seen and unseen.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=slDN...
The cover to "Dummy" by Portishead, featuring a still from the short film "To Kill a Dead Man".
August 4, 2025 at 12:56 AM
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Day 28

Xtal
Aphex Twin
From "Selected Ambient Works 85–92"
1992 (UK)

Here's the real 💠! Richard D. James transcends the ambient techno genre with this spectral, otherworldly song. It's one of those tracks that really should have been a single.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWcL...
The cover to "Selected Ambient Works 85-92" by Aphex Twin, featuring the AT logo
August 3, 2025 at 1:07 AM