Hey, did you hear that Karen Jonas has a new record out?!?! We’re super excited for it and it’s called “Country Songs.” She’s going to be bringing those Country Songs to The Blue Side on Dec. 8, which, for those keeping score, is one week from Thursday. We recently caught up with her to see if she’d be willing to contribute to our Celebrity Playlist series, and check it out: She was actually nice enough to do just that! Love her. Really. Love. Her. But we digress. More accurately, both Jonas and her guitar player, Tim Bray, were kind enough to give us five songs they can’t get enough of right now. So, go support her when she comes to town next week, friends. We promise you won’t regret it.
Karen’s List
Leonard Cohen: “Chelsea Hotel #2”
Of course I’ve been on a Leonard Cohen binge since his passing – this and many more – but “Chelsea Hotel #2” has it all. “We are ugly but we have the music.” Preach it, LC.
The Wallflowers: “Invisible City”
“Bringing Down the Horse” practically jumped off the shelf at my local music shop last week. Used? $3? Yes please! “Invisible City” emerged as my daughters’ favorite track. Yes! Now they’ve been running around the house singing, “This place is a whorehouse tonight.” No!
Ray Charles: “Lonely Avenue”
My car and I haven’t quite hit the digital age, and Ray Charles’ “Greatest Hits” has been hanging around my CD player for a few months now. This one gets stuck in my head something awful.
Joni Mitchell: “The Last Time I Saw Richard”
I can’t go on a Leonard Cohen binge without checking in with Joni (because they’re both Canadian? Because they were perhaps lovers? Because I love them both?). I like the version of “Miles of Aisles” best. “All romantics meet the same fate someday, cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark café.”
Elvis: “Blue Christmas”
Sorry/not sorry. Sitting on my turntable right now.
Tim’s List
Rolling Stones: “Torn and Frayed”
Favorite track off my favorite album. It’s an ode to pitfalls of hard living and the excesses of the rock and roll lifestyle.
Rancid: “Roots Radicals”
Skipping school and riding the city bus ’cause you’re too broke to do anything else while acquiring musical education from a fellow passenger blasting reggae on his boom box.
The Hold Steady: “Constructive Summer”
Let this be our annual reminder that we can all be something bigger.
Steely Dan: “Deacon Blues”
Everyone loves an anti-hero slinking around the suburban streets once the sun goes down, ready to cross that fine line.
Counting Crows: “Mr. Jones”
We all want to pass as cats, but we’ve all got different reasons for that. Wonder if Adam Duritz still questions his rock star dreams? Probably.
