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"She Sells Sanctuary" by The Cult

2012-11-02T22:12:00.000-04:00

Album: Love (1985)
Playlist: High intensity workout mix
1. "She Sells Sanctuary" by The Cult
2. "Back in Black" by AC/DC
3. "Slow Hands" by Interpol
4. "Hot Hot Hot!!!" by The Cure
5. "E-Pro" by Beck
6. "Float On" by Modest Mouse
7. "An Honest Mistake" by The Bravery
8. "The Modern Age" by The Strokes
9. "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) by Arcade Fire
10. "Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil

"She Sells Sanctuary" is probably The Cult's best-known song, and they have some really good ones in their canon. Put this on your gym playlist and your workout will undoubtedly intensify. The soaring swirly guitar riff and howling solo are the stuff of hyper activity. And it's just really solid straight-forward rock and roll. The lyrics on "She Sells Sanctuary" are nothing extraordinary, and mostly repetitive. But the classic line "The fire in your eyes keeps me alive" earns the real estate in your head. Hard not to feel upbeat after listening to this one.

"Part 1: Acknowledgement" by John Coltrane

2012-09-27T23:33:00.000-04:00

Album: A Love Supreme (1965)
Playlist: Late night jams
1. "I Wanna Be Adored" by Stone Roses
2. "All Tomorrow's Parties" by The Velvet Underground
3. "Spanish Key" by Miles Davis
4. "Mystic Rhythms" by Rush
5. "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" by Radiohead
6. "Personal Jesus" by Johnny Cash
7. "Time" by Tom Waits
8. "New Dawn Fades" by Joy Division
9. "Part 1 (Acknowledgement)" by John Coltrane
10. "Oscillate Wildly" by The Smiths

The best playlist involving A Love Supreme would probably be playing the album from start to finish. But mixing it up is what this blog is all about, and it keeps things interesting. Master of the four-note motif, A Love Supreme captures a range of emotions and its power sweeps you up. "Part 1: Acknowledgement" leaves room for interpretation, but it's so potent it commands how you feel when you listen to it. With "Part 1: Acknowledgement," we're freed and held captive at the same time. It's musical genius.

"Chapel Song" by We Are Augustines

2012-08-16T23:00:00.000-04:00

Album: Rise Ye Sunken Ships (2011)
Playlist: Made in Brooklyn
1. "Afraid of Everyone" by The National
2. "Ana Ng" by They Might Be Giants
3. "Dead Presidents 2" by Jay-Z
4. "The Wake" by The Albertans
5. "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed
6. "Size Too Small" by Sufjan Stevens
7. "9th Wonder" by Digable Planets
8. "Daylight" by Matt & Kim
9. "Bubblehouse" by Medeski Martin & Wood
10. "Chapel Song" by We Are Augustines

A simple, poetic story of the guy who doesn't get the girl. We've heard this story before. But "Chapel Song" is a righteous, gut-wrenching foot stomper instead of a pitiful sobfest. Billy McCarthy seems to pour every ounce of sweat into his songs. And it's hard not to be moved. I love the line "Got a pocket full of handshakes. And it don't mean nothing." The triumphant horn arrangement is simply a front. The guy in the lyrics is most likely living out the endless nervous pacing of the guitar strum.

"Bright as Yellow" by The Innocence Mission

2012-07-12T22:51:00.002-04:00

Album: Glow (1995)

Playlist: Color nights

1. "Bright As Yellow" by The Innocence Mission

2. "Cherry-Coloured Funk" by Cocteau Twins

3. "Pale Blue Eyes" by The Velvet Underground

4. "Blue Skies" by Noah and the Whale

5. "Red Hill Mining Town" by U2

6. "Pink Moon" by Nick Drake

7. "Purple Rain" by Prince

8. "Green Gloves" by The National

9. "Blue in Green" by Miles Davis

10. "Yellow" by Coldplay

"Bright as Yellow"'s video features a child catching fireflies in an open field, imagery that closely matches the idyllic, optimistic feel of the lyrics. Many listeners remember this song made it onto the classic Empire Records soundtrack, an honor in itself. But it even managed to be a standout on the album. "Bright as Yellow" almost feels like it's being performed among friends on a backyard deck on a summer night. We're treated to one of American rock's hidden gems: Karen Peris' warm, unassuming voice. And for about three and a half minutes, everything seems pretty much perfect.

"All the Way" by New Order

2012-06-17T00:16:00.001-04:00

Album: Technique (1989)
Playlist: Lazy summer nights
1. "When You Notice the Stripes" by The Shins
2. "You Do" by Aimee Mann
3. "All Along the Watchtower" by Bob Dylan
4. "All the Way" by New Order
5. "Twilight" by Future of Forestry
6. "Pink Moon" by Nick Drake
7. "More Than This" by Roxy Music
8. "Seymour Stein" by Belle & Sabastian
9. "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" by Radiohead
10. "End of the Night" by The Doors

Technique isn't short on dance tracks and synth grooves. There's a party atmosphere here that must've taken some cues from Ibiza, the recording location for a good chunk of the album. So when "All the Way" introduced a little more laid-back rock into the recording, it added depth and relief. Hooky's unique upper-register bass delivery - one of the last few traces of Joy Division gold - carries the song on its back. And I love how the synthesizers take a back seat to the guitars. "All the Way" is a departure compared to the rest of Technique, but still somehow fits nicely.

"My Girls" by Animal Collective

2012-04-25T22:53:00.001-04:00

Album: Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)
Playlist: Experimental moods

1. "Hang On To Your Ego" by The Beach Boys
2. "All Tomorrow's Parties" by The Velvet Underground
3. "My Girls" by Animal Collective
4. "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down" by Miles Davis
5. "In Every Dream Home a Heartache" by Roxy Music
6. "Year of the Dog" by Sufjan Stevens
7. "Welcome to the Machine" by Pink Floyd
8. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by The Beatles
9. "Hidden Place" by Bjork
10. "Where I End and You Begin" by Radiohead

Your guitarist takes a leave of absence from your band. It's like, a major instrument. Now what? How about write a kick-ass song like "My Girls" for an equally kick-ass album like Merriweather Post Pavilion that many will dub the Pet Sounds of the 21st Century. You could do worse. "My Girls" is full of samples, textures, and aural dimensions. And its lyrics feel like the antithesis of rock and roll. The biggest compliment I can give "My Girls" is that it makes me think about music differently. Music doesn't have to placed in a neatly packaged box with a clearly labeled genre. It can, however, sound unlike anything you've ever heard before. "My Girls" is musical catharsis.

"Atlantic City" by Bruce Springsteen

2012-02-19T22:44:00.000-05:00

Album: Nebraska (1982)
Playlist: Americana

1. "6th Avenue Heartache" by The Wallflowers
2. "Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)" by The Doors
3. "Atlantic City" by Bruce Springsteen
4. "The Upper Peninsula" by Sufjan Stevens
5. "The Big Country" by Talking Heads
6. "American Girl" by Tom Petty
7. "Across the Lines" by Tracy Chapman
8. "Ashes of American Flags" by Wilco
9. "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
10. "Little America" by R.E.M.

Few songwriters can you take you deeper into the heartland of America than Bruce Springsteen. And the raw, harmonica-drenched songs on Nebraska are as blue as blue collar can be. That's what I love about the album as a whole. Just good old honest, soul-quenching music. "Atlantic City", in particular, is the stuff of road trips, diner jukeboxes, and last calls. It captures an American dream gone wrong, but leaves open the possibility for things to be redeemed. "Atlantic City" also has a genuine homemade feel. In fact, the Boss recorded it in his bedroom. But I think the most appealing aspect of the song is that classic line: "Everything dies, baby, that's a fact, but maybe everything that dies someday comes back."

"Bodyrock" by Moby

2012-01-10T14:02:00.000-05:00

Album: Play (1999)

Playlist: Weight training mix
1. "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes
2. "Disappear" by Metallica
3. "Sabotage" by Beastie Boys
4. "Neighborhood #3: Power Out" by Arcade Fire
5. "Epic" by Faith No More
6. "Reptilia" by The Strokes
7. "Bodyrock" by Moby
8. "Geek USA" by Smashing Pumpkins
9. "Trampled Under Foot" by Led Zeppelin
10. "Head On" by Jesus & Mary Chain

Like the loud spotter in the gym that everyone can hear, Moby's "Bodyrock" is especially useful in getting those last couple of reps out of you. Hearing "Bodyrock" is like soaking in a hot tub of electronic, rock, funk, and rap. Multiple genres come together on this one to belt out a singular, musically addictive experience. The samples are perfect. The beats sublime. "Bodyrock" motivates, revives, and unabashedly leads the way.

"Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses

2011-12-19T20:00:00.002-05:00

Album: I Could Rule the World if I Could Only Get the Parts (1982, EP)

Playlist: Christmas party mix
1. "Christmas Time" by Smashing Pumpkins
2. "What Christmas Means to Me" by Stevie Wonder
3. "Little Drummer Boy" by Jars of Clay
4. "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses
5. "What Child is This Anyway?" by Sufjan Stevens
6. "Blue Christmas" by Bright Eyes
7. "The First Noel/Mary Mary" by Sarah McLachlan
8. "Let it Snow" by Luscious Jackson
9. "Christmas Time is Here" by Vince Guaraldi Trio
10. "Gabriel's Message" by Sting

Hard to believe that "Christmas Wrapping" has been rocking out at Christmas parties and department stores now for three decades. And it's still one of my favorites. It doesn't capture the true meaning of Christmas, but it does a spot-on job of explaining how the holiday season has become the antithesis of rest and enjoyment. Musically, the maddening bass line is the star, mimicking the chaos and busyness of the season. But the horns kick plenty of ass, too, with celebratory and grand arrangements. Amusing lyrics like "A&P has provided me with the world's smallest turkey" only make the song that much better.

"Kind and Generous" by Natalie Merchant

2011-11-24T22:22:00.000-05:00

Album: Ophelia (1998)
Playlist: Thanksgiving tracks

Try mixing with:
"All Because of You" by U2
"Give Thanks and Praise" by Bob Marley
"Thank You" by Led Zeppelin
"Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
"Thanksgiving Prayer" by Johnny Cash

A Thanksgiving song if there ever was one. Natalie Merchant penned and sung several optimistic songs over the years - both with 10,000 Maniacs and in her solo work. And this one ranks as one of the best. The guitar picking transcends banality, hiccupping its way into Merchant's falsetto intro. "Kind and Generous" boasts simplicity. There's nothing incredibly intricate musically, although there's a nice refined delicacy to the organ. Merchant's voice is the highlight, and she serves up iconic, sing-songy lyrics that suck you in. The best part of the song, by far, is the soaring bridge at the 2:43 mark.

"Leif Erikson" by Interpol

2011-11-03T11:12:00.011-04:00

Album: Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)
Playlist: Closers

Try mixing with:
“Fools Gold” by The Stone Roses
“Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens
“Tea in the Sahara” by The Police
“Take it or Leave it” by The Strokes
“Bedshaped” by Keane

The final track on Turn on the Bright Lights was arguably the best. And today it’s still one of my favorite all-time Interpol anthems. Haunting and hypnotic, “Leif Erikson” didn’t give us a history lesson, but instead got its name from the imagery it evoked – a galleon approaching a coastline in the dead of night. “Leif Erikson” captures all that is good with Interpol. Groove, atmosphere, and friction so powerful, you can overlook the strangely erratic lyrics. “Leif” has some of the band’s best lyrical moments (“Her rabid glow is like braille to the night”), and also some of its worst “Well then hook me up and throw me baby cakes, cuz I like to get hooked”). The haunting church organs, gorgeous harmonics, and use of guitar as a primary rhythm instrument once again provide redemption and musical rebirth for Interpol.

"A Letter to Elise" by The Cure

2011-09-23T22:26:00.002-04:00

Album: Wish (1992)
Playlist: Pen Pals

Try mixing with:
"Dear Avery" by The Decemberists
"Dear Prudence" by Siouxsie & the Banshees
"Writing to Reach You" by Travis
"Letter Never Sent" by REM
"Dear Dead Days" by The Chameleons

"I just can't stand here every yesterday." "At least I'd lose this sense of sensing." "The make-believe ran out." The lyrics were more than good enough to stand on their own. "A Letter to Elise" brought a sense of completeness to The Cure canon. It revealed a more melodic Robert Smith. And while Cure songs have always shown a bipolar tendency - one moment melancholy, the next whimsical - the layered instrumentation on "A Letter to Elise" stitches both states together beautifully. The song is bookended with sprightly elements, making for one ironic melancholy sandwich. Intricate webs of wallow. And darn good at it.

"Blue Ridge Mountains" by Fleet Foxes

2011-08-12T23:35:00.000-04:00

Album: Fleet Foxes (2008)
Playlist: Mellow harmonies

Try mixing with:
"Teach Your Children" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
"Secure Yourself" by Indigo Girls
"If I Fell" by The Beatles
"Heaven Beside You" by Alice in Chains
"Homeward Bound" by Simon & Garfunkel

Fleet Foxes are a breath of fresh air. A band from another era. They don't rely on hooks or high production values. Instead, they pull you in with brilliant harmonies, textures, and poetic lyrics that throw you into various states. Some of them downright eerie. "Blue Ridge Mountains" is one of the best examples of this. It's simultaneously cold and cozy. The harmonies in the chorus are gold. Like many other Fleet Foxes songs, "Blue Ridge Mountains" sounds like the second coming of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. And that's never a bad thing.

"What'd I Say" by Ray Charles

2011-07-03T22:03:00.002-04:00

Album: What'd I Say (1959)
Playlist: Weekend Roadtrip

Try mixing with:
"Rebel Rebel" by David Bowie
"Soul Kitchen" by The Doors
"Take Me to the River" by Talking Heads
"Town Called Malice" by The Jam
"Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty

Gospel. Blues. Soul. Rock and roll. "What'd I Say" has it all. I can't think of another song that blends all of these genres better. Back in the late 50's, these musical styles had no business appearing on the same record together. That made Ray Charles a pioneer, and a musical genius for getting it right. "What'd I Say" isn't confined by categories. It's just really, really good music. And it's especially awesome for road tripping. It seems like it was made especially for rides at night with the top down. Some enthusiasts are waiting for the next "What'd I Say." I say don't waste your time. There will be no next. We were lucky and blessed enough to have it once.

"Woman in Chains" by Tears for Fears

2011-04-01T21:46:00.000-04:00

Album: The Seeds of Love (1989)
Playlist: Breath stealers

Try mixing with:
"Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2
"Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol
"Fake Empire" by The National
"Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley
"But Not Tonight" by Depeche Mode

An amazing song through and through. There's a remarkable restraint that serves it well. It keeps things simple and powerful throughout - and it's the spark to an infectious build-up about halfway into the song. The vocals are the centerpiece. While you soak in the duet between Roland Orzabal and guest collaborator Oleta Adams you might forget to breathe. There's a serendipitous element to the song as well. My friend Aaron recently pointed out that TFF stumbled upon Oleta Adams performing at some hotel bar a couple of years before the recording. They were impressed enough to keep in touch with her and eventually asked her to collaborate on arguably TFF's best work. Soon after, she launched a successful recording career of her own. Which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

"Live Forever" by Oasis

2011-02-14T22:15:00.000-05:00

Album: Definitely Maybe (1994)
Playlist: Straight-up rock & roll

Try mixing with:
"Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day
"So. Central Rain" by R.E.M.
"Kamera" by Wilco
"And She Was" by Talking Heads
"Heroes" by David Bowie

I underestimated the staying power of "Live Forever" and Oasis. I didn't think the band would be around this long. I didn't think they'd garner the acclaim they've gotten over the years. And I certainly didn't think "Live Forever" would kick ass twenty years after it was originally written. This was one of the demo songs that got Oasis its record label contract with Creation. And it still sounds awesome even today. What makes "Live Forever" so appealing is its simplicity. There's nothing fancy about it, but from the opening high hat to the thrashy riff closer, it pulls you in and picks you up off the ground. "Live Forever" is often praised for its optimism. I think a more fitting term is confidence. I think the song firmly plants that trait deep into your ego. And there's also a confidence - almost an effortless groove - in the band, as if all it took was flipping the power switch on.

"Perfect Day" by Lou Reed

2011-02-04T23:34:00.000-05:00

Album: Transformer (1972)
Playlist: Somber beauty

Try mixing with:
"Trouble" by Coldplay
"Old Friends" by Simon & Garfunkel
"Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen
"No Surprises" by Radiohead
"Please, Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" by The Smiths

I'm not the biggest fan of Lou Reed as a singer, but there's something undeniably genius about the songwriting for "Perfect Day". I can't tell if he intentionally sings off-key but it seems to pair exceptionally well with the mood of the song - as it does on many of his other solo efforts and throughout the Velvet Underground catalog. "Perfect Day" is a wonder in its simplistic beauty. There's a somber piano part and some strings, and that's pretty much it. It's enveloping, which is one of the greatest compliments you can give a song. My friend Melissa Levinsohn deserves credit for including this on her wedding slideshow. I wish I'd thought of that one.

"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" by Marvin Gaye

2011-01-15T21:20:00.000-05:00

Album: What's Going On (1971)
Playlist: Environmentally-conscious

Try mixing with:
"My City Was Gone" by The Pretenders
"Clear Blue Skies" by Crosby, Stills & Nash
"Poison in the Well" by 10,000 Maniacs
"(Nothing But) Flowers" by Talking Heads
"Monkey Gone To Heaven" by Pixies

I think Marvin Gaye might have perfected soul music. His vocals were so smooth and he made it look effortless, often sending his falsetto through the roof. His vocals were about the only predictable element of success in "Mercy Mercy Me." While most songs from the early seventies were about love and peace, "Mercy Mercy Me" stuck out like a sore thumb, braving topics like smog, oil spills and radiation. There's an irony in the positive vibe of the melody juxtaposed with the depressing environmental ills listed in the lyrics. And the ending comes out of nowhere, an innovative slap in the face to pop music that still catches me off guard even after a hundred listens.

"Never Tear Us Apart" by INXS

2010-12-30T22:40:00.001-05:00

Album: Kick (1987)
Playlist: 1987 time capsule

Try mixing with:
"Notorious" by Duran Duran
"It's A Sin" by Pet Shop Boys
"Luka" by Suzanne Vega
"The One I Love" by R.E.M.
"At This Moment" by Billy Vera and The Beaters

If there was ever a medium that proved less is more, it's music. It's certainly the case with "Never Tear Us Apart," a song that uses pauses as well as any other I can think of. The first pause appears about a minute and a half in, giving way to a beautiful bluesy riff and an iconic drum build-up. The second pause gathers those same elements once again and then transitions nicely into a gorgeous saxophone solo. The empty spaces are not just merely highlights. They define the song. And they make "Never Tear Us Apart" one of my favorite 80's tunes.

"Gravity" by Vienna Teng

2010-12-16T22:14:00.002-05:00

Album: Waking Hour (2002)
Playlist: Lillith Fare

Try mixing with:
"Solitude Standing" by Suzanne Vega
"For My Lover" by Tracy Chapman
"Circle" by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
"Sea of Love" by Cat Power
"Possession" by Sarah McLachlan

I generally like male vocal-based acts more than their female counterparts. And typically for me, the lower the voice the better. Hence the fascination with singers like Matt Berninger, Johnny Cash, and Ian Curtis. So Vienna Teng's vocals had to do something extra special to impress me. Ominous cloud, sun shower, downpour, blue skies. Vienna's voice seems to be all of these things - all in a four minute period. We feel the weight of "Gravity" partially because Vienna isn't afraid to test her vocal range. She jumps octaves as if they're tiny puddles in her path. But the vocals aren't even the strongest aspect of "Gravity". Neither is the piano, which is the main instrument on the track that somehow does its job without calling attention to itself. This leads me to conclude that the real star of the song is the songwriting itself, an epic hiding underneath a ballad's skin.

"Disorder" by Joy Division

2010-12-07T22:20:00.002-05:00

Album: Unknown Pleasures (1979)
Playlist: Tragic rock & roll

Try mixing with:
"Castles Made of Sand" by Jimi Hendrix
"Lithium" by Nirvana
"Road" by Nick Drake
"Lilac Wine" by Jeff Buckley
"When the Music's Over" by The Doors

I went on a Joy Division kick last weekend, devouring b-sides, getting sucked into the Anton Corbijn-directed biopic Control, and scrambling to find decent recordings of those last few brilliant songs that Ian Curtis wrote before he took his life. I wonder would could've been if Joy Division were able to magically extend its brief time in music history. I think we would get more songs like "Disorder." More textures, more atmosphere, more honesty, more songs that are simply ahead of their time. With "Disorder" and the entire Unknown Pleasures album, Curtis - along with Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris - made people love music. I mean, really love music. Just as the Sex Pistols, Bowie, and The Doors did for them.

"Cuts You Up" by Peter Murphy

2010-11-04T21:00:00.001-04:00

Album: Deep (1990)
Playlist: Solo gems

Try mixing with:
"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" by Morrissey
"Headache" by Frank Black
"Harrowdown Hill" by Thom Yorke
"Proud to Fall" by Ian McCulloch
"The Passenger" by Iggy Pop

Bauhaus never did much for me. The band's breakup meant much more to me personally because it made Love and Rockets, Peter Murphy's solo career, and this incredible song possible. Once in a blue moon a musician stumbles upon an absolute gem. I've never experienced it myself, but I think Peter Murphy must have known the minute he wrote "Cuts You Up" that he nailed it. The simple confidence of opening the song with a single snare hit seemed to suggest that at least. Murphy's deep, haunting vocals and the signature electric violin command an unusual beauty that's both alienating and irresistible. And his voice was the perfect messenger of the melody.

"The Killing Moon" by Echo and the Bunnymen

2010-10-29T21:30:00.000-04:00

Album: Ocean Rain (1984)
Playlist: Halloween weekend

Try mixing with:
"Spellbound" by Siouxsie and the Banshees
"Pet Sematary" By The Ramones
"Cowboys" by Portishead
"Lullaby" by The Cure
"Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads

"The Killing Moon" was arguably Echo and the Bunnymen's most memorable anthem. It wasn't just another great rock song. It kinda surpassed all that. It's a musical storybook. The first page pulls you in immediately with an irresistible guitar hook from some bygone era. Then McCulloch sits you down and chapter by chapter paints a dark, enveloping image for your ears. And of course there's the line. Fate up against your will. Brilliant. Pavement covered it. Donnie Darko opened with it. And your musical collection glowed for years because of it.

"What a Friend We Have in Jesus" by Victor Lin

2010-10-23T00:14:00.001-04:00

Album: Hymnbook (2008)
Playlist: Hymn interpretations

"Amazing Grace" by Sufjan Stevens
"God Will Lift Up Your Head" by Jars of Clay
"The Wonderful Cross" by Chris Tomlin
"I'll Fly Away" by Johnny Cash
"Rock of Ages" by Bob Dylan

Hymnbook is one of my go-to albums. When I'm looking for calm, perspective, inspiration, and encouragement, I turn to Victor's jazz-infused hymn arrangements. I think there was a robotic stiffness to the original hymn that stifled the message a bit for me. Victor's ragtime makeover is looser. More organic. His version has no words, but the piano says everything you need or want to know. It just sorta rolls along and, on many occasions, it took my soul along for the ride.

Victor Lin - What a Friend We Have in Jesus

"Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand

2010-10-16T14:10:00.000-04:00

Album: Franz Ferdinand (2004)
Playlist: Made in Scotland

Try mixing with:
"See the Lights" by Simple Minds
"Lorelei" by Cocteau Twins
"Seymour Stein" by Belle & Sabastian
"The Downtown Lights" by The Blue Nile
"Writing to Reach You" by Travis

425. That's about how many times I bob my head whenever I hear this song. The rhythm drills deep into your noggin - especially with the tempo shift about one minute into the song. The bass and drums pack plenty of punch. But for me, even the lead guitar and vocals feel like major contributors to the rhythm section. It all works together to command the pace and strut of whatever you're doing - walking, driving, eating. Another striking thing about the song is you really get the sense that these guys have a ton of fun playing this song. Just like us.