Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, "She's On It"

Outside of 90s alternative crowds, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion are probably best known for their covers, getting a bigger paycheck for recording "Right Place Wrong Time" for a major movie soundtrack or "Black Betty" for a car commercial than they ever did for "Wail" or "Bellbottoms." As the White Stripes would later prove, that blues-punk sound could cross over to the mainstream more easily than Spencer's psychotic blues-wigger mannerisms and scuzz-punk leanings.

Judging from their secret show at Union Pool this week, they are no more likely to tone it down than they were in the Clinton years. Jon still never breaks character and yells "Blues Explosion!", "That's right baby!" and "Thankyouverymuch!" approximately three times per song. And the band still does an ace cover, demonstrated in their finale of the Beastie Boys' pre-Licensed to Ill single "She's On It" blended with Link Wray's "Jack the Ripper."

Song of the Day: Harvey Milk, "Motown"

Indie-rock critics fawned over Harvey Milk, while most of the public ignored them. Their records struck me as more interesting than good, and I actually like this interview wherein the band members trash their entire discography more than most of their actual music. However, their songs were always worth a few listens. With the band casually announcing their indefinite hiatus this week, I'm giving them another spin.



"Motown," from 2008's Life...The Best Game in Town sounds great on a mix tape. Music appropriation has been run into the ground by the G. Loves of the world, then parodied to death by its Daniel Clowes' and Jon Spencers. But Harvey Milk did something bolder--they parodied the actual source. The stoned melody and harmonies sound like they're skewering classic Motown here, taking on something universally revered and hammering it with a deranged, Melvins-worthy sludge. Whoever is playing that solo sounds like he learned everything he knows from KISS' Alive II. Glorious.

Music is Going to the Dogs

Margaret got a dog.



Music is Going to the Dogs

1. Pulp, "Dogs Are Everywhere"
2. Led Zeppelin, "Black Dog"
3. The Stooges, "I Wanna Be Your Dog"
4. John Lee Hooker, "No More Doggin'"
5. Rufus Thomas, "Walking the Dog"
6. Elvis Presley, "Hound Dog"
7. Johnny Cash, "Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog"
8. The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, "Chicken Dog"
9. Aerosmith, "Sick as a Dog"
10. Neil Young, "Old King"
11. Harry Nilsson, "Me and My Arrow"
12. Snoop Dogg, "Doggy Dogg World"
13. The Magnetic Fields, "Fido, Your Leash is Too Long"
14. Warren Zevon, "Even a Dog Can Shake Hands"
15. Tom Waits, "Rain Dogs"
16. Bob Dylan, "If Dogs Run Free"
17. Modest Mouse, "Wild Packs of Family Dogs"
18. Guided by Voices, "Bulldog Skin"
19. Robert Johnson, "Hellhound on My Trail"
20. Nick Drake, "Black Eyed Dog"
21. TV on the Radio, "Love Dog"
22. David Bowie, "Diamond Dogs"
23. George Clinton, "Atomic Dog"

Margaret knows more about music than nearly anyone I know, so I'm throwing all the aces in on this one. Elvis, Zeppelin, Bowie and more all competing for the canine ode championship of the world, tackling a rock theme that dates back to the earliest blues pioneers, two of whom appear here. Of course "Atomic Dog" was a must, which somehow I didn't already own. I ended up throwing my music cred out the window by procuring "Atomic Dog" through the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack, which is now apparently the easiest way to legally pick up George Clinton's biggest solo hit.

This mix's MVP might be Rufus Thomas, who not only provides one of the best songs here but sticks around to thrash with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Then again, I've also included pop music's doggiest figure, represented by his doggiest song ever. Like Iggy Pop before him, Snoop just wants to be a dog. Who can blame him?

At risk of understatement, dogs bring out some some strange emotions in people, from the heartwarming "Old King" to the grouchy "Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog" to Warren Zevon's best Springsteen impression. Then there's Bob Dylan with "If Dogs Run Free," his weirdest song ever. If Tom Waits recorded it, we'd think he was playing a character, but since it's Bob most people probably assume he was stoned.