What is Mod? Mr. Suave's Mod, Mod World is one of the web's original modcasts celebrating mod music, and mod-influenced music from past eras including soul, ska, garage, sixties R&B power pop, punk, britpop, acid jazz, lounge, easy listening and more. SEARCH
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
What a week it has been. What a month, what a year, a decade, a century in fact. It's like the world is falling apart around us and no one really has a clue of how to put it back together. Unless you were hiding under a rock lately then you, like everyone, have been inundated with the news, all of it bad. Much of it horrible. Killings, racism, phobias, terrorism, beheadings, culture clashes, not to mention a US presidential election. I don't mean to be a Donny downer but life sort of sucks right now. And relative to many, I have it pretty good day to day.
It finally got to me when I discovered myself listening to more and more depressing music. Which naturally bleeds over into the modcast. Art imitates life after all. So, here it is in all it's depressing, apocalyptic glory. A collection of songs that are either a sign of the times or a reflection of the end of times.
Mad Parade -- Freak Show (2003)
Offspring -- Stuff Is Messed Up (2008)
Against Me! -- Transgender Dysphobia (2014)
Everclear -- All Fucked Up (2000)
NOFX -- Franco Un-American (2003)
X -- The World's A Mess It's In My Kiss (1980)
The Clash -- London Calling (1979)
Circle Jerks -- Stars And Stripes (1982)
Ramones -- Planet Earth 1988 (1984)
The Editors -- Road To Nowhere (2006)
The Decembrists -- Calamity Song (2011)
The Kinks -- Drift Away (1993)
Gloomy Sunday -- Billie Holiday (1941)
Yet again I'm joined by Mary, Queen of Cosmos for a look back at some contemporary artists. The sound they had, and the sound they've got. There will be some classics and some surprises through out.
The Jam -- Left, Right & Centre (1976)
The Monkees -- Valleri (1968)
The Monkees -- Love's What I Want (2016)
The New Pornographers -- Sing Me Spanish Techno (2005)
The New Pornographers -- Brill Bruisers (2014)
Calexico -- Alone Again Or (2003)
Calexico -- Cumbia de Donde (2015)
Dexy's Midnight Runners -- Thankfully Not Living In Yorkshire Doesn't Apply (1980)
Dexy's Midnight Runners -- Gazing In The Grass (2016)
TV On The Radio -- Wolf Like Me (2006)
TV On The Radio -- Million Miles (2013)
The Prisoners -- Find And Seek (1986)
James Taylor Quartet -- Why Can't We Get Along (2011)
Paul Weller -- I'm Where I Should Be (2015)
The sun is out, the music's hot, and surprisingly so is my cocktail. I've mixed up some great tracks to get us going for the summer season. It's a bit of an eclectic mix, but that's what makes it so interesting. From new to old, from classic to contemporary, there's a little something here for everyone. Perfect for catching some rays.
The Most -- Louie Louie (2015) Vista Blue -- Striking Out With You (2016) Teenage Fanclub -- I'm In Love (2016) Faz Waltz -- Good Time Is Callin' Loud ( 2016) Biters -- The City Ain't The Same (2016) The Monks -- Complication (1966)
The Tweeds -- I Need That Record (1981) The Hotrats -- Lovecats (2010) Green Day -- Give Me Nova Caine (2004) Teenager -- Singles Don't Sell (2013) Ramones -- On The Beach (1996?) The Enemy -- Get Up And Dance (2012) Oasis -- Live Forver (1994) The Californias -- I Will Wait For You (2006) Wavves -- Heart Attack (2015)
Northern Soulshaker Cocktail
I'm on a spicy cocktail kick, so this week's northern soulshaker cocktail is a spicy serrano cocktail. Mix one up, and then check out the modcast I've mixed up for you.
Teenage Fanclub -- Live on the Dennis Miller Show 1992 -- What You Do To M + Pet Rock
It's time to kick off year eleven of Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World. That's right ten years in the bag and now looking towards another ten trips around the sun. In accordance with the grand and illustrious history of the show I'm sticking with the tried and true format of introducing you to some new tunes, all the while paying tribute to the greats of the past 50+ years. So, it should come as no surprise then that this modcast has everything from soul to indie pop, from power pop to R&B and even some soulful synthpop. Bring it on!
Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World 10th Anniversary Special
That's right, this week on the modcast we'll be celebrating 10 years of Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World. Hard to believe it's been that long: so many shows, so many songs, so many good memories. To celebrate I've challenged longtime guest modcaster, DJ Ken from The Shingles to a head to head match up of his songs vs. mine. We each picked one year from each decade since the sixties. Next we each secretly selected two songs from that year to battle it out head to head. Then one of us reveals his two picks and the other picks which of those two songs he thinks one of his songs is better than, and it's on. Ten years, ten songs, and ultimately you're the judge. Vote for which songs think should win out. Vote who you think had the better selections overall. You can vote in the comments below, or bounce over to the show's Facebook page and mix it up there.
DJ Ken: Aretha Franklin -- The House That Jack Built (1968)
Mr. Suave: Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions -- People Get Ready (1965)
Mr. Suave: The Jam -- In The City (1977)
DJ Ken: The Jam -- Down In The Tube Station At Midnight (1978)
DJ Ken: The Untouchables -- Dance Beat (1982)
Mr. Suave: The Godfathers -- Birth, School, Work, Death (1988)
DJ Ken: Love Jones -- I Like Young Girls (1993)
Mr. Suave: Blur -- The Universal (1995)
DJ Ken: Freddie & The Four-Gone Conclusions -- (Come On Over) To My Side (2002)
Mr. Suave: Len Price 3 -- Rentacrowd (2007) Bonus Round:
DJ Ken: The Yorktown Lads -- Something To Write About (2014)
Mr. Suave: The Inciters -- STOP (2015)
This week's northern soul shaker cocktail, from way back last month:
The Suave Diablo
Round and round we go, and where we'll stop: Diamonds! We're celebrating Mr. Suave's Mod Mod World and its ten spins around the sun. Welcome to the second part of this momentous, multipart occasion. Last week, The Bangles left us dangling with "7 & 7 is." "Is It In My Head?" or is our next destination obvious? No self-respecting Suave celebration would be complete without acknowledging The Who and Quadrophenia. So mix up a Ms. Smith, turn the speakers up to ten, and unbuckle yourself as we wind our way to diamonds. Happy Anniversary, Mr. Suave! --Mary, Queen of Cosmos
Spotify links for the entire episodes, complete songs, uninterrupted. Part 1 Part 2:
Is It In My Head -- The Who
Head Held High -- Velvet Underground
High Ball Stepper -- Jack White
Steppin' Out -- Joe Jackson
Out of Here -- Corduroy
Here's the Good News -- Paul Weller
News of the World -- The Jam
The World Should Revolve Around Me -- Little Jackie
Me and You – She & Him
You Already Know – Arcade Fire
No Cities to Love – Sleater-Kinney
To Love Somebody – Nina Simone
Somebody Was Watching – Pops Staples (Pops Staples’s Belated Finale)
Watch Out For Lucy -- Clapton
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds -- The Beatles
Diamond Dogs -- David Bowie
A New Wave -- Sleater-Kinney (Carrie Brownstein's kick-ass white pantsuit!)
And they said it wouldn't last! In 2006, as an early birthday surprise, Mrs. Suave gifted her Mister with an iPod, and Modcasting history was made. Now, a decade later, we raise frosty cocktails (make mine a double!) to toast ten groovin' and glorious years of Mister Suave's Mod Mod World. The Small Faces get us marching with "Tin Soldier." With this mod-nod to the past, we launch into a musical maze of word-play. The challenge: to get from Tin (traditional ten-year anniversary gift) to Diamonds (the modern ten-year offering), leap-frogging across a celebratory retrospective of Suave-friendly songs along the way. In this manner, we go from "Tin Soldier," to "Tin Soldier Man," to "A Man is a Man," to "Man at the C & A," and on and on to Diamonds. If you're inclined to Choose Your Own Adventure, forge your own path from Tin to Diamonds and let us know how your journey goes. I'd love to hear your list. --Mary, Queen of Cosmos.
Tin To Diamonds The First Half
Tin Soldier -- Small Faces
Tin Solder Man -- The Kinks
A Man is a Man -- The Who
Man at the C&A -- The Specials
A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You -- The Monkees
You On My Mind -- Swing Out Sister
Mind Your Manners -- Pearl Jam
In A Manner of Speaking – Nouvelle Vague
Speak Like a Child – Style Council
Children of the Revolution – The Clash
Revolution Rock – Violent Femmes
The Rocking Surfer -- Beach Boys
Surf City -- Ramones
City of the Dead -- Desorden Publico
Dead Road 7 -- The Kills
7 and 7 is -- The Bangles (Live)
