B-Side Of The Week: Screaming Trees

It's been a little while since I posted something from Sweet Oblivion faves Screaming Trees. This tune was from the sessions for their final studio album, 1996's Dust.

Screaming Trees - "Wasted Time"

Buy Screaming Trees music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side Of The Week: Ryan Adams

This Ryan Adams track was released in mp3 format as part of the Elizabethtown - Songs For The Ride Home (iTunes Exclusive) digital EP and on CD as part of the Elizabethtown Soundtrack Vol 2. It's a short, contemplative acoustic track - definitely good stuff, especially if you're an Adams fan.

Ryan Adams - "Words"

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side Of The Week: Ash

"Burn Baby Burn" was one of Ash's big hits off of 2001's Free All Angels. This acoustic rendition of the song appeared on a bonus disc included with the European Tour Edition of the record. It's loaded with sugary-sweet pop rockin' goodness. Guitarist Charlotte Hatherley, who's since left the band to pursue solo ambitions, has a great little tremolo-picked guitar solo on the track too.

Ash - "Burn Baby Burn (acoustic)"

Buy Ash's music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side Of The Week: Feist

This non-album track from the soundtrack of the movie Paris, je t'aime was composed by Elizabeth Anaïs and Christophe Montieux and performed by Leslie Feist. It immediately grabbed my attention when it played toward the end of the film, and I don't believe it appears on any other CD as of yet.

Feist - "We're All In The Dance"

Buy Feist's music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side Of The Week: U2

If you're a fan of U2 and haven't yet picked up the 2007 remastered re-release of The Joshua Tree you may need to seek professional help. This track is on the bonus disc of b-sides (btw - also included in the deluxe edition is a phenomenal DVD concert from 1987) and provides the listener with a deeper glimpse into the creative process of the band as they made this masterpiece.

U2 - "Luminous Times (Hold On To Love)"

Buy U2's music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side of the Week: The Black Crowes

This week's b-side comes from the sessions for The Black Crowes 2001 release, Lions. "Last Time Again", like most Crowes b-sides, could easily have been included on the LP.

The Black Crowes - "Last Time Again"

Buy The Black Crowes' music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side of the Week: Josh Ritter

Found this non-album track from Josh Ritter's latest, The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter, on a random compilation disc included with another order. Turns out it's also included on a bonus EP with copies of his new disc.

Josh Ritter - Wildfires

Buy Josh Ritter's music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side Of The Week: Juliana Hatfield

This song was featured in the (now) old TV show My So-Called Life when Juliana Hatfield made a guest appearance as a homeless girl. The episode was a "Christmas" episode, and this melancholy but uplifting tune just seems appropriate for this time of year. The acoustic guitar solo at the end lifts this song to a high level, but it's Hatfield's haunting vocals that make the song extra special.

Juliana Hatfield - "Make It Home"

Buy the soundtrack here and Hatfield's music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side of the Week: Chris Cornell

The soundtrack to the Cameron Crowe movie Singles was basically the soundtrack to my freshmen year in college. Hearing the songs on the disc brings back a flood of memories, both good and bad, in the way only music can do. This Chris Cornell song, recorded by himself in his house, wasn't really supposed to see the light of day until Cameron Crowe asked Cornell to contribute some music to the film he was making in Seattle. It's since become a song Cornell fans yearn to hear live - he never performed it with Soundgarden, though it would be a few years after "Seasons" was recorded before Soundgarden called it quits.

I remember seeing Cornell on his first solo tour seven or eight years ago, and the incredible thrill it was to hear the opening strums of "Seasons" fill the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. The crowd of Cornell disciples went crazy, and I could hardly contain my geeky excitement as the band actually played this song I figured would always be a "studio only" favorite of mine. (The crowd also went nuts for the set-opener, "Sunshower", another rarity at the time.) On his most recent solo tours, "Seasons" is a regular in the setlist, but there's still nothing like hearing the original for me. Most Cornell fans probably have this song already, but just in case there are a few of you out there that don't, enjoy.

Chris Cornell - "Seasons"

Buy the soundtrack here and Cornell's music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side of the Week: Coldplay

This week's feature is a song Coldplay's Chris Martin wrote and loved but could only convince his label to "like". So it was relegated to b-side status. British rockers Embrace heard the song and were quite taken by it, so Martin let them have it. It became a hit for Embrace. Doh!

Coldplay's version is less rocking and radio friendly, but it's got a beautiful atmospheric quality to it. Listen at night with a good set of headphones.

Coldplay - Gravity

Buy Coldplay's music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side of the Week: Idlewild

This b-side is from the sessions for Idlewild's latest, Make Another World. The album is top notch, and it should come as no surprise that a track from the record will likely appear on my end-of-year 'essentials' mix. This is my favorite b-side from this record's sessions, and it could've almost fit on the album.

Idlewild - "Hidden Ways"

Buy Idlewild's music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side of the Week: Tanya Donelly

I've posted before about my love for Tanya Donelly's solo album, Lovesongs For Underdogs, and this week's b-side comes from the sessions for that album.

Tanya Donelly - "These Days"

Buy Tanya Donelly's music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side Of The Week: Stereophonics

Stereophonics recorded a bunch of b-sides during the sessions for their first three records. This week's track comes from the sessions for JEEP, their third studio effort. "Surprise" is a top-notch Phonics tune that could've easily been included on the album.

Stereophonics - "Surprise"

Buy Stereophonics music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below and the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side Of The Week: Radiohead

In honor of the digital release of Radiohead's 7th studio record this week, I'm featuring a Radiohead b-side from their post-OK Computer catalog. Many of the b-sides they released during this phase were not the accessible, "this one could've been on the album" kinds of songs that were common early in the band's career. "Cuttooth" on the other hand, from one of the "Knives Out" singles, is one of the good ones.

Radiohead - "Cuttooth"

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B-Side Of The Week: QOTSA

This week's b-side comes from the Japanese version of Queens of the Stone Age's latest, Era Vulgaris. "Running Joke" is a mellower tune from QOTSA, and it almost sounds like Josh Homme is trying to sing like sometime-member Mark Lanegan on this Japanese bonus track.

QOTSA - "Running Joke"

Buy QOTSA's music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below or the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side Of The Week: Pearl Jam

I got to see Pearl Jam's new docu-film Immagine In Cornice last night on the big screen at a theater in Wayne. It was absolutely awesome watching and listening to the band crank through some great music in a movie theater like that. The film is a must-have for any Pearl Jam fan, and luckily for me it was waiting for me in the mail today when I got home from work.

It's hard to find Pearl Jam b-sides that they didn't officially release on their rarities 2CD set, Lost Dogs, but I found one. "Leatherman" was on the "Given To Fly" single back in 1997, and fans might fondly recall certain live shows where the band played the "man trilogy" - "Betterman", "Leatherman" and "Nothingman" - all in a row.

Pearl Jam - "Leatherman"

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below or the link on the right side of the page under 'Return To Oblivion'.

B-Side Of The Week: Mark Lanegan

Anyone who reads this blog knows what a fan I am of Mark Lanegan. So this week I thought I'd share a b-side from the sessions for his 2004 solo album, Bubblegum. "Mirrored" is a lot like his previous solo material - mellow, dark, acoustic music that features Lanegan's gravelly, unearthly voice.

Mark Lanegan - "Mirrored"

Buy Mark Lanegan's music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below. Previous b-sides were from artists such as Radiohead, The Black Crowes, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Ryan Adams, Jeff Buckley, Oasis, Catherine Wheel, Juliana Hatfield, and many more.

B-Side Of The Week: The Frames

I promised a lot more Frames stuff and I mean to deliver. This b-side is from the sessions for The Frames' latest, The Cost. The band recorded the album live in the studio to try and capture the legendary-amongst-their-fans energy of their live show. This track could've been right at home on the album, but was relegated to b-side status nonetheless.

The Frames - "No More I Love Yous"

Buy The Frames' music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below. Previous b-sides were from artists such as Radiohead, The Black Crowes, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Ryan Adams, Jeff Buckley, Oasis, Catherine Wheel, Juliana Hatfield, and many more.

B-Side Of The Week: Foo Fighters

This week's b-side takes us back to the mid-90's, when Dave Grohl released his first Foo Fighters record. He played all the instruments on the album, and though he wrote many of the tunes long before Kurt Cobain's suicide, there was much speculation in the press as to whether songs like "I'll Stick Around", with it's chorus of "I don't owe you anything!" repeated over and over, was meant for the singer of Grohl's former band. In any event, there were a couple of solid b-sides from the sessions for Foo Fighters, and I find this one to be the most interesting. It starts out quiet and slow, so you might be tempted to turn up the volume when listening. But watch out, because at about 2:45 the rock kicks in big time.

Foo Fighters - "How I Miss You"

Buy Foo Fighters music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the label "B-Side Of The Week" below. Previous b-sides were from artists such as Radiohead, The Black Crowes, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Ryan Adams, Jeff Buckley, Oasis, Catherine Wheel, Juliana Hatfield, and many more.

B-Side Of The Week: BRMC

I'm enjoying Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's Baby 81 so much that I thought I'd post a b-side from its sessions. "Vision" starts out all slow and atmospheric before totally rocking out by the end. High quality BRMC goodness.

BRMC - "Vision"

Buy BRMC's music here.

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Check out the archived B-Side Of The Week posts by clicking the "Label" below or the link on the right side of the page under "Return To Oblivion". Previous b-sides were from artists such as Radiohead, The Black Crowes, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Ryan Adams, Jeff Buckley, Oasis, Catherine Wheel, Juliana Hatfield, and many more.