Chris & Max Pick …songs from 2002

Happy Friday and welcome to the latest post of Chris & Max Pick…, a song series started by fellow blogger Max from PowerPop in June 2023. He covered the years 1955 through 1995, and I’ve picked it up beginning with 1996, aiming to go all the way to 2024. Max generously agreed to contribute. Today’s picks are from 2002.

Ceasars/Jerk It Out

This time we’re kicking it off with a terrific pick by Max I hadn’t heard before: Jerk It Out by Ceasars. Originally known as Ceasar’s Palace, the Swedish garage rock band was formed in Stockholm in 1995. The song initially appeared on their third studio album Love for the Streets, which came out in April 2002 under their original name. The great retro rocker received lots of attention in the U.S. after it had been featured in iPod TV commercials in 2004 and 2005. Upon re-release in 2005, it became an international hit, reaching no. 8 on the UK Singles Chart and peaking at no. 70 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Bruce Springsteen/The Rising

In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., Bruce Springsteen reportedly was in his car when a stranger from a another car nearby rolled down the window and said, “We need you now.” This compelled The Boss to record what became his 12th studio album The Rising, which came out in July 2002. Springsteen already had written a few songs prior to 9/11. One he penned in the aftermath of the tragedy was the album’s title track. It tells the tale of a New York City firefighter ascending one of the World Trade Center towers after they had been hit by hijacked planes. The Rising won Grammys for Best Rock Song and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

Coldplay/Clocks

When I think of British alternative pop band Coldplay, the first song coming to mind is Clocks. The stunning piano-driven pop song is credited to all four members of the group: Chris Martin (lead vocals, piano, guitar), Jonny Buckland (guitar, backing vocals), Guy Berryman (bass) and Will Champion (drums, percussion, backing vocals), which is their line-up to this day. It first appeared on Coldplay’s sophomore album A Rush of Blood to the Head, which dropped in August 2002. Considered to be one of their signature songs, Clocks was also released as a single in March 2003 and won Record of the Year at the 2004 Grammy Awards.

The Libertines/Time For Heroes

The early 2000s were the period of garage rock revival, so it’s perhaps not a surprise we feature another great song from that genre here. In October 2002, The Libertines released their debut album Up the Bracket. The British group around Carl Barât (vocals, guitar) and Pete Doherty (vocals, guitar) had formed in London in 1997. By the time they recorded the album, John Hassall (bass) and Gary Powell (drums) completed their line-up. They’re still around. Here’s Time For Heroes, which like all other tracks on the album was co-written by Barât and Doherty.

Christina Aguilera/Beautiful

This pick may come as a surprise or even a shock to some. But if you really know my music taste it shouldn’t be. To begin with, I like the occasional ballad, even if it’s on the lush side. More importantly, I love great vocalists and would argue that Christina Aguilera is one of the best female contemporary singers. This is different from having great songs. In this case, both came together. Beautiful, which was written by Linda Perry (of 4 Non Blondes fame), is from Aguilera’s fourth studio album Stripped, released in October 2002. It also appeared separately as the album’s second single in November 2002 and became one of her biggest hits.

Johnny Cash/In My Life

If Christina Aguilera didn’t make you at least feel somewhat emotional, I think there’s no chance this next song won’t. Johnny Cash’s vulnerable rendition of In My Life has literally driven me to tears. It also happens to be one of my all-time favorite John Lennon songs. The Man in Black recorded this version for his 67th and final non-posthumous studio album American IV: The Man Comes Around, the fourth in a series produced by Rick Rubin and appearing on his label American Recordings. Rubin produced two additional albums in the series, which were released after Cash’s death.

Sources: Wikipedia; Acclaimed Music; YouTube; Spotify

New Music Musings

It’s Saturday and I’d like to welcome you to my latest weekly look at the new music front. All picks appear on albums that were released yesterday (May 17).

Ahem/Waterlogged

Ahem are a Minneapolis, Minn. power pop and indie rock trio who were formed in 2015. Comprised of Erik Anderson (guitar), Courtney Berndt (bass) and Alyse Emanuel (drums), they released their debut album Try Again in November 2019. Waterlogged is a song off their new sophomore album Avoider. “We were writing songs in ways we never had before, from various separate basements, and that certainly fed into the song’s feel of breaking out of a malaise, a trapped-ness, a kind of unresolved hope that maybe we can someday break a little loose and get free in whatever ways we need, too,” the band told entertainment outlet Flood Magazine.

Zero Point Energy/Disintegration

The origins of Zero Point Energy date back to 2018, according to a profile on the website of their label Danger Collective Records. That’s when Genesis Edenfield and Ben Jackson, two former members of now-defunct Atlanta indie rock band Warehouse, revived their musical partnership. Over four years, they gradually worked on material they had written separately. The result is their debut album Tilted Planet, which also features Jimmy Sullivan (bass) and Nick Corbo (drums). Here’s Disintegration credited to Edenfield, Jackson and Sullivan.

Worldcub/Grog

Worldcub are a British band from North Wales, who their website notes blend elements of surf guitar music with kraut-rock grooves and psychedelic-flavored harmony vocals. They were formed by Cynyr Hamer (guitar, vocals) and his brother Dion Hamer (drums, vocals) under the name CaStLeS. In November 2016, they self-released Fforesteering, their debut album as Worldcub. Off their latest album Back to the Beginning, here’s Grog. It’s different but it somehow drew me in!

Lightheaded/Bright Happy Girls

Lightheaded are a power pop band from New Jersey, featuring Sara Abdelbarry (lead guitar), Stephen Stec (guitar) and Cynthia Rittenbach (bass, vocals). Their Bandcamp page notes they draw from 60s Brill Building songwriters, later 60s folk/pop and 80s DIY pop. following their October 2023 debut EP Good Good Great, they are now out with their first full-length album Combustible Gems. Here’s Bright Happy Girls – it’s got a bit of a Bangles vibe.

Sid Simons/Dead Ringer

Sid Simons is a New York-based indie rock-oriented singer-songwriter. Initially, he used the now-defunct moniker Girl Skin to produce, release and perform his music, relying on rotating band line-ups. According to a web profile, Simons is influenced by early 2000s rock revival, The Libertines, David Bowie, Motown and Americana. This first album under his name, Shade Is On the Other Side, appeared in April 2020. From his second and latest album, Beneath the Brightest Smiles, here’s the great-sounding Dead Ringer.

The Avett Brothers/Forever Now

My last pick is by The Avett Brothers, a folk rock band I first encountered in July 2018 when they shared a bill with southern jam rockers Gov’t Mule. The band’s origins go back to the late 1990’s when Seth Avett’s high school band combined with his bother Scott Avett’s college rock outfit. Subsequently, Seth and Scott started The Avett Brothers as a side project, which resulted in the release of an EP, The Avett Bros., in 2000. The band’s first full-fledged studio album Country Was appeared in 2002. Fast-forward some 22 years to their self-titled 11th album. Here’s the beautiful and mellow Forever Now, co-written by Scott, Seth and Bob Crawford, who together with Joe Kwon completes the group’s current line-up.

Sources: Wikipedia; Consequence; Ahem Bandcamp page; Flood Magazine; Forged Artifacts website; Danger Collective Records; Worldcub website; Lightheaded Bandcamp page; Slumberland Records website; Stunt Company website; YouTube; Spotify