Hailing from New York City, NY, Vampire Weekend was formed by four college friends at Columbia University in 2006. Since then the band has released five critically acclaimed albums, won multiple awards, and toured the world. Timestamps:   00:00:00 - Part 1 00:07:51 - “A-Punk” from Vampire Weekend (2008) 00:10:05 - Part 2 00:13:51 - “Giving Up the Gun” from Contra (2010) 00:18:30 - Part 3 00:23:38 - “Unbelievers” from Modern Vampires of the City (2013) 00:28:59 - Part 4 00:32:21 -...

This was originally posted on the One Band, 5 Songs Patreon on October 14, 2024. I first heard Australia’s Gang of Youths in 2022 when they released their third full-length album angel in realtime., but for whatever reason, their music didn’t stick with me.  While doing research for a future bonus audio, I rediscovered the band and decided to give their discography a whirl.  This is my first impression. Playlist:  Spotify - Gang of Youths (discography): ...

Hailing from Boston, MA, Buffalo Tom formed in 1986 by college friends Bill Janovitz (guitar), Chris Colbourn (bass), and Tom Maginnis (drums).  During their initial run, the band released six full-length albums and appeared on numerous soundtracks and compilations before going on hiatus sometime around 2000.  The band returned in 2007 and has since released four full-length albums, the most recent being 2024’s Jump Rope. Timestamps:   00:00:00 - Part 1 00:10:18 - “Taillights Fade” from...

Sometimes circumstances make you reevaluate or give you a new perspective on a song.  That is exactly what happened to me with Sam Russo’s “Darkness.” References: BandCamp - Back To The Party by Sam Russo:  https://samrusso.bandcamp.com/album/back-to-the-party  Oklahoma Lefty - Album Review: 'Back To The Party' by Sam Russo:  https://oklahomalefty.blogspot.com/2020/04/album-review-back-to-party-by-sam-russo.html

This was originally posted to the One Band, 5 Songs Patreon on September 20, 2024. This week we are joined by Justin Hensley from Punk Lotto Pod to break down and properly give star ratings to the discography of Long Island, NY’s Iron Chic. TL;DL  Demo ‘08 (EP; Dead Broke Rekerds debut; 2008) Justin:  ****¼  Dave:  *** S****y Rambo E​.​P. (EP; 2009) Justin:  ***¾  Dave:  *** Not Like This (Full-length debut; 2010) Justin:  ***** Dave:  **** Split...

In five short years, The Smiths released four studio albums, one live album, 18 singles, and three compilations. Since then, the band has become legendary, hugely influential, and a cornerstone of what would become known in the '90s as alternative music. Timestamps:   00:00:00 - Part 1 00:11:48 - “What Difference Does It Make?” from The Smiths (1984) 00:15:33 - Part 2 00:21:23 - “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” from William, It Was Really Nothing (1984) and Hatful of...

Sometimes circumstances make you reevaluate or give you a new perspective on a song.  That is exactly what happened to me with Frank Turner’s “Heartless Bastard M**********r.” References: Frank Turner - Heartless Bastard M**********r:  https://frank-turner.com/tracks/heartless-bastard-m**********r/  Wikipedia - Frank Turner discography:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Turner_discography  Discogs - Frank Turner:  https://www.discogs.com/artist/534926-Frank-Turner  Rate Your Music...

Hailing from Garden Grove, CA, The Offspring were one of the biggest bands in the mid-90s punk explosion.  Since forming in 1984, the band has released 10 full-length albums (with an 11th coming in October 2024), 4 EPs, and two compilations.  Timestamps:   00:00:00 - Part 1 00:14:44 - “Beheaded” from The Offspring (1989) 00:17:18 - Part 2 00:22:25 - “Nitro (Youth Energy)” from Smash (1994) 00:24:49 - Part 3 00:30:06 - “I Choose” from Ixnay on the Hombre (1997) 00:33:57 - Part...

This was originally posted to the One Band, 6 Songs Patreon on June 24, 2024. How are we supposed to handle and discuss "cancelled" musicians? Is it okay to tell the story of a disgraced artist if we think there is something to be learned from it? Inquiring minds... References: Oklahoma Lefty's Midlife Crisis - Where Do You Draw the Line?: Cancellation and Music: https://oklahomalefty.substack.com/p/where-do-you-draw-the-line-cancellation Oklahoma Lefty - When Your Favorite Band...

Rilo Kiley was an indie rock/indie pop band that was formed in Los Angeles, CA in 1998 by former child actors Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett, along with Pierre de Reeder, and Dave Rock. The band released four full-length albums and one proper EP before calling it a day in the early 2010s. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Part 1 00:14:50 - “Frug” from Rilo Kiley (1999) 00:17:26 - Part 2 00:21:06 - “Pictures Of Success” from Take Offs And Landings (2001) 00:27:51 - Part 3 00:30:38 - “With Arms...

It’s that time of year…kids are heading back to school, the days are becoming doggier, and it is hot as hell outside.  To commemorate the coming end of summer, I give you my Top 5 “Summer” Songs (i.e., songs with “summer” in the title).  Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Part 1 00:05:22 - “Boys of Summer” by The Ataris from So Long, Astoria (2003) 00:09:40 - Part 2 00:13:45 - “Summer of Drugs” by Soul Asylum from Sweet Relief-A Benefit for Victoria Williams (1993)  00:17:40 - Part 3 00:23:04...

Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, The Loved Ones formed in 2003 when former members of The Curse (Dave Hause), Kid Dynamite (Michael Cotterman), and Trial by Fire (Mike Sneeringer) got together. In less than a decade, the band produced two full-length albums, two EPs, and one split before calling it a day. While they periodically reunite for a show here and there, the band formed, released a handful of excellent records, and then exited stage right all in about seven years. ...

This was originally posted on the One Band, 5 Songs Patreon on June 12, 2024. Before last week, I'd never listened to an album by Coldplay. I'd heard of the band and even liked a few of their songs, but that was it. So I decided to change that and give them a go. I created a playlist with their albums and EPs, listened to it all, and recorded my first impressions. Playlist:  Coldplay (discography): ...

Paul Westerberg’s solo career began in 1992 when his songs “Dyslexic Heart” and “Waiting for Somebody” appeared on the soundtrack to the Cameron Crowe-directed, Gen X masterpiece Singles.  In 1993 he released his solo debut 14 Songs.  Westerberg has released six full-length solo albums, one EP and two full-length under the moniker Grandpaboy, an album with Julianna Hatfield under the name The I Don’t Cares, along with numerous singles, appearances on soundtracks, and other random things....

This was originally posted on the One Band, 5 Songs Patreon on July 31, 2024. I have vivid memories of seeing the River City Rebels albums Racism, Religion And War and Playin' To Live, Livin' To Play in stores in the early 2000s (and I'm pretty sure I owned a copy of Playin' To Live, Livin' To Play at one time or another). Both albums have distinctive covers that leave an impression. Fast forward to 2024 and I got a message from a friend on Instagram suggesting I cover River City Rebels....

Hailing from Southern California, Madcap formed in 1999 and signed with SideOneDummy Records in 2000, releasing Stand Your Ground in 2001 and East To West in 2002.  In 2004 the band released Under Suspicion on Victory Records before calling it a day later that year.   Special Guest:  Bopper of River City Rebels Note:  Something weird happened with the audio in Part 1 that I couldn’t fix.  I’m sorry about that.  Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Part 1 00:04:56 - “Downtown” from Stand Your...

Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Japandroids is a two-man rock 'n' roll machine consisting of Brian King on guitar and vocals and David Prowse on drums and vocals. Since forming in 2006. the band has released three full-length albums (with a fourth to be released in October 2024), two EPs, one compilation, 10 singles, and two music videos. This guitar and drums duo has mixed elements of garage, classic, indie, and punk rock creating a sound that is simple, energetic, hook-filled, and...

This was originally posted on the One Band, 5 Songs Patreon on June 1, 2024. I'm still getting caught up with getting all of the bonus audio up on the main feed. In our first Currently Listening, we discuss the 10 albums/EPs I listened to this week and the playlist they inspired. Playlist (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LFdivAenRcbmT03rAXu01)  1.  "Dancing on a Wire" by Keygrip (from The Unaimed Arrow Never Misses) 2.  "Shine Like It Does" by INXS (from Listen Like Thieves) 3. ...

Originally, One Band, 5 Songs was only available on Spotify and thus limited to playing songs that were available on the service.  Now that the show is not limited to what we can play, I thought it would be fun to look back at five old episodes and play songs we couldn’t play before. Timestamps:  00:00:00 - Part 1 00:09:24 - “Alright, Let’s Go” by John Moreland & the Black Gold Band from Things I Can’t Control (2010) 00:12:52 - Part 2 00:19:26 - “James 5” by Riot Squad from Riot...

This was originally released on the One Band, 5 Songs Patreon on May 28, 2024. Inquiring minds want to know. Reference: Oklahoma Lefty: Do You Fall in Love with Bands or Records?: https://oklahomalefty.blogspot.com/2011/05/do-you-fall-in-love-with-bands-or.html

This was originally released on the One Band, 5 Songs Patreon on May 26, 2024. A pondering.

This was originally released on the One Band, 5 Songs Patreon on July 10, 2024. I first met Steve Long while working in the America Online call center in Oklahoma City.  One day, he was wearing a Bad Religion t-shirt, I said “I like your shirt,” and we have been friends ever since.  Steve is the cohost/host of the podcasts Rebel Rock Radio and Radio Unfriendly and former frontman of the bands Get Fired and Otisburg. Steve was a guest on One Band, 5 Songs in July 2024 to discuss the...

Hailing from San Francisco, CA, Dead To Me has released three full-length albums, three EPs, and a smattering of singles and splits.  Despite the relatively short discography and multiple lineup changes, the band has remained consistent, putting out some of the most powerful and emotionally important music of the 21st Century.  Timestamps:   00:00:00 - Part 1 00:05:33 - “Special Professional” from Cuban Ballerina (2006) 00:07:54 - Part 2 00:14:31 - “Ran That Scam” from Little Brother...

This was originally released on the One Band, 5 Songs Patreon on May 14, 2024. TL;DL Chronic Town (EP; 1982):  **** Murmur (Full-length debut; 1983):  ****½  Reckoning (1984):  ***½  Fables of the Reconstruction (1985):  *** Lifes Rich Pageant (1986):  ****¾  Document (R.E.M. No. 5) (First crossover success; final record for IRS Records; 1987):  ****¾+  Green (Warner Bros. debut; 1988):  **** Out of Time (First # 1 album on Billboard; 1991):  ***** ...