Back-to-School Songs & Opinions on The Walkmen
The carefree days of sun, sand and no school have come to an end. Jim and Greg want to help you beat the end of summer blues with their favorite Back-to-School songs.
Back-to-School Songs
September is a time of mixed emotions. For some, it's an exciting new beginning. For others, it's a time of doom and dread. Either way, here are some of Jim and Greg's favorite Back-To-School songs to kick off the new school year.
Jim
- Screeching Weasel, "Cool Kids"
- Buffalo Tom, "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here"
- Frank Zappa, "Catholic Girls"
- Mission of Burma, "Academy Fight Song"
Greg
- Peter Tosh, "You Can’t Blame the Youth"
- The Specials, "Rat Race"
- Steely Dan, "My Old School"
- The White Stripes, "We’re Going to Be Friends"
Listeners’ Picks
Jim and Greg also hear from some listeners with their suggestions to beat the end-of-summer blues.
- The Style Council, "Long Hot Summer"
- The Smiths, "The Headmaster Ritual"
- Lulu, "To Sir With Love"
- Bob Seger, "Night Moves"
You and Me The Walkmen
The Walkmen recently released their fourth proper album called You and Me. The band has always presented a rather boozy mood, so it's fitting that Jim describes this album as about as fun as a hangover. He compares their sound to Tom Waits meets The Velvet Underground, but doesn't think they pull it off. Jim is also not impressed by the instrumentation and gives You and Me a Trash It. Greg thinks The Walkmen do a great job of creating a murky, lost in space vibe, but wishes there was more variety. He thinks only about half of the songs are successes, and would therefore recommend listeners Try It.
Featured Songs
- The Dead Milkmen, "Punk Rock Girl," Beelzebubba, Fever, 2008
- Chuck Berry, "School Day," After School Session, Chess, 1957
- Screeching Weasel, "Cool Kids," Bark Like a Dog, Fat Wreck, 1996
- Bob Marley & the Wailers, "You Can't Blame the Youth," Talkin' Blues, Tuff Gong, 1991
- Style Council, "Long Hot Summer," Introducing the Style Council, Polydor, 1983
- The Smiths, "The Headmaster Ritual," Meat is Murder, Sire, 1985
- Buffalo Tom, "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Get Your Adverbs Here," Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks, Lava, 1996
- Frank Zappa, "Catholic Girls," Joe's Garage: Act I, Zappa Records, 1979
- Lulu, "To Sir With Love," To Sir, With Love, Fontana, 1967
- Bob Seger, "Night Moves," Night Moves, Capitol Records, 1976
- The Specials, "Rat Race," More Specials, 2 Tone, 1980
- Boomtown Rats, "I Don't Like Mondays," The Fine Art of Surfacing, Columbia, 1979
- Steely Dan, "My Old School," Countdown to Ecstasy, ABC, 1973
- Mission of Burma, "Academy Fight Song," Signals, Calls and Marches, Ace of Hearts, 1981
- The White Stripes, "We're Going to Be Friends," White Blood Cells, Sympathy for the Record Industry, 2001
- The Walkmen, "Seven Years of Holidays," You & Me, Gigantic Music, 2008
- The Walkmen, "Donde Esta La Playa," You & Me, Gigantic Music, 2008
- The Walkmen, "The Rat," Bows + Arrows, Record Collection, 2004
- Mum, "School Song Misfortune," Go Smear the Poison Ivy, Hostess Entertainment, 2007
- Violent Femmes, "Telephone Book," 3, Slash, 1989
- Judas Priest, "Victim of Changes (Live)," Sad Wings of Destiny, Gull, 1976
- Jane's Addiction, "Mountain Song," Nothing's Shocking, Warner Bros., 1988
- Iron Butterfly, "Easy Rider," Metamorphosis, Rhino, 1970
- Black Sabbath, "War Pigs," Paranoid, 1970
- Korn, "Got the Life," Follow the Leader, Immortal/Epic, 1998
- Black Sabbath, "Black Sabbath," Black Sabbath, Vertigo, 1970
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