SOMETHING OLD
Jimmy + David Ruffin - When My Love Hand Comes Down
1970
Jimmy + David Ruffin - When My Love Hand Comes Down
1970
If you’ve ever seen The Temptations movie from the 90s or just know their history, you know David Ruffin wasn’t an awesome person. I’m gobsmacked to find out that him coming on stage to steal the show after he was fired really did happen (MULTIPLE TIMES), and that’s the least of it. But man, if he isn’t one of the greatest Motown singers to ever live. His similarly massively talented brother Jimmy put out the duo I Am My Brother’s Keeper album with him, with the main hit being this tune.
As always, the Funk Brothers make the song what it is. Notably the legendary James Jamerson who gets into a deep bass groove here. Give this one a listen if you need energy that goes through the roof with the Ruffin brothers.
SOMETHING NEW
Magdalena Bay - This Is The World (I Made It For You)
November 14th, 2025
Magdalena Bay - This Is The World (I Made It For You)
November 14th, 2025
I was going to feature a song from the last batch of Magdalena Bay singles, until today when they put new ones out! They’ve been releasing singles on several recent Fridays, and finally announced they’ll all be released together in a box set.
I’ve grown very fond of this duo, with their last album Imaginal Disk being among the finest records of the decade in my eyes.
While the other side of this single, Next Day is heavier and rougher around the jagged edges of its distortion, this one drives more in their pop lane. Excellent song.
SOMETHING BORROWED
Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Hoedown (Aaron Copland)
1972
Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Hoedown (Aaron Copland)
1972
Happy 125th Birthday, Aaron Copland!
Copland’s compositions marked a major turnining point in classical music. To hell with Europe: he created a sound for America, focusing on regional themes like Southern rodeos and Appalachian springs. Symphonic music suddenly became more accessible for all, which is probably why it was so easily coverable for a prog rock group like Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
ELP also covered Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, the title of which says it all.
Their version of Hoedown from Rodeo, however, is the most exhilarating of all. It remains pretty faithful to Copland and retains its spirit even though it turns its strings into synths. It’s pure glee.
SOMETHING... IS ALWAY
Toad The Wet Sprocket - Something’s Always Wrong
1994
Toad The Wet Sprocket - Something’s Always Wrong
1994
Toad The Wet Sprocket are not nearly as frequently name-dropped when discussing 90s alt-rock royalty as a band like Nirvana, but that may be partially due to the name (which comes from a Monty Python sketch).
They’re a great band, though. This song has very compelling melodies while lyrically showing glimmers of both a failing relationship & someone grappling with depression.
Singer Glen Philips said that the feeling of something always being wrong is the "state [he’s] always swimming upstream against.”