Author: Brian Blum

It was Halloween this week and I really wanted to play some scary songs. But the world is scary enough as it is. So just one: The Voice of the Beehive’s “Scary Kisses.” But don’t worry there’s lots of great music on the show: Postal Service, Sparks, Wranglers, Timbuk 3, Lovedrug, Talking Heads, Neil Halstead, Morrissey and much more. Don’t be scared, tune in to Brainwaves.

My daughter got married seven years ago this week. So, if wedding bells are in your ears like they are mine, let’s do some wedding songs on this week’s Brainwaves. Music from K’s Choice, Old Man River, the Wedding Project, Kurt Vile, and Our Daughter’s Wedding. There’s more, too: Tom Robinson, the Kopters, the Posies, Original Mirrors, the Radio Dept., Jay Walk Snail, Gomez, Phoenix and much more. Mazel tov!

After last week’s Brainwaves episode on “war,” we need some light. This weeks’ Brainwaves has sunshine songs from Echo and the Bunnymen, Donovan, Jonathan Edwards and Harper Simon. And a few more peace songs, too, from Juliana Hatfield, the Bats and Albert Hammond. It’s all coming up on this week’s show. Tune in!

War has returned to the Middle East. So, this week’s Brainwaves has songs about war…and the hope for peace. From Edwin Starr’s eponymous “War” to Matthew Sweet and the Lords of the New Church both singing about “Holy War” to Nada Surf (“Let the Fight do the Fighting”) to Carl Douglas (“Kung Fu Fighting”) to the positive: “Peace and Love” from Fountains of Wayne and Jeff Lynne (“Give Me Love,” a cover of the song made famous by George Harrison), we’ve got the songs you wish we didn’t have to group together, but hope you’ll enjoy as much as possible in these stressful days.

Brainwaves always dips back into the pop 70s for a couple of songs at the top of the second hour of the show. This week, the entire episode will take us back to the 70s – but in covers. Music you loved by bands you may not have heard of (and some you have). Cheap Trick covering Big Star, Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs covering Rod Stewart, AM and Shawn Lee covering the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Def Leppard covering ELO, Kevin Gilbert covering Led Zeppelin, Jesse Malin covering Jim Croce, Pacifika covering Chicago, and more surprises. Tune in and let’s go back in time…by way of the future.

This week it’s Yom Kippur across the Jewish world. The holiday of forgiveness, of grace, mercy and saying you’re sorry. So on today’s shows, songs of saying you’re “sorry,” feeling “mercy,” showing “grace” and asking to be “forgiven.” Music from Greg Kihn, the Three O’Clock, The Innocence Mission, Cosigner, Matthew Sweet, Bob Mould, Collective Soul, Nine Tayeb, Idle Wilds, Brian Wilson, Mojave 3, Yes, Ride, the Engineers and much more. Tune in this week – you won’t be “sorry.”

Brainwaves this week mixes driving songs with yellow – Of Monsters and Men’s “Yellow Light” seems most appropriate. Also on the show: Pearl Harbor and the Explosions, Madness, R.E.M., Arco and Neil Halstead on the “driving” side; Christie, Elton John, Cribabi, Cranberries, 20/20 and Coldplay on the “yellow” side. No red lights on this week’s show – so buckle up, we’re going for a ride, Brainwaves style.

No spoilers here at Brainwaves – if we’d played this episode last week, then you’d all know it was Brian’s birthday on Friday. Now it can be told & you can celebrate with your Brainwaves host with birthday music from Altered Images, Kings of Leon, Ex Cops, String Theory and the Beatles. And since Brian’s actual birthday was over the weekend, some “weekend” songs from Neon Trees, the Vapors and Super Furry Animals. Finally, in honor of Brian’s wife becoming a non-vegan (say what???) we finish up with the Hermit Crabs and their song, “Vegan Vows.” It’s coming up – meat, milk and everything in between – on this special birthday episode of Brainwaves.

It’s not Saturday night, but Brainwaves is featuring “Saturday” songs on this week’s show, from the Jam, Blitzen Trapper, America and Sparklehorse. Radio songs from Wall of Voodoo, Elvis Costello and the Buggles. The Abrams invite you to spend your life with them. The Passion Pit get carried away. And Mouth and MacNeil ask – in fully Joey Tribbiani mode – “How do you do?” It’s all on this week’s Brainwaves. 

Brian’s grandson can’t say “S” yet. Which is an important letter because in Hebrew, Grandpa is “Saba.” So he calls Brian “Baba.” Which got your host for Brainwaves thinking about songs with “ba-ba” in them. But not just ba-ba’s but na-na’s, da-da’s, doo-doo’s and ma-ma’s. It sounds silly but you’ll be amazed how much great music has repeating consonants like this. Ba-ba’s from Teenage Fanclub, R.E.M., Pink Floyd and the Partridge Family. Na-na’s from J. Geils, Counting Crows, Steam, Blink 182 and the Beatles. Ma-ma’s from ELO, The Who and the Crash Test Dummies. Da-da’s and doo-doo’s from Elastica, Lou Reed and the Police. Plus some Lady Gaga (ra-ra), Carpenters (sha-la-la) and Hebrew rock from HaTikva 6 (pam-pam). 

Brainwaves is chilling this summer, taking things day by day with lots of great music to keep us company. Day-themed music from U2, the Alan Parsons Project, Barenaked Ladies, Snow Patrol, ELO, R.E.M. and Godspell. Plus a double play from the Tubes’ classic first album. And Q-Feel will have us dancing in heaven (with their orbital be-bop). It’s all coming up on this week’s Brainwaves.

California – the ultimate summer vacation destination. So let’s go. Summer songs from California on this week’s Brainwaves. You’ll hear Phantom Planet, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Novi Split, Tripsitter, Gin Blossoms, Led Zeppelin, Beach Boys, R.E.M. Mat Kearney, even Katy Perry. Plus some “freeway” songs from America, Jerry Jeff Walker, the Mountain Goats, Aimee Mann and Todd Rundgren. Soak up some rays (but don’t forget the sunscreen!) this week on Brainwaves.

More summer music for a hot summer on this week’s Brainwaves. Blotto wants to be a lifeguard, while Rosi Golan just wants to shine. Telephone tunes from 10cc, Kraftwerk and ELO. Queen takes us on a seaside rendezvous, Splinter sprints us to Costafinetown. And the Bangles are walking like an Egyptian. Get out the sunscreen. It’s summer fun at Brainwaves.

From Mike Cavanaugh to Phillip Glass, it’s a truly eclectic alternative episode of Brainwaves.  Plus music from Blind Pilot, Pete Shelley, Modest Mouse, the National, a double play from Procul Harem and the full “Close to the Edge” suite by Yes. It’s all in this week’s Brainwaves. Tune in!

We always try to pick the hottest day/week/month of the year to air the Brainwaves annual summer special. Well, it’s supposed to be in the high 90s Fahrenheit (mid 30s Celsius) all this week outside the Brainwaves studios. So, it’s time for that show! Summer songs from Sounds Under Radio, Blitzen Trapper, Alice Cooper, Bowling for Soup, Pink Floyd, Mungo Jerry, Seals & Croft, and not one but two summer songs from Fountains of Wayne. Stay cool, listen to Brainwaves.

Brainwaves presents “mistake” songs on this week’s show. Split Enz: My Mistake; Smashing Pumpkins: My Mistake; Aviv Gefen: A Million Mistakes. But you can’t make a mistake by listening to Brainwaves. Also on the show: Nick Cave, Sean Lennon, Simple Minds, A Flock of Seagulls, Heaven 17, Vampire Weekend, Billy Idol and much more. Don’t change that dial – now, that really would be a mistake!

Steven Wilson has been described as “the most talented musician most people have never heard of.” But the prolific Wilson has headed up multiple bands – the Porcupine Tree, No-Man, Blackfield, Storm Corrosion – plus he’s released seven stellar solo albums. So this week, it’s all Steven Wilson on Brainwaves. Music from all his bands and collaborations, including with Israeli pop star Ninet Tayeb. The songs on this week’s show are on Wilson’s mellower end, with a side of metal thrown in here and there. Brainwaves is obsessed. Soon you will be, too!

Brainwaves presents a trivia game: Who are the artists Assaf, Lisa, Wim & Jeff leading off this week’s show? Tune in to find out. (Hint: it’s a “puzzle” to “strive” for “pleasure” but when you get there you’ll be singing Hallelujah!) Plus music from Gang of Four, Roxy Music, Tripping Daisy, America, Neon Trees and Daft Punk. It’s all on this week’s show.

Brian has been working on an article about new propulsion systems for satellites. Brainwaves would be remiss by not playing this special “satellite” episode. With space-y music from the Bats, David Williams, Counting Crows, Doves and David Bowie. Also on the show, a set to remind us of our children – or in Brian’s case grandchildren (one down, one on the way) – with songs from the Cure, Blackfield, Ben Folds, Mates of State, ELO and 10cc. Don’t go to sleep – it’s Brainwaves!

Four songs about Emily on this week’s Brainwaves. See Emily Play – starting with a cover of the Pink Floyd song by Martha Wainright. Then Emily music from Fool’s Garden, the Manic Street Preachers and Keane. There’s also a cool Pink Floyd instrumental, a Juliana Hatfield double play, and a song often dubbed the worst pop song ever (but one that we over at Brainwaves still like) – can you guess? Tune in and find out!