Greg Camp is best known as the creative force behind 1990s chartsters, Smash Mouth, who had hit after hit from their energetic, feel-good catalogue, including Walking On The Sun and All Star. Since leaving the band earlier this year, he’s re-surfaced as a singer-songwriter in his own right [write?] with the release of his debut solo album, Defektor, in September.
The Clash / Straight To Hell
One of my favorite bands and my favorite song that they did. I like the whole vibe of a white band doing their rendition of an Asian story of heritage with a punk edge, somehow. The way it was recorded, with the side stick and tom-tom drums along with dub bass and guitar feedback, makes it beautiful and eerie all at once. Joe Strummer is one of the all-time greatest storytellers, and his thumbtack gargling vocals drive it off the cliff.
Big Star / 13
An incredibly sweet and innocent sounding song about very young love, which we can all relate to. We also know that at that age, our thoughts and intentions are far from innocent. Simple guitar chords allow even the beginners to pull it off at a party to impress the one we have our eyes on. Therefore, full circle.
Blur / Coffee and TV
This chord pattern and melody is every musically ‘taught’ musician’s dream, but their instructor’s nightmare. It only makes sense to an open-minded bedroom, guitar weirdo. The lyrics seem to be about trying to replace socially unacceptable demons with ones that you add cream, sugar and an amazing video to.
The Beastie Boys / So Whatcha Want
I’m not quite sure where to start on this. When I was a kid, I lived in an apartment with a swing set close enough that I could turn up my mom’s stereo and ‘free-style-swing’ to the Jackson Five’s Dancin’ Machine. I would do spins, flips, and at the end of the jam, I would jump all the way to the sandbox and land on my ass. This song is my adult equivalent.
Elvis Costello / Ship Building
Beautiful chords and melody that automatically put you back into the 1940s with a uniform on in a dive bar. The song takes me through a smalltown where everyone has a job working on a war that no one wants. It’s timeless and timely. The trumpet solo is sad, but there’s hope.
The Pogues / Fairytale
Listen to this song. It’s like you were there the whole time. It has perfect detail, and just enough of it. You’re in an Irish pub looking back at the love you’ve lost. It was a spicy, fiery, booze-fueled love affair that was equal parts perfect, destined to implode, and you can’t remember any of it. So much music and beer swilling verse that you may want to go on the pirate ride at Disneyland with this in your earbuds.
Danny Elfman / Edward Scissorhands Theme
If you’re like me, there’s nothing better than putting headphones on and curling up with a good Elfman soundtrack. This one in particular is my favorite because the theme goes throughout the film in different musical forms. So, I hit the jackpot on this because it’s sort of one song, right?
Santo and Johnny / Sleepwalk
This song has some of the elements that I hold dear to my heart: it’s got an Americana surf-country twang and a classic progression that always finds its way into my head. It has no words, so it can easily be applied to anything from quiet driving time, to a slow dance with the Mrs. Or sitting on the porch with only the sky to watch like our own private drive-in. It’s been a soundtrack for generations behind and ahead.
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