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It’s Free Comic Book Day!!  I can’t believe it’s been a year since I last expressed my enthusiasm about it on this blog.  My excitement about it has yet to wane.  I mean, come on, you walk in and get free comics!  What could be better?

This song has nothing to do with comics, but the video is appropriately nerdy enough that I don’t mind posting it here today.  It just popped into my head, and it’s propulsive enough to encapsulate how I feel about today.  I present “Circuit Breaker” by Mark Ronson and the Business Intl.

Hot damn, free comics!

I’m finally kicking off my latest feature here at FrankieThirteen.com: Phil Phriday!

Yes, that’s Phil Collins.

Phil Collins retired recently, and while the latter part of his career was filled with a lot of sentimental dross, it’s important to remember some of the flat-out classic work he did, both as a solo artist and as a member of Genesis.  So that’s just what I’ll be doing for the next several Fridays (until I get tired of it).

Undoubtedly, Collins’ best songs were the product of the dissolution of his first marriage in 1980.  He took some time off from Genesis and worked out some of his frustrations through music. The divorce was a prevalent theme in his first two solo albums, Face Value and Hello, I Must Be Going.  They’re marked by seething lyrics, atmospheric synths and heavy drums with a “gated reverb” sound.  (While Collins didn’t invent that technique, he certainly helped to popularize it in the ’80s, starting with the song “Intruder” on former Genesis bandmate Peter Gabriel’s third solo album.)

Today’s song is one of my favorites to employ that technique, from Hello, I Must Be Going.  This is “I Don’t Care Anymore.”

Rock paper scissors season has begun, so pardon me if I’m even less present than usual.  My lifestyle lately doesn’t afford much sleep—I’m usually kind of ragged this time of year.  But it’s kind of worth it.

Today’s song is dedicated to all of my opponents: “If I Survive,” by Hybrid (featuring Julee Cruise).

I was going to post something from TV on the Radio today, as their new album, Nine Types of Light, is out today (and it’s fantastic—check out my review at Y-Not Radio).  But something big happened last night: WWE World Heavyweight Champion Edge made a sudden appearance on Raw to announce his retirement. 

After experiencing numbness in his arms, he was checked out by physicians and told he could face paralysis or death if he continued.  As much as I’m going to miss Edge, I know he did the best thing, and I’m happy he’s able to retire on top, coming off of a successful title defense at Wrestlemania, the WWE’s flagship event.

Still, a wrestler I’ve enjoyed and admired for over a decade is hanging it up, so in honor of him, today’s song is his most recent theme music, “Metalingus” by Alter Bridge.

Sorry about Friday.  I was going to introduce a new feature, and then things just got out from under me.  Sorry.  I had a good weekend though, if it makes you feel any better.

Today’s song is from the tandem of Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Sylvian.  The two have been collaborating since 1982’s “Bamboo Houses/Bamboo Music” and “Forbidden Colours.”  This selection is from Sakamoto’s 2004 album Chasm, “World Citizen (I Won’t Be Disappointed).”

(I promise I’ll have the new feature this Friday.)

When Iman remarked some months ago that David Bowie had no plans to record any new music, my heart sank.  True, he hasn’t released an original studio album since 2003’s Reality, but you know, I was hoping we’d hear something from him about putting out new songs.  (He was working on a book of original photography, so I guess that’s something…?)

Last year’s A Reality Tour live double album was cold comfort, but last month, someone leaked Bowie’s unreleased 2001 album Toy.  For those unaware, Toy was planned to include new songs and rerecorded versions of some of his early work.  But he scrapped plans to release it and ended up doing Heathen instead.  Two of the songs from Toy (“Uncle Floyd” and “Afraid”) were reworked and added to Heathen (“Uncle Floyd” became “Slip Away”), while some of the other tracks were released as b-sides.

So technically, this is nothing entirely new, but I guess at the same time it’s something.  It’ll have to do for now.

As you’ve no doubt noticed, there hasn’t been a Bowie Friday track in some time.  As a matter of fact, I’ve decided to discontinue Bowie Friday.  It may be back in some form in the future, and it’s not like there’s a Bowie moratorium on my blog.  Just time to try something new.  And that’s what you’re going to get tomorrow, a brand new feature!

But for now, let’s say goodbye (for now) to David Bowie at FrankieThirteen.com, with “You’ve Got a Habit of Leaving Me.”  It was originally released in 1965, and was the last single he did as Davy Jones, before changing his name because of that other guy.  This is the version he did in 2001.  Enjoy!

The Library of Congress just announced the latest additions to its National Recording Registry, selecting 25 recordings it deems “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”  One of them is Steely Dan’s 1977 album Aja, which gives us today’s song, “Deacon Blues.”  It’s my favorite song on the album.  Enjoy!

More from the Dears today.  You might remember I was set to interview them last week for Y-Not Radio.  Well, things were complicated.  Lead singer Murray Lightburn injured his knee the night before, throwing not only the interview, but the show itself into question.  But he’s a tough dude, and decided to grind it out.  All we ended up doing was push the interview back a few hours.

But Murray was pretty laid back for a guy in a lot of pain.  The interview went well, and he and guitarist Patrick Krief did acoustic renditions of “Omega Dog” and “Thrones.”  If you didn’t hear it, be patient—it’ll likely end up on demand at Y-Not soon enough.

I’m just pleasantly surprised they kept to their word.  Murray could have pulled out after the injury with no complaint from us, but he gutted it out.  Not only that, but the band did a hell of a show that night.  It was pretty amazing, as I’ve come to expect from the Dears’ live show.  I was moved.

Today’s song is “Hate Then Love,” from 2006’s Gang of Losers.  I wanted to post a live version, but I couldn’t find one of decent enough quality.  It’s an epic song, one of my favorites, and hearing it live is always thrilling.

Since The Raveonettes’ new album, Raven in the Grave, drops tomorrow, I figured I’d spotlight them today.  But this morning’s selection is actually from their first full-length, Chain Gang of Love.

And it’s true…even if you don’t really know how to love, “Love Can Destroy Everything.”

I’m seeing the Dears tonight, and interviewing them before the show for Y-Not Radio.  Today’s song is “Galactic Tides,” from their new album Degeneration Street.

Well, this just sprung up on me!  Today’s song is a brand new Mos Def track that he premiered Friday on Fuse.  Might it be from an upcoming album…?  I guess we’ll find out at some point.

Anyway, here’s Mos with “World Premiere!”

Today’s second song is an old favorite from the kind of underappreciated HIStory album.  Indeed, I think Michael Jackson recorded the quintessential “rainy day misery and anxiety” track.  Seems as good a day as any to spotlight “Stranger in Moscow.”

Fleet Foxes craft haunting, melodic ballads bolstered by powerful harmonies and anchored by Robin Pecknold’s sterling delivery.  I saw them back in 2008 at the First Unitarian Church, and it was amazing.  They’re all set to drop a new LP, Helplessness Blues and Pecknold cut a three-track EP which he distributed for free on Twitter.

I’m gonna post two songs today, since the weather is so shitty here in Philadelphia.  The first is from Fleet Foxes‘ self-titled 2008 LP, “Your Protector.”  If you like it, check out the title track from Helplessness Blues there.