Moving
In honor of my recent move from New York City to Philadelphia, here are ten songs that involve moving in some way, shape or form. Feel free to add others that I may have neglected to mention in the comments.
This is the best song and a stand-out single from their underrated, self-titled third record.
While I may not be “drinking Hennessey with MORRISSEY” or “on a beach, out of reach, somewhere very far away”, this song from their debut album Bang Bang Rock and Roll never fails to amuse me.
OK so it’s not really about moving, but I thought I’d throw it on here nonetheless.
This is a track from their 1987 classic Locust Abortion Technician.
Again, it’s not about moving, but it’s a classic from Radio City.
I didn’t include Chrome on either of my post-punk lists because there was only so much space, though they were covered in Rip It Up and Start Again, so I’m atoning for that by including this track from the album of the same name. It can be found on the CD that contains both that album and Alien Soundtracks, both towering achievements of the late ‘70s San Francisco scene long before “noise” and “industrial” became commonplace.
I recently listened to a WXPN live simulcast of his show at World Cafe here in Philadelphia, so I was reminded of this pleasant track from his excellent debut album Veneer.
From their most recent album Tales from Turnpike House, this is a song about a couple fighting over the issue of whether to move away from London to the countryside or not. It’s my favorite song on the record, yet it didn’t even make it to the abridged U.S. version. Stick with the far superior import instead!
Yet again this song isn’t about moving so much as getting by in a makeshift habitat, as so many transient city-dwellers can surely identify with this theme. This is from their 1981 career-high Wild Gift.
I wanted to finish off this list by including a song from The Trials of Van Occupanther, which is my favorite new album at the moment.
