Not Guilty Just Pleasure - Habit

Not only is it Friday, it's the last day of May.

I think that this has to have been one of the rainiest and coolest Mays I remember in a very long time.  I'm looking forward to a sunny, warm, hopefully dry, June.  Wouldn't that be nice?

A few months ago, I heard a song by Still Woozy (aka Sven Gamsky) called Goodie Bag.  I really liked it and added it to one of the playlists I listen to at work.  Just recently, in the last couple of weeks or so, Still Woozy released an EP called Lately.  Again, really liked it.

Can't put my finger on what it is exactly about it that I like but it's something... so it also got added to my work playlist.  I have lost count of how many times I've listened to Lately (lately, haha...bad joke huh?) but it's many.  Probably a lot. The lyrics are a bit dumb in places but not everything I listen to has to be thoughtful or clever right?

So today, because it's Friday and I can share whatever I like, I'm sharing Habit by Still Woozy from the awesome EP Lately.

Hope you enjoy it kiddos, happy weekend xo

Yeah well I could give a fuck about you
She can get whatever she needs
Every time that she looked at me
You know I felt weak to my knees
Wasn't trying to be fancy like you know

Cancon Thursday - Ampersand

Happy Thursday folks.

It's "hey let's share a Canadian song" day 'round here so that's what I'm going to do.

The New Grand, 1997, photo by me!

I've been thinking about the 90's a fair bit recently.  Not living in the past or anything, just reminiscing and listening to some music I used to enjoy back then.  Some of it has a timeless quality.  Other songs sound very "nineties" to me.  The song I'm sharing today falls into the second category.

Don't get me wrong, I still thing this is a great song and listening to
it makes me smile.  I'm sharing "Ampersand" by London, Ontario's The New Grand from their 1998 album Incognito.  It's a good album, the songs are fun and hooky.  I'll probably have "Ampersand" in my head most of today and that's not a bad thing at all.

I hope you enjoy a little nineties indie pop.  Have a great day kids xo

Way Back Wednesday - If It's Love

On Way Back Wednesdays, I always share an older tune with you.  Typically, it's got to be at least 20 years before I'll consider posting it.  Today's song, I was surprised to realize is now 30 years old.  It doesn't feel like it's possible for it to be that old as it's a song I listen to pretty regularly and it doesn't sound dated at all.  As I'm discovering as I age, time passes quickly and so, if you do the math, it totally adds up that the Squeeze album, Frank (released in 1989) is now 30 years old.

I don't think I have ever met a Squeeze song that I didn't like.  The song I'm sharing today, "If It's Love" was the first single from Frank. It's very typically Squeeze-y, catchy, fun... the kind of song you find yourself dancing around the kitchen to (or really any room I suppose, just watch out for the furniture, bruised shins are no fun!).

Hope that listening to this today inspires you to take a trip down the Squeeze rabbit hole and explore their whole discography.  If you're a fan of pop music and aren't already familiar with Squeeze, buckle up and enjoy. 

Happy Hump Day kittens xo

If it's love that would really explain it
How I feel like I'm covered in wool
If it's love then it's really exciting
My diary's become very full
If it's love does it matter, if I'm thin or I'm fatter
If it's love then it feels like I've won the pools

Because It's Tuesday - May 28

Although it's still officially spring, over the weekend, the first taste of summer hit Kingston.  We had a rare, sunny, warm sunny.  It didn't rain for the first time in a while and there was even a bit of humidity in the air.

With summer weather comes thoughts of summer music.  Because it's Tuesday, as you know, I'm sharing a cover with you today.  I can't think of any band more often associated with summer than the Beach Boys.  The song I'm sharing today is a cover of "Little Honda" by the Queers.  Honestly, for me, this is one of those songs were I prefer the cover to the original (both are fabulous but...).

I hope you enjoy it and if it ends up being rainy and yucky today remember, summer really is just around the corner.  Happy Tuesday kiddos xo

Not Guilty Just Pleasure - Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby

Happy Friday folks!!

I had no intentions of this becoming Morrissey / Smiths week on ye olde blog but that's just what happened.  Funny isn't it??

Today's Not Guilty Just Pleasure song could have been posted on a Tuesday (cuz cover) or Wednesday (cuz old) but instead I'm posting it today. I thought it would be a nice way to end this Morrissey week thing.

For those of you who aren't paying attention, this name of my blog ("What Do Pretty Girls Do?") was taken from a song by the late, great Kirsty MacColl.  It's been a while since I have shared a song of hers and thought that today was just as good as any to do just that.

As much as I love the original recording of today's song, Kirsty's version was always my favourite.  She recorded it for her 1989 album "Kite" (The song "What Do Pretty Girls Do" is also on "Kite") and the lead guitar (obvs) was played by Johnny Marr.  For those of you who may be too young to have been a fan of Kirsty's, I really encourage you to check out her music.  She was a brilliant artist, had the voice of an angel and just the best sense of humour.  Kirsty was taken from us tragically in 2000 but her music still sounds fresh and new today.

I hope you enjoy Kirsty MacColl's cover of "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby." If it doesn't make you dance around the house nothing will. 

Enjoy the weekend kiddies xo

Cancon Thursday - My Morrissey Shirt

I don't often do a single theme for a whole week.  Given that I post 4 days a week and already 2 of the posts this week have been about Morrissey / The Smiths, I thought I'd keep the theme rolling.

It's Thursday (duh!) and as regular readers know, I always share a Canadian song on Thursdays.  You may be thinking, Peggy, how can you keep that up and still stay with your Morrissey / The Smiths theme? 

Fortunately, the Canadian Ambassadors of Rock'n'Roll, The Smugglers, have the perfect song for today!!  That's right kids, today, I'm sharing "My Morrissey Shirt" from their 1993 album "In The Hall of Fame" for Cancon Thursday.   

Truthfully, I probably could have dug around and found some Canadian band or artist who recorded a cover of an old song by The Smiths.  That would have smacked of effort and it would have meant that today's post was Smugglers-free.  It's been a while since I've shared a song by the Smugglers and it felt like the right thing to do.


Hope you enjoy it (and if you do, go listen to more stuff by the Smugglers, your day will only get better if you do!), Happy Thursday xo

Way Back Wednesday - William It Was Really Nothing

It's hump day today.  It's a short week though so perhaps hump day doesn't start until late this afternoon.  Ugh, not sure how that works in a four day week.

Either way, that means that it's Way Back Wednesday so I'm sharing a golden oldie with you today. Not that I have an official theme this week (although it's starting to feel like I do).  When I found the song I posted yesterday (Morrissey's cover of "Wedding Bell Blues"), I read through some of the comments on YouTube and was mildly amused.  Someone commented that Bill from Wedding Bell Blues was really William from "William It Was Really Nothing" (perhaps because when the Smiths performed "William It Was Really Nothing" on Top of the Pops all those years ago, he had "Marry Me" written on his chest).  Legend has it that William from the song was Billy Mackenzie, singer of the Associates.

Same guy, not the same guy, after I read that, I had "William It Was Really Nothing" in my head for a couple of days and decided that it would be my Wednesday song this week.  It does fit nicely with yesterday's song so, voila!

It was originally released during the summer of 1984 and the b-side on the single was "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want." Hope you enjoy it and have a happy day kiddos xo

Because It's Tuesday - week of May 21

Because I pay attention to the news, I was aware that Morrissey had been releasing some new stuff recently.  I didn't really go out of my way (for no particular reason) to check it out.  Imagine my surprise the other day when I stumbled upon today's cover song...

That's right kids, because it's Tuesday I'm sharing a cover with you.

Morrissey, with a little help from his friend Billie Joe Armstrong, have covered the Laura Nyro classic, "Wedding Bell Blues." The song was released last month on the 22nd anniversary of Laura Nyro's death.

It's incredibly sad to me that she's been gone so long but boy, what that gigantic box of music gifts she left us was remarkable.  This particular song was made popular by the Fifth Dimension when they released it in 1969 but I've always preferred the original version.  This Morrissey version is lovely though.  With age, his voice has changed but I like it.  He's done a sweet and lovely version of "Wedding Bell Blues." I hope you enjoy it.

Happy Tuesday kiddos xo

Not Guilty Just Pleasure - Funny Little Frog

Well we made it, sort of...almost.  The long weekend is just about ready to start and the sun is actually shining in Kingston, for the second day in a row.

I don't listen to them as often as I used to these days but I will eternally have a piece of my heart which is completely devoted to Belle and Sebastian.  I spent countless hours listening to them and even convinced Mark to drive to Brooklyn so I could see them for the first time.  It was well worth the drive, I recall actually crying just a little bit when the show started (and I had found a spot right at the front of the crowd, in front of Stevie Jackson).  Afterwards I understood, for the first time in my life, why those girls were screaming and crying when they were in the audience of the Ed Sullivan show, watching the Beatles.  It was a bit overwhelming to stand under the stars, in Coney Island, on a balmy October evening, hearing one of my favourite bands live for the first time.  Gah!

So today, I'm going to share a song from their 2006 album, The Life Pursuit (the above fuzzy photo was taken by yours truly during The Life Pursuit tour when it stopped in Montreal in 2006).  It should perk you up if your coffee isn't quite doing it yet.  Happy Weekend kittens, stay safe and be happy xo

Honey lovin' you is the greatest thing
I get to be myself and I get to sing
I get to play at being irresponsible
I come home late at night and I love your soul
I never forget you in my prayers
I never have a bad thing to report

Cancon Thursday - My Old Man

As regular readers here will know, on Thursdays I share songs by Canadian Artists.  While she may live south of border, Joni Mitchell is a Canadian girl and our nation's pride and joy.

I know folks who are gigantic fans of Joni Mitchell and I was never really in that camp but there are many of her songs that I love very dearly.  The song I'm going to share with you today is one of those songs.

From her undeniably GREAT, as in this a fucking masterpiece, album Blue, I'm sharing the song "My Old Man" today. It's such a sweet and poignant song about a woman professing her love for her man, a good man.  As we all know, those kind of guys are not easy to find.  When you find one, you should hold onto him with both hands and never let him go.

Hope you enjoy this kiddos xo

He's my sunshine in the morning
He's my fireworks at the end of the day
He's the warmest chord I ever heard
Play that warm chord, play and stay baby

Way Back Wednesday - Digging Your Scene

It's been my observation that in general, folks don't listen to enough of the Blow Monkeys.

Goodness knows that in the 80's, I did my share of listening, probably more than average but then things happened and I didn't listen to them as much as I probably should have done.  They always make me feel good so why I ever stopped keeping them in my regular rotation is beyond me.

Having said that, a few years ago I started to add them back in and it made me smile.  So, for Way Back Wednesday, I'm sharing an old song by The Blow Monkeys, "Digging Your Scene" from their terrific 1986 record, Animal Magic. The song's subject matter was pretty topical when it was released.  "Digging Your Scene" addresses the prejudice and ignorance experienced by individuals who were living with HIV and AIDS.

I would urge you to put on your dancing shoes, listen to this song (which despite the serious topic is fun to dance to), bop around the room and kick your Wednesday off with an excellent tune in your ear.  Stay cool kittens xo

What in the world is this feeling
To catch a breath and leave me reeling
It'll get you in the end, its god's revenge

Because It's Tuesday - week of May 14

Well it's Tuesday again.  If it's Tuesday that means it's cover time.

Before I share this week's cover, I'd like to say a gigantic thank you to my family and friends for making my birthday weekend so incredibly special and fun.  Oh yeah, it was my birthday yesterday.  I'm 52.  I remember when I was a little girl, my dad's buddy Alec was turning 52 and my dad said, "well now you're finally playing with a full deck."  For some reason, I thought that was (and still do) the most hilarious thing.  So yeah, I'm playing with a full deck too!

This photo, of my brother Patrick, me and my cousin Joanie was taken on my birthday when I was 7 so, yikes, 45 years ago.  We were such cuties in our ponchos huh??  We're still cuties I should say.  The look on my brother's face just warms my heart, what a sweet guy.  He still is.  Wow I'm a lucky kid!!

Today, I'm sharing a song that was originally recorded by a group I love dearly.  The band covering the song is also a band which is very near and dear to my heart.  I'll not say too much about it because I think it doesn't need a big introduction.

Today's Tuesday cover is by The Ramones.  It's their amazing, wall of sound-ish version of The Ronettes classic "Baby I Love You."

Have I ever told you
How good it feels to hold you
It isn't easy to explain
And though I'm really trying
I think I may start crying
My heart can't wait another day

Not Guilty Just Pleasure - Sin Triangle

It's not guilty, just pleasure Friday 'round here.

Today I'm sharing a song with you all that I've been a bit obsessed with for a while so I was really delighted to see a video pop up for it a couple of weeks ago.  Truthfully, I'm a bit obsessed with the whole album and have recently developed a desire to teach a parakeet to speak.

The song I'm sharing today is Sin Triangle by Sidney Gish from her amazing album, No Dogs Allowed.  I've shared Sidney songs here before.  I suspect I shall share them again.  I heart this young woman and her music.  Watching the video for Sin Triangle is fun.  Well, it was fun for me.  I hope it's fun for you.

I also hope that if you like this song, you check out her other stuff. Please visit her bandcamp page purchase some (or all) of her tasty musical treats:  https://sidneygish.bandcamp.com/

So, on a soggy Friday, I hope you can find a couple of moments to dance around the house to some sweet sounds from Sidney Gish xo

Cancon Thursday - War On The East Coast

Happy Thursdays kids.

It's supposed to rain today but I hope the forecast is wrong.  It's been a wet, cold spring around here.  We have had one or two days of sunny weather but I would be happy to have a few more.

Last night, as I was pulling onto my street, the song I'm sharing today started playing in the van.  I had to sit in my driveway to finish listening to it because for me, it's one of those songs that must be listened to in it's entirety.

On Thursdays, I always share a  "Cancon" song.  Today's band is a super group of sorts and the membership includes folks from both north and south of the border but I always think of them as being Canadian. My pick today is War on the East Coast by the New Pornographers from their 2014 album Brill Bruisers.  I honestly thought that I'd shared it here before but I can't find a post about it so I may not have. 

In any event, I'm sharing it today because it's a great song.  Hope you enjoy War On The East Coast kiddos...stay dry today if you can xo

Blondes, brunettes, paper jets
Blondes, brunettes, paper jets
Star power, star power
The king bent over to smell a flower

Way Back Wednesday - Box Full of Letters

It occurred to me recently that many Wilco songs are now more than 20 years old and thus meet the criteria for Way Back Wednesday

That makes me so happy... so happy in fact that I'm considering doing Way Back Wilco Wednesdays all summer.  Stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, I'm sharing a song from A.M., "Box Full of Letters." It's a great song and a wicked earworm.  I often get this stuck in my head and I have absolutely no problem with that, not at all.

Hope you enjoy this stroll down the mid-90's memory lane.  Happy Hump Day kiddos xo

I got a lot of your records,
In a separate stack
Some things that I might like to hear,
But I guess I'll give 'em back

Because It's Tuesday - week of May 7

When I was a kid, I liked Bobbie Gentry songs.  She told great stories in her songs and that appealed to me.  Thinking about it now as an adult, it might have been because my dad was a big fan of Red Sovine so I had a soft spot for story songs (we can talk about the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald again sometime).

The song "Ode to Billie Joe" was everywhere when I was a kid.  I can remember singing along with it every time it was on the radio (singing "Tallahatchee Bridge" was fun).  At some point, Robbie Benson starred in a movie based on the song.  I didn't get to see until years later because I was too young to watch something so scandalous.  A couple of months ago, I heard a cover of "Ode to Billie Joe" by Mercury Rev featuring Lucinda Williams.

I love Bobbie Gentry and Mercury Rev and of course the dynamite Lucinda Williams so for this week's cover (because it is Tuesday), I'll share it with you.  It's not a video but the audio is excellent. This version is a bit more haunting and sad the original, I think it's just amazing.  Hope you enjoy it xo

Way Back Wednesday - Wouldn't It Be Nice

It's Way Back Wednesday today so that means I'm sharing an older tune with you today.

The song I've selected is from one of my favourite records, The Beach Boy's Pet Sounds.  The song is "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and I've picked it for a number of reasons.  First, it's a great song and I have loved it for as long as I can remember.  Second, it's on theme for today, for me anyway.

I'm home today while plumbers tear up my basement and do some repair work.

I've been saying to myself...wouldn't it be nice if this stuff just magically fixed itself without the noise and mess? Wouldn't it be nice if someone else paid for it for me?  Wouldn't it be nice if the weather wasn't so crappy today (bad enough to have folks traipsing in and out of the house, does it have to be rainy and wet too?).

It's been a huge amount of work, preparing for today.  I feel like I have met or at least talked to everyone who works for Utilities Kingston and I know my plumber and his office manager much better than I ever thought I would.  Probably the only silver lining in all of this is that I'm able to have a sump pump and back flow valve installed.  Given how much water has become an issue the past couple of years, doing some flood prevention will bring me some peace of mind.

Hope you're able to have a peaceful, mess free Wednesday... and while you're at it, enjoy some Beach Boys xo