Tag Archives: love songs

Ball of Wax 35 Songs: John Vecchiarelli – “iPhone Wedding Song (for Marc & Ali)”

Ball of Wax 35 closes with one last low-fi ukulele recording. Portland’s John Vecchiarelli, an old friend last heard from way back on Ball of Wax Volume 2, sent me an email out of the blue with this little beauty … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 35 Songs: The Pornadoes – “Makes My Heart Sway”

Local surfy instrumentalists The Pornadoes take their tongues out of their cheeks and bring the volume and tempo down for this very sweet love theme. If we’re talking Northwest guitar heroes, “Makes My Heart Sway” is less The Ventures and … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 35 Songs: Robb Benson and the Shelk – “Twin Peaks”

I can’t claim to know the inspiration behind Robb Benson‘s spirit animal, the shelk (an elk with a shark’s head, obviously), but at least half of it makes perfect sense. Robb is one of the most prolific songwriters I’ve ever … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 35 Songs: Peter Colclasure – “Cynic”

Peter Colclasure is a former member of the Foghorns whose contribution to Ball of Wax 35 is a surreal kiss-off in waltz time. “Cynic” contrasts Colclasure’s derisive lyrics (“you got yourself seen at all the right places / all the hip … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 35 Songs: Werebearcat! – “My Heart”

I can’t believe it’s been over a year since Werebearcat! graced us with one of their minimalist drum-and-voice jams, but indeed it has. They made their first Ball of Wax appearance on our “No Guitars” volume, and unlike some of … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 35 Songs: Bandolier – “Steady Love”

Bandolier gets things off on the right foot with the iconic pum—pum-pum-thwack! of the indestructible “Be My Baby” drum beat. Almost immediately gritty synth organ and a tinny melodic figure (a guitar with tremolo?) emerge below reedy vocals singing “[I] … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 35 Songs: James Smith – “Every Time I Fall in Love It Turns Out Bad”

Webelos front man James Smith brings us a lo-fi, poppy little sad sack of a tune with a fairly self-explanatory title. It might not be the kind of song that first comes to mind when one thinks of love songs, … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 35 Songs: Levi Fuller – “5 Year Plan”

Levi‘s contribution to volume 35, “5 Year Plan,” veers away from the rumble and fuzz of his recent work with the Library and returns to the organic folk simplicity of his earlier recordings. Acoustic guitar and voice sit way up in … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 35 Songs: Kate Noson – “Fly”

Kate Noson‘s voice was first heard by Ball of Wax listeners harmonizing with Sam Russell on Volume 30’s “All These Passing Fields.” Sam, plotting his own love song for Volume 35, recommended Kate’s country ballad”Fly” for this volume, and I’m … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 35 Songs: Harbor Island – “If I Needed Someone”

Joshua Schramm is a busy fellow. Outside of his country band Modern Relics, he has at least two other more or less solo projects, both of which submitted lovely love songs for Ball of Wax 35. Jon has already delved … Continue reading

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