SoTD 11/10/2026: Lying in The Sun - Brett Smiley

I really enjoy the all-too-limited repertoire of Brett Smiley, the glam-rocker who out-Ziggy'd Ziggy on the "genderless alien willed into existence via the vibrations of pop music" front. April in Paris is one of my personal favorite songs of all time. I just feel weirdly connected to that one...

Anyway, today we're focusing on a different Smiley-song, Lying in The Sun. It came up when I had my "liked songs" on shuffle yesterday and caught my attention. His vocals sound somewhat Lennon-esque on this cut. Is it just me?

I'd really like to get my hands on a copy of Nina Antonia's Brett biography one of these days... no such luck thus far. Feels like there really isn't all that much info one can find on the guy otherwise. I wanna know more! Few people seemed better-suited to pop stardom, yet it somehow eluded Brett Smiley. How is it that there's no room in the big leagues for him, when the personality-free Ed Sheerans of the world seem to have a standing reservation there? (I'm not one of those "all new music is bad" guys, in fact I actually quite like many of today's artists... but come on, Ed Sheeran? What's that guy done worth a damn? Not to mention his lack of a spine makes it fun to pick on him right now. Go on, try it!)

SoTD 11/9/2026: In The Night - Richard Lloyd

 

We've lost a real heavy-hitter. It's been happening far too much lately, but that doesn't make it hurt any less. There really was something divine Richard Lloyd tapped into with his guitar-playing... I come back to words like "shimmering" and "glistening" whenever I discuss his work in and out of Television with others, and that feels like the closest I can get to describing his sound... yet the idea of merely describing his sound falls flat right out of the gate, as it was meant to be heard, not recounted. Listen.

Zo and I saw Richard live at the Bovine Sex Club downtown in 2023. Really wasn't that long ago, all in all. It was a very nice, intimate show. Night Finger (a local favorite of mine) opened for him. It wasn't too long after Tom Verlaine's passing, and he dedicated the penultimate number of the night, Venus, to his memory. Venus is my favorite Television song, and one of my favorite songs period. I'm not religious, but hearing a song like that always convinces me there surely must be a God, somewhere out there, looking after us. It was an incredibly special experience to hear the song played live by one of its principal architects, and I will treasure that memory forever. 

Safe travels, Richard!

Our view of Richard Lloyd at the Bovine, March 2023.

COMMISSIONS ARE OPEN (AGAIN)!

As per usual, click on the above image for a better-quality look at it... not sure why Blogger compresses the previews to such an extent...

I've re-opened art commissions! I will draw whatever you please (within reason)! Drop me a line at npcartoons@gmail.com to get in touch or receive whatever additional information you might need.

SoTD 11/4/2026: Because - Ronnie Spector

I meant to post this one about two days ago... I'm tired. Is anyone else tired?

(I am not tired due the results of last night's American mid-terms, this was not meant to be a thinly-veiled commentary on that. I am very pleased with those results. I'm happy to be "Woke" or "PC" or whatever slur right-wingers will develop for empathy next... Blue Texas! Never thought I'd see that in my lifetime. Trump's probably been beating Vance with a golf club for 24 hours straight.)

SoTD 10/30/2026: You Like Me Too Much - The Beatles

I've been wondering how long it would take for this feature to get to a Beatles song. Today feels like a good day for it-- at long last, I finally have all of the "canonical" Beatles albums on vinyl. Help was the last one I needed (well, the standard version of Help; I've had a copy of the hacked-up North-American version that's mixed weirdly and missing a bunch of songs for a couple of years now), and I picked it up today! I've heard this record about nine-hundred-thousand times in my life, yet it took until today to bring it home on wax. Go figure.

Choosing to spotlight George's second entry on the album for today's SoTD instalment. It's a good one, and an overlooked one too in my opinion. I think he came into his own as a songwriter a good deal earlier than most people tend to recognize. 

Dennis The Morrison

I drew this in 2024, felt like sharing it here because hey, why not! Be sure to click on the images for a higher-resolution look at them... Blogger seems to compress pictures a good deal unless you do that.

SoTD 10/27/2026: Hang On To Yourself (01/18/1972 Recording) - David Bowie

 

Proto-punky raunch 'n roll at its finest. I honestly might favor this take over the one that wound up on the Ziggy Stardust album a few months later... Ronson's guitar tone is perfect.

I like giving alternate takes/versions of songs a look now and then. I think there will be more of those in future Song o' The Day instalments. I really wish the Sex Pistols' 76-77 album wasn't region-blocked on Spotify for me, because there are several choice cuts from that compilation that I would love to add to the designated playlist...

SoTD 10/23/2026: Get Rid of Him - Dionne Warwick

 

Much like the aforementioned Brickfield Nights, this is one that's been stuck in my head a good deal lately. Phil Spector probably wishes he had come up with this tune (in whatever pit of Hell he currently resides in).

According to the YouTube comments, the Shirelles sang backup here... is that true? Pretty cool if so!