Ündercurrents

For this week I was originally going to do a set by the Jefferson Airplane and then this set the following week, but intervening circumstances will make it impossible for me to do a Weekly Wog the week following Christmas. Perhaps it’s fitting, because my wog this week, Ündercurrents, has a tinge of darkness to it, and it’s coming out on the Winter Solstice. Featuring artists such The Fixx, Sarah McLachlan, and Strange Advance, these are some of my favorite songs, and the set is 49 minutes long. Enjoy! Find the current at Podwogging.com.

What a Long, Strange Wog

Since doing twirly dances with no discernable awareness of rhythm is now illegal in a number of states, I’ve had to mend my ways and seek out music by the Grateful Dead that conforms to woggability codes. Hence, Sugar Jognolia: 37 minutes of Dead tunes that are both far out and noodle-free. Go to Podwogging.com for more (tie-dye t-shirts optional).

Memo to Zeus: Bring It On!

Rain Bringer, Cloud Gatherer, do your best—‘cause I’ve sonic protection in the form of my Ümbrella: 12 songs about rain. Starting with R.E.M.’s mournful I’ll Take the Rain and finishing with Jim Hendrix doing Still Raining, Still Dreaming, this week’s wog is a light walking set for a stroll in the wet stuff. Since rain is often a metaphor for the stuff the life throws at you, all these songs have a twinge of melancholy to them, even the one by the bubbly Cowsills. But with your Ümbrella for protection, your spirits will be lifted by the time Jimi comes around.

What’s in a Woglist?

At Podwogging.com, you’ll find this list, along with many others—nearly a thousand songs total, with more added each week. In addition to showing song title, artist, and album, each song in a list has its BPM (beats per minute), PC (pace consistency), and a comment—sometimes just about the song itself, but often with other information: intros and outros, whether the song is skippable, and whether you can either do a slow walk or run to it at double speed. All this is designed to help YOU know what you’re getting when you decide to put this song into a playlist for the purposes of jogging or walking.

Get Your Who On

More than any other British group, the Who maintained the highest rock standard from the 60s through the 80s, staying true to their roots throughout the trends of psychedelia, country rock, disco, punk, and New Wave. Consummate showmen, they played loud and brashly, but always with humor and lyrics that evoked emotion without stooping to cliché. This week’s wog, My Jogger Nation, captures that Who spirit with 9 songs taken throughout their career, from the 60s’ anthemic My Generation to the 80s’ Eminence Front. 37 minutes of pulse-pounding rock...what could be better? Find the list on Podwogging.com.

What is edgy?

Edgy can mean different things to different people. To me, it holds elements of danger, something different, not afraid to explore dark themes. This week’s wog features nine songs that embody edginess. You’ll find Queens of the Stone Age, Muse, Sonic Youth, Franz Ferdinand, the Cure, and others. Ironically, this 35-minute wog is moderately paced. But then, perhaps that’s a good thing. Find the edge at Podwogging.com.

Wogging with the Godfather

The Godfather of Soul, that is: James Brown. Get on your good foot, stick Mr. Brown’s insane R&B in your ear, and a good time is guaranteed for all. So check out this week’s wog, Poppa’s Got a Brand New Jog, at Podwogging.com.

What are you waiting for, y’all?

Another New Millennium Flatliner

Sometimes I can’t get enough of a good thing. This March I presented a Flatliner list—one where all but the beginning, ending, and middle songs are nearly the same pace—composed of artists who’ve made the first decade of the millennium truly special. This time the wog is a bit slower—a slow jog pace rather than a moderate jog pace—but the artists are just as awesome. Afro Celt Sound System kicks things off, followed by Dave Matthews, Gorillaz, Hot Hot Heat, the Shins, Morningwood, the New Pornographers, Queens of the Stone Age, and Maia Sharp. What are you waiting for? Check it out at Podwogging.com!

Wogging with Hutchence

Here’s one band from the 80s whose music crackled with rock energy: INXS. When frontman Michael Hutchence took his own life, the group came to an end (despite an effort to replace Hutchence recently with a reality TV show contest). If you’ve never heard them (the original INXS, that is) check out this woglist. Two songs epitomize their different sides (lovely lyrical/snappy licks): Kiss the Dirt and Devil Inside. Simply put, if you like rock and you like wogging, put INXS on your take-to-the-streets list.

For the complete breakdown, go to Podwogging.com. Why? Because I said so.

Boo!

Something freaky this way comes, and there’s nothing like a little pre-Halloween spooking to get your wogging feet moving. This week’s wog features nine songs about ghosts, zombies, and even fear itself. So let those deliciously frightful shivers set your heart a-thumping! But don’t go too fast or you’ll attract evil spirits. And then the fastest feet in the world won’t help you...unless you go to Podwogging.com and pick another wogging set!

Yabba ABBA do!

ABBA has experienced a revival of sorts with the release of the Mamma Mia movie, but you hardly need a film to experience their insanely catchy pop. Their music is very70s, but unlike some of the forgettable pop from that era, their songs still have a crisp melody-driven edge that’s still perfect for dancing—or wogging. You won’t find Wogging Queen (this week’s wog) to be intense, either lyrics-wise or pace-wise, with only a couple of jogs sprinkled in, but none of the walking songs drag. This one’s perfect for a fun stroll in the hills. Take a chance! Complete list at Podwogging.com.

Progressive Obsessive

Ready for a vigorous, one-hour mix of progressive rock you can actually walk and jog along to? Progressive Obsessive is this week’s wog. It features rhythmically consistent music from Pink Floyd, Rush, Genesis, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Kansas, and Alan Parsons Project, as well as the lesser-known Saga, Uriah Heep, Hawkwind, and FM. You’ll find no endless noodling or instrumental pyrotechnics here, but they all feature clever guitar and keyboards. Not obsessed yet? Check out the playlist at Pogwogging.com!

I want my Straits

Blending Mark Knopfler’s slightly Dylanesque vocals with skiffle beats and roots guitar, the Dire Straits were the closest thing to a mainstream British bar band in the 70s and 80s. The result is a laid-back sound, with an occasional venture into hip sarcasm, that makes for pleasant walking music in this week’s wog. Want a nice groove to accompany your stroll through fall colors? The Straights might be your ticket. Check out Wog of Life at Podwogging.com.

Tom Petty? It’s About Time!

In the annals of rock music, Tom Petty (with or without his Heartbreakers) sometimes gets overlooked. All he did was crank out great songs, year after year, in an era when punk, reggae, disco, and outrageous arena rock strode the musical landscape. But Petty’s lyrics were so fully informed by the angst of growing up in America, discovering the hard truths of life, and his bandmates always loaned an inventive hand, whether rocking hard or strumming to ballads. So this week’s wog finally pays tribute to Petty, in a short, albeit soulful walk. I’m working on a Petty UberWog, but until then...Walk on! AT Pogwogging.com.

Make your exercise tasty

No, Zap Mama and !Deladap are not the names of comic book characters—they’re just from different countries. And they’re two of the artists who are in this week’s wog, Taste the World. You’ll also find Afro Celt Sound System and Delerium, among others. Go ahead, have a bite—guaranteed not to taste just like chicken! At Podwogging.com.

Foxy Roxy

Many people might associate the 70s with head-banger metal, screaming punk, self-important progressive rock, or vapid disco. Fortunately, there was also Roxy Music. With lushly romantic lyrics, moody melodies and dance floor chops, they defined elegance in pop music. Bryan Ferry and Brian Eno, who went on to brilliant solo careers, used their creative differences to forge a unique sound that still resonates today. This week’s wog features some of their best stuff. Check it out at Podwogging.com.

In the Mood

Autumn creeps closer, the nights grow longer...something’s in the air. Music that resonates with that something fills this week’s wog, a long (78 minute) Wog-a-Thon. Masters of moody music like Loreena McKennit, Enya, Simon and Garfunkel, Alan Parsons Project and Peter Gabriel join relative newcomers David Gray and Dark Captain Light Captain, plus others. These are essential songs for my listening pleasure, in addition to making for a hauntingly moody walk. Get in the Mooditorium at Podwogging.com.

By the Time I Walk to Woodstock

Just couldn’t let the summer end without a tip of my Freak Flag to C, S, N, and sometimes Y, whose rocking version of Joni Mitchell’s anthem Woodstock, in honor of that memorable event’s 40th anniversary. In addition, this week’s wog features classics like Long Time Gone, Helpless, and Immigration Man. The vibe is mellow, so leave your track shoes at home. At Podwogging.com.

Home from Vacation? There’s Still Traffic

No, not the bumper-to-bumper kind, but the GOOD kind. One of the most inventive rock bands to come out of British Psychedelia, Traffic blended jazz and British folk into rock rhythms to match Steve Winwood’s distinctive vocals. So relax, take your hand off the horn, and follow the flow for 36 minutes in this week’s wog, You Can All Jog In. At Podwogging.com.

Hit the Road, Jim

I’m willing to bet that Americans log more hours driving during August than any other month of the year. That’s certainly true for me—especially yesterday, when I put in a good 8 hours out on the highway, around the Bay Area and between here and the Sierra foothills. And later today it’s more of the same, as school reunions, family reunions, and summer camp all stake their transportation claims. In honor of my heroic driving efforts, this week’s wog is—what else?—Road Heroes. And it checks in at a honkin’ 76 minutes, at that. Seems like every rock band that’s ever toured has at least one road song in its bag of tricks. So load up your pod and start that trip! Get your itinerary at Podwogging.com.

Fleet of Foot, Mac of Wood

In the mid- to late-70s, Fleetwood Mac ruled the world of soft rock. Stevie Nicks went on to a solo career, and despite several emotion-laden reunions they were pretty much done by the 80s. But don’t let that stop you—the songs in this week’s wog, Jog Your Own Way, make a great way to get 31 minutes of vigorous exercise. In addition to classic Mac, I’ve included a few songs from their pre-Nicks/Buckingham days; these are unfortunately not available for legal download. I highly recommend the album from which they came, Bare Trees, so it’s worth picking it up as a CD.

Haven’t been to Podwogging.com? What are you waiting for?

What a Rush

Mixing intricate beats, pounding bass, ringing guitars, introspective lyrics, lush melodies, and Geddy Lee’s distinctive vocals, Rush has proven to be a true rock institution for the last thirty-odd years. This week’s wog features an hour of Rush, starting with Presto’s Show Don’t Tell and finishing with the anthemic Tom Sawyer from Moving Pictures. This is a Vigorous ÜberWog, so in addition to slower numbers you’ll find infectious joggers like Subdivisions and Between the Wheels. So what’s the Rush? Find out at Podwogging.com.

Want the Real Deal?

From the chunky beats of the cynical My City Was Gone to the snarling, driving Middle of the Road, nobody combined punk sass with sheer hard rock artistry like the Pretenders. This week’s wog, Back on the Jog Gang, features some of this legendary band’s best numbers; in addition to aforementioned, wog out to Mystery Achievement, Back on the Chain Gang, and others. If you want 39 minutes of pulse-pounding bliss, check out this playlist. At Podwogging.com, of course.

Fast Forward

If you’re like me, songs with BPMs in the 140s have the perfect rhythm for cooking up a jog that’s just right. Fast Forward, this week’s wog, is a Flatliner with all but the beginning, middle, and ending songs in that sweet range. In this list you’ll find songs in that range by A Flock of Seagulls, Spencer Davis Group, Supertramp, Jellyfish, and the Grateful Dead. They’ll all stoke your desire to keep that music moving forward in the 140s.

Find it at Pogwogging.com.

Breakfast in America

In the late 70s, Supertramp was your basic breezy pop group with fun songs that still had serious undertones. Breakfast in America was by far their standout album, so it’s fitting that this week’s wog is a One Album Wog comprised of songs from it. Whether opening with The Logical Song and its great sax riffs and a call to a freethinking lifestyle, jogging to the opening harmonica bars of Take the Long Way Home, or wistfully whistling to the strides of Goodbye Stranger, this album delivers 36 minutes of great wogging fun.

Check it at Podwogging.com

She Wogs in Mysterious Ways

The world is a mysterious place. Remember that, even on those delightful summer days when everything feels easy and straightforward. If you want a little musical reminder of the power of the other side of the mind, check out this week’s beautiful playlist, Enter the Mystery. It’s not fast paced, so you’ll have time to ponder it all. And at the end of your walk, let the vibes keep flowing through you. Maybe your dreams will be more interesting tonight...

Podwogging.com

The King of Pop is Dead. Long Live the King.

Now matter what you think of Michael Jackson’s lifestyle, his bizarre antics and possible criminal activities that made him anathema to many, there can be no doubt that his music was immensely entertaining, ushering us into the MTV age with timeless singing and dancing that energized all of us. So this week’s wog is all Michael: seven of his best numbers, from Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. I hope you find them as fun to walk and jog to as they are to dance to.

Podwogging.com.

W-O-G in the U-S-A

Ah, the American Dream. Get Rich or Die Trying. Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, where a sucker is born every minute and the best wogging music this side of the Atlantic can be found. Here’s a Wog-a-Thon, nearly one hour, of heart-pumping, red-blooded American musical action. Classic American artists like Tom Petty, the Grateful Dead, and Neil Young (oh, wait—he’s from CANADA) will rock your wog. But be careful—the American Dream is full of pitfalls. Can you make it all the way through the waves of amber grain, past the purple mountains, from sea to shining sea? It’s your trip, man. Heavy. At Pogwogging.com.

Oh, and Happy Summer!

Twin Cinema

This week’s wog features songs from one of the more interesting alt-rock groups to spring up this past decade: the New Pornographers. From the chunky guitar rock of Three Or Four to the alt-folk of The Bleeding Heart Show, this album packs considerable melodic and rhythmic punch. If you like Arcade Fire or the Shins, or even R.E.M., you’ll love the New Pornographers (who don’t deal in the skin trade, don’t worry). Twin Cinema is, put simply, loaded with highly likeable, quirky but intriguing, pop songs that function beautifully together for a 48-minute Brisk wog. On Podwogging.com

Pounding Through the Eighties

Here we go, my fastest Flatliner yet. Stuff your disco duds in the closet and put on your serious running shoes, because these songs take off. After a cool warmup from Red Rider’s Lunatic Fringe, you’ll be propelled at over 150 BPM by Devo, Robert Plant, the Violent Femmes, Chris de Burge, the Police, and the Alarm before Kate Bush watches you relax a bit at the end. And where you gonna get your BPMs? Podwogging.com, natch.

Take Your Trip at a Vigorous Clip

Experience all of the fun groovy fun without any of the bummer flashbacks in this week’s first wog in June, Psychedelicatessen. It’s a Wog-a-Thon, meaning that even though it’s over an hour long, it’s easy to skip songs and get to a pace you prefer—wog your own thing, man! You’ll find classic psychedelic pop from the Small Faces and Strawberry Alarm Clock, as well as trippier stuff from Country Joe and the Fish, the Beatles, and Traffic. Not to mention the Doors, Pink Floyd, Cream, the Amboy Dukes, Statis Quo, the Byrds, Jimi Hendrix, the Jefferson Airplane, and even the Rolling Stones. So flash on my website, Podwogging.com, and blow your mind (and hopefully, not your hamstrings!).

A Quick Threesome

Many of us have busy lives that make taking time for an hour—even half an hour—of exercise difficult. That’s why I have my collection of Quickies. This week I’ve posted three such playlists, all coming in under 19 minutes.

First up, this week’s wog, Itty Bitty Witty Ditties. As befitting their light subject matter and style, none of the songs in this one get above a brisk walk. Use this wog for a mental break as much as a light physical one.

Next, on the opposite side of the scale, comes Loners. This wog is highlighted by two versions of Solitary Man, the original by Neil Diamond and the cover by Chris Isaak. They’re short, but intense. Overall, this one rates as Very Vigorous.

Finally, I whisk you back to the days of Soul with Souled Out: 18 minutes of R&B bliss, featuring classics like Dionne Warwick’s Walk On By, and a rousing Heat Wave from Martha and the Vandellas, plus Soul Man by Sam and Dave (later covered by the Blues Brothers). Depending on whether you run, walk, or skip to Heat Wave, this Quickie is Vigorous or Light.

Get all your wogging data at Podwogging.com

Bird Full of Yard

In their brief lifetimes, the Yardbirds proved to be as seminal as any British rock group from the 60s. Springing from the churning blues rock scene, they infused passion and bruising guitar licks with attitude that was way cooler in ways than that of the Stones and even the Beatles. The closest they came to psychedelic were the haunting Shapes of Things and Happenings Ten Years Time Ago, and nobody outside of Dylan voiced social concerns with such rock panache as You’re a Better Man Than I. This week’s wog showcases the soulful, bluesful side of a truly great rock band.
Podwogging.com

Wave your Wand and Wog

There IS magic in music, so why not use that magic to your advantage? Here’s 38 brisk minutes of songs that have magical words and magical melodies to help your feet fly: from 60s pop (Lovin’ Spoonful, Jay and the Americans) to more contemporary artists Sarah McLachlan and the Magic Numbers. So get on the Magic Bus, build your mystery, and start believing. Wog on, at Podwogging.com!

Inhalin’ Van

If you were a teenage rock fan in the late 70s, chances are you had at least a passing fling with Van Halen. Hell, I was in my late twenties, and I even had a night or two out with Eddie and the boys. Definitely a guilty pleasure, Van Halen—best to leave the cerebral cortex behind and just rock. So might as well jump back to those arena nights, put ‘em on your pod, and start jogging with the devil. And don’t forget to exhale!

What’s up with iTunes’ iMix?

A number of the playlists I’ve posted as iMixes in iTunes have suddenly dropped songs, even though the total minutes given is the same as before. And some lists have disappeared altogether. This is really sad. Because now I’m not sure I’ll be able to post my great wogging lists as iMixes.

Does Apple care? Probably not.

Podwogging.com.

Funk in My Trunk

Can you imagine a world without funk? “What the world needs now...is funk, sweet funk...” Seriously, I can think of no better way to get my feet moving than to slip on some Isley Brothers or Marvin Gaye, and that’s the just the beginning. So this week’s wog is 72 glorious minutes of the best funk I’ve got in my trunk. Kicking off with Parliament tearing off the roof and finishing with Brick throwing a Dazz at you, it will serve up some fresh Wild Cherry for your Brothers Johnson and Sister Sledge. Rick James, Ohio Players, Hot Chocolate, Average White Band, and more...how can you resist? Get the whole playlist for your exercising pleasure at Podwogging.com.

(4/27/09)

10538 Überture

Taking their cue from the Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby, the Electric Light Orchestra could have been called the Electric String Orchestra. Nobody then or since has combined violins and cellos so successfully with more traditional guitar and keyboards in rock and pop music. This week’s wog is nearly an hour of delightful ELO, ranging from their cello-heavy early days to their progressive mid-seventies sound (I’ll leave their disco to somebody else). Though an ÜberWog, the pace is light—just perfect for a stroll high on a hill...in El Dorado!

Go Podwogging.com

Whole Lotta Love

No, I’m not talking early Led Zeppelin, I’m just talking Love, Baby, one of the best groups the 60s had to offer. The Doors named them as a big influence, and their 1967 album Forever Changes has been named as one of the best rock albums ever, by Allmusic.com. They never made it huge because front man Arthur Lee didn’t like to tour, and like fellow LA band Spirit, their sound was perhaps too difficult to pin down for the industry moguls. They ARE a bit quirky, but that’s why I like them. My Little Red Wog is 38 minutes long of unpredictable sounds and rhythms. Go to Podwogging.com for the complete list.

A Tale of Two Brothers

Yeah, I know—the Bee Gees were three brothers, not two. But can you think of a pop group with a more distinct double phase to their history? You Should Be Walking, this week’s wog, explores both their melancholy, orchestral pop of the 60s, as well as their better known, more upbeat, disco-driven hits of the 70s.

Barry Gibb, so perfectly parodied by SNL’s Jimmy Fallon, is the only singer I can think of who actually sounds better in falsetto than in “normal” voice mode. And while they never reached the funky delights of say, a Donna Summer, their songs also never descended into the mawkish, lightweight sentimentality that eventually killed disco.

As to my wog, I discovered a secret: catchy dance songs are often irresistible Skiplekers, even when the pace is a brisk walk. How else can I explain my inspired skipping breaks to You Should Be Dancing, which at 124 BPM is the wog’s fastest number?

Anyway, this is a fun walk for a breezy spring day. Find the whole playlist at Podwogging.com.

Dancin’ Fool Flatliner is the Perfect Power Walk

April fool is right around the corner, and what better fool than a dancing one? This week’s wog is a power-walking flatliner, all songs between 121 and 128 BPM. From Right Said Fred’s absurdly cheeky opener, to Kylie Minogue’s slithery come-on, to Prince’s Apocalyptic ode to the new millennium, you’ll have a hard time keeping from throwing in a few dance steps as you stride. And why not? It’s Spring! Check it out at Podwogging.com.

R.E.M.: Übermatic for the People

They both hail from Georgia, but on the surface the B-52’s and R.E.M. sound like they’re from different planets. While the B-52’s are bouncy, wild, and fun, Michael Stipe’s grave, puzzling lyrics and the crashing doom of R.E.M.’s alt-wave guitars are just the opposite. Certainly songs like Welcome to the Occupation and Drive, which kick off this week’s wog, envelope the listener with an almost dirge-like plunge into Southern Angst. They’re also gorgeous, irresistible, and yes, woggable. And the rest of the songs in this 57-minute Vigorous wog, like Bittersweet Me and the classically introspective Losing My Religion, wrap themselves with the same iconic cloth. Yet the two groups share a similar off-center worldview, fueled by Athen’s alternative social scene; they delight in presenting the listener with quirky takes on a culture they both reject and embrace. It's all part of this week's wog.

Whatever, dude. Get your Pod, rev up your dream cycles, and wog. Oh, and BTW—Happy Spring! And Happy Birthday to Me!

Try It...Podwogging.com

New Millenium Flatliner

The aughts have truly delivered some of the most exciting music since...well, since the 90s. This week I slap together a bunch of songs that cruise delightfully around 140 BPM—in my book, a perfect jogging rhythm. Like the Kings of Leon? The Posies? The Strokes? Wait ‘til you jog to them. Also the Dead 60s, Snow Patrol, Rob Thomas, and even U2 will make your heart go pitter while your feet go patter. Audioslave, Arcade Fire, and Lilys provide opening, mid-wog, and closing walks, respectively.

Podwogging.com

Eye in the Stride

The Alan Parsons Project is deceptively smooth. Occupying musical territory somewhere between Progressive Rock and Adult Contemporary, their songs are refined, easy to digest, and go down like smooth claret. What keeps them from the Muzak dustbin is an edginess that creeps into their expertly-crafted melodies, usually in the lyrics that hint at darker mind states than the music itself supplies. It’s this interplay between accessible melody and interesting words that makes them fun, for there’s not much funk in their rhythms, which are all straight forward but easy to wog to. So head over to Podwogging.com, and Project yourself into this week’s wog.

Get Into the House

The weather I’ve been taking with me lately is full of rain, rain we desperately need, and when rain falls I find myself pining for music that’s slightly melancholy, but with enough beat to keep me going. Crowded House fits the bill perfectly. This week’s wog features the 80s rockers with a short, but melody-filled set. Only one jogging song in this one; it’s mostly at walking pace. But the song’s are great, so even if you’re looking for something more challenging, you should check out Crowded House on Podwogging.com.

Who the Heck were the Strawbs?

Among the many brilliant musical artists to hail from England in the 60s and 70s, the Strawbs weren’t as well known as British Invasion rockers like the Who, nor as much as space rockers Pink Floyd, nor even as much as folk-rockers Pentangle or Fairport Convention. Perhaps it was because they defied description, not fitting easily into a convenient marketable category. But make no mistake: they turned out some of most interesting music of their time, making masterful melodies with idiosyncratic instrumentals and lovely lyrics. They went beyond typical folk songs with spice, humor, and true inspiration. This week’s wog comes from a compilation of their best songs, Halcyon Days. This double-CD will give you an excellent moderate wog, and many other enjoyable listening hours as well. Do give it a try! At Podwogging.com, of course.

The Nü Trübadours

Every generation sees the emergence of new voices that challenge the stifling conformity of the pop kingdom and provide us with songs both beautiful and thought-provoking. In the 60s it was the likes of Donovan and Simon & Garfunkel; the 70s saw Joni Mitchell and Peter Gabriel; the 80s had Crowded House and Thomas Dolby; the 90s delivered Toad the Wet Sprocket and Sarah McLachlan—to mention just a few. This week’s wog features some of the most intriguing artists of the decade to date, with unique songs that capture the spirit of poetic freedom. It’s an ÜberWog, too—53 minutes of great music to walk and jog by. Check out Keane, Snow Patrol, The Shins, Fields, and others at Podwogging.com.

The Envelope, Please

No, I’m not talking about the Oscars (go, Milk!). I’m talking about the shape of your wog. In general, I like my workouts to be like a camel’s back: a brisk walk to start, followed by some jogging, a slower section to recover, and then another jogging section before a slowish walk at the end to cool down. But every playlist I have is different. Some may have a long, extended jog at the beginning and only a moderate jog near the end; others may be a one-hump camel instead of a two-humper. Wog-a-Thons are shaped like a sine wave, and some of my ÜberWogs may have three jogging sections instead of two. The most radically different are my Flatliners, which may have no jogging at all, or be nearly all jogging. As a result, the envelopes I push come in all shapes, in addition to all paces. Just more to choose from when I hit the trail. Or sidewalk. Or whatever. And the winner is...

Prime the Pump

Since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, why don't I give you all an early Valentine in the form of a wog? Hearts, this week's wog, is part of an ongoing series of playlists based on different parts of the body. It’s a major organ involved in ambulatory exercise in addition to being a symbol for human emotion. So plug in your pod, prime the pump, and wog to Hearts. Only on Podwogging.com.

Global Colding

Snowpatrol. Arctic Monkeys. Coldplay. Brrr.

Okay, I like Coldplay. I really do. But I still think Chris Martin is a little disconcerting. I mean, he’s got Gwyneth Paltrow, and his band is acclaimed as the greatest thing that’s not U2. But have you seen this dude perform? He’s weird. Not brilliant weird, like Tom Waits, or cool weird, like Jim Morrison. And frankly, Bono has it all over him for voice and attitude.

Nevertheless, Coldplay has built up a solid portfolio of melodic rock-like music that sometimes really hits home. Clocks, A Whisper, Talk, and Viva la Vida from their new album are all vibrant, shimmering, contemporary pop. This week’s wog, God Put a Jog Upon Your Feet, is a fast walk/slow jog; it never really rocks, but it’s great to listen to. Just so long as you don’t have the image of Chris Martin’s contorted body stuck in your head.

Podwogging.com. Try it.

Touching a Nirvana: Jog As You Are

Rock was all but declared dead (yet again!) in the early 90s, this time vanquished by Rap and Hip-Hop, and then these tattered Seattle souls arrived on the scene and took the country by storm. Combining the intensity of punk with the sensibilities of Alt Rock and the doom-laden hooks of metal, Nirvana made Rock relevant again and founded an entire new sub-genre, Grunge. Too bad Kurt Cobain died while midwifing the movement; while fellow grunge bands Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Stone Temple Pilots went on to relative success, none could match the impact of Nirvana or the devotion of its followers. Though this week’s wog, Jog As You Are, is not my fastest exercise list, Cobain-in-your-face makes it feel that way. You’ll find the list on Podwogging.com.

Indie or Alternative: What’s in a Genre?

An astute reader of my playlists might notice the absence of the word “Indie” in any of the genre descriptions of the songs. According to Allmusic.com, Alt Rock became more “serious” and “testosterone-driven” right around the time Nirvana made it big, and its niche in the pop ecosystem was taken by Indie. I don’t get—U2 is more testosterone-driven than Nirvana? How does that work? As far as I can see, there is no substantive difference between the two genres, other than it’s a label used by a new generation of rock fans to brand their own—the young, after all, forever need to forge new identities. Now that those Indie fans are growing older, now doubt the Millenials coming up will need a new brand to describe their rock sound of choice. Me, I’m sticking to my guns. Indie is Alt. And I’m out.

70s Sensations

Rather than having giants like the Beatles, Stones, and Dylan dominate, the 70s saw a number of groups from different genres successfully carve niches in the music scene. Pink Floyd, the Who, and the Eagles were just some of the rock groups that gained wild popularity, and that doesn’t even include David Bowie (Glam), Bob Marley (Reggae), the Police (British Reggae), Steely Dan (Jazz Rock), Elton John (English Pop), Fleetwood Mac (Soft Rock), Genesis (Album Rock), Electric Light Orchestra (Prog Rock), the Isley Brothers (Funk), Michael Jackson (Funk Pop), Van Halen (Arena Rock)...and I haven’t even gotten to the most commercially successful genre of all, Disco! It’s thus impossible to cover all the bases in a single playlist, so I don’t even try. 70s Sensations, this week’s wog, is more of a random sample of what was out there. Even if you were around then, you may not recognize the likes of J. Geils, Greg Kihn, or Robin Trower. So give it a try, at Pogwogging.com.

Turn to the Byrds: Jog! Jog! Jog!

It’s easy to forget today how controversial folk-rock was in its time—they nearly booed Dylan off the stage at the Newport Folk Festival when he showed up with a plugged-in backup band. A prime factor in folk-rock’s acceptance was the emergence of the Byrds. This LA group achieved fame on the basis of its cover of Dylan’s Mr. Tambourine Man, but truthfully they were leaders, not followers. Roger McGuinn’s dense, multilayered, slightly dissonant guitar riffs helped set the stage for the psychedelic music revolution, and their harmonious arrangements were later echoed in the 70s by groups like Crosby, Stills & Nash and the Eagles. Even the Beatles acknowledged their influence. So what are you waiting for? Surf over to Podwogging.com and Jog! Jog! Jog!

Happy Nü Year

Seems only fitting to ring in 2009 with U2, whose angst-drenched anthem from their 1983 album War is, fittingly, New Year’s Day. This is an ÜberWog, meaning it’s longer than usual, and it’s Very Vigorous, at that. Early U2 could rock hard—listen to Rejoice and I Will Follow. Nü Year’s Wog also features gorgeous songs from their post-War era (Desire, Three Sunrises, Red Hill Mining Town, Bad), the 90s (Daddy’s Gonna Pay for Your Crashed Car, Mofo) and the new millennium (Miracle Drug, Beautiful Day). All in all, eleven songs from eleven different albums for a sublime Weekly Wog indeed. Check it out on Podwogging.com!

Dizzy Balloon: Pretty Cool

This Saturday my 14-year-old son took me to see Dizzy Balloon, a local pop group barely out of high school, along with a couple of other East Bay bands. No doubt about it, the Inflatable Ones stole the show. In addition to playing vivacious, danceable, and catchy numbers, they featured a bagpipe player and a wildly entertaining yo-yo demonstration, plus the usual cool lights, lasers, fog machines, etc. I have their CD, so I smell a Single Album Wog coming up. They’re leaving on a California tour—check their web site http://www.dizzyballoon.com/.