Sisters: Oct. 18, 2011

We continued our month of family themes with a tribute to Sisters.

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We begin with a group that appropriately enough contains two sisters.

The Little Stevies - "Sister" - Attention Shoppers (2011)

Holly McNarland - "Sister" - Home Is Where My Feet Are (2002)

Sisters are more than just blood relatives; they're also symbols of caring and compassion.

Leonard Cohen - "Sisters of Mercy" - Songs of Leonard Cohen (1968)

The Psychedelic Furs - "Sister Europe" - The Psychedelic Furs (1980)

Mothers: Oct. 11, 2011

Continuing with family themes, with my mother's birthday just around the corner, Variations on a Theme went with a theme of Mothers.

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Mothers' unconditional love never ceases to amaze.

Cherry Ghost - "Only a Mother" - Beneath This Burning Shoreline (2010)

Elliott Smith - "Wouldn't Mama Be Proud?" - Figure 8 (2000)

It can be very difficult when mothers become embroiled in family conflict.

Plants and Animals - "The Mama Papa" - La La Land (2010)

Tusks - "Mothers vs. Sons" - Tusks (2008)

Brothers: Oct. 4, 2011

He protects and intimidates, annoys and inspires, tags along and leads the way, and he's always got your back. He's your Brother, and he's today's theme on Variations on a Theme.

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The bond of brotherhood is very strong, extending beyond the ties of blood.

Hot Chip - "Brothers" - One Life Stand (2010)

Swollen Members - "Brothers" - Black Magic (2006)

Sisters have very special relationships with their brothers.

Ms. Dynamite - "Brother" - A Little Deeper (2002)

Amy Winehouse - "Brother" - Frank (2003)

Autumn: Sept. 27, 2011

We marked the transition of the seasons with an Autumn episode of Variations on a Theme.

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Let's step right into the swirling leaves of the season.

Ohbijou - "Intro to Season" - Beacons (2009)

Yo La Tengo - "Autumn Sweater" - I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One (1997)

While some are saddened by the end of summer, others love the change to autumn.

Jonathan Jones - "Autumn" - We Were Young (2009)

The Special Goodness - "Day in the Autumn" - Land Air Sea (2003)

Modest Mouse - "Autumn Beds" - No One's First, and You're Next (2009)

Money: Sept. 20, 2011

Following our Work show, our theme is the thing we all work for: Money.

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With the pursuit of money constantly on our minds, it's no surprise that we may wake up with dollar signs in our eyes.

Snailhouse - "Dollar Signs" - Lies on the Prize (2008)

Citizen Fish - "Money" - Deadline (2007)

Sometimes we feel like our money goes out as fast as it comes in. Who's responsible for our money disappearing?

Green Go - "Cash Money Gremlins" - Borders (2009)

We Are Scientists - "Cash Cow" - With Love & Squalor (2006)

Girls Against Boys - "Cash Machine" - House of GVSB (1996)

There are countless occasions in life when you have to fork over the cash.

Neil Young - "Cough Up the Bucks" - Fork in the Road (2009)

John Lee Hooker - "I Need Some Money" - That's My Story (1960)

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - "Money" - I Learned the Hard Way (2010)

Time for a hip-hop detour on the subject of money.

Animal Nation - "Money" - Understanding More About Nothing Than Anybody Ever Thought Impossible or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Music (2009)

Slum Village - "Get Dis Money" - Office Space (1999)

Maino - "Million Bucks" - If Tomorrow Comes (2009)

Having a million dollars isn't always a literal thing. Sometimes it's just how you feel.

Joel Plaskett Emergency - "A Million Dollars" - Make a Little Noise (2006)

Middle Brother - "Million Dollar Bill" - Middle Brother (2011)

The Deep Dark Woods - "All the Money I Had Is Gone" - Winter Hours (2009)

Hopefully we don't spend our lives forever chasing one more dollar.

Gillian Welch - "One More Dollar" - Revival (1996)

Work: Sept. 13, 2011

I do it, you do it, we all do it. It's Work, and it's our theme on this episode of Variations on a Theme.

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Sometimes it feels like your life is all about work.

Portugal. The Man - "Work All Day" - The Satanic Satanist (2009)

Constantines - "Working Full Time" - Tournament of Hearts (2005)

One Hundred Dollars - "Work" - Songs of Man (2011)

You often don't work for yourself, and you may wonder where the fruit of your labor is going.

Macka B - "Give the Workers" - Hold on to Your Culture (1995)

Bob Marley & the Wailers - "Work" - Uprising (1980)

Alborosie - "Work" - Soul Pirate (2008)

Everybody needs to work for money, even if your job is on the wrong side of the law.

T.I. - "Doin' My Job" - Trap Muzik (2003)

Mountain Brothers - "Day Jobs" - Self: Vol. 1 (1999)

Heiruspecs - "Work" - Small Steps (2002)

You may feel chained to your job, like just another working Joe.

Stan Rogers - "Working Joe" - Northwest Passage (1981)

Blood Meridian - "Work Hard, For What?" - Kick Up the Dust (2006)

On the other hand, maybe work is more transitory for you—like a summer job.

Art Brut - "Summer Job" - Art Brut vs. Satan (2009)

Old Man Luedecke - "I Quit My Job" - Hinterland (2006)

Whether in your present job or something in the future, hopefully you'll find work that makes it all worthwhile.

Drive-By Truckers - "This Fucking Job" - The Big To-Do (2010)

Return: Sept. 6, 2011

Variations on a Theme came back after a two-week hiatus with a bang, bringing you the theme of Return.

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We start by welcoming you back into the fold.

The Thermals - "Returning to the Fold" - The Body, the Blood, the Machine (2006)

Akron/Family - "Running, Returning" - Akron/Family (2005)

Let's hear about a specific kind of return: the comeback.

Stars - "The Comeback" - The Comeback (2001)

The New Pornographers - "Ballad of a Comeback Kid" - Electric Version (2003)

Not all returns go well. Sometimes a place isn't how you remember it.

Scissor Sisters - "Return to Oz" - Scissor Sisters (2004)

Justin Rutledge - "Emily Returns" - The Devil on a Bench in Stanley Park (2006)

It is possible to go past the point of no return.

Hungry Kids of Hungary - "No Returns" - Escapades (2010)

Matthew Hornell & the Diamond Minds - "Will You Come Back" - Matthew Hornell & the Diamond Minds (2010)

Clea Roddick - "Birds Come Back" - Songs of the Year Vol. 2 (2011)

The best kind of return—and the most powerful—can be coming back home.

Lucero - "On the Way Back Home" - Rebels, Rogues & Sworn Brothers (2006)

Alela Diane feat. Alina Hardin - "I Have Returned" - Alela & Alina (2009)

To that end, allow me to welcome you back home.

The Skatalites - "Welcome Back Home" - Stretching Out (1998)