Now That's What I Call Blog Hits!

here's my mix for october. sorry some of these songs are like 70 blog-years old.

1. Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes

2. Oberhofer - Away From You

3. Twin Sister- Nectarine

4. Beach House - White Moon

5. Warpaint - Undertow

6. How to Dress Well - Decisions

7. The Tallest Man on Earth - The Drying of the Lawns

8. Beach Fossils - Daydream

9. Foxes in Fiction - Flashing Lights Have Ended Now

10. Zola Jesus - Poor Animal

11. Dum Dum Girls - Jail La La

12. Laura Marling - Blackberry Stone

-James Cross

Fall Mix

OCTOBER MIX - hope yall like it:

1. Kurt Vile - Freak Train

2. The Smiths - This Night Has Opened My Eyes

3. Belle & Sebastian - If She Wants Me

4. That Ghost - I Crossed Out the Options

5. Juana Molina - Vive Solo

6. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - In This Home On Ice

7. Julian Lynch - Just Enough

8. Yo La Tengo - Stockholm Syndrome

9. Memory Cassette - Surfin

10. The Halo Benders - Virginia Reel Around the Fountain

11. Neil Young - Lotta Love

12. Thom Yorke - Atoms for Peace

~~

Animas Mixtape

Back Ted N-Ted "Anima Mixtape"

an·i·ma  (n-m)

n.

1. The inner self of an individual; the soul.

2. In Jungian psychology:

a. The unconscious or true inner self of an individual, as opposed to the persona, or outer aspect of the personality.

b. The feminine inner personality, as present in the unconscious of the male. It is in contrast to the animus, which represents masculine characteristics.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Floating Circle / Sunlight, Heaven (2-tracks layered)

     by Daestro / Julianna Barwick

    

The Mix starts with Julianna Barwick's "Sunlight / Heaven" which is features layers of her beautiful looped vocals. There is something so airy and angelic about it. I feel quite blissful when I hear it. I layered edited snippets of Daestro's "The Floating Circle" because it has a similar feel and features more angelic female vocals. It also introduces a beat in 120-130bpm range which makes mixing songs much easier because the beat is much more visible in the waveform.

2. Angel Echoes

    by Four Tet

I just love the way this track builds. Four Tet has such a unique way of layering samples. His sound is so organic and jazzy while still being cool and melodic. I saw him once at The Clubhouse and it was so beautiful.

3. No. 6 Von Karmen Street

    by A Sunny Day In Glasgow

This is a group I know nothing about and downloaded from iTunes on a whim. I love the beautiful lightness of it though. Very textural. I've had it for about a year and the only other memory I have of listening to it is in headphones walking down the stairwell of my girlfriends old apartment in the West Village. It was a beautiful winter day. Also.. I love Glasgow, when I played there someone in the crowd yelled "YOUR FIT!"... I was very flattered..

4. Herzog

    by Clark

Clark blows my mind. His production is so yummy. So versatile and juicy. His melodies are nutty and his sounds are amazing. Tim Exile says he is a hilarious dude and played me some of his "Joke Tracks".. they are parodies of hip hop and pop.. pretty amazing stuff...

5. Scribble

    by Underworld

 I love Underworld. Their music has such a great feeling. Karl Hyde and Rick Smith make the music that sometimes I wish I made. Hyde's lyrical mechanisms inspire and provide wonderful imagery. I made some quick attempts to beat match this song with the previous track Herzog but its pretty loose.

6. Xtal

    by Aphex Twin

I stumbled across a video for this song last week. The imagery is pretty disturbing but the  juxtaposition created by pairing it with the music is pretty provocative. 


*warning - graphic content

7. I Can Change

    by LCD soundsystem

This is definitely my favorite track on "This is Happening". I love his vocal delivery and lyrics. He has a studio called Plantain in the West Village. It has the coolest collection of old synths and toys I've ever seen. I really hope to record there someday. It also has an elevator shaft you can use as reverb. Very Cool. 


8. Stuck In Auckland
    by The Penelope(s)


I don't know anything about this band but I love this song. 


9. Once In a Lifetime
    by The Talking Head


Still one of the best songs of all time. David Byrne is still one of my idols. I've seen him around New York several times and I just really look up to him. He came in to The Immigrant one night but I wasn't working.  The Tom Tom Club is also one of my favorite Rhythm Sections.


10. Diamond Jigsaw
      by Underworld


Is it against the rules to use 2 songs from the same artist in a mixtape? This song reminds me of Phoenix and how much I miss it. It also reminds me of my good friend Daggrr and how much I loved making music with him. 


11. Night by Night
      by Chromeo


I love their production. They were rehearsing next to us a few weeks ago and the sounded great. 
Great video as well:









Thanks for Listening!


Download it here:


( 60 mb )

https://files.me.com/breenerino/zwhufz

songs that are pretty good october 2010

i made this mix with a wide variety of artists. bands that i think are very underrated, or albums that just went very unnoticed or even some albums that did get critics' praises but yet many of you still might have never heard. i guess there's a bunch of songs from albums i loved in college and then a few recent things and some stuff from in between. there are so many more artists i'd like to introduce to the mix receiver but that will just have to wait for future mixes. so here's a mix i made.

1. lone star song - grant lee buffalo
this album is definitely in my top 10 all time and i'd say possibly the most underrated band of the past 20 years. they recently announced the original trio is reuniting for a few shows across america and europe. i can't wait to see them play again, 12 string howling guitars sound great when played by mr grant lee. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgyYcdVZj9Y

2. superfreaky memories - luna
this song was on their album days of our nights (originally supposed to be called young and the restless i believe) which was the album that got them dropped by elektra records within months of it's release. one of my all time favorite bands for many reasons and a band that has some of the most consistent guitar sounds from album to album. (this track can also be found on the best of luna if you're looking for a nice introduction piece to the band). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ssoivb0G0-c

3. a little like you - grand drive
a band from the U.K. who basically no one knows in america. somehow they got signed to rca in america and rca put out one album in the states which was sort of a greatest hits up to that point in the band's career. i always described them as the UK's Jayhawks. the singer now puts out records under the name Danny and the Champions who are well worth looking up as well.

4. salt in the wound - the delta spirit
one of my favorite albums of 2010, and a perfect slow jam. i had heard parts of their past release but wasn't that sold but once i heard this new record i was blown away. they can do the rock, they can do the folk, they can slow it down. for fans of ryan adams and gram parsons. enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw4ei439uIA

5. a room where your paintings hang - lost in the trees
yes, it sounds just like neutral milk hotel. but i think that's ok. a band that you'll be hearing more and more about over the coming months. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h29cK9rEGXo

6. virtue the cat explains her departure - the weakerthans
a band that consistently puts out strong records album after album. this is sort of a medium tempo track for them, the hook comes about 3/4 through the song, that's the icing on this cake. oh yea and canadian. why are canadian bands so good?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnmcw6kJ2HQ

7. can you see the light? - wax fang
a rocking number from these fellas from the south i believe. just signed to jim james' Removador Recordings and you'll be hearing much more from them over the next year or two...

8. stained glass - 764-hero
a friend in college introduced me to modest mouse in the winter of 1998 and around that time is when this 764-hero record came out. they were tourmates + labelmates of MM plus they did a split 12" together... the band never really took off but this is a classic record from a band well worth checking out if you're a fan of modest mouse... a bit different in sound but you'll notice some NW similarities. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJWSkPhphGg

9. kansas - the wedding present
ok, i was late to the wedding present game as this was their first album i heard. but if you're in the mood for pure pop british guitar candy, this is it. front to back, this album Saturnalia is filled with gems. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrxHZzO0YSs

10. off the pedestal - wheat
another criminally underrated record from this boston area band. sort of a difficult band to describe as they fall into so many different styles, but the production by dave fridman is great.. you'll hear fridman's work on another record later on this mix plus of course on the classic The Soft Bulletin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfYbYHahN0E

11. venus stop the train - wilco
a b-side that's never been officially released from the yankee hotel foxtrot era co-written by jay bennett. a beautiful song that hopefully will one day get a proper release (as does the rest of the YHF demos disc). R.I.P. jay. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1zPzJ1-Dso

12. daisychains - youth group
australian act that has never really taken off anywhere (except for maybe their homeland).
their album skeleton jar is one of my favorite records of the past 10 years. this track comes from the follow up album (although this track originally appeared as a demo bside from the skeleton jar era). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P83_QR2vW3M

13. holes - mercury rev
classic masterpiece eclectic album from NY's mercury rev. yes, sounds like a british record but it's another one from dave fridman (who is an on/off/non-touring member of the band). please pick up this record if you don't have it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO1g251jF2g

14. never knew your name - mason jennings
the piano is what always sold me on this track. a guy who can write great folk pop songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOIXamSKPuw

15. stay - mark lanegan
depressing dark album but really beautiful too. a song from this album was recently used in a scene of eastbound and down. maybe it was this track, i can't seem to recall, but that's what reminded me of this album... also singer of screaming trees if you didn't put two and two together.. and member of the gutter twins with greg dulli among many other projects.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvNRM9j_5yc

16. honey drop the knife - lullaby for the working class
an amazing collection of folk rockers from omaha who went on to many bands such as bright eyes and cursive.. too bad they're not making music together anymore... they did a quick reunion benefit show this summer... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMg-hcLY5V0

17. patience - micah p hinson
folk rocker from TX, basically is unknown in america but does pretty well for himself over in the UK. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIPkkKxRD2g

18. fly away - red house painters
if i didn't mention this was a john denver song, most of you would never notice. from an awesome john denver tribute album that was put together by badman recordings back in the 90's.. the song just keeps lifting up and up and up, and not because of the title.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWcND0WqH50

Dreams Continue by Pete

My first mix, for October, is called Dreams Never End. I posted a detailed description of the inspiration behind it earlier this month (page 2). However, I did not include the track list because my wonderful mixee, Caiti, had not yet received it and I didn’t want to ruin the surprise of receiving a brand new mix tape in the mail. I say “mix tape” because it actually was recorded on a cassette tape.

The concept behind it is sort of playing out my fantasy of growing up in the 80’s. I was born in ’86 and only spent the first four years of my life there, but even through the early nineties, much of what came out of the 80’s played a crucial role in my upbringing. So now that I am older, I look back on those days with great nostalgia—when the world was still so new and exciting; hence, my obsession with the 80’s. Throughout high school my tastes evolved from Duran Duran to Joy Division (thank you, Matt). During that same period I came across a film that encapsulated those feelings and well, for lack of a better phrase, changed my life. The film, which will go unnamed to spare myself the shameful embarrassment (most of you will get it after the first glance), had the most personally profound soundtrack I’d ever heard. So much so, that it dictated where I went to college, what I studied, and why I relocated to Los Angeles. I fell so in sync with the protagonist that now I imagine myself in his shoes. This mix is one I would have created in October of 1989, at approximately age 21, because it’s mostly what I was listening to at 21.

I tried my best to make the mix as authentic as possible. The tape cassette used was one I bought from a flea market that the seller had used to bootleg Van Halen’s 1984 (one of my all-time favorite albums btw), so, according to him, it’s legit. Rather than replace the insert with the track list written on it, I blacked it out as much as possible and wrote my title in between the lines. The only thing unauthentic about it is the marker. Realizing that Caiti may not have a tape player readily available, I mailed her a CD copy as well.

Photo Credit: Emma Walker

Every song chosen was released before October 1989, including The Replacements’s 1989 album Don’t Tell A Soul, and The Cure’s Disintegration (another one of my all-time favorites). I used the long version of “Pictures of You” because the shorter radio version wasn’t released until 1990.

The story behind the music is kind of a coming-of-age tale. Side A chronicles my early “emo” teen years, when I was so naïve and head over heels for every pretty girl who paid me attention. It starts out bright-eyed but then gets progressively more serious. “Love Will Tear Us Apart” is sort of that bittersweet turning point when I begin to realize just how dangerous love can be.

Side B begins dark and turns damn near manic-depressive. From the confusion is born a new outlook on life, culminating in “We’ll Inherit the Earth,” an anthem that closes the chapter with the promise of a greater future. I will be an adult then and begin my journey—my life’s work—my conquest for world domination. And my pursuit for love will boil down to a glass of Replacements: either there will be nothing more musical to look forward to, or it will become the start of a beautiful and everlasting relationship with a band upon which I can rely for the rest of my days.

October: Life on repeat. October: Life on repeat.

Of this whole project, signing up was the easiest part. Picking 12 songs out of tens of thousands, that was the hard part. While I had many themes in mind for my first mix tape, I settled on a somewhat unconventional idea. The theme of my multi-track is “Songs that I have listened to twenty or more times in a row.” While twenty may not seem like a lot of times for a particular song on paper, once engulfed in a one-track marathon it can become almost an obsession. I have reasons for becoming obsessed with each and every one of these songs and I hope each of you will find them as equally addicting as I did.

1. Brand New – Untitled 2
This song is on the original working of The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. The Album is fan titled New Album Demos, for those of you looking to download it and was leaked before the album release; Jesse accordingly scrapped most of the album and rewrote most everything. This song started out as one of my least favorite on the album and was usually skipped. I was doing homework one night and didn’t bother to pay attention to skipping it as I usually did and I heard a set of lyrics that could have easily defined the album had this song been on it. The lyrics that make this song unbelievable start at 3:10 and listening to this five minute song over and over is worth it just for the forty seconds.

2. Placebo – Without You I’m Nothing
I got into Placebo, much to the chagrin of an old Canadian online friend, after viewing the movie The Chumscrubber. Upon downloading their 1994 release, Without You I’m Nothing, I fell in love with the album. The guitar riffs coupled with Brian Molko’s seeming apathetic vocals made the album irresistible. I have many favorite songs on the album but the one that stood out the most was Without You I’m Nothing, which is the defining song on the album (also the album title.) The part of the song that really hooked me starts at the 1:55 mark. Molko’s brutal honesty captures me and is completely relatable. He recognizes that he is human and has no control the person that means most to him but that without them he cannot possibly go on. The song is overall brutally honest and the guitar makes it especially entertaining, I did listen to it more than twenty times in a row, after all.

3. Radiohead – Karma Police
Karma Police is easily the most memorable song off of OK Computer. The literal thought process behind this song really captured me. The idea that there are “karma police” that get people back for messing with other people struck me as a really interesting concept. In addition, I have always been partial to Thom Yorke’s vocals. Radiohead is high on my bands to see list, Atoms for Peace at Coachella 2010 was a mere glimpse at Thom Yorke’s next Radiohead album, which Pitchfork said was being wrapped up in studio.

4. Editors – Camera
Editors or The Editors, as they are commonly called, are an indie-rock band who could be from the 80’s. I was first introduced to this band on a song that had been remixed by French DJ SebAstian. The chorus of the song Camera was featured and after hearing it and replaying the remix over and over I decided that I had to have the discography. The verse is strangely eerie due to Tom Smiths voice. Ill let you decide on the verse for yourself. Recommended to anyone who listens to Echo & the Bunnymen, and Joy Division.

5. Moby – Extreme Ways
It would not be completely outlandish to say that everyone has heard of Moby. He is arguably one of the most commercially successful artists of a modern generation. I got into Moby after the release of his single “Southside” and have been an active listener ever since. If I had to pick one of his many releases as a favorite, it would be the album 18. While Extreme Ways is not the first single off of the album it is still one of the most popular songs and was easily listenable twenty plus times in a row. Moby is currently still on my must-see list.

6. Jesse Lacey (Jawbreaker Cover Performed Live) – Accident Prone
A few years back I had the great privilege of attending a solo tour that Jesse Lacey (Brand New) headlined along with Kevin Devine. It was an incredible performance as Jesse played Brand New songs along with a few covers (Built to Spill, Jawbreaker) per fan requests. About a week after the show I was cruising www.livejournal.com and happened upon a post in which someone had recorded the entire set via linking directly into the soundboard. The quality of the performance is incredible and is a must-have for any Brand New fan (email if you want the .rar file, jakerand@gmail.com). Included is the t-shirt art from the tour.



7. SR-71 – Alive
Sr-71 is a band that hit it big with the song “Right Now” in 2000. While their success was short lived, SR-71 released three studio albums in total. Mitch Allan has gone onto be an extremely successful producer and notably write the song “1985” for Bowling for Soup. The part of this song that has really captured me is the main chorus. I find it to be extremely catchy and remind me of high school quite a bit.

8. Why? – Act Five
I got into Why? by mere chance from hearing a cover of “These Few Presidents” performed by the band Colour Revolt for a Day Trotter session. The vibrant lyrics of this band really caught me by surprise. Upon downloading Alopecia, their most current album at the time, I was hooked. I quickly downloaded their entire discography. The first time I heard this song I was doing homework and it quickly became one of my favorites, my initial listening streak was thirty-five times.

9. Manchester Orchestra – The Other Side
I think the part of this song that really captured me is Andy Hull’s honesty in all of the lyrics. The line “Goddamn the ones who damn..” is also extremely catchy and is most of the reason that I listened to this twenty-five times in a row.

10. Matt & Kim – Don’t Slow Down
If there was ever a song to listen to over and over during a car ride, its this one. Girl Talk recently played a show in Tucson, AZ and while I hadn’t planned on going, Girl Talk came up on shuffle during homework the night of the show. It was 8:30 and he was scheduled to go on at 10pm. I listened to this song on repeat from Phoenix to Tucson and made it just in time to see Girl Talk go on. I made it to Tucson in an hour and fifteen minutes (normally about a two hour drive), Guinness World Records has yet to contact me about the land speed record I set.

11. Something Corporate – Watch The Sky
THEY’RE BACK!!!!!!!! (I know you appreciate it Ashley, even if no one else does)

I like this song because it allows me to just get lost in my thoughts. Just watching the sky, wondering what is out there can often be daunting. As I am currently majoring in Philosophy, this song has an incredible relevance to me in that we are essentially swimming in a “deep sea” and its hard to reflect on what is going on in the world around us. Sometimes we all need to get lost and think for ourselves. This is often a homework favorite and is one of my favorite songs that they performed live at the first reunion show in Anaheim, CA at Bamboozle.

12. Built to Spill – Distopian Dream Girl
This band is still on my to-see list. Two things about Built to Spill: Doug Martsch’s voice and Doug Martsch’s guitar solos. Both of these things make this band worth listening to. The song is off of my favorite Built to Spill record, There's Nothing Wrong With Love. While this song is constantly on repeat, alone it doesn’t even compare to the entire album.

Also, add me on last.fm if any of you guys have it :)

last.fm - dapnepep

Jake Rand

The Here and Now - A Mix For Mark Mueller

I decided to make mix of songs that have been heavy in my listening rotation, as well as have a deeper meaning to me at this moment. Here they are:

Calm Americans - Elliott

I follow politics very closely and I feel really frustrated with what is going on right now. Political discourse can be high-jacked so easily these days and the crazies seem to be winning. I feel kind of helpless, kind of like I did in 2004. Like a lot of people my age, I had a lot of (dare I say it) "hope" back in 2008. Now I'm starting to realize that the system is too broken and powerful for one man (or generation) to fix. The fact that my only two choices for governor are Meg Whitman or Jerry Brown really bums me out.

TAOS - Menomena

Just a song I've been listening to a lot lately.

Everyone Thinks I'm A Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking) - Guided By Voices

Like a lot of young creative types, I work a day job to support my creative pursuits. Every year that goes by is full of highs and lows where sometimes you feel closer to your dream than ever, and then just as quickly you can feel like you are miles from where you want to be. I really believe in paying your dues, but it's hard sometimes - especially when you live in LA and are surrounded by successful people living your dream.

Bob Pollard of Guided By Voices was an English teacher for a bunch of years before he got to do music full-time. Whenever I get down about my situation, I think about people like Bob Pollard, who were in the same position as I am and stuck it out.

Soul Love - David Bowie

Listening to David Bowie is just exciting. His stuff has been in heavy rotation on my iPod lately.

You Got It - Roy Orbison

Listening to Roy Orbison makes me nostalgic for my childhood. I had a great childhood and I am really grateful to my parents for that. Every year that goes by I drift farther away from home and the kid I used to be. I guess that's just life, but I'd love to have one more Friday night as a 12 year old eating Pizza Hut and watching TGIF with my family.

Free and Easy/ Take Two - The Brian Jonestown Massacre

The tambourine player from this band works at Amoeba Records and I see him all the time around LA. The Brian Jonestown Massacre have a reputation as being supreme fuck-ups, guy that could have had it all and blew it. I worry that might be me someday, but I guess you can't think about that. He seems happy these days.

One Day - The Verve

I love fruity Brit-pop bands from the 90's, and this song is off one of my favorite records, "Urban Hymns." To me, it's a very hopeful song.

Treatment Bound - The Replacements

I've made a conscious effort to stop drinking for the time being. It's been over a month and a half since my last drink and I feel pretty good. Not that I was an alcoholic or anything, but I'm just getting too old to get wasted all the time. I feel better than I have in a long time and I know that after 4 1/2 years at ASU my liver is grateful for the break.

This song is from early on in The Replacements career and I think it's funny that they are almost predicting their future and drunken fuck-ups. This band doesn't get enough credit for being as insightful as they were.

I"ll Feel A Whole Lot Better - The Byrds

Along the same lines as the last song, I just feel really good right now.

Rosalinda's Eyes - Billy Joel

I've been re-watching Freaks and Geeks, and I have to say I'm loving it even more the second time. It's a brilliant show. I love when I can watch something several times and notice new things that I love each time. This show is like that.

There's a great scene in the show where 'The Geeks" meet a girl and she turns out to be into really nerdy stuff like launching rockets in a grocery store parking lot. I never noticed until recently, but my favorite Billy Joel song plays during this scene and it's brilliant. The perfect song for this scene.

Fade Away (Live) - Noel Gallagher

The lyrics to this song are all about growing up and realizing that the dreams you had as a kid are dying. "We only get what we settle for..." is a great lyric.

No. Name #5 - Elliott Smith

Today is Oct. 19th, and Elliott Smith committed suicide Oct. 21st 2003. It's kind of crazy it's been 7 years - it seems like just yesterday. His music is really special and I listen to him a lot this time of year.

I drive through Silverlake quite a bit, and I make a point to drive past the "Figure 8 Wall" that fans have turned into a memorial. The last time I drove by I saw that it had been tagged and spray painted. Such a bummer. If I had the money I 'd pay for them to repaint it. Maybe someday.

A lyric in this song "everybody's gone at last..." is really haunting.

Live Long - Kings of Convenience

For some reason, I can only listen to Kings of Convenience between October and January. They are just a Fall /Winter type of band for me. Weird.

ANENOMIX by Cody

I was sorta stressing out about what exactly I was going to create for my inaugural mix. I tend to overthink things (if you go back and read the first post, I'm the guy that wrote WAY too much. Seriously though, how do you pick just ONE favorite album?), and I had a hundred half-formed ideas on different themes and moods to work around. Then Mara told me about her Manchester mix, and I thought "oh, perfect, I'll just give myself incredibly rigid guidelines, easy peasy." Hence, ANENOMIX. I set out to choose twelve songs either performed, written, or produced by Brian Eno. I browsed through my iTunes, and discovered that I had a little more than two hundred songs to pick from. Yikes. Describing Brian Eno as prolific is sort of like describing Caligula as mean (great analogy, Cody. nailed it!). What I'm saying is, the man makes a lot of music.

Anyway, for those unfamiliar with him, Brian Eno has basically spent the last four decades working tirelessly to make both mainstream pop and experimental music better. He popularized Glam Rock in his band Roxy Music, and ushered in the New Wave with Devo and Talking Heads. He introduced polyrhythms and African- and Eastern-based sounds to American listeners. He worked closely with David Bowie on the seminal Berlin Trilogy, which brought minimalism and oddball artiness to mainstream rock. As an ambient composer, he's more or less defined and ruled the genre for thirty years. He's also partially responsible (or to blame) for Coldplay's Viva la Vida and every good U2 song. And next month he's releasing an album on Warp, which means he's storming the Electronica castle and showing all the kids that an old man can play their game much better than they can.

Anyway, here's twelve songs by him, with maybe a short description of why I like each one, and also YouTube links as much as possible, because I like that some of you guys have been doing that:
1. St. Elmo's Fire by Brian Eno
A really sweet and simple melody sung over a bunch of synth weirdness. Fairly calm, but with a slightly jittery quality lurking beneath the surface. Followed by...
2. Beauty and the Beast by David Bowie
...A space-age disco-funk odyssey. David Bowie, you are such a weirdo, and I love you for it.
3. I Zimbra by Talking Heads
So this is off his second album with them and their third overall, but this is the song that elevated them from Talking Heads: Fun Goofball Pop Group to TALKING HEADS: GAMECHANGERS and INNOVATORS. Dig those nonsense lyrics, bro. Taken from a poem written by a crazy person.
4. Gut Feeling (Slap Your Mammy) by Devo
There are more famous Devo songs, and more Eno-y Devo songs, but this may be my favorite Devo song. Remember The Life Aquatic? Pretty underrated, if you ask me.
5. Ladytron by Roxy Music
THIS is basically a four minute summary of what Eno does best. Humming ambience, slow build, slick groove, sudden crescendo, thrilling climax, and then it all falls apart.
6. The River by David Byrne and Brian Eno
Two old dudes look back on their lives, wonder what the hell they've actually done, then decide to just keep on doing it.
7. Mit Simaen by Cluster & Eno
Just a couple pianos, being really pretty for ninety seconds.
8. The Jezebel Spirit by David Byrne and Brian Eno
Oh man, this album. So weird, so completely danceable, but also kind of terrifying. One of the first albums ever to prominently use samples, so you can thank them for everything that followed, from Godspeed You! Black Emperor to The Avalanches (I know at least one of you likes them!). I hope that preacher is still out there somewhere, calling passers-by Jezebel and telling everyone that the Spirit of Destruction is within them.
9. The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch by Brian Eno
Kind of retarded, completely un-PC, but I suppose that's the point.
10. Breaking Glass by David Bowie
The funkiest two minutes you will spend today, period.
11. Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads
AND YOU MAY ASK YOURSELF, WELL, HOW DID I GET HERE? Everyone sing along! You know this one! Incidentally, when you really think about it, it's kind of surprising that such an odd little song became such a massive hit. Also, this is probably one of the weirder things to ever be inspired by Fela Kuti.
12. Melancholy Waltz by Brian Eno
(See description for Track #7)
(Also, Haley, if you bothered to listen all the way through, Congratulations! You get a Hidden Track! (I won't say what it is though (but I just accidentally dropped a hint in the above line (all these parenthesis within parenthesis make me want to make a lame Inception joke ("We have to go deeper!"))))).

OK, that's it, thanks for reading, if you actually did.

Cover Art: The Art of the Cover Song

The Cover Song - Its a subject that I've thought a lot about lately. To me it has always been as much of a part of a good show as the encore. Its something that sets a concert apart as original. Maybe my youth spent going to pop punk and Pearl Jam shows has skewed my opinion of the cover. No half hour warped tour set would be complete without a cover or two. Three hour pearl jam sets were riddled with punk covers and new takes on The Who classics. I discovered whole generes of music this way.

There has always been something strangely artistic about making something unique without it being original. That is what this mix is. Twelve songs that only have one thing in common. Their lack of originality.

1. Ciccone Youth - Get Into The Groove(y)
Original Artist: Madonna


Sonic Youth got a lot of attention for a cover they did a few years back when Jason Bateman's character in Juno called their version of The Carpenters classic Superstar the best cover of all time. Though I love that song I actually consider another cover they did as one of the best covers ever. Under the name Ciccone Youth, Sonic Youth released a nearly unrecognizable cover of Madonna's hit Get Into the Groove. Even with direct samples of the Madonna song this track is so distinctively a Sonic Youth song. When I chose this as my topic for my first mix this is the song that instantly popped into my head. You have a feeling that this song came about nearly as a joke yet some how it is genius.

2. TV on the Radio - Walking The Cow
Original Artist: Daniel Johnston



Often times you find tribute albums that are riddled with horrible covers. Sometimes filled with obscure bands butchering the greatest artists of all time's classics. The Late Great Daniel Johnston, Discovered & Covered is not one of those albums, and this TV on the Radio cover of my favorite Daniel Johnston track is the highlight for me. I actually discovered Daniel Johnston when I saw Eddie Vedder perform solo. He opened his set with a cover of this song and I instantly had to track down the original. I discovered this album and the documentary The Devil & Daniel Johnston after that and instantly fell in love.

3. Pearl Jam - I Believe In Miracles
Original Artist: The Ramones.



An acoustic punk cover. This song is exactly what a cover should be. It was a song that made its way on a few Pearl jam setlists and found its way on one of their fan club holiday singles. Pearl Jam shows can often be history lessons in punk rock featuring songs by the Buzzcocks, the Avengers, the Dead Boys, and more. They play the music that inspire them and at the same time inspire others to discover music in a whole new way.

4. Willie Nelson & Calexico - Senor
Original Artist: Bob Dylan


There are probably a dozen Bob Dylan cover albums and none of them are better than the I'm Not There OST. This is the highlight of that album for me. The pairing of Willie Nelson and Calexico is amazing. After hearing this track I was hoping they would do an entire album together. Most people my age think of Willie Nelson and think of pot, farm aid, and maybe a few collaborations with shitty new age country starts like Toby Keith. In actuality Willie Nelson is one of the best song writers who ever lived and has a distinctively heart breaking voice. If you didn't know Willie Nelson or Bob Dylan this would be the first song I played you.

5. Gayngs - By Your Side
Original Artist: Sade



I recently saw Gayngs play here in Chicago and it was one of the best shows I went to all year and one of the funnest times I've had at a show. The bands concept is so bizarre and the fact that they pull it off is nothing short of amazing. They played multiple covers with the best being this cover of the Sade classic. The crazy part about this cover was the fact that I was with a huge Sade fan that had never heard of Gayngs before. This made her night and she instantly fell in love with Gayngs. This cover is so bold to even attempt and to pull off... even more impressive. Luckily they record the song for a Daytrotter session a few days after I saw it live. Haven't stopped listening to it since.

6. Death Cab For Cutie - Earth Angel
Original Artist: The Penguins



I just had to Google who the original artist of this song was but it doesn't matter. To me and probably the most of the world this song will always be the slow dance song from Back to the Future. It is such a strange choice for a cover yet it makes so much since that Death Cab would be the one to do it. My love of all things Back to the Future probably makes me like it a little bit more but its amazing nonetheless.

7. The Blood Brothers - Under Pressure
Original Artist: Queen & David Bowie



The first time I heard this song I hated it... I hated the Blood Brothers for doing it. To me it was an untouchable song and goes down as one of the best songs ever made if not the best. Yet after a few times of hearing it I begin strangely fascinated with it. It made sense that a band with two lead vocalist would do this song. They didn't try to change their style and cover it - they just made it their own. If you put the fact that the original was ever made aside this song is a perfect Blood Brothers song. And the fact that they took a 6 minute song and made it barely two minutes is pretty respectable alone. You might have to listen to this song a few times before you get it.

8. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - Because The Night
Original Artist: Patti Smith



Its the Boss covering Patti Smith. Pretty much all you need to know. This is the a highlight of one of my favorite live albums ever. The horns make this song sound like it could fit anywhere on any of the classic Bruce albums and anytime you have a male cover a female vocalist or vice versa I think there is instantly something distinctive about it. The best example of this is probably the White Stripes covering Jolene. I didn't include it because I figured most people had heard it but its amazing.

9. The Japandroids - Racer X
Original Artist: Big Black




The Japandroids are probably my favorite new band of the last few years. They have a 7" series right now that features an original that got cut from their debut album and a cover as the B side. This track was the B side to the first of five 7" they put out. I had never heard the song before ordering the first single. Its a song about Speed Racers brother though so I figured I would like it... and I did.

10. Gipsy Kings - Hotel California
Original Artist: The Eagles



One of the coolest covers I could think of. Everyone knows it from the Big Lebowski but this is a song the just reminds me of summer. Like the dude, I'm not the biggest fan of the Eagles but this take of one of the most famous songs of all time is nothing short of amazing.

11. The Postal Service - Against All Odds
Original Artist: Phil Collins



If I were in a band I would cover a Phil Collins or Genesis song every night. I always thought a metal version of No Son of Mine would be mind blowing. But back to this song... Ben Gibbard shows up again on my mixtape with The Postal Services take on one of the best Phil Collins songs. Its not metal but the song is unbelievably unique and the best part about the movie Wicker Park.

12. Scissor Sisters- Comfortably Numb
Original Artist: Pink Floyd



I always thought a mixtape was only as good as its last song so I thought long and hard about what the last track would be. I wanted to end it on a high note and this song is just a rave. I think its rare these days for a cover to actually make its way onto a full length album that isn't a tribute or a soundtrack. The fact that it made their self-titled album just shows you how good this track is. So many people have covered Pink Floyd and failed. If you want to throw up listen to Korn's version of The Wall. I even think The Flaming Lips cover album of The Dark Side of the Moon falls a little short. But making a Pink Floyd classic into a dance club hit... works perfectly.

Birds.

My Mix For Peter...

When I was first told about Ashley's idea for a music blog/social experiment, I instantly knew that I was going to make this mix. I've been toying with the idea behind it idea for a while now and am constantly surprised how much it continues to pop up as I discover new music, rediscover the old or even try on bands I may have skipped over in my youth.


And now, I finally have a medium in which to share it....


I treated this mix as an essay, the theme as my thesis, and the content as a way to convey a lyrical message that has stayed with me all of my life. 

On this mix you will find songs that at one point convey a message using birds. In most cases birds are used as imagery portraying women as well as that of the feminine nature, and at times, more specifically, love. In some songs the lyricists use birds to represent feelings or acts of escape. Other times the birds are simply the messenger. 


To me, the birds on this mix are an integral contribution, whether great or small, to the overall message and feelings portrayed in each individual song. 


Be warned, there is reading involved. Here we go...

We Are Nowhere and It's Now- Bright Eyes ft. Emmylou Harris
I chose this song first because it is the song where the idea first popped into my head years ago. More importantly, Emmylou Harris is one of my favorite female vocalist instilled on me at a very young age by my father. 


...I've got no plans and too much time
I feel too restless to unwind
I'm always lost in thought as I walk the block 
To my favorite neon sign 

Where the waitress looks concerned
But she never says a word
Just turns the jukebox on and we hum along 
And I smile back at her

And my friend comes after work 
When the features start to blur
She says these bars are filled with things that kill
By now you probably should have learned 
Did you forget that yellow bird? 
How could you forget your yellow bird? 

She took a small silver wreath and pinned it on to me
She said, "This one will bring you love" 
And I don't know if it's true
But I keep it for good luck...




Flightless Bird, American Mouth- Iron & Wine
Iron & Wine has always been a favorite of mine, especially late at night when falling asleep. I recently saw them in Chicago at Schubas Tavern. It was the most intimate show I have ever experienced. I included this live version of the song for the mix.


I was a quick wet boy, diving too deep for coins 
All of your street light eyes wide on my plastic toys 
Then when the cops closed the fair, I cut my long baby hair 
Stole me a dog-eared map and called for you everywhere 

Have I found you 
Flightless bird, jealous, weeping or lost you, american mouth 
Big pill looming 

Now I'm a fat house cat 
Nursing my sore blunt tongue 

Watching the warm poison rats curl through the wide fence cracks 
Pissing on magazine photos 
Those fishing lures thrown in the cold 
And clean blood of Christ mountain stream 

Have I found you 
Flightless bird, grounded, bleeding or lost you, american mouth 
Big pill stuck going down


Norwegian Wood, This Bird Has Flown- The Beatles
Here is the first example on the mix of an escape being portrayed. I've always loved the cultural reference to norwegian wood as well. It really makes you feel like you're 'part of the times.' 


I once had a girl
Or should I say, she once had me
She showed me her room
Isn't it good Norwegian wood?

She asked my to stay and told me sit anywhere
So I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair

I sat on a rug, biding my time
Drinking her wine
We talked until two, and then she said:
"It's time for bed,"

She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh
I told her I didn't, and crawled off to sleep in the bath
And when I awoke, I was alone
This bird has flown
So I lit a fire
Isn't it good Norwegian wood?


Talking Bird- Death Cab for Cutie
Simply read and listen to this one....


Oh, my talking bird
Though you know so few words
They're on infinite repeat
Like your brain can't keep up with your beak

And you're kept in an open cage
So you're free to leave or stay
And sometimes you get confused
Like there is a hint that I'm trying to give you

And the longer you think
The less you know what to do

It's hard to see your way out
When you live in a house in a house
'Cause you don't realize
That the windows were open the whole time

But oh, my talking bird
Though your feathers are tattered and furled
I'll love you all your days
'Til the breath leaves your delicate frame

It's all here for you
As long as you choose to stay
It's all here for you
As long as you don't fly away


Suite Judy Blue Eyes- Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
A band that has been with me throughout the years. Escape/Women/Love. It's got it all. 


...Friday evening, Sunday in the afternoon
What have you got to lose?
Tuesday morning, please be gone I'm tired of you.
What have you got to lose?
Can I tell it like it is? (Help me I'm suffering)
Listen to me baby.
It's my heart that's a suffering (Help me I'm dying)
It's a dying, that's what I have to loseI've got an answer
I'm going to fly away
What have I got to lose?
Will you come see me Thursdays and Saturdays?
What have you got to lose?
Chestnut brown canary
Ruby throated sparrow
Sing the song don't be long
Thrill me to the marrow.

Voices of the angels, ring around the moonlight
Asking me, said she's so freeHow can you catch the sparrow?


The Birds They Circle- Karen Elson
This artist is a pretty new edition to my library. Previous supermodel, current Mrs. Jack White, and now has an album under her belt (with Mr. White written all over it, of course). I suggest you all take a listen, she sure surprised me and can prove it live to boot!


The birds they circle in the sky
Oh the birds they circle in the sky
the birds the circle in the sky
for all the blood red tears I cried
Oh, the birds they circle in the sky

see the man as he rushes towards the sun
see the man as he rushes towards the sun
the man as he rushes towards the sun
straight into the arms of another one
see the man as he rushes towards the sun

But I hold a secret in my bones
Oh but I hold a secret in my bones
what's that secret in my bones?
I carried it down to the dirt below
for I know the secret in my bones

The birds they circle in the sky
Oh the birds they circle in the sky
the birds the circle in the sky
for all the blood red tears I cried
Oh, the birds they circle in the sky 


Free As a Bird- The Beatles
Yes, the Beatles again... I do love 'em.


Free as a bird, 
it's the next best thing to be. 
Free as a bird. 

Home, home and dry, 
like a homing bird I'll fly 
as a bird on wings. 

Whatever happened to 
the lifes that we once knew? 
Can we really live without each other? 

Where did we lose the touch 
that seemed to mean so much? 
It always made me feel so... 

Free as a bird, 
like the next best thing to be. 
Free as a bird....




One Dove- Antony & The Johnsons
His voice is so eerie, yet heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Here is love and partnership as a dove. 


One dove
Youre the one Ive been waiting for
Through the dark fall
The nightmares the lonely nights

I was born
A curling fox in a hole
Hiding from danger
Scared to be alone

One dove
To bring me some peace
In starlight you came from the other side
To offer me mercy

One dove
Im the one you've been waiting for
From your skin I am born again
I wasn't born yesterday

You were old and hurt
I was longing to be free
I see things you were too tired
That you were too scared to see

One dove
To bring me some peace
In starlight you came from the other side
To offer me mercy


Bird of Paradise-The Appleseed Cast
Instrumental. Does choice of title mean something here? I thought this one could raise an argument. Regardless, I think it's a pretty song. 


Blackbird- The Beatles
I know, I know... I'll make a rule for the next mixes to not repeat an artist. This song, however, is a pretty inspirational song and is a powerful contribution to my entire argument. I don't think I need to 'bold' what I'm getting at... 


Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise....




Doves- The Black Angels
The Black Angels are a great 'road-trip' band. Listening to them makes me want to be on the open road in a convertible headed west. Similes. Love. Doves. 


Like one little dove,
I think you’re nervous,
Prove me wrong
Well, sometimes in your life,
You spend searching,
Looking for love

You look all day
Oh, you can’t sleep one time

I found you in a puddle of water,
Open your eyes, we need you tonight
Well some, some think you’re sleeping,Prove them wrong, we need you to fly

You look all day
Oh you can’t sleep on time
Like two little doves,
I’m in love
I thought you were mine
Well some, some think you’re hollow,
Open your mind, we need you to fly

You look all day
Oh, you can’t sleep on time...




If nothing else, I hope that somebody out there enjoyed the mix.....