The Mix Tape

2009-06-30T21:03:00.001-07:00

2008-05-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

May... Showers?

A mix for a May that has seen seemingly endless rain of late.

1) Josh Ritter - To The Dogs or Whoever (Live @ 930)
2) C C R - Long As I Can See the Light
3) Jimi Hendrix - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Live)
4) Jackie Greene - About Cell Block #9
5) The Staple Singers - Slow Train
6) Bob Dylan - Day of the Locusts
7) Loudon Wainwright III - I Am the Way
8) Iris DeMent & John Prine - In Spite of Ourselves
9) John Prine - Long Monday
10) Bob Schneider - Blow Me Back to You (Live)
11) Bob Dylan - Beyond the Horizon
12) Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen
13) dEUS - Nine Threads
14) Georgie James - Cake Parade
15) David Gray - Shine
16) M M J - I'm Amazed (Live on SNL)
17) Tyler Ramsey - A Long Dream
18) This Is Ivy League - Crown of Love
19) Scarlett Johansson - Falling Down
20) J. Tillman - For an Hour with You
.zip the whole thing!

1) Again, live there is no one I enjoy more.
3) One of the greatest rock stories ever told. Pepper comes out and three days later Jimi's performing it on stage with The Experience. Pretty sick!
4) Speaking of sick, Jackie Greene is a master showman. A master. I thought I was going to see this rootsy, acoustic guitar balladeer, and I couldn't have been farther off. It was a crazy good time. It's too bad New Yorkers don't know the classic Hank Jr song "Family Tradition," because for me, that was the highlight. This song was a close second.
8, 9) Major Prine kick right now. Major.
10) "Big Blue Sea," one of my favorite songs, sounds best when it's just Bob and a guitar. This is one of those songs, and it may soon be a favorite. I'll let you know.

2008-05-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

Avril for Real

This month found me upended with a series of transitions. As of today, though, I'm 3 for 3. I'll let you decide just what that means.

I'd intended this one to be a driver; those of you with cars will have to let me know how goes.

1) Josh Ritter - Snow is Gone
2) Jackson Browne - Fountain of Sorrow (Live, Acoustic)
3) Cream - Badge
4) Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home
5) Van Morrison - Call Me Up in Dreamland
6) WILCO - Jesus, Etc.
7) Rod Stewart - Mandolin Wind
8) Elton John - Georgia
9) She & Him - Change Is Hard
10) Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel
11) Gram Parsons - Grievous Angel
12) Son Volt - Windfall
13) Bob Dylan - Time Passes Slowly
14) Bill Withers - Let It Be
15) Bill Withers - Can We Pretend
16) Aphex Twin - Avril 14
17) Bob Dylan - Idiot Wind (Bootleg Series Vol 2 Version)
18) Van Morrison - Warm Love
19) Van Morrison - Comfort You
20) Willie Nelson - My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
.zip the whole thing!

1) I'll hopefully have a second mix of his love songs up tonight as well.
3, 4) Fandango
5, 18, 19) VAN! Of late, c/o an almost academic approach to the rock doc, Van Morrison: Under Review, I've over-indulged on his 'prolific period,' '64 to '74.
13) Beg, steal, or borrow this one: New Morning is tha business!
14, 15) Fair assessment? I really get a hankering for Bill Withers just about every spring.
20) The Electric Horseman

2008-04-14T05:02:00.000-07:00

"I love you, Paul."

"I couldn't agree more," the elfin Paul Simon replied, looking a bit like a balding Einstein, hair a flame of dirtied white recession. Simon's arms, flailing about above his head and muscular as hell, were the most striking of his anomaly of features: short, squat, perfectly manicured yet completely disheveled, vein-stretched arms, taught face, beer gut. Before he proceeded to tear into "Gumboots," he corrected himself, "If you could hear the voices in my head, you'd know that's far from true."

For two hours, last night, Paul Simon and a band of unequaled talent performed their third and final performance of songs from his albums Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints. As part of an unheardof month-long residency at The Brooklyn Academy of Music, this week was devoted to spending some time "Under African Skies."

Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the men's choral group from South Africa featured on Graceland, started off the evening with "Nomathemba," with heart-murmuring harmonies and frenetic dance moves that nodded equally to the Temptations and the Rockettes. Vusi Mahlasela followed with a stunted version of "The Boy in the Bubble," forgetting the words at one point. Nevertheless, his vocal quality and range were so stirring, it made the memory of his early stumbling melt with the coo cooing of his scat-filled rendition. By the time Paul Simon strolled on stage, the audience was so firmly engaged, his walk was followed with the intensity of a tennis ball at a Grand Slam final. The reverence with which he addressed the audience humbles me still. He seemed so at ease, though, at times, it appeared as though his fourth wall was actually some garage door window in Queens, and I was the lucky onlooker standing at tiptoe, peering through a tiny window at the rehearsal of a would-be great band, if only that lead singer could punch up the stage presence.

That said, this was Paul Simon's night. His music shone like the African sun. Those who performed with him seemed giddy with the opportunity, as we who watched trembled with excitement at the unique experience of seeing these songs come to life before our eyes. His rhythm section looked like they'd been created by Jim Henson. His own guitars seemed to want to swallow him whole. With pin drop acoustics the BAM made for an excellent venue for this, at times, 21-piece band to throw every sound from wee bird calls to what appeared to be an emptied fire extinguisher ratamat with drum sticks the size of sledgehammers.

The mostly static audience sat through performances by the beautiful Cameroon singer Kaissa and the equally beautiful and five-months pregnant Luciana Souza. It wouldn't last long though, David Byrne, iconic frontman of the Talking Heads, delivered "I Know What I Know" and "You Can Call Me Al" as thought they'd been tailored specifically for him. No one could resist the sheer jubilation of his and the band's performance. Clapping, dancing, and singing along, everyone was upended like puppets on strings by the magnetic grooviness of it all. Ladysmith's return was quick to quell the heartbeats. Their "Homeless" was tear-inducing, never more pertinent as images of those affected by the Tsunamis and Katrina floated to the surface of every last bass note. So drowned was I by this point, I was certain there'd be no respite. That is, until Simon rejoined LBM for those first notes of "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes." Everyone was on their feet, dancing, singin' and swingin.' He finished us off with rousing renditions of "Graceland" and "That Was Your Mother."

Standing there, legs numb, maybe from the dancing, maybe from the experience of having some of the world's best musicians perform mere feet from my own feet, I was awash with thought and so excited to have been part of something I'll surely never see again. Not like this. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience and a night I will remember the rest of my life.

2008-04-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

Mars Bars! Mars Bars!
or How I Survived The Lenten Season

I gave up sugar for Lent - not all sugars, just the simple ones. And it was hard. I eat chocolate. Every day. As we speak, I'm eating a milk/white chocolate chip cookie from this place called Dessert Delivery: Say It With Flour in midtown. So, I needed something to satiate me during these forty days and forty nights spent trolling the dessert-free desert that is sugarless living.

I found the following:
Disc One - (Mostly) New Treats
1) The Dodos - Jody
2) The Acorn - Flood Pt. 1
3) White Denim - ShakeShakeShake
4) Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
5) Jamie Lidell - Little Bit of Feel Good
6) Gnarls Barkley - Who's Gonna Save My Soul
7) Ana Serrano van der Laan - Paradise
8) Stephany - Shame
9) Matt Weddle - Hey Ya (Acoustic Cover)
10) Mike Doughty - Fort Hood
11) Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers
12) White Hinterland - Dreaming of the Plum Trees
13) Langhorne Slim - Restless
14) Lykke Li - Little Bit
15) Chris Bathgate - Serpentine
16) A.A. Bondy - American Hearts
.zip the whole thing!

Disc Two - Sustenance
1) Don Covay - Seesaw
2) Little Junior Parker - Pretty Baby
3) Gene Clark - Spanish Guitar
4) Roger McGuinn - Ballad of Easy Rider
5) Grand Funk Railroad - Feelin' Alright
6) Joe Cocker - Space Captain
7) The Grateful Dead - One More Saturday Night
8) Tom Waits - The Heart of Saturday Night
9) Leonard Cohen - Came So Far for Beauty
10) Eric Clapton with Robert Cray - Old Love
11) Beck - Feather in Your Cap
12) The Spencer Davis Group - Keep On Running
13) Amy Winehouse - Monkey Man
14) Stevie Wonder - Keep On Running
.zip the whole thing!

Notes: Disc One
1) Thanks, Mike.
2) Hooray for chants, claps, and ukuleles. That's ukuleles, plural.
10) This is dedicated to The Real Theatre Company.
16) The chorus smacks of John Adams. Both are perfect.

Notes: Disc Two
10) I found some old tablature when I went home for Easter. This sticks out as one I loved to play and listen to for hours. As Rob Gordon might've said, "I'll stick that in the summer of 2003 pile, but I'll have to remember I played it for someone who'd never really appreciate it. Much the same, I don't think she ever really appreciated me." Woe is me, Rob. Woe is me.
11) Dude, the Deluxe Edition of Odelay rulz!
12, 13) Run, see Run Fatboy, Run! A friend said, "It looks cheesy and sappy." Well, it's both, but it's good. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

2008-03-09T22:57:00.000-07:00

When I saw this commercial during the Oscars, I leaned to one of my roommates and said, "I love the look of this commercial. I'd really like to work with this director some day. I saw the commercial again tonight at the movies, and of course I Googled it. Famed photographer, Bruce Weber directed it. So, way out of my price range, but I love it. Apparently, girl who steps on the birthday cake in her wellies is causing quite a stir.

2008-02-28T17:47:00.000-08:00

The Fever of Fevrier

February has come and gone, this a leap year, and I've come out relatively unscathed comparatively speaking. That said, this month has found me faced with the possibility of leaving fair New York for perhaps fairer surroundings. Regardless, I will soldier on.

This is the first February I've had in New York that didn't involve some social or physical breakdown (aka break-up/illness). The only fever I've had this month has been for that of music.

1) Eels - Taking a bath in rust
2) Man Man - Top Drawer
3) Jackie Paris - Make Me Smile
4) Jack Johnson - Hope
5) nada surf - Are You Lightning?
6) The Staple Singers - The Weight
7) The Everybodyfields - be miner
8) Dirty on Purpose - Lake Effect
9) Mystery Jets (feat. Laura Marling) - Young Love
10) Paul Westerberg - Waiting for Somebody
11) Oliver Future - Stranger Than the Stranger
12) She and Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
13) Throw Me The Statue - Your Girlfriend's Car
14) Ryan McPhun and The Ruby Suns - Maasai Mara
15) The Panderers - Come On
16) Arizona - Through the Soot
17) Chris Walla - Sing Again
18) Baron Von Bear - Live off the Land
19) Sheryl Crow - Love Is Free
20) The Format - Janet
21) Bonnie "Prince" Billy - My Life
22) Phosphorescent - I Am A Full Grown Man (I Will Lay in the Grass All Day)
.zip the whole thing!

Eels, which I didn't discover until DJing in Ireland, is fabulous, and his release this year, Useless Trinkets, is a gem of a discovery. So many wonderful tracks, I find one suits just about any mood. I hope to see Man Man perform. This ragamuffin group seems just so exciting; I can't imagine their live show as anything but shockingly unique. As for JJ, around Patagonia, there's a saying, WWJJD, and I think he slept through the recording of his latest album. This may be the only standout. I heard the Staple Singers' "Weight" when listening to a bunch of other Stax recordings including Stax Does Motown and The Beatles, and this version really does it for me. Paul Westerberg, a favorite, gave this song to personal hero Cameron Crowe for Singles. It's been used, to great effect in the trailer for Smart People.

So many of these songs make me think of people in my life - past, present, future. Most of them make me think of girls. "Stranger Than the Stranger" and the story behind it - Austin band writes songs of loneliness once relocating to LA - made me think of Miles. Sheryl Crowe, homegirl's got it goin' on. She's still someone I use as a sort of weather vane. I really got into her music during my junior year of college. I was encouraged to seek out the music of my 'homeland' by a rather inspirational poetry professor, and I somehow came to fellow St. Louisan Crowe's cannon. I still think she's pretty good. She's no Zooey Deschanel, though. She and Him, her collab with M Ward just tickles me pink. I think she's the beeskuhnees, dacatspyjamjams. And how about The Format's break up? So sad to learn of that. But Bonnie Bill's so cool to do a Frank cover. So cool. I leave you with Phosphorescent. Saw him last night at Union Hall. Such presence. Eyes like tractor beams. As he travels westward, may you catch his gaze, or better still, may he catch yours.

2008-01-30T20:45:00.000-08:00

This is new music for 2008.

The January Man

1) Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
2) Barton Carroll - Brooklyn Girl, You're Going To Be My Bride
3) Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele - Pierce Avenue
4) Bon Iver - Skinny Love
5) Sia - Playground
6) Dr. Dog - I'm Standing in the Light
7) Patrick Watson - The Great Escape
8) The Hot Toddies - HTML
9) Nada Surf - I Like What You Say
10) Bell XI - Flame (Chicken Lips Mix)
11) Eric Lindell - Lay Back Down
12) Cat Power - Metal Heart
13) Drive-By Truckers - 3 Dimes Down
14) Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause - All Those Pretty Things
15) Liam Finn - Second Chance
16) Low - Breaker
17) Sia - Buttons
18) MGMT - Electric Feel
19) Ruby Suns - Tane Mahuta
20) Arizona - Fairly Light Mix 1
21) Rachel Unthank & The Winterset - January Man
22) Bonnie "Prince" Billy - World's Greatest

2008-01-12T22:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, jerks. Here's the latest. I think this mix has reached its potency. Its potential. I am jiving on a couple glasses of wine, and I've just finished reading Diablo Cody's s.p. for Juno. It puts the silent "n" in "damn good."

Let me know, there again, if I can hook you up with any of these songs.

Something for a New Year

1) Randy Newman - Political Science
2) Coconut Records - It's Not You It's Me
3) Rivers Cuomo - Lover in the Snow
4) Ryan Adams - Starlite Diner
5) Coldplay - 2000 Miles (The Pretenders cover)
6) Tom Waits - There's a Place for Us
7) Bob Dylan - The Man in Me
8) George Harrison - If Not for You
9) The Moldy Peaches - Anyone Else But You
10) Barry Louis Polisar - All I Want is You
11) Ryan Adams - Perfect and True
12) Warren Zevon - Searching for a Heart
13) Matt Costa - Never Looking Back
14) Elvis Costello - Imagination (Is a Powerful Deceiver)
15) Joy Division - Atmosphere
16) The Moldy Peaches - Lazy Confessions
17) Cat Power - Sea of Love
18) Stephen Malkmus & Lee Ranaldo - Can't Leave Her Behind
19) Josh Ritter - The Temptation of Adam
20) Van Dyke Parks - Keep Me in Your Heart (Strings Only)
21) Randy Newman - A Few Words in Defense of Our Country

1), 20) - Randy Newman is one of my favorite songwriters, and he's by far my favorite satirist. These two figurative gems, crafted from the man's mind's ore, are truly just gorgeous takes from two different eras of political conflict in our young country's existence. Freakin' amazing how pertinent track one (1972) is today, and just gut-wrenching how true track twenty-one (2007) rings today.

2) Jason Schwartzman just might be the most talented guy my age. Go, go, Schwartz! Go! Hey, ask your cousin Nic to make another Leaving Las Vegas. I miss him, but I like money.

9), 16) Adam, my old friend, who was always much cooler than me, probably still is, introduced this band to me - along with the Gadjits - when we were juniors in college. He brought this CD back from Christmas break... and then our dorm burned down. Coincidence? I don't think so. Kimya... you are incendiary.

12), 20) Another songwriter hero of mine. I've been listening to "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" a lot lately.

15) Control. The only other movie this year I've seen twice.

17) I loved Robert Plant's cover of this when he was with that supergroup, The Honeydrippers in the eighties [Page, Plant, (Jeff) Beck, Setzer, Schafer (... yes, Paul Schafer)]. I used to listen to it incessantly at swim meets. What do you think that says about me?

19) Most beautiful song of the year. Mr. Probst, you're right. Paste Mag has a great vid of JR talking about the crafting of this one.

2007-12-08T19:39:00.000-08:00

I'm just going with it... There are several mixes I've not posted just from being busy.

This is sort of the longest running one. Based on the title, I think I made it somewhere around the first of November. I don't think anyone downloads these mixes anymore. If you want it, just leave me a comment.

Souls for Saints

1) Ryan Adams - If I Am a Stranger
2) Eels - Manchild
3) Eels - Bad News
4) Jackson Browne - These Days
5) Bob Dylan & The Band - Forever Young
6) Levon Helm - The Mountain
7) Jeff Tweedy - Simple Twist of Fate
8) The Allman Brothers Band - Blue Sky
9) The Rolling Stones - Salt of the Earth
10) Ollabelle - Soul of a Man
11) Norah Jones - I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
12) Dr. John - Wade in the Water
13) Jack Johnson with ALO - I Shall Be Released
14) Antony & The Johnsons - Knockin' on Heaven's Door
15) John Doe - Pressing on
16) Jeff Buckley - Satisfied Mind
17) Aphex Twin - Avril 14
18) Nicole Reynolds - In the Morning
19) Devendra Banhart - At the Hop
20) Bob Dylan - Sign On the Window

She's heavy on Dylan and his covers, but she's pretty good. I'm going to fall asleep to her right now.

2007-11-25T17:45:00.000-08:00

Watch Donovan sing "To Sing for You," the plain, somewhat plaintive song with its obvious message, as Dylan chidingly chimes in with "Hey, that's a good song, man." Ripping the axe from Don's hand, Dylan snarls his way through a searing, sneering version of "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue." One can't help wondering if Dylan was sending his contemporary sing/songwriter some sort of message. Then again, Dylan steadfastly denies writing songs with a message.

2007-11-08T10:02:00.001-08:00

Last night, at The Beacon Theatre, I attended a concert promoting the release of Todd Haynes' new film, I'm Not There. The Roots were last to perform; they received a standing ovation - and rightly so - after their stirring, sousaphone-infused rendition of "Masters of War." I haven't been to a show this good in a long, long time.

The video is from a DC show earlier this year. The sound quality is right on.

2007-10-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

1) Satyajit Ray – Charu’s Theme
2) Talking Heads – This Must Be the Place (Live)
3) Stevie Ray Vaughan – Little Wing
4) Tom Petty – Square One
5) Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
6) Eric Clapton – Motherless Child
7) Neil Young – Homegrown
8) Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, & The Foggy Mountain Boys – Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms
9) Ryan Adams – My Love for You Is Real (Live)
10) Ray LaMontagne & Damien Rice – To Love Somebody (Live)
11) Ray LaMontagne – So Long Away
12) Taj Mahal – Corrina
13) Dr. John – Such a Night
14) Ceu – Lenda
15) Rufus Wainwright – Instant Pleasure
16) The Be Good Tanyas – Midnight Moonlight
17) The Shivers – Beauty
18) The Allman Brothers Band – One Way Out
19) Dr. John – New Island Midnight
20) Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Jungleland

Bonus:
Helen Highfield – Easy to Be Hard
Laura Sessoms – Frank Mills

.zip the whole thing!

2007-09-10T20:39:00.001-07:00

I'm in today's New York Times.

2007-09-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

2007-09-04T17:37:00.000-07:00

Augustus Gloop

1) The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back (Z-Trip Remix)
2) Golden Smog - Radio King ::: Jeff Tweedy, Live in a living room
3) Iron and Wine - The Trapeze Swinger
4) Josh Ritter - Wait for Love
5) Cowboy Junkies - Sweet Jane ::: (Live 5/13/07)
6) Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness (Live at Monterey, 1967)
7) Donny Hathaway - You've Got a Friend (Live)
8) Marvin Gaye - Piece of Clay
9) Citizen Cope - Holdin' On
10) Damien Rice - Rootless Tree
11) Grateful Dead - Brokedown Palace
12) Josh Ritter - Wait for Love (You Know You Will)
13) Taj Mahal - Queen Bee
14) Freedy Johnston - Bad Reputation
15) Cat Power - Lived in Bars::: (Live 11/11/05)
16) Fionn Regan - Be Good or Be Gone
17) George Fenton & Ravi Shankar - Partition / End of the Fast
18) Bruce Hornsby - Wondering Where the Lions Are
19) Bob Dylan - You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
20) Mike & The Mechanics - Looking Back Over My Shoulder
21) Elvis Costello - Alison
22) The Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed
23) Jose Gonzalez - Teardrop::: (Live)
24) Billie Holiday - Let's Do It
25) Judy Garland - What'll I Do (Live on The Judy Garland Show)
26) Brenda Lee - Break It To Me Gently
27) Joan Armatrading - Down to Zero
28) Van Morrison - Virgo Clowns
29) Ray Charles - I Can See Clearly Now
30) The Beach Boys - I Was Made to Love Her
31) Patty Griffin - Heavenly Day
32) Lucinda Williams - Are You Alright?
.zip AUGUSTUS GLOOP HERE.

"This is a pretty good mix," I caught myself saying just minutes ago. I make these mixes just about every week, fully intending to post them sooner than ever I do, and then a month passes and you fine folks get sort of a month's worth of greatest hits from those weekly trial mixes.

And so I give you Augustus Gloop, named thusly because I found myself scarfing hoards of chocolate whilst watching the husky little Augustus fall in a river of the stuff late one night in the first week of this month, August. I may be failing at this whole giving up chocolate thing, but at least I am trying.

1) I think this was on the Motown 1s remixed CD. I love the control room, I love little Michael's "Yeah, yeah!" in the beginning, and I love how smooth it sounds.
6) The "got-ta, got-ta, got-ta" part hits my heart like the bullets of a machine gun's ray. This summer marks the fortieth anniversary of the Monterey Pop Festival. God save us.
7) A recording will occasionally come along and make me say, "Damn, I wish I was there for this!" This is one of those recordings. Play it in the morning on your way to work, or to work out, you'll sing along. You may even attempt to sing in harmony.
8) One of my favorite poems is William Blake's "The Clod and The Pebble" from The Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Add "Piece of Clay" to that list.
9)I've been watching Prime incessantly. The scene in which this plays is one of the more beautifully shot. This film speaks to me in so many ways. It tells of a lot which I've been dealing with lately, and it does so around some of the very (apparently picturesque) streets where I deal with those things - namely mother/son relationships, art vs. work, New York, breaking up, and ... breaking up... in and around SoHo and the West Village.
10) Speaking of, "Suddenly I'm down in [Union] Square. Look around. Your face is everywhere." I was prompted to pull this oldy but goody out when a tiny tot with a Freedy t-shirt sold me cookies at the Greenmarket by my house. Check out Noah Baumbach's brilliant Kicking and Screaming.
17) Can't stop watching this movie! This photo has haunted me.
20) We all know I'm a humongous fan of Paul Carrack. He's the definition of "male pop vocals" - at least in my dictionary. Well, I'd forgotten about this one until loading up on my favorite cheesy pop for the dance parties in my hotel room during my recent trip to Allentown, PA. Another song for the morning. Let it replace your coffee, if only for a day.
22) The first of TV commercial head-turners. Amstel Light:

25) The second: Diet Coke.
29, 30) Along with the earlier Hathaway track, it was a month for covers. I love both of these very much. Ray can do no wrong, and The Beach Boys do alright by this one. I think I love the roughness of it, the under-polished quality, however deliberately so it may have been done.
32) Caught this on Allentown's NPR station and was reminded of how much I loved this album. When she's on... she's on! This song couldn't have hit me at a better moment either. By the end of it, I found myself lying on my bed, face down, having a cry while my Shakespeare in the Park roommate was in the shower. Thanks Lucinda. Catharsis never felt so good.

2007-08-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

I know I already posted this video earlier this summer, but seriously, dude's the coolest! That Kanye has a great sense of humor. Will Oldham's giggling at the antics of my hero ZG cracks me up.

Kanye West - Can't Tell Me Nothing

2007-08-26T22:44:00.000-07:00

2007-08-20T07:14:00.001-07:00

2007-08-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

2007-08-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

Tell me you saw this:

The machine gun performance of "Try a Little Tenderness" just won't let me go.

2007-08-01T12:18:00.001-07:00

Ok, ok, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t break this one down any more. I try to keep my mixes to 80 minutes for those poor souls who still listen to CDs. Granted, this mix finds me questioning the virtues of the little plastic disc; it finds me cross-pollinating the record store, stealing from jazz, blues, contemporary classical, rap, rock, even some country. I don’t know why I love the music I do. Nor do I understand why it’s all over the map, but I hope you enjoy this selection of songs as much as I do. Please let me know if you’re unable to download, and I will be certain to somehow, some way physically present you with a copy.

1) Feist – My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Remix)
2) Kanye West – Young Folks
3) Kanye West – Interviews
4) M.I.A. – Hit That
5) Girl Talk – Summer Smoke
6) Dan Deacon – Okie Dokie
7) Bishop Allen – Rain
8) Ben Harper – Into the Colors
9) Iron & Wine – Boy With a Coin
10) Do Make Say Think – A Tender History in Rust
11) Dntel – The Distance (Featuring Arthur & Yu)
12) Spoon – You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb (alternate version)
13) Marla Hansen – Wedding Day
14) Great Lake Swimmers – Where in the World Are You
15) Suzanne Vega – New York is a Woman
16) LCD Soundsystem – New York I Love You
17) Duane Allman with Boz Scaggs – Loan Me a Dime
18) Band of Horses – Our Swords
19) Ron Wood – Act Together
20) The Rolling Stones – Sweet Black Angel
21) Ian Thomas – A Young Man’s Blues
22) Ben Nichols – Dog Day Night
23) Mose Allison – Young Man’s Blues
24) KT Tunstall – I Want You Back (J5)
25) Leonard Cohen – Lover Lover Lover (Live ’79)
26) The Kinks – Strangers
27) The Kinks – This Time Tomorrow
28) The Rolling Stones – Sweet Black Angel (instrumental)
29) Yann Tiersen – La Valse D’amelie (Version Piano)
.zip

2), 3) – FAM! I find myself constantly laughing out loud to this song.
5) Anyone who can mash James Taylor with Biggee Smalls is alright in my book.
6) This is Dan Deacon.

This is why I love Dan Deacon (notice the iPod Shuffle taped to a banana as it rests on a purple shag).

7) Hands Down, my new favorite band. If you have the chance, listen to all 12 of their EPs from last year. Yes, twelve - one for each month.
10) When I first heard this excellent song from Canadians Do Make Say Think, I thought it was Iron & Wine, an American, and I thought it was Awesome! Then, I found out they are Canadian, and I found a foot in my mouth. Ok? Ok, Canada, you can stay. You’re alright in my book. Usually.
15), 16) Personification, I Love You
17) Not that it could’ve been possible, but I wish I was there for this, man.
18) On their demo, this song was simply entitled “Two Basses.” I wonder why?
19) Band Of Horses closed McCarren Pool with this. I freakin’ love it. I especially love the backing vocals and the organ.
22) A girl I know made out with this dude. Lucero rocks my black t-shirt off!
24) If it were possible to craft one, this is a guilty pleasure ganache covered in guilty pleasure dark chocolate (71%), and wrapped in guilty pleasure turkey bacon (no nitrites). Mmm sprinkles!
26), 27) To fully appreciate these songs, one must listen with headphones. The usage of stereo recording is unparalleled here. I love The Kinks! So does Wes Anderson, apparently.

2007-07-31T21:01:00.000-07:00

2007-07-27T10:34:00.001-07:00

... pretty much.

2007-07-25T21:47:00.001-07:00

Zach Galifianakis is the man. I saw this at the New York Magazine Bad Art Auction he hosted a little over a week ago. Watch Bonnie "Prince" Billy try to keep a straight face.

2007-07-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

Mine's in the mail.

2007-07-22T18:20:00.001-07:00

If you have 12 minutes, watch this video. It's been inspiring me lately.

2007-07-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

July, You Lied* – My Brown Eyes Are Dried**

With this completely unintentionally God-centric mix, things are turning around. So there, liar.

1) Stevie Wonder – We Can Work It Out
2) Paul Simon – I Know What I Know
3) Tom Petty – Wildflowers
4) Joni Mitchell – All I Want
5) The Rolling Stones – Dancing with Mr. D.
6) Ray Lamontagne – Jolene
7) Ryan Adams – These Girls
8) Uncle Tupulo – New Madrid
9) Billy Bragg & Wilco – Airline to Heaven
10) Greg Trooper – Dream Away the Blues
11) Amos Lee – Sweet Pea
12) Rocky Votolato – Postcard From Kentucky
13) Jill Barber – Two Brown Eyes
14) Charlotte Gainsbourg – The Songs That We Sing
15) Link Wray – Fire & Brimstone
16) Bongos Ikwue – Woman Made the Devil
17) Trio Palmar - Tres Besos
18) Kool & The Gang – Caribbean Festival
19) Sam & Dave – You Left The Water Running
20) Laura Lee – What a Man
21) Elton John – Burn Down the Mission
22) Edith Piaf – Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
** Bonus Track
.zip

* Before I begin, do you guys like it when I write about the tracks, or would you rather the music spoke for itself?

1) Heard this at McCarren Park’s Pool, and I couldn’t get it out of my head. It’s such a hopeful song. It’s right at that period when Wonder dropped the Little from his name and picked up his synth and joined the funk movement.
2, 3, 4, 5) These songs are from some of my desert island albums. I dusted off these bad boys and revisited them during those sadsack stages of break-up. Blue, Graceland, Wildflowers, and Goats Head Soup are albums that have been with me my whole life. I love them all. You should, too.
6) I am most attracted to this song’s chorus.
8) I think I told you about my love of Anodyne. Well, this is one more that whilst listening to recently took on new meaning with the whole New York City line.
16) Amen to that.
19) “I’m not cryin’. It’s just been rainin’ ...on my face.”
See the film la Vie en Rose. I leave you with this:

No, nothing.
No, I regret nothing.
Neither the good done to me, nor the bad;
to me, they're all the same.

No, nothing at all.
No, I regret nothing.
It's all paid for, swept away, forgotten;
I don't care about the past.

With my memories,
I've lit a fire.
My sorrows, my pleasures,
I need them no more.

Swept away are my loves
and all their tremors.
Swept away forever.
I start from scratch.

No, nothing really.
No, I have no regrets.
Neither the good done to me, nor the bad;
to me, they're all the same.

No, nothing.
No, I regret nothing.
Because my life, because my joys,
today, begin with you.

2007-07-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

For those still downloading these mixes, behold one heavy on Tweedy, some new discoveries, and some long forgotten favorites. Happy Fourth.

A June Moon
1) Drew Emmitt - Meet Me in the Morning
2) Wilco - The Thanks I Get
3) Ryan Adams - Two
4) Citizen Cope - All Dressed Up
5) Jeff Tweedy - Shot in the Arm
6) Ojos de Brujo - Memorias Perdias
7) Bob Dylan - Masters of War
8) Estelle - Free
9) Wilco - Either Way
10) Sting - I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
11) India.Arie - Summer
12) Darrell Scott & Tim O'Brien - More Love
13) The Be Good Tanyas - In Spite of All the Damage I've Done
14) Chuck Berry - Things I Used to Do
15) The Band - Up On Cripple Creek
16) Uncle Tupelo - Acuff-Rose
17) Allman Brothers Band - Soulshine
18) Willie Nelson - American Tune
19) Coldplay - Til Kingdom Come
20) Frank Sinatra - They Can't Take That Away From Me
.zip

1) Here’s the story. I scribbled “Drew Emmett” down on some scrap and stuffed it away pocket after hearing this on a local radio station in Breckenridge. Two nights later, leaving Mi Casa, my favorite spot in Breck, we stumbled into an outdoor concert featuring this guy and his bluegrass band. I never loved Leftover Salmon, but I had such a blast at this show. Old locals and young all dancing trippy, drinking locally, and just having a ball.
2) Break-up song of the summer. Hands down.
3) Ryan Adams’ new album was called typical by Rolling Stone. If so, typical’s just fine by me.
4) Is this song appropriate for a yoga class?
5) I bought Sunken Treasure, and this part is my favorite. I keep watching it over and over again.
6) Besos.
7) I’d never seen The Sopranos until their final episode. This song got me listening Freewheelin’ again. Dylan is a living prophet.
8) Jools Holland’s show on BBC America is awesome.
9) First track on the new album. Couldn’t get past it for the longest time. Thanks Wilco for hitting me where it hurts.
10) Cheesy song, but it caught me on the lip, and lo' there was I, crumbled to tears in some store: a pharmacy, or a grocery store, or a health food store, or somewhere, somewhere I just don’t know. I started bawling, and to hide the tears, I did as the song says, I started laughing, and I don’t know… it helped.
11) I wasn’t going to include this for sheer cheese quotient had already been met (see prior track), but when first I heard this, I thought, “Man, my summer ended in June." Then I remembered what a wise old friend reminded me, “Hey, plans change.” My plans for the summer have simply... changed. It’s something I’ve kept reminding myself of late, and it’s certainly helping. Thank you, friend.
12) Found this on iTunes. For my money, it’s way better to hear songwriters play their song than to hear the Dixie Chicks’ hack at it.
13) Thanks L.
14) … and then there’s this B-side from Mr. Berry, my hometown hero, who’s always able to console me, plucking away at those heart strings, or just perhaps a guitar string or two.
15) Heard this on the brilliant KBCO radio station. Have loved this song for years, but it never pumped me up the way it did out there on Hwy 70. Maybe it was the altitude, or maybe it was just Levon Helm’s genius croon.
16) One of the coolest girls I ever dated bought Anodyne for my birthday, my 21st. I remember her saying how much she loved this song. I couldn’t agree more, A. Tupelo ruled.
17) Leave it to a charcoal commercial to bring out a great summer tune. But hey, they’re right. This song sounded great on my roof deck while grillin’ out. Give it a whirl at your next picnic.
18) I caught the tail end of the Library of Congress’ presentation of the Gershwin Prize to Paul Simon, and I kept hearing this version of “American Tune” in my head. Paul Simon is as American as apple pie, baseball, and well, the Redheaded Stranger.
19 & 20) These songs play with some regularity at work. They’ve been helpful.

2007-05-23T06:01:00.000-07:00

1) Down Along the Cove
2) To Be Alone with You
3) Queen Jane Approximately
4) On a Night Like This
5) Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You
6) Love Minus Zero / No Limit
7) I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
8) If Not For You
9) Golden Loom
10) You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
11) Heart of Mine
12) Where Are You Tonight (Journey Through Dark Heat)
13) Buckets of Rain
14) Make You Feel My Love
15) Moonlight
16) Shooting Star
17) Wedding Song
18) Sara
.zip this using your Mac.

2007-05-11T07:01:00.000-07:00

Counting Crowes - Ooh La La (The Faces Cover)

Heather put this puppy up. I can't listen to it at work. My laptop speakers for some reason have been muted, and I can't turn them back on, but I trust Adam Duritz enough not to blow one of my favorite songs to smithereens. Speaking of The Smithereens, does anyone like them still?

2007-04-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

The Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago - November, 1981

This used to happen all the time. It's such a shame I was 11 months old. If I could've, I would've been there with a bottle of Maker's, a pack of Strikes, and a back-up pair of Pampers.

2007-04-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

I May Lose My Testosterone Card

I don't know how I feel about this mix, but these are songs I have encountered repeatedly these days.

1) Van Morrison - I Love You (The Smile You Smile)
2) Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Angel Dream (No. 2)
3) Donovan - Catch the Wind
4) Wilco - What Light
5) Be Good Tanyas - Up Against the Wall
6) Umphrey's McGee - Memories of Home
7) Bonnie Raitt - Come to Me
8) Lucinda Williams - Can't Let Go
9) Phoenix - Long Distance Call
10) Fatboy Slim - That Old Pair of Jeans
11) Althea & Donna - Uptown Top Ranking
12) Aretha Franklin with George Michael - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
13) Brett Dennen - She's Mine
14) Jose Gonzalez - Storm
15) Dana Falconberry - Paper Sailboat
16) Dar Williams with Chris Botti - The Beauty of the Rain
17) Gillian Welch - Black Star
18) The Broken West - So It Goes (live on Sirius Radio)
19) Eric Clapton - Lay Down Sally
20) Elton John - My Father's Gun
21) Van Morrison - Madame George
Bonus Track: Van Morrison - TB Sheets

.zip the whole thing!

1) Shooting movies is fun especially when the creative people who herd my talents are perhaps cooler than I. Such was the case when Mitch, the director of my latest adventure in filmmaking, River Pirates, allowed his gems of Van tracks to pour from the jukebox speakers onset. Enjoy these tracks from his New York Sessions '67.
2) First encountered during The Nei-Play's final plays performed in 2005, this track from the She's The One soundtrack was brought to my attention by the acting teacher who taught me everything I know - well, mainly that costuming is half the battle.
3) A favorite of mine long before it appeared in GE's current wind energy commercial, "Jar," I have been playing this song quite a bit more lately. Thank you, eco-advertisers.
4) The latest from Tweedy and Co. I didn't love it at first, but it's been a month of relatively heavy rotation, and I'm coming around to it.
6, 7, 8) A friend of mine needs to listen to these three tracks many, many times.
9) A Mexican restaurant is a funny place to be reminded of this French group. Then again, I was in Brooklyn.
11) I miss London sometimes. This song helps. Wouldn't you agree, Kristen?
12) The reason for this mix's title, I actually heard this muzak twice - once in Duane Reade and the other time at Whole Foods, this morning. Often, I hanker strongly, strangely for late eighties and early nineties uber-produced, Steve Guttenbergy, soundtracky, hyper-tacky songs. This is one of those songs, and yes, this is one of those times. To further justify my love, it was a number one billboard smash, and it won a Grammy.
13) Listening to Dennen since last September with little impact, I heard this on WFUV, and I couldn't stop singing it for the rest of the day. Now, I love the guy.
14) This song was used with great success at the end of Friday Night Lights' (NBC) 21st episode. It was the first I'd seen - caught its tail on Bravo - that show's camera work: gorgeous. Austin, Texas, the new (land-locked) home of filmmaking - mark my words.
17) I remember listening to this repeatedly back to back with its Radiohead counterpart after its release. It's an example of a song performed equally well from two very different approaches. If you're going to Coachella, see Gill and Dave, squeeze the sheer coolness out of them, bottle it, and bring whatever you can back for me.
19) Another song that keeps coming up - in conversation, in shopping, in eating, in drinking... in laying down... Sally.
20) Cannot remove this from my muscle memory. Sing it in the shower, on the sidewalk, in the subway, and... on Sundays?

2007-02-15T20:24:00.000-08:00

A Fantastic February, or February Couldn't Have Come Quicker

It's commonly known amongst my actor friends, at least my friends at the playhouse, that February is commonly regarded as the worst month - more bickering, arguing, and downright poor decision-making happened in February '05 and '06 than in any other month, any stretch of months in my entire life. Well, you can imagine my surprise when I looked at my calendar today to discover that the first half of this February is shaping up to be close to one of the best months I've had in a while. Things really are turning around for me, and I anticipate more of the same. Push any of your leftover happy thoughts my way whilst enjoying this month's compilation.

1) Marc Cohn - Silver Thunderbird
If Walgreens is good for something, it's good for reminding me of what a mastery Marc Cohn made of his self-titled debut, Marc Cohn.

2) Kelly Joe Phelps - Wandering Away
3) Jefferson Starship - Count on Me
4) Eddy Arnold - I Wanna Play House with You
5) Joe Cocker - When the Night Comes
6) Junior Wells & Buddy Guy - Snatch It Back and Hold It
7) Cassandra Wilson - Love is Blindness
8) Crowded House - Something So Strong
I got caught singing this song during a rather tense moment at my last job. Hmm....

9) Wilco - Someone Else's Song
10) Matt the Electrician - Hammer on the Ladder
11) Blonde Redhead - In Particular
12) Thin Lizzy - Rosalie
Heard this first on VH1 Classic. Their BBC Jewels are some of the coolest recordings.

13) B.W. Stevenson - My Maria
Brooks & Dunn had a huge country hit with this years after Mr. Stevenson's original release, but I definitely prefer this one, less boot scoot, more boogie.

14) Kelley Stoltz - Memory Collector
15) Andrew Bird - Heretics
16) The Marmalades - Reflections of My Life
I don't recall where or how I came upon this band, but how I hadn't heard of them sooner blows my mind. They're the kind of band I would've been in had I been in a band in the 60s and 70s.

17) Van Morrison - Come Here My Love
Of the few albums I refer to as favorites, three were helmed by Monsieur Van the Man: Astral Weeks, Moondance, and Tupelo Honey. Until recently, I hadn't completed my delving into his most prolific period. The two albums that round out this impressive body of work, His Band and The Street Choir and Veedon Fleece, are as equally exquisite albeit slightly more experimental as his other - dare I say - masterpieces. Check them out if given the time.

18) Elton John - Sad Songs (Say So Much)
19) Bruce Hornsby - That's Just the Way It Is
20) Bruce Hornsby & Chaka Khan - Love Me Still (Instrumental)
I found completely by happenstance that I'd downloaded an instrumental version of one of the best love songs ever composed, and then much to my wondering eyes, I saw that Hornsby had written and performed the track. Out loud, I said, "Well, no wonder." Yeah, I'm dramatic.

** Please note, I'll have a zip of this up after Valentine's Day. Also, please note, I will add rich text and probably change the order as this has been posted in haste prior to giving the mix a good, solid listen. Oh, and while I'm thinking of it, Happy Valentine's Day.

2007-02-15T15:51:00.000-08:00

Bathtubs, Ballads, and Blues

The Ballads
1) Sasha Dobson - Without You
2) Bill Withers - Can We Pretend
3) Lyle Lovett - If I Needed You
4) The Little Willies - No Place to Fall
5) The Weepies - Gotta Have You
6) Edith Piaff - C'Etait une Histoire D'Amour
7) Loudon Wainwright III - New Paint
8) Richard Julian - Love of Mine
9) Hem - Half Acre
10) The Greencards - Time
11) Over the Rhine - I Want You to Be My Love
12) Mazzy Star - Fade into You
13) Trespassers William - Lie in the Sound
14) Jackie Greene - Love Song 2:00am
15) Van Morrison - I'll Be Your Lover, Too
16) Citizen Cope - Sideways
17) Bob Dylan - Shooting Star
18) Eva Cassidy - Time After Time
19) Josh Ritter - Here at the Right Time
20) Nellie McKay - Face of a Faith
Ballads.zip

The Blues
1) Al Green - I'm Glad You're Mine
2) Percy Sledge - Out of Left Field
3) William Bell - Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
4) Little Willie John - Need Your Love So Bad
5) Betty Harris - I'm Gonna Git Ya
6) Nina Simone - Turn Me On
7) Muddy Waters - I Just Wanna Make Love to You
8) Otis Redding - That's How Strong My Love Is
9) Bob Marley - Turn Your Lights Down Low
10) Big Bill Broonzy - Glory of Love
11) Donny Hathaway - A Song for You
12) Taj Mahal - Lovin' in My Baby's Eyes
13) Bonnie Raitt - Women Be Wise
14) Sam Cooke - Nothing Can Change This Love
15) Barbara Lewis - Baby, I'm Yours
16) Charlie Rich - Behind Closed Doors
17) Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Tell Me What You Want Me to Do
18) Joan Armatrading - Dry Land
19) WILCO - Jesus, etc.
20) Tim Hardin - If I Were a Carpenter
21) Ryan Adams - When the Stars Go Blue
22) JJ Cale - Crazy Mama
23) Juliet Turner & Brian Kennedy - I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You
24) Bonnie Raitt - Feels Like Home to Me
Blues.zip

2007-01-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

Januweary

1) Bart Davenport - Euphoria or Everyone on Earth Is So Beautiful, Even You
2) The Rolling Stones - Midnight Rambler
A live version of this is featured in American Masters: Annie Leibovitz, and I just love it!

3) Ernie K-Doe - A Certain Girl
4) Little Richard - Directly From My Heart
5) Wilbert Harrison - Kansas City
6) Chuck Berry - Nadine
If you haven't seen Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n Roll! by Mr. Helen Mirren, Taylor Hackford, you needs ta! Chuck Berry is at his showman's best and worst in this 1987 documentary which centers around a concert organized by The Stones' Keith Richards. The recall of "Nadine's" lyrics by The Boss, Mr. Bruce Springsteen, is one of those film clips that has stuck since the first time I watched this movie and probably will until the day I die.

7) The Wailers - Duppy Conqueror
I read in Paste Magazine that while sailing in the caribbean prior to Double Fantasy, John Lennon was particularly inspired by Bob's Burnin' album. I went back and checked it out myself. Um, yeah, inspired is a word, a feeling that comes to mind.

8) Richie Havens - Just Like a Woman
9) Ray LaMontagne - Hold You in My Arms
10) Bob Dylan - Desolation Row
11) Jackson Browne - I Thought I Was a Child
12) Jackson Browne - Farther On
I started to write a long explanation of this song, its lyrics the other day. Suffice to say, this was a song I listened to rather extensively throughout my senior year of college. I suppose Mr. Browne said of his life experience that which I anticipated saying at the time. It's day to day, but often, I find I relate to this song as a focal point for a life spent searching as I would just about any; "My Back Pages" perhaps providing the foil.

13) Arlo Guthrie & Pete Seeger - Draft Dodger Rag
Several songs have been playing on my iTunes since Bush decided to up the ante in Iraq; this is a gem amongst them.

14) Willie Nelson - Shotgun Willie
"... selling sheets on the family plan."

15) Merle Haggard - Trouble in Mind
16) Joan Armatrading - Dry Land
17) Irma Thomas - I Need Your Love So Bad
18) Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Tell Me What You Want Me to Do
19) Johnny Cash - Lights of Magdala
20) George Harrison - Isn't It a Pity
I dedicated this, the final track, to Mr. Bush and his OK Corral of policy-makers the night of his State of the Union.

The .zip of this mix is up and running! Please listen, and let me know what you think.

2007-01-25T11:52:00.000-08:00

Josh Ritter is performing on NPR's Talk of the Nation this Monday at 3 EST. If anyone has a pair of tickets to his Wednesday performance at the Allen Room with which they would be willing to part, I will gladly accept.

2007-01-12T10:35:00.000-08:00

Josh Ritter is performing tonight on David Letterman. I'm guessing he's going to play "Girl in the War" what with the recent developments in Iraq. Hopefully, he won't be as nervous as he was on Conan. You can see a clip of that at his website.

2007-01-08T19:18:00.000-08:00

Random Song of my day: Andrew Gold

Andrew Gold, son of of composer Ernest Gold (who won an Academy Award for his score to the film Exodus) and vocalist Marni Nixon (the singing voice of Natalie Wood in West Side Story and Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady) wrote the following, which I just learned was a meager hit in the seventies prior to its rerecorded glory days as the theme to The Golden Girls.

Mr. Gold also cowrote the theme to Mad About You with the show's star and creator, Paul Reiser. It's called "Final Frontier," and yeah, I think that song is pretty bitchin,' what about it?

2006-12-31T17:10:00.000-08:00

New Music for November

Yikes... this one's been in the works for a while! Here's music discovered, rediscovered, and loved during this fairly stressful holiday season. Hopefully you and yours had a great one!

1) Extreme - Hole Hearted
2) James Hunter - People Gonna Talk
3) Paul Westerberg - Love You in the Fall
4) Spoon - The Book I Write (New Version for Stranger Than Fiction)
5) Maximo Park - Going Missing
6) The Jam - That's Entertainment (Demo Version)
7) The Kinks - Celluloid Heroes
8) Neil Young - Lotta Love Live in 1976
9) Thin Lizzy - Cowboy Song
10) Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Band - You Gotta Know Whatcha Doin'
11) Aretha Franklin - Baby, Baby, Baby
12) Betty Harris - I'm Gonna Git Ya
13) Rod Stewart - Handbags & Gladrags
14) Sasha Dobson - Without You
15) Alela Diane - Pieces of String
16) Lemonheads - Being Around Live in 1993
17) Lucinda Williams - Out of Touch
18) Don Williams & Emmylou Harris - If I Needed You
19) Jackie DeShannon - Put a Little Love in Your Heart
20) Lou Rawls - What are You Doing New Years Eve?
21) James Brown - Cold Sweat
22) Over the Rhine - All I Ever Get for Christmas is Blue
23) Paul Newman - Plastic Jesus

I did compress this one into a zip file; after growing tired of the awful people at EZArchive, I switched to SendSpace.

I hope you're able to download and enjoy my latest mix. Put "discovering new music" at the top of this year's resolutions, and The Mix Tape certainly won't disappoint.

2006-12-04T10:24:00.000-08:00

I skipped November. I admit it. But it's only because my ezarchive account went belly up, and I've been trying to settle into this two career life, and I'm in a working relationship with a girl for the first time in several years, and my family was in town, as was hers, and I went home for Thanksgiving, and oh, you don't care...

All said, be looking for a new mix this week featuring music from the movie Stranger Than Fiction, a newfound Rod Stewart obsession, and hopefully - archive pending - a collection of holiday favorites.

2006-10-19T21:57:00.000-07:00

Amongst Aimee Mann fans, this little clip has caused quite a stir. I'll just say this: If you know Aimee, if you're friends with her, if you tour with her, if you're married to her, if you're in fact Aimee Mann, convince her, or convince yourself, as the case suits, to release this song. Have it benefit Hurricane Katrina's victims. Have it benefit Africa. Just release it so the good people of the world can have what is one of my favorite James Taylor songs covered by one of my favorite musicians. Pwease!

... you have to admit the "pwease" was kind of cute.

2006-10-18T16:29:00.000-07:00

This mix finds me wrapped around a month of utter chaos. Since finishing with the play, I've fallen in love, I've found myself working both as a temp and as an actor. I'm also just having a ton of fun. I visited the Catskills for a fun-filled Oktoberfest weekend. I went to a great live show, The Greencards, see below. AND I'm in love!

1) Lonnie Mack - Memphis
Indiana native, Mack, a picker amongst pickers, plucked his way into my heart this month with this cover of my hometown hero, Mr. Chuck Berry.

2) Langhorne Slim - In the Midnight
Langhorne came to my attention through Mercutio. Not the fictional, the actor who played him, Matt Luceno, went to school at SUNY-Purchase with Mr. Slim, and ever since Matt played "In the Midnight" from 2005's When the Sun's Gone Down for me, I've fallen for Slim's raw and rootsy sound.

3) Paul Davidson - Midnight Rider
First encountered this song while living in London. Cool thing about London: Reggae flows freer than bra-less women over there.

4) Van Morrison with Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb (Live)
I've yet to see The Departed, but if this excellent cover is any indication, I'm going to love it.

5) Ben Kweller - Sundress
6) Voxtrot - The Start of Something
7) Albert Hammond, Jr. - In Transit
I think I saw him come into my Starbucks real mafioso-like with his suit jacket slung over his shoulders - no arms. But like a true hipster, he had his leather man purse slung low, around his knees.

8) Chris Cubeta & The Liars Club - Me and the Radio
9) Bishop Allen - Like Castanets
This band has quickly become one of my favorites, and if their 12 months of EPs are proving anything, they're going to have one kick-ass album in 2007. Be on the lookout. Jess, they're coming to Phoenix. You should go.

10) The Duhks - Heaven's My Name
I can't believe I missed this band. They're great. A combination of bluegrass, blues, soul, rock, and Canada. Who doesn't love Canada?

11) The Greencards - Time
Last week, I had the chance to see this bluegrass group comprised of two Aussies and a Brit. It's not that I'm obsessed with this band, but they put on a great show. She's the most-charming woman I've ever met. I was just blown away by the beauty of their sound.

12) Okkervil River - It Ends with a Fall
13) Langhorne Slim - Restless
14) Bishop Allen - Butterfly Nets
15) Jackson Browne - Jamaica Say You Will
16) Gram Parsons - In My Hour of Darkness
I sing to myself. A lot. At work, in the shower, on the subway, I sing songs. This week I've been singing Jackson Browne's lovely "Jamaica Say You Will;" with it's simple chorus, and sad Browne-y lilt, it's an easy one to creep up on a bad day at the ol' temp job. And when I'm really down? Gram Parsons without a doubt. Any time I can hear him sing with Emmylou Harris, I'm immediately uplifted. This prayerful song is one I'll have in my life till I die. Scary thought, death.

17) Damien Rice - The Rat Within the Grain
18) Damien Rice - 9 Crimes
Ah, There is nothing better than Damien Rice. These are two of his newest tracks.

19) Asobi Seksu - Thursday
While living in Ireland, Blake and I had many a discussion about art portraying the sublime. This is an example.

20) Sean Lennon - On Again, Off Again
This title explains my feelings on Friendly Fire, Lennon's latest. Listen to this standout.

21) Lonnie Mack & Stevie Ray Vaughn - Oreo Cookie Blues

2006-09-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

Come support my acting career!

Bread, a play by Andy Backer will be performed as many ways as we're able to create in the next six days this Saturday at The Neighborhood Playhouse, 340 East 54th Street, at 8pm.

I'm billing it as a chance to see me and my friends get together and drink - no wait, act. It's a reunion of sorts for we NP graduates mixed in with a short performance, drink specials, and some of the songs you'll find below.

For further information, please visit our website, which with the money made from this first show will hopefully be a fully functioning .org! We'll see.

Music from and Inspired by Andy Backer's Bread
1) Bob Dylan - Main Title Theme
2) Nina Simone - Just Like a Woman
3) Leonard Cohen - The Guests
4) Leonard Cohen - The Traitor
5) Randy Newman - Real Emotional Girl
6) Bonnie "Prince" Billy - I See a Darkness
7) Ron Sexsmith - Gold in Them Hills
8) Tom Waits - Hold On
9) Van Morrison - It's All Over Now Baby Blue
10) Elvis Costello - What Do I Do Now?
11) Fiona Apple - Love Ridden
12) Wilco - Jesus, etc.
13) Antony & The Johnsons - Hope There's Someone
14) Fleetwood Mac - Songbird
15) Bonnie Raitt - Since I Fell For You
16) Ryan Adams - Damn, Sam (I Love a Woman That Rains)
17) Wilco - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
18) Josh Ritter - Here at the Right Time

Bread.zip
Bread Blues.zip
Bread Bob.zip

2006-09-18T03:55:00.000-07:00

Not the most tech-savvy blogger, I'm hoping this time around you're able to download most of the songs in this mix. It's been a while, and my only excuse is lack of time. Lame.

That being said, this mix began at least a month ago, and it was entitled, "What Better Way to Procrastinate...." I began it while memorizing lines for my performance in Romeo & Juliet.

1) Architechture in Helsinki - Spring 2008
2) Harry Nilsson - How Can I Be Sure of You
3) Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel
4) The Clash - Train in Vain (Stand By Me)
5) Wilco - Is That the Thanks I Get?
6) Jennifer O'Connor - Century Estates
7) The Kingsbury Manx - What a Shame
8) Mason Jennings - Confidant
9) The Mugs - Broken Signals
10) The Mountain Goats - Woke Up New
11) The Format - The Lottery Song
12) Ian Thomas - A Young Man's Blues
13) The Woes - The Best is Yet to Come
14) Paolo Nutini - These Streets
15) Day Action Band - All Comes Down to This
16) Mike Pietrus - Hesitation
17) Jackie Greene - Love Song, 2:00 AM
18) Damien Rice - Sand
19) World Party - Is It Like Today
20) The Submarines - Peace & Hate
21) Clogs - Lantern Medley (Kapsburger + 5/4)
22) Garrison Starr - Black & White
23) Guillemots - My Chosen One

.zip

2006-08-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

Jess Drives to California to Get Her Stuff Back

Disc One
1) Townes Van Zandt - Where I Lead Me
2) Victoria George - Don't Worry 'Bout Breakin' My Heart
3) Loudon Wainwright III - The Swimming Song
4) Loudon Wainwright III - New Paint
5) Beth Orton - Comfort of Strangers
6) Patti Smith - Because the Night
7) Nickel Creek - Jealous of the Moon
8) Jeff Tweedy - Be Not So Fearful
9) Bonnie Raitt - I Ain't Blue
10) Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home
11) Canned Heat - On the Road Again
12) Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself
13) Koko Taylor - Voodoo Woman
14) Stevie Wonder - You Haven't Done Nothin'
15) Jamie Lidell - Multiply
16) The Guess Who - American Woman
17) Kathleen Edwards - Away
18) Josh Ritter - Girl in the War
19) Leonard Cohen - The Guests
20) John Prine - Jesus, The Missing Years

Disc Two
1) Tom Petty - It'll All Work Out
2) Patty Griffin - When It Don't Come Easy Live on KCRW
3) Brian Kennedy And Juliet Turner - I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You
4) Rilo Kiley - Go Ahead
5) Paul Westerberg - Only Lie Worth Telling
6) Nina Simone - I Shall Be Released
7) Rachael Yamagata - The Reason Why
8) Tim Hardin - Reason to Believe
9) Tegan and Sara - Not Tonight
10) Bonnie Raitt - Since I Fell For You
11) Neil Young - Don't Let It Bring You Down
12) Edgar Winter - Dying to Live
13) Billy Joel - Vienna
14) Jeff Buckley - Satisfied Mind
15) Elton John - Ballad of a Well-Known Gun
16) The Hollies - Jesus Was a Crossmaker
17) Townes Van Zandt - Dead Flowers
18) Tom Waits - Hold On
19) Steve Goodman - A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request

2006-08-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

There's something to be said for musicians. We admire them largely for what it is they can do that we can't. The same goes for athletes... and actors for that matter.

Either way, I've just reread this entire blog, and a lot of who I am is in there. I'm not sure what my taste in music says about me, but I could definitely tell you who or what I was thinking about when each mix was being made. I could have an hour-long discourse on why I chose to name a mix made in April "Yeah." Ok, that's a gross exaggeration, but this page is filled with stories. I hope my use of music to tell my stories has allowed you the freedom to invent them for yourself, and, perhaps, craft stories of your own.

But back to musicians for a second. Being somewhat musically inclined, I do enjoy picking up a guitar now and then and figuring out a song or two. Most of those who know me well know that I barely have the attention span to make it to the bridge, let alone the second verse at times, and you also know that while I enjoy picking, and I probably sound better when I pick, I prefer to strum ... as hard as humanly possible - and no one likes that.

This morning, as I was reading the past posts, I put together a collection of songs that I like to play. Besides sharing a midtempo drive, a fair share of cheese, and a lot of love, I wonder what these songs say about me. What do you think?

1) Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
2) Bob Schneider - Big Blue Sea
3) Josh Ritter - California
4) Gram Parsons - Grievous Angel
5) John Prine - Angel from Montgomery
6) The Allman Brothers Band - Melissa
7) The Beatles - Hide Your Love Away
8) Fastball - Out of My Head (Live & Acoustic)
9) Jesus Jones - Right Here Right Now
10) The Jayhawks - Save It for a Rainy Day
11) Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
12) The Jeff Healey Band - Angel Eyes
13) James Taylor - Handy Man
14) Townes Van Zandt - Flyin' Shoes
15) Don Henley - The Heart of the Matter
16) Paul Westerberg - Only Lie Worth Telling
17) Townes Van Zandt - Dead Flowers (Live) - My Favorite Rolling Stones Cover

2006-08-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

Workin' My Way to the Weekend

Admittedly this mix starts to sound like soundtrack outtakes from an episode of Ally McBeal, but for my first week back in the pack of the 9 to 5ers seemingly brimming over on the 6 train, I feel justified, Calista Flockheart and all.

1) Jonah Matranga & Frank Turner - A New England
2) Ane Brun - Rubber & Soul (featuring Teitur)
3) The Rolling Stones - Coming Down Again
4) Tapes 'n Tapes - Omaha
5) The Velvet Underground - After Hours
6) Death Cab for Cutie - Your Heart is an Empty Room
7) Serge Gainsbourg - Melodie Nelson
8) Townes Van Zandt - Dollar Bill Blues
9) Jennifer O'Connor - Today
10) Ryan Auffenberg - Under All the Bright Lights
11) Sandi Thom - I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (with Flowers in Her Hair)
12) G Love & Special Sauce - Hot Cookin'
13) Victoria George - Don't Worry Bout Breakin' My Heart
14) Bob Seger - Living Inside My Heart
15) Amos Lee - Shout Out Loud
16) Elvis Costello - Little Boxes
17) Air Traffic - Just Abuse Me
18) Eliot Morris - Balancing the World
19) Inner Circle - Summer Jammin'
20) Terence Trent D'Arby - Wishing Well
21) Eagle Eye Cherry - Falling in Love Again
22) The Incredible Bongo Band - Apache
23) Lee Michaels - Do You Know What I Mean

I hope it's clear where this mix was going. I'm not sure it is, because it's all over the place, as are my influences. I believe the term is shout out, and shout I will. His gym locker was next to mine in seventh grade, and Ryan Auffenberg is getting press for his latest EP. Way to go, buddy! You were the best Eagle Eye Fleagle I've ever seen. Then again, you were the only Eagle Eye Fleagle I've ever seen.

2006-08-18T04:46:00.000-07:00

TGIF

2006-08-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

I caught Josh Ritter at the South Street Seaport this weekend. Just prior, he performed his first national television spot here:

2006-08-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

Pas Simple

see also: simplesinger

2006-08-07T05:48:00.000-07:00

A Weak End

This mix, somewhat of an interactive one - see *note below - is meant to commemorate what has been a strange, funky weekend. I think my body was asked to run both an emotional and physical gauntlet. With my first major hangover in some time, a great workout in spite of the sweltering heat, and a rehashing of relationships young and old, male and female, I found myself seeking out some fairly depressing - ok, kind of depressing - music.

1) Tyrone Davis - Turn Back the Hands of Time
2) Van Morrison & The Chieftains - Irish Heartbeat
3) World Party - When You Come Back to Me
4) Neutral Milk Hotel - Oh Comely
5) Simon Joyner - Love is Worth Suffering For
6) Secret Machines - Alone, Jealous, & Stoned
7) Semisonic - Secret Smile
8) Nico - Little Sister
9) James Taylor - Looking for Love on Broadway
10) Elton John - The One
11) Townes Van Zandt - Tecumseh Valley (live at The Old Quarter)
12) World Party - She's the One
13) Lightning Hopkins - Baby Please Don't Go
14) Otis Redding - That's How Strong My Love Is
15) Leonard Cohen - The Traitor
16) Elton John - Border Song
17) Thomas Newman - Finding Nemo Theme
18) Joan Armatrading - The Weakness in Me
19) Irma Thomas - Time is on My Side

2006-08-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

Begun last weekend, this mix is entitled "Staying in with Sunburn," but as my burn has faded, my love for this music has not. Aww shucks...

1) Guster - Jesus on the Radio
2) Leo Kottke - The Train and the Gate: From Terry's Movie
3) The Format - Snails
4) The Bees - We'll Go Walking
5) Alan Parker & Alan Hawkshaw - Move Move Move
6) Lou Johnson - Move and Groove Together
7) London Fog & The Continentals - Easy Mover (featuring Brenda Lee Jones)
8) Death Ships - Sarah
9) Belle & Sebastian - Beautiful
10) Guillemots - My Chosen One Live on the World Cafe
11) Sam Roberts - The Gate
12) M. Ward - Chinese Translation
13) Kathryn Williams - In a Broken Dream
14) Irma Thomas - Anyone Who Knows What Love Is
15) India.Arie - The Heart of the Matter
16) Sheryl Crow - You Can Close Your Eyes
17) Devotchka - Til the End of Time
18) More Animals of the Arctic - Tom's Death
19) Tanya Tucker - Would You Lay with Me (in a Field of Stone)
20) Greg Laswell - Sing, Theresa Says
21) Leo Kottke - The Credits: Out-Takes from Terry's Movie
22) Cassettes Won't Listen - The Sidewalk Cruise

2006-07-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

A mix borne of a three hour phone conversation...
1) Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - It'll All Work Out
2) Bonnie Raitt - One Belief Away
3) The Weepies - Gotta Have You on World Cafe
4) Antony & the Johnsons - Frankenstein
5) Warren Zevon - Back in the High Life Again
6) Lyle Lovett - If I Needed You
7) Townes Van Zandt - Flyin' Shoes
8) Josh Ritter - In the Dark on World Cafe
9) The Little Willies - No Place to Fall
10) Jon Brion - Strings That Tie to You
11) Little Willie John - Need Your Love So Bad
12) Doris Troy - Just One Look
13) Chaka Khan - Love Me Still
14) Corinne Bailey Rae - Like a Star on KCRW
15) Jose Gonzales - Heartbeats video
16) Eva Cassidy - Time After Time
17) Ron Sexsmith - Gold in Them Hills
18) Van Morrison - Sweet Thing
19) Bob Dylan - Fourth Time Around
20) Billy Joel - Vienna
21) Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You into the Dark live at Bonnaroo 2006
22) Nina Simone - I Shall Be Released

2006-07-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

Two Discs for a ... well, a Two Day Weekend

Disc One
1) Adem - One in a Million
2) The Redwalls - Home
3) Bob Dylan - Hard Time in New York Town
4) Rod Stewart - Mama You Been on My Mind
5) Jackson Browne - Jamaica Say You Will
6) The Mountain Goats - Love Love Love
7) Peter & Gordon - A World Without Love
8) Andy Kim - Baby, I Love You
9) Lovin' Spoonful - Darling Be Home Soon
10) Manfred Mann - The Mighty Quinn
11) Blues Image - Ride Captain Ride Hysterical cover performed by the United States Navy Band
12) Rod Stewart & The Small Faces - Stay with Me
13) Loudon Wainwright III - Ingenue
14) Richard Thompson - Bee's Wing
15) Bonnie Raitt - I Ain't Blue
16) Beth Waters - Blue and White
17) Clem Snide - Moment in the Sun
18) Porcupine Tree - Lazarus
19) Pilate - Melt into the Walls
20) The Shore - Take What's Mine
21) Slow Runner - Break Your Mama's Back
22) Josh Ritter - In the Dark Live from the World Cafe

Disc Two
1) Bruce Hornsby - Set in Motion
2) Hot Hot Heat - Middle of Nowhere
3) Daniel Lanois - O Marie
4) Milosh - Couldn't Sleep
5) Mofro - Blackwater
6) Joni Mitchell - You Turn Me On I'm a Radio
7) The Foxymorons - Harvard Hands
8) Michael Zapruder - Little Ship Bluebell
9) The Long Winters - Pushover
10) Ben Kweller - Penny on the Track
11) Randy Coleman - Hey God
12) Jason Anderson - O, Jac!
13) Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band - I Got Love
14) Buddy Miles - Them Changes
15) Jackie Greene - So Hard to Find My Way
16) Tom Rush - Pallet on the Floor
17) Piers Faccini - Picture of You
18) Phil Ochs - When I'm Gone
19) Imogen Heap - Hallelujah Collect Them All!
20) Townes Van Zandt - You Are Not Needed Now

2006-07-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

Just because every time I hear it, I very nearly cry...

Josh Ritter - Here at the Right Time
Josh Ritter - Here at the Right Time (Live on NPR)

2006-07-12T21:18:00.000-07:00

Attention Nine to Fivers!

Looking to waste time at that crummy desk job you took purely for their awesome dental coverage? Perhaps your company has blocked Facebook, Friendster, MySpace, Hi5, and gosh, even Google!?

Well, look no further than Pandora. I love her box, her music box that is. This little tool allowed me to set up an online radio station focused on my favorite artists and songs. It's based on the Music Genome Project, a veritable 400 point inspection for each song to ensure the similarities really are there (I've been told this is because 399 points simply aren't enough to decipher between Bob and Jakob Dylan). And I'll say this. It certainly made my day go more quickly than any day before, and I have a feeling it will soon be the next site blocked at work. Ah well, I'll enjoy crazy Pandora while her box continues to spew mellifluous sonority.

Thank you to Pieter and Blake for bringing Pandora to my attention and saving my first week back at work.

2006-07-12T20:51:00.000-07:00

Stephen Thomas Erlewine at AllMusic posted this little article about Sufjan Stevens.

Ever since he first entered my life in 2003, I wondered why I was the only one who wasn't flipping out about Mr. Stevens' music. I wondered what my problem was. Why were my friends and roommates tripping over themselves to see one of the seemingly endless string of his shows last summer? Why did everyone and their sister think the Fisher-Price orchestrations on "...Illinoise" were ubiquitously "amazing." I'm amazed so many people were able to use the exactly same word so many times completely oblivious to one another.

I'm just happy that I finally found an article to link to that could better express my confusion with the Sufjantastical craziness. Yes, a while back, I drew links to Sufjan's music as it was available through my friend Mike's page. I'll not lie: I was going for the fast, cheap blast of hits to this ol' blog. I won't say anything more. Please read.

Ok, one more thing, a friend of mine came to New York spouting off about the latest music craze to hit Chicago since Kanye got caught in someone's closet or since R Kelly made five beats a day for three summers. Yes, it was Sufjan. And when asked to describe Mr. Stevens' music, he could think of only one word: Sufjanesque. He went so far as to correct himself... "very Sufjanesque."

If I wasn't confused prior to, said friend certainly cemented this little blogger's confusion.

2006-07-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

This song's been stuck in my head all day. Love this stuff.

2006-07-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

New Music for a Nice Weekend

I spent Friday on the set of a new movie starring Vanessa Williams and Michael Boatman. I spent much of today walking around Central Park, running around Central Park, and cooling off around Central Park. It's a gorgeous day for some new music, and here's what I could come up with:

1) Belong – All Equal Now mp3
A sonic sweep to cleanse the palate.

2) Feist – Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming mp3
Christmas in July never sounded better.

3) Rachael Cantu – Hear My Laughter mp3
Hers is an angsty, yet very familiar sounding voice. It’s an oddly spellbinding song.

4) Page France – Chariot mp3
The drive of this song is the snare of Nau’s voice. “We will become a happy ending.”

5) Toots & The Maytals – Pressure Drop mp3
This is not the first time I’ve encountered this song, but it has certainly been the best. This is perfect for a summer toke, um talk in the park. The intensity of Toots’ voice is what I love most about his uncomplicated reggae.

6) Bishop Allen – The Same Fire mp3
I feel like a drive on the PCH. “I will burn through it all unharmed / for you / you’re so beautiful / Goddamn, you’re so beautiful.”

7) Pete Yorn – The Man (featuring Natalie Maines) mp3
What works here is the proof that when reigned into the role of backing vocal, this controversial chick can sound really good. I love this song’s lyrics.

8) Margie Joseph – It’s Growing mp3
This is Saturday’s contribution to the mix. It just feels like a soft cotton Saturday, complete with a put-your-feet-up rhythm section and a King-esque wailing guitar.

9) Arthur Conley – Rome (Wasn’t Built in a Day) mp3
Horns alone could’ve expressed this song’s “hold on, woman! Give me time!” message. Conley’s more famous for his homage song “Sweet Soul Music,” but it’s clear he didn’t need to pay tribute to the greats for he was great himself.

10) Alexi Murdoch – Breathe mp3
I attended a show Nic Harcourt presented at the CMJ Festival in the fall of ’04 when Mr. Murdoch was riding out the last ounces of his “Orange Sky” fame, and I remember writing down the lyrics to this song, “and the answer that you’re seeking… drives you further to confusion as you lose your sense of ground.” I then drew an arrow to “Billy Joel – Vienna,” which will, for my life, remain a song with an almost mantra quality. “Slow down, you crazy child” might as well be followed with, “breathe.”

11) The Long Winters – Stupid mp3
“New York will hum / the electric car has come.”

12) Jurassic 5 – Baby Please mp3
Is it possible that I’m outgrowing my love of Cut Chemist and the J5 boys? This is the closest I've come to a song I would say I like from their latest, and the sad fact is I think I simply enjoy the Al Green sample.

13) Justin Timberlake – Sexy Back mp3
It’s time.

14) Certainly, Sir – Red mp3
“Can’t get you out of my head…” Certainly, Sir!

15) Lily Allen – Littlest Things mp3
A late addition, I was inspired to include this track from wee English lass Lily Allen last night. Up late with a friend, hashing out what is quickly appearing to be the end of a big and important relationship with her boyfriend and the beginning of another big and important relationship with herself, we concluded the reminiscing is often the hardest part.

16) Nelly Furtado – All Good Things (featuring Chris Martin) mp3
Ever since Coldplay hit the Zeitgeist, it’s impossible for Chris Martin to do anything and let it to go unnoticed. Even songs his record label hope to sweep under their plush carpets somehow leak. It’s weird they wouldn’t allow this relatively harmless ditty to see the light.

17) Leo Kottke – Girl from the North Country mp3
I’ve all but become obsessed with Mr. Kottke’s music since seeing Days of Heaven.

18) David Ford – State of the Union mp3
A SXSW discovery for Columbia Records, this bloke from Sussex has shot his pen full of poison.

19) Wilco – No Poetry mp3
I had never heard this.

20) Johnny Cash – If You Could Read My Mind Love mp3
My favorite Gordon Lightfoot song as sung by my favorite man, may he rest in peace.

2006-07-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th! Enjoy the holiday!

G Love & Jack Johnson - Holiday / Who Do You Love?

2006-07-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

I've spent much of this weekend digging around on the internet for things I love. I found this clip, and it's not in the best shape, but it's one I think a lot of people would skip over if they saw all the other Stevie Wonder clips out there. I'd just had a coversation with my Uncle Larry about Bobby Darin this weekend, and I found this clip from a January 22, 1969 taping of The Kraft Music Hall Presents: The Sounds of the Sixties. This Tim Hardin song has been with me a long time. It's one of my favorites.

If you have time, you should also check out Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street, and if you have a lot of time, you should watch this twenty minute Ike and Tina Turner special. She really shows her originality, her undying need to perform. It's really powerful.

2006-07-03T00:21:00.000-07:00

1) The Stooges - Gimme Danger mp3
2) Ted Leo - First to Finish & Last to Start (demo) mp3
3) The Long Winters - Ultimatum mp3
4) Rilo Kiley - With Arms Outstretched mp3
5) Wilco - I Shall Be Released mp3
6) Gram Parsons - In My Hour of Darkness mp3
7) Tim Buckley - Song to the Siren mp3
8) Jeff Buckley - Morning Theft mp3
9) Elizabeth Cotten - Washington Blues mp3
10) Ani DiFranco - You Had Time mp3
11) Sea Wolf - Black Dirt mp3
12) Matt Bauer & Jolie Holland - Carve It Out mp3
13) Joan Osborne - Spooky (live at KBCO) mp3
14) Regina Spektor - Field Below mp3
15) Roseanne & Johnny Cash - September When It Comes mp3
16) Johnny Cash - I See a Darkness mp3
17) Hockey Night - Renegades mp3
18) Leonard Cohen - Suzanne mp3
19) Keren Ann - Chelsea Hotel mp3
20) Sly & The Family Stone - Loose Booty mp3

2006-06-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

Air Traffic

Check out this band recently signed to EMI. I'm hoping for good things from these 20-year-olds from Bournemouth, England.

2006-06-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

Even Better at the End of June

My intention was to make a Country Time Lemonade, soft and slow, sweet and summery, sundown Sunday compilation for my week at home. Well, Sunday was gorgeous, and here's what we listened to:

1) Nina Simone - I Shall Be Released
2) Leo Kottke & Doc Watson - The Last Steam Engine Train (from a live recording on A Prairie Home Companion)
3) Loose Fur - The Ruling Class
4) Johnny Cash - The City of New Orleans
5) Eva Cassidy - Time After Time
6) Matt Nathanson - Romeo & Juliet
7) Johnny Cash & Fiona Apple - Father & Son
8) The Beatles - When I'm Sixty Four
9) Old 97's - In the Satellite Rides a Star
10) Redbird - You Are the Everything
11) Hem - South Central Rain
12) Richard Julian - Love of Mine
13) Josh Ritter - The Bad Actress
14) Townes Van Zandt - Flyin' Shoes
15) KT Tunstall - Black Horse & The Cherry Tree (Live @ VH1.com)
16) Jackie Wilson - Please Tell Me Why
17) Otis Redding - I've Been Loving You Too Long
18) Lightinin' Hopkins - Found My Baby Crying
19) Muddy Waters - Walking Blues
20) Buddy Guy - Try to Quit You Baby
21) Ray LaMontagne - Trouble
22) Josh Ritter - Good Man

2006-06-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

Thom Yorke - Black Swan

2006-06-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

Awesome April Music

The compiling of songs for this mix began way back in April and has extended into June. You can see that I began by trying to stick only to new releases, relatively speaking, but as usual, I ended up fleshing it out by throwing in a bunch of discoveries and rediscoveries. I hope you like it.

1) Track a Tiger - Sound as Ever song
2) Ian Love - The Only Night song
3) The Eighteenth Day of May - Sir Casey Jones official site
4) Jolie Holland - Springtime Can Kill You song
5) Gnarls Barkley - Crazy song
6) Katharine Whalen - You Who official site
7) The Mountain Goats – Fall of the Star High School Running Back
8) Drive By Truckers – Sounds Better in the Song
9) Fleetwood Mac - Beautiful Child lyrics
10) Lyle Lovett – Her First Mistake
11) Julie Miller – All My Tears bio
12) Blur – Tender song
13) Lee Dorsey – Get Out of My Life, Woman info
14) John Prine – Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You into Heaven Anymore
15) The Band – The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
16) Percy Sledge – Out of Left Field
17) Smokey Robinson & the Miracles – I Second That Emotion
18) Bonnie “Prince” Billy – I See a Darkness song
19) Beck – Guess I’m Doing Fine live cut from VH1
20) Sufjan Stevens - Adlai Stevenson
21) Jon Brion - Creep (Live at Amoeba Records) video song

2006-06-02T18:35:00.000-07:00

Music for a Rough Day

This mix has been a month or so in the making, but it's finally time, I think, to post it. Since finishing with school, losing the family I'd help to cultivate over the past couple years, I've been down. This is just some of the music I've listened to since finishing. And I might as well explain that I wanted to hear these songs as sung by their writers, even though someone else may have had more success singing the song.

1) Warren Zevon - Reconsider Me
2) Harry Nilsson - Gotta Get Up
3) Leon Russell - A Song for You
4) Billy Joel - Vienna
5) Fred Neil - Everybody's Talkin'
6) Elton John - Talking Old Soldiers
7) Townes Van Zandt - No Place to Fall
8) John Prine - Illegal Smile
9) Leonard Cohen - The Stranger Song
10) Jimmy Cliff - Many Rivers to Cross
11) Randy Newman - Real Emotional Girll
12) Paul Simon - American Tune
13) Wilco - Reservations
14) Josh Ritter - Here at the Right Time
15) Neil Young - Down by the River
16) Loudon Wainwright III - New Paint
17) Kris Kristofferson - Help Me Make It Through the Night
18) Jackson Browne & Warren Zevon - Hasten Down the Wind

So not all sad and lonely, but you can see where I was going.

2006-05-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, I posted a bit on the music used in the teaser trailer for Marie-Antoinette which made its debut to huge boos at Cannes. Thank you Blake for this review of the movie and the boos.

2006-05-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

This mix is dedicated in part to my brother Ben, who this weekend is graduating from college.

1) Merry Clayton - Yes
2) Howard Jones - Everlasting Love
3) Howard Jones - No One is to Blame
4) Howard Jones - Things Can Only Get Better
5) Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride
6) Boy Meets Girl - Waiting for a Star to Fall
7) Paul Young - I Want to Know What Love Is
8) Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes
9) Eric Carmen - Make Me Lose Control
10) The Raspberries - Go All the Way
11) Badfinger - No Matter What
12) Badfinger - Baby Blue
13) Badfinger - Day After Day
14) Corey Hart - Never Surrender
15) Corey Hart - I Wear My Sunglasses at Night
16) Animotion - Room to Move
17) Animotion - Obsession
18) Go West - King of Wishful Thinking
19) Go West - Faithful
This happens to me all the time. I find my musical fixes are based on seasonal needs. That is, with weather changes, as my mind shifts gears, my musical taste morphs. This time last year, I was really getting into one of the songs in this mix, Howard Jones' "No One is to Blame." Here it is, spring again, and my HoJo fix grows. The best way to describe this week's collection of songs is as more of a historical list than a beginning to end cohesive playlist.

After Dirty Dancing alone in my shoebox apartment for much of last week, I watched Dirty Dancing Live in Concert, a live performance of the music from the film which toured in 1988, and I found myself on the edge of my couch. The footage was so dated, so silly, and it showed what a phenomenon D Squared had become in this country.

I vividly remember the car trips to Wichita, Kansas that year with my brother, the perpetual backseat DJ, asking dad to "Weewind! 'Hungwy Eyes!'"

You see, my chubby, chubby, little brother was under the impression that Eric Carmen's massively successful single "Hungry Eyes," was about a man obessesed with sweets, as he was; a chocoholic from a young age, my brother'd stuff any sugary concoction into his ruddy cheeks with sweeping fistfuls, his babyfat arms like crescents blithely swinging through bags of Hershey's Kisses or Nestle Tollhouse Morsels.

I've tangented from the oh so wonderful Dirty Dancing Live in Concert. In it, Mr. Carmen, ever the diva, fits the role well. It's clear he's looking past the fact he is a burnt out former frontman for a respected pack of rockers, The Raspberries. It's clear he's upset he'll be known as much for crafting a song from a movie as he would one that could stand on its own, like his other massive solo hit, "All By Myself." What isn't clear is why he looks like a bloated, valium-addicted, Long Island housewife. For some reason, he opted for blown out bottle blond lion's mane, smoky eye shadow, burgundy blush, and the tiger print gold lame' evening jacket. His blanched tapered jeans, black leotard, skinny suspenders, and what look like white lace-up Keds, all fitting about two sizes too small, make him look more like Streisand than Springsteen.

His look so startled me that I found myself researching the man as only I can. I learned about his breaking into music with his Mentor, Ohio buddies, helming the steering wheel on the crash-friendly Raspberries. His move to California to become one of the early eighties best songwriters (mostly known for his soundtrack help; see Footloose and Dirty Dancing).

And then I expanded, looking for sounds that immitated Carmen, contemporaries, finding the following music suited a certain nostalgia I had for heavily produced songs of the latter day new wave saints. Badfinger made its way in becoming one of the Raspberries major chart competitors. Badfinger was the only successful band to come out of the Apple Records debaucle them Beatles put together.

As for Boy Meets Girl, let's just say, they rule. Without them, there'd be no Whitney Houston. That's right. No Whitney. And without "Waiting for a Star to Fall" there'd be no title sequence to Three Men and a Little Lady, at least not one I'd remember.

Animotion was fronted in its final days by Cynthia Rhodes, the blonde dancer/actress in Double D who played Penny Johnson, the would be dancer extraordinaire if not for her fated run-in with Robbie "I Get My Thing Stuck in Other Things" Gould. Oh yeah, and she's Mrs. Richard Marx. Chicagoans just call her Mrs. Dick Marx.

This mix was solidified when, while shaving at school, we in the men's lounge had an impromptu dance party to "Never Surrender" complete with fist pumping and towel snaps. My Quebecois amigo, Conrad, confirmed that Corey Hart, Canada's pride and joy, now lives in the Bahamas with his wife and kids. Rough life you Canadians lead.

Oh yeah, and there's Matthew Wilder AKA Matthew Weiner, the one time consumate ladies' man and now he who lays claim to unearthing the talent of No Doubt. Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
We all know.

For 100 points and the game, what two films mentioned here are related by director? What is his name? For the Big Ben Jammin' bonus point: How did he die?

2006-05-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

A rare move for me, I'm posting this mix before I've had a chance to listen to it from beginning to end. I had to remove Bill Withers' cover of "Let It Be" due to length constraints, but this mix is relatively representative of the kind of time I've been having lately. It's all over the place.

1) James Taylor - Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip on Me
2) The Hollies - Jesus Was a Crossmaker
3) Jimmy Castor Bunch - It's Just Begun
4) Mickey & Sylvia - Love is Strange
5) Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness
6) John Prine - Angel from Montgomery
7) Neil Young & The Band - Helpless (Live at the Last Waltz)
8) Townes Van Zandt - My Proud Mountains
9) Kathleen Edwards - Away
10) Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - It'll All Work Out
11) Hem - Night Like a River
12) Low - Nowhere Man
13) Josh Ritter - Kathleen
14) Josh Ritter - Snow is Gone
15) The Marshall Tucker Band - Can't You See
16) I Nine - Same in Any Language
17) Jon Brion - Strings That Tie to You (It's in there. Trust me.)
18) Leonard Cohen - Sisters of Mercy
19) Solomon Burke - Cry to Me
20) Rachael Yamagata - Jesus Was a Crossmaker
21) Elton John - Ballad of a Well-Known Gun

I suppose it's impossible to miss that my mixes take their inspiration from films, friends, and funk (Don't ask about that last one).

This week, I'd like to thank two pretty terrible movies: Elizabethtown and Dirty Dancing. Don't get me wrong: I love D Squared. I love it only for its soundtrack and imagery. Elizabethtown's only redeeming quality is the ten or so seconds of the lush landscape of the heartland which steal away from the over-indulgent amount of screen time given to the face of Mr. Orlando Bloom, a Kentucky native, I believe. Oh that, and the twelve dozen or so "Dad Rock" songs Cameron Crowe manages to elbow into each of his films. I'm a sucker for dad rock, and this film which tries to be about fathers and sons - apparently, among other things - delves deep into many of the dad rock trappings: Tom Petty, early Elton John, and of course The Concretes.

I'm kidding, of course, but then again, so is this movie. Right? This was just some silly inside joke on the part of Crowe and his cronies as if to say, "Watch this.... No really! Ha, ha! We're going to convince you guys this is actually our second sub-par follow-up to Almost Famous, and you're going to buy tickets. And the movie will blow chunks, and then we'll all sit around, drinking Ale 8 One, and have a hard, heartful laugh." I'm still waitin' on the beverage, Crowe. You owe me.

As for my friends: Erin and Mike are to thank for a few of these selections. Both are a constant source of amusement. Erin seems to think that Mandy Moore and I have similar taste in music. Admittedly, I check the iTunes "Celebrity Playlists" every Tuesday. I was impressed with Miss Moore's selections. She seems to be rather level-headed lately, considering.... As for Michael, some people just have good taste. Monsieur Tres Simple is one such person. Merci, Mike.

Until next time, a bien tot.

2006-05-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

Stream Neil Young's new album, "Living with War."

2006-05-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Sufjan Stevens

I've culled some hard-to-find tracks of Mr. Stevens from Mike's blog. His does with one what I try to do with two.

Enjoy. And thanks, Mike.

Sufjan Stevens - Dear Mr. Supercomputer
Sufjan Stevens - The Star-Spangled Banner (Live at the Bluebird Theatre)
Sufjan Stevens - Adlai Stevenson
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago (Acoustic)
Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche
Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day

2006-04-20T05:35:00.000-07:00

This mix is simply entitled "Yeah," in my iTunes. I think it was given that name to match up with my sort of downtrodden state this weekend. Most of these songs are middle emotion, midtempo; they've hit me in the way I feel certain circumstances in my life have been hitting lately, but certainly they've struck my so-called metaphysical chords quite harmoniously.

Apologies to those of you reading this to find new music as some of the songs appear on old mixes found here. This week, I was definitely going for music to match a mental state. Hopefully, you understand.

1) The Little Willies - No Place to Fall
2) Jeff Tweedy - Be Not So Fearful
3) Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
4) Elton John - Come Down in Time
5) Sufjan Stevens - Chicago (Acoustic)
6) Chaka Khan - Love Me Still
7) The Rolling Stones - I Got the Blues
8) Van Morrison - Beside You
9) The Beatles - Cry Baby Cry
10) Corinne Bailey Rae - Like a Star
11) Bill Withers - Can We Pretend
12) Carla Bruni - Quelqu'un Ma Dit
13) The Weepies - Gotta Have You
14) Rosie Thomas - Since You've Been Around
15) Lyle Lovett - If I Needed You
16) Townes Van Zandt - Flyin' Shoes
17) Bill Withers - Stories
18) Luz Casal & Carlos Nunez - Negra Sombra
19) Bill Fay - Be Not So Fearful
20) Townes Van Zandt - High, Low, and In Between

2006-04-17T01:01:00.000-07:00

The Weepies, not The Weebles, have stolen much of this weekend from me, and I'd like it back. It's either that, or I am going to have them steal your week. You may resist, but this song's infectious chorus will stick to you like gum to a shoe's sole. That's too nice. I'll say this: it's like walking into a spider's web of harmonies - ok, ok, maybe not a web, but something that clings to everything and makes trying to do anything else futile. It's like the schadenfreude involved in the inexplicable joy of watching someone attempt to parallel park a six foot long car in four feet of space. But it's not malicious. Ok, I'm prefacing this song too much for what it is. Give it a listen and get back to me. It may follow you home like it did me - staring up at me with those eyes, that lost, sorta cute, but definitely mutty dog that it is. It's a dog. I love this song, even though it may pee on my shoes.

The Weepies - Gotta Have You
If that link doesn't work, you can view my plagiarism and get the song here.

Oh, yeah, and Deb Talan and Steve Tannen, the pair who make up said Weepies, have the sweetest story.

2006-04-16T15:41:00.000-07:00

The Brooklyn Vegan has posted a New York Summer Concert Preview. It's going to be a good summer!

Oh, and according to Pollstar, Wilco's playing in Prospect Park on July 13th.

So there! I've wanted to see Wilco for about five years now, and I am finally going to be able to see them, I'll be able to afford this show, and I'll be outside in the park drunk with friends. What more could a guy ask for? A double kick drum by The Landing would perhaps be nice. That's right, Chicago - The Landing.

2006-04-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

Here are two videos of my favorite comedian, Aziz Ansari. The first one is from a show I saw in February of '05. The second is Aziz's contributions to The Mix Tape for this week. Also, check out Eugene Mirman. And Happy Easter.... totally unrelated, I know.

2006-04-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

The Best New Album of 2006 (Thus Far)

I can't believe I haven't posted anything about Josh Ritter's new album. "The Animal Years" is at the same time grown organically and with painstaking care with its raw, sublimely picked strings, warm, full drums, and well thought out, wonderfully crafted, smart, biting lyrics. I've connected to his words more so than I have any other artist in recent years. And with the e-card above, you can listen to the entire album online for free!

The first time I heard Josh Ritter, I had just ended a relatively passionate relationship which managed to waiver on being the most honest and dishonest encounter I have ever been party to. Honest in all the flushes and rushes being in love can do to two people. We'd spend hours together just to be together. We'd spend all our money to be able to do so. It was dishonest in that when we were apart, the relationship delved into a lie so absurd I will spend my life trying to understand it. I suffered a series of whacks to my esteem: backhandedness, cheating, lying, and pure abuse. I'd returned from California where she was living, and for reasons I won't go into now, we'd both been watching HBO's "Six Feet Under" somewhat incessantly over those ten days. The first episode after our break-up ended with "Come and Find Me" by Mr. Ritter accompanying the credits. I immediately went out and found all the Josh Ritter I could, and became somewhat obsessed for the latter part of my senior year of college. His music seemed somehow to mend the pain she'd caused in all her lies. It recreated in me the desire to love, to find it again, if not for a moment.

The summer after college, I moved on from Josh Ritter to Damien Rice, Jeff Black, and Patrick Park, and that fall, I moved to London where as I continued to love Mr. Ritter's increasingly potent songs, I found out that while an Idaho native, thanks to major support from Glen Hansard and his band The Frames, Mr. Ritter'd gained a lot of leg in Ireland - where I would move next. Just prior to my arrival, he announced a Valentine's Day concert. My very close friend and roommate Blake and I leapt with excitement. We went. It was a wonderfully scattered show, and the Irish truly love him, especially, the rotund gentleman who'd heckle, "Keep playin', John."

Why I am telling you all this, I have no idea - just to lay out my coming to find the man who asked that we "come and find" him. So, do so now. It's never been a better opportunity.

2006-04-04T19:03:00.000-07:00

I am in the midst of watching Be Here to Love Me for the fourth time since Sunday. This movie, this music, this man have engulfed me, part or whole in a big way. First time director Margaret Brown has crafted the best movie I have seen since The Ballad of Jack & Rose with a plethora of old footage, cool new shots of Texas roadsides, and hundreds of songs worthy of being called "perfect." Among Townes' more popular songs are "If I Needed You" and "Pancho and Lefty."

His songs tell the stories life handed him. They aren't necessarily big, they usually aren't beautiful, and they definitely aren't popular, but man, they become more than the sum of their parts - sorry to use a cliche.

What has stung me is his notion that in order to succeed he needed to abandon everyone and everything in his life - wives, kids, friends, jobs, homes, everything. But what can you expect from a man whose first serious song was "Waiting Around to Die." I'm passing a new milestone on my life's road, and with this one, I'm at a similar crossroad. I could very easily blow everything off, forget about everybody else and just take off and do it for myself, but I think I'm choosing to do it completely differently.

I'm going to pursue this artist's life, I'll be poor, down and out, malnourished, unkempt, as long as it means I get to do what I want. Wish me luck. Check out this movie. Check out "Marie," "Tecumseh Valley," and "Dead Flowers" a cover of The Rolling Stones' song made famous in The Big Lebowski.

Oh, and Margaret Brown's interview on WFMU is worth a listen if you have oodles of time or desire.

2006-03-30T19:28:00.000-08:00

3 Discoveries for This Week

Track a Tiger - Sound as Ever
Ian Love - The Only Night
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy

Thanks to Mike for the third one. Cee-lo's back with DM in tow!

2006-03-26T18:58:00.000-08:00

I'm on a major Bill Withers kick right now.

1) Donny Hathaway - A Song for You
2) Bill Withers - Let Me in Your Life
3) Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly
4) Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me
5) Lauryn Hill & D'Angelo - Nothing Even Matters
6) Bill Withers - Can We Pretend
7) Prince - Starfish & Coffee
8) Neil Young - Don't Let It Bring You Down
9) Bill Withers - Use Me
10) Jungle Brothers - I'm Gonna Do You
11) A Tribe Called Quest - I Left My Wallet in El Segundo
12) William Bell - Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
13) Neil Young - The Painter
14) Dooley Wilson - As Time Goes By
15) Bob Marley - Turn Your Lights Down Low
16) Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale
17) Joni Mitchell - California
18) Billy Joel - Vienna
19) Bill Withers - Stories
20) Bob Dylan - My Back Pages

2006-02-26T12:52:00.000-08:00

Selections from Grey's Anatomy - Season Two

Pardon me while I exude what's left of my Grey's Anatomy load.

After scouring all that I care to scour of Alexandra Patsavas' selections from season two, I have found these nineteen tracks to best suit my recent mood. I won't bore you with any links, photos, etc. I just ask that you consider listening to a couple 30 second clips on iTunes, or Googling these bands. I've really enjoyed each of these tracks this week, a week - for me anyway - filled with music.

1) Slow Runner - Break Your Mama's Back
2) Monotypes - Dead Streets
3) Ben Lee - Catch My Disease
4) Anya Marina - Miss Halfway
5) Mark McAdam - Too Hard
6) Inara George - Fools in Love
7) Rosie Thomas - It Don't Matter to the Sun
8) Foy Vance - Homebird
9) Kate Earl - Someone to Love
10) Kendall Payne - Scratch
11) Corinne Bailey Rae - Like a Star
12) Jim Noir - I Me You
13) Moonbabies - War on Sound
14) Gemma Hayes - Two Step
15) The Headlights - Everybody Needs a Fence to Lean On
16) Keren Ann - Not Going Anywhere
17) Joe Purdy - Far Away Blues
18) Tegan and Sara - Not Tonight
19) Merrick - Infinity

A curmudgeonly old woman who once babysat me while my parents were out of town said, "Never trust a Greek." Ms. Patsavas and a few other Greek-Americans I'm more closely associated with here in New York are beginning to break my Greek-weary spell. So, to those of you untrustworthy, miserly, moody, greasy Greeks out there who read this meek web log, please thank Ms. Alexandra Patsavas in your bedtime prayers for helping me to begin trusting Greeks again. And pardon the "greasy" tag; it was admittedly a low blow. Being of German and Irish descent, there was more than one summer's day I was nicknamed "the sweater."

Still to come... a review of a musical review starring yours truly.

2006-02-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

Three Free Downloads

I found these today when checking out the music used in season two of Grey's Anatomy. I don't even have TV, and yet I'm checking out TV show soundtracks.

Regardless, these three songs are free for you to download. The first two are notable because they're quite good. The third is notable because one of my classmates and good friends, Robyn, was a Wienermobile Girl for an entire year after college, and Grey's Anatomy is one of her favorite shows, odd coincidences for odd February afternoons.

Slow Runner - Break Your Momma's Back
Monotypes - Dead Streets (you may have to follow the "music" link to download this one)
Mike Tarantino - Wienermobile Girl

Also, for whatever reason, I found it important to note that Salon.com's Audiofile is an awesome place for some free music. They offer everything from James Taylor to Cat Power.

2006-02-19T06:23:00.000-08:00

Off with Their Heads!

The tease is out on the new film from Sophia Coppola, and apparently the French aren't all mad. Michèle Lorin, the president of the Marie-Antoinette Association in France, seems to think come this fall we'll take to the streets, crazed with "Marie-Antoinette mania." And thanks for that lovely image, Michèle. I'm hoping heads will roll.

London's The Independent threw together a little piece on it. You can read it in its entirety here.

The teaser trailer begins with 18th Century men on 18th Century horses in 18th Century France, and what to my wondering ears should sound, but the lovely clanging of four little 20th Century English musicians, known most commonly as Manchester's own New Order. The teaser plays out like a beautifully crafted Duran Duran video from 1986, perhaps 1987, and Kirsten Dunst looks, say it with me - ah, ah, ah, en Français - incredible, but something about this pairing strikes me: it was ok when Rob Reiner used The Great American Songbook to express love as he did in When Harry Met Sally... (and I mean, c'mon let's face it. He stole the idea from Woody Allen, right? The whole movie is just a slightly sunnier W.A. movie), but is it ok to do the reverse, use modern music to score a period piece cum Vangelis? Discuss.

2006-02-14T12:55:00.000-08:00

I began responding to Martin's comment on the 125 Songs Before Pearl Jam, and it turned into this:

Paul Carrack? Allmusic.com calls him "pop music's ultimate journeyman," saying "his finest work often came at the expense of his own identity as a performer."

I agree, this Englishman first came into prominence in the heat of late 70s prog-rock with the band Ace. Their wonderfully cured song "How Long" has helped me through more than one lonely night.

It was his solo song "Don't Shed a Tear" I remember loving most as a scabby-kneed tike.

However, I remember Mike & the Mechanics as a band who produced seemingly flawless pop music with a hint of message. "The Living Years" and "All I Need is a Miracle" were both on heavy rotation around the Wastler household in the middle 80s.

And yet, his work for the band Squeeze is what I think he's most often recognized for thanks to the Ben Stiller-helmed flick Reality Bites, at a time when Carrack had reconnected with the band to rerecord their biggest hit (at least with him at the wheel. I also like "Black Coffee in Bed"), "Tempted."

That being said, there's something in his voice that's both saccharine and earnest. It's as put-on as Elvis Costello, and it's as blue-eyed soul as Daryl Hall. And you can't go wrong with either of those.

Ok, so perhaps you can. "You Make My Dreams Come True" still pangs a sharp pain in the heel of my velcroed Reeboks every time I imagine his acid-washed jean dance. That's what it was: a Hall-a-palooza of tapered-jean tawdriness.

As for the Flaming Lips, you're right about their post Ten status. And like I said, there are several post Ten songs, but none ventures into my high school years when - let's face it - music snobbery begins to take shape.

I was attempting to find the purest music to represent myself after having read some other bloggers' posts about their first loves, musically speaking, and feeling their selections were a bit wonky.

Most appeared to be filled with the pretensions of a post-Pearl Jam/post-Nirvana/post-Soul Garden/post-STP/post-whatever grunge band you first connected with viewpoint.

In other words, I felt these people weren't revisiting themselves as they were before the plaid, before the butt-cuts, before the hiking boots, black jeans, and dirty caps. They were allowing all these things - and more - to inform their decisions. I am totally opposed to this. It's as though music's influence on the twenty-something's life began in 1995. I know Ten was released in 1991, and that's when I received it, but I wasn't really weened off my taste for heavy duty pop music until, well, I'm still not off it, clearly. Point is, high school began for me in '95, and it was then that I started listening to music for more than just the armrest thumping songs to listen to in the car. I was searching for something beyond that which life offers. I was looking to enhance life.

I'm of the opinion life, that of the music-lover, began much, much earlier. One of my earliest memories is singing Springsteen and Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson and the Pointer Sisters while staying with my extended family - my parents out frolicking, attempting to enjoy the last few available years of youthful exuberation, and probably conceiving my brother - I hope no one is offended by that image.

I remember JT, MJ, Billy Joel, and Whitney Houston overtaking our roadtrips to Kansas City and Colorado. I very vividly recall the cassette tape travel kit strewn about the back seat of my dad's Porsche filled with summertime favorites: The Diamond, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Jim Croce, and even The Material Girl (although pop'd never admit it).

This is when music first infused my soul, took over my body, and turned me into something bigger than I could ever be alone.

I remember breakdancing with Andy Bradshaw in my navy blue Member's Only jacket on the carpet of our basement floor while listening to Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. Royce Mitchell and I used to have a radio show in his basement on our First Sonys. He would always, always play "Rock & Roll All Night" by Kiss. I was maybe five at the time. This was music.

I watched the USA for Africa video of "We are the World" again last night (thank you, Martin). We used to have it on VHS. I wore that thing raw. James Ingram, Sheila E, and Lindsey Buckingham are still my favorite sights in the bizarre vid. Yeah, yeah, Akroyd was there, but he was still musically valid: the Blues Brothers hadn't too many years earlier broken the top 40, and he was buds with all those cats no small thanks to LA's star-heavy drug scene. That video, in all its weirdness with MJ getting special filters, hair & makeup, and what I'm sure is not the first and certainly not the last gawdy, bejeweled military costume, with the cheap-o Hanes Beefy-Tees all the other performers were forced to wear, with Bob Dylan's studied "I've lost my singing voice" immitation, and just mainly with too much Springsteen and not enough Warwick, was AWESOME! It's a special day when you can get all those personalities into one room, especially after having to sit through Dick Clark's not-so-rockin' American Music Awards.

If you have the chance, check that out. Check out Paul Carrack.

That's all the links I have time for kids. I hope you found this entry as fun to read as I did to write. Happy Valentine's Day.

2006-02-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

Lush Sounds for a Sunday

I am attempting to enter the wicked world of HTML. Buried in this entry are several free downloads from the artists themselves.

My listening patterns this week have included Hem, Over the Rhine, The Guggenheim Grotto, and - as always - Josh Ritter.

I first heard the Joseph Arthur cover of "In the Sun" on a live cut from Coldplay's appearance on Austin City Limits. At the end of their performance, Martin quipped, "This is the best song ever written in my opinion." It's a very good song, Chris, yes.

Other highlights in this mix include former roommates', Redder Records' generous free cover of Nada Surf's "Inside of Love," as performed by in-house genius/former workerbee, Ben Barnett AKA Kind of Like Spitting (say that ten times really fast) and songs from the second season of ABC's Grey's Anatomy. Music Supervisor Alexandra Patsavas should win an award. According to IMDB, she hasn't yet. Finally, I'm still rockin' Trespassers William, even though Mazzy Star did it better and a decade earlier.

1) M. Ward - Transfiguration, No. 1
2) * Hope for a Golden Summer - Hearts in Jars
3) * The Guggenheim Grotto - One for Sorrow
4) * Josh Ritter - Girl in the War
5) The Elected - I'll Be Your Man
6) Sam Winch - I Got Some Moves
7) Rosie Thomas - Since You've Been Around
8) Merrick - Infinity
9) Michael Stipe & Coldplay - In the Sun
10) * Hotel Lights - Stumblin' Home Winter Blues
11) Gillian Welch - Revelator
12) Over the Rhine - I Want You to Be My Love
13) * Kind of Like Spitting - Inside of Love
14) Trespassers William - Lie in the Sound
15) Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
16) Damien Rice - Prague
17) * hem - Carry Me Home
18) M. Ward - Transfiguration, No.2

I know, I know. Nobody's going to visit all of these links. I just had to prove it to myself that I can do this HTML thing. At least check out the ones with *highlighted songs. There you can hear what I'm talking about. Wait. You can't actually hear me talking. I should try and rephrase that, but I won't.

2006-02-07T21:04:00.000-08:00

125 Songs Before Pearl Jam

There is little order to this list, and yes, I probably broke every rule, but I hope you enjoy remembering these songs as I have.
Rather than explain why I put these songs up, perhaps, if any of them strike you, purge a memory, anything, feel free to comment.

The Captain and Tenille - Do That to Me One More Time
Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart
Atlantic Starr - Always
Peter Cetera - The Glory of Love
Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting - All for Love
Luther Vandross - Here and Now
Michael Bolton - How Am I Supposed to Live Without You
John Secada - Just Another Day
The Cars - Drive
Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt - I Don't Know Much
The Commodores - Easy
Phil Collins - Against All Odds
Spandau Ballet - True
Duran Duran - Ordinary World
Tears for Fears - Sowing the Seeds of Love
Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over
John Waite - I Ain't Missing You
Mr. Big - To Be with You
Bonnie Raitt - Not the Only One
Marc Cohn - Walking in Memphis
Bruce Hornsby - That's Just the Way It Is
Joshua Kadison - Jessie
Bad English - When I See You Smile
The Jeff Healey Band - Angel Eyes
Whitney Houston - The Greatest Love of All
TLC - Baby-Baby-Baby
Wilson Phillips - Hold On
Big Mountain - Baby, I Love Your Way
Whitesnake - Here I Go Again
Mr. Mister - Kyrie
Cutting Crew - I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight
Billy Vera & the Beaters - At This Moment
Jefferson Starship - Sara
Stevie B - Because I Love You
Lisa Loeb - Stay
The Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now
Peabo Bryson - If Ever You're in My Arms
James Ingram - I Don't Have the Heart
Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram - Somewhere Out There
Mike & the Mechanics - The Living Years
Meatloaf - I Would Do Anything for Love
Richard Marx - Now and Forever
Cyndi Lauper - True Colors
Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 You
Rod Stewart - Downtown Train
Deep Blue Something - Breakfast at Tiffany's
Nelson - Can't Live Without Your Love and Affection
Kenny Loggins - Meet Me Halfway
Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
Go West - King of Wishful Thinking
Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy
Boy Meets Girl - Waiting for a Star to Fall
George Michael - Freedom '90
Madonna - Like a Prayer
Calloway - I Wanna Be Rich
Milli Vanilli - Blame It on the Rain
Lisa Stansfield - Been Around the World
Dolly Parton - 9 to 5
A Ha - Take on Me
Escape Club - Wild Wild West
C&C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
Ready for the World - Oh Sheila
The Whispers - Rock Steady
Deniece Williams - Let's Hear It for the Boy
Kenny Loggins - Footloose
Billy Ocean - Get Out of My Dreams, Get Into My Car
Inner Circle - Sweat (A La La La Long)
Soul II Soul - Back to Life
Susan Vega - Tom's Diner
Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise
New Kids on the Block - The Right Stuff
Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
Color Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You Up
Technotronic - Pump Up the Jam
Salt & Pepper - Shoop
MC Hammer - Too Legit to Quit
Snow - Informer
Wrex N Effect - Rump Shaker
EMF - You're Unbelievable
Young MC - Bust a Move
Us3 - Cantaloop
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby
Scandal - The Warrior
Steve Perry - Oh Sherrie
Asia - Heat of the Moment
Pat Benetar - Hit Me with Your Best Shot
Jane Child - Don't Wanna Fall in Love
Dan Baird - I Love You Period
Squeeze - Tempted
Gin Blossoms - Hey Jealousy
Ray Parker, Jr. - Ghostbusters
Huey Lewis & The News - The Power of Love
Bob Seger - Old Time Rock & Roll
Terence Trent D'Arby - Wishing Well
Paul Carrack - Don't Shed a Tear
Del Amitri - Roll to Me
Glass Tiger - Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone
Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight
Janet Jackson - Alright
Ini Kamoze - Here Comes the Hotstepper
Queen - We Are the Champions
Glenn Campbell - Rhinestone Cowboy
John Cougar Mellencamp - Small Town
Blues Traveler - Runaround
The Spin Doctors - Two Princes
The Jeff Healey Band - Angel Eyes
Prince - Seven
They Might Be Giants - Birdhouse in Your Soul
Crash Test Dummies - MMM
The Flaming Lips - Tangerines
Green Jelly - The Three Little Pigs
4 Non-Blondes - What's Going On
Alannah Myles - Black Velvet
Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
Bell Biv DeVoe - Poison
R Kelly - Bump 'N Grind
Warren G - Regulate
En Vogue - Free Your Mind
Bill Conti - You're the Best
Robyn - Show Me Love
The Pointer Sisters - Pink Cadillac
Jesus Jones - Right Here Right Now
Genesis - I Can't Dance
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come on Eileen
REM - It's the End of the World as We Know It
USA for Africa - We are the World

- A few of these songs may or may not have come to my attention after receiving Pearl Jam's Ten, but if they are in the same vein as the rest of the songs that appear on this list, especially if they're songs I'm embarrassed to admit to loving at one time, I felt it necessary to include them - within reason. No song on this list, to my knowledge, was released in last half of the nineties.
- Phil Collins regrouped with bandmates Genesis to record "I Can't Dance," but it was "Against All Odds" that sold me on that short, silly Englishman with the single tuft of hair.
- Rod Stewart's in a trio with Sting and Bryan Adams on the Adams-penned "All for Love," and he sings a cover of Tom Waits' "Downtown Train."
- Linda Ronstadt sings duets with James Ingram and Aaron Neville, so I counted that as one entry for her.
- James Ingram appears in a duet and on his own.
- Prince appears twice as a songwriter with "Seven" and "Nothing Compares...."
- Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, and several others I grouped under "parental influence" appear on "We are the World." And just about everyone on this list, apart from John Popper, were a part of this song, but it meant so much to me as a little kid, I had to include it.
- But it's Paul Carrack, my favorite singer of the eighties who appears on this list three times. Any guesses as to how it's possible?

2006-02-07T18:11:00.000-08:00

Coming up...

I'm busy putting together a list of songs that were important to me - that are important to my life, my love of music, but most importantly they're a list of the songs that affected me first.

I was busy putting together a list of music for two friends at school who sit with me and sing a capella versions of the cheesiest songs we can think of from the seventies, eighties, and especially the early nineties, when suddenly I discovered all these songs had something in common. All of them were songs that in one way or another played a huge importance in my understanding of what makes songs ... tick, for lack of a better word. What is it that drew me to these songs, and why? And what happened after receiving Pearl Jam's "10" in fifth or sixth grade that changed all that?

The parameters I have set for this list are:

1) No more than 125 songs can be applied to the list.
2) No more than one song per artist.
3) No music by Michael Jackson, James Taylor, Billy Joel, The Beatles, or anything else weighted with strong parental influence may be included. In other words, these songs all have to be personal discoveries, either through channels like friends, radio mix tapes (of which I had hundreds), or the occasional memory of MTV - which we didn't have until after Pearl Jam.
4) Most importantly, this cannot include songs from the time period that I later loved and wished to have listened to at the time. It must be music that I honestly listened to at the time, whether I still do or not.

2006-01-31T00:28:00.000-08:00

February is notoriously a very difficult month at my school. To put it plainly, it's when everyone begins fighting and holding grudges and biting and kicking and scratching each other. I've ironically entitled this mix "Smile It's February" for it's mostly down-trodden atmosphere. Enjoy!

PS Note the correct usage of the word "ironically."

1) Chet Baker - I Fall in Love Too Easily
2) Marc Shaiman - I Have Dreamed (The State Dinner)
3) Israel - You Are Not Forgotten
4) Hem - The Fire Thief
5) Over the Rhine - I Want You to be My Love
6) Cat Power - Where Is My Love
7) Hank Williams - Tennessee Waltz
8) Fleetwood Mac - Songbird
9) Whiskeytown - My Hometown
10) Hotel Lights - Miles Behind Me
11) Neil Young - Are You Ready for the Country?
12) Joe Cocker & Leon Russell - Space Captain
13) Elvis Costello - What Do I Do Now?
14) Scott Walker - 30 Century Man
15) Tom Waits - Hold On
16) Antony & the Johnsons - Hope There's Someone
17) Juliet Turner & Brian Kennedy - I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You
18) Leonard Cohen - Winter Lady
19) Enescu - Romanian Rhapsody, Op. 11, No. 1

2006-01-30T20:41:00.000-08:00

For whatever reason, I entitled this mix FUNKY, yes, all caps. It should be entitled SYNTHS or something funnier like, "Yes, I live in Williamsburg." This is a classic hipster move: claim to love eighties synth r&b, and throw in a bit of pop for familiarity's sake. That being said, this mix is one I've been working on since this summer when first I heard "I Like It" by DeBarge at my favorite restaurant on the Lower East Side, The Pink Pony. So, laugh as you will, but this mix makes me shake, it makes me move, it makes me laugh, and most importantly, it makes me happy.

1) DeBarge - I Like It
2) The Whispers - Rock Steady
3) Shalamar - The Second Time Around
4) Diana Ross - Upside Down
5) Carl Carlton - She's a Bad Mama Jama
6) Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage
7) Earth, Wind, & Fire - Let's Groove
8) Prince - Controversy
9) Rick James - Give It to Me Baby
10) The Human League - Fascination
11) Shannon - Let the Music Play
12) Mtume - Juicy Fruit
13) Skyy - Call Me
14) Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
15) Leon Ware - Why I Came to California
16) Ready for the World - Oh Sheila
17) Midnight Star - No Parking on the Dancefloor

2006-01-26T23:15:00.000-08:00

Re:Discoveries

1) KT Tunstall - Other Side of the World
2) Secret Machines - Nowhere Again
3) Billy Bragg - Sexuality
4) XTC - River of Orchids
5) Erin McKeown - To the Stars
6) Left Banke - Walk Away Renee
7) Richard & Teddy Thompson - She May Call You Up Tonight
8) Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Handle with Care
9) Rilo Kiley - With Arms Outstretched
10) Rilo Kiley - Go Ahead
11) Mary Chapin Carpenter - Come On Come On
12) The Elected - I'll Be Your Man
13) Mary Gauthier - Mercy Now
14) Teddy Thompson - I Don't Want to Say Goodbye
15) Neil Diamond - Captain of a Shipwreck
16) Etta James - Someone to Watch Over Me
17) Nico - I'll Keep It With Mine
18) Bob Dylan - Talking World War III Blues

2006-01-26T23:02:00.000-08:00

Sad Sack: Music for Rejection... and/or other shoulder schlumping moments life presents
Subtitled: Dying to Live

1) Willie Nelson - He Was a Friend of Mine
2) Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues
3) Townes Van Zandt - Dead Flowers
4) Edgar Winter - Dying to Live
5) Bob Dylan - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
6) The Rolling Stones - Memory Motel
7) Whiskeytown - Sittin' Around
8) Kings of Convenience - I Don't Know What I Can Save You From
9) Josh Ritter - Come and Find Me
10) Gillian Welch - Revelator
11) Bonnie Raitt - Since I Fell for You
12) Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis - Angry All the Time
13) Neil Young - Heart of Gold
14) Rachael Yamagata - The Reason Why
15) John Prine & Bonnie Raitt - Angel from Montgomery
16) Tim Hardin - Reason to Believe
17) Nick Drake - Which Will
18) Emmylou Harris - A Love that Will Never Grow Old
19) Dave Van Ronk - He Was a Friend of Mine

2006-01-15T22:51:00.000-08:00

Rhythm, Blues, Funk, & Soul

Check this mix out. If this doesn't turn you on, well, I'm sorry. Nothing will.

1) Chuck Berry - Little Queenie
2) Doris Troy - Just One Look
3) Koko Taylor - Voodoo Woman
4) Buddy Guy & Junior Wells - Good Morning Little School Girl
5) Barrett Strong - Money, That's What I Want
6) Muddy Waters - I Just Wanna Make Love to You
7) James Brown - Cold Sweat
8) Junior Walker - Roadrunner
9) The Meters - Cissy Strut
10) Slim Harpo - Baby Scratch My Back
11) Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions - We're a Winner
12) Stevie Wonder - You Haven't Done Nothin'
13) Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself
14) Jamie Lidell - Multiply
15) Ann Peebles - I Can't Stand the Rain
16) Donny Hathaway - A Song for You
17) William Bell - Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
18) Little Willie John - I Need Your Love So Bad
19) Rickie Lee Jones - Easy Money
20) Big Bill Broonzy - The Glory of Love
21) Charles Brown - Black Night
22) Leon Russell - Tight Rope
23) Sonny Boy Williamson - Bring It On Home to Me
24) Stevie Wonder - Living for the City

2006-01-09T22:10:00.000-08:00

These are the front-runners for the first CD I'm putting together for a photo shoot I'm going to on Saturday.

Neil Young - Old Man
Bob Dylan - Queen Jane Approximately
Chuck Berry - Little Queenie
The Rolling Stones - Beast of Burden
The Beatles - For You Blue
Leonard Cohen - The Guests
Whiskeytown - Sittin' Around
Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You into the Dark
Doris Troy - Just One Look
Charles Wright - Express Yourself
Jamie Lidell - Multiply
Van Morrison - It's All Over Now Baby Blue
Junio Walker & The All Stars - Roadrunner
James Brown - Cold Sweat
The Meters - Cissy Strut
Marvin Gaye - Pride & Joy
Stevie Wonder - You Haven't Done Nothin'
Curtis Mayfield - We're a Winner
Slim Harpo - Baby Scratch My Back
Rickie Lee Jones - Easy Money
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Going to a Go-Go
Koko Taylor - Voodoo Woman
Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want)
Donny Hathaway - A Song for You
William Bell - Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
Leon Russell - Tight Rope
Buddy Guy & Junior Wells - Good Morning Little School Girl

2005-12-28T02:28:00.000-08:00

A Max Wastler Christmas (2005)

Every year my Christmas CD is about the same. Kenny Loggins, any number of versions of "Please Come Home for Christmas," and several other favorites make their way to the mix, but this year, I tried to include some new finds, like the selections from Ron Spector's Christmas productions, "Sleigh Ride" and "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home);" the latter was nicely covered years later by U2. No Charles Brown, Dolly Parton, Amy Grant, or Ave Marias this year. No Grinch, either. I hope this list finds you and yours enjoying the last drops of holiday cheer, and perhaps I opened your eyes to the wonderful world of Redbone, Leon Redbone.

1) Kenny Loggins - Celebrate Me Home
2) The Eagles - Please Come Home for Christmas
3) Ray Charles and Betty Carter - Baby, It's Cold Outside
4) Ray Charles - Winter Wonderland
5) Chuck Berry - Run Rudolph Run
6) Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
7) Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas
8) Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock
9) Burl Ives - Holly Jolly Christmas
10) The Drifters - I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
11) The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride
12) Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
13) Stevie Wonder - What Christmas Means to Me
14) Leon Redbone and Dr. John - Frosty the Snowman
15) John Mellencamp - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
16) Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas is You
17) Jack Johnson - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
18) Bing Crosby - Mele Kalikimaka
19) Jose Feliciano - Feliz Navidad
20) John Lennon - Happy Christmas (War is Over)
21) Paul McCartney and Wings - Wonderful Christmas Time
22) Elton John - Step Into Christmas
23) Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus is Coming To Town
24) Bob and Doug MacKenzie - The 12 Days of Christmas
25 Mozart - Greensleeves (any classical guitar version)

2005-12-28T02:22:00.000-08:00

After seeing Breakfast on Pluto, I went back and re-re-re-rediscovered Astral Weeks by Van Morrison. Mr. Morrison and I have enjoyed a long standing relationship from my slick-footed poolside twist days from years ago via "Brown-Eyed Girl," to my all-but obsessive phase around the age of 21. I found these two longer songs to best express a mood I was searching for a few stressful weeks ago. Also, the version of "4th Time Around," as found in the only scene worth its salt in Crowe's Vanilla Sky, hit me one morning as I watched it - half naked and alone. It's a beautiful version. The other songs are some old favorites, some new discoveries, and for the most part reflect that which I was feeling on the day I made this CD.

1) Bob Dylan - Fourth Time Around (from the Bootleg Series)
2) Van Morrison - Cyprus Avenue
3) David Gray - Lullaby
4) Joni Mitchell - Rainy Night House
5) The Mountain Goats - You or Your Memory
6) Nicolai Dunger - Prelude
7) Pixies - Where is My Mind?
8) Wilco - Wishful Thinking
9) The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset
10) Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me to Stay
11) Al Green - I'm Glad You're Mine
12) The Allman Brothers - Melissa
13) Antony & The Johnsons - Frankenstein
14) Jeff Buckley - Satisfied Mind
15) Van Morrison - Madame George
16) The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want

2005-12-28T02:17:00.000-08:00

In iTunes, this mix is entitled "Good Weekend." I made it the weekend I came home for Christmas, and for the most part, this CD reflects that sort of happy, dancey, funky mood only a weekend can bring. Most of the songs come from Pitchfork's tracks of the year, or were inspired by their list. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

1) Art Brut - Good Weekend
2) T Rex - Children of the Revolution
3) Lady Sovereign - Random
4) The Streets - Fit But You Know It
5) Kanye West - Golddigger
6) M.I.A. - Bucky Done Gun
7) Cody Chestnutt - Look Good in Leather
8) Jamie Lidell - Multiply
9) Kanye West - Heard 'Em Say
10) Damien Marley - Welcome to Jamrock
11) Madonna - Hung Up
12) Robyn - Show Me Love
13) Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone
14) The Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
15) 50 Cent - Just a Touch
16) Amerie - 1 Thing
17) Kanye West - Touch the Sky
18) Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
19) Jackson Browne - Sky Blue and Black
20) Shawn Smith - Leaving California

2005-12-28T02:10:00.000-08:00

This mix was made in celebration of vacation. I put it together over the course of my first week back home for the holidays. Jeff Daniels' Celebrity Playlist inspired some of the cuts, as did walking around the CD shop at Newark's airport. Hope you enjoy this rather laid back mixture of whipped marshmallow flavor.

1) Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You Into the Dark
2) Nickel Creek - Jealous of the Moon
3) Clifton Chenier - I'm a Hog For You
4) Canned Heat - On the Road Again
5) Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home
6) Jimmy Cliff - Many Rivers to Cross
7) Lyle Lovett - If I Needed You
8) Jeff Tweedy - Be Not So Fearful
9) Wilco - Hell Is Chrome
10) Bright Eyes & Britt Daniel - Let the Distance Bring Us Together Again
11) Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
12) Doris Troy - Just One Look
13) Chaka Khan - Love Me Still
14) Edith Piaff - C'Etait Une Histoire D'Amour
15) M Ward - You Still Believe in Me
16) Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek
17) Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band - Express Yourself
18) John Prine - Jesus, The Missing Years
19) Leonard Cohen - The Guests

2005-10-27T18:37:00.000-07:00

I made this CD for my roommate, Blake, earlier in the year. I also wrote this to accompany it, but I never gave it to him.

Enjoy.

1) Loudon Wainwright III – Rufus is a Tit Man
2) Loudon Wainwright III – One Man Guy
3) James Taylor – Steamroller Blues
4) Temptations – I Wish It Would Rain
5) Kate Wolf – Sweet Love
6) Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
7) Al Green – Simply Beautiful
8) John Gorka – When He Cries
9) Shirley Brown – Woman to Woman
10) Sam & Dave – Hold On, I’m Coming
11) Sam & Dave – Wrap It Up
12) Eddie Floyd – Knock on Wood
13) The Pretenders – My City Was Gone
14) The Cars – Let the Good Times Roll
15) Old 97s – Bird in a Cage
16) Bob Dylan – A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
17) Michael Buble – Home
18) Patti Page – Old Cape Cod
19) Eartha Kitt – Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love)
20) The Golden Girls Theme

The first track is just fun, well-thought out, and what a dad! I’m sure if my dad was a musician, he would’ve written many a funny song for me, but never would it be so explicitly lewd, boyish, and something I could look at lovingly while at the same time want so badly to sneak the album to a friend’s basement where we could listen and giggle while gnawing on Topps Baseball Card gum.

With Loudon’s live version here, you can almost hear the middle finger strumming the guitar, his sly smile smirking through the bottom half of his face when he sings, “One Mayeeayeeayeean Guy is Me!” Whereas Rufus’ 21st century cover of his father’s beautifully written dirge takes on a new timely topical meaning (Oh my God! You’re Gay!), Loudon’s was clearly written in response to the whining of critics and record execs that he was too difficult to pin down, too free with his view on what a song was, what a performance was. See at the time, music was just beginning to see itself as a package that could be shrink-wrapped, reproduced en masse, and musicians thusly began to receive pressure to reproduce such studio quality performances live. Now today, with Ashley Simpson making the front page of major newspapers across the country for lip syncing her vocals - granted only *some of her vocals - it’s impossible for some performers to refer to themselves so freely, so generally. Ashley Simpson is a bad example, but people like Caprice Bourret, Victoria Silvstedt, Willa Ford, models each in their own right, have albums, Willa’s at one time was in the top ten on billboard, and her video was number 1 on TRL - at the height of TRL and Carson Daly’s popularity. Loudon is to me a fore-thinker, not a genius, but a wise artist willing to look at the present and see the impending struggle true performers would face in the years to come. He was right to fight with management. It may have kept him from being a household name where I grew up, but let’s face it, few of the household names where I grew up ended up being true artists. Even Sir Paul, when prodded by Mojo sometime last year, went so far as to explain which of the Beatles songs, and there were many, were just about drugs and not something more. Fucking Paul McCartney spoiled for millions the true mystery of what it is to be at the same time commercially viable, critically bowed before, and socio-economically viable in every way. I mean, that’s more than likely never going to happen again. Wilco can’t sell like the Beatles, because Tweedy looks progressively more like a Ming Dynasty shitzu and they haven’t appealed to the general pop community since “Box Full of Letters,” when I was throwing on flannel shirts, black jeans, and strapping my hat to my belt loop. Music today is in dire straits, and there aren’t any clear favorites to pull us out. Maybe Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure was wrong, there isn’t any one clear band that’s going to lead this generation’s push into importance. Sometimes, I wish I was a baby boomer.

Steamroller was a Jeep standard back when I had the Jeep. I used it to whip girls into a frenzy of industrial strength sexual tension. It never worked, but that’s ok. James Taylor will forever remain that one musician I belong to. Do you know what I mean by that? I mean, no matter what he does, what court room he ends up testifying in to some crazy charge like *gasp* gadzooks! child molestation, I will forever be a James Taylor fan.

I heard this song for the first time when I would wash cars with my dad as a toddler. The Temptations, The Beach Boys, Michael Jackson, and Neil Diamond, among a couple others were the tapes my dad had in the garage, and more often than not, we listened to the oldies, because for lack of explanation, it is and will forever be car washing music. It’s muscle memory for me to find that station when washing cars. So, this song, as amazingly sad as it is, and incredibly well crooned, is above all else, a sudsy memory, but it is gorgeous. And I really have been feeling the thoughts of the song. They just say it so well, so believably.

I first heard this Kate Wolf song as a cover John Gorka did on a tribute album, and I liked it. I like her downer tone, her sort of quiet snarl, and just the way she little more than whispers “sweet love...” it’s beautiful.

Al Green. I’m not even going to talk about the sex part of Al Green. He does enough of that - Jesus, did you see him on the Daily Show? - If he’d gone on pantsless, as much as he flopped around on that couch, he - and Stewart would’ve too - would have exuded their loads for all the American public to see. Gross. So I did talk about the sex part. It’s Green. He just whips it out of me. I mean, the simplicity, the fuzzy hum over the song. The mistakes. The audible inhalation. It’s all so ... sex in a stairwell. It’s so upside-down hooking up in a second floor room of someone else’s house. The beauty in the awkwardness.

The sincerity with which he sings this utterly ridiculous song is what I love most about it. Oh, and I wrote a poem my senior year about a boy who made a face like Charles Bronson. It made me laugh.

When I was working retail in London, we had this CD, Latenight Tales, part of a collection that was being released in London at the time, this one was selected by a pair of famous DJs, Sly and Robbie. Jamiroquai had a selection, Fatboy Slim had one, but this one from Sly and Robbie was a real gem. Selections from Motown and Stax, mixed in with New Wave and modern tracks, all of which made sense together. But this one track, I remember hitting me differently every time. Sometimes, I hated this song, I thought this dumb bitch should just shut up, dump the man, and move on. Sometimes, mostly on the night’s I’d mop the awful orange rubber flooring, I’d find myself sympathizing. Perhaps it was the fact that i always think of the Donna Summer video for “She Works Hard for the Money” when I do things like mop and sweep, and I projected Shirley’s voice onto that hard working woman on her hands and knees, cleaning the bathroom of some dingy gymnasium so that her husband could go and sleep with some woman named Barbara. Gross.

The version I have doesn’t sound like the original version of this song. Sam and Dave sound as if they’re on their last breath. I picture these two grey-haired fools in puke green and powder blue leisure suits circa 1981 crooning in some Miami hotel banquet room to a group of retired Stax Records employees and tow-headed frat-tastic spring breakers at the Ramada Inn singing here. But this song is still so pungent. The horns, their back and forth, just the make-up. It’s impenetrably great. And if you know anything about Sam and Dave, their egos riding higher than their drug habits, they’d each be working the far corners of the stage because they couldn’t stand each other, but they sound as if they’re sitting on stools, or rather, bouncing up and down from sitting to standing on stools next to one another cum Simon and Garfunkel circa turtlenecks and jeans. So together. So in tune with one another.

The rip through the title words of this song sounds as if they’re saying “Rabid Love” which is what it is. Fucking Rabid. This song is rough and meaningful. “Wrap it Up, Lady. I don’t care. I love you, and I’ve got two and a half minutes to tell you because Stax are cheap bastards and want us to fill this album with one more top forty track so that you and I can afford to keep doing drugs, living in this orange condo, and driving my gold Mercedes, which I still think was a wrong decision. I’m sorry baby...”

Knock on Wood was such a good song the first time in the sixties when you had better knock on wood, because you’re lucky she’s with you, that they decided it should be rereleased as a disco track in the seventies because you’re lucky you’re still alive after eating all that whipped cream, doing all that coke, and making out with that dude that looked like a chick.

I love this baseline so much. It was used as Rush Limbaugh’s lead in on his righty radio program recorded in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and syndicated across the country and around the world. But then, you get into this song, and it talks about something I feel. Where did you go, St. Louis? I look at you now, and all I see are just tons and tons of families, unhappy with their lot in life. 2.5 car garage for 2.5 cars. 2.5 storey house for 2.5 kids. 2.5 weeks of vacation a year. it’s like a half-life. What happened? What happened to weekends spent watching the Cardinals after a long day of golf. What happened to winters spent with the kids on Art Hill because you could give two shits what the market was doing today? It’s like everything that mattered at 12, now, at 24 seems to have gone away. And I’m sure at 48 it’ll be only faint memories. I mean my dad talks about taking a quarter to the store to buy chocolate and Coke and coming home and putting the dime that remained in his piggy bank. Sheesh. My kids are going to need money clips for their diapers. Ok, enough complaining. Chrissy did enough.

I used to sing this song to myself all the time. My mom was chairperson for the school auction when I was a Junior. They had a New Orleans theme “Let the Good Times Roll.” Well, at the time, I was unaware there was another song of that title. A Fats Waller song, I think, or Louis Jordan, it’s a great tune, but this song, by Ocasek, stuck with me every spring. I’d sing it in my car. Just lay back, relax. Let ‘em roll-oh, let ‘em roll. Hopefully, you’ll soon be doing the same thing. Just a little reminder to chill out.

This is a great song I discovered on a drive back from Bowling Green with my then girlfriend, Caroline. Or no, it was Florence, Kentucky. Somewhere around Louisville I put in this CD I’d found in my CD case a few days earlier. Not mine, some burnt CD a girl made - it was chick music, chick handwriting - and some numbskull at the college radio station, WGRE stuffed it in my case when I left my CDs there by accident - who am I to complain?... As we stumbled up the border into Indiana, the sun fully set for a while, Caroline on Jumbo coffee numero 5, I was driving, and this song hit us both like a brick, we went “Aw...” in unison the minute Rhett Miller sings “... but at least it’s your cage.” Great tune - great version of this tune.

I listened to this song about a million times when I heard it. It’s drive, it’s length, it’s repetition, it’s message. It’s an unbearably perfect song. And what he says at the end there about working until you’re so confident in yourself that you’ll be able to face all odds, shine your light against the mountain so wide, so high, so that all who see it, see you, and know you, and love you, and hate you will know it’s your light, because it’s so noticeably you. Brilliant. For me that line was about my movie. I can’t wait to have the confidence in my creation to the point that I can project it on a screen a mile wide a mile high a mile deep.

As much as I hate Michael Buble, for his infomercials, for his attack on the Norah Jones’ of the world, for his poor Frankie imitations - which often times, as he neared death, I found to be Frankie imitations as well - and generally for being a schmuck, something about this tune hits hard. Sure it’s schmaltzy, but he’s right. It’s a nice sound. It’s a sad state of affairs when you’re a jazz singer singing in Paris, Rome, and I think he mentions London, and you want to go home. To Chilicothe, or even Chattenooga, regardless, home is home is home is home, and it acts as a lure whether it was the best 20 years of a person’s life or the worst, something about it constantly pulls at them. Knowing a place is a very human thing. Hearing someone talk about St. Louis, be it in person or on television, I still want to know who or what were involved: exact locations, people, and or zoo animals with whom I may have been acquainted. Perhaps it’s the know-it-all in me.

Something about being required to sing a song at school. Something about knowing the lyrics so well that you’re able to bend them and shape them and make them your own. I didn’t like this song at first, but by the time I was finished singing it, it’d become a whole new song for me; I love Jeff Buckley for this very reason. His ability to take and make songs his own is an admirable feat, something all artists should strive for. Elvis did it with Perkins and Big Mama Thornton. I did it with this song. Girls grabbed their hearts, guys patted me on the back. I owned all two minutes of that stage. It was fun.

I love this Cole Porter song. He was such a funny writer. I still haven’t seen De-Lovely, but Eartha Kitt only had a few big recorded hits, and this one, I hadn’t heard until I heard it in the gym’s locker room - one of the nice things about working out in an upscale gym: different sound systems in different parts of the gym means lots of new music. I found myself singing along with this one uncontrollably. I am in love with Earth Kitt now. I liked the Louis Armstrong version, but I love the way she slurps up every vowel.

The Golden Girls theme was always something I looked forward to. That and “As long as we’ve got each other...” at the beginning of every Growing Pains episode were such good songs, not to mention TV Themes. The piano’s drive here, is how I’d imagine the gravel on 231 skipping beneath my car as I rushed to be your friend again if I had the means to do so. I love the fact that “the biggest gift” equals the best friend. It’s so eighties. It’s so true.

2005-10-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

Here lies the brains behind the mixes I make.