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

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

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.

TGIF

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

Pas Simple

see also: simplesinger

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

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

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

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

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)

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.

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.

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

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.

Happy 4th! Enjoy the holiday!

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

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.

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

Air Traffic

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

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