Thursday, August 25, 2011

Weekly Mix #77

This is a good one so listen up. 25 songs! Wowzah! Some of the bands are very similar to the ones from the last mix but that's because some of the bands released some good records. 2010 seems to be a better year for music now. Weird, I wonder if I'll think the same thing about 2011 which has been shite for the most part.

1. Howlin' for You by The Black Keys
I think this is my favorite Black Keys song; it's got a good groove with some blues.
2. Heart In A Cage by The Strokes
It's a good one. Not the New York band's best but it still goes the distance.
3. Haunting at 1300 McKinley by The Black Angels
Kind of spooky with good guitars and echoing vocals; it's what the band does best in their 1960s sound quest.
4. People Are Strange by The Doors
Speaking of the 1960s here's the real deal. Morrison delivers some of his coolest lyrics in this little ditty.
5. Summertime by Sex Bob-Omb
More pseudo garage rock from Scott Pilgrim and Beck
6. E nessuno si fara'delmale by Calibro
Instrumentals can be cool but barely get this funky

7. She Said Yeah by The Rolling Stones
Little rock songs that click like this are rare.
8. Caress by The Brian Jonestown Masacre
Some bands want to be the stones real bad
9. Endlessly by Duffy
Some people need the 1960s to have a career even though they weren't born until the 1980s

10.It's Not Unusual by Tom Jones
People are still trying to copy this sound today. Can you beat the real sex bomb?
11.Bring On The Dancing Horses by Echo & The Bunnymen
12.Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri
Too sad, too much, too much. This song would be aweosme if I was a 12 year old girl.
13.Agents of Love by Wolf Parade
I don't know too much about these guys but the couple songs I know I like
14.Dr. Feelgood by Mötley Crüe
This one rocks so loud and goes out to my friend Jason wherever he is!
15.Don't Ask by Blood Red Shoes
Agressive indie rock. Good vocal and sound, right on! But then I saw their picture and I got kinda' unsure.

16.Don't Forget About Me by John Mellencamp
More awesome roots rock by the Indiana boy
17.Freeze to Me Mama by Koerner, Ray and Glover
This is a song I was introduced to by Pandora, thank you for this little country, folk, blue grass number; it's cool.
18.That's Some Dream by Good Old War
It's sung happily but it isn't really that chipper.
19.Paris 2004 by Peter, Bjorn and John
I was in Paris in 2004; I did not share the same experience.
20.Flowers On The Wall by The Statler brothers
You may recognize this number from Pulp Fiction
21.Sheena Is A Punk Rocker by The Ramones
This is the best Ramones song and if you disagree you can go to hell
22.We Don't Need Another Song About California by My Chemical Romance
Actually we do need another song about California.
23.Life In The Fast Lane by The Eagles
Here's a band from California if not the  band from California. Every day, all the time. I am not the first nor shall I be the last to fall under the spell of Hotel California.

24.Boyfriend by Best Coast
This band grows on me every time I listen to them . . . they're from California
25.My Sweet Lord by George Harrison
This song makes me emotional, sot of makes me feel loved in some weird spiritual way I can't explain well.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Weekly Mix #76

What can I say about this 2010 mix that features many solo artists and few current big hits? I just don't know. There's really no theme here though some of the songs are paired for perspective like  No Better Than This and Rock Around The Clock. Others are used as examples of what is and what shall never be.

Enjoy!


1. Civil War by Guns N' Roses
There are times when this is their best song ever.
2. Fever Dreaming by No Age
It's a little abrasive rocker of a song
3. It Is Happening Again by Blood Red  Shoes
The vocals remind me of early indie rock chicks
4. Bubblegum by Clinic
Modern psychedelic grooves by the faceless Clinic



5. Tales Of Brave Ulysses by Cream
This is old psychedelic music. This is the original power trio. This is Eric Claptan before solo works. This a sample of great Britsh drumming by ginger Baker.


 6. Never Gonna Give you Up by The Black Keys
The Ohio dudes slow it down and get down to a dreamy and soulful song of yearning and heartbreak
7. Respect by Aretha Franklin
Otis Redding did it first but the queen of soul perfected it by teaching the world how to spell it.
8. I'm The Man by Joe Jackson
There's more to him than Stepping Out
9. Where's My Sex? by Weezer
Not one of their finest but it's sort of funny
10.Black Sheep by Metric 
Indie rock that sounds bigger than it could ever possibly be. More music from the Scott Pilgrim movie
11.Brand New Key by Melanie
A fun little ditty from 1969 or if you prefer it was on the Boogie Nights Soundtrack
12.Hey Boy by Mark Ronson
Getting down to the light danceable beats of the producer as artist.
13.Well, Well, Well by Duffy
Her second album wasn't as good as the first but as far as modern, British , soul singers go I think this is still better than Adele.
14.Young Men Dead by The Black Angels
Shamefully I learned about this song while watching a video game commercial.
15.Only You by Portishead
This song! It is like a person you carry a torch for years after the relationship was over; it's up there with some of the most wrenching pop songs I can think of. I suppose it's there best song.
16.Games Without Frontiers by Peter Gabriel
If you like a little French in your pop music this song with make you happy!
17.Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & His Comets
We are going way back now to 1956 when all this rock n' roll actually meant something more than what it does now.
18.No Better Than This by John Mellencamp
You are a good man John Mellencamp and I applaud your roots rock!
19.Tatooine by John Messersmith
A song about a fictional place from the Star Wars saga. It's actually not so much about light sabers and tie fighters as it is about choosing ones path and wanting something more. It's a lovely little song and definitely one of my favorites from 2010
20.Kashmir by Led Zeppelin
One song about the desert deserves another. For many years this was my favorite Led Zeppelin song; it's epic and powerful just like the band it's self.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Weekly Mix#75

Black: Ryder, Keys, Flag and Angels all represented. The Black Crows were not invited. This is a moody mix that begins as savagely as it begins. Several bands appear that will most likely ever appear again like O. Children, The Heavy and Elf Power so enjoy these songs if you can.

1. Chainsaw by The Ramones
Some people never got over the Ramones and what they did to music. I'm too young for that so I just always thought they were funny but cool.
2. The Return of Jackie and Judy by Tom Waits
If you ever wanted to know what Tom Waits' version of punk would be, this is it.
3. Threshold by Sex Bob-Omb
More Beck penned garage rock for the Scott Pilgrim movie
4. TV Party by Black Flag
Yup, that's Henry Rollins back when he was an LA punk.
5.  Angel Dance by Robert Plant
He's old but he's still doing music well
6. Right Behind Me by John Mellencamp
Songs about the devil are always interesting. This one was recorded in the same room of the Gunter Hotel that Robert Johnson recorded in. Neat.  
7. Deep Water by Portishead
This is not normal Portishead. Ukelele in their work has not been heard before and they still make me uncomfortable.
8. Ruins by O.Children
Modern Goth music
9. Cut You up by Peter Murphy
Goth music from the 80s. Former Bauhaus singer goes a little pop



10.Dani California by Red Hot Chili Peppers
This is one of the bands stupidest songs but it was a hit in that mid tempo way
11.Bad Vibrations by The Black Angels
Modern psychedelic rock
12.Next Girl by The Black Keys
Dirty, white R&B = huge $$$
13.Birthday by Sugarcubes
This is one of the strangest, most wonderful sounding songs. Before she went solo, Björk was in this band making weirdly awesome music.
14.Shame On The Moon by Bob Seger
One of Seger's forgotten gems, a little sentimental but good.



15.Oh No! Not You Again! by The Heavy
This is an abrasive rock joint
16.Sweet Come Down by The Black Ryder
Modern old timey sounding cowboy camp fire song from a tin box
17.Stranger and Stranger by Elf Power
It's a nice big California sounding song
18.Billionaire by travie McCoy (feat. Bruno Mars)
I agree it would be nice to be this well off. This song however is not so awesome.
19. Junkies Prayer by Fishbone
Not so much a song as it is spoken word. Fishbone, the one time ska party band followed some of the tone of Truth and Soul to remain serious on their album, The Reality of My Surroundings which was a very socially aware effort. This is a creepy piece that can only be followed with . . .



20.Heroin by The Velvet Underground
I don't know what it's like to be a heroin addict but I'm going to trust Lou Reed and the band on this. It is a sonically beautiful mess of sadness
21.My Wild Love by The Doors
Hypnotic and haunted, The Doors keep the mood consistent.
22.Worm Tamer by Grinderman
Nick Cave goes hard and raw in this tale of  . . . I'm not quite sure.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Weekly Mix #74

If I had thought harder about this mix there would be an REM song and the Replacements song would have been Left of The Dial. Another time perhaps. This is groovy 2010 mix with a whopping 24 songs!
Enjoy.


1. We Are Sex Bob-Omb by Sex Bob-Omb
Written by Beck for the Scott Pilgrim movie it is what garage rock should be, short, loud and fun!
2. Shout At The Devil y Mötley Crüe
The crew rocked the 80s like nobody else. Were they a good band? No they were a horrible band but they rocked and somehow they still tour and play to thousands.
3. I'm So Sad, So Very Very Sad by Crash and the Boys
Also from the Scott Pilgrim movie, this one is 13 seconds long and embraces the humor of Rock!
4. Black Rain by Soundgarden
I don't know if this is a new song or an old song or what but it's not bad and it's loud.
5. Quiet Kid by Dead Confederite
Not too big of a fan of this band but tune is grungy modern
6. The Sun Ain't Gonna' Shine Anymore by The Walker Brothers
How deep is your wall of sound? This is a great heartbreak song as it's sweeping and maudlin. The sixties had some amazing music that wasn't by The Beatles.
7. Hot Child In The City by Nick Gilder
Statutory rape? Nah! I don't know, maybe she just looks young, she said she was eighteen. The seventies were a groovy place where you could get away with more creepiness.
8. Tighten Up by The Black Keys
I suppose this is a good example of rock in 2010. I mean it's more white R&B than anything else but 2010 didn't rock so loud, did it?
9. I Don't Believe You by The Thermals
Indie Rock . . . sometimes you are a great thing and sometimes you are just like everybody else. These dudes are from Portland OR.
10.East Bound and Down by Jerry Reed
Theme from Smokey and the Bandit. It's a stupidly awesome song
11.It's Getting Boring By the Sea by Blood Red Shoes
Can you tell that I loved the Scott Pilgrim soundtrack? Here's more music that I totally dug!
12.What Is Life by George Harrison
A Phil Specter masterpiece! This is just a great sounding song from Mr. Harrison's All Things Must Pass album. Love it!
13.Razors by Vermillion Sands
Remember what I said about I Don't Believe You? Well the same applies for these guys.
14.Snobby Little Elf by Morningwood
Well produced Indie Rock is still Indie Rock, especially when it's from New York.
15.All Nigh Long by Buckcherry
More sex songs by the most tattooed band on this mix
16.That's All Right by Elvis Presley
All hail the king! This is a simple ditty but it's so good!



17.Romeo Had Juliette by Lou Reed
Maybe the last good music Lou put out was from his 1989 album, New York.
18.Wouldn't It Be Nice by The Beach Boys
Knowing anything about Bryan Wilson is depressing and sad which is why this song isn't a nice as it should be.
19.Memories by Weezer
They got big on this song, such a large sound for them.
20.Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) by My Chemical Romance
If you know me or you read this blog you know this was my favorite song from 2010, raise your fists and sing along!
21.Creep by Scala And Kolacny Brothers
You may have heard this in the trailer for The Social Network.
22.Nothin' But a Good Time by Poison
Working dudes everywhere partied to this song while I was still in high school thinking it was all stupid. Kind of still do. I'll say it again My Chemical Romance are current incarnation of Poison.
23. I'll Be You by The Replacement
Critical darlings from Minneapolis! This was what Indie bands in the eighties turned into once signed. This was from the album Don't tell A Soul and supposed to be their big cross over album so they could be bigger than R.E.M.



24.Tell Me Why by M.I.A.
She has more than Paper Planes though nothing is quite that good.