Weekly Mix #87

There's not too much cleverness here though the songs are good to listen to, especially the classic rock. Ozzy, Lynyrd, Allman Brothers. the new stuff is cool as well even though much of it is some artists I listened to relentlessly this year. I don't know the Section that starts with The Black Angels and travels through EMA is pretty dark . . . good times

Listen up and enjoy!

1. Gold Mine by Breanne Düren
I was obsessed with this song for a week and now I'm glad I was because I ignored it when it was a free downlaod. Soulful and easy.

2. Eyes by Peter Bjorn and John

The Non stop Swede machine!

3. Choose to Choose by The Black Angels

Good little E.P. these guys put out in late 2011

4. Lay myself Down by Mazzy Star

Yes, they are back after something close to fifteen years and you know what? They sound exactly the same, dreamy and sweet with macabre lyrics.

5. I'll Be Your Mirror by Velvet Underground with Nico

I always thought that Hope Sandoval from Mazzy Star should sing all of Nico's VU tunes.

6. Seven Devils by Florence + the Machine

Big, epic, sweeping, creepy song.

7. Waltz 2 from Jazz Sweet by Armonie Syphony Orchestra & Evgeny Bilyar

Composed by Dmitrij Dmitrievich Shostakovich this is a good old famous bit of classical music.

8. Marked by EMA
 This is a weird, sexy song that I keep thinking is about some sort of mannequin
9. Midnight Rider by The Allman Brothers band

Not Lynyrd Skynyrd, not the Marshall Tucker Band.

10.Movin' On Up by Primal Scream

This is one of those songs that I never had any strong feelings about but I often read how many critics loved this song for it's Manchester, beats and rave culture (ecstasy) connection

11.Let's All Go to the Bar by Deer Tick

They are back and not as depressing.

12.Balloon Man by Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians

Is this a feel good song? I don't know, I mean Balloon Men explode all over New York City but the bouncy beat is so good!

13.(Don't Go back To) Rockville by R.E.M.
Maryland? Rockville Maryland? Is there a college there or something? Maybe this was an add for some College based in Athens GA.
14.Maybe She's Right by She Wants Revenge

 The darkness of the San Fernando valley persists in the hearts of She Wants Revenge. Do people eve call them SWR?

15.Baby Says by The Kills

Every time I hear a new Kills song I get excited and I like it but then I realized it all sounds the same

16.Chicago by Tom Waits

He is still making good music and he still sounds like a mad man.

17.Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne

If you don't know this song you're A) not an Ozzy fan B) never been to a professional sporting event C) Never watched TV

18.Our Deal by Best Coast

More tough luck in dating songs

19.That's My Bitch by Kanye & Jay Z
Watch The Throne : Great Album of 2011
20 Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
If you don't know this mammoth classic rock jam you are not American, in fact you probably want to destroy America. If you don't love this song that's okay, it's kind of long.

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.

Weekly Mix #54

The first mix of 2007! Lordy be! What does that mean? I don't really know but I can say this, don't fear it. Listen and enjoy the music.


1. Superhero by Jane's Addiction
It wasn't really thirteen years in the making but it was thirteen years between Ritual De Lo Habitual and Strays. The band that spearheaded the Alternative Rock movement in the early 90s seemed to forget everything they did and went bland. If nothing else this is the intro to the show Entourage.
2. Elegantly Wasted by INXS

The last Michael Hutchence INXS album. Obviously there's nothing one can read into these lyrics and dance beat.

3. Fergalicious by Fergie
This is what happens when I stop being a music snob; i listen to this stuff
4. Show Me What you Got by Jay-Z
Jay- Z is the man
5. Aqua Teen Hunger Force Theme by Schooly D
This is for all those who watch Adult Swim
6. Random by Lady Sovereign
She's got the tongue and the rhymes
7. Walking Spanish by Tom Waits

Walking Spanish is a term that means you're being walked to your death.

8. Wolf Like Me by TV In the Radio

This band had this one incredible song and then some other stuff that wasn't in competition.

9. Raw Power by Iggy & The Stooges
I feel it!
10.The Metal by Tenacious D
This song is fairly accurate. Jack Blacks band is this.
11.Wanted Dead Or Alive by Bon Jovi

Have you seen a million faces? Have you rocked them all? Probably not. This is the first time I showed any favor towards the New Jersey band, until this point my stance was that they were hair and smiles.

12.Burner by Motötrhead
Mötorhead doing what they do best. They play loud and fast! This is also the first 2007 song on a mix.
13.(Reach Up for The) Sunrise by Duran Duran
I first heard this tune in Italy and I expected it to be a huge hit in the states when I returned but I was very wrong, radio didn't care.
14.Tony the Beat (remix) by The Sounds
Get out your keyboards and pretend it's the 80s
15.Dreaming by Blondie
Sweet melodies from a downtown New York band
16.What I Like About you by The Romantics
This is what you call a classic 
17.Psychobilly Freakout by Reverend Horton Heat
early 90s magic!
18.Great Balls of Fire by Jerry lee Lewis
They used to say he was the devil but the he married his cousin and faded away. he is still alive and making music however. The killer, I wish I could have seen him when he was young!
19.Flathead by The Fratellis
This song got more airplay in the iTunes adds than it did on the radio.
20.Young Girls by John Sartain
This song is very astute
21.Victim Of Love by The Eagles
More creepiness from The Hotel California
22.We Are The Champions by Queen
If you don't know this song you are a rock n' roll hater and a sports hater.
23.The Saints Are Coming (live) by Green Day & U2
I think all the proceeds from this song went to New Orleans; it's pretty over the top and silly.

Weekly Mix Tape # 48

This mix isn't too inspired, there's not too much going on but it still has some good songs. Listen and enjoy.

1. Whole Latta Love by Led Zeppelin

Way down inside, you need love! If you don't like this song . . . well I just don't want to say.

2. Faster Kill Pussycat (Feat. Brittany Murphy) by Fat Boy Slim

Yes that Brittany Murphy, she could carry a tune

3. Dirt off Your Shoulder by Jay-Z

 He's the man and this is one of the reasons

4. The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I get by Morrissey

This is a stalker's anthem

5. Jane Says by Jane's Addiction

I guess this is they're biggest song, the one you hear in liquor adds

6. I Don't Care Anymore by Phil Collins

The drums, the drums! One of their best uses as more than keeping the rhythm in rock; they have a life of their own.

7. Animal / Human by Clinic

Clinic is a faceless band that makes good music

8. 10:15 Saturday Night by The Cure

Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip . . .

9. I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) By Hall & Oates

 So smooth, so nice. These guys were the kings of pop rock, soft rock.

10.Living After Midnight by Judas Priest

This is such a strange song by Priest as it's very accessible to all kinds of people

11.Life Wasted by Pearl Jam

Not bad but not great

12.Holiday In Cambodia by Dead Kennedys

I don't know why but about this point I suddenly wanted to listen to a lot of DK

13.Turn Into by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Such a sweet melody by Karen O and the boys

14.On Your Speakers by Damone

Good pop rock

15.The Drowners by Suade

Back in 1993 this was a band that people in England found very provocative do to the singers androgyny

16.Too Drunk to Fuck by Nouvelle Vague

Covering the Dead Kennedy's cabaret style.

17.Love Train by Wolfmother

A groovier kind of Wolfmother

18.Like Days by The Start

This a crazy sounding band from L.A.

19.House of Wolves by My Chemical Romance

They know how to rock and know how to be catchy

20.Frank's Wild Years by Tom Waits

tom's weird poems are often very amusing

21.Sammy Davis City by The Brian Setzer Orchestra
The man got older and started getting in big band sounds after the Stray Cats; this was my favorite tune from that era.

Daily Download

It's a sea shanty: Two Sisters by Tom Waits

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 1

So obviously I am a huge music fan/geek and with that it is without a doubt I love creating mix tapes; I've been doing it since the 80s! So what I'm gonna start doing is suggesting a weekly mix based off the CD's I started making over a decade ago which will explain why there's nothing too recent. You might find the songs ridiculous or you might find them awesome, who knows. Anyway give it a go or just let me know what you think. Each of these mixes will indeed fit on an 80 minute CD. I would love just to give you the music but that could get hairy.




1. Goin' Out West by Tom Waits
This is definitely in my top five tom Waits songs; it's not very representative of his work as it really rocks but then again it is off of Bone Machine

2. Fed Up by Lemonheads
Punkabilly! One of the Boston bands that people seem to always remember even though they just had the one hit with It's a Shame About Ray.
3. Tin Machine by Tine Machine
 David Bowie never rocked this hard! I'm glad he got down to it though.
4. Search & Destroy by The Stooges
Can there be Bowie without Iggy? They were linked  in so many ways back in the 70s. This song is really what punk is all about, sloppy, dirty, angry and loud!

5. Gloria by Them
Van Morrisson's band before he went solo. This song has been covered by everybody from the The Doors to Patty Smith but the original is still the best.
6. Jack-Ass by Beck
Beck gets mellow. This is off that great album Odelay
7. Five to One by The Doors
They were great and they were copied by almost everybody . . . well Jim Morrisson was. Truly one of the most dynamic,  mysterious and drunk front men of all time.
8. Kool Thing by Sonic youth
Maybe my favorite Sonic Youth songs and not because Chuck D's on it and not because it's about LL Cool J.
9. Hot Stuff by Donna Summer
Disco diva number one!
10.Horny by Mousse T.vs. Hot n' Juicy
I thought this song was great but now I find it unbearable.
11.Dangerous Type by Letters to Cleo
More Boston on Boston action. A band from Bean town covering another of the Hub's best, The Cars.
12.Rocks by Primal Scream
Primal Scream is one of those bands that critics praise as the innovators of Madchester and who am I to argue. I kept hearing this was a rolling Stones cover but the Rolling Stone's song doesn't sound like this.
13.More Than A Feeling by Boston
Because I'm from Boston I have no choice but to say I like this song even if I'm not really that fond of it.
14. Spanish Eyes by U2
This was a B side from the Joshua Tree days. You know you're good when your leftovers are better than many people's best.

15.That's The Way (I Like It) by K.C. & The Sunshine Band
Why do I disco so hard?
16.Bodies by Sex Pistols
British Punk was outrageous and these guys were at the forefront of it all!
17.Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz
Not Lenny's best but it wasn't bad, this is when he started to put his music in commercials
18.That's Entertainment by Morrissey
 Morrissey covering the Jam. he slows it down and makes it his own.
19.Starfuckers, Inc by Nine Inch Nails
When I first heard this song I couldn't believe Nine Inch Nails came through but the rest of the album The Fragile wasn't quite as awesome.
20.Plaster Caster by KISS
The biggest band in the world, at least that's what they will tel you. The merchandising kings, the biggest sellouts is what others will say. This song however is ALRIGHT!

Lastly I should also note that as I begun making mix CDs I was trying to continue from where the mix tapes left off so I didn't use any songs that I had used before but as time went on I through that idea away and used anything that hadn't been part of the CD series. The reason for this was I realized it was going to make the mixes stronger and more awesome for listening pleasure. Things I've also learned about mix tapes is they can't be rushed; they must grow organically and be fussed over until all is sound and feels complete. I've rushed a mix before and I regretted it as I had to go back a rework it which made me feel like some time traveling freak.