Weekly Mix #80

I don't know how I feel about this mix. There's a lot of stuff on here that may be forgotten in the near future. I'm partial to great music butu when nobody cares about it . . .
Anyway go listen to these songs and enjoy the exploration of new music!

Mix # 80 from Solidpants on 8tracks.

1. Ezekiel 25-17 film dialogue from Pulp Fiction
Sam Jackson at his best. When I used to make mixes on cassette it was a lot easier to copy film dialogue but I'm not invested enough anymore to do that sort of thing digitally.
2. Highway To Hell by AC/DC

It's definitely one of AC/DC's best songs and the premise is classic rock stuff. They Say when Bon Scott died he was getting his in order but when you choke on your own vomit in your car in front of your house it seems a bit unlikely.

RIP Bon Scott

3. Crackerman by Stone Temple Pilots

Here's a song I never really listened to until 2010; I just ignored it. From STP's debut, Core it kicks a little ass.

4. Standing Still by Eat Sugar

This is a great little rock/pop song by a band that I don't think I'll ever hear of again, I loves those drums!

5. Second Chance by Peter, Bjorn and John

I'm so glad this band came out with more than one good new song.

6. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before by The Smiths
 One of the greatest 80s bands to never make it big in the states. Too good I guess.
7. Blood by The Dears

One of the best modern Canadian bands to never get anywhere in the states

8. Post Break-Up Sex by The Vaccines
Great band name and almost a great song but to sort of tries too hard to sound like something besides a good pop song.
9. I Got You (I Feel Good) by James Brown

The hardest working man in show business, the godfather of soul! Refusing this song is like refusing incredible awesome stuff.

RIP Mr. Brown

10.Come On Get It by Lenny Kravitz

Promises and teases, that's what Lenny's career in music has turned into. This isn't so bad as it almost delivers awesome.

11.Born To Lose by Motörhead

Born to lose, live to win. That's Lemmy's tattoo.

12.Sheena Is a Punk Rocker by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Evergetic and more poppy than the original Ramones version but still good.

13.Man of Misery by Beady Eye

Liam Gallagher's new band? Goodbye Oasis until 2020 when they reunite.

14.Garbage Truck by Sex Bob-Omb

This one sounds like the previous song, don't it? I don't know which I like better

15.Intro (Dream Sequence) by Alice In Chains

It's loud, short and scary, not really a song.

16.Family Man by Hall and Oates

Hookers were very prevalent on their H2O album ie. Man Eater

17.Before the Rain bu Duran Duran

Don't Hold back the Rain, that was an old song and this is a new song, just as good too.

18.My Kinda Lover by Billy Squier

Before he decided to do weird Flashdance moves in his videos, Mr. Squier had some really good rock/pop songs like this one.

19.Buick MacKane (Big Dumb Sex) by Guns N' Roses

Some people hate The Spaghetti Incident but not me. This is a mix of a Soundgarden song and a Nazareth song and it works.

20.Lost In Hollywood by System of a Down
"All maggots smoking fags on Santa Monica Boulevard" this is a chilly distopian view of Hollywood show business. Angry, angry song.
21.You Showed Me by The Watson Twins

Haunting vocals and stark, lovely.

22.Blood by My Chemical Romance

I have a friend who heard this song and thought this was what the band sounded like, he was not pleased when he heard more of their music. This is indeed a funny little show tune but it's a joke and more of a fun sing along for their concerts than anything else.

23.Get Some by Lykke Li
I heard this song played on the radio once, once. That's too bad, it's a good song.
24.Woo Hoo by The 5.6.7.8's

Japanese retro music made famous in Kill Bill and Vonage adds

25.Loser by Beck
It took this long to get on a mix and I don't know why.

Weekly Mix #69

2009 wasn't know as a great year for music but sometimes there are little nuggets to found. If nothing else the older songs are real good. Enjoy if you can; I think all but the final song is legally downloadable.


1. Do It For The Kids by Velvet Revolver

I dig the melody in this song.

2. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer by George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Look man, come down here! Hilarious story and worth the listen.

3. Treat Me Like Your Mother by The Dead Weather

More deep, trippy rock music; it's not their best song but it seems the most energetic

4. These Eyes by The Guess Who

Obviously the best part of the song is when he belts out the lyrics at the end

5. Thirteen by Danzig
Sometimes I think it would have been great to just receive a number over a name and just bring bad luck wherever I go. This is a badass gloomy song
6. Hey Hey What Can I Do by Led Zeppelin

A song that was supposed to be on Led Zeppelin III but suffered from some production error which made it the B-side of the Immigrant Song; not bad.

7. Modern Monkey by The Bardo

When you don't know anything about a band sometimes it's cool but sometimes it makes the experience flat. I know nothing of this band besides a couple songs that sound young and tough.

8. Mind Eraser, No Chaser by Them Crooked Vultures

Josh Holme, Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones, I guess it's a super group.

9. Sick Love Song by Mötley Crüe

It's a good effort long after the dream was over

10.Electric Funeral by Black Sabbath

Psychedelic heaviness by Ozzy and the boys

11.Rooster by Alice In Chains

If the 80s were all led Zeppelin knock offs then the 90s were all Black Sabbath rip offs. I love these guys if you haven't figured that out yet. More haunting heaviness from Seattle.

12.Down Boy by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

This song is from an E.P.; how awesome is that? The E.P. is a concept that makes no sense anymore but at when it did the Extended Play format meant an artist released an album with only four or five songs rather than the 8 plus on L.P. or Long Play album. Down is gloomy and angry.

13.Us Alone by The Vulcan Dub Squad

There is something so sad in this song that I can't really explain, maybe it's foreign language, maybe it's the wailing through out. This song should have been recorded in 1986; it would have been the greatest depressing song ever then but about 20 years younger than that it's different.

14.Lose Yourself by Eminem

Maybe his best song; it won him an Oscar

15.Death to All But Metal by Steel Panther
I agree, Metal rules and everything merely just gets us by
16.Drop It Low by Ester Dean & Chris Brown

Let's get the party started!

17.Whole Lotta Rosie by Guns N' Roses

ANGUS! I love a bootleg and this is a good one from G N' R's early days as they grind out some AC/DC.

18.Dirty Water by The Standells
If you're from Bean Town you know this song well. It refers to the Charles River which was disgusting as was much of the nations urban water ways back in the 60s. Now it's much more clean but for those of us who remember the pre clean up in the 80s know this song was no joke. This tune is also associated with the Red Sox as the song is played at Fenway Park after a Boston victory. It's funny that the best song about Boston is by a band that wasn't from there. "I love that dirty water, Boston you're my home"

Weekly Mix # 65

the 80s were a hell of a party so we'll start this mix there and who lasted from that time and who was influenced by the decade. The eighties are the new fifties which is weird if you remember the 80s because the 80s were artificially forced to be that way. Reaganomics and Galm Metal went very well together. Big hair forever!

1. I'm Alright by Kenny Loggins
Caddy Shack, baby! All I can think about is Rodney Dangerfield and that gopher dancing; it's a good thing. Next stop, Foot Loose and Top Gun.
2. Jack & Diane by John Mellencamp

Back when he was John Cougar, back when you suck on a chili dog by a Tastee Freeze and day dream, back in the 80s.

3. Goin' Out Swingin' by Mötley Crüe

Not bad rock for dudes as old as they are

4. Gypsy Road by Cinderella

I remember when this song was on massive play on the Mtv in 1988, back when metal was king!

5. Dressed Up Like A Millionaire by Damone

Rock n' Roll in the late 00s rarely gets a wicked as this, leave it to a Boston Band to make it happen.

6. Standing Still by Billy Boy Poison

I like this song because it has a siren in the intro beneath the guitars. These guys do give rock a try pretty hard, they  just miss the mark for some reason.

7. The Infanta by The Demberists

The Decemberists would have been better of being an 80s band when people would have cared.

8. Cold by Maxwell

Yeah, I like R&B sometimes, This is damn good track by the Man.

9. Let's Stay Together by Al Green

Hot music about monogamy, one of the best songs ever

10.Fuck You by Lily Allen

Funny songs are good and when the rhymes and melody click they're brilliant.

11.No You Girls by Franz Ferdinand
So . . . are they gay? Another catchy ditty by the UK boys.
12.They Say by Scars on Broadway

Some of the guys from System of a Down branched out and did a song that sounds exactly like System of a Down.

13.Sickman by Alice In Chains
Sad songs about girls are one thing but sad songs about drugs are a completely different beast. Exhibit A
14.Under The Bridge by The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Exhibit  B

15.Drag by Placebo

No, not a song about dressing in women's clothes.

16.Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Keyboards dominate on this one as the Hipsters get dancing.

17.Lovegame by Lady Gaga

Keep the dance vibe going. I hate this song the longer I know it.

18.Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cindy Lauper

Art School chick gets kicked out of School and turns singer and makes millions of dollars. Influences  thousands of chicks to dress from thrift stores.

19.Fuck the Pain Away by Peaches

That was the most brilliant moment in every mix I've made in my life. You figure it out.

20.With a Little Help From My Friends by Joe Cocker
It's strange when you can do a Beatles song better than the Beatles by Mr. Cocker  got it done.

Weekly Mix # 63

So I looked at this mix and thought about the songs and realized that almost all of them have been used in adds or movies, crazy! Enjoy this 2009 created bad boy!

1. Everybody Wants To Rule the World by Tears for Fears

Some songs from the 80s really deliver on their era, this is one of them but I can't exactly explain why. I suppose Songs from The Big Chair was the high point for these Brits though Sewing the Seeds of Love was also pretty big too..

2. Feellin' Alright by Joe Cocker

I was obsessed with this song for a bout month when I made this mix which is why it sauntered in here.

3. Zero by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

It's a groovy song by some hipters from New York. The video was filmed in San Francisco's China Town

4. Troublemaker by Weezer

And suddenly Weezer just kept on truckin'. It seemed like they were faded into the past and then they made a comeback and never left us.

5. Any Way you Want It by Journy

Classic rock of Journey and memories of Caddy Shack

6. Same Ol' Situation by Mötley Crüe
Great band and strange band, The bassist writes all the songs but doesn't sing and the most famous member in the group is the drummer. The Dr. Feelgood album was the pinnacle for these L.A. hair gods even though they still tour.
7. Down With the Sickness by Disturbed
It took a couple years for me to be into this Nü Metal classic but now I enjoy it. This appeared in, Queen of the Damned when Lestat's band was about to go on stage . . . or was this the song his band did?
8. Ulysses by Franz Ferdinand
 These guys just put out groove after groove with great melodies, The tuxedo the singer wears in the video is slick and if I had thousadns at the time I would have owned it and rocked it better!
9. Panic Switch by Silversun Pickups
This crazy song was used in Sucker Punch. There's something desperate in the sonic craziness of the music that I really like.
10.Desolation Row by My Chemical Romance
A song on the Watchmen soundtrack, I think it's one of their five best songs. "Cinderella, she seems so easy" Coooool f'ing lyric. They even play the national anthem in this song; it has to be good!
11.Lit Up by Buckcherry
A song about getting high but could be used by G.E. to premote their lightbulbs
12.I  Can't Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar
Before he teamed up with Van Halen, Sammy was the red rocker and complaining about traffic and speed limits, now he sings national anthems at Giant's games.
13.John Walker's Blues by Steve Earle

Maybe the best song having anything to do with the Taliban; it's moving.

14.Paper Planes by M.I.A.

If you didn't hear this song in 2008 you probably are reading this blog for research on popular music. It was huge, it won M.I.A. awards and possibly made her a one hit wonder. I always thought this song was about drug dealing but I've never been able to confirm this.

15.Falling Down by Oasis

I still don't know why songs like this one didn't lead to a huge Oasis come back. Dig Out Your Soul had good stuff all over it.

16.Fall Is Just Something Grownups Invented by The Hives
Yup, this is the Nickelodeon  Channel theme rocked out by the Swedes
17.Mr. Hurricane by Beast
The name of this band isn't right, there isn't anything beastly about them though this is cool song for sure!
18.Daylight by Matt & Kim

More music from Hipsters; it's very catchy. You may be familiar with the tune as it appeared in a Tanqueray Gin TV add.

19.Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths

Morrissey can emote like no other. An instrumental version of this tune was used in Ferris Bueller's Day Off during the Museum scene.

20.Can't seem To make You Mine by The Seeds
This tune was used in an Axe spray cologne add featuring the queen of eyebrows Adrianne Curry
21.Let There be Rock by AC/DC
Even AC/DC sold out! This rocker was the theme to a Rock Band video game release.

Weekly Mix #57

This Mix was made in 2007 and while sort of seems like a collage of unrelated songs there are a couple threads here and there. Pantera shows up for the first time. A couple one hit wonders also show in the forms of Blind Melon and The Toadies. The most outlandish song is That Ain't Right. Enjoy the music if you can!

1. Firerworks by Siouxie & The banshees

Majestic, Gothic pop from the 80s

2. Rockers to Swallow by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Karen O get's a lot of her vocal sounds from Siouxie so I thought I'd compare the two side by side.
3. Pretty Green by Mark Ronson feat. Santo Gold
The previous song ended with, "hey!" and this one begins with, "hey"; it makes a lot of sense. Ronson put out this album of his music and singers he liked; it worked. The beat of this songs goes well with the next.
4. Freedom 90 by George Michael
A good song that was maybe more famous for it's video which featured the day's super models and not one image of the singer.


 
5.This Is Hardcore by Pulp
Moody, haunting, sexy and totally coked out!
6. Gloves by The Horrors
The Horrors were my favorite band at the time when this mix was made in 2007
7. No Rain by Blind Melon
Say  little prayer for their dead singer Shanon Hoon and enjoy this classic 90s song about a boy and his bong.
8. Hey, Good Lookin' by Hank Williams
Didn't ever listen to the cowboy until the mid 00s and then I thought he was pretty cool
9. Broken Boy Soldier by The Racanteurs
Creepy music by Jack White and friends
10.Misery Business by Paramore
Poppy music with a chick singer and a almost rock guitars. If anything I learned what the word paramour meant after hearing this band.
11.Crazy Bitch by Buckcherry
Where to start . . . Notorious. What I've learned about this song is that while some women don't appreciate this song at all while others use it as their ring tone. The guitar part was written by Slash.
12.Unglued by Stone Temple Pilots
In many ways STP are like those 70s bands that everybody but the reviewers liked. This song is a good rocker.
13.That Ain't Right by Heavy Trash
 Cowboy up and listen to this tale of domestic troubles. I think this was a joke band but I have no idea really.
14.Tick Tick Boom by The Hives
Not only is this the bands best song but sports broadcasts love to use it as the clock ticks down.
15.Could This Be Magic by Van Halen
One of the stranger pieces of music Van Halen put out as it's just a little acoustic guitar, foot tapping and Diamond Dave singing about boozing it up and having a great time in the tropics. Actually the other guys do step in for the chorus.
16.The State of Massachusetts by The Dropkick Murphys
This songs starts like an Irish sea shanty but then explodes; it's what the Dropkicks are good at.
17.Fucking Hostile by Pantera
While most rock bands were getting weak and lame, Pantera was insistent on being METAL! They rocked very hard and gave teenage boys hope that somebody understood them. Hell, listening to this song now get's my adrenaline going. Welcome to the world of my mixes. Rest In Piece Dimebag.
18.I Don't Wanna Stop by Ozzy Osbourne
A good metal effort by an old man on the wrong medication. I first heard this gem in a car which made it more awesome than it really is.
19.Possum Kingdom by The Toadies
Our second stop on the weird 90s review is this song about . . . well I'm not sure, girlfriend murder, maybe?
20.Elizabeth My Dear by The Stone Roses
Just a minute long this isn't really a song and was used just a s filler. Though a song about killing the queen of England to the tune of Scarborough Fair is super weird.
21.Stronger by Kanye West
This song has nothing to do with the rest of the mix but it was there for using so I took it and ended my mix with a dance beat!    


PS Next weeks mix is real good!

Weekly Mix # 56

Am I clever? No. But I did manage to put Me, Mr. & Mrs. Jones all in the same mix; it's trouble especially because "me" in this case is two different people, A skinny junky girl from England and a middle aged black man from Philadelphia. Both got great pipes and got soul but I think that's it. This was good mix for 2007, not the best but good. Several good 00s bands represent for the a multiple time like Interpol, White Stripes and Clinic while Tim Armstrong makes his first appearance as a solo artist.
Enjoy if you can!


1. Me & Mr. Jones by Amy Winehouse
"What kind of fuckery is this?" Only Amy will know

2. She Builds Quick Machines by Velvet Revolver

This is from the sophomore effort of the supergroup of the decade; it wasn't very good but this tune is okay.

3. Sheena Is a Parasite by The Horrors

I heard this song and I was changed! This is one of 2007's best rock songs and somewhat of a reply to the Ramones' Sheena is a Punk Rocker

4.Silent Lucidity by Queensryche

Do you remember this song from 1990? I did too and I listened to this number for about a week straight when I was making this mix.

5. The Heinrich Maneuver by Interpol

They want to know how things are on the west coast and I guess they're pretty good.

6. In The jailhouse Now by The Soggy Bottom Boys

Not a real band but an awesome band from a great movie, O Brother Where art Thou?

7. Conquest by The White Stripes

This is some cover or other

8. The Ghost of You Lingers by Spoon

I'm not a fan of Spoon but this song I like
9. If You Could Read your Mind by Clinic
Sounds like spy rock

10.Crying by Roy Orbison

So sad, so very, very sad. Roy had one of the best voices

11.Your Cheatin' Heart by Hank Williams

Hank was a conflicted man and spawned two generations of music I don't care too much for.

12.Texas Radio & The Big Beat

This poem has nothing to do with dance music

13.This Is How It Feels by Inspiral Carpets

Art School kids loved this band back in the early 90s, You may know their bigger and more danceable hit, Commercial Rain

14.Abra Cadaver by The Hives

Abrasive, loud and weird: The Hives are Rock n' roll!

15.Smile by Lily Allen

She's a mean little Brit chick

16.She's So Cold by The Rolling Stones

Sometimes I just like the Stones and sometimes one relationship shot deserves another

17.Kiss, Kiss by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Dark and Moody!

18.Friends by Led Zeppelin

Off the Led Zeppelin III album which is sort of a mess in it's cohesion

19.God Smack by Alice In Chains

Still crazy sounding after all these years

20.Just by Mark Ronson feat. Phantom Planet

This is a Radiohead cover and I think I might like it better than the original.

21.Take This City by Tim Armstrong

Front man of Rancid, Tim has put out some cool shit since.

22.Really Rich Italian Satanists by Dirty Sanchez

This song blows my mind in ways I'm never going to discuss openly

23.Me and Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul

Somber and sweet but definitely not a healthy relationship song. Bill Cosby loved this song

Weekly Mix Tape #52

 What have we here? another mix, we've now completed a year's worth! BOOOSH! This bad boy is all over the map but has some nice links. If you can figure them out then you get a cookie!

1. Living in America by The Sounds

Definitely not a James brown cover. I wish I discovered this band back in the early part of the 00s rather than several years past.

2. Drive by R.E.M.

How do you follow up the biggest album of your career? You release a slow, creepy ballad with strings. This song came out when R.E.M. still mattered.

3. The Passenger by Iggy Pop

I liked the Siouxie Sioux cover more but Iggy's still the king.

4. Good Thing by Fine Young Cannibals

This band got so big in 89 and then broke up. This was a cool Mo Town tribute that resulted in their best tune.

5. Ever Fallen In Love by Nouvelle Vague

The little lounge act covers the Buzzcocks

6. Beetlebum by Blur

Was this song about addiction or making fun of Oasis? I still don't know

7. Help! by The Beatles

The beginning of this song is great and then it wusses down but whatever.

8. Champagne Supernova by Oasis

 More Beatles sounds by bands who made it big in the 90s! This song was huge for Oasis, creatig a third ht from What's the Story Morning Glory.

9. Permanent Vacation by Aerosmith

Getting clean for rockers usually results in a crappy product but for Aerosmith it was a rebirth in to millions and millions of dollars.

10.Dudly by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Kind of sounds like a lullaby

11. Bucket by Kings of Leon

This is the same band that blew up on their next album. Whoever produced them next was really ambitious. Anyway this song is little more than a put down song.

12.Wishing Well by Terence Trent D'arby

This song gave whistlers a lot of excitement. D'Arby was supposed to be the next great R&B performer but it was said his ego got in the way.

13.Tusk by Clinic

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person who likes this band or has even heard of them. This songs rocks more than most of their music.

14.Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega & DNA

So a DJ took an a capella song and added beats and a few synth hits; it's great.

15.Reptilia by The Strokes

This is a disappointing follow up to the Strokes first Album but it was still alright.

16.I Want You So Hard (Boys Bad News) by Eagles of Death metal

If nothing else it's funny

17.This train Don't stop There Anymore by Elton John

If you told me that I would be a fan of an Elton John song that came out after 1983 I would be skeptical but this song is like something that was dropped by the side of the yellow brick road.

The video is pretty cool too. Justin Timberlake makes a convincing Elton and it speaks volumes to his entertainment savvy

18.Subterranean Homesick Blues by Bob Dylan

Is this my favorite Dylan song? I guess so.

19.Cross Road Blues by Robert Johnson

 Ladies and gentlemen I give you the birth of the blues and a blues legend.

20.Judas Rising by Judas Priest

I am constantly stunned that song came out in 1976; it is so ferocious and huge it could go head to head with anything put out today.

21. Pigs In Zen by Jane's Addiction

What is this song about?  No clue but it has a great part at the end that hip rocker kids used to use as their answering machine's outgoing message.

Weekly Mix tap 49

Let's here it for 2006! I recall it being a darn good year for some thijngs and crumby year for other things. This mix was birthed that year but there are only a few songs that represent it.

1. I Only Want You by Eagles of Death Metal

The almost rocked but there was something a little too silly about them.

2. Yankee Rose by David Lee Roth

This was it for Diamond Dave, after this song he went flaccid.

3. Time Warp from the Rocky Horror Picture Show

This one goes out to all you freaks! One of my favorite show tunes.

4. Rock n' Roll by The Sounds

Scandinavian pop rock

5. Da Ya Think I' Sexy? by Rod Stewart

See even Rod, "the bod" was self conscious

6. My Humps by Black Eyed Peas

Little children sang this song; that's how huge it was! So wrong . . .

7. If You Could Read My Mind by Gorden Lightfoot

This song reminds me of introspective moments with dude friends

8. I Put A Spell On You by Creedence Clearwater Revival

This is my favorite version of this song

9. Stir It Up by Bob Marley & The Wailers

I have nothing to say about ragae

10.Everybody's Talkin' by Harry Nilsson

Yup, this one's from Midnight Cowboy

11.I Get Along by The Libertines

I think this qualifies as a little ditty

12.Y Control by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

chicks love this song

13.I Still Want you by the Del Feugos

Troubled hearts by the Boston Harbor

14.Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved me by Grant Lee Phillips

So sad and it goes well after another sad song. GLF covered the Smiths in a more personal tone here.

15.Rain On The Scarecrow by John Mellencamp

Give it up for Farm Aid

16.Painkiller by Judas Priest

A rocker about a motorcycle!

17.Run To The Hills by Iron Maiden

If you know one iron Maiden song this is probably it. the English really sick it to the American settlers in this one. Let's welcome them to my world of mixes!

18.Assassin by Muse

Really channeling Queen in this one

19. All Apologies by Nirvana

What else can I say?

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.

Weekly Mix Tape 47

Happy 2011!
I wish I could tell you that all the mixes recalled would go to 11 but they're pretty much the same old song and dance. This one was from 2006, the songs are good, enjoy buying and listening to these nuggets of pop history. Songs 15-19 might make you want to dance.

1. Bad To The Bone by George Thorogood & The Destroyers

All time classic bar room song and driving song.

2. Can't Stand Me Now by The Libertines
Their songs were so sloppy but so catchy

3. Anything, Anything by Dramarama

This song always sounded like a Smiths melody to me. Anyway it's their first single.

4. Now Is the Time by Damone

Damone get lighter and prettier

5. Old School Hollywood by System of a Down

This song mentions Tony Danza; it's sad.

6. Whiplash by Motörhead

They covered Metalica and made a good sound on this one.

7. Volcano Girls by Veruca Salt

Great song but never caught on as much as their previous hit, "The Seether" did. Mtv didn't get behind it and that was that.

8. Mississippi Queen by Mountain

One of the all time dumb, 70s rockers with tons of cow bell!

9. King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown by Augustus Pablo

Dub can be a good palette cleanser for a mix tape because you can go anywhere from it.

10.World Wide Suicide by Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam's triumphant come back! This song made me think they had rediscovered how to rock but by their next album it was clearly a blip on their downward trajectory.

11. Mockingbirds by Grant Lee Buffalo
 The singer came from Stockton California.
12.Murder, Tonight In the Trailer Park by Cowboy Junkies 
This is a song I loved when it was on the radio and then forgot about it for many years. Trailer Park crime finally had it's theme.

13.Steady As She Goes by The Raconteurs

Ladies and gentlemen, Jack White has left The White Stripes but not really. They put on a great live show.

14.Pure Morning by Placebo

I hated this song until 2006 when suddenly it was huge and wonderful; it took me a nother few years to get into the band.

15.Golden Years by David Bowie

Bowie liked to get his disco soul on and so should you

16.I Love A Man In Uniform by Gang of Four

This band is lauded by critics but I'm not sure why. They rerecorded this song in the 90s with backup singers it was cool.

17.Catholic School Girls Rule by Red hot Chili Peppers

Maybe they do, I'm not really sure anybody has scientifically proven the statement. If somebody does indeed have proof of this please direct me to the article for enlightenment.

18.You Make My Dreams Come True by Hall & Oates

Ear candy from Philadelphia

19.Phenomena by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Hypnotic and howling, Karen O delivers the goods with some psychedelic bass lines.

20.Push Th' little Daisies by Ween

Maybe one of the most notorious songs of the early 90s, Ween figured out a way to drive people crazy, tell off their detractors in weird fashion and path the way for Beck. The video is an accurate time capsule of life in 1992.

21.Alone Again Or by The Damned

This song is a cover I think.

22.Last Goodbye by Jeff Buckley

Buckley was over the top almost in a soul singer kind of way; he drown before he could finish another album after 1994's Grace which also includes his Leonard Cohen cover, Hallelujah

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 46

You will experince the rocking highs of Mt. AC/DC and Peaks of Damone and you will be then dropped into the Abyss Hall & Oates, you will swim through the Sea of Nightrain and a Blue Bayou. Wandering the dark valleys where Siouxsie & The Banshees sing you run from the Wolfmother! Alas it's all a fantasy under strict control of he Dream Police!
Enjoy because I am a dork!

1. That's The Way I wanna Rock & Roll by AC/DC

This almost a lost track in the lexicon of AC/DC, maybe it was because it was contending with more energetic songs of the late 80s

2. Dream Police by Cheap Trick

Epic, synth rocker!  I saw them in 1988 and they did a great show!

3. What Girls Want by Material Issue

It's a funny song and sort of right on

4. Aweful by Hole

I'm not sure which rock star wrote this song for Courtney Love but it is the bands best song. It's a sick overview of being a young girl in Hollywood

5. Out Here All Night by Damone

Boston Rocks! I was delighted and intregued when I first heard this song; it has ballz! Welcome Damone!

6. I Turn My Camera On by Spoon

This song is flacid and a way to shill after too much guitars

7.The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill by The Beatles

Why this song? It's kind of like a kids song; it has a sing along  and sounds cute.

8. Maneater by Hall & Oates

Smooth sax, keyboards, distinct bass . . . this is almost background music for porn but wound up being a top ten hit.

9. No Shelter by Rage Against The Machine

Starts off smooth but gets very agro quickly. This was the best thing about the 1998 Godzilla movie.

10.Live Wire by Mötley Crüe

This is the beginning of a band that got huge, besides the various Tommy Lee, drum stupidy at the end of the song it was one of the groups best tracks.

11.Knock On Wood by Morningwood

Covering disco is a very clever thing indeed

12.Nightrain by Guns N' Roses

Some songs have a life of their own, this song is one of them; it lives in it's own universe of cheap booze

13.Trains to Brazil by Guillemots

Because the Nightrain is a bit too much for some the Train to Brazil is much more nice

14.Disappear by INXS

There is nothing wrong with loving Austrailia's second greates band. They make the people want to dance!

15.Sorry by Buckcherry

Somebody told these guys that singing about partying was nice and all but you have to show the world that there's more to you than that. So Josh and boys wrote a song and apologized for it.

16.Mysteries by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

From the excellent Show Your Bones album.

17.Life Is Sweet by The Start

An L.A. band that is crazy sounding and feels very influenced by the band that follows

18.Love in a Void by Siouxsie & The Banshees

Young and angry and in love, Goth punk at a high level

19.Blue Bayou by Linda Ronstadt

I know it's a Roy Orbison song but I prefer to think of it as hers

20.Haven't Got a Clue by Dramarama

The call in the beginning of the song is from a prankster who harassed a bartender and recorded it. It's horribly funny.

21.Woman by Wolfmother

If you knew me when this song was hot you were annoyed at how much I listened to this Black Sabbath influenced piece. It rocks but alas they never got this bad ass again.

22.We Will Rock You by Queen

Thank you Queen for existing

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 45

 Many new bands on this little guy right here, well new for 2005. This was the first mix made in 2006 and it seems I was looking out for new bands and sticking with the  gold!


1. Gold Lion by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
From one of the best albums of 2006! Karen O shows off her Siouxie pipes in this one.
2.The Passenger by Siouxie & The Banshees
It's a Goth sing along!
3. Departures by Medelia
This is sweeping music complete with agonized vocals
4. Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac
One of the top five breakup songs of all time
5. Jetsetter by Morningwood
Quality pop rock
6. American Gigolo by Weezer
This is kinda' a rocker that turns into typical Weezer. They also throw a little Welcome To The Jungle in it.
7. It's So Easy by Guns N' Roses
So much fire power and attitude. So angry, so horny, so young
8.Growing Up With GNR by Aqueduct
A friend sent this song to me a s a gift; it's cool
9. Prepare for the Fight by The Lovemakers
Bay Area band with keay boards and boy and girl singers, very 80s
10.Send ME an Angel '89 by Real Life
Speaking of keyboards this one haunts us with them
11.Dirty Harry by Gorillaz
This is the chill out song of the mix
12.I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor by Arctic Monkeys
The Arctic Monkeys were supposed to be the next big thing and dubbed the best teenage band in the world
13.Shake by Yin Yang Twins feat. Pitbull
Even I want to dance to this song
14.Bam Bam Sister Nancy
If you love music and know music you love this song or maybe you heard it in an [Adult Swim] promo.
15.Galang by M.I.A.
Before she blew up with Paper Planes
16.Don't Run Wild by The Del Fuegos
Mid 80s Boston Rock!
17.Touch, Peel, Stand by Days of the New
There's areally good rock "Yeah!" in this post grunge era grunge song.
18.Arbeit Macht Frei by The Libertines
Translates to "work will set you free"
19.Outsiders by Franz Ferdinand
This is a little funky and a little trippy but mostly white
20.Cosmopolitan by Nine Black Alps
This band was also supposed to be the next big thing five years ago.
21.Stutter by Elastica
A band that came and went so fast they didn't even say goodbye
22.88 Lines About 44 Women by The Nails
Ending a mix with comedy is always a good thing

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 31

This a strange mix but I like it; it doesn't veer too far in any direction and stays the course of solid. I think I made this mix in early 2005.
enjoy

1. 100% by Sonic Youth
Two minutes and thirty seconds of beautiful noise
2. Dirty Little Thing by Velvet Revolver
Scott Weiland really does his thing on this track; I can see him singing this when his voice comes on
3. Hollywood Nights by Bob Seger
That galloping beat, the story, the emoting all make Mr. Seger deserve more modern props
4. Candy Everybody Wants by 10,000 Maniacs
College music goes mainstream; is this a happy song?
5. Pain by Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World would have been bigger in the 80s as they don't fit our modern ideas of needing to categorize rock bands into sub genres
6. Black Heart by Calexico
Depressing . . .
7. Vertigo by U2
The last good U2 song
8. Ace Of Spades by Motörhead
This is one of the greatest hard rock songs ever and somehow I didn't hear it's first 24 years of public availability.
9. Megalomaniac by Incubus
This is the only Incubus song I can tolerate
10.Magic by Olivia Newton-John
She's straight about it, "We have to believe we are magic, nothing can stand in our way."Olivia's vocals were so seductive on this track I was ready to believe her, roller skates and all
11.Brain Stew by Green Day
I thought for a while this would be Green Day's last song of note but then that American Idiot thing showed up.
12.Callin' Out by Lyrics Born
East Bay style rap; is it better than the Humpty Dance?
13.Fit but You Know It by The Streets
Listen and follow the story; it's funny
14.The Widow by The Mars Volta
Overrated band
15.Slow Hands by Interpol
Sounding like Joy Division and on the top of their game
16.An Honest Mistake by The Bravery
Sounding like New Order and on the top of their game
17.People Who Died by Jim Carroll
Death is funny when it rhymes. R.I.P. Jim
18.The Rat by The Walkmen
For me there was only this song by These guys and then they exploded
19.Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Ladies and gentlemen, Yeah Yeah Yeahs. This is a great song to put on a Mix CD when you're moving away from your loved one or the other way around
20.Rock You Like A Hurricane by Scorpions
EPIC metal from the 80s; if their is one song you need in your collection by these Germans, this is it.

Albums? Top 10? 2000s? Really?

A friend posed to me that top ten albums are more important than a top 100 list of songs. I argued that nobody buys albums so what does it really matter. So this will be a retro tribute to the 90s, 80s, 70s and even the 1960s when the Album concept was launched. We have come 360 in our music listening units, granted it’s no longer on a wax 45s but in a digital MP3; there are no more B-Sides, no more hidden gems to find that are too out there for mainstream radio. Nor will there will be pieces like, “Hey Hey, What Can I do” which didn’t make it to Led Zeppelin’s III album because Jimmy Paige was so messed up he ruined the end of the recording leaving the song to be designated as “The Immigrant Song” B-Side. No more Singles like Sam Cooke’s “Shout” which originally was a two sided single where side A ends as he sings, “Now waaaaaaaaaait a minute . . .” and then the DJ would either have to flip the wax over as quickly as he could or buy a second copy for another turn table.
This countdown will be a memorial to vinyl, cassette and even CD’s which introduced the hidden track. Notables include John Mellencamp’s rendition of the Hombres’, “Let it All Hang Out” and Nirvana’s “Endless and Nameless” that appeared on Nevermind, sort of.

I'm also going to compare this to the Rolling Stone List


Anyway here's the top ten albums of the decade!


1. Elephant (2003), The White Stripes
This isn't the cute White Stripes from before, this is the White Stripes post break up. Jack white is disillusioned, and angry. The opening track, "Seven Nation Army" relays this fury with the pounding bass drum that pulls you through the song down to Wichita via wild horse to get as far from the pain as possible. Through the story of the album Mr. White gets lost, gets angry, gets tender, lonely and gets possessive sometimes all in one song. Even though Meg White sings, "In The Cold, Cold NIght"; it's still Jack's story of desperation. "The Hardest Button to Button" we find our man trying to accept all the bull and swallow his pride. By the finally of the album which is a joyful sing along with Holly Golightly, "Well It's True That We Love One Another" you need it. It offers the hope for the new and the short memory of painful break ups.
Rolling Stone Rank #5


2. Back to Black (2007), Amy Winehouse
So much more than a 1960's R & B tribute, Amy Winehouse delivered one of the best albums about dysfunction we've had in a long, long time; it's no mistake this Album took home Grammy's galore. We travel with Amy as she refuses to get clean on the huge "Rehab", as she finds out her man's been cheating her in "Me & Mr. Jones", as she cheats on her man in "I'm No Good" and as she plays the other woman in the title track all in triumphantly wonderful production. When you follow the story on the album you feel unclean for knowing far too much about her troubled romance but you will go back and listen again because the songs are so complete and make you ask, "What kind of Fuckery is this?"
RSR # 20


3. Is This It? (2000), The Strokes
Yes. Yes, this is it. This bands arrival on the scene was statement that garage bands were still out there even if it was a three car garage band. With a sound that can be compared to The Velvet Underground's less edgy stuff, The Stooges less loud stuff and even the Cars early stuff. The strokes wrote catchy tunes with awesomely crappy low-fi sounding guitar about not getting along with girls. The big single, "Last Night" finds our singer Julian Casablancas crooning about his lack of reason behind walking out on his girlfriend in such a way that nobody in the history of the universe will ever understand. The title track, "Is This It?" he argues with his girl about things that are creating a rift in their romance. Every song on the Album is a joy to listen to and has some drive to it, "The Modern Age" is a fine example of the foot tapping, head nodding effect the songs have.
RSR # 2


4. The Black Album (2003), Jay-Z
He hailed it as his final album and it was remixed by DJ Danger Mouse as the Gray Album (which some find to be a better album) The Black Album containing two totally kick ass and iconic tunes "Dirt of Your Shoulder" and the Rick Rubin rocker, "99 Problems". The album in many ways typical of a rap album as the star boasts but also keeps it real by informing us of his tough roots. As his "final" album Jay-Z goes out on top and from the looks of things he's stayed there . . . just not on this list.
RSR # 14 "The Blue Print" ranked higher




5. Marshal Mathers LP (2000), Eminem
Slim Shady grows up . . . sort of. The second album from Eminem shows us that he still has a soft spot and an cutting edge for pop culture in the mega genre crossing, "The Real Slim Shady" where he makes fun of Mtv's party line expecting to be demonized for it but obviously it didn't work out that way. Some peole say the album is shocking, others hilarious and some call it a very personal work; it is in fact all three at various times. On "The Way I Am" Eminem doesn't defend himself in any other way than stating that he is who is his for better or worse as he explains that he should have to defend himself in the first place but the media likes to pick on him; he even gives a shout out to Marilyn Manson. The Album is the rapper at the cross hair of being a f'd up guy who can't choose between getting high or taking care of his daughter and an entertainer obsessed with the entertainment industry. Sure he says he want to kill his wife but he also dresses up like Britney Spears.
RSR # 7


6. Dangerously In Love (2003), Beyoncé
An R&B diva arrives! Beyoncé releases her first solo album after her career with the many faces of Destiny's Child. The vocals are strong, the songs are gold and the sales were enormous. From the very beginning of the first song, "Crazy In Love" you are pumped with energy and primed to shake your ass on the dance floor. Generally the album is ripe with dance numbers like, "Naughty Girl" which the chanteuse does her best Donna Summer and "Baby Boy" which brings in dance hall rap dude, Sean Paul for some heat. She gets intimate on the tune, "Gift From Virgo". There are several songs to give Beyoncé street cred by including the likes of Big Boy and her man Jay-Z. It's a solid pop collection that at it's best is very enjoyable and at it's worst it's harmless.
RSR # Did Not Rank

7. Weezer (green) 2001, Weezer
The nerds make a comeback! When Hashpipe hit the air I was shocked to find out that the band was still around; I had thought that they sank into 90s oblivion but that was not the case. Not only did this album put them back on the map but it let them expand there sound into more fun style rock pop. "Island in the Sun" is a sweet little melody that is fun to chill out to. "Knock-Down Drag-Out" and "Photograph" are the strong power pop tunes as well.
The Green LP relaunched the bands career making them decade long mainstays releasing catchy tune after catchy tune making a greatest hit album totally awesome!
RSR # Did Not Rank


8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2006), Show your Bones
The sophomore effort from the hipster trio of Williamsburgh and now Silver Lake is a gem. They brought along the acoustic guitar and Karen O got damn catchy in her melodies even venturing into lullaby territory on "Dudly". There is still some anguish in the lyrics but nothing to compare with "Maps" on Fever to tell. The big hit, "Gold Lion" Karen turns into Siouxie Sioux with harrowing wails. On "Phenomena" the bad gets down right dirty, sounding like a stripper's bump and grind, hypnotizing and sexual. This album is the album that sees the band mature from their previous and that's always important for a band that sticks around.
RSR # Did Not Rank but "Fever to Tell" did


9. Gorillaz (2005), Demon Days
Eclectic, danceable and chillable. The cartoon band, The Gorillaz second album takes the elements that made the first album enjoyable and make them gel more cohesively. Hypnotic, melodic and weird are more adjectives to describe the music and while, the ubiquitous "Feel Good In." has a catchy bass line, "DARE" resurrected Sean Ryder from debris of 90s Manchester and stuck his fat head in a video for, Noodle to dance around. The songs found on the Demon Days are surreal dreams put to music, keyboard and beat heavy, Dennis Hopper even lends narration to "Fire Coming Oot Of The Monkey's Head." If there is one album to get high to this decade this is the one.
RSR # Did Not Rank


10. Felt Mountain (2000), Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp's dark, moody masterpiece is not something you'll find yourself walking away from with a smile, even the Goth kids get the shivers when they hear her coo over music that seems from another era, one that never existed. There's circus odd circus notes on "Oompa Radar" that in it's place could send a person on the edge right over. The chilling violins on "Human" that make the listener dread what's about to happen to our siren but when the song breaks out into a samba beat it still seems very dangerous.
This is a trippy, trippy album that needs to be listened to from start to finish; it is a complete work of art not just a collection of songs. The lyrics are somber to fearful almost in that torch song way that can be reminiscent of Portishead if Portishead didn't use beats. Strings, organ, whistling, keyboard whines and odd percussion range from seeping and dramatic to small warnings.
RSR # Did Not Rank


Here's the link to the Rolling Stone Top 100