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

This is one f the best songs of it's era, morose, bizarre lyrically and big hair. The video is very 80s as well.

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.

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.

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 # 73

Another week another mix! This one has some sort of theme I think, can we find it through the music? Obviously by the end it all comes around.

1. California Gurls by Katy Perry (feat Snoop Dogg)
One of 2010's huge hit songs and put the chick who bragged about missing girls into mega stardom, getting her a crazy husband.

 
2. Elephant Flares by Redd Kross
Kind of a cult band, kind of the band that only music geeks know and the fact that they're covering Roky Erikson makes it even more precious.

3. My Eyes Have Seen You by The Doors
Television skies . . . Awesome!

 
4. Telephone by The Black Angeles
If the 60's were the 10's

 
5. Draw Japan by The Horrors
More creepy music from I guess one of my favorite albums of that year

 
6. Corvette bummer by Beck
Bonus track from the Loser CD single; it's groovy and dumb but great!

7. The Inevitable Relapse by Filter
Not bad for a comeback that didn't return. The end of the song however flows beautifully into the next one.

 
8. Steppin' Up by M.I. A.
Transitions are so important in a mix and this song picks up so well from the last it's like magic.

 
9. Chase The Tear by Portishead
A speedy Portishead tune that sounds like something off of the Flash Gordon Soundtrack and in the end suddenly become the next song on the mix like it was meant to be!

10.Baby Jane by Rod Stewart

Is this Rod at his best or creepiest? I don't know but the song has always left me feeling raw.

11.Rocks Off by The Rolling Stones
Great Stones! This is one of the reasons people loved Exile On Main Street!

 
12.Personality Crisis by New York Dolls
They were supposed to be the American Stones but they failed and Aerosmith took over.

 
13.Pink Houses by John Cougar Mellencamp
Wave the flag and get down to basics. This is one of those big 80's America songs

 
14.Take Your Mama by Scissor Sisters
Queer music for everybody

 
15.Take it Off by The Donnas
girl groups never sounded so horny

 
16.Rockin' My Life Away by Jerry Lee Lewis feat. Kid Rock & Slash
All Killer no filler. Jerry Lee Lewis has been said to be the devil.

 
17.Vanity Kills by Codeine Velvet Club
Songs that make you wonder what year it is aren't bad

 
18.100 Years from Now by Karen Elson
Old timey throw back tune 

19.Stacy's Mom by Fountains of Wayne
This is like a lost Car's track and it's great! Sorry there's no real Car's song to follow just . . .

 
20.Steal My Sunshine by Len
If you don't like this song you're pretentious; it's just that simple.

 
21.California Girls by The Beach Boys
Every Blue blooded American boy loves this song even if it means all the local hotties wouold be whisked away to Los Angeles . . . doesn't that happen anyway?

pop music looks so weird sometimes!

Weekly Mix #62

As a reminder these Mixes are all 80 minutes or less to fit on a CD. That notion is sort of old school I guess but how else would one person gift another person a play list; I suppose you could gift each song to somebody but that's weird. I'm sure people who are much more savvy than I have better ways of sharing music but I'm just a simple dude who is always in the dark about tech stuff.
Anyhow this mix is another  2009 ensemble; it's was a little weak and tossed together when I first made it but I eventually went back and moved around some of the songs to be more cohesive and flow better. The newest songs on the mix are certainly not the big hits from the year though it seems that I know knew them best from their placement in television adds. That's sad when I hear the newest music in car and cellphone commercials instead of the radio or whatever.

1. Dead And Bloated by Stone Temple Pilots
The more time that passes the more I realize that Core is a classic album of it's era up there with Nevermind, Dirt and Ten. This is how that album started and this is how this mix starts!
2. Bag It Up by Oasis
A stomping, plodding rocker, not bad but not good enough to get them back to their supersrar status of the mid 90s.
3. You Make Loving Fun by Fleetwood Mac
Groovy seventies hits for all! Christine McVie on vocals.
4. Foundations by Kate Nash

One relationship ditty deserves another. This is a funny and sad breakup song or at least it wants to be a breakup song which is what makes it sad.

5. Thank You Boys by Jane's Addiction
The band that defined alternative rock gets a little jazzy
6. Take Five by Dave Brubeck
West coast jazz at it's most popular
7.  It was a Good Day by Ice Cube

From West Coast Jazz to West Side Rap. Maybe the best song on the mix and definitely Ice Cubes best tune. I'm not gonna lie if i had a day this this I'd want to rap about it too.

8. Two Weeks by Grizzly Bear
This song was in several commercials throughout the year. The album Veckatimest is named after an island off the coast of Massachusetts.
9. Hippi Luv by The Wolfmen
From bears to wolves. Groovy big tune that I've never heard anywhere but my stereo.
10.Bus Stop by The Hollies

The original Manchester band. This is a great melody and a nice little love song!

11.Time Has Come Again by The Last Shadow Puppets
This song should have been on the last mix but here it is in it's echoes and mope
12.Black Grease by The Black Angels

Groovy Sixties inspired rock from England. Welcome to the mixes guys!

13.Iron Man by Black Sabbath

More Black bands without black members. This song is brutal. It is about war and revenge and all things metal. If you put your trust in war it will kill ya'! Best part of the song is when the Iron Man start laying waste to the people who once relied on him for protection but then shunned him for his wickedness. "Heavy boots of Lead"

14.I Cut Like  a Buffalo by The Dead Weather

Jack White is back with another band, gone are the White Stripes, gone are the Raconteurs. This is a stoner's dream.

15.Count In Fives by The Horrors

because organ can be so cool when done right, hers' another tune that exploits the instrument's awesomeness. Another excellent tune from the Strange House album.

16.Dead End Friends by Them Crooked Vultures
John Paul Jones is back and playing with Dave Grohl and Josh Holme. I was a bit let down by this project but this song has grown on me.
17.Youth Gone Wild by Skid Row

One of the last glam metal bands of the eighties to get big, Skid Row's anthem was this number. I think the singer, Sebastian Bach even tattooed it on his arm.

18.Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler
Some lush always sings this song at Karaoke bars. If you were a child of the eighties you may recall the unusual video here's the version that will clear the whole thing up. (Click me) 
19.On My Way by Billy Boy On Poison

This song was used in some commercials for cold medicine I think. It's a cool rock song with blues lyrics

20.They're Red Hot by The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Covering Robert Johnson and covering it very fast. It's cute I suppose.
21.Let It All Hang Out by The Nails

Covering the Hombres, The Nails do a good job with this one and make them more than the band that did 88 Line about 44 Women