Weekly Mix #84

Deal with it it's happening more than it should, indie music is sort of groovy. I know it's just a bullshit music industry thing but good music, rock music is now under the dumb moniker of Indie. Unfortunately it's all sort of still self aware without being  balls out. It's the legacy of Nirvana, how to be a Rock Star without losing street cred. I guess wearing clothes from the thrift shop still works.
Listen and enjoy!

 




1. You got Nothing On Me by Mando Diao
They just deliver and maybe it's in that Tom Jones way but I don't care, they make me want to boogie. 


2. You Gotta Lose by Obits
Proving that Sub Pop is still a label and proving that music still happens there.

3. Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly) by The Icicle Works
This is one of my favorite 80s one hit wonders and apparently Eddy Vedder's as well, just listen to Evenflow.

4. Bridge Burning by Foo Fighters
Another good song off the Wasting Light album 


5. Heatseaker by AC/DC

Fucking ridiculous and fucking awesome and that's why AC/DC is so great. They get away with the dumbest stuff and make it sound do good, especially when you want to rock out like a fifteen year old.

6. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie by The Red Hot Chili peppers

They've lost it, they've gotten old and they can't hack it anymore. I wonder if they feel embarrassed for recording Punk Rock Classic now?

7. New York Groove by Ace Frehley

I got into this little jam after hearing it as the them song to some tattoo show taking place in NYC. Frehly's solo album was part of those four solo KISS albums that all came out at the same time.

8. Go Outside by The Cults

It took me a little time to warm up to these buys but now I dig their indie sound.

The Cults: They look like Mazzy Star but aren't

9.Pressure and Time by Rival SonsThese guys give it a solid punch as they try to rock out but the sound is too big for the rest of their surroundings


10. Where Have All the Good Times Gone! by Van Halen

Good question Dave. Sometimes an old rock band still sounds more rock than a modern rock band and they're not even rocking their hardest. Also this song will begin our little voyage to Southern California

11.Each and Every Day by Best Coast
 A lot of energy in the beginning of this tune about trying to convince 


12.This Town by The Go-Go's
Maybe they were inspiration to groups like Best Coast, I don't know. The dark side of the Go-Go's, singing about Hollywood shit and how jaded and desperate the place makes people.

 
13.Beverly Hills by The Circle Jerks
L.A. Punk is so aware of Hollywood and glamor it's a little funny


14.Take the World by She Wants Revenge

I would have never guessed I would like a She Wants Revenge album as much as I do Valleyheart their love song to the Los Angeles they grew up in. This song gets them away from their Joy Division roots and graduates them to Wang Chung

15.To Live and Die in L.A. by Wang Chung

Say what you'd like about this group because I have hated them and then liked them. This is my favorite song of their by far. Why would a British band be right for a movie about crime and police in Los Angeles? This concludes out SoCal musical voyage but the glam still continues.

16.Suicide Blonde by INXS
This was the first single off their X album the follow up to the enormously popular, Kick. The Album didn't do very well due to it's  . . . well I have no idea why. The songs were great but the audience had changed I guess. Maybe the harmonica just didn't sit well with people but This is in my top 10 INXS songs.


17.Scheiße by Lady GaGa

What's the German word for Shit? This song will make you want to go all Euro disco if you haven't already. I'm not a fan of GaGa's latest album as most of the songs sound like scheiße but this one is funny enough to transcend the poop.

18.Otis by Jay-Z & Kanye West

This is what the world has been waiting for, this is the greatest hip hop team up ever, right? Maybe, maybe not but this is a great first single off The Throne

19.Is This It by The Strokes

When I saw them live about eight years ago this was the encore and I thought that it was a weird last song as it's so calm.

 20.I Know You Love me by Peter, Bjorn and John

Another of my favorite albums of 2011, The song off of Gimme Some has that great Scandinavian rock music understanding that American's can't quite seem to get a hold of. With that said it would have been the last song on the mix but I had to pay tribute where tribute was due.

21.Love Is A Losing Game (demo) by Amy WinehouseI was putting this mix together the same time as Ms. Winehouse' passing and was compelled to include one of her songs. This demo version of this song is just her and a guitar and it is stark, painful and a hard tune to pay attention to but it is beautiful.

RIP Amy

Weekly Mix #83

Sometimes I feel that the more I make these mixes the less known the songs are but then I'll look back at the list and feel like I've heard each song a million times. This mix has a section that gets into some sould real and otherwise but that's really the only neat transition . . . well the last two songs work really well together but if you have any heartbeat you'll be a slobbering mess after listening to them.

1. Rope by Foo Fighters
Keeping the hopes and dreams of Rock alive after a longer stretch of success than I would have ever though.
2. Heartbreaker by Led Zeppelin
I never think of this as one my favorite Zep songs but it always satisfies, always gets me feeling good.
3. Impressed by Charlie Sexton
This was a minor hit back in 1985. He had big hair and the video was very 80s

4. Punching In a Dream by Naked and Famous
the best music I've heard from New Zealand since . . . Crowded House?
5. California by EMA
"Fuck California, you made me boring" EMA laying it down like a punk but sounding like a performance artist. There aren't too many anti California songs out there but this number fills that void for 2011.

6. Come Undone by Duran Duran
One of my favorite DD songs.
7. Two Against One  by Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi
Jack White sings the vocals on this song, I think it's from the TV series Rome
8. My Body by Young the Giant
It's a sing along and sing alongs are very dangerous ans subversive as is dance music! Think about what dance music gets people to do.
9. Angela Surf City by The Walkmen
I always want The Walkmen to be better than they are but they haven't done better than The Rat. This song is pretty enjoyable in it's surf type feel.

10.Surfin' U.S.A. by The Beach Boys
Groovy song from 1963, a song that creates something that doesn't really exist anywhere but in our imagination.
11.Taken for a Fool by The Strokes
I though this new album would be great but it was sort of flat. This is one of the high lights however.
12.Come Closer by Miles Kane
This song sounds like Beady Eye but it's not. So it's catchy Brit pop sounding stuff.
13.Gloria by Mando Diao
Damn this song is good! Scandinavia out performs America again. It may ll be show tunes but the passion behind this song is powerful sounding. It's got a great slick video too!
14.Sinister Kid by The Black Keys
They got opne speed and that's soulful funk without soul of funkiness, impressive.
15.Respect by Otis Redding
The original before Aretha Franklyn got her hands on it and made it huge. Otis' version is more brassy and funky and just as enjoyable.

16.Old Tyme Religion by Hugo
Is this song a joke? It sounds like it might be with it's modern take on low-fi soul
17.Even Flow by Pearl Jam
Happy 20 years guys. Eddy belts it like nobody's business even if back then everybody wanted his business.

18.New Direction by Black Lips
There was a buzz about this band that never triumphed above that murmer
19.The No No Song by The Sounds
So catchy and so cool. I always wonder why these guys never had a monster hit.
20. Goodbye, Dear Friend by Deer tick
Really this song should only be listened to if you want to be depressed, if the mood is dark and you can take it. It makes me want to cry in no good way.
21.Bridge Over troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
On the other side of tears this will give you hope if you were feeling lost after that list track.

Weekly Mix #82

There's some new music worth listening to on this mix as well as some older gems that I needed to have on here for whatever reason was so crucial at that time. This almost seems like a party mix with a couple exceptions
go and find these songs and listen to 'em

1. I Wanna Be Adored by The Stone Roses

Some songs should have been used already like this one. I love it to death in all of it's Madchesterness!

2. So Far by Buckcherry

This is actually the same type of song as above but it sounds nothing like it. These sleazy Hollywood boys were supposed to bring back the glory days of the Sunset Strip but it just never happened.

3. White Limo by Foo Fighters

Welcome back boys! going on and going strong.

4.Make Some Noise by Beastie Boys

Still funky after all these years! This is the best song they've released in over a decade and one of the best songs of the year. the video is funny too.

5.Blow by Ke$ha

This is a party jam and it is dumb but what can you do.

6.Hold Back the Rain by Duran Duran

So funky, so English. I love the classic Duran Duran a little too much

7. Yeah Yeah Yeah by The Sounds

I love their keyboard sound and their Blondie look

8. Lies of the Beautiful People by Sixx A.M.
Nicky Sixx' other band
9. Beatles and Stones by Beady Eye
Not the song by the House of Love
10.Dance The Night Away by Van Halen
I don't usually think about dancing when I think of Van Halen
11.Degeneration Street by The Dears

I have no clue if this is parallel or crosses Fascination Street or Desolation Boulevard.

12.Needle In The Hay by Elliott Smith

and then he killed himself

12.For 12 by Other Lives
This s dream rock . . . I think.
13.Poison Ivy by Faster Pussycat
Sucky Glam Rock but I get into it
14.The Boy looked at Johnny by The Libertines
Back when this band was the buzz, back when people though they mattered

15.Tomorrow Has To Wait by Peter Bjorn and John
Love these guys, beards and all.
16.You're So Right by The Strokes
Another song from their 2011 album
17.Be Your Bro by Those Darlins
This is just a funny song about wanting to be friends with a boy

18.Tiny Dancer by Elton John
This is a very famous song! Not just Almost Famous
19.Rave On by Buddy Holly
I think this is my favorite song by him
20.Going Out In Style by Dropkick Murphys
In love with Boston? Well, here's the band for you!

Weekly Mix #79

Oh Boy! 2011 is here for the mixes which means there aren't very many to go. Much of this mix was made after one of the best weeks in music release memory where it seemed like everything good came out!

1. In a Big Country  by Big Country

Bagpipes! 80s rock! It didn't get any bigger for these Scottish dudes. The singer killed himself a few years back from what I hear.

2. Under Cover of Darkness by The Strokes

The Strokes are back!!! In my mix world they've been around forever but in the real world this was the first album in years and the single is delightfully Strokestacular!

3. Breaker, Breaker by Peter, Bjorn and John
This is the best thing the boys of PB&J have done since they blessed us with the ubiquitous ,Young Folks. Worth the wait, maybe.
4. 1,000,000 by R.E.M.

Their first single ever which nobody heard outside of Atlanta for years, you gotta love that 1980s indie rock!

5. Sing by My Chemical Romance

They got lots of play from this song, especially on some add for some TV show.

6. Being Followed by Duran Duran

I love it, I love their come back album!

7. Everybody Have Fun Tonight by Wang Chung

Stupid but fun. Wang Chung will make another appearance with us in the not too distant future.

8. Twenty Yards behind by Dr. Feelgood

Ska! Ska! Ska!

9. Let England Shake by PJ Harvy

It has been a long time between PJ Harvy listens for me but I'm glad I listened to this new song.

10.S and M by Rihanna

Club Music!

11.Communication by The Power Station

This was their third single and it was damn catchy for dorks like me.

12.Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away) by Mötley Crüe

Better words have rarely been spoken

13.Guilty Girls by BuffaloTom

Back from the dead, Buffalo Tom get really catchy and good!

14.Kiss Me On The Bus by The Replacements

Feel good indie rock 1985 style! For me R.E.M and The Matts will always be linked by that college radio of the 80s thing

15.Silver Lining by Rilo Kiley

they'll never get better than Portions for Foxes but they will make some decent tunes.

16.U Should Know Better by Robyn & Snoop Dogg

weird duo but it works and it works well in the Euro disco way

17.Wrong by Depeche Mode

Not a good song to listen to in the middle of the night even though I can't think of any other time I'd want to hear it.

18.Thrones by The Dears

Canadian Rock's best band currently. Arcade Fire and eat a dick straight up.

19.The Crystal Ship by The Doors

Crooning must continue. What is the Crystal Ship anyway?

20.Miss Misery by Elliott Smith
This song would make me kill myself too. This song should have won the Oscar for best song from a motion picture but Celine Dion got it with, My Heart Will Go On, lame. Honestly when you compare the two performances Celine should be embarrassed.

21.Hush by Kula Shaker

It's almost the same as Deep Purple's but is it better than when Charlatans UK did it in the late 80s?

22.Bad Medicine by Bon Jovi
More organ? Let's end on a high rocker!

Listen to it here!

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 # 61

The First Mix I made in 2009, very early on. Much of it is a time traveling experience that makes me feel like I'm in the showy, glitzy side of the 1960s. While other parts of it are not anything like that. Enjoy and listen and buy, help stimulate the economy, one song at a time!

1. Touch Me by The Doors
I am setting the mood and kicking things off with possibly the cheesiest song The Doors ever did; it's as if Tom Jones took over. if I was around in the sixties and a fan of the band I'm sure I would have wondered what the hell was up with them and why weren't they on drugs!
2. Valerie by Amy Winehouse

Another Mark Ronson produced gem; this is a cover. Something about this number just gets me feeling all right.

3. She's a Lady by Tom Jones
It's been brewing for a little while but Mr. Jones has finally made his way to the mixes with this late sixties sizzler. In case you're not familiar with Tom, he was the original panty dropper as it is said that women of all ilk would toss their undergarments on stage when he played.
4. If Looks Could Kill by Camera Obscura

A San Francisco band who were from the 00s but lived in the 60s. Continuing the trend this tune could be from girl group with a tyranical producer behind them.

5. Three Decades by The Horrors

The follow up to their intense, creepy, dark rock album the Horrors began getting more sweeping with their keyboards and the vocals are bigger. It's a bit psychedelic.

6. Baby Love by the Supremes

Ms. Ross and the ladies deliver the real Motown deal in this ear candy of a song.

7. I Kissed A Girl by KatyPerry

Bringing us firmly in the present a young, devoutly Christian chick discovers a B side to her sexuality and scores a huge hit. Strangely this tune is kinda' raw compared to her future hits like, California Gurls but it does let us know that she is a bit wacko.

8.Hit The Road Jack by Ray Charles

Taking the hint from Ms. Perry the blind smack fiend gets his ass outta' Georgia and on the road.

9. See What I Wanna See by The Lovemakers

Back to the present day the Lovemaker's sophomore effort produced this funny song about not being a ho . . . I think.

10.Waiting for the Rapture by Oasis

One heavy bass drop deserves another., Oasis was inspired heavily by the sixties, right? The last Liam Gallagher album.

11.One Of a Kind by Placebo

They are about as creepy as The Horrors and just as British.

12.Shadowplay by The Killers

Covering Joy Division Brandon Flowers and the boys do a good job.

13.I Just Wanna Love U (Give it 2 Me) by Jay-Z

Sampling great 70s soul is a good idea for the biggest rap star of the decade.

14.Pretty Tied Up by Guns N' Roses

Autobiographical songs are cool I guess.

15.Zombie Grave yard by Be Your Own Pet

They rocked and now they are gone

16.Juicebox by The Strokes

Borrowing the bass line from the Munster's theme, The Strokes do good in what would be their last album for 6 years.

17.Anyone Else But You by The Moldy Peaches

They got a popular song when it was used in that Juno movie. A movie with a myriad of things that led into and came out of it.

18.Smokin' in The Boys Room by Mötley Crüe

Good time rock for good time folks. I've never smoked in the boys room actually so I don't know if it's all it's cracked up to be.

19.These Boots Are Made for Walkin' by Nancy Sinatra

And we're back to the sixties again! this song gained more popularity in the 90s when it appeared in Austin Powers International man of Mystery as the fembots shot bullets from their . . . err . . . guns.

20.Little Green bag by George Baker Selection

This is another song that got noticed again in a movie, this time it was Reservoir Dogs.

21. Relator by Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson

I'm pretty sure Pete just wanted to get into Scarlett's knickers and so he recorded a whole album with her proving that Winona didn't obliterate his career. Scarlett doesn't sing poorly but she does sound a bit lazy.

22.Love is a Stranger by Martha Wainwright

Yup, this is Rufus' sister and she does a great version of the Eurythmics song that while feels completely different than the original is just as good.

23.Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond

If Tom Jones is coming over than I'm getting out my Neil Diamond records too. Without this song, Red Sox fans would have nothing to do during the 7th inning stretch.

24.Distant Dreamer by Duffy
I love this song; it is ethereal and perfectly wistful; I think this has to be Duffy's best song to date. This also completes our sixties pop fetish.

Weekly Mix #55

New Arrivals! peter Bjorn and John, Amy Winehouse, Cold War Kids, Justin Timberlake, Silversun Pickups and the Horrors! This mix was better than I thought! On this mix I started to put more emphasis on new music rather than a couple new tunes surrounded by oldies, for better or worse I think it works very well here! So go and listen, the Heretix song is hard to find btw.


1. Enter Sandman by Metallica

Before this song Metallica was a speed metal band that terrified all. The black album was released and suddenly they were just a big rock metal band that made more money than ever before.

2. Down by Stone Temple Pilots

This is a good song to have as an alarm in the morning. This may be the last ++ song they did.

3. Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John

PB&J gave whistlers something hot! There's a sweet melancholy in the romance of this Scandinavian band's biggest hit to date. We can welcome them to the mixes too.

4. You Know I'm No Good by Amy Winehouse

From 2007's best album, Amy Winehouse got very real with us in her do wop, soul way.

5. The Chauffeur by Duran Duran

Off one of the great 80s albums, Rio. In live shows, Simon does poetry to this song and whips about a flute from his trousers . . . AWESOME!

6. Sexyback by Justin Timberlake
This song was so huge it even made me want to dance and up until this song I loathed Justin Timberlake and all his mouse buddies.
7. Big Man With A Gun by Nine Inch Nails

Loud, short and nasty

8.Sick, Sick, Sick by Queens of the Stone Age

This song does in fact sound ill

9. Crazy by Patsy Cline

A classic bar room song and heartbroken song

10.You Only Live Once by The Strokes
The New York Boys seemed to loose steam on their third album; it would be five years until their next release.
11.Awake by Letters To Cleo

This song was supposed to be huge for the Boston band; it was supposed to be their big second hit after their song, Here and Now that was on the Melrose Place soundtrack. Never happened for 'em.

12.Sherriff by Heretix

One good Boston band follows the other.

13.Got Me Wrong by Alice In Chains

Let's set the way back machine to 1992 when Alice and Chains came out with their Sap EP.

14.For the Girl by The Fratellis

This song is pleasant

15.Baby, Please Don't Go by Aerosmith

This is from Aerosmith's old rock rhythm and blues album; it was sort of silly as everything sounds too slick.

16.Walk Away by James Gang

Joe Walsh playing guitar and being the man before he got drafted by the Eagles to make them rock.

17.Icky Thump by The White Stripes

Not their best effort but still so good!

18.Hang Me Up to Dry by Cold War kids

 Good song by a little known band

19.She Is The New Thing by The Horrors
Organ is back in a creepy Adam's Family rock style
20.Identify by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Critics loved them for a while but for me this album was the only one worth it's balls
21.Common Reactor by Silversun Pickups.

I like this song tons! I liked it much more than their single at the time,  Lazy eye. If Billy Corgan wasn't so insane and full of himself this is what the fourth Smashing Pumpkins album would have sounded like and there would have been great rejoicing instead of a collective, "whateveh" I hope you like reverb!

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 Tape Pt 26

This one was also done back in 2002. It continues my Aerosmith adoration as well as my discover of that trippy band, Clinic. I first heard them in a Border's book store while on the 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica where Patricia Richardson was being shown the way to a private bathroom. Please make an attempt to listen to new music and enjoy some of these songs.

1. Without Me by Eminem
From Marshal Mathers' third album, I first heard this song in Las Vegas
2. Big Ten Inch Record by Aerosmith
The bad boys of Boston at their innuendo best
3. I Can't Explain by The Who
I put this in as filler, no lie
4. Time Bomb by Rancid
This song was everywhere back in the mid 90s; it's kinda' turned into classic rock
5. Santeria by Sublime
If you are smart you will stay away from Santeria
6. Play With Fire by The Rolling Stones
Don't play with fire and don't mess with the Stones
7. Fell In Love With A Girl by The White Stripes
They do their best Buzzcocks tune and never again do they play like this
8. Clash City Rockers by The Clash
Not their best song
9. Just A Girl by No Doubt
The Song that started it all for this band from the Tragic Kingdom
10.Toxicity by System Of A Down
As time goes by this songs seems less interesting
11.California Dreamin' by The Mamas & The Papas
A 60s anthem about getting out of the cold and getting west
12.Walking With Thee by Clinic
Ladies and Gentlemen, Clinic the faceless band from England. One of the best bands to never make a blip in the U.S.
13.Sweetness by Jimmy Eat World
This is a nice little song by a little band
14.Dope Nose by Weezer
He alludes to Welcome to The Jungle . . . Awesome!
15.Barely Legal by The Strokes
Another great song from Is This It?, One of the best albums of the 00s
16.Bedbugs and Ballyhoo by Echo & The Bunnymen
That;s the way the bee bumbles
17.Sick & Tired by Cardigans
I saw them play live and they were great
18.A.K.A. I-D-I-O-T by The Hives
Frenetic!
19.B.O.B. by Outkast
This is Oukasts first voyage into a mix of mine, also my favorite song of theirs, Bomb Over Baghdad
20.Mama Told Me Not To Come by Three Dog Night
This song always makes me giggle
21.Can't Do A thing To Stop Me by Chris Isaak
Mr. Isaak would later become more creepy but not by much
22.Rise by Public Image Ltd.
All the anger in the world through Johnny Rotten in the 70s became this in the 80s

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 25

I think this one is alright! This was the first mix I made in the year 2002 so you can seea bit of new bands starting to show up. Not all these songs are easy to find. Enjoy

1. Back In The Saddle By Aerosmith
it's a great way to start a mix and a great way to start an album
2. Automatic Schmuck by The Hives
Welcome to the world of my mixes
3. You're pretty Goo Looking (For A girl) by The White Stripes
One of the many faces of The White Stripes
4. Stupid Girl by The Rolling Stones
The Stones get a little bubbly in beat and mean lyrically
5. I Don't Mind by The Buzzcocks
Punk pop pioneers from England
6. Single Girl by Lush
Good little band
7. One Love by The Stone Roses
I believe this is one of the secret recordings the band did while fighting their contract with Silvertone records
8. Here She Comes Now by The Velvet Underground
More songs about drugs
9. Someday by The Strokes
Still in the shadow of New York Bands of the past
10.Hella Good by No Doubt
IS this a dance tune? I don't know
11.Oops by Tweet
Dirty, dirty girl, her only appearance
12.Forgot About Dre by Dr. Dre Fear. Eminem
Some people hate this song because it's not on the first Chronic album
13.Burn Hollywood Burn by Public Enemy
Hollywood movies suck
14.Hotel California by The Eagles
The ideals of California are a lie
15.White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)by Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel
Nancy Reagan loved this song
16.Madness by Madness
This song makes the air seem drunk
17.Sadness by Porno For Pyros
"I got the devil in me"
18.Supernatural by The 360's
Another reason why this band was so good
19.A Drug Against War by K.M.F.D.M.
German industrial techno, bitches
20.Pain For Pleasure by Sum 41
It's cool when a band does a song about their influences
21.King of Rock by RUN-D.M.C.
"I made the devil tell me sell his soul" Brilliant!

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 24

Here it is you Weekly mix of songs that fit nicely onto an 80 minute CD. This mix is better than it looks.

1. One Step Beyond by Madness
Great name for a band and one the best openings to a song!
2. Fuel by Metallica
This song should start the Mix or another mix
3. Can U Dig It? by Pop Will Eat Itself
Late 80s techno is so tasty!
4. 19-2000 by Gorillaz
Dorky and fun song
5. Hay Baby by No Doubt
So what if I like this song
6. Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones
The beginning to this song gets me every time, hooked!
7. Chop Suey by System Of A Down
System Of A Down peaked on this song
8. Machinehead by Bush
Back in the day that this rocked it was a sign that nothing much in music was happening
9. Fat Lip by Sum 41
Punk for 1st graders but very funny
10.Agony by The Muffs
More punk for 1st graders
11.The Modern Age by The Strokes
Too many varieties . . .
12.The Middle by Jimmy Eat World
If they never released another song after this I would have been happy. This is from the album Bleed American Which some people though was negative in the wake of 9/11
13.Judy Is A Punk by The Ramones
It broke her parents heart too
14.Hungry Like A Wolf by Duran Duran
A song like this could only be recorded by Duran Duran nobody else could bring the earnestness to it.
15.Sandwiches by Detroit Grand Pubahs
This song is so weird but so inectious
16.Fever by Madonna
This is dumb dance song
17.Get The Party Started by Pink
This song is so much worse in retrospect than I once thought it was
18.Someday I Will Treat You Good by Sparklehorse
This song was stuck in my head for years before I commited to buying the CD
19.Judy Staring at The Sun by Catherine Wheel (with Tanya Donnelly)
Tanya sang with Throwing Muses, The Breeders and Belly
20.Trust by K.M.F.D.M.
Does not stand for Kill Moth Fucking Depeche Mode
21. Living After Midnight by The Donnas
This is what 4 barely legal girls covering Judas Priest sound like

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 23

Alright here's your listening fun for the week that will fit onto a CD if you are so inclined or a tape cassette with 45 minute sides each. The Story on this mix starts with Waiting for the man and carries through the end of the mix; it ain't hard to see what I'm getting at.

1. Cult Of Personalty by Living Colour
Great band with a limited future, what happened? They were an alternative band pre Nirvana who rocked; they should have lasted the 90s.
2. No Competition by Brassy
The singer, Muffin is John Spencer's sister
3. People That We Love by Bush
Originally called "Speed Kills" this single came from the album Golden State; it had an airplane silhouette on it. They changed the song title and removed the airplane as it was set to drop just after 9/11 2001
4. Cry by Creme & Godley
Two producers made there own song; it's a deep sound.
5. Down In It by Nine Inch Nails
Late 80s industrial gave birth to . . .
6. Burn Like Brilliant Trash (At Jackie's Funeral) by Machines of Loving Grace
early 90s industrial
7. Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go) by Garbage
This is not my favorite song about a transvestite
8. People Of The Sun by Rage Against The Machine
Rockers of the world Unite!
9. I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow by The Soggy Bottom Boys
Form O Brother, Where Art Thou?
10.Please Mr. Postman by Backbeat Band
This band was made up from dudes in Soul Asylum and Afghan Wigs; it's from the movie Backbeat
11.Our Lips Are Sealed by The Go-Go's
Started as a love letter and ended up a hit song
12.I'm Waiting For The man by The Velvet Underground
Here's where the story begins. VU, one of the coolest bands of all time.
13.Last Night by The Strokes
Let's welcome The Strokes into the mix tape anthology; they but out the best album of 2000, borrowing heavily from their New York City Rock ancestors.
14.Punk by Gorillaz
This is not punk
15.Something Else by Sid Vicious
This is not punk
16.Radio Radio by Elvis Costello
This is not punk
17.Breed by Nirvana
This is punk
18.Heroine by The 360's
One of the best unknown bands from Boston, I've been on the last car of the last train on the orange line, they ain't kiddin' around.
19.The Twelve Steps by Spiritualized
After the drugs you got to get to get clean
20.Shattered by The Rolling Stones
But then again, this is Rock n' Roll! Best song about New York Sucking!
21.Bennie And the Jets by Elton John
This song always reminds me of central park in the summer even though it was recorded in a studio in France.

00s Countdown: The Top 10!!!

Yours is not mine and that's the important thing here as we get down to the nitty gritty of the countdown, the final 10 songs that seem to me to be the ones that deserve to be. If you read the top 10 albums of the decade this will make more sense.

10. It's a Wonderful Life by Sparklehorse
Dreamy, somber and lyrically a bit off, "It's a Wonderful Life" has nothing to do with the Jimmy Stewart movie you see every December. It was a hit but the song sticks in the mind life the odor of fresh bread in the morning.




9. Young Folks By Peter Bjorn and John
PB & J caught your ear with a whistle and a eerie mix of melancholy and hope. Theygot into your ear with that sweet echoing whistle that eaither hooked you or revolted you or in many a case, both. It's just a simple boy meets girl song that could as well in 70s R&B format as it did in modern rock format.



8. Paper Planes by M.I.A.
Thanks to the Clash, M.I.A. got huge! The "Straight to Hell" sample taken out of context is not so sad but still cold to the spine. So she says this song is about driving a cab but I think this means something different than it does to me.



7. Hash Pipe by Weezer
I could have gone with "Beverly Hills" but this one returned the 90s sweater wearing geeks to the limelight. The song is driving and could be tough if it weren't by Weezer.



6. Lose Yourself by Eminem
Embracing movie magic Mr. Mathers got an Oscar for this song about wanting fame, getting fame and living life unhappy. Why this song over, "The Real Slim Shady" or "Without me"? Eminem keeps his habds to himself rather than taking off color jabs at his peers. I never saw "8 Mile" but I hear he lives in a trailer and dates Brittany Murphy



5. Welcome Home by Coheed & Cambria
Welcome to the world of Rock n' Roll heaven! It is epic and powerful like the hammer of the gods, yes I mean Led Zeppelin. The songs makes you desire a long drive preferably in a van with a wizard painted on the side.




A note about the top four: An argument for each of these songs can be made for any of the top 4 slots including number one; it really depends on what constitutes your ranking system for me it's just arbitrary which may or may not send one into a violent rage over the miscellaneous order they've been presented with. I still don't know if any of these songs will be thought about in a few years or if there will be such a backlash against the worst decade ever that all things 2000s will be snarled at like the 1970s were for nearly 30 years. It's possible this is a reason for the lack of any hip-hop in the final four; the music even to it's biggest fans has always had a disposable tag on it. I've entered discussion with rap fans about older songs and am usually put down by a scoff about the song being old and not worth bring up. One can make the same argument with dance music as well, while the song is hot it is the greatest thing thing ever but once it's been overplayed and something else has come along, the piece is discarded until it comes back around at weddings and retromance TV shows, nostalgia programming if you will. So why does rock get to han around for longer? Are fans of the genre stuck in their youth? Is rock n' roll's lexicon so brilliantly better than others? Are rock fans fetishists? I don't know but it does seem that for past ten to fifteen years that even the most mediocre bands like Quiet Riot, Great White or Ratt can ride the retread music circuit playing small gigs for quite some time; there's always some dude that wants to hear, "Round and Round" just one more time.

4. Last Night by The Strokes
Sing along with the strokes song about being a 20 something year old dude wanting something he can't put his finger on. This is New York rock in the 2000s, love it or hate it it was low-fi and reminiscent of the 1970s.



3. Rehab by Amy Winehouse
She won so many Grammys for singing about loving her vice that the weight snapped her brittle bones. Her 60s flavored R&B tale was catchy and seemed to hit a chord with people who love to drink.

She may never win a beauty contest but at least she's got pipes

2. SexyBack by Justin Timberlake
Even I wanted to dance when I heard this disco! Some songs have a life of their own creating lingo and small economies, this track is one of them. Though the song isn't really about anything other than being cool and it's all good.

Justin showing us how to get your Sexyback

1. Seven Nation Army By The White Stripes
What can I say about this raw, angry, heartbroken song that has a massive thundering bass drum beat carrying you through to end? It has a "bass" line that is hypnotic a guitar solo that feels like the brae of wild stallion struggling for it's life and lyrics that are cryptic yet very understandable like all the best.

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