Episode #8: Bittersweet Series Vol. I

I’ve always had an obsession with break-up mix tapes. I guess that’s how I began what I refer to as the Bittersweet Series several years ago. I thought the name (albeit a little sappy) was a great way to describe the music I chose to put together – songs simultaneously pleasant and painful (not necessarily about break-ups). However, some volumes I created have tendencies that lean toward one side or the other. This seventh installation is seemingly more towards the bitter, feeling-sorry-for-yourself side. Despite that inclination, I feel that these songs are so powerful that you still will want to hear them even when things are looking up. Perhaps just pensive walk alone is what this mix calls for.

That’s what I always found fascinating about music: you can always find a connection to certain songs regardless where you are in your emotional calendar. One simple fact remains – a good song is a good song.

Give it a listen and I hope you enjoy.

P.S. This is the first podcast of the Bittersweet Series so be on the lookout for volumes to come later.

Track listing:
1) All For The Best (5:29) – Thom Yorke
2) I’m Only Sleeping (3:00) – The Beatles
3) Spirit In The Night (5:00) – Bruce Springsteen
4) Revenge (4:54) – Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse feat Wayne Coyne of Flaming Lips
5) Ram On (2:27) – Paul McCartney
6) Blue Light (2:47) – Bloc Party
7) How Will You Meet Your End (4:02) – A.A. Bondy
8) Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) (3:49) – George Harrison
9) In My Dreams (3:23) – Eels
10) Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (1:52) – The Smiths
11) Apathy (2:55) – Elizabeth & the Catapult
12) Island, IS (4:09) – Volcano Choir
13) Angel From Montgomery (3:45) – John Prine
14) Made In The Dark (3:00) – Hot Chip
15) Feeling The Pull (2:21) – The Swell Season
16) Blue Skies (4:08) – Noah And The Whale
17) Grow Old With Me (3:05) – John Lennon

Cut of the Week 11/24/09

I've always been a huge fan of Sublime and I was just reminded of that as they reappeared in the news recently. The band's surviving members attempted to perform under the name Sublime, which was ultimately blocked by the late lead singer's (Brad Nowell) estate. They have no problem with the surviving members, Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, performing Sublime material but do object to any band calling themselves Sublime without the presence of Brad Nowell.

This is "Get Out!" a track that was only included on some versions of Sublime's 1992 cult classic, 40 Oz. To Freedom.

Episode #7: Going Acoustic

I’ve always liked the intimacy of the acoustic performance, regardless of whether it’s done live or in the studio. There is a fresh perspective that is lent to a song when an artist decides to strip down the instrumentation to the barest essentials, usually just a guitar and the singer’s voice. Even old standby material can sound new, and for that reason I chose some selections from several well-known bands such as Oasis, U2, and Radiohead to illustrate how the acoustic version can give such a song a second life. An acoustic rendition can also give someone else’s song a unique feel, heard here with great covers performed by Sublime, Elliott Smith, and Nirvana.

Give it a listen and enjoy.

Track listing:
1) The One I Love (4:08) – R.E.M.
2) Coming Home (4:37) – G. Love & Special Sauce
3) Old Apartment (3:17) – Barenaked Ladies
4) Frying Pan (3:10) – Evan Dando
5) Jealous Guy (3:53) – Elliott Smith
6) Creep (4:15) – Radiohead
7) Rivers of Babylon (2:29) – Sublime
8) Laid (3:44) – James
9) On My Way (3:57) – Ben Kweller
10) Down Under (4:19) – Colin Hay
11) Mi Vida (2:50) – Manu Chao
12) Don’t Go Away (3:58) – Oasis
13) Dancing In The Moonlight (4:15) – Smashing Pumpkins
14) Staring At The Sun (5:33) – U2
15) Jamie (4:05) – Weezer
16) Big Empty (5:00) – Stone Temple Pilots
17) Where Did You Sleep Last Night? (5:06) - Nirvana

Cut of the Week 11/16/09

Check out this track "Leyendecker" from the group Battles. Although the rest of their album, Mirrored, is a little less accessible (to me at least) they create a very unique sound based on the tenets of "math rock." (fun fact: J.C. Leyendecker was a famous U.S. illustrator in the early part of the 20th century)

Episode #6: Late Night

Well, this mix is straightforward mood music. I simply chose songs that for some reason or another connoted the idea of being awake late at night and being in a pensive mood. That said, this is not a late night mix in the tradition of getting a second wind and partying into the wee hours of the morning. This late night mix is one of a more reflective, relaxed mood – a winding down of sorts. While it may be somewhat down-tempo, the songs here are no less powerful or poignant. And what better time to listen to such music than late at night, when the busyness of the day has subsided and you really have a chance to listen, both to the music and yourself.

Give it a listen and enjoy.

Track listing:
1) St. Elmo’s Fire (3:03) – Brian Eno
2) Tomorrow Comes Today (3:13) – Gorillaz
3) Ahab (3:36) – Here We Go Magic
4) About Her (4:50) – Malcolm McLaren
5) Tu Fin Mi Comienzo (3:09) – Ocote Soul Sounds
6) Swimming Field (3:30) – Memory Tapes
7) Canto de Ossanha (3:25) – Baden Powell & Vinicius de Moraes
8) Loud Pipes (3:47) – Ratatat
9) The Gift (4:22) – Mark Hollis
10) Lonely Soul (8:55) – U.N.K.L.E.
11) I Don’t Know (3:00) – Beastie Boys
12) Six Days (5:02) – DJ Shadow
13) This Night Has Opened My Eyes (3:40) – The Smiths
14) Leave (4:41) – R.E.M.
15) Ghost Town (12’’ Version) (5:58) – The Specials
16) I Need A Truck (Outtake) (0:50) – Warren Zevon

Cut of the Week 11/10/09

Check out Souls of Mischief's "Cabfare." Nice sample of the theme song to "Taxi."

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Episode #5: Can You Smell That Funk?

Funk. The word alone has so many connotations, yet it sounds exactly like what it is supposed to mean. That something is raw, thick, earthy, and most importantly, impossible not to dance to. Here I tried to provide a sampling of funk’s heyday, the late 1960s up through the late 1970s. This is not to say that there is no worthwhile funk before or after this period, but I think these songs and artists represent the foundation and tradition of funk in its purest form. Admittedly, I’ve included of some tracks that could be categorized as R&B, rock, soul or even jazz numbers and that may lead you to cry foul, but keep in mind that musical genres always exhibit shared roots and are continually evolving and borrowing from one another. Music is never static and funk is certainly no exception.

The first artist featured here is a perfect case in point - Sly and The Family Stone began as a psychedelic rock interpretation of soul and ultimately morphed into one of the most signature funk sounds ever. Baby Huey’s take on Curtis Mayfield’s “Hard Times,” is a solid funk-soul amalgam and the fact that it has been sampled several times by present-day hip hop artists is testament to its classic head-nod status. Perhaps an even more soulful take on funk is Labi Siffre’s “I Got The (Blues)” which boasts the source material for Eminem’s breakout single, “My Name Is.” (Check out www.whosampled.com for an awesome website that reveals similar sample origins.)

“I Bet You” by Funkadelic, George Clinton’s musical vehicle prior to Parliament, is a great example of a psychedelic variation on the funk genre of the late 1960s and very early 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad’s “Nothing’s The Same” is a masterful boogie-rock/funk hybrid. Of course , I couldn’t neglect Southern funkster legends, The Meters and Houston, Texas high school phenoms, The Kashmere Stage Band.

Clearly no funk compilation would be complete without James Brown. However, instead of including a “solo” song, I opted to close out the set with a J.B.’s song. The J.B.’s were the well-accomplished supporting outfit for The Godfather of Soul, which included the likes of Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, and “Pee Wee” Ellis.

Enjoy the funky stuff.

Track listing:
1) Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (4:50) – Sly & The Family Stone
2) Bubble (2:24) – 9th Creation
3) Ca Ba Dab (2:59) – Soulswingers
4) Hard Times (3:24) – Baby Huey
5) Impeach The President (3:25) – The Honey Drippers
6) Live Wire (2:41) – The Meters
7) I Got The (Blues) (6:33) – Labi Siffre
8) Jones ‘N (2:17) – Soulsistics
9) I Bet You (6:12) – Funkadelic
10) Nothing’s The Same (5:14) – Grand Funk Railroad
11) Cosmic Funk (5:31) – Lonnie Liston Smith
12) May The Force Be With You (6:07) – Bootsy’s Rubber Band
13) Headwiggle (4:19) – Kashmere Stage Band
14) I’m Payin’ Taxes, What Am I Buyin’ (9:29) – The J.B.’s