This cover may look like a throwaway -- and it is: I spent about an hour tinkering with it, to where it looked somewhat presentable ... and then the program crashed. So, instead of wasting any more time on it, I decided to release it "as is" because I suppose it owes something to the artwork of Green Day's "Chris Gaines" album, "Money Money 2020." (Well worth checking out, especially the music videos on the accompanying DVD.)
Either way, this is all still so much easier than radio....
1. Roy - "Something's That Real"
Songs don't get much more epic (the good kind) than this, and that's why every album this group puts out is practically guaranteed to make my year-end Top 10 list each time.
2. The Clash - "Tommy Gun"
The Clash were just coming into their own on "Give 'em Enough Rope," and this is a great place to start.
3. Number One Cup - "Maybe There's a Thread"
Elements of R.E.M.'s "Reveal" album. Very nice.
4. Nada Surf - "Sleep"
This song pays off in the end, but they should've done something about its sleepy* build-up.
5. The State Champs - "Death Star"
Like I said a few hundred times last week, it's going to be a damn good year for the Duluth scene.
6. Wu-Tang Clan - "Dirty Dancing"
This ODB/Method Man showcase is reason enough to save all of those "Jerky Boys" soundtracks from all the nation's bargain bins.
7. Of Montreal - "Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse"
The new record sounds pretty promising. (I have to wait for my eMusic downloads to refresh at the beginning of the month to grab the rest of 'em....)
8. P.O.S. - "Suicide Uma Schrantz"
How come all of the Emily Bloodmobile tracks are such brief affairs?
9. Murs and 9th Wonder - "L.A."
I have been slow to get into his stuff outside of Felt, but this is pretty great -- would probably work better in the summertime, though.
10. The Olympian vs. Muse and Justin Timberlake - "Sexymassive Back Hole"
Interesting mash-up posted on Idolator.
11. Girls Against Boys - "Basstation"
Another group that perhaps suffers from the Ash disorder (find a formula, stick to it), but, on the flip side, GVSB somehow manages to still release interesting records.
An aside: Does anyone own "Series 7: The Contenders," the cult film GVSB scored which puts quite the interesting twist on reality programming, on DVD? I would be very interested in purchasing it from you.
12. Elliott Smith - "Coast to Coast"
Elliott's demise was quite tragic -- especially considering his last album, which was full of transcendental moments like this.
13. Wilco - "Kamera"
"I need a camera / To my eye"? I couldn't agree more.
14. X - "We're Desperate"
X : L.A. circa 1977 :: Pixies : Boston circa 1987
15. Zox - "Thirsty"
Given the bands these guys tour with, they shouldn't be nearly this good. Or: Given the quality of Zox's latest release, the group shouldn't be opening for blase labelmates.
16. Low - "Your Poison"
See No. 5.
17. Electric Light Orchestra - "Surrender"
A terrific find that wasn't released until the parade of the remasters last year.
18. Edsel - "Chester's Wig"
I know exactly nothing about this group, but every release I run into (there seems to be a great many) yields tracks worthy of my mountain of awesome** mix tapes.
19. Bob Mould - "Classifieds"
I know this is heresy to admit in Minnesota, but I still don't own "Zen Arcade." Oops....
20. Tall Paul - "God's Love"
Nothing about this song makes you want to listen to it (the title, the fact that Tall Paul cops early Moby a little too much), but it sounds nice pumping out of your stereo. Mindless fun, basically.
21. Bob Marley and the Wailers - "One Love/People Get Ready"
I don't smoke pot, and I am Bemidjian (by birthplace only), so is it OK that this is on here?
22. Youth Group - "Last Quarter"
So beautiful it hurts.
23. Gypsyfoot - "Da De Da"
You'd be surprised what great music is being made in Bismarck, N.D., these days.
This one could brighten any mood.
24. Guided by Voices - "Chasing Heather Crazy"
I'm not trying to get shot tonight (see No. 19, No. 21), but GBV's hi-fi output is far easier on the ears than the lo-fi stuff that made Robert Pollard a household name.
25. Syrup USA - "New You"
Like Gypsyfoot, most Syrup USA material is an acceptable alternative to "happy pills."
*Oh, I get it. Now....
**Self-proclaimed.
Either way, this is all still so much easier than radio....
1. Roy - "Something's That Real"
Songs don't get much more epic (the good kind) than this, and that's why every album this group puts out is practically guaranteed to make my year-end Top 10 list each time.
2. The Clash - "Tommy Gun"
The Clash were just coming into their own on "Give 'em Enough Rope," and this is a great place to start.
3. Number One Cup - "Maybe There's a Thread"
Elements of R.E.M.'s "Reveal" album. Very nice.
4. Nada Surf - "Sleep"
This song pays off in the end, but they should've done something about its sleepy* build-up.
5. The State Champs - "Death Star"
Like I said a few hundred times last week, it's going to be a damn good year for the Duluth scene.
6. Wu-Tang Clan - "Dirty Dancing"
This ODB/Method Man showcase is reason enough to save all of those "Jerky Boys" soundtracks from all the nation's bargain bins.
7. Of Montreal - "Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse"
The new record sounds pretty promising. (I have to wait for my eMusic downloads to refresh at the beginning of the month to grab the rest of 'em....)
8. P.O.S. - "Suicide Uma Schrantz"
How come all of the Emily Bloodmobile tracks are such brief affairs?
9. Murs and 9th Wonder - "L.A."
I have been slow to get into his stuff outside of Felt, but this is pretty great -- would probably work better in the summertime, though.
10. The Olympian vs. Muse and Justin Timberlake - "Sexymassive Back Hole"
Interesting mash-up posted on Idolator.
11. Girls Against Boys - "Basstation"
Another group that perhaps suffers from the Ash disorder (find a formula, stick to it), but, on the flip side, GVSB somehow manages to still release interesting records.
An aside: Does anyone own "Series 7: The Contenders," the cult film GVSB scored which puts quite the interesting twist on reality programming, on DVD? I would be very interested in purchasing it from you.
12. Elliott Smith - "Coast to Coast"
Elliott's demise was quite tragic -- especially considering his last album, which was full of transcendental moments like this.
13. Wilco - "Kamera"
"I need a camera / To my eye"? I couldn't agree more.
14. X - "We're Desperate"
X : L.A. circa 1977 :: Pixies : Boston circa 1987
15. Zox - "Thirsty"
Given the bands these guys tour with, they shouldn't be nearly this good. Or: Given the quality of Zox's latest release, the group shouldn't be opening for blase labelmates.
16. Low - "Your Poison"
See No. 5.
17. Electric Light Orchestra - "Surrender"
A terrific find that wasn't released until the parade of the remasters last year.
18. Edsel - "Chester's Wig"
I know exactly nothing about this group, but every release I run into (there seems to be a great many) yields tracks worthy of my mountain of awesome** mix tapes.
19. Bob Mould - "Classifieds"
I know this is heresy to admit in Minnesota, but I still don't own "Zen Arcade." Oops....
20. Tall Paul - "God's Love"
Nothing about this song makes you want to listen to it (the title, the fact that Tall Paul cops early Moby a little too much), but it sounds nice pumping out of your stereo. Mindless fun, basically.
21. Bob Marley and the Wailers - "One Love/People Get Ready"
I don't smoke pot, and I am Bemidjian (by birthplace only), so is it OK that this is on here?
22. Youth Group - "Last Quarter"
So beautiful it hurts.
23. Gypsyfoot - "Da De Da"
You'd be surprised what great music is being made in Bismarck, N.D., these days.
This one could brighten any mood.
24. Guided by Voices - "Chasing Heather Crazy"
I'm not trying to get shot tonight (see No. 19, No. 21), but GBV's hi-fi output is far easier on the ears than the lo-fi stuff that made Robert Pollard a household name.
25. Syrup USA - "New You"
Like Gypsyfoot, most Syrup USA material is an acceptable alternative to "happy pills."
*Oh, I get it. Now....
**Self-proclaimed.
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