Sunday, October 26, 2008

sys29 :: WHISKEY, MYSTICS AND LADY LOVERS

Matt, accept the fact that your "witty" anecdotes accompanying these "awesome" mix tapes have become increasingly far too personal. There is no possible way that Joe Sixpack, reading this from his sports memorabilia-infested "man cave," could possibly benefit from any of this. --Sincerely, [REDACTED]

Eat me. --"Anonymous"

1. Green Day - "'The Simpsons' Theme"
I've been on quite the "Simpsons" kick lately, so please excuse these "excursions."

2. The Melismatics - "Modern Machines"
At the insistence of the incendiary St. Paul post-punkers in Maudlin, I gave the Melismatics a chance. I liked. Then came along the group's new album, "The Acid Test," and it blew me away. This track, in particular, is [EXPLETIVE DELETED]-ing brilliant. Not in the way Brian Wilson is brilliant, but in the way the boys in Better Than Ezra are brilliant. -> Triumphant pop tendencies that will undoubtedly stand the test of time.

3. The Hourly Radio - "Please Forget"
Almost sounds like a sequel (prequel?) to "Modern Machines," though it lacks the immortal backing vocals of Pony Hixon-Smith.

4. Crooked Fingers - "Call to Love" [MP3]
I'm well aware that Eric Bachmann is good for more than just this song, but I just can't help it: This is unforgettable music.

5. Del the Funky Homosapien - "Positive Contact"
If all you know of Del is the "Deltron Z" cameo on the first Gorillaz album, this is a terrific introduction to his accomplished solo career.

6. Madvillian - "No Brain"
If "BioShock" were a hip-hop song, this would be it. (At least the intro is similarly unnerving.)

7. The Cool Kids - "Delivery Man" [MP3]
For the inaugural Mountain Dew Green Label Sound free MP3 single, the Cool Kids *ahem* deliver. I'd like to write something more profound about this hip-hop track's throwback sound (organs?!), but, hell, crappy puns are just easier.

8. Open Choir Fire - "Things You Have to Do"
Nice indie rock sound. A little faceless, but nice.

9. Lagwagon - "Falling Apart" [MP3]
These guys are always good for a laugh: "Hello / Welcome to the show / Thought we broke up years ago."

10. Matt and Kim - "Daylight" [MP3]
The second free MP3 single in the aforementioned Mountain Dew Green Label Sound series. As far as free things go, this easily gets an "A+."

11. Eric Alexandrakis - "Stalker Fever (No Sleeping in the Park)"
Is it wrong I find this song's concept so amusing? (To be clear, these tracks were all selected because I enjoy listening to them; but, because Alexandrakis' sound is so hard to categorize, I thought I'd take the easy way out and comment on the song title instead.... My apologies.)

12. Rush - "Entre Nous"
Translated: "Between ourselves, confidentially." Translated, loosely (by me): "Keep it like a secret" and/or "Don't tell a soul."

13. R.E.M. - "Mr. Richards"
I wasn't the biggest fan of "Around the Sun," but "Accelerate" definitely finds these Georgia rock gods heading back in the right direction. This one would fit in nicely between "New Adventures in Hi-Fi" and "Up."

14. Dr. Pepper Family - "Pop Will Eat Itself" [MP3]
My favorite Belgian rock group is back, and with an excellent new single to boot!

15. Girls Like Cigarettes - "Combustible You" [MP3]
Rides a Stuard Davis-esque wave of radio-ready pop, but, like that enigmatic singer/songwriter's works, the lyrics aren't typical Top 40 fare: "For better or worse / You exploded first."

16. Plasticines - "Mr. Driver"
Haven't been able to pull yourself out of bed since Elastica called it quits? Well, your mailbox is in luck, as this excellent female-fronted post-punk outfit from Paris will have you running down to your local record store. (On your way out the door, don't forget to see the Postal Service's lovely cramming and stacking abilities....)

17. Passion Pit - "Live to Tell the Tale"
For fans of the New Monarchs, the Postal Service (the duo, not the government organization forgettably referenced above).

18. The Standard - "The Swimmer" [MP3]
Lest I totally beat my adoration for this group into the ground, all I'll say this go-round is, "Excellence, redefined."

19. The Boat People - "Unsettle My Heart"
An aural smorgasboard that somehow makes sense.

20. Laika and the Cosmonauts - "Psyko"
Thanks, W.D., for introducing me to another great track -- long live college radio and those who listened to Man or Astro-man? growing up! (Doesn't require an obsession with Alfred Hitchcock to enjoy, but, as was the case with yours truly, you'll probably enjoy it doubly if you identify your hobbies as such.)

21. Blitzen Trapper - "Furr"
Tonight from Comparison Central ... sounds like Storyhill covering the Beatles (circa "Rubber Soul"), with a hint of Nouvelle Vague's take on Echo and the Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon."

22. Nikka Costa - "Stuck to You"
This Janis Joplin-channeling funk soul sister (?) is back, and as enjoyable as ever.

23. Darlings of the Day - "Hallucination Generation"
Like the Pixies? Do ya? Me too. And apparently these two rising stars do as well.

Thus concludes your twenty-ninth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series formerly known as "Don't Tell a Soul."

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