Y'all ready for Black Friday/to be a good American? <- That dates this mix tape, doesn't it?
1. dEUS - "Fell Off the Floor, Man"
It's true, you gotta be your own dog. This immortal dEUS track pushes the boundaries of modern recording theories.
2. Motion City Soundtrack - "Red Dress"
Seattle. Denver. Duluth. What is "Cities the Wife and I Have Seen MCS in Concert"?
3. The Sleepy Jackson - "God Knows"
... but He can't see in tents! Seriously, though, this is terrific baby-makin' music. ha ha ha
4. Sebastien Grainger - "Who Do We Care For?"
Ourselves, unless we're some imaginary kind-hearted fool. (I'm not bitter; I just think there is no such thing as a selfless act -- besides the conundrum-slayer presented on "Friends," that is....) Is any of this covered by Mr. Grainger? No, not quite. But it doesn't matter: This is some of the most listenable indie rock (for those afraid of change) in ages.
5. Led Zeppelin - "Over the Hills and Far Away"
Ahh, helps me reminisce about the Brainerds Lakes Area. What is it about those Power Loon playlists that made them just wedge themselves in my soul?
6. Starlight Mints - "Brass Digger"
If Liverpool were a city in Oklahoma, this would've been the Beatles' most triumphant hour.
7. Guns N' Roses - "Get in the Ring"
This one goes out to my classmate Chris Stirewalt, who, if you read the Duluth News Tribune but at all, you might know as one of the first Minnesotans to senselessly lose their lives this hunting season. You see, back in sixth grade -- Mr. Anderson's class, to be exact -- he thought it'd be funny if I read Axl's potty-mouthed lyrics to this song out loud. I wasn't exactly Martin Prince (or maybe I was?), but, of all the kids in our grade on the "A" honor roll, I was the only boy. Either way, I'm sure it was funny to hear a dweeb such as myself saying such "naughty" things. Of all my encounters with Chris, this one stands out as the most memorable because of its sheer "those were the days" quality.
8. Spiderbait - "Black Betty" [Ram Jam cover]
Believe it or not, "Without a Paddle" has its moments.... Actually, my favorite memory associated with this song would have to be that brief period in college when I was trying to get in shape. -> For inspiration, I would make myself high-energy mix tapes (go figure!) for running around the NDSU fitness center track, and this song always seemed to get me going. Until I gave it all up to be a traditional journalist type three or four days later....
9. Miss Kittin - "Requiem for a Hit [Glove Radio Mix]"
Another obscure classic from my college days. I distinctly remember listening to this one near the Target in Moorhead; which is weird, because A) we hardly ever went to that Target and B) I'm pretty sure I lost all of my readers with that last inane piece of commentary, so I'm free to write whatever I want nowadays.
10. Monty Python - "Galaxy Song"
The highlight of "The Meaning of Life" for me. Catchy and informative.
11. Star Casino - "Stroll Around the World" [MP3]
Video game music doesn't get any better than this -- and that's saying a lot, considering the competition this track faces on "Lumines II."
12. Mos Def - "May-December"
A surprisingly sweet little instrumental from Mr. Black Star. (Sorry, Talib, I guess that makes you the missus....)
13. Nas - "I Can"
Never mind the bollocks spewed forth by Rolling Stone when this song was released -- "a silly stay-in-school ad attached to a Beethoven sample" -- it's catchy in a good way and, dammit, people (like me) like it.
14. The Wannadies - "Skin"
The best Sweden has to offer. One of my all-time favorite songs, and, thus, one of the all-time most used tracks on these here mix tapes.
15. Metal Molly - "Orange"
But enough about Sweden; here's a brief history of my love affair with Belgian rock -- courtesy of my review of Dr. Pepper Family's new self-titled album* in the Budgeteer: Until 1996, I, like most Americans, was completely sheltered from the Belgian music scene. That all changed when quirky alt-rockers Metal Molly burned a sizable hole in my head with their infectious single “Orange.” (This was during the same “land grab” that found anxious record labels searching the world high and low for the next potential “sugar metal” It band. The group’s album, “Surgery for Zebra,” was released between Silverchair’s “Frogstomp” and “Restraining Bolt,” the ill-fated major label debut from Ben Kweller’s group Radish.) Fast-forward to the early 2000s, when I somehow — magically, I suppose — stumbled upon the country’s premier record label, Kinky Star. To put things into perspective, it is the Belgian equivalent of Sub Pop in the late ’80s. Like that Seattle label’s involvement during grunge’s heyday, it seems that everyone making Belgium’s fledgling rock scene so memorable is somehow involved with Kinky Star.
16. Sloan - "I Hate My Generation"
Not to be confused with the Cracker song of the same name, though I like that one quite right as well.
17. Decembers Architects - "Isadora the Fashion Victim"
While I usually agree with the line "it's better to burn out than to fade away," this MPLS math rock outfit went away far too quickly.
18. Charity - "Aren't I Lucky? [Voice Mix]" [MP3]
It's hard to believe that this former Curb recording artist, who goes by the name Kelly Henderson Brainard Grussendorf in real life, now teaches theater at the University of Minnesota Duluth and agrees to interviews with chumps like me.
19. Valet - "Record Store"
Way back when, this was my introduction to this criminally under-heard Twin Cities band.
20. Youth Group - "Shadowland"
Reminds me of working at Best Buy, but I won't hold that against these Aussies.
21. Blur - "Strange News from Another Star"
The sound of ageless beauty.
*Damn, I just realized I forgot to mention dEUS in that article on all that rocks in Belgium!
Thus concludes your thirty-fourth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series formerly known as "Don't Tell a Soul."
1. dEUS - "Fell Off the Floor, Man"
It's true, you gotta be your own dog. This immortal dEUS track pushes the boundaries of modern recording theories.
2. Motion City Soundtrack - "Red Dress"
Seattle. Denver. Duluth. What is "Cities the Wife and I Have Seen MCS in Concert"?
3. The Sleepy Jackson - "God Knows"
... but He can't see in tents! Seriously, though, this is terrific baby-makin' music. ha ha ha
4. Sebastien Grainger - "Who Do We Care For?"
Ourselves, unless we're some imaginary kind-hearted fool. (I'm not bitter; I just think there is no such thing as a selfless act -- besides the conundrum-slayer presented on "Friends," that is....) Is any of this covered by Mr. Grainger? No, not quite. But it doesn't matter: This is some of the most listenable indie rock (for those afraid of change) in ages.
5. Led Zeppelin - "Over the Hills and Far Away"
Ahh, helps me reminisce about the Brainerds Lakes Area. What is it about those Power Loon playlists that made them just wedge themselves in my soul?
6. Starlight Mints - "Brass Digger"
If Liverpool were a city in Oklahoma, this would've been the Beatles' most triumphant hour.
7. Guns N' Roses - "Get in the Ring"
This one goes out to my classmate Chris Stirewalt, who, if you read the Duluth News Tribune but at all, you might know as one of the first Minnesotans to senselessly lose their lives this hunting season. You see, back in sixth grade -- Mr. Anderson's class, to be exact -- he thought it'd be funny if I read Axl's potty-mouthed lyrics to this song out loud. I wasn't exactly Martin Prince (or maybe I was?), but, of all the kids in our grade on the "A" honor roll, I was the only boy. Either way, I'm sure it was funny to hear a dweeb such as myself saying such "naughty" things. Of all my encounters with Chris, this one stands out as the most memorable because of its sheer "those were the days" quality.
8. Spiderbait - "Black Betty" [Ram Jam cover]
Believe it or not, "Without a Paddle" has its moments.... Actually, my favorite memory associated with this song would have to be that brief period in college when I was trying to get in shape. -> For inspiration, I would make myself high-energy mix tapes (go figure!) for running around the NDSU fitness center track, and this song always seemed to get me going. Until I gave it all up to be a traditional journalist type three or four days later....
9. Miss Kittin - "Requiem for a Hit [Glove Radio Mix]"
Another obscure classic from my college days. I distinctly remember listening to this one near the Target in Moorhead; which is weird, because A) we hardly ever went to that Target and B) I'm pretty sure I lost all of my readers with that last inane piece of commentary, so I'm free to write whatever I want nowadays.
10. Monty Python - "Galaxy Song"
The highlight of "The Meaning of Life" for me. Catchy and informative.
11. Star Casino - "Stroll Around the World" [MP3]
Video game music doesn't get any better than this -- and that's saying a lot, considering the competition this track faces on "Lumines II."
12. Mos Def - "May-December"
A surprisingly sweet little instrumental from Mr. Black Star. (Sorry, Talib, I guess that makes you the missus....)
13. Nas - "I Can"
Never mind the bollocks spewed forth by Rolling Stone when this song was released -- "a silly stay-in-school ad attached to a Beethoven sample" -- it's catchy in a good way and, dammit, people (like me) like it.
14. The Wannadies - "Skin"
The best Sweden has to offer. One of my all-time favorite songs, and, thus, one of the all-time most used tracks on these here mix tapes.
15. Metal Molly - "Orange"
But enough about Sweden; here's a brief history of my love affair with Belgian rock -- courtesy of my review of Dr. Pepper Family's new self-titled album* in the Budgeteer: Until 1996, I, like most Americans, was completely sheltered from the Belgian music scene. That all changed when quirky alt-rockers Metal Molly burned a sizable hole in my head with their infectious single “Orange.” (This was during the same “land grab” that found anxious record labels searching the world high and low for the next potential “sugar metal” It band. The group’s album, “Surgery for Zebra,” was released between Silverchair’s “Frogstomp” and “Restraining Bolt,” the ill-fated major label debut from Ben Kweller’s group Radish.) Fast-forward to the early 2000s, when I somehow — magically, I suppose — stumbled upon the country’s premier record label, Kinky Star. To put things into perspective, it is the Belgian equivalent of Sub Pop in the late ’80s. Like that Seattle label’s involvement during grunge’s heyday, it seems that everyone making Belgium’s fledgling rock scene so memorable is somehow involved with Kinky Star.
16. Sloan - "I Hate My Generation"
Not to be confused with the Cracker song of the same name, though I like that one quite right as well.
17. Decembers Architects - "Isadora the Fashion Victim"
While I usually agree with the line "it's better to burn out than to fade away," this MPLS math rock outfit went away far too quickly.
18. Charity - "Aren't I Lucky? [Voice Mix]" [MP3]
It's hard to believe that this former Curb recording artist, who goes by the name Kelly Henderson Brainard Grussendorf in real life, now teaches theater at the University of Minnesota Duluth and agrees to interviews with chumps like me.
19. Valet - "Record Store"
Way back when, this was my introduction to this criminally under-heard Twin Cities band.
20. Youth Group - "Shadowland"
Reminds me of working at Best Buy, but I won't hold that against these Aussies.
21. Blur - "Strange News from Another Star"
The sound of ageless beauty.
*Damn, I just realized I forgot to mention dEUS in that article on all that rocks in Belgium!
Thus concludes your thirty-fourth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series formerly known as "Don't Tell a Soul."
1 comment:
Stroll Around the World is my favorite SYS suggestion - it has made its way to my own radio show a number of times.
great track
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