Sunday, April 19, 2009

sys49 :: 'LEFT 4 DEAD' IS RUINING MY LIFE


Are you a douchebag who cares too much about music? Me too!

1. Avett Brothers - "Die Die Die"
It really pays off to listen to the Sir Walt Dizzo radio hour(s). He played this last week, I instantly fell in love and, a day or two later, Rolling Stone is naming these guys one of the five new bluegrass acts to watch.

2. the 20goto10 - "10 Start Program" [Demo]
I know I'm a broken record, but ... Rory Allen Phillips is a golden god!

3. Rivers Cuomo and Rainn Wilson - "One of Us" [Joan Osborne cover]
What happens when Weezer and "The Office" collide? A surprisingly winning cover, that's what happpens.



4. Korean Girl - "Reunion"
Interesting downer lyrics: "Why would I spend more time with people that I hate?"

5. Atmosphere - "The Skinny"
The most convincing endorsement for legalized prostitution? You decide.

6. DOOM - "Rap Ambush"
Another shouldn't-miss track introduced to me by Dizzo.

7. The Hold Steady - "You Can Make Him Like You" [LIVE]
This recently released live recording comes complete with an interesting intro from bandleader Craig Finn: "Someone told me last night this song's mean, but I just think it's true: You can make him like you."

8. Rancid - "Last One to Die"
Almost sounds like a Hold Steady song in the beginning ... weird!

9. Superdrag - "Ready to Go"
Not their best album — for whatever reason, it gives off a Gin Blossoms vibe — but a good song for Friday's summer-like temps.

10. Red Hot Valentines - "Christine"
You'd be right to assume this selection's not about a "killer car."

11. Jimmy Eat World - "Crush" [LIVE]
Ten years later and "Clarity" sounds better than ever. Why can't today's popular-with-the-teen-set bands be this worthwhile?

12. Aphex Twin - "Windowlicker"
Remember the first time you heard this? Mind's still blown, isn't it?

13. Lady Sovereign - "Student Union"
Lady Sov is a singles machine. I would give up [still haven't decided...] to hang out with her for just one night.

14. Diplo feat. Sandra Melody - "Newsflash" [MP3]
Miss the Canadian rapper Snow? Me neither — I'm wondering why this track made the cut....

15. The Dukes of Stratosphear (XTC) - "Brainiac's Daughter"
Obnoxious intro, but get past it — hell, it's only a couple seconds long — and let this gallant gem wrap itself around you.

16. The New Pornographers - "Don't Destroy This Night" [Rock*A*Teens cover]
From my review of Merge Records' "The Covers!" disc: Score (is right)! This No. 1 shot from Neko Case, A.C. Newman and the rest of the merry little pranksters is as amazing as the singles the Beach Boys released during their Brother Records years and you laughed the first time you heard the phrase "Canadian supergroup"....

17. Superchunk - "Knock Knock Knock"
... And the first band that comes to mind when I think of Merge Records.

18. Amazing Baby - "Bayonets" [MP3]
Recommended if you like Tears for Fears, INXS and mid-'90s Britpop.

19. Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - "Nikorette" [MP3]
What the f---, were Mr. Bright Eyes' new backing band named after a backwoods casino or something? Still, good tune.

20. Art Vandalay - "I Been Down"
From my review of "Dancin' with Your Demons" for the Budgeteer: This song's guitar work could easily be confused for some lost noodlings from Young’s Buffalo Springfield days, but, once Brandon Henry’s pleasant lyrics and Calvin Plocher’s refrained drumming saturate the scene, you’re immediately pushed forward a quarter-century. It all just comes together in such a pleasant way that you’ll no doubt rethink your “Save for the pure farm-boy charm of Six Mile Grove, Americana is so played out” Twitter update.

21. Ben Lee - "I Love Pop Music"
Me too!

22. John Vanderslice - "Fetal Horses" [MP3]
Took me a couple spins to fall in love — not really sure why — but this Moody Blues-evoking sleeper is a good way to wind down the night/mix tapes.

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

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