Saturday, May 7, 2011

couleehighharmony1 :: THE CALM BEFORE THE STOMP


Submitted for the approval of the Mix Tape Appreciation Society, here lies "couleehighharmony," another sweet compilation series curated by Matthew R. Perrine. Per usual, enjoy this and all coming editions at maximum volume.


1. Atmosphere - "Became"
Slug is a master storyteller, and "The Family Sign" plays like a hyper-personal novel.

2. New Politics - "Yeah Yeah Yeah"
Rock music? Denmark gets it done.

3. Butthole Surfers - "Cough Syrup"
Gibby Haynes knows how to end a song: with strings!

4. Matt Costa - "Cigarette Eyes"
Jack Johnson, you did the world a favor by putting your support behind this California singer-man. Slainte!

5. Split Enz - "I Got You"
Many thanks to the anything-goes Eau Claire station Bob FM for playing this one incessantly. Seriously, I don't think I could ever get sick of this New Zealand classic.

6. Letters to Cleo - "Anchor"
Has this group always sounded so "girlie"? Either way, it was a fun trip back to '97 with this one.

7. Superdrag - "Do the Vampire"
The ultimate rock song? I'd like to hear your suggestions leaning elsewhere.

8. Goldfrapp - "Number 1"
I'm obviously not one to "get his club on," so I'm afraid I don't know how to sell this to other introverts. However, all you really have to know is that it works.

9. Bjork - "Human Behavior"
Besides Yoko Ono, I can't think of a female artist I admire more.

10. Jamie Christopherson - "Mountain Pass"
From the soundtrack to the Capcom game "Lost Planet: Extreme Condition."

11. The Living End - "Short Notice"
When Bloc Party and the Kaiser Chiefs hit it big, these Aussies were apparently taking notes.

12. Farewell Continental - "Dagger, Dagger: Terror, Terror"
Justin Pierre from Motion City Soundtrack's other band.

13. Bill Withers - "Lovely Day"
Heard recently in the James Franco film "127 Hours."

14. The Avett Brothers - "Die Die Die"
Dedicated to Walt Dizzo, the best damn college radio DJ on the planet. (And, please, don't read too much into the song title accompanying this "shout-out"....)

15. Pearl Jam - "Corduroy" (alt. take)
From the glorious (and gloriously packaged) "Vitalogy" reissue.

16. Soundgarden - "Head Down" (Live in Seattle)
From the recent, too-amazing "Live on I-5" -- which is, surprisingly, the legendary grunge band's first official live album.

17. The Get Up Kids - "A Sudden Interest in Massachusetts"
... and Briana McIvor. No? Just me?

18. Bob Dylan - "Silvio"
No matter how many Bob Dylan albums I collect, there are still tracks I don't know two bits about. (Shameful, I know.)

19. Braid - "Breathe In"
How is it possible for a rock band and a video game with the same name to also share hipster cred?

20. Common - "Soul Power"
The most infectious "moving bassline" I've ever heard.

21. Queen - "Don't Stop Me Now"
I picked up my copy of "Jazz" at a flea market held outside The Shell Factory in North Fort Myers, Fla. What's your story?

22. Heidecker and Wood - "Million People"
Yes, the sweet falsetto you're now hearing is that of Tim Heidecker from "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!"



A PRODUCT OF LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN

Fly High, Duluth! Mix Tape 2011.8 :: NOBODY EVER DROWNED IN SWAY



Submitted for the approval of the Mix Tape Appreciation Society, here lies ... "Nobody Ever Drowned in Sway." Enjoy at maximum volume.


1. Sparklehorse - "Happy Place"
For fans of the word "plaintive."

2. We Are Scientists - "Ghouls"
For fans of songs Cars & Trucks (or at least frontman Anthony "Tony" Bennett) should cover.

3. The Flaming Lips - "Ice Drummer"
For fans of obscure lo-fi gems from bands that continually redefine "hi-fi."

4. Atmosphere - "Smart Went Crazy" (Current vers.)
For fans of hip-hop from "The Mini Apple," harmonica breakdowns.

5. The Secret Handshake - "Summer of '98"
For fans of Hot Topic kids who have been remixed by Doomtree's P.O.S.

6. The Black Crowes - "A Conspiracy"
For fans of classic rock 'n' roll that finds its groove and sticks with it.

7. The Clash - "Police and Thieves"
For fans of classic punk rock that *ahem* finds its groove and sticks with it.

8. Sloan - "Follow the Leader"
For fans of Canada ... yo!

9. Dax Pierson - "Mad Man is Passing"
For fans of slightly hypnotic indie rock.

10. Miss Kittin - "Meet Sue Be She"
For fans of cars. And girls. And girls in cars.

11. The Zutons - "Secrets"
For fans of majestic throwback rock.

12. Sean Na Na - "Washington"
For fans of musty, dour Sonic Youth "basement noodlings."

13. All Smiles - "Diana's Throne"
For fans of the iced-over sides of Grandaddy and Modest Mouse.

14. Smith Westerns - "End of the Night"
For fans of 10cc, The Current (the radio station).

15. Cibo Matto - "About a Girl" (Nirvana cover)
For fans of the Cardigans' lounge-y cover of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man."

16. Thee Druggles - "Forkhead"
For fans of obscure bands (influenced by "underground streams and tributaries," no less) that your collection shouldn't be without.

17. David Byrne - "Gypsy Woman" (Live in Italy)
For fans of Talking Heads, Minneapolis' Best Friends Forever.

18. The Cubby Creatures - "Last Chance"
For fans of free music that doesn't suck (!).

19. Soundgarden - "Let Me Drown" (Live in Del Mar)
For fans of rock music.

20. Caesars - "We Got to Leave"
For fans of gloriously infectious music that's just golden.

21. Z - "Lucky Jones"
For fans of Alice in Chains (but only vaguely), Zappa spawn.

22. Ben Lee - "Float On" (Modest Mouse cover)
For fans of the Bens, covers that don't try to hard (but end up sounding perfect anyway).



... What side of your town has the coldest wind?