Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 32: Now I'm with you everyday

For the uninitiated, "Don't Tell a Soul" is my ongoing, semi-regular awesome* mix tape series.

And this, right here, is the latest installment.

As always, to encourage the consumption of music (that doesn't suck), I have provided -- wherever available -- links to free, artist-sanctioned MP3s of the songs.

*No joke. I mean, at least the songs were awesome at the time of this here blog's posting.

Enjoy!
Matt

(Questions or comments? E-mail mperrine [at] duluthbudgeteer [dot] com.)

1. Muse "Assassin"
A little harder than most "DTAS" selections, I'll admit, but it eventually gets to that lovable Radiohead-biting** aesthetic.

2. I Self Devine - "Overthrow"
Just another reason to get down on your knees and say "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy" to the Minneapolis hip-hop gods.

3. Live - "The Dam at Otter Creek"
A slow builder, sure, but a slow builder with a payoff.

4. Cloud Cult - "Living on the Outside of Your Skin"
"Yi, yi, yi, yi, yep."

Love it, love it, love it.

I believe it was during this song at the Grandma's Marathon Big Top Tent last Saturday night that I turned to my lovely wife to say, "I think this is my new favorite band."

5. Lou Reed - "Vicious"
"Why don't you swallow razorblades"? Hey, man, we've all had those days; but only fuckin' Lou Reed is man enough to write a catchy jingle about it.

6. Dessa - "551"
Of the three* Minneapolis hip-hoppers on this mix tape, Dessa is definitely the cutest. Err ... I mean, the one with the best chance to cross over and sell millions of albums on the pop charts. (Which is also true.)

7. Rjd2 feat. Blueprint - "Final Frontier"
Recommended if you like pretending you're not a honky by singing this at karaoke night on Tower Avenue.

8. Prince - "My Little Pill"
R.I.Y.L. Outkast's brilliant "?" track on "Stankonia" and/or the score to "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."

9. Atmosphere - "Horny Ponycorn Horns"
Three words: "The Fun EP." Like the pros say, "Get it before you gotta get it on eBay."

And nothing, my friends, screams "fun" like a pornographic circus song. (Isn't that Prince's territory, anyway?)

10. Reverend Horton Heat - "Reverend Horton Heat's Big Blue Car"
These guys seriously wail. Tubular vernacular aside, this is no joke. When they came to Fargo while I was living there, they definitely helped us party down. The lead singer/guitarist, aka the Reverend, got up on the bassist's stand-up unit (it was on its side at the time) just to play a freakin' guitar solo -- and this song, which was fresh, shiny and new at the time, effectively sums up that night.

They blew me away.

11. The Waxwings - "Clouded Over"
I flip-flop between listening to the Waxwings 24/7 and totally forgetting they exist.

So, for this, my beloved Waxwings, I must apologize.

Guess what? I remembered your complete and utter greatness again!

12. Fleetwood Mac - "I Don't Want to Know"
If you're not down with the 'Mac, well ... that's your prerogative.

But I will say that you shan't be expecting an invitation to my bar, The Pierce Arrow, anytime soon.

And I hope it stings when you find out how much fun we had playing foosball without you.

13. Marah - "The Apartment"
If you're ever feelin' kind of Wyoming, plug this in. The Spanish horns will have tears in your beer in no time.

14. Moth - "3 Choices"
How could this band have escaped me for so long? For shame.

15. Robbie Fulks - "Move it on Over" (live at the Brewhouse) (Hank Williams cover)
A fine companion piece to George Thorogood's legendary cover of this track.

16. Ben and Jason - "How the Hell Do I Explain?"
R.I.Y.L. sad, sappy sucker music written by boys that probably emulate Radiohead's early "emo" sides too much for most people (except yours truly). Plus, classy title. *THUMBS UP*

17. The Format - "Sore Thumb"
R.I.Y.L. Motion City Soundtrack, and you're not afraid to shout it out loud!

18. The Traveling Wilburys - "She's My Baby"
I usually didn't pay attention to this leadoff track while surfing through the greatest-supergroup-ever-amassed's second (and final) album, but, of course, after I found out it was primarily a Jeff Lynne composition, I've been playing it nonstop.

Viva ELO!

19. Lucky Boys Confusion - "Hey Driver"
This song's magical verses sound like something straight out of the realm of classic rock radio. (Although I'm quite sure I will be the only one to hear that.)

Eddie Money? Perhaps.

No, no, that couldn't be it ... or could it?

ANYWAY, that half-punk chorus? Sing along or die.

20. Dolour - "B.K.S."
Acronyms I don't get right away frustrate me....

Music's good, though. -> Like a cross between Lucky Boys Confusion ('cause I'm sure y'all know their back catalog by heart...) and "Magical Mystery Tour."

UPDATE: I think it means "Butter Knife Suicide." Sometimes acronyms are best left unsolved....

21. The Wrens - "This Boy is Exhausted" (early vers.)
Already one of my favorite songs of all time (like in the top 20 favorite!), this here early version -- available on the "You'll Never Eat Fast Food Again" comp from Drive-Thru Records*** -- effectively adds minor elements of surprise to a track I've pretty much worn out.

p.s. This track's not available free, but the band does have quite a hefty collection of tracks available for your downloading pleasure.

22. Jason Anderson/Wolf Colonel - "Astronaut, Astronaut"
It's sad to say, but if Jason Anderson hadn't released "Something/Everything!" on K Records -- which I love dearly, just so you know -- and, instead, had released it on, say, Astralwerks, he would be a lot closer to becoming the household name he deserves to be.

This is one of those painfully overlooked masterpieces. (It's cheap, too, so buy it already!)

"Now I'm with you everyday."

23. Oasis (and friends) - "Fade Away"
Guess what happens when Oasis drops the pretentiousness and the unnecessary feedback and noise? The best -- and prettiest -- song of their career.

Well worth seeking out the first "HELP" War Child charity album for this gem, which features Johnny Depp on guitar and -- second "What the fuck?" moment in this sentence -- model Kate Moss on tambourine.

Lovely nonetheless.

24. reru (fka Nothing Jive About Jupiter) - "If I Were You"
Remember when I spoke briefly about the 20 best songs ever recorded? This one's near the top.

Although possessing a completely different dynamic, Jes and Bri's next band (without Damon and Ethan, unfortunately), Best Friends Forever, is somehow better.

*Or four? Does anyone know if Blueprint actually resides in the Twin Cities?
**In the best way possible, of course.
***How fucking weird is that? One of the most treasured groups of all time on one of those throwaway punk labels.... To Drive-Thru's credit, though, I will always have a special place in my heart for Fenix*TX's two releases (as Fenix*TX, that is). Oh, and Midtown -- I secretly like them a lot too.