Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 43: ... It was almost funny

Good evening.

What you're about to witness, the latest installment of "Don't Tell a Soul," is a mix tape of the most awesome(st) caliber.

I only wish I were kidding.

ANYWAY, to encourage the consumption of music that does not (under most circumstances) suck, I have provided -- wherever available -- links to free, artist-sanctioned MP3s of the songs.

Ciao!
Matt

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

p.s. Does anyone else see "The Balance of Power" is this edition's "cover art"?

1. Son Volt - "Caryatid Easy"
Ye olde Wiki-Wiki describes "caryatid" as "a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural element such as a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on its head."

Just thought you should know....

2. Thingy - "Mayday" (take a listen here)
Thingy = Rob Crow = Pinback = perfection. (Don't worry, Heavy Vegetable's in there somewhere too.)

3. Beck - "Feather in Your Cap"
I wanted to come on here and brag about how I found a mint CD copy of "Golden Feelings," but, honestly, it kind of sucks. So, instead, I'm playing it safe with this winner from the "Suburbia" soundtrack.

4. Colorfinger - "13 Years"
Speaking of really, really ridicuously rare CDs, I just parted with Colorfinger's classic album "Deep in the Heart of the Beast in the Sun." While I'll miss it tremendously (I only parted with it for a very "modest" fee), I'm sure Art Alexakis will reissue it now that Everclear is as much of a joke as, say, the rest of the has-beens lot. (Why is it that Sugar Ray and Collective Soul quickly come to mind?)

5. Matthew Good - "Pony Boy"
Here's what Matthew Good (a Canadian demigod) had to say about this smokin' "The Audio of Being" B-side on his Web site: "In June of 1999, after completing 'Beautiful Midnight,' I briefly returned to the studio for fun and recorded the original version of this song, which, in my opinion, was far superior to this one. The only member of the band involved in the original recording of the song was Ian Browne, and it would not be considered for proper recording until the sessions for 'The Audio Of Being' began."

6. The Jayhawks - "Fingernail Moon"
Like "Pony Boy," "Fingernail Moon" is a recently unearthed treasure. This timeless "demo," recorded right at the end of '80s, didn't see release until "Blue Earth" was remastered and re-released four years ago. (The disc also includes two other bonus tracks, including the exquisitely titled "Two Minute Pop Song.")

Most memorable track on this here mix tape, for sure.

7. Badly Drawn Boy feat. Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra - "Come on Eileen" (Dexy's Midnight Runners cover)
Could have been more imaginative, but enjoyable nonetheless.

8. The Sharp Things - "Cruel Thing"
If you, like me, were raised on worn-out cassette copies of the soundtrack to "The Big Chill," this track -- which, if I'm not mistaken, includes a "cameo" from the Hold Steady's Franz Nicolay -- will surely melt your heart.

An instant classic, if you will.

(p.s. Lots of links to free MP3s on the group's label's Web site.)

9. Fear of Pop (Ben Folds) feat. William Shatner - "In Love"
For fans of Baz Luhrmann's "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)," Travelocity.com commercials* and beautiful, beautiful self-loathing.

10. Willie Nelson - "Midnight Rider" (Allman Brothers cover)
Recommended if you like pretending to be a cowboy, jokes about mistaking "taxes" for "Texas," etc.

11. Black Lips - "Cold Hands"
R.I.Y.L. the forthcoming selection.

12. The Bomboras - "Run and Hide"
R.I.Y.L. the preceding selection.

13. Sparrow - "This is How it's Done"
Contrary to what you may think, this is not the same group that eventually morphed into Steppenwolf, but it's cute of you to think that.

14. John Vanderslice - "Exodus Damage" (Alias remix)
Remixes are something else. They range from near-complete "unwind," as is the case here, to ...

15. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Gold Lion" (Nick Zinner remix)
complete reinvigoration of the original, as is the case here.

16. Yacht - "See a Penny (Pick it Up)"
R.I.Y.L. the Scissor Sisters' stranger moments, remixes of tunes by the Blow.

17. Calling All Monsters - "We Are: Special Forces"
Think: a more-mainstream Melvins.

18. The Push Stars - "Minnesota" (listen here)
R.I.Y.L. pandering to the locals and/or natives.

19. Charlie Parr - "Yo-Yo Blues" (BBQ Bob Hicks cover)
Maybe it's just me, but nothing says "Duluth" like anything from Charlie Parr.

(p.s. Some very fine -- and very free -- C-Parr MP3s available here.)

20. Big Hate - "Beauty Mark"
Question: Was the ghost of Layne Staley present for this recording session?

(Scratch that -> he was very much alive when this was recorded. Do I smell a commie cover-up or what?)

21. Bob Seger - "Love the One You're With" (Stephen Stills cover) (listen here)
Recommended if you don't mind letting your "freak flag" fly every now and again....

22. Blue Meanies - "I, Fitznik"
Man alive, is this epic ska or what ... epic ska? Not since the Clash have those two words come together in such beautiful matrimony!

23. Cordalene - "My Little Red Book" (Burt Bacharach cover)
Zumpano, the group A.C. Newman was in before the New Pornographers (and the group Jason Zumpano -- get it? -- was in before Sparrow), did a terrific cover of this song too, but I'll always keep coming back to Cordalene. For me, this is the definitive version.

*Just seeing if you were paying attention, Priceline "negotiators."