Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 60: YOU CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC

Don't even try!

Submitted for the approval of the Twin Ports Awesome Mix Tape Appreciation Society ... the latest installment of "Don't Tell a Soul."

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.

We got a red alert!
Matt

(Questions? Comments? Want one of your band's songs to be considered for an upcoming awesome mix tape? E-mail mperrine [at] duluthbudgeteer [dot] com.)

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1. Nerf Herder - "Golfshirt"
Believe it or not, this song actually helped me land a wife!

2. DJ Abilities - "Kastdaddy 4 President"
One of DJ Abilities' most intriguing compositions, in which he gloriously weaves in Outkast's "Bombs Over Baghdad" and the oft-sampled -- but still killer, mind you -- Dead Prez track "Hip Hop" (aka Dave Chappelle's "entrance music" on his Comedy Central show).

3. Cars & Trucks - "Solitary One" (listen here)
Like Greg Cougar Conley's "Billy Bumblebee" last year (on the "Treasure Chest" benefit), this is the Duluth scene's "It song" for 2007.

4. Twisted Linguistics - "Kid Universal"
A half-brilliant hip-hop track that hovers between mainstream (early Cypress Hill) and indieground (Grayskul and Aesop Rock's "Voltronic Instructional Espionage"). All in all, Muad'dib should probably stick to Heiruspecs.

5. The Killers - "Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf"
It's wrong how much I appreciate this Las Vegas group....

6. Led Zeppelin - "Rock and Roll" (live, from "The Song Remains the Same")
"All right, let's go!" With that barked-out order, Bonzo led the group on a glorious three-night stand at Madison Square Garden in '73 -- thankfully captured for our listening and viewing enjoyment.

7. King Size - "Exciting"
What Cars & Trucks would sound like if they had Jonny "Hi My Name is Jonny" Polonsky for a producer. (He once had Frank Black for a producer, so you can see where this is headed....)

8. The Romantics - "One in a Million"
Yeah, that's right; I listen to the Romantics sometimes!

9. The Coup - "Pork and Beef" (DL other great tracks here)
Coming from an album primarily known for its controversial artwork (the album, which was to be released in September 2001, had group members blowing up the Twin Towers), it's already fascinating; more than that, though, this is hip-hop as fierce as anything on the group's 2006 breakthrough, "Pick a Bigger Weapon."

10. K's Choice - "Walk Away"
Delightful mid-'90s alterna-pop.

11. Decibully - "Megan & Magill" (other MP3s here)
The most epic, horizon-expanding indie rock ever to flow from "Cream City."

12. Sir Salvatore - "Ambalina"
Recommended if you like Wilco, Beulah, a little pop infusion and peace on Earth.

13. The Kinks - "You Can't Stop the Music"
Some of the best opening lines ever: "Let's all raise a glass / To the rock stars of the past."

14. Chris Koza - "Crowded Bed"
Why oh why does this remind me of "The Boxcar Children"?

15. The Remains - "Why Do I Cry?"
If you like the "Nuggets" series, dig into this '60s Boston outfit, which was one of the opening acts on the Beatles' final U.S. tour. (How's that for street cred?!)

16. David Bazan - "Cold Beer and Cigarettes"
Whoa, flashback to '06: Ladies and gentlemen, the voice of Pedro the Lion ... strikes gold again!

17. White Light Riot - "What a Fool Believes" (Doobie Brothers cover)
While not nearly as imaginative as Self's cover, it's still -- and this is very, very important to me -- 100 percent fun.

18. Chris Walla - "Sing Again"
Now for another lame faux concert introduction: Ladies and gentlemen, Death Cab for Cutie guitarist/indie producer extraordinaire Chris Walla. *crowd roars*

19. Sondre Lerche - "After All" (Daytrotter vers.)
Hey, this Norwegian Mason Jennings has the same problems I do: "I like you too much / After too little time."

20. The Get Up Kids - "Overdue"
These kids only know two modes: rocking or "balladeering." (This is a great example of the latter.)

21. The Wannadies - "God Knows"
Again with the transatlanticism, here's some of the finest indie rock Sweden has to offer.

22. Remy Zero - "Problem"
When -- oh when -- will Remy Zero get its fucking due?

23. Rocket from the Crypt - "Alone" (DL others here)
Don't think too hard about it, for now we're on one of the hardest rocking songs of all time that doesn't make you want to *ahem* slam domestic brews. (he he he)

24. Rogue Wave - "Postage Stamp World" (some MP3s here) (and here)
In the beginning, this bittersweet track borders on timeless beauty ("Ever since mom walked out / Sis and I can get no sleep / Since then dad's brought home 13 redheads"), but, then, it all goes downhill with the next line: "A blonde, a brunette and a sheep." Oh well....