Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 40: THAT'S WHY I WEAR A HELMET

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

And this, right here, is the fortieth 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.

Enjoy!
Matt

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

1. Modest Mouse - "People as Places as People"
This recent gem could've been pulled from any one of MM's releases for Up Records -- it's a refreshing notion.

2. The Pixies - "Something Against You"
As recently heard by yours truly in the Mark Ruffalo vehicle "XX/XY." While the film isn't as good as his (strikingly similar) "We Don't Live Here Anymore," it's well worth your time. (Dare I even say a strong contender for "Netflix NOW"?) (I dare.)

3. Shelter Belt - "Dry"
While this wonderful group from Omaha failed to play this number (and my other favorite, "Shadow") at their show with Dave Mehling at Superior's Red Mug Saturday night *tear?* they were still quite enjoyable. (Confidential to SB: Thanks for visiting Superior and taking the time to talk to a lowly newspaper man!)

4. White Light Riot - "Atomism"
Quite the opposite here, as my ears were definitely treated to this hot track when White Light Riot lit up the Bayfront Festival Park stage for Safe Haven's Festival to End the Violence. I do hope they get around to playing Duluth once more before they're on the cover of the Rolling Stone. (Really, they're that good!)

5. Oxford Collapse - "Please Visit Your National Parks"
The problem with (most) songs with kickass titles is that they rarely live up to that level of "kickassery." But let me be the first to point out that that is so not the case here.

6. Lil' Dave Merriman (of the Arrivals) - "I Palindrome I" (They Might Be Giants cover, live on WLUW)
Spot on, Dave Merriman, spot on. Now ... just who the fuck are the Arrivals?!

7. Fair-Weather Friend - "Trestle"
Recommended if you like the Plastic Constellations' early catalog ... back when they'd play joints like St. Cloud's Java Joint. <- Although, for years, I'm pretty sure its neon only beamed out "ava Joint" to unsuspecting passersby. (p.s. Some FWF MP3s are available here.)

8. New Order - "Regret"
This + driving up Minnesota's North Shore on Highway 61 = that much closer to heaven.

9. They Might Be Giants - "Withered Hope"
"The Else" is no "The Spine," but it's damn close.

10. Los Campesinos! - "We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives"
Remember what I said about kickass titles earlier? Same goes here for this mini-anthem from the jacked-up British version of Berkeley's beloved Dealership.

11. Scott Lucas (of Local H) - "Tangerine" (Led Zeppelin cover, live on WXRT)
Purists will scoff, but, unless a cover totally blows, its usually worthy of inclusion on these here mix tapes. (I probably shouldn't be admitting this in public, but the version of "Tangerine" I prefer most actually belongs to Big Head Todd and the Monsters. It appears on the timeless "Encomium" disc.)

12. The Numbers - "We Like Having Things"
And my third-favorite song title of the night....

13. Manic Street Preachers - "Nobody Loved You"
MSP ... with gee-tars!

14. The Blue Meanies - "Short Attention Span"
And you thought your little brother was a "hyper hypo".... ("That's why I wear a helmet." A HA HA) (For today's unofficial "moment of zen," check out the letter the group wrote to MCA Records, its former label.)

15. Cloud Cult - "The Shape of 8"
It's only been since Grandma's Marathon that I saw these guys perform, but, oh, how I miss them.

16. Atmosphere - "Free or Dead"
Vintage Atmosphere -- what's not to love?

17. Boy Girl Boy Girl feat. Alan Sparhawk - "Freak Accident"
Why haven't these guys been featured in any given Quarantino film?

18. The Mighty Fraff - "Could Have Been So Different"
These guys are fucking cool. Just one listen, man, and you'll know exactly what I mean.

19. Ash - "Numbskull"
Is there a Duluth Screaming Club? That might be just as healthy as gathering for a go-round of laughter.

20. Autolux - "Here Comes Everybody"
If Ken Andrews is a god, what does that make Greg Edwards, his Failure partner in crime? According to his work with Autolux, he's at least an ... you know what? I'm not going to finish that. It's such a bad joke my cheeks are flush red just thinking about it!

21. The Chemical Brothers - "We are the Night"
Ahh, yes, remember "Surrender"? You might not even be able to tell the difference from this new track and nearly anything from that classic. Read: A return to greatness.

22. The Sammies - "Postman"
The second coming of Spoon?

23. The Katies - "She's My Marijuana"
Like "Freak Accident," here's another song that also belongs in a film -- except these guys rock out more in the key of "Cameron Crowe soundtrack."

24. Marah - "Round Eye Blues"
I hate to sound too corny, but this shit melts in your ears. Is there enough room in Philly for such greatness?

Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 39 (Dedicated to the Women I Admire)

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.

Enjoy!
Matt

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

p.s. For this "very special" edition of my awesome mix tape series, I've chosen to dedicate each track to a woman I admire. This way I get to honor the great females that inhabit my world AND ... well, it's just a lot more easier than actually explaining why you would enjoy each individual track.

1. Apollo 440 - "'Are We a Rock Band of What...?'"
To my sister, Emily. She probably won't remember this, but she was the first one to turn me on to this group. "Stop the Rock," anyone?

2. The Chemical Brothers feat. Fatlip - "The Salmon Dance"
To Tina Fey, for an impeccable sense of humor.

3. Pearl Jam - "Mankind"
To Gretchen Lofquist, for always besting me in the category of full-blown, slightly obsessive PJ love.

4. The Beatles - "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)"
To "the Germans," Kirsten "Kiwi" Winkler and Dorothea Levin. During our trip to Bayfield, Wis., in 11th grade, "Past Masters, Vol. 2" was one of the albums we listened to out on the porch overlooking Lake Superior. (As a sign of the times, we were playing the card game "Bullshit.")

5. Ben Kweller - "Today" (Smashing Pumpkins cover)
For Jes Seamans. During high school I "interviewed" her and Bri Smith about their first band, Nothing Jive About Jupiter (they're now two-thirds of Best Friends Forever). I remember Jes saying that, in a just world, "Today" would've seen the success of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" -- not just in sales, but in cultural relevance. For some reason, this has always stuck with me. (So, I hope I'm remembering who said what correctly....)

Either way, here's Plan B: Jes is the coolest bass player since Kim Deal, and I assume she learned at least a few moves from D'arcy before D'arcy ... vanished into thin air.

6. The Scissor Sisters - "Laura" (City Hi Fi remix)
To my aunt of the same name. Last time she was in town, she brought me out to the Miller Hill Olive Garden when her husband was having surgery at SMDC. Free food will always score you loads of points with me!

7. Kanye West - "We Don't Care"
To Rebecca Ingraham (now Larson) and her "girlie crew," for making that summer at Fargo's Trollwood Performing Arts School tolerable. (For those three hot, sticky months, "The College Dropout" was in deep rotation on my car stereo.)

8. Self - "Wednesday Again"
To my editor, Jana Peterson, for allowing Wednesday to always be deadline day. (Read: Thanks for not firing me, eh!)

9. John Vanderslice - "Karma Police" (Radiohead cover)
To my best friend's girl, Liz Hartman. With you around, I don't need to listen to nearly as much Radiohead with him as I used to. LOL

10. Sean Na-Na - "Gray Clouds"
To every female record store clerk I've ever had a crush on -- starting with Erin at The Gallery in Brainerd....

11. Ultrababyfat - "Twist"
To my niece, Valerie Claire: I hope you're as cool as these ladies when you grow up.

12. The Broken West - "On the Bubble" (live on Radio K)
To Sofia Coppola. I like the way you direct, and your taste in music is superb.

13. America - "Lonely People"
To all the faded crushes ... they deserve a place on here too.

14. Blind Melon - "Toes Across the Floor"
To Briana Smith, for our less-than-successful seance. (We were attempting to channel the spirit of Shannon Hoon.)

15. The Wrens - "It's Alright"
To Heidi Myogeto, for all those wonderful nights spent in the metropolis that is Emily, Minn. (p.s. For all those shitty movies I made you sit through, I apologize most for "Frenzy." I have nothing against the film, but, man, you probably thought I was fucking nuts or something. LOL)

16. Badly Drawn Boy - "Degrees of Separation"
To all three of my grandmothers. It probably wasn't easy dealing with me as a kid, so I apologize for that -- and the fact that you all still "claim me" is really just a tribute to what wonderful women you all are.

17. The Weakerthans - "One Great City!"
To my good buddy Kristi Lang, for one very memorable road trip to Winnipeg (to see the Pixies, of course ... that's the only reason to visit Canada**).

18. They Might Be Giants - "Kendra McCormick"
To Kendra McCormick. (Hey, if she's good enough to win CD101's radio contest, then she's good enough to get name-checked on this here blog!)

19. Rufus Wainwright - "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk"
GOD BLESS MOM.

20. Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Sweet Hitch-Hiker"
To Theresa Lashyro -- winners of "best laugh" in high school gotta stick together!

21. The Coral - "Dreaming of You"
To Jenna "Pam! Pam!" Fischer, for forever holding the No. 1 spot on my "laminated list." LOL

22. The Clash - "Know Your Rights"
To Hillary Clinton -- if (and only if) she selects Obama as her running mate. Like Voltron, they will combine to form an unwavering, unstoppable (Democratic) force.

23. Unified Theory - "Wither"
To Amy Holmvig. Despite the outcome, we still had a couple good years.

24. Cordalene - "Who Loves the Sun?" (Velvet Underground cover)
To Grace Kelly, for unparalleled beauty. (There's a reason "Rear Window" is quickly becoming my favorite film....)

25. Andy Fairweather Low - "When I Grow Too Old to Dream"
Finally, to my lovely wife Sarah, as she's possibly the only one that will still tolerate me when I'm wearing adult diapers. LOL

*No joke!
**Totally kidding. I've actually been half-tempted to relocate to Canada for some time now.

This Week's (Belated) Shameless Budgeteer Plug: Russians at Graffiti Graveyard, (more) mayoral candidates and (even more) CD reviews

Y'all excited for the Dave Mehling/Shelter Belt show tonight at Red Mug? Me too, me too. But, since that's at least a few hours away, here's some fun to keep you occupied:

"Mayoral Roundup No. 4" -- It's finally over (12 candidates is just too much ... anyone else agree it should cost more than $20 to file in Duluth's mayoral race?). Grievances aside, this final "episode" features Herb Bergson and three of his 11 opponents: Joanne Fay, Todd Gremmels and Robert Wagner.

"Hanging Out with Some Russians at Graffiti Graveyard ... Weird" -- Truly, truly probably the strangest assignment I will ever get on in my professional journalism career. That said, it was a blast!

"CD Reviews: New Ones from Billy Southern, the Very People and Simple Kid" -- The rundown: Southern plays some pretty fine folk music, the Very People don't (but are nice people, so don't hold it against them) and, while a few tracks on "Simp's" new album are "out of this world," the majority aren't.

ALSO: Although my contributions aren't deserving of a byline, I had a hand in putting together both "Al Franken Q-and-A: Part Deux" and "Mahtowa's Free Highway 61 Folks Festival Returns Aug. 3-5, Rain or Shine."

p.s. What'd ya think of "The Simpsons Movie"? Even though I haven't watched the show religiously since I was a kid, I must say I was pleasantly surprised.

p.p.s. I chose this photograph (to "pimp" my stories) in honor of this week's hot cop action.

Today's Moment of Zen: Matt Suoja's "The Golden Mask and the Three Lions"

My coworker made the mistake of showing me this little project he did for a visual arts culture class at the University of Minnesota Duluth a few years back. (Why UMD archives this shit is another solid "moment of zen," to be sure. LOL)

His defense? "You don't think the story's good? ... You don't like it?"

Sit back, relax and the let the furtive narrative unfold. (This is my favorite "scene." Click on it to start from the beginning.)

p.s. More from the mind of Suoja here, at Duluth Soup.

Duluth FYI: Tugboat to hold auditions in August for fall musical 'Miss Nelson has a Field Day'

From a Renegade Comedy Theatre e-release:

Tugboat Children’s Theatre will be holding auditions for its fall musical "Miss Nelson has a Field Day" Aug. 18 and 19, at 3 p.m. in the Renegade Comedy Theatre at 222 E. Superior St. There are seven roles for men and women, ages 17 and older, and musical experience is helpful but not necessary. Actors are asked to bring a prepared song and to be ready to read from the script. The show is being directed by Jill Hoffman.

"Miss Nelson Has A Field Day" will be staged in September and October at Renegade Comedy Theatre.

Renegade Comedy Theatre is a nonprofit 501(c)3 arts organization and is eligible for bequests.

For more information, visit Renegade's Web site or e-mail its executive producer, Brian Matuszak. (The accompanying picture of Matuszak is an outtake from "Luck of the Draw...," my behind-the-scenes feature on Renegade's Out of the Hat 9.)

Duluth FYI: Starfire Screen Printing Co. launches Web site

Here it is: www.starfirescreenprinting.com. And here's what I said in the Budgeteer a couple weeks back: "Homegrown Founder Launches Starfire Screen Printing Co."


Scott “Starfire” Lunt at his new business on Fourth Street, Starfire Screen Printing Co. He will celebrate its grand opening June 22. Matthew R. Perrine/Budgeteer News

Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 38

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.

Enjoy!
Matt

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

1. White Light Riot - "Charlatan"
I know there were only a handful of people on hand for White Light Riot's performance at the Festival to End the Violence in Bayfront Festival Park, but, wow, they still put on one hell of a show!

2. Queens of the Stone Age feat. the Strokes' Julian Casablancas - "Sick, Sick, Sick"
Although you really can't "hear" Mr. Casablancas' contributions on this QOTSA rager, it's nice to know Josh Homme let him come along for the ride.

3. Billy Southern - "All the Proctor Girls"
Funny, but oh-so-wrong: "All them Proctor girls is blonde / Yeah, all them Proctor girls is blonde / It may be politically wrong but I don't care / 'Cause all them girls is blonde."

Catchy tune!

4. Modest Mouse - "You're the Good Things"
If only Mason Jennings' transition to working for Epic Records had been this smooth....

5. Dressy Bessy - "There's a Girl"
I've said this a million times, but Dressy Bessy is the best thing to ever come out of the Mile High City.

6. Spoon - "My Little Japanese Cigarette Case"
Much of "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" is a big disappointment, but this track is right up there with the most enjoyable moments in Spoon's extensive back catalog.

7. Reel Big Fish - "You Don't Know"
Hey, give these guys a chance; they're not annoying as you might think.

8. They Might Be Giants - "The Cap'm"
Here's what I said about "The Else" (and this track from it) on eMusic:**

Not an instant classic ... Perin from Superior, Wis.

but it's pretty damn close! If you're curious, I'd start with "The Cap'm." Funny, hooky AND memorable!

9. Glen Phillips - "Falling"
Can't say I ever listened to Toad the Wet Sprocket growing up, but it's hard not to love Glen's solo adventures.

10. Pinback - "Seville" (demo)
This unassuming demo version builds into something offhandedly epic -- not to be missed!

11. Shelter Belt - "Shadow"
Twin Ports music fans rejoice, as Omaha's excellent Shelter Belt will be gracing us with two separate shows next weekend. Get the details here.

12. Greg Laswell - "Amazed"
As far as I can tell, Greg Laswell A) came out of nowhere but B) should stick around for awhile (hear "Through Toledo" in its entirety) and, totally unrelated, is that he C) is a funny guy.

13. The Mood Elevator - "Beginner's Luck"
Damn Raconteurs....

14. Sondre Lerche - "Night and Day" (Cole Porter cover)
My introduction to Sondre came at the University of Minnesota's Whole Club probably about five years ago now (opening for Nada Surf), and he's never failed to fascinate me since that time. He plays the kind of timeless music that is perfectly acceptable for both your grandparents' unexpected visit to your new place and ... umm *cheeks redden* playing tonsil hockey with your lady.

Oh, geez, I suppose I should offer some sort of disclaimer: These two activities should never, EVER cross paths. Grandpappy and grand-ma-ma don't need to see that!

15. Cloud Cult - "Do You Ever Think About..."
A nice excursion before ...

16. Mr. Lif - "The Fries" (remix by Abdul Malik)
Remember that really creepy scene in "Super Size Me" featuring a group of kids from fat camp singing "Pizza Hut / Pizza Hut / Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut"? Well, this song (the aural equivalent of "Fast Food Nation") samples that chant to maximum efficiency, and that's just the beginning. Brilliant, invigorating stuff here.

17. Air - "Mer du Japon"
Meanwhile, it's the only tolerable track on the new Air album....

18. Polara feat. the Jayhawks' Gary Louris - "Obsolete"
You like late-period (but pre-latest reunion) the Who? Do ya? Well, this is kind of like that.

Kind of ... but better.

19. Fleetwood Mac - "Blue Letter"
Say what you want, but it won't change the fact that I L-O-V-E the Mac. Naysayers be damned.

20. Iron & Wine - "Boy with a Coin" (single edit)
I never got into this group*** until a free MP3 on MySpace (of all places) persuaded me to give them/him a listen, and I'm glad I did. Like everything else I hear these days, it's "kind of Cloud Cult-y."

21. Lansing-Dreiden - "A Line You Can Cross"
Wow, tubular, it's like an '80s time warp! (Except a little more depressing than you were hoping for.)

22. The Replicants - "Destination Unknown" (Missing Persons cover)
I should probably know who Missing Persons were, but, when I listen to this, all I can think is: KEN ANDREWS IS GOD.

All other thoughts are, therefore, brushed under the dirty ol' rug that is my mind. <- Umm ... what? Sadly, I'm with you on that one.

23. The Bogmen - "The Big Burn"
You never forget your first couple times. There's just something about that young age when you find out A) you love music and B) it sounds a whole lot better at maximum volume. To my parents' home entertainment system (and little surround speakers that just couldn't handle it...), I apologize for this one, R.E.M.'s "Circus Envy" and Nine Inch Nails' "Dead Souls." They kind of wrecked you, didn't they?

*At least that's what my mom tells me....
**Though I recommend you purchase it at an independent retailer so you don't miss out on the fabulous bonus disc, "Cast Your Pod to the Wind," which collects the best of the group's podcast material.
***I'm not admitting anything outright, but I may have been afraid of his beard.