sys36 :: LOOKING OUT FOR NO. 1

Year-end jitters notwithstanding, I am optimistic about 2009 and our new president. To celebrate, some more songs I strongly urge you to at least listen to:

1. Johnny Berlin - "Bender Parts" [LISTEN HERE]
A song I really wish we would've had time for on Walt Dizzo's "Best of 2008" show on KUWS, as I'm sure he (and his loyal audience) would've appreciated it and *ahem* I ran out of room on my year-end lists in the Budgeteer to properly honor this terrific Belgian group. Like a danceable Grnd Ntl Brnds <- if that means anything to anyone that's not me.... 2. Of Montreal - "An Eluardian Instance"
And here's a song from an album that did make said lists.

3. P.O.S. - "Goodbye" [MP3]
P.O.S.'s upcoming release, "Never Better," will surely be one of 2009's best ...

4. Lady Sovereign - "I Got You Dancing" [MP3]
and Lady Sov's new one (I think it's called "Jigsaw") will surely be one of the year's funnest.

5. Department of Eagles - "Teenagers"
Not to dwell on those year-end lists, but here's a great song from a record I wish I had gotten to spend a little more time with. Like a more-relaxed "Pet Sounds," but with oh-so-much soul!

6. Eef Barzelay - "Could Be Worse"
Stop crying, Clem Snide groupies, Eef's solo albums are just as good.

7. Fountains of Wayne - "Valley Winter Song"
Recently heard in L.L.Bean's holiday commercials. But don't hold that against Adam Schlesinger and company.

8. Marc Gartband - "The New Seventeen"
A memorable little ditty about growing old (well, turning 33...) from *let me clear my throat, really obnoxiously* my pick for the Northland's No. 1 album of 2008.

9. Cloud Cult - "Story of the Grandson of Jesus"
"Story of the Grandson of Donald Perrine" would've hit closer to home, but its appeal probably wouldn't have been as broad....

10. Alkaline Trio - "In Vein"
I haven't been keeping up with these guys, but this frenetic track from '08 sure makes me regret that. A must-hear!

11. Mark Lindquist - "Hey Buddy"
Here's what Mark Lindquist told the Duluth News Tribune's Christa Lawler about this track, aka one of the best reasons to pick up the second Homegrown compilation: “The backup band is Baby Grant and Rich Mattson and it’s the first time all three of us had played on the same song together. There’s no album to go buy (it's exclusive to "Homegrown Rawk and/or Roll: Lindquist's Mix"). It just kind of seemed to fit there right in the middle.”

12. The Long Winters - "Carparts"
This may be the Green Fairy talking, but I swear you can hear "hey, buddy" being muttered at the beginning of this one too. Odd.

13. Alva Star - "Thing for Me"
Anywho, another sick (I must apologize for using that word, but I've been watching a lot of "Epicly Later'd" of late) track from Storyhill and (Olympic) Hopefuls golden god John Hermanson. Power pop in its purest form.

14. Supergrass - "Rebel in You"
Complements "Thing for Me" expertly.

15. Jimi Hendrix - "Little Miss Strange"
I'm not crazy: Vocal duties on this Cream-esque curiosity were handled by Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding. Maybe I should be paying more attention to their post-Hendrix careers.

16. DJ Muggs - "John Lennon vs. Inspectah Deck" [MP3]
"Cold Turkey," one of my favorite Lennon tracks, gets the mash-up treatment and, somehow, it works.

17. Kritical Kontact - "New and Improved"
I can't wait; Bliss recently told me that Kritical Kontact plans to do a couple tracks with Just Some Cat, probably the Duluth scene's best-kept secret.

18. team9 vs. Stereogum - "B.F. Meets T.I." [MP3]
From Stereogum's excellent free team9 album "MySplice III," which can be downloaded in its entirety here. (By the way, this track is an entertaining mash-up of Ben Folds and Regina Spektor's "You Don't Know Me" and T.I.'s "U Don't Know Me." They surprisingly work really well together.)

19. Hot Panda - "Cold Hands, Chapped Lips" [LISTEN HERE]
I'm calling it now: Canada's "It" band in '09. After hearing this gorgeous track, you won't disagree. Really, how could I be wrong with this one?

20. BLK JKS - "Lakeside" [MP3]
Johannesburg's BLK JKS is a perfect band to introduce your TV on the Radio-fancying friends to, and, since their "Mystery" EP is free right now on Other Music and eMusic, you should really do them a solid and let them know. Quick-like, though!

21. The Tisdales - "Like a Horse"
Going back to Mark Lindquist words of wisdom, I loved what he told me about this group for the very-special Budgeteer story "What the Mayor and Other Northlanders Liked in '08": "The Tisdales’ ‘Baker’s Dozen’ really captured a great old-school rock and roll sound for me."

22. Doug Hoekstra - "Disrepair"
I may have said this before, but ... for the uninitiated, Hoekstra is a Nashville singer/songwriter who’s so good at what he does that he makes crafting a perfect set of folk rock songs seem effortless.

Thus concludes your thirty-sixth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series formerly known as "Don't Tell a Soul."

This Fortnight's Shameless Budgeteer Plug!

Hope your holiday were splendid. Here are a couple things I've put together in the last two weeks:

"The Best Albums of 2008, Pts. 1 & 2" :: Locally, it was another banner year for music, and the national and international scenes fared just as well. See if your favorite records "made the cut." (In case you're interested, links to my 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 lists.)

"What the Mayor and Other Northlanders Liked in '08" :: The question was simple: What is your favorite local and non-local album of 2008? See how people like Charlie Parr, Walt Dizzo and Mayor Don Ness answered. (Now with fantastic newness courtesy of Cars & Trucks' Mat Milinkovich and Tony Bennett!)

"The (Mostly) Local Guide to Last-Minute Gifts" :: From art supplies to zoo memberships, our A-to-Z guide will help make this frantic last week of shopping a little more bearable. Compiled with my boss, Budgeteer editor Jana Peterson.

And some random photos that punctuated other people's stories: a potluck "still art," some kids skating at Congdon Park Elementary School and blizzard shots for our '08/'09 winter photography collection of the old Interstate Bridge and snow-covered steps in the DECC parking lot.

p.s. I also co-hosted Walt Dizzo's "Best of 2008" show on KUWS. Read what songs he (we) played on his MySpace blog – or below if you're having trouble accessing it:

1. Cloud Cult – Story of the Grandson of Jesus
2. Tisdales – Like a Horse
3. The Plastic Constellations – Floated Down and Flew Around
4. The War on Drugs – Arms Like Boulders
5. The Sword – Fire Lances of the Ancient Hyperzephyrians
6. Wolf Parade – Call it a Ritual
7. Chris Walla – Geometry and C
8. Doomtree – Game Over
9. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down – Bag of Hammers
10. Marc Gartband – Back With You
11. The Whigs – Like a Vibration
12. Of Montreal – Triphallus, to Punctuate!
13. Now Now Every Children – Everyone You Know
14. Tiny Moving Parts – Moving to Antarctica
15. Torche – Grenades
16. Retribution Gospel Choir – Kids
17. Harvey Milk – Barnburner
18. Sports! – Magnetic Yellow Ribbons
19. Amanda Palmer – Runs in the Family
20. Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
21. Atmosphere – You
22. Haley Bonar – Something Great
23. Vivian Girls – Where Do You Run To
24. Man Man – Top Drawer
25. Riddle of Steel – John Frum
26. Lil Wayne – Mrs. Officer
27. Lykke Li – I’m Good, I’m Gone
28. Dance Band – Digital
29. Vampire Weekend – M79
30. Department of Eagles – No One Does It Better
31. Human Highway – The Sound
32. TV on the Radio – DLZ
33. Q-Tip – Shaka
34. Dr. Dog – The Old Days
35. Attic Lights – Bring You Down
36. Boris – Laser Beam
37. Jay Reatard – See Saw
38. Little Joy – How to Hang a Warhol
39. Terry Lynn – Kingston Logic (angry mix)
40. She and Him – Why Do You Let Me Stay?
41. The Raveonettes – Black Satin
42. Islands – Creeper
43. Marah – Angel of Destruction
44. Black Mountain – Evil Ways
45. Amplive – Video Tapez
46. Chairlift – Bruises
47. Portishead – Magic Doors
48. Victory Ship – Won’t Let Go
49. Deerhunter – Agoraphobia
50. Santogold – Lights Out
51. Smoking Popes – Welcome to Janesville
52. Horse & Rider – Funeral Piles
53. Barbie Bangkok – All Over Again
54. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!
55. Beck – Chemtrails
56. Portraits for Judith – 13 Plagues
57. Fucked Up – Year of the Pig (US 7” Edit)
58. Tanya Morgan – The Bridge
59. The Magnetic Fields – The Nun’s Litany
60. Black Kids – Hit the Heartbrakes
61. Submarines – You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie
    

Thus concludes what will hopefully be the last This Fortnight's Shameless Budgeteer Plug!

Today's Moment of Zen: The latest music-geek crush...

Ladies and gentlemen, Anya Marina!

sys35 :: HEAD. CARPET. SEW.

Now that all those pesky year-end lists are almost complete, I can finally return to my awesome mix tape series -- hallelujah!

1. Alva Star - "Victorian"
With the release of his self-titled solo debut in '98, Storyhill folkie John Hermanson launched the second phase of his career: power pop star. With Alva Star and the (Olympic) Hopefuls, he continues that trend. This is one of the most infectious tracks I've ever heard -- like Supergrass "Never Done Nothing Like That Before" good -- and that's saying a lot!

2. Jonny Polonsky - "Half Mind"
Similarly, this Frank Black-produced track is guaranteed to blow your mind. Space-y and radio-ready all at once.

3. The Streets - "The Sherry End"
As I might've said earlier, some clear standouts from "Everything is Borrowed" are “Heaven for the Weather,” “The Strongest Person I Know” (which, like “Alleged Legends,” features the tragically underappreciated singer/songwriter Ed Harcourt) and this gem, an undeniably catchy track that’s punctuated by trumpet and saxophone fills.

4. Coldplay - "Postcards from Far Away"
I usually can't stand this band, but I thought I'd give them another chance because my grandma in Florida likes them so much -- and, what do you know, I can stand this short 'n' sweet instrumental EP offering. Kind of relaxing.

5. Dr. Pepper Family - "Poster"
Forget Cleveland, Belgium rocks. (I know I should be ashamed of myself for comments like that, but I just can't help it: This band NEEDS to be heard by the masses.)

6. Anya Marina - "Vertigo"
A sweet little ditty from the unsuspecting chartreuse who's friends with Spoon's Britt Daniel and, oh yeah, got banned from an L.A. club for lyrics about licking a certain body part of hers clean. Yeah.... For a cute little girl like Anya, how rock and roll is that?!

7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Way Out"
Love it -- Karen O is a queen.

8. Eagles of Death Metal - "Cheap Thrills"
Never a dull moment with the *ahem* "Pigeons of Shit Metal." (Axl Rose is such an assclown.)

9. U2 - "Numb [The Soul Assassins Mix]"
Of all the hip-hop producers out there, Cypress Hill's DJ Muggs ranks right up there with Ant and DJ Abilities. Not a believer? Give this U2 treatment a spin. (p.s. Check out the nice collection of free MPs at SoulAssassins.com.)

10. Atmosphere - "The Things that Hate Us"
"As American as herpes and hot dogs." Ugh, Slug....

11. Kevin Tihista's Red Terror - "Pretty Please"
How I "won" my wife!

12. Ultimate Fakebook - "Inside Me, Inside You"
Reminds me of my Disc Go Round days. Good ol' Burning Tree Plaza.

13. The Tomorrowpeople - "Psyched by the 4-D Witch!"
Like a soundscape collaboration between Rob Zombie and Apollo 440.

14. Danzig - "Power of Darkness"
Quick, Danzig says there's a "snake between your legs" ... I need an old priest and a young priest!

15. Prong - "Innocence Gone"
"Rude Awakening" is one of those ultimate albums I couldn't imagine living without.

16. Ash - "Folk Song"
Like a lovely dream -- though, for whatever reason, it reminds me of the old Bargains Galore store in Moorhead. (It had pogs!)

17. Jon Auer - "These Times"
Posies dude strikes out on his own and makes a record that sounds ... exactly like the Posies. No complaints here, though, as I rather enjoy those Bellingham dudes.

18. Victory Ship - "I Can Pretend"
Thanks again to Walt Dizzo for letting me co-host the "Best of 2008" program on his KUWS radio show -> where I played one of this Twin Cities group's unpretentious rollers.

19. XTC - "I Bought Myself a Liarbird"
I know have no f------ idea what this song is about, but I like it!

20. Lindsey Buckingham - "Holiday Road"
Ahh, yes, good times; I recently revisited "Vacation" and I have a newfound appreciation for this uber-catchy song from the Mac man.

21. Little Joy - "Keep Me in Mind"
A Strokes side project that is both A) really catchy and B) pretty Strokes-y. At least this track, for the others I heard were a little more adventurous.

22. Riverboat Gamblers - "Don't Jinx"
Intense. Hyper. Enjoyable.

23. The Stereo - "Devotion"
Same here, but much more refined. Jamie Woolford is a golden god -- as is Rory Allen Phillips.

24. Stiff Little Fingers - "Guitar and Drum"
"Is this the new Green Day song?"

25. The Police - "Can't Stand Losing You"
I used to make fun of Sting fans, but, man, back in the day he sure was something.

Thus concludes your thirty-fifth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series formerly known as "Don't Tell a Soul."

Random Thoughts: What I learned from Paste 49

In an effort to curb the mounting stack of magazines around the flat (...), I've decided to bring back the "What I Learned" column. Here are some nuggets I plucked from the 49th issue of Paste (December '08/January '09):

• This isn't so much new information as a reaffirmation of beliefs formerly held: "cover model" Zooey Deschanel is as cute as a button. (She's posing with Him, aka M. Ward.)
• If you fly American Airlines -- Who has money for vacations during a recession, right? -- you can listen to Paste-selected tunes by plugging into your armrest. Weird partnership....
• Paste subscribes can go digital (sampler and all) come February. That's good to know, considering I just bought my brother a subscription and re-upped myself.
• The Mountain Goats, Sloan and the Weakerthans will all be playing one of those rock 'n' roll cruises in February. Hosted by Barenaked Ladies ... eww.
• Good idea for the holidays: If you have just a couple of bucks left on a gift card, mail it to GiftCardGiver.com and they'll donate the remainder to charities like Habitat for Humanity. -> Think of the children!
• Hip-OSelect.com has some really sweet Motown T-shirts. Vintage-looking!
• Coming Jan. 27, 2009: "Ready for the Flood," Gary Louris and Mark Olson's first post-Jayhawks album. <- Sweet.
• "All of Us in Our Night," by Athens band Modern Skirts, was co-produced by R.E.M.'s Mike Mills (of course) and Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven's David Lowery. That's pretty impressive!
• Paste's pick for best album of 2008 was She & Him's "Volume One." (Hence the cover.) It's up there on my list too.
  
• Of their picks for best film of '08, I've seen exactly none. Yay for me! What, no "Pineapple Express"?
  
• Their pick for best show? "Battlestar Galactica" = dorks. (Just kidding, I just got done playing "Halo 3.")
• Speaking of games, they gave the nod to "Fallout 3." I haven't played that one, but I have No. 6 and No. 7 ("Grand Theft Auto IV" and "Rock Band 2") -- so I'm doing a little better than I did with the movies....
• How cool is Paste? Facing ads from CCR and Of Montreal, that's how cool.
• You can get 25 free music downloads (and one free audiobook) from eMusic.com, one of my favorite sites, by visiting www.emusic.com/pastemag.
• If you ask me, Paste's Digital VIP subscription seems like a pretty good deal.
• Have you seen what Merge is up to with "Score!"? It's a 14-disc set, with each one curated by people like R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and comedian Zach Galifianakis -- kind of like our very own Homegrown comps.
• Former Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan has another collaboration album out. But this time, instead of Greg Dulli (together they are the Gutter Twins), it's Belle & Sebastian's Isobel Campbell. Sounds interesting.
• Jesse Malin has covered the Hold Steady on his new(ish) album, "On Your Sleeve." Again, interesting.
• Stephen Kellogg and Glen Phillips are both on a new compilation, "New Arrivals, Vol. 3," which benefits the National Eating Disorders Association.
  
• Here's one for my coworker Matt: In the humorous article "Gazing Into the Crystal 8 Ball," writer Paul J. Williams predicts that, on Aug. 3, 2009, Liam Gallagher will protest the presence of brother and Oasis bandmate Noel Gallagher at Glastonbury Festival. Nice!
  

BONUS EDUCATION: Issue 49's New-Music Sampler

• RosieThomas' "Why Can't it Be Christmastime All Year" is a decent enough holiday song; part Flaming Lips, part Amy Grant....
• Other songs to consider seeking out: The Steps' "Dagger," The Deep Vibration's "Oklahoma City Woman Blues (Veracruz)," Denison Witmer's Fleetwood Mac-esque "Life Before Aesthetics," Anathallo's Format-conjuring "The River," the Whispertown 2000's does-it-better-than-Lucinda "Old Times," LoveKrafty's "Just Go On," the Great Unknown's "I'm Not Listening" (something I'm pretty sure Charlie Parr or Marc Gartman would dig), Modern Skirts' "Soft Pedals" (it's growing on me) and Dear and the Headlights' "I'm Not Crying, You're Not Crying, Are You?"
• Ones to avoid: Ani's new one, "Smiling Underneath," and Lovedrug's "Blood Like." Just awful, both of 'em.

REMINDER: SAVE THREE SHEETS

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Best of 2008 :: Radio Flyer 2 :: WHISKEY & GREEN TEA

A radio show for music geeks worldwide: The best music of 2008. Picked by the likes of KUWS's resident superstar DJ, Walt Dizzo; myself; and, most importantly, his loyal listeners. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, on 91.3 FM/www.kuws.fm.