So, unless you’ve been living in a cave, you’ve probably heard of the XBOX 360 downloadable title, Braid (featured in every print magazine on the planet, ranging from Parade to NY Times, featured on NPR and Fox). It’s one of the more interesting games to come out in a long time, and exercises acute examples of what happens when intelligent people make video games. So, how to you dumb it down? Well, Soulja Boy nails it on the head. Screw you NPR.
Of course, my immediate questions are: Why does there appear to be two televisions on in the same room? And for that matter why is the room so small? And, actually, why does Soulja Boy appear to be living in some shitty suburban apartment? How fucking Soulja is that? And what planet is he on that he thinks the game has no point? And, actually, why did he download it to begin with? Oh Soulja Boy, please please respond!
No crazy fun playlist for this one, mostly because I couldn’t find any of them on imeem. Use your imagination or google it yourself you lazy fuck — it’s summertime, get out of the damn house and part-ay. Like me, I’m always busy, you know, doing stuff.
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Summertime is right around the corner (behind you, stupid, the corner behind you), and that means it’s time to hit up your local internet record outlet for some sweet summer jams to soundtrack you summer romances, jogs, bike rides and barbecues.
“Sand in My Joints” – Wire
If you are one of those people that absolutely hate’s the feeling of sand on your hot and sweaty body, don’t fear, you’re not alone, in fact, Wire hated it enough to write a song about it.
“Hot Fun in the Summertime” – Sly and the Family Stone
You know, the more and more I hear this song (after all, it’s played every summer and it’s fairly tacky it’s even on this list) I’m not actually sure he’s talking about summer. At least, he seems to be insinuating that getting baked in the summer takes more than just the sun.
“Wait for the Summer” – Yeasayer
Yeasayer screams summer in a lot of ways – but mostly it’s just the Beach Boys style harmonies with multiple instruments and handclapping. It’s just a nice calming song that feels like laying on a hammock in the shade.
“Wanna Be (ft. Lily Allen)” – Dizzee Rascal
This song doesn’t mention summer in any way, but if “Wanna Be (ft. Lily Allen)” doesn’t scream summer-jam-pool-party then I don’t know what would. If you don’t get it, you might as well quit.
“Bump” – Spank Rock
Yeah, I know this is so last year that it’s in a salad dressing commercial. Whatever to you, believe me, this tune is still the best summer day bicycle riding soundtrack you’re gonna get.
“Reply to Melody” – The Mighty Sparrow
I can’t help the fact that most Calypso music makes me feel like I should be drinking mixed drinks on the porch – possibly with a pineapple sitting around. Either way, The Mighty Sparrow’s “Reply to Melody,” and his hilarious snaps, “You should really be in the circus/ you ugly hippopotamus,” feel so much like a summer time party that I couldn’t resist putting it on the list.
“Treehouse” – I’m From Barcelona
When I was a kid I used to spend all of my summer days and summer nights in my tree house. I can’t remember exactly what it was I did up there, but I know that those memories are very fond to me. I’m From Barcelona knows that tree houses equal summer and this song is about as upbeat as music can get.
“A Summer Wasting” – Belle & Sebastian
I’m not going to lie, I feel like I waste more time in the winter. But I suppose that other people’s idea of wasting time and my own may be completely different. Belle & Sebastian seem to think that “seven weeks of staying up all night” is a bad thing.
“California Sun” – Rivieras
This song was more famously covered by the Ramone’s, but the original version is so screamingly terrific that the song somehow manages to create a space warp to the closest beach in your vicinity. Suddenly, without warning, you’re out there having fun in the California sun.
Today, as King Thor declares it, is National Mix Tape Day. Surprisingly, there is no official National Mix Tape Day, so in an effort to create a digital internet 2.0 revolution, we’re starting it here by giving you seven days of mix tapes. That’s right, seven mixes, seven days, seven theme’s. Today? Well, we’re celebrating ga’l darnit!
Music for the Office
You work in an office, your coworkers listen to the FAN or KBCO all day and you’re darn sick of hearing the same Tom Petty song at 3:00, the same Stone Temple Pilots song at 3:04 and the same Feist song at 3:08. Well, what are you going to do about it? You’re gonna rock, you’re gonna make your own playlist. You’re gonna pick anyone friendly artists and songs that aren’t always on the radio — and you’re gonna show them who’d in charge (note: “Psychopharmacology” only applies to a certain sect of individuals in this country, of which I am privy too). This sucker is office friendly and if it’s not about work it’s good for it (you know, for inspiration and such). Enjoy.
(note: Some of these overlapped with the “Songs for the Unemployed, Songs for the Working,” mix. Get over it.)
These things happen all the time, lists, that is. Especially lists claiming to be of “music you never heard.” These are usually semi-indie to really-indie acts that are likely on the verge of exploding into a pile of awesome and Spin Magazine cover shoots. I am now making the same type of list. However, I do hope that some of these are complete surprises and that you haven’t heard them before (sans, perhaps, Mr. Mojiferous, whom knows too much…) on top of the fact that I’m striving to make these records and CDs that aren’t too obscure (ie you can actually find them without spending years in a record store). Also, my remarkable disconnect from the world recently may lead me to believe that I’ve found this hidden gems when in fact, y’all knew about this crap years ago. Anyway, enjoy, listen to a few of these with the playlist at the bottom. The list is short, not long, or, not as long as it could be, if I felt like including some awesome records that you’ll never see or hear again. But I don’t. So there.
Kraftwerk – Kraftwerk (1972, Vertigo) — This is one of Kraftwerk’s “missing” records that most haven’t heard of. The songs are not the Kraftwerk that we all know and love, in fact, they’re way better than that. Real drums, real instruments, real knob twiddling, totally prog. In my opinion this is one of the most overlooked and remarkable records I’ve heard, period. The song in the playlist is the first on this album.
This Heat – This Heat (1978, Piano) — I’ve been ranting and raving about This Heat for the last 8 years, so most people that know me know this, but if you weren’t around when I first heard this or you don’t actually know the Good King personally, then you haven’t had the pleasure of hearing me go on and on and on and on about how this band is amazing and blows CAN out of the water. Listen to the track “24-Track Loop” and you’ll understand.
Original Brothers and Sisters of Love – Jeb Minor (1999, Telegraph Company) — This is one of those groups that was a little too ahead of its time, baroque styling similar to Arcade Fire, storytelling similiar to the Decemberists, and most importantly, sea shanties, as is the song on the playlist, “Legende of Jeb Minor.” Nothing, I repeat nothing, beats a good sea shanty.
Rock Plaza Central – Are We Not Horses (2007, Outside Music) — Oddly this was a critics pick at Pitchfork that still didn’t seem to get too much attention. It’s a concept album about robotic horses, and the singer/songwriter is also a novelist. Um… what else could you possibly ask for? Perhaps some Neutral Milk Hotel influences? You got it.
Bruce Haack – Electric Lucifer (1970, Columbia) — This record is sort of legend in record-store lore, but most civilians haven’t had the chance to hear one of the most remarkably progressive electronic albums of all time. Bruce Haack inadvertantly gave us electro and dance, and artists like Radiohead should be leaving flowers on his gravestone.
Paper Chase – Now You Are One of Us (2006, Kill Rock Stars) — The paranoid ramblings of this hard-indie rock outfit are a nice fit in a world where noise and rock tend not to mix in the best solutions. Paper Chase combine technology and chaos into a well rounded meal that still rocks regardless of its eccentrics.
Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom – The Days of Mars (2004, DFA) — This record was overlooked by many because it was released in DFA’s prosperous hey-day. It is not your typical DFA record, but instead a study on electronic music, tempo and arpeggio. A remarkable, remarkable record that sits on the top of my playlist regularly.
A Hawk and a Hacksaw - Darkness At Noon (2005, Leaf) — This is one of those albums usually tagged with words like “ecclectic,” and “wordly.” It’s both of those things, but a fun, Scandinavian sounding romp regardless.
Primal Scream - XTRMNTR (2000, Astralwerks) — Unfortunately the only track from this album I could find was a Massive Attack remix, but you’ll get the point. This record had a fair following when it was released, but has subsequently been forgotten about. It shouldn’t have been, it’s got some great jams and excellent beats that carry it along being and excellent electro record.
Turing Machine – A New Machine for Living (2000, Jade Tree) — Widely looked over due to its math-rock roots, Turing Machine’s first record is so much more than just some instrumental masterbation. It does what instrumental rock is supposed to do: rock. No faults, no stopping, no whining, just pure, amazing, instrumental rock. Oh, and it also remembers to have lots of changes, bridges and other fun things — not just building building building CHAOS ala Godspeed/Constellation Records in general.
Yes, it’s really really available. Download now! However, keen observers will note that this is not a printable version… unless you want to cut and paste and paste and cut again to get it in order-no, if you’d like a print version then you can order one for $3 PPD, each copy has a hand-crayoned cover and is a hearty 23 pages long. Or, for you resourceful types, you’ll find them lying around Thoronia at various hotspots. Let the Easter Egg hunt begin!
Hear how the critics’ are raving:
“The best gol’ darn read I’d ever’a had.” – Thomas Pynchon, author of Against the Day
“Yowza!” – Weird ‘Al’ Yankovic
“Reverb soaked” – Pitchfork Media reviewer #3
