Last year I said I was officially over the hill because both my annual playlist and that my minutes on Spotify were less from the prior year. Sadly, that trend has continued in 2023. However, there is another metric that has increased for two years now, which gives me hope... the increased influence that the Eurovision Song Contest has in my annual post!
Song of the Year: “Tattoo” by Loreen
[runner up: “Cha Cha Cha” by Käärijä]
Yes - my top two tracks of the year are the top two vote getters in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. I had a blast watching Eurovision live (on Peacock!) this year and have had both songs in my Best Of playlist ever since. If I ever find myself in a karaoke bar in Sweden - I'm going with "Tattoo!"
Album of the Year: That! Feels Good! by Jessie Ware
[runner up: My Soft Machine by Arlo Parks
Jessie Ware has had a handful of albums, but her latest effort is arguably the best. At first she was positioned as the next Amy Winehouse - but I think she's more a hybrid between Winehouse and Janelle Monae. That! Feels Good! is a timeless pop album that feels at home in a speakeasy or junior high dance.
Concert of the Year: Explosions in the Sky at Ryman Auditorium
[runner up: Adam Pally at The Den Theatre]
More than a decade after I wrote down "See a show at the Ryman Auditorium" on my Bucket List - I crossed it off in September! My wife and I had a great long weekend in Nashville that was punctuated by seeing one of my favorite bands: Explosions in the Sky. It was perfect. Even my wife was "having a great time" at it.
Song of the Summer: "Cha Cha Cha" by Käärijä
[runner up: "Slut Me Out" by NLE Choppa]
Song Discovered Thanks to a TV Show / Movie of the Year: “Like An Eagle” by Dennis Parker (used in The Curse on SHO)
Regret of the Year: Missed shows
2023 is a year I'd like to forget, full stop. My concert going this past year is in line with that sentiment. I had tickets to as many acts (LCD Soundsystem, Jamie xx, Phoenix, Beck) as I saw (Explosions in the Sky, The National, Soccer Mommy).
Best Decision I made in 2022: The Nashville Weekend
1. The “Perpetual Repeat” Song of the Year: "Let It Happen” by Tame Impala [Runner up: “Loud Places” by Jamie xx]
I almost cheated and went with a tie here (as I almost did in 2011 when “Pumped Up Kicks” narrowly bested “Midnight City”). Tame Impala wins simply because I still remember how I felt when I first heard it, because it’s the way I still feel today. But, it was very close.
Normally my "song of the summer" finishes just below the top spot, but not this year (although it’s somewhat close “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” is on the same album as “Loud Places”). Maybe the other great songs pulled attention away from “Loud Places.” It’s also the first time in 5 years I haven’t seen the song I chose performed live.
2. The “Share with All Friends” Album of the Year: In Colour by Jamie xx [Runner up: What Went Down by Foals]
Jamie xx's debut album had my second favorite song of the year ("Loud Places" - which could have been number one if he toured with a live backing band), my song of the summer (“I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”), and my favorite instrumental track of the year ("The Rest Is Noise"). It won dancing away.
3. The “If Every One Could Be Like This” Concert of the Year: U2 at United Center [Runner up: Jamie xx at Concord Music Hall]
The setlist, quality of sound, and production value alone would have easily earned its award. However the amount of extra curricular activities that surrounded it launched it into legendary status. Primarily, I went with three other friends who not only liked U2 unironically, but also love "U Talkin U2 To Me" with as much fervor as I. Secondarily, if I were to make a List of the top Podcast episodes of 2015, the #UTU2TM episode when Scott and Scott reviewed the same concert would top it. Tertiary, my friend and I met Adam Scott and were able to talk U2 To Him Too! Finally, you might have heard my blurt laugh when I saw the tweet embedded at the top of this post.
4. The “Phoenix” Becoming Too Big To Not Easily See Again: Beach House [Runner up: Foo Fighters/U2]
I don't know about this award this year. Let's give it to Beach House because they completely skipped Chicago in a year when they released two albums. Note that I am seeing them in early 2016. And let's throw Foo' and U' on the second line because you either have to shell out way above ticket price, get incredibly lucky, or both to see'em.
5. The “Franz Ferdinand” Must Now See Every Time They’re In Town: My Morning Jacket [Runner up: Varsity]
My Morning Jacket reached a new level of status in my heart in 2015. They are now a band I will see multiple nights on the same tour. 2016 may be even larger, with a plan that may take me to Red Rocks to see the band I've seen live the most in the venue I've always wanted to experience.
6. The “Bon Iver” Regret of the Year: not seeing Tame Impala [Runner up: not seeing Foo Fighters at Wrigley Field]
Damnit. Should've ignored my pride and paid whatever a degenerate was charging. Tame Impala was missed in two cities as I gladly would've gone up to Milwaukee to see that Aussie and his pals. It's the first time in many years that I failed in seeing my Song of the Year in person. 7. The “Medulla” Most Disappointing Album: + - by Mew [Runner up: Ghost Modern by Geographer]
I'm considering assigning Mew and Geographer the same status as Diarrhea Planet: Amazing bands I will always catch live but won't spend too much time listening to their recordings.
8. The “Should I Quit You” Most Disappointing Concert: Anything at Metro [Runner up: My conversation with a drunken Ben Folds in a hip Nashville bar]
It's getting to the point when I'm disappointed when I see a favorite band announce a Metro show. I don't know if the sound quality of the venue has decreased, or my aural maturity has become spoiled by the newer and sound-superior venues such as Lincoln Hall and Thalia Hall.
9. The “Shadenfradue” Guilty Pleasure Track of the Year: "I Didn’t Just Come here To Dance" by Carly Rae Jepsen [Runner up: "Hotline Bling" by Drake]
No maybe about it, CarRaeJep released an amazing album in 2015. Drake's mention is 100% because I sing along to it with the words "Hotmail Bing" because that may have been the best joke of 2015 I wish I had written.
10. The "Buy an iPod stereo for the car" Best Decision I made in 2015: Going to the Tomorrow Never Knows festival for the first time [Runner up: Making the push of GA or bust for U2, and not settling for seated ticket]
A funny tweet of mine won me VIP passes to TNK Fest, which I had never previously attended. It got my butt out to concerts during the dead of winter.
Thank you very much for reading. To close, here is the concert collages/log from 2015:
For the fourth year in a row, I have refreshed my iTunes playlist named "Lou'a'vul." It's about a six hour drive from door to door, and I stuck with the past strategy of whole albums with a few Lebowski inspired songs along the way.
It starts with "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" by The Sons of the Pioneers. This is the song that opens The Big Lebowski. A no-brainer for Achievers followed by "Lookin' Out My Back Door" by Creedence Clearwater Revival. CCR is a must for a Lebowski-minded mixtape.
Next up are both the In Rainbows and King of Limbs (including the "Supercollider" & "The Butcher" add ons) albums in their entirety. These are the two most recent studio efforts by Radiohead.
After two full albums I'll remind myself why I'm in the car with "The Man in Me" by Bob Dylan. This is arguably, the most iconic song tied to The Big Lebowski followed immediately by "Hotel California (Spanish Mix)" by Gipsy Kings. Ya kinda need to have seen The Big Lebowski at least twice to know why this song is on there. It don't matter to Jesus!
After those two tracks, I'll be in full Achiever spirit, and ready to get caught up on the two most recent episodes of the Lebowski Podcast.
My Morning Jacket will then finally make their much deserved appearance. There are too many reasons to include this band. MMJ was the first band to perform at a Lebowski Fest. They are from Louisville. Shortly after their latest release I created an all-MMJ mixtape featuring my favorite tracks from their four most recent albums:
MMJ mixtape
Before getting back into an album focus, one more reference to the film: "Just Dropped In - To See What Condition My Condition Was In" by Kenny Rodgers and the First Edition. I'd say you'd need at least 4 viewing of The Big Lebowski to know why this song belongs here.
The entire Civilian album by Wye Oak.
The entire Pickin' Up The Pieces album by Fitz & The Tantrums
The entire Veckatimest album by Grizzly Bear
The entire Kaputt album by Destroyer
The entire This Is Happening album by LCD Soundsystem
The entire Cloak and Cipher album by Land of Talk
The entire XX album by The xx
(the back half the playlist is intentionally devoid of Lebowski as it's intended for the return home, and playing Creedence will probably make me start feeling sad that the next Fest is a year away)
Okay, time to get to sleep - I'm hitting the road as soon as I can tomorrow morning. I'll be on the road less than ten minutes after I get out of bed - "You didn't think I was rollin' out of here naked, did ya?"
Many people will be asking me "How was Vegas?" in the following days. My responses will depend on how many syllables people are willing to hear:
1) WON!
2) MARQUETTE!
3) SWEET SIXTEEN!
There will be an in depth breakdown of the longest stretch of time I've ever spent in my most favorite city in the world... for those of you that want to read it. I just need to write it all down for my own personal memory first, run it by a few others for story clearance, than redact the bejesus out of it to protect the innocent.
More importantly, there is one marathon adventure story that I don't want anybody to read before I tell it to them.
Tonight, my first night back in reality, I had dinner with MySister. She made a side comment about her enjoyment of a recent mixtape I made for her and wanting the playlist. The mixtape was called, "My Super Sweet Sixteen Dance Party Mixtape." Sweet 16, at the time of the mixtape's creation, was more of a reference to an MTV reality show that made me question the next generation. However, it now has a much nicer allusion to Marquette advancing to the Sweet 16 portion of the Big Dance. I listened to this mixtape on the flight back home.
Today I learned of a special work assignment for tomorrow. Without giving away too many work-specific details, I have to take the company van about an hour north of the office to pick up over 200 cases of coffee that will be used in various efforts to introduce a new Brand. About two years ago I had to take a van even farther to pick up samples of another new-at-the-time product for the purposes of a launch strategy.
That last trip was to a city named Rock City, Illinois (which is past Rockford, near the Rock River). The trip which prompted the creation of a mixtape called, "Rock music for getting past Rockford and over the Rock River to Rock City." It was difficult to fit that title on a blank CD).
My boss prefaced her assigning of this latest task by referencing that mixtape (of which I had given her a copy) saying, "You're going to have to get that Rock Rock mixtape ready..." Although it was said as a joke, everyone in my office knows I will craft mixtapes at the slight mention of one. There was zero doubt, especially when faced with having to drive alone in a car that wasn't my own, that I was making a mixtape post haste:
For the past few years I've started a "Best of-" playlist that gets populated and adjusted throughout the year. This year, more so than in years past, has been difficult as I seem to frequently be a year late to the party. That's why I had the great idea last month to make a B-Side to last year's "Best of 2009" which was as follows:For the record, "1901" was my self proclaimed Song of the Year. I think it's important to not adjust the above playlist. A lot of these playlists are a snapshot into my ears. I like going back to an old playlist to bring back why I was listening to so-and-so at certain points in my life. It's great how I went nearly two years unable to NOT include "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand on every damn mixtape I burned.
Here is the list for Best of 2009: Part 2
I'm not ready to publish a Best of 2010 so far mixtape mainly because there are three highly anticipated albums I know I'll be purchasing the day they drop. Two songs from those three have a very inside track to making it to that list. More importantly (to me only) is the tight race for Song of 2010. In years past songs like "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream, Pt. 2" were runaway selections. It was as if I instantly knew the song wouldn't be topped. No such song is separating itself from the pack this year, but the front runners are "Sweetest Kill," "Ready to Start" and the dark horse "No Big Deal."
P.S. There's an internal controversy over the above Freelance Whales selection. iTunes has the track as a 2009 number whereas Amazon has it listed in 2010. It's gonna hit the fan in early December when I hear that song live at Lincoln Hall because that song has the potential to take the top spot of 2010.
Q: Would you like one of my mixtapes? A: Just let me know if you want one of the pre-built ones or a custom model.
A while ago I had posted on "the social network" asking if anybody wanted me to make a mixtape for them. That was some time ago - but even though Tara was quick to ask for one, I'm only publishing it now:
Taraism Watch List
It's fitting that I'm publishing this now, for Lebowski Fest Chicago has just ended. I met Tara and Dan (her then boyfriend now fiancee) back in 2008's July. They are from Pittsburgh, but we met in Louisville at the 7th Annual Lebowski Fest. Tara and Dan were literally the first "strangers" I had met through the LF web of people, and I couldn't have found two nicer people. Also, I was happy to learn how cool these two were - especially in their musical tastes. I frequently go to Tara and Dan for new music advice.
This playlist is "dance music for the advanced" in a sense because Tara used to DJ regularly, and has the one of the best radars for what is (or should be) spinning today. My goal is to have a few familiar favorites for her in addition and hopefully two good discoveries.
If anybody else out there wants a mixtape - let me know.
Q: How long is the drive to Louisville? A: About five and a half hours.
Understatement of the evening: I like The Big Lebowski. Many adjectives have been used (by others) to describe the above statement. Just to let you know, I've been blowing up the other blog I write as of late. The official blog of LebowskiFest.com is viewable here and here. I try to keep the two separate, because reading the posts here already give you a demented view into my life... Adding my love of Lebowski will only complicate matters.
But, nonetheless, know that I'll be driving to Louisville this weekend for the 9th Annual Lebowski Fest. This will be my 3rd Louisville Fest and 5th overall (the other two, and soon a third in September, were in Chicago). But that's besides the point of this post. The long drive means a new mammoth length mixtape!
My "Lou'a'vul" mixtape consists of 100 tracks and 2 podcasts, for a total running time of 8.8 hours. Not quite enough for the round trip, but it'll do as I'll probably pause it during the LIVE LEBOWSKI LUNCH HOUR.
It starts with the entire Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix album. I think the bang-bang opening tracks of "Lisztomania" and "1901" are exactly what I'll need circa 7:30 AM this Friday.
"Tumbling Tumbleweeds" by The Sons of the Pioneers. This is the song that opens The Big Lebowski. A no-brainer for Achievers.
"The Man in Me" by Bob Dylan. This is arguably, the most iconic song tied to The Big Lebowski.
The entire In Ghosts Colours album by Cut Copy. I'll want to listen to something dancey during the first hour of Indiana. Also, and more importantly, I'll be listening to it in anticipation of seeing Cut Copy's Metro show next month.
"Hotel California (Spanish Mix)" by Gipsy Kings. Ya kinda need to have seen The Big Lebowski at least twice to know why this song is on there. It don't matter to Jesus!
My Morning Jacket's album It Still Moves. There are too many reasons for this album to be included. MMJ was the first band to perform at a Lebowski Fest. They are from Louisville. I've seen them live and will be seeing them again next month at Northerly Island!
"Lookin' Out My Back Door" and "Run Through the Jungle" by Creedence Clearwater Revival. CCR is a must for a Lebowski-minded mixtape. These are the two songs heard during the film.
My Morning Jacket's album Z. The reasons remain the same. This is my favorite album of theirs.
"Just Dropped In - To See What Condition My Condition Was In" by Kenny Rodgers and the First Edition. I'd say you'd need at least 4 viewing of The Big Lebowski to know why this song belongs here.
The entire Attack Decay Sustain Release album by Simian Mobile Disco. The first people that I met at a Louisville Fest were Dan and Tara. The two of them are now engaged and won't be attending this year's Fest (they're saving to fund their wedding). I haven't heard any of this album yet, I bought it based on Tara's recommendation. She's been known to have excellent tastes in music.
Beach House's 2010 album Teen Dream. I bought this album recently after it appeared on NPR's Listeners Pick 2010's Best Music (So Far). I've only heard it a few times so far and like it.
Forgiveness Rock Record by Broken Social Scene. My vote for album of 2010 (so far). Not that you need a reason for anything BSS, but you can file this under 2010 Concert Prep as well.
And there you have it. Happy listening / happy trip.
Q: When does an ego inflate to the point of being conceited? A: I dunno, but I hope I'm not there yet.
I uncovered a picture from my youth: If you happened to be my Facebook friend, and were looking at my "mobile uploads" during a specific 6 minute time frame last Saturday, you saw the uncensored version. I've been told I have an unhealthy positive opinion of pictures of myself. As soon as I saw the above picture I executed a classic, "Taking a picture of a picture" to digitally steal the image while keeping the original exactly where I found it.
A plan that didn't consider the intentions of others. In fact, I hope even the censored picture passes. There was another plan of mine that didn't go off very smoothly.
(This is not about the playoff exit of Kick Tan Laundry. Yes, my second effort in kickball ended with another first round playoff exit. But, to tell you the absolute truth, the season was a huge success for one reason: it was my last as captain. I found a willing successor to undertake all the aspects I no longer wanted. I got that team off the ground, and now it's going forward... Still with me at First Base, but thankfully without the coordination hassle. However, I don't intend to stop writing about Kickball... Coming soon, the third season of kickball: Come At Me Bro.)
No, the most recent failed plan involves a mixtape. I love mixtapes and nearly everything about them. A few years ago my friend was making a mixtape for a new Mother - and wanted to dip into my expertise of Mountie Rock to provide a couple suggestions. Instead of giving him a couple suggestions, I made him an entire "Lullaby" mixtape telling him that I wasn't going to miss another chance of crafting a playlist from scratch. That mixtape still remains an often listened to playlist on my iPod.
Here's the playlist - I took a screen shot to allow me to delete it entirely (but still giving me a file to go back to if I ever want to recreate it): This playlist is titled "30 songs" It is meant to be a song per year, without repeating artists, for the past 30 years. Exactly how do you know a playlist is bad?
Entirely too much time is spent debating the year "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley belongs - nearly every "Best of 1988" list has it high, yet the iTunes music store has an album release date of 1987
There is no constant theme, a playlist looks as if it was selected by two different people (popular vs. unknown)
When the song title "Creep" becomes a label alongside track titles such as "I Think We're Alone Now"
It's too long for one Audio CD, which is only a problem if there is no clear "disc break"
You just plain don't want to listen to it
Back to the drawing board. I'm happy to report I'll be seeing My Morning Jacket in concert soon. My playlists will be updated to accommodate Jim James and my second favorite thing to come out of Louisville, Kentucky. (You all of course should know my favorite thing to come out of Louisville)
So as a 'thank you' for providing that mini list, here are the songs Ryan thinks are worthy of inclusion on his own list.
But first a quick commentary: By far, the song I like most out of this bunch is the Bon Iver track. And the song I kinda didn't want to advertise was "Yellow." I know there are a lot of Coldplay haters out there - and I've gotten into many fights with their "shooting fish in a barrell" tactics... But I personally think "Yellow" is an inferior song compared to "Trouble" which is hidden on the same debut album.
Q: What's the latest mixtape? A: "Best of 2000s" is the title, although it can also be called "Best Music of the Century to date."
Even though the decade is technically 2001-2010, we all know that's no fun. I've been reading a ton of blogs that have posts titled "Best Ten (blank) of the Decade" and wanted in on the fun.
However, when I was compiling this list I realized that some years (like 2005 & 2008) were much more deep than others. Therefore, I've decided to make the list a tad bit simpler and limit one song per year plus two bonus entries for special circumstances.
My first thought when I was done with this list was my amazement that neither "Clocks" by Coldplay or "Hey Ya" by Outkast made the list. Both these songs were super huge in their time. Each was in heavy rotation by yours truly, but other songs just hit me a certain way that earned their inclusion.
SONG OF 2000: "I've Seen It All" by Björk (featuring Thom Yorke) Those that have been in my condo know that I have a framed movie poster for Dancer in the Dark. It was that 2000 film that deeply moved me, although most don't like it at all. This song is from that film, and the version from the album Selmasongs is a track that still holds weight for me today.
SONG OF 2001: "Sing" by Travis An upset pick. One that if I was making a top ten songs of the decade probably wouldn't have made it. I had to think back to who I was in 2001. For some reason I remembered my friend Paul coming over to me one night when I was studying in my favorite place in Marquette (the large cafeteria located in our Union). I was holed up in some table with my portable CD player and ungodly large headphones. He gave me Travis' first album and told me, "they're better than Coldplay." Soon after that handoff Travis released a new album - with this "Sing" song as their first single. This decade was easily the decade of friends finding music before me, and my thankfulness for their various recommendations... And with all those considerations I'm going with this track for this spot.
SONG OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: "Walk On" by U2 Before all the TV stations went back to "normal" after that Tuesday morning, MTV had made their own music video featuring clips of the aftermath to "Walk On." (The link above is to that music video, which is not able to be embedded, per request, here) However, the video I am able to embed is the version of the song u2 played to conclude the "Tribute to Heroes" telethon telecast. Note that Ringo is helping them out here as well. For me, this song will always be attached to those events.
SONG OF 2002: "Star Guitar" by Chemical Brothers I have to say this is my most favorite song of the past ten years. Every meaningful playlist I have made, just for me - not for mixtape distribution, has had this song as the 4th track (4th because that's where it lied on the Come With Us album). It is nearly a requirement, no necessity, that I listen to this song while commuting by train or a traveling on a plane. If I was a hoity-toity music critic I'd write a review that called it's orbital grooves and cascading beats transcendent. It may not be your style, but hey - this is not your list.
SONG OF 2003: "Where I End And You Begin" by Radiohead I loved this song so much, I used to type out all its lyrics to keep me from accepting reality at my first job out of school. Radiohead would win Band of the Decade for me, even though the album this track is from, Hail To The Thief, was the bands third best effort of the decade. (In Rainbows is my choice for best album of the decade) 2003 was spent in the worst job of my life. This song hit me perfectly thanks that that awful fact. Sorry "Clocks" and "Hey Ya" but my life was just too depressing to have those songs rescue me.
SONG OF 2004: "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand I bought a laptop in 2004. My friend T-Bone downloaded iTunes without me asking. I didn't think I needed it at the time. Pretty soon I was making mixtapes for anyone and anybody regardless if they wanted them or not. And this year, nearly every damn CD I burned for somebody had this Franz Ferdinand song on it.
SONG OF 2005: "E-Pro" by Beck This was a great follow up guitar hook heavy rock track to follow up the Franz Ferdinand hit. It also correctly translates my upbeat mood as I had finally left the soul prison of my previous job and began the one that I am still at today.
SONG OF HURRICANE KATRINA: "The Saints Are Coming" by Green Day and U2 This song was debuted at the Louisiana Superdome before the Saints' Monday Night Football game - the first game played there since Hurricane Katrina.
SONG OF 2006: "Shampoo Suicide" by Broken Social Scene I'm cheating here with the dates. This song was actually released in 2004. However, it was the 2006 film Half Nelson that introduced this song, and more importantly, this band to me. Finding BSS was the single greatest musical discovery for me this decade. This list would be inadequate without a track by them.
SONG OF 2007: "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn and John If I was in college in 2007, I would've found a way to write a very long essay analyzing this song's lyrics. This is a rarity for me, one who barely can understand the words in his favorite songs. But this song has themes that resonate for me.
SONG OF 2008: "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt. 2" by My Morning Jacket I first heard this song on a SXSW Preview podcast from NPR's All Songs Considered. It blew me away and propelled me to seek out more MMJ music.
SONG OF 2009: "1901" by Phoenix This song took an early lead and although other songs tried, none was able to top it... Also, I'm extremely confident that nothing in the next 30 days will be able to change that fact - especially when you consider that I'll be hearing this song live for a sanity-challenging thrid time later this month.
I hope this post can inspire some sort of debate or controversy. After all, that's basically the point of these kinds of lists. Which songs do you think were wrongly omitted? How much does one of these songs make your skin crawl?
Better yet - I hope you make your own list and share it with me.
Q: What compelled me to make multiple mixtapes this weekend? A: It's been a while since I've made one - is probably the best reason.
I knew I wanted to have "Can I Kick It" on a kickball mixtape. So I made it very hip-hop centric:
(But I have to admit a glaring omission from the kickball mixtape: there is no Machine Gun Mojo on it.)
You see, one of our kickball players is in a promising local band. Please check out Machine Gun Mojo. The kid, Matt, was pushing his band's first album around the workplace not too long ago. Sold all his copies. I didn't buy one on purpose - I want to buy it off iTunes (which he says is forthcoming) Personally, I feel this is the best way to support his band - to boost the online purchase numbers. Not to mention - ever since I upgraded by car sterero to be iPod friendly - I don't need another tangible compact disc in my life.
Here's the mixtape:
I made this mixtape shortly after work ended on Friday. This Saturday morning, I woke up unexpectedly early - and decided it was time to make a "Best of so far" mixtape.
Which is as follows:
Note that this is only of the new music I have heard. A couple albums that had a high probability of inclusion are the latest efforts by Mute Math and Moby. But, sadly, I have not yet purchased those albums.
It's very important to note, especially with that second mixtape, that if I am on the fence between two tracks I will select the lesser known one... This is because I want to help advertise the unknown quality. However, I understand that those decisions also make me look like a music snob. You don't have to believe me, but my motive is to cause a reaction of "oh, maybe I should check out that act" rather than "oh, look at me and how obscure my musical tastes are).
It's a tough line to walk. On one hand, I did get upset that Phoenix got so uber-popular their concert got moved to a worse (larger) venue. However, I want others to experience these good acts to help prevent the band from breaking up (and on a lesser scale, ensuring that they stop by Chicago on tour).
2009 is three quarters over - and I am feeling really bad about which songs I'll have to cut based on the new music I'll hear in these next three months from that list.
Q:What did you just finish? A: My 12+ hour iTunes playlist to fuel my solo drive to Louisville and back.
The following is the abridged (slightly) playlist, with some commentary:
PLAYLIST NAME: Lu'a'vul
1. & 2. "What's Going' On" and "I Want You" by Marvin Gaye These two songs, just over seven minutes combined, will get me into a good mood while I first start up the car to the time I'm on the expressway.
3. "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" by The Sons of the Pioneers This is the song that plays at the very start of The Big Lebowski, which if you don't know by know - is sort of the reason for this drive.
4. - 13. The entire In Rainbows album by Radiohead This remains one of my favorite albums and has existed in my current car, in one form or the other, since my car's purchase. Also, at last year's Lebowski Fest, I saw poster artist Bill Green wearing a recent Radiohead T-Shirt. That's not that important, but I thought it was cool to find other people who share my #1 favorite movie and #1 favorite band.
14. "The Man in Me" by Bob Dylan For those that have watched The Big Lebowski less than five times, it's one of The Dude's favorite songs, and is played during multiple parts of the film.
15. - 25. The entire Is This It? album by The Strokes I bought this album when I was in college. It's been a while since I've listened to it from front to back. Just want to listen to it again, and hey - I've got 11+ hours to fill on this drive!
26. - 39. The entire Silent Alarm album by Bloc Party Pretty much the same explanation as the above, with the only difference is that I bought it after I had graduated.
40. "Hotel California (Spanish Mix)" by Gipsy Kings Another song used in The Big Lebowski. It's quite a famous scene actually.
41. - 52. The entire It Still Moves album by My Morning Jacket First off, this band is from Louisville. Secondly, they were the first band to perform at a Lebowski Fest. Finally, they are an awesome band, period.
53. - 63. The entire The Stand Ins album by Okkervil River This is a nice compliment to My Morning Jacket. It's the most recent album from an act from this past year's Bonnaroo (an event that also had a Lebowski Fest Movie Party). I also think this music will fit in very nicely with the random Indiana countryside.
64. - 74. The entire Z album by My Morning Jacket Just more good rockin' by Louisville's own.
75. & 76. "Lookin' Out My Back Door" and "Run Through the Jungle" by Creedence Clearwater Revival I could write a 5 page essay why these two songs belong on this playlist, but I'll spare you and just inform you that they are also related to The Big Lebowski.
77. "Just Dropped In - To See What Condition My Condition Was In" by Kenny Rogers & The First Edition Song from Jackie Treehorn's Gutterballs. (That explanation requires at least 2, maybe 3, viewings of The Big Lebowski to understand)
78. "A Beautiful Mine" by RJD2 This is a nice audio pallet clenser, kind of like turning on your turn signal as you're about to change genre lanes
79 - 81 "Magic Spells," "Courtship Dating" and "1991" by Crystal Castles This electric[onic] duo was also at Bonnaroo, which is probably the only thing they have in common with O.River.
82. - 96. The entire In Ghost Colours album by Cut Copy The drive to Louisville is somewhere between 5 and 6 hours. I think I'm going to need a high energy danceish album at this point in the voyage. Memories of their live show I saw at The Vic will also improve my mood (however I greatly doubt my mood will need a pick-me-up).
97. - 114. The entire Music Has The Right To Children by Boards of Canada Not as dancy as Cut Copy, but still in the same genreish. I first heard of these guys from a late, late night conversation from a Pittsburgh couple met at last year's Lebowski Fest. I am looking forward to seeing them again.
115. - 125. The entire Set 'Em Wild Set 'Em Free album by Akron/Family I'm assuming this will be on the return home. I think this will be the perfect background music for sourthern Indiana. Also, I'm thinking about seeing these guys later this month when their tour comes through Chicago. I'm still evaluating if they are show worthy.
126. - 138. The entire You Forgot It in People album by Broken Social Scene Just one of my most favorite albums by one of my most favorite bands.
139. - 149. The entire self-titled album by Fleet Foxes A solid album that I suspect will be really good "traveling to" music.
150. - 163. The entire self-tited album by Mute Math I just bought tickets to see these guys last week. Looking forward to their next album dropping in August.
164. - 179. The entire Tonight: Franz Ferdinand album by Franz Ferdinand One of the best albums (so far) of 2009. And also one of the best concerts (so far) of 2009.
180. - 189. The entire Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix album by Phoenix One of the best albums (so far) of 2009. And also one of the best concerts (so far) of 2009.
Q: Aren't you about due for a mixtape? A: Constantly.
I've decided to make another mixtape for a good friend who's volunteered to drive me to my 30th birthday party this Saturday. Although the mixtape will be tangibly his to do as he pleases, and it will be a show of appreciation, the mixtape is in its heart a selfish act.This is, for whatever below reasons, what I am listening to right now. 1. "Party Life" by Jay-Z -I can't think of a better track to get us ready.
2. "Streets On Fire" by Lupe Fiasco -Rolling in my pal's Altima into the city proper
3. "Flashing Lights" by Kanye West Featuring Dwele -Blame the recent nip/tuck commercials for getting this song into a recent playlist
4. "The People" by Common Featuring Dwele -I just get a kick out of having this song always follow the one previous in my iPod
5. "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn And John -2007's song of the year always seems to get me to a feeling of "center"
6. "Pacific Theme" by Broken Social Scene -The song I'm playing when on my scheduled breaks of jury duty due to it's inexplicable way of simultaneously calming me down while getting me excited
7. "Something for All of Us" by Brendan Canning -Need to fill the Canadian quota
8. "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins -I don't think a reason is needed for this song - ever
9. "You're the Best" by Joe "Bean" Esposito -The song I want played at my wedding, or any major life event
10. "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead -It's my birthday and I'm going to add a cheesy 70s song if I want to
11. "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand -Back and stronger than ever (in 2004, about the time of the above picture, this song was on every mixtape by LAW)
12. "Flux" by Bloc Party -Just bought tickets to see this band, again, and this is from their latest release
13. "Midnight Show" by The Killers -Everybody seems to agree that The Killers are a guilty pleasure
14. "Star Guitar" by Chemical Brothers -An ode to my frequent jury duty commutes via rail
15. "Days Go By (Radio Edit)" by Dirty Vegas -Mitsubishi had it right: excellent driving tune
16. "By the Time I Get Home There Won't Be Much of a Place for Me" by Grand National -Ending it with irony
Query: What did I do tonight when I couldn't sleep? Answer: Compiled a quick "Best of 2008" playlist.
Earlier tonight (well, technically it was yesterday) I saw My Morning Jacket perform the song of the year for 2008: Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt. 2.
Truth be told, when I heard this song debuted at SXSW (thanks to NPR's podcast) I instantly awarded it the title. Even though that was back in March or April, no song to make waves past my ear drums was able to top it. The album was released in June and it hasn't left my car's CD changer since: Fast forwarding to this morning at 2:30 am - when I did a quick scroll though my "purchased" list on my iTunes and came up with a quick Best of 2008 list. Please note that this list is what I currently think - and is subject to change. Thankfully I received a nice amount of iTunes money, which I plan to spend after I'm done researching the various year ending lists. So before you start calling the indie police - you should know that I haven't yet bought The Fleet Foxes yet... From what I've been reading, they probably would have been on this list if I had jumped on the bandwagon earlier.
Please let me know if you'd like a copy of this mixtape:
1. "We Walk" (Live version) by The Ting Tings 2. "Still Here" by Girl Talk 3. "Tesseliate" by Toyko Police Club 4. "Out There On the Ice" by Cut Copy 5. "Touch Too Much" by Hot Chip 6. "Yuppy Flu" by Land of Talk 7. "Churches Under the Stairs" by Broken Social Scene Presents Brendan Canning 8. "Geraldine" by Glasvegas 9. "Cemeteries of London" by Coldplay 10. "Sit and Wonder" by The Verve 11. "Worrisome Heart" by Melody Gardot 12. "Flume" by Bon Iver 13. "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream, Pt. 2" by My Morning Jacket
