Bowlful of Crickets

reblogging uglyyeti:

New Music: Animal Collective: Micromixes [MP3s]

Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox has been known to post “Micromixes”— so titled in honor of forthcoming third LP Microcastle— of his favorite tracks on his bands’ blog. While Cox recently posted his 16th such mp3 mix, the sometime Atlas Sound dream-popper has also commissioned mixes from tourmate White Rainbow, Deerhunter guitarists Lockett Pundt and Whitney Petty, and even a skeptical music blogger. Now, Cox has posted mixes by three members of the headliners on Atlas Sound’s just-finished European tour, none other than Animal Collective. That’s right: Panda Bear, Avey Tare, and the Geologist each contribute their own song selections. Track listings are below the links.

Having just enjoyed, at a BBQ over the weekend, mojitos made with fresh mint picked straight from someone’s garden, might I especially recommend Geologist’s mix?

MP3:> Panda Bear’s Bookie Pad Micromix

MP3:> Avey Tare’s Micromix

MP3:> Geologist’s Mojito Micromix

Panda Bear’s Bookie Pad Micromix

1. Mogollar - Katip Arzuhalim Yaz Yare Boyle
2. Davey Graham - Both Sides Now
3. Thin Lizzy - Honesty Is No Excuse
4. Amy Winehouse - Love Is a Losing Game
5. Sugababes - Push the Button
6. Sparks - My Other Voice
7. Lindstrom - Arp She Said
8. Daft Punk - Make Love
9. Erykah Badu - Soldier
10. Thin Lizzy - Sitamoia
11. The Zombies - Leave Me Be
12. Echo and the Bunnymen - Ocean Rain

Avey Tare’s Micromix

1. Alabama Sacred Harp Singers - Rocky Road
2. Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows (First Version)
3. Disco Inferno - It’s A Kid’s World
4. Public Nuisance - Please Come Back
5. Replacements - Within Your Reach
6. Misfits - Brain Eaters
7. Prince Far I - Joshua Dub
8. Talk Talk - I Believe You
9. Dettinger - Untitled (Track 6 from Intershop)
10. Rodriguez - Sugarman
11. Moby Grape - 8:05
12. Spacemen 3 - We Sell Soul
13. Kate Bush - Army Dreamers
14. Thin Lizzy - Randolph’s Tango

Geologist’s Mojito Micromix

1. Joe Jackson - Steppin’ Out
2. Phil Collins - I’m Not Moving (Idjut Boys Edit)
3. Big Cherry - Come in Bonzo
4. The Byrds - Dolphin’s Smile
5. Mamas and the Papas - Snowqueen of Texas
6. The Honeycombs - I Can Tell (Something’s Up)
7. Music Makers - United
8. J Dilla - Bye
9. Home - The Bogeyman
10. Thin Lizzy - Little Girl in Bloom
11. 13th Floor Elevators - May the Circle Remain Unbroken
12. Bjorn Olsson - Minnesstund

TV: I haven’t checked these mixes out yet but hope to- some really interesting ctracks on here. Who knew Animal Collective were so into Thin Lizzy? They each chose a TL track for their mixes.

reblogging tuneage:

Bo Diddley - “Before You Accuse Me (Take A Look At Yourself)”

One of the greatest persons ever to make music has passed away today.  Bo Diddley laid the foundation for raucous rock n roll styles and sensibilities. 

Tuneage salutes you Bo, you will be missed.

“I opened the door for a lot of people, and they just ran through and left me holding the knob.” - Bo Diddley

TV: He was good. Nice life, Mr. Diddley.

The 20 Worst Lyrics Ever (from bostonblueeyes.com): reblogged travors - some of these are so bad they’re genius.

Muxtape Stumbler - MP3 Discovery Tool: A way to search muxtapes by artist, kinda cool…

Last year saw DJ Dangermouse merge Jay Z and The Beatles for The Grey Album. This year, MC/Producer Lushlife upped the ante by combining The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds (my all-time favorite album) with Kanye West for West Sounds, available here. It’s done really well. I think I may even pick up Kanye’s College Dropout CD as a result.

In related news, I’m officially getting old. I always mispronounce "Kanye". I think I say Con-Ay instead of Con-Yay. I’m not sure, as I always get it wrong, and Deb’s asleep so she can’t verify this for me. I know who he is, am familiar with his music, so I guess I’m not that old…yet.

The internet can be a scary place. You could be browsing any of the blogs I link to on the left- say, Copy, Right? -and stumble on something horrible- yet you cannot turn away.

Click here for an "album" of songs sung by The Golden Girls on their TV show. They’re in MP3 format, so download them to your iPod.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to finish writing my song about Miami- it’s down to me, the Golden Girls and Will Smith as to who will win the big contest…

Rhino Records has done many fine things for music, not the least of which is the creation of the 70’s and 80’s Pop Culture Box Sets.

Debbie and I loved both, and went as far as creating an additional 3 CDs to fill in the gaps left by the 7 disc 80’s box.

We even discussed the idea of compiling a 90’s box set. Alas, Rhino beat us to it.

On July 26, the 7 disc 130 track Whatever: The 90’s Pop Culture Box Set is released. I’m going to get it the day it comes out, I assure you of that. Is it perfect? Far from it. You may be surprised at me saying this, but I think it tries to be too alternative. I like alternative/indie/non-mainstream rock more than most, but this box set should be the home of one-hit wonders, not obscure college radio hits.

Here’s the tracklisting of the Rhino set- I’ve taken the liberty to draw a line through those I feel need replacing, and where I would substitute a different song by the same band, it’s in orange:

All told, not too many replacements. Rhino, not surprisingly, did a nice job. Some obvious rights conflicts (no U2, Madonna, etc.) and a crazy amount of grunge and its offshoots, but a solid set that should keep me away from the skip button most of the time.

The good folks at Stylus- who beat me to this exercize by several weeks- offer an alternate version of the box set- unencumbered by pesky things like actually getting the rights to include the song and sell it. Between the Rhino set and Stylus’ list, there’s a ton of songs- both good and bad- worth hearing again.

My daily routine begins with a shower while listening sports talk radio’s dynamic duo, Mike & Mike.

They came back from commercials this a.m. with breaking news:

Britney Spears is pregnant.

If this is big enough news for sports radio, surely my tenuously-music-related blog can cover it.

First of all, Mrs. and Mrs. Federline, congratulations. While this will be Kevin’s third child, it’s the first for Britney. Let me say from one year and change of experience, being a parent is great, especially when your 19 month old daughter takes smoked sausage off the kitchen counter and puts it in and out of the mailbox of her Fisher-Price Learning Home.

But I will say this- naming your chid is not a task you should take lightly. Having participated in this excercise twice, I will hereby declare myself an expert and offer you some potential choices.

Anthny, Timthy, Jessca or Michlle: With a fairly common name spelled a jackass way, perhaps the child will be able to properly spell her mother’s name.

Orange: There will be inevitable comparisons between Britney’s child and another recent celebrity child, that of Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Why not make the comparsions with their child, Apple, more appropriate?

Getinline, Riseandshine or Don’tdrinkturpentine: A first name should sound good with a last name. Not only do these names all sound good with Federline, they provide valuable advice for any child.

Asparagus: A name such as Asparagus will help the child keep his father in his life should this celebrity marriage fail (like that would ever happen!) If you’re born Asparagus Federline, you’re likely to keep that name even if the marriage fails. What youngster wants to be known as Asparagus Spears?

What NOT to name your child: Britney, as someone who is not a fan of your music, please don’t name a little girl Chloe or little boy Declan. I do not want to spend the remainder of your years in the public eye confirming to the Wal-Mart cashier that, yes, my child does have the same name as Britney Spears’ child. Don’t do that to me, or my children. The older one thinks smoked sausage is a toy, she’s got a tough enough road ahead of her as it is.

I’m not the most talented singer in the world. In fact, I’m probably not very good at all. But I generally sing only in karaoke bars, usually after a drink or two, and usually in front of friends and strangers, who also have had a drink or two.

This all changed on Friday, when I allowed myself to be talked into participating in a karaoke contest at work. That I allowed myself to agree to sing Cher’s part in "I Got You Babe" AND agreed to wear a ribbon on my head, hippy style- well, I can only blame myself. Whether I made a fool of myself is up to the dozens of my co-workers who watched to decide. I couldn’t make eye contact with any of them, due to my degree of nervousness. Ultimately, I think I was labeled as a good sport for participating in the first place- or at least that’s what I’ve been telling myself.

Our group was tied for fourth out of five entries (or tied for last place). I thought we actually did better than a few others for what the contest was supposed to be about (creativty as opposed to pure vocal prowess), but hey, who am I to judge the judges- just the guy with the ribbon on his head.

We won bagels for the floor, which is pretty cool. I guess it was worth the 3 minutes of nervousness to become the hero on a monday morning for as long as the bagels last.

In all, those co-workers who heard me sing now know why I haven’t quit my day job…

…and you can too, if you dare…

I Got You Babe MP3