I know where Syd Barrett lives

And so my last post wasn't the last of this year. That would suck tremendously if I left you hanging with christmas music, and so I'll leave you hanging with.. yes, Motown. Some people can't stand it, others radiate when listening to the Four Tops, The Vandellas, The Miracles (Jake). The only reason why I'd ever visit Motor City is because of it. The coinciding tambourine and drums.. they'll getcha.

Here goes:
MP3: You Can't Hurry Love - Diana Ross & The Supremes (YSI)
MP3: The Tracks Of My Tears - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (YSI)
MP3: I Want You Back - Jackson 5 (YSI)
MP3: Reach Out, I'll Be There - Four Tops (YSI)
MP3: Dancing In The Street - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas (YSI)



Pfsh. I've got more than that for my farewell 2007 post. Like the Television Personalities, whom if you don't already know about you probably should learn about. In fact, the always reliable seldom trusted wikipedia has it down I think. Read the entry then give these a listen:

From assorted albums (first one from their last album, My Dark Places.)
MP3: All The Young Children On Crack - Television Personalities (YSI)
MP3: 14th Floor - Television Personalities (YSI)
MP3: I know where Syd Barrett lives - Television Personalities (YSI)
MP3: Lichtenstein Painting - Television Personalities (YSI)


That's not all! Before I take off and sleep til 2, here are some songs that I've randomly picked out:

MP3: Steal My Body Home - Beck (YSI)
MP3: Burning Down The House - Tiga (YSI)
MP3: Pictures of You - The Cure (YSI)
MP3: Houseclouds - Liars (YSI)
MP3: Where I End and Where You Begin - Radiohead (YSI)


And by the way top song of the year might be Kids - MGMT. Or, it might also be something else (Jigsaw Falling Into Place). Just sayin'.
New pics if you're bored.
Later.

MP3: King of the Road - Roger Miller (YSI)

-D

And, finally

I really tried to avoid posting these, however I couldn't, so here I am giving them to you. (the spirit is frankly too overwhelming this time of year to resist, and let's face it, The Arcade Fire X-mas songs weren't quite top quality) A track from The Who's Tommy, Phil Spector's gift, and Eazy-E's angelic lyrics?! What more could you possibly ask for? Besides the Wii, which by the way, I did get. So then, put the tracks on a memorex and joyfully listen to the following tomorrow as you and your parents lightly sip eggnog.

1. Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight) - The Ramones (YSI)
2. Blue Christmas - Elvis (YSI)
3. Christmas in Hollis - Run DMC (YSI)
4. All I Want For Christmass is You - Mariah Carey (YSI)
5. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - The Ronettes (YSI)
6. Merry Muthafuckin' Xmas - Eazy-E (YSI)
7. The Christmas Song - The Raveonettes (YSI)
8. Christmas Time Is Here Again - The Beatles (YSI)
9. Christmas All Over Again - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (YSI)
10. A Christmas Sighting ('Twas The Night Before Christmas) - C3PO & R2D2 (YSI
11. Zat You Santa Claus? - Louis Armstrong (YSI)
12. Christmas - The Who (YSI)
13. Jesus Is A rock In the Weary Land - Frank Sinatra (YSI)
14. Christmas Bop - T. Rex (YSI)
15. Swingin' Them Jingle Bells - Fats Waller (YSI)

Fats Waller is amazing.


There it is.

Merry christmas, happy ramadan, etc

-D

I'm a street walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm

It's that time again. You know, for a genuine Christmas post. While you're going Noooooo not more christmas music! or Damnit Danzie!, keep in mind that this isn't just ordinary Christmas music I've posted below, but rather Christmas music via the Arcade Fire. It was recorded some time before the band's first EP and Funeral. Wikipedia explains it well. The album was recorded at a party (hence the quality), supposedly given out amongst friends, and eventually ended up on the internet. Ah, yes. The good ol' internet.

MP3: Oh Holy Night - The Arcade Fire (YSI)
MP3: Chestnuts Roasting - The Arcade Fire (YSI)
MP3: A Very Arcade Xmas - The Arcade Fire (YSI)



Since I'd rather be spending Christmas on an island covered with warmth and palm trees, the kind with coconuts protruding from them, and presents of course, here are some tracks that remind me of being in such a place. From 70's Jamaican Reggae band, the Revolutionaires. And yes, Christmas Island is a real place, with a flag and everything.

From 1976's Vital Dub Well Charged:
MP3: Roof Top Dub - Revolutionaires (YSI)
MP3: Total Dub - Revolutionaires (YSI)

Total Dub actually sounds a bit X-mas-y.
When I think of Christmas I think of shiny toys, which in turn makes me think of Shiny Toy Guns. Since I've just given you some essential 70's dub-goodness, it's only fair to incorporate the 00's. Which leads me to these:

MP3: Rainy Monday (Paul Emanuel Dub) - Shiny Toy Guns (YSI)
MP3: Rainy Monday (Bimbo Jones Master Dub) - Shiny Toy Guns (YSI)



And since every now and then I like to throw in a little something that's got absolutely nothing to do with anything relating to the first part of the post, here are some songs from a band called The Iguanas. The Iguanas you ask? Iggy Pop's first band, when Iggy was a drummer and he went by Jim Osterberg and he was in high school. They opened for the obscure (awesome) girl group called the Shangri-Las back in '65, broke up in '67, have a few surviving demos. Here are some of them:

MP3: Tequila - The Iguanas (YSI)
MP3: Mona - The Iguanas (YSI)
and, the first Osterberg original:
MP3: Again & Again - The Iguanas (YSI)

Then about 10 years after The Iguanas broke up, Iggy collaborated with Bowie for the second time to release Lust For Life.

From 1977's Lust For Life:
MP3: The Passenger - Iggy Pop (YSI)
MP3: Tonight - Iggy Pop (YSI)


Next track is something that should have been in the last post. Thanks, Alex.

MP3: Looking From a Hilltop (Megamix) - Section 25 (YSI)

If you're bored I went to Tarrytown, NY a few days ago. Check out my pictures here.
Alright that's it.
Later,

-D

I'll show you the ropes kid

If you're a Joy Division or a New Order or an early OMD (Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark) fan you already know about the British independent label, Factory Records, which started around 30 years ago - 1978 - about 11 years before I was born - which means that yes, my birthday is coming up (19, February 20th). You might thank Tony Wilson in particular, for that exceptional 80's english rock/post punk sound listened to so frivolously.

My mini Factory Records sampler:
MP3: I Want You - Cabaret Voltaire (YSI)
MP3: Shack Up - A Certain Ratio (YSI)
MP3: Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division (YSI)
MP3: Bright Red White + Blue - Blurt (YSI)
MP3: Enola Gay - OMD (YSI)
MP3: No Communication - The Durutti Column (YSI)
MP3: What Do You Want From Me - Monaco (YSI)
MP3: Something's Wrong Somewhere - The Wendys (YSI)
MP3: Age Of Consent - New Order (YSI)


Cabaret Voltaire formed in 1973, are considered industrial tech house, and aren't very good. Of course I'm also not too much into industrial tech house. They're named after a nightclub in Zurich, which was (sort of) the founder of this movement; they also have a song entitled: Do The Mussolini, which probably means be a fascist dictator. etc.


I've recently gotten into A Certain Ratio. They're featured in the movie 24 Hour Party People where Tony Wilson (manager, played by Steve Coogan) calls them 'Joy Division but better dressed'. I would look into the 24 Hour Party People soundtrack if I were you. Right here. Blurt formed around 1980. They based the majority of their tracks upon repetitive minimalistic guitar, which is an interesting concept, the music not so interesting.




OMD, who later left Factory for Virgin, are widely known for their synth-pop-esque sounds, and also for the single If You Leave. The Durutti Column (sometimes referred to as the 'Definitive Factory Records band'), was named after Buenaventura Durruti (spanish anarchist). The band included Vinni Reilly - who previously played guitar with Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds (just thought I'd throw that in, cool name), and who also played guitar later on Morrissey's 88 solo album, Viva Hate. Monaco was a side project of Peter Hook (New Order bassist), formed mid 90's, very similar to New Order (for obvious reasons..), didn't last very long. The Wendys formed in the early 90's, never reached much success, still a pretty decent indie rock/pop band.

And now getting to this:
MP3: Daft Punk is Playing at My House - LCD Soundsystem (YSI)
Hence the post title.

That's it.
except for another chritsmas present idea.
Later,
-D

I'm Back

MP3: Hello I Love You - The Doors (YSI)

And wishing I was in FL. Oh well though, 30 degree weather isn't all that bad if you wear excessive layers and drown everyone in New York out by listening to French music. This French music.

MP3: Fibre de verre - Paris Combo (YSI)
MP3: On Na Pas Besoin - Paris Combo (YSI)

I've also been listening to Felix Cartal's new track:
MP3: Vancouver - Felix Cartel (YSI)



I haven't actually seen I'm Not There yet, the film that depicts Bob Dylan through seven stages of his career (with seven actors) however I have heard the soundtrack, which has about 30 artists covering Bob Dylan. Buy it here. You can also click that link for the tracklisting. The soundtrack includes covers from Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, The Black Keys and... Karen O.

From the soundtrack, and then the original songs:
MP3: I'm Not There - Sonic Youth (YSI)
MP3: Highway 61 Revisited - Karen O & The Million Dollar Bashers (YSI)

Original Versions (I'm Not There actually on the soundtrack):
Mp3: I'm Not There - Bob Dylan and The Band (YSI)
MP3: Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan (YSI)


As the end of the year approaches, it's time to figure out my top 10+ list(s) for 2007. You can view last year's list by clicking on this. Of course last year my good friend Joey was co-founder/blogger of Mewzick, we sort of converged our ideas. This year however, the decisions will all be up to me. Interesting..

Some songs from some 2007 albums that could very well be featured in my list(s):

From Asleep At Heaven's Gate:
MP3: Cheaper Than Therapy - Rogue Wave (YSI)

From Cryptograms:
MP3: Tape Hiss Orchid - Deerhunter (YSI)

From Dystopia:
MP3: Twenty Thousand Leagues - Midnight Juggernauts (YSI)

From Turn the Lights Out:
MP3: Maybe I'll Try - The Ponys (YSI)

From Men's Needs, Woman's Needs, Whatever:
MP3: I've Tried Everything - The Cribs (YSI)

From Reflector:
MP3: Wandering Ghost - Antelope (YSI)

From Neon Bible
MP3: Black Wave/Bad Vibrations - Arcade Fire (YSI)

From Our Earthly Pleasures:
MP3: Girls Who Play Guitars - Maximo Park (YSI)

From Icky Thump:
MP3: I'm Slowly Turning Into You - The White Stripes (YSI)

From Oi Oi Oi:
MP3: The Battery (Original Mix) - Boys Noize (YSI)


-D