October ’04 Mix

November 1, 2004

If you need a copy of this or any of my mix CDs, please let me know in e-mail. I’m really bad about making and mailing CDs for people that have asked, so I’ve completely forgotten who I owe or who I might need to put on the list.

Also, if I have no idea who you are, you’re probably going to be pretty far back on the list. Sorry, internet stranger.

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1) The Woodland National Anthem – Arcade Fire EP – Arcade Fire

Dipping back in the catalog, I’m not sure what the heck this particular Arcade Fire song is about, but 40 seconds in you hear the drums from “Be My Baby” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.” Sold.

2) The Falcon – 010 – ulysses

This is the only other ulysses track I have. The drums gallop, the guitars fuzz and the familiar melodies of Apples in Stereo kick in right at the chorus.

3) Graceland – Matador at 15 – The New Pornographers

New Porn! This is a b-side on the big Matador comp, and if you listen carefully you can hear hooks from both Electric Version and Slow Wonder creep in. Carl Newman seems makes complex power pop seem completely effortless. Everyone must hate him.

4) This Mystic Decade – Audit in Progress – Hot Snakes

This is my favorite track off the new Snakes record, mostly because of the Townshendesque power chord that they float inbetween all the relentless pounding. It’s a little thing, but it’s always the little things.

5) The Good Life – Pinkerton – Weezer

If I ever get in too much of a rut, I’ll pop on this song and feel supermotivated. Then it ends and I go sit on the couch and nap.

6) Leavin’ Trunk – The Big Come Up – Black Keys

Flashback to the first album, and every time the main riff cracks, I want to yell “MISSISIPPI QUEEN!” Yeah, it’s an aped riff, but it’s still staggering.

7) Ghetto Rock – The New Danger – Mos Def

Mos Def’s experiment into riff-rock remains steadfastly hip-hop and has the best schoolyard singalong since the colored girls went doot-doot with Lou Reed.

8) Red – Imaginaryland – Petra Haden

More one-woman symphonics from Petra Haden for me! This time she plays violin as well as layering five or six vocals on top of each other. I wish she would put out that Acapella version of Who’s Next someday.

9) Modern Things – Fields and Streams – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

This was stuck on a KRS sampler and it’s got that b-side feel. The song’s disjointed and messy, but there’s a moment when the drums drop into a march and Karen O changes her cadence accordingly while she coos “try me out find what i’m all about we can make some noise not like the other boys” and it’s perfect for about 10 seconds.

10) Dear God – Skylarking – XTC

As a teenage atheist “Dear God” seemed so wise, encapsulating all those arguments and feelings concisely. I’m not sure it ages that well, but what the hey.

11) Tell Her Tonight (Paul Sings) – Michael EP – Franz Ferdinand

Indie pop disco songs in German are a lot funnier than most things in German.

12) I Found That Essence Rare – Peel Sessions – Gang of Four

Oddly, this is the only Peel Sessions I had handy when I heard the sad news about Mr. John Peel.

13) Surf’s Up – SMiLE – Brian Wilson

After so many years, SMiLE is actually as great as you have been led to believe. Wilson’s voice is beaten and rough, but it lends a refined sadness to the affair that makes the work even more beautiful. This opinion was totally stolen from Matt Fraction.

14) Red Right Ankle – Champaign, IL – The Decemberists

This song was written for Colin Meloy’s favorite freckled foot on his girlfriend Carson Ellis, but I’m gonna dedicate it to Curt Schilling’s blood soaked sock instead. That was just wicked awesome.

Posted in Mixtape