A mix for Labor Day, where we paradoxically celebrate work by taking the day off from it. I didn’t feel any additional comments were necessary, as each selection is self-explanatory. “Finest Worksong” by R.E.M. “Job Application” by Meryn Cadell “Burn This Bridge” by The Dambuilders “Earn Enough For Us” by XTC “The Happy Prole” by […]
I have an odd tendency to love many acts’ generally least loved albums. At one time, I would have simply chalked this up to my contrarian nature. I like to think I instead am able to consider works without influence from others. Such is the case with Pink Floyd’s Obscured by Clouds, an entry in […]
In this last month of summer, I am focusing on tracks that have an emphasis on percussion. “The Obvious Child” by Paul Simon It was inevitable whatever Simon would follow Graceland with would be unable to meet the ridiculously high bar set by the legendary album. Rhythm of the Saints was a solid album, seeking […]
When I was a kid, I was fascinated by a guitar amp by grandfather used. Messing around with it once, I discovered that, if one turned one of the dials up all the way (reverb, I think), picked up the amp and then sat it down roughly, a truly horrific noise would come from it. […]
Hard to say what I was going for with this mix. I found myself identifying more and more songs as ones I associate specifically with hot summer mornings. More than a few are literally about getting up or which take place in the morning. “Out Of My Head” by Sun 60 This is one of […]
This mix was originally intended for July, but a largely scorching hot May led me to move this up to June. In general, I tried not to include songs that are explicitly about the season, hence the absence of such numbers as Sly and the Family Stone’s “Hot Fun In The Summertime” or Mungo Jerry’s […]
If April showers bring May flowers, what does this rain dominating the first week of May bring? Yet another mix, that’s what it brings–whether it is songs explicitly about rain, or simply ones that are reminiscent of how a rainy day makes me feel. “Here’s That Rainy Day” by Astrud Gilberto Bossa nova is normally […]
As the weather is getting warmer, we see the flowers opening up for pollination. We see the animals preening themselves so as to be most attractive to a desired mate. And we hear those animals making the noises they think will draw the right attention. Unfortunately, in the area where I reside, those sounds are […]
For whatever reason, I am fascinated by songs about the experience of being a recording artist, especially those addressing frustrations toward the industry. When they are autobiographical, I consider these “state of the band union” songs, the public airing of an artist’s grievances. I’m surprised there aren’t more such songs, as that would seem to […]
Note: “Tainted Love” not included in this mix. For this month, I decided to create a mix of love songs for Valentine’s Day, except these are about it in its unrequited form or when affection curdles into something foul. Everything is fine in my relationship, but I just thought those whose isn’t on such solid […]
It’s fair to say most people’s favorite album by a given artist is usually the first one they heard by them. I was late to appreciate The Replacements, so the first full album by them I had was All Shook Down, their last. This is an album not generally held in high regard by their […]
January is an odd month. After all the hurried activity leading up to the holidays near the end of the previous year, it feels like somebody slammed the brakes on reality. Heck, the early Roman essentially treated it and February as if they didn’t even exist–they just lumped them together into a dead space outside […]
I’m not big on Christmas music. It seems like my favorites of the genre are tracks I could listen to any time of the year. The rest of it is pure nostalgia, which may be my least favorite kind of sentiment. And, given how omnipresent that music is at this time of year, it is […]
Like most people my age, I used to make a great many mixtapes, back when these were on cassette and so were truly mixtapes. I welcomed the age of being able to burn compact discs in a computer, enabling easier mix creation and duplication. I think it’s funny how few people have any equipment to […]
I am a huge fan of Stax records, especially its output up to, and a little past, the death of Otis Redding. That era was covered in a box set with all of its single A-sides packed onto nine compact discs. Diminishing returns resulted from a second and third set which covered the Al Bell […]