Lullabies for the wee babes, or the parents.

I made this for friends with little ones.  It's all very down tempo, etc.

Quiet Time Soundtrack

1.  Entrance - Washed Out 1:26 ~ Paracosm (2013)
2.  It All Feels Right - Washed Out. 4:06 ~ Paracosm (2013)
3.  Ponytail - Panda Bear 2:06 ~ Person Pitch (2007)
4.  Candylion - Gruff Rhys 2:31 ~ Candylion (2007)
5.  Sitting By The Riverside - The Kinks 2:24 ~ The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society (1968)
6.  Btoum-Roumada - Aphex Twin 1:58 ~ Drukqs (2001)
7.  The Fisherman - Leo Kottke 2:33 ~ 6 And 12 String Guitar (1969)
8.  No No - Prefuse 73 0:14 ~ Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian (2009)
9.  Avril 14th - Aphex Twin 2:06 ~ Drukqs (2001)
10. Te Amo - Atlas Sound 4:14 ~ Parallax (2011)
11. Wives of Farmers - Grandaddy 3:42 ~ The S0phtware Slump (2000)
12. Wild Goose - M. Ward 2:36 ~ A Wasteland Companion (2012)
13. Con Cariño - Gruff Rhys 2:18 ~ Candylion (2007)
14. Lolita Ya-Ya - The Ventures 2:11 ~ Greatest Hits (1962)
15. Mama and Papa - Supergrass 2:33 ~ Supergrass (2000)
16. If You Want Blood - Mark Kozelek 2:38 ~ What's Next to the Moon (2001)
17. Boys Don't Cry - Rockabye Baby! 4:56 ~ Lullaby Renditions of The Cure (2006)
18. Place to Be - Nick Drake 2:44 ~ Pink Moon (1972)
19. Let The Wolves Howl At The Moon - Super Furry Animals 4:37 ~ Hey Venus! (2007)
20. Lost Message - Air 3:32 ~ Pocket Symphony (2007)
21. Emerald and Stone - Brian Eno 2:12 ~ Small Craft On A Milk Sea (2010)
22. Crow River Waltz - Leo Kottke 3:21 ~ 6 And 12 String Guitar

The Julie Singer-Songwriter Rebuild

I toyed with the idea of making this one a double but then was able to pare it down to a 73:15 playing time.  I made this for my old friend, Julie, who requested singer-songwriter type stuff.  I doubt this qualifies as exactly that but this is my interpretation of it.

1.  Stars of Leo - M. Ward
2.  Goodway - Monsters of Folk
3.  Jumping Fences - The Olivia Tremor Control
4.  Picture Book - The Kinks
5.  Sweetheart - M. Ward feat. Zooey Deschanel
6.  Sitting By The Riverside - The Kinks
7.  Kingdom - Richard Buckner
8.  Ponytail - Panda Bear
9.  Liza Radley - The Jam
10. Mona Lisa - Atlas Sound
11. Baby Stick Around - Joe Jackson
12. Pink Moon - Nick Drake
13. Fortune - Midlake
14. Somewhere - Sun Kil Moon
15. Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine
16. From The Morning - Nick Drake
17. Wonderful (The Way I Feel) - My Morning Jacket
18. Accidental - Inara George & Van Dyke Parks
19. Little Bird - Imogen Heap
20. Waitin' For A Superman - Iron & Wine
21. Find Me, Ruben Olivares - Mark Kozelek
22. Place To Be - Nick Drake
23. Here's Where The Story Ends - The Sundays
24. On And On - Stephen Bishop

More Playlists to Follow

I've been putting together some playlists to burn to CD this evening but I forgot that I didn't put up the playlist for the CD I made for Audrey.  Here it is:

Pimpin' With Audrey

1.  Be Thankful For What You Got - William DeVaughan
2.  Pusherman - Curtis Mayfield
3.  Songs For Women - Frank Ocean
4.  Shine Blockas - Big Boi feat. Gucci Mane
5.  It's Not My Fault (It's My Fault) - Discovery
6.  Busy Signal - Prefuse 73
7.  Les Professionels - Air
8.  Serge - The Folk Implosion
9.  White - Frank Ocean feat. John Mayer
10. Neighbors - Gnarls Barkley
11. Lost - Frank Ocean
12. I Ain't No Joke - Eric B. & Rakim
13. Powerlunch - Har Mar Superstar feat. Beth Ditto
14. Imperials - Ratatat
15. Mo Milly - Birdman feat. Drake & Bun B.

Pubquiz Fantasy Camp

I envisioned this differently than it turned out but I think it was a success anyway.  I made this disc for Kelley imagining how a Denton Pub Quiz Apocalypse game might go if we were guest hosting.  I had the idea that it would be a drama in five acts and play out in that fashion but I ended up drinking whisk(e)y at home and this is what came out.

1.  Señor Coconut and His Orchestra - Suavito
2.  Unit 4 + 2 - Concrete & Clay
3.  Mojo Nixon - I'm In Love With Your Girlfriend
4.  The Buzzcocks - Everybody's Happy Nowadays
5.  Moxy Früvous - The Lazy Boy
6.  Ween - Chocolate Town
7.  The Ventures - Lolita Ya-Ya
8.  Nightmares On Wax - Mission Venice
9.  Trans Am - Love Commander
10. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Murder On The Dancefloor
11. The Jackson 5 - Shake Your Body Down (Down To The Ground)
12. Nina Simone - Ain't Got No/I Got Life (remix)
13. Stan Getz - Doralice
14. Roy Ayers - Stoned Soul Picnic
15. The Olivia Tremor Control - NYC-25

Stacey's Heartbreak Mix

I'm not sure if I'm rusty or not as good at managing my music collection as I used to be but this is what I came up with for a heartbroken friend to savor the unhappy moments.


No Distance Left to Run - Blur
Ever Fallen In Love? - The Buzzcocks
Bum - Tanya Donelly
Unbearable - The Wonder Stuff
Now I'm A Fool - Eagles Of Death Metal
Promises - The Buzzcocks
Solo Flights - Eagles Of Death Metal
Nothing More's Gonna Get In My Way - Supergrass
Walk On By - Cake
Unhappy Birthday - The Smiths
Since I Left You - The Avalanches
What Have I Done To Deserve This? - Pet Shop Boys
Fragile Happiness - Super Furry Animals
Heart Of Glass - The Puppini Sisters

2 to Brandon in August

I sent these two to Brandon in August. Reviews were generally positive except that I never meant to send the second one and it wasn't really designed for anyone else, whatevs.

Disc One: Electrobooty

1.Apart From This – The Mountaineers (2003)
2.I Want To Be Your Boyfriend – Discovery featuring Angel Deradoorian (2009)
3.Une Very Stylish Fille – Dimitri From Paris (1999)
4.Around The World/Harder Better Faster Stronger (Live) – Daft Punk (2007)
5.One Too Many Mornings – Chemical Brothers (1995)
6.Californie – Air (1999)
7.Phantom – Justice (2007)
8.Phantom Part II – Justice (2007)
9.Slow Life (Sir Doufous Styles Mix) – Super Furry Animals (2003)
10.No No – Prefuse 73 (2009)

11.Short Circuit – Daft Punk (2001)
12.I Lust U – Neon Neon featuring Cate Le Bon (2008)
13.Afternoon Love In – Prefuse 73 (2001)
14.Valentine – Justice (2007)
15.Yuletide – Prefuse 73 (2009)
16.Imperials – Ratatat (2004)
17.I Want You Back – Discovery (2009)
18.Belfast – Neon Neon (2008)
19.Move Your Feet – Junior Senior (2003)

Disc Two: Downtempo Hit Parade

1.A Gentle Dissolve – Thievery Corporation (2005)
2.Channel 1 Suite – The Cinematic Orchestra (1999)
3.La Femme d'Argent – Air (1998)
4.Aquarius – Boards of Canada (1998)
5.Exchange – Massive Attack (1998)
6.Rushing – Moby (1999)
7.Constants Are Changing – Boards of Canada (2005)
8.Stainless Style – Neon Neon (1998)
9.Heard From Telegraph Lines – Boards of Canada (2006)
10.Lost Message – Air (2007)
11.In The Waiting Line – Zero 7 (2001)
12.Under The Milky Way – Sia (2010)
13.Half-Asleep – The School of Seven Bells (2008)
14.Ce Matin La – Air (1998)
15.Turquoise Hexagon Sun – Boards of Canada (1998)
16.Porcelain – Moby (1999)
17.I See A Darkness – Bonnie “Prince “ Billy (1999)

Cowbell Playlist

I came up with this one to showcase a great instrument.

1 A Bomb In Wardour Street The Jam

2 Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough Michael Jackson

3 Honky Tonk Women The Rolling Stones

4 Casino Queen Wilco

5 Drive My Car The Beatles

6 Jungle Love Steve Miller Band

7 Stone Free The Jimi Hendrix Experience

8 Pay To Cum Bad Brains

9 Grazing In The Grass Hugh Masekela

10 Hooked On A Feeling Blue Swede

11 Gold Dust Woman Fleetwood Mac

12 Broken Treeline Rtb2

13 Taxman The Beatles

14 The Reflex Duran Duran

15 Aquarius Boards Of Canada

16 A Little Less Conversation (JXL Radio Edit Remix) Elvis Presley

17 (Don't Fear) The Reaper Blue Öyster Cult

18 Pigs (Three Different Ones) Pink Floyd

Forbidden Love Soundtrack

This is a soundtrack I came up with to chronicle a friend's somewhat forbidden new love affair.

I'm supposed to keep silent and intend to.

1. Madness - It Must Be Love

2. Belle and Sebastian - Funny Little Frog

3. Super Furry Animals - Run-Away

4. The Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love?

5. Blur - To The End

6. M. Ward feat. Zooey Deschanel - Rave On

7. Ben Folds feat. Regina Spektor - You Don't Know Me

8. The Black Keys - You're The One

9. Bjork - Hidden Place

10. The Bird and The Bee - How Deep Is Your Love?

11. The Zombies - The Way I Feel Inside

12. The Who - I Can't Explain

13. Wilco - I'm The Man Who Loves You

14. XTC - Then She Appeared

15. Ween - She's Your Baby

16. Tom Waits - Young At Heart

17. South San Gabriel - I Am Six Pounds Of Dynamite

18. The Pretenders - Don't Get Me Wrong

19. Sun Kil Moon - Gentle Moon

Wilco Family Tree

I realized in naming this as such that it puts the empasis on Jeff Tweedy's main band which ultimately has been more successful, but that's the way it panned out. I had a chance to see Son Volt for $15 a couple of months ago and just didn't go. That's the way it is. This was another playlist for Daniel because this is the kind of music for long drives through the middle of nowhere.

1. Uncle Tupelo - Graveyard Shift

2. Son Volt - Drown

3. Uncle Tupelo - No Depression

4. Wilco - Casino Queen

5. Wilco - Monday

6. Wilco - Heavy Metal Drummer

7. Loose Fur - The Ruling Class

8. Wilco - She's A Jar

9. Son Volt - Methamphetamine

10. Wilco - I Must Be High

11. Wilco - Can't Stand It

12. Wilco - Either Way

13. Son Volt - Circadian Rhythm

14. Son Volt - Phosphate Skin

15. Loose Fur - Thou Shalt Wilt

16. Wilco - Hell Is Chrome (Live)

17. Wilco - Handshake Drugs (Live)

18. Wilco - I'm The Man Who Loves You

WTX Desolation Soundtrack

I put this one together for Daniel on his long drives through the forgotten desert towns. Some of it is tongue in cheek at times but levity is prescribed on long car trips alone.

1. Jimmy Dean - I Won't Go Huntin' With You Jake

2. Patsy Cline - Turn The Cards Slowly

3. The Handsome Family - Water Into Wine

4. Neko Case - This Tornado Loves You

5. Buck Owens - Sam's Place

6. The Cox Family - Pardon Me

7. Cowboy Junkies - Dreaming My Dreams With You

8. The Handsome Family - Arlene

9. Jerry Reed - East Bound And Down

10. Ricky Skaggs - Highway 40 Blues

11. Steve Wariner - Life's Highway

12. Alison Krauss & Union Station - Every Time You Say Goodbye

13. Neko Case - Mood To Burn Bridges

14. The Handsome Family - All The TVs In Town

15. Loretta Lynn - Fist City

16. The Handsome Family - Flapping Your Broken Wings

17. Flatt & Scruggs - Randy Lynn Rag

18. The Stanley Brothers - Angel Band

19. The Cox Family w/Alison Krauss - Will There Be Any Stars?

20. Johnny Cash - The Rebel, Johnny Yuma

21. David Frizell & Shelly West - You're The Reason God Made Oklahoma

22. Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman

23. The Flying Burrito Brothers - Cody, Cody

24. Steve Wariner - Lynda

25. Shelly West - Jose Cuervo

26. Cowboy Junkies - Sweet Jane

Trans Pacific Love

I hadn't put together a mix CD in a long time so I tried to maximize the time available. This one clocks in at 79:44. There are peaks and valleys, interludes and a two song coda. I spent some time thinking about it as I went along. It's a lot easier using the PC than the old days when you had to make it in real time. Although there's something to be said for that as well. This one is in the mail right now winging its way to Southern Japan. It won't be much of a surprise if Joel sees this before it gets there. I chose a lot of the songs for the way the end of one track blends into the next one. Anyway, the tracks:

1. Gnarls Barkley - Neighbors

2. Vampire Weekend - Mansard Roof

3. The Kinks - Victoria

4. XTC - Generals and Majors

5. Moving to France - The Remote Control

6. The Specials - A Message To You, Rudy

7. The Replacements - God Damn Job

8. Uncle Tupelo - No Depression

9. Deerhunter - Agoraphobia

10. Portishead - Humming

11. The Dukes of Stratosphear - Brainiac's Daughter

12. Belle and Sebastian - Mayfly

13. Grandaddy - Disconnecty

14. Justice - Phantom

15. Justice - Phantom, part II

16. Slint - Good Morning, Captain

17. Red House Painters - Make Like Paper

18. The Sea and Cake - Up On Crutches

19. The Alchemist - Shine

Artsy Ideas

I have had some slighty involved artistic ideas of late. They come in flashes and then disappear. I know for a fact that I have not won the ounce of gumption required to make any of them real, so they belong right here on this blog:

1. Use speech recognition software to sing songs ( with my imaginary band ), and project the lyrics (or reasonable facsimiles) on screesns, then use the same software to read the lyrics in a Stephen Hawking like computer voice as part of the performance. Call it a self duet.

2. Create a harmonica rack to suspend from the ceiling to which all 12 major key Monica are connected with bouncy fasteners something along the lines of those gasoline pumps that you pulled from the ceiling instead of from the tank. Leading the key part spring wildly into the air after a hard solo would add to the overall effect.

3. Using a family photo( I have a big family), commissioned a photographer and send out a nationwide call, in Japan that is, for Japanese people that closely resemble my siblings and parents. Then, dress them up in American clothes, and take a family photo. This idea could definitely be expanded. It comes from several years abroad and the fact that the longer you stay here, the more I see people that look like Japanese version of people I know. It sounds weird, but it is somehow fundamentally human at the same time. Score some government funding and you could do this all over the world.

Feelin' bookers

Recently read a great book at the bar: it showcased all the bourbons.
I bet the author had a blast....

Bookers fuels my work this eve

Another Band Idea

As a potential "life-time" ex-pat, the latest band idea that I got on the toilet was a blues-rock-alt-country 4-some doing soul-filled gritty ditties on NWPA.
I have so much lyric fodder from Western PA I could sneak in there. Local place names and old 80s references. It would sell well with my crowd 18 - 35, I think. And people, no matter where they were from would identify with the folksy references to "hometown". Like a simpler, dirtier Springsteen.

I forgot what I would call the band, but the initial album would be " 16 to 23" a velied reference to my old ZIP code, 16323. I have someone in mind for liner notes and photos to serve as the rusty background to a rusty album about a rusty old locale.

Now to find the band. It could be alL Japanese and me, which would add a nice complex level of weird to the whole mix

Got any good band names?

Rare Band Photo