December 2004

mix by BP

1. The Faint - Desperate Guys (3)
2. Stars - Your Ex-Lover is Dead (4)
3. Cornelius - Drop (Kings of Conveinance Remix) (3)
4. Junior Boys - Teach Me How to Fight (3)
5. Ad Frank - Sleepingbag (3)
6. Bob Dylan - Lay Lady Lay (4) - I always loved the deep voice of "Nashville Skyline."
7. Kleenex Girl Wonder - Anne Marie (5) - maybe too much information here, but one of the my fondest memories is this song and a naked jig done as a joke
8. Of Montreal - Disconnect the Dots (3)
9. Mates of State - I Got This Feelin' (4) - "Whiner's Bio" is pure genius. There are about 7 songs on "Team Boo" that I really like.
10. Dungen - Panda (2)
11. Twilight Singers - Hyperballad (3)
12. Blondie - Dreaming (2)
13. Clientele - Emptily Through Holloway (2)
14. Jesus & Mary Chain - Just Like Honey (2)
15. Fiery Furnaces - Turning Round (3)

Overall: 3.1

September 2004

mix by BP

If only that So song weren't included...

1. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Hallelujah (3)
2. Books - Enjoy Your Worries, You May Never Have Them Again (4)
3. Modest Mouse - Bukowski (4) - I've honestly listened to "Good News" about three dozen times.
4. So - 01 (1)
5. Sufjan Stevens - The Dress Looks Nice on You (4)
6. Wrens - Jane Fakes A Hug (4)
7. Cex - Julia Walsh (4)
8. The Arcade Fire - Une Annee Sans Lumiere (3)
9. M83 - Run into Flowers (3)
10. Books - Tokyo (3)
11. Smog - Bloodflow (2)
12. Pavement - Fillmore Jive (2)

Overall: 3.1

August 2004

mix by BP

1. Notwist - One Step Inside Doesn't Mean You Understand (3)
2. Pavement - Date with Ikea (3)
3. Ad Frank - Hauls and Ryders (3)
4. John Vanderslice - Time Travel is Lonely (2) - I don't think Spoon makes any significant addition to this version.
5. Her Space Holiday - The Luxury of Loneliness (2)
6. Dntel - Anywhere Anyone (3)
7. Elliott Smith - Between the Bars (4)
8. Guided by Voices - The Things I Will Keep (3) - I admired how proficient Bob Pollard was, but I never really "got" it. Incidentally, "Under the Hedge" is about Ted meeting Pollard and Pollard being an ass to him. It really disillusioned Ted about how great that guy really was.
9. New Pornographers - The Slow Descent into Alcoholism (4)
10. Hefner - May God Protect Your Home (2)
11. Pinback - Syracuse (3)
12. Sufjan Stevens - Size Too Small (3)
13. Pavement - Here (3)
14. Kleenex Girl Wonder - Ain't Going Anywhere Soon (4)
15. Komeit - Same, Same (2)

I'm pretty sure every Kleenex Girl Wonder song on "Ponyoak" is at least a 3 and a lot are 4s. That's a gimme in my book.

Overall: 2.9

July 2004

mix by BP

I somehow got sidetracked with these rundowns. Of course, these things are a bit of a tease. I grade it, but I never tell you why I liked something. Perhaps someday.

1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Bang (3)
2. Beauty Pill - The Cigarette Girl From the Future (3)
3. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (3) - I think this was a "historical" three. I don't understand why people go crazy over this song. To me, it's very meandering. There is something engaging about the whole bored sound in Ian Curtis's voice (is that the right guy, or did I just totally make that up?)
4. The Magnetic Fields - I Thought You Were My Boyfriend (3)
5. Sexual Harassment - If I Gave You A Party (2)
6. Franz Ferdinand - Darts of Pleasure (3)
7. Mark Eitzel - Move On Up (3)
8. The Afghan Whigs - Crazy (3)
9. Twilight Singers - Verti-Marte (4) - This is something I do a lot, but always feel like I'm cheating afterwards. Using the same singer to bridge his two different bands. I did this one time to transition from Neko Case to the New Pornographers. I don't think I ever really pulled it off.
10. Death Cab for Cutie - Champagne From a Paper Cup (2) - I like "Photo Booth' and "Transatlanticism" I know that makes me a chump, but at least I've listened to all of them. Daniele is a big fan of "We Have the Facts.."
11. Franz Ferdinand - Auf Achse (3)
12. Golden Boy with Miss Kittin - ?? (2)
13. Xiu Xiu - I Love the Valley (3)
14. Chappaquiddick Skyline - Leave Me Alone (3)
15. Erlend Oye - The Black Keys Work (3)

Overall: 2.7

Natalie Maines & Patty Griffin - "Mary"

from Songs for Tsunami Relief: Austin to South Asia

"Mary," probably an allusion to Our Virgin Mother, originally appeared on Patty Griffin's sophomore effort, "Flaming Red." But in terms of impact, it was done best on her recent live effort, "A Kiss in Time," where Griffin really owns the song of a mother who works tireously behind the scenes while the world adores her offspring.

I picked up this version, intrigued by the (again) live setting and the addition of Natalie Maines, a Dixie Chick with an amazing way to melt your heart with her powerful voice. But, as I soon figured out, Maines doesn't take a prominent role in this cameo effort, providing doubling of Griffin's main vocal.

For her part, the native Austinite sounds tired, almost succumbing to Maines' quiver more than once. It's a pretty straightforward interpretation of the original, and one almost gets the sense that Griffin was merely going through the motions.

It's a dissapointing duet for sure. Did I mention I hate tsunami relief efforts/charity?

2/5

Weezer - "El Scorcho"

One of the reasons I rated my entire non-album hard drive was so that I could start fresh again. Here goes.

I never truly latched onto Pavement. My favorite album of theirs is "Terror Twilight," mockingly called the first solo Stephen Malkmus album by their hardcore fans. It was just a bit too unorganized, too prone to lyrics that seemed stream of consciousness. It's remarkable, really. I can love, "I am an American aquarium drinker. I assassin down the avenue," but I can't find a place in my heart for some of Malkmus' "best" compositions.

I was never that much of a Weezer fan. I liked their singles for their pop goodness, but I never really respected the songs. They were candy, fluff, what have you. I knew some of the words and would sing along, but I didn't want to run out and buy the Blue Album. I tried to like the Green Album, but it didn't take. The more I tried, the more it resisted. My own solace was that the album was so short and it could be played in a situation where I just wasn't sure if the person who was sitting/riding next to me was cool enough for the real good stuff.

"Pinkerton" happened, but it definitely didn't register on my radar. I heard all the general stuff. It wasn't as accessible as the first album, people claimed, and most of the critics I generally heard somewhere in the ether of entertainment talk, didn't really connect with it. I left it alone.

Living out of a suitcase in the summer of 2002, I didn't have much opportunity to pack a lot of unnecessary things. Despite having access to my car, I was hoplessly out of reach of my CD collection. And my housemates, John and Sara, were in a different stratosphere. I must have heard the Avril Lavigne debut album 25 times that summer from Sara - it seemed to be the only album she owned - while John was trying to educate me on the greatness of Tool (I ended up liking some songs, but I couldn't tell you their names or what album they're on).

Our compromise was John's copy of "Pinkerton." It had all these quirky songs that were in some respects very Weezer - or at least the Weezer I remembered - but others that just worked on me. Honestly, I think I heard "El Scorcho" on the radio way back in 1997, but I'll never forget sitting outside the theatre where I'd eventually spend good money to see "My Best Friend's Wedding" and listening to songs like "Pink Triangle" and "El Scorcho."

I remember John screaming "God damn you half-Japanese girls" like he understood what Rivers Cuomo was all about. The God's honest truth is that I don't think any of know what the hell Rivers Cuomo is all about. What we do know is that he has a predispostion for Asian girls, which I think sums up the first verse nicely.

Goddamn you half-Japanese girls
do it to me every time
oh, the redhead said you shred the cello
And I'm jello, baby

The other thing I remember about this song is that Rivers namechecks a contemporary, which always seemed kind of jarring. Green Day were predecessors, but not by much, in terms of the instant fame that came and left.

And perhaps my favorite lines:

How stupid is it? I can't talk about it
I gotta sing about it and make a record of my heart
(How stupid is it? Won't you give me a minute
Just come up to me and say hello to my heart) How stupid is it?
For all I know you want me too and maybe you just don't know what to do or maybe you're scared to say: "I'm falling for you"
I wish I could get my head out of the sand 'cuz I think we'd make a good team
and you would keep my fingernails clean
but that's just a stupid dream that I won't realize
'cuz I can't even look in your eyes without shakin', and I ain't fakin'
I'll bring home the turkey if you bring home the bacon.

In this verse, he pretty much exposes himself. How stupid am I? he's asking. I'm so stupid I can't go up to a girl I like but I can write this pretty, perfect song about it. I always felt like I'd be the same way, but I dunno. Maybe I felt more like that in 2002 than I do today.

The other thing I like about the song is its construction, something inherently Pavement about it. But it's much more polished, like you know where the turns are going to be. You know when the tempo will change and it's safe. And Pavement's not safe. And they're a better band than Weezer. But I like this song...a lot.

4/5

This is the work hard-drive of Jude Seymour, 2005

1. Ted Leo - Since U Been Gone (1)
2. Sheryl Crow & Ryan Adams - If It Makes You Happy (Live at Austin City Limits Music Festival) (2)
3. Cities of Foam - Out of Reach (1)
4. Counting Crows - Accidentally in Love (4)
5. The Posting Service - Against All odds (3)
6. Andrea Echeverri - Amortiguador (1)
7. Kathleen Edwards - Back to Me (2)
8. Barenaked Ladies (with Sarah McLachlan) - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three Kings (4)
9. The Postal Service - Be Still My Heart (Nobody Remix) (2)
10. Christina Aguilera - Beautiful (Peter Rauhofer Remix) (2)
11. Diana Anaid - Last Thing (3)
12. Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road (3)
13. Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone (3)
14. Hope 7 - Breakthrough (2)
15. Anna Nalick - Breathe (2AM) (3)
16. Marc Broussard - Come Around (3)
17. John Vanderslice - Pale Horse (3)
18. John Vanderslice - They Won't Le Me Run (4)
19. The Shins - So Says I (3)
20. Kasbian - Club Foot (2)
21. Polly Paulusma - She Moves in Secret Ways (1)
22. Hero Pattern - Monster (3)
23. Hero Pattern - Cut You Out (3)
24. The Rasmus - In the Shadows (2)
25. Deaf Pedestrians - 15 Beers Ago (2)
26. Little Charlie & The Nightcats - I Beg Your Pardon (3)
27. Astaire - L-L-Love (2)
28. Ben Folds - Eddie Walker (live) (3)
29. Low Millions - Eleanor (3)
30. Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict a Riot (3)
31. Bruce Springsteen - Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) (4)
32. Blue Merle - Every Ship Must Sail Away (3)
33. The Music - Freedom Fighters (2)
34. The Dismemberment Plan - Close to Me (!)
35. Elie Lawson - Gotta Get Up from Here (Radio Edit) (3)
36. Wesley Willis - Rock N Roll McDonalds (1)
37. Wesley Willis - Cut the Mullet (1)
38. Unwritten Law - Save Me (2)
39. Andrew Kenny - Line of Best Fit (2)
40. Coheed and Cambria - A Favor House Atlantic (3)
41. John Vanderslice - Amitriptyline (2)
42. JoJo - Leave (Get Out) (4)
43. Shelly Fairchild - Kiss Me (1)
44. Gabriela Anders - Embrace Me (3)
45. Eisley - Telescope Eyes (3)
46. Ryan Adams - Let it Ride (Single version) (3)
47. John Vanderslice - Me and My 424 (3)
48. John Vanderslice - The Mansion (3)
49. Paris Texas - Bombs Away (2)
50. John Vanderslice - Speed Lab (2)
51. John Vanderslice - Bill Gates Must Die (3)
52. John Vanderslice - Gruesome Details (2)
53. Death Cab for Cutie - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (4)
54. Travis Morrison - Song for the Orca (1)
55. Relient K - Be My Escape (2)
56. Feist - One Evening (1)
57. The Dismemberment Plan - The Love War (1)
58. Bright Eyes - Blue Christmas (2)
59. Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams - Suddenly it's Christmas (2)
60. Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer (4)
61. Tegan and Sara - Walking with a Ghost (3)
62. Outkast - Hey Ya (4)
63. "Chris Glover" - Stand on Your Seat (Lord-Alge Mix Short) (3)
64. Michael Lord - Smile (2)
65. The Perishers - Sway (3)
66. U2 - Elevation (Escalation Mix) (2)
67. Alica Keys - If I Ain't Got You (3)
68. American Hi-Fi - The Geeks Get the Girls (album version) (3)
69. Owsley - Undone (2)
70. Tyler Hilton - When it Comes (2)
71. John Vanderslice - Time Travel is Lonely (2)
72. John Vanderslice - My Old Flame (2)
73. Jedd Hughes - High Lonesome (2)
74. Bonnie McKee - Trouble (2)
75. John Legend - Used to Love U (14) (2)
76. Powderfinger - Stumblin' (2)
77. tobymac - What We Shared (@)
78. Bright Eyes - When the President Talks to God (3)
79. Britt Daniel - I Summon You (demo) (2)
80. Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl (4)
81. Popular Genius - Guster medley (1)
82. Wilco - Cars Can't Escape (3)

Radiohead - Hail to the Thief (2003)

I have a definite love/hate relationship with Radiohead, although I respect them tremendously.

1. 2+2=5 (4)
2. Sit Down. Stand Up. (4)
3. Sail to the Moon (2)
4. Backdrifts (2)
5. Go to Sleep (3)
6. The Gloaming (2)
7. We Suck Young Blood (2)
8. Where I End and You Begin (3)
9. There There (3)
10. I Will (2)
11. A Punch Up at a Wedding (2)
12. Myxamatosis (2)
13. Scatterbrain (2)
14. A Wolf at the Door (2)

Overall: 2.5

Rufus Wainwright - Want One (2003)

I actually bought the "Waiting for a Want" EP before I checked out this disc. I still don't own "Want Two," incidentally.

1. Oh What a World (3)
2. I Don't Know What It Is (4)
3. Vicious World (2)
4. Movies of Myself (3)
5. Pretty Things (1)
6. Go or Go Ahead (4)
7. Vibrate (2)
8. 14th Street (2)
9. Natasha (2)
10. Harvester of Hearts (1)
11. Beautiful Child (2)
12. Want (2)
13. 11:11 (2)
14. Dinner at Eight (2)

Overall: 2.3

Michael Smith - Such Things Are Finely Done

If you haven't heard of Michael Peter Smith (or think he's a Christian singer), you are truly missing a piece of Americana. I saw him in concert in February, and he entertained for sure.

1. Sister Clarissa (3)
2. The Ballad of Elizabeth Dark (3)
3. The Princess & The Frog (3)
4. Famous in France (4)
5. The Dutchman (2)
6. I Brought My Father With Me (3)
7. Move Over, Mr. Gauguin (2)
8. Four Jokes (3)
9. There (3)
10. Something About Big Twist (4)
11. Zippy (3)
12. Home to the Hive (2)
13. Such Things Are Finely Done (3)

Overall: 2.9

John Vanderslice - MGM Endings: Cellar Door Remixes (2004)

Available on John Vanderslice's Web site, I've had these tracks since last August.

1. August (2)
2. Bushnell Scope (2)
3. Field Guide (2)
4. Lifeboat (1)
5. Second Skin (2)
6. Behold a Pale Horse (1)
7. Winter Light (2)
8. Bomb in Reverse (3)
9. Life and Life Only (1)
10. Requiem (1)
11. Motel of Lost Companions (1)
12. They Won't Let Me Run, Pt. 2 (1)

Overall: 1.6

It's too bad, because "Cellar Door" is a solid album.

Elliott Smith - From A Basement on a Hill (2004)

Elliott Smith's last album. This overall grade may be a little low, because Elliott's songs always grow on me - especially when I start paying close attention to the lyrics.

1. Coast to Coast (3)
2. Let's Get Lost (3)
3. Pretty (Ugly Before) (3)
4. Don't Go Down (2)
5. Strung Out Again (2)
6. A Fond Farewell (4)
7. King's Crossing (3)
8. Ostriches & Chirping (n/a)
9. Twilight (3)
10. A Passing Feeling (2)
11. The Last Hour (3)
12. Shooting Star (3)
13. Memory Lane (4)
14. Little One (3)
15. A Distorted Reality is Now a Necessity to Be Free (3)

Overall: 2.9

Cake - Fashion Nugget (1996)

Perhaps Cake's most consistent and overall best album.

1. Frank Sinatra (4)
2. The Distance (4)
3. Friend is a Four Letter Word (4)
4. Open Book (3)
5. Daria (2)
6. Race Car Ya-Yas (1)
7. I Will Survive (4)
8. Stickshifts and Safetybelts (2)
9. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps (2)
10. It's Coming Down (3)
11. Nugget (3)
12. She'll Come Back to Me (3)
13. Italian Leather Sofa (5)
14. Sad Songs and Waltzes (3)

Overall: 3.1

Remix to Ignition

a mix by Jude, created 4/8

Finally, a combination of my two dream mixes - trashy songs and dance remixes.

1. Pink - Get the Party Started
2. Stacie Orrico - Stuck (Thunderpuss radio remix)
3. Britney Spears - Toxic (Lenny Bertoldo mix show edit)
4. Darude - Sandstorm
5. U2 - Elevation (Tomb Raider mix)
6. Britney Spears - Everytime (Valentin remix)
7. Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone (Jason Nevis rock da club edit)
8. Justin Timberlake - Like I Love You (Basement Jaxx vocal mix)
9. R. Kelly - Ignition (remix)
10. Destiny's Child - Lose My Breath (Maurice's nu soul mix)
11. JC Chasez - Blowin' Me Up (With Her Love)
12. The Killers - Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's thin white duke mix)

This is my first iMix, uploaded to iTunes as well.