Episode 61
So this may be the most special playlist to date. Even moreso than the one I did for my 50th birthday. This playlist comes from my godson.
Right before Christmas, his mom (and one of my closest friends) was planning on buying an album for him and wanted to know if I knew of a place where she could find the album for cheaper than the going price on eBay. After that conversation, I decided to stream the album she asked about and I was admittedly a little surprised. Overall, his parents and I have similar taste in music, but I feel that we deviate a bit in that I'm probably more inclined to dive into more obsure and experimental music and this album definitely leaned towards that.
Shortly after that, I asked him for an album that he thinks more people should listen to and he sent along "Raise Your Skinny Fists like Antennas to Heaven" by Godspeed You! Black Emperor and I really enjoyed that, especially some of the random audio samples they used (like a recording of a random TV on a gas pump or an older gentleman talking about Coney Island in its heyday). I also asked for a playlist of 10 songs and that ask is what you see here.
Personally, this playlist is fucking phenomenal. Even though I wasn't familiar with 80% of the tracks, it stirred so much nostalgia for me. When I was in my 20s, one of my roommates was a keyboardist in a Boston band. When your roommate is in a band, you have tendency to not just go and see when their band is playing, you find yourself going to small, intimate venues and seeing random local acts a lot. For me, this playlist captures that intimacy and reminded me of bands that I saw before they got big, like Interpol opening up for The Vines at The Middle East Downstairs and then somehow ending up with Interpol's keyboardist at the time in my car as a group of us drive to The Paradise for an after show party.
This playlist also made me realize that it's a bit of a full circle moment. Back in my late 20s, I'd often make mix CDs for a co-worker turned friend that is about 20 years my senior. I loved making those CDs and really enjoyed hearing his opinion on the songs and having him let me know of other artists he was into. Whenever I listen to Beth Orton, I think of him.
Now I feel like it's my turn to have a younger generation expose me to music I may otherwise not discover on my own and it leaves me feeling fortunate.
Walk in the Park - Beach House
Coastline - Rachel Goswell
blue meringue - Summer 2000
Starting Over - LSD and the Search for God
Birds - Hyakkei
Marjorette - Beach House
Liar's Love - Title Fight
Your World is Eternally Complete - Sweet Trip
Sleeping In - The Radio Dept.
80's Comedown Machine - The Strokes
Episode 60
This is late due to us moving. Slowly but surely, we've been having renovations done and bringing items here and there to the new place. Only lately we've been doing it with more ugency as we want to be fully moved in by the end of the month.
But you're not here for that, you're here for music. I can't remember how it happened, but "Flaming June" by BT was playing on my audio player at work. As it played, I momentarily paused the work I was doing, listened to the song, and I realized there was a certain feeling of optimism coming from it. I then started listening to other trance (and adjacent genres) and that feeling really came through in nearly all the songs. While I won't deny that part of it may be rose-tinted glasses looking through a prism of nostalgia, but I do think there was just a general sense of optimism in the 90s. The internet was new and exciting and hadn't been manhandled by capitalism. The Reagan/Bush years were over and as a NY'er, we were literally seeing the improvement of NYC firsthand as crime went down and things improved.
Right now, there is a lot of disappointment in my world. I'm disappointed by the news, disappointed that I know people who fucking voted for this shit, and disappointed that I feel unable to do more for the people that matter to me during this time, especially as they feel scared and threatened. So maybe I just need a little dose of optimism and hopefully you can appreciate that.
Flaming June - BT
Comin' Back - The Crystal Method
It's a Fine Day - Opus III
First Cool Hive - Moby
Halcyon + On + On - Orbital
Saltwater - Chicane
Born Slippy - Underworld
Children - Robert Miles
Papua New Guinea - The Future Sound of London
Xpander (Edit) - Sasha
Episode 59 - Original Motion Picture Soundtracks
This is a day late as we're in the process of moving.
I can't remember why I wanted to focus on mainly instrumental songs from movies, but I did and here we are.
When I started putting this together, I realized that I could easily come up with over 20 songs between John Williams (the man is a god) and Hans Zimmer, so I restricted myself to just one song per composer. When I put that stipulation on this list, I actually hit a wall for some reason and reached out to my best friend for suggestions. He pointed out a huge miss for me and that is the "Tron:Legacy" soundtrack by Daft Punk, which admittedly is my favorite and most listened to instrumental soundtrack of all time. While talking with him, I told him that I wasn't sure if I could put the main theme to "The Last of the Mohicans" as I wasn't a fan of the movie (whereas he loves the movie) but as I listened to the track, I realized that it really is an amazing piece. So much so that I may want to give the movie another watch.
Love Theme - Vangelis
Time - Hans Zimmer
The Avengers - Alan Silvestri
The Imperial March - John Williams
The Batman Theme - Danny Elfman
Recognizer - Daft Punk
Top Gun Anthem - Harold Faltermeyer
Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) - Bill Conti
Main Title (The Last of the Mohicans) - Trevor Jones
Summer Overture - Clint Mansell
Episode 58 - Christmas Part 2
While part 1 learned more towards punk and original Christmas songs, this playlist focuses more on the classic standards that I grew up with, with one exception; Tom Petty. I originally had Tom Petty on the part 1 list, but it didn't jive with me for some reason on that one, so I added it here.
What's really interesting is that on YouTube, the song on this playlist with the most views is "Feliz Navidad" followed by Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby". Now before anyone goes "how is Christmas in Hollis" a classic Christmas song, remember, the song is just shy of being 40 years old at this point. If things are considered "vintage" after 20 years, then this should be considered a classic.
Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Box - Bing Crosby and David Bowie
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Frank Sinatra
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - Bruce Springsteen
The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) - Nat King Cole
O Tannenbaum - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Happy Xmas (War is Over) - John Lennon
Christmas All Over Again - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Feliz Navidad - José Feliciano
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
Christmas in Hollis - Run DMC
Episode 57 - Christmas Part 1
Part 1 because I will do at least a single follow up but part of me is feeling like I may do one a week. We'll see.
I do love most Christmas songs (I'll admit I could do with a little less Ms. Carey though). After I put this together, I listened to it to see how it fit and I did end up swapping out a Tom Petty song for The Waitresses as Petty wasn't really cutting it.
Also, it wasn't on purpose, but four of these songs have a NYC/Boston connection, so it did hit the homesick nerve a bit and the first two are my personal favorites. I do want to see more original rock/ska/punk Christmas songs get released.
Fairytale of New York - The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl
X'Mas Time (It Sure Doesn't Feel Like It) - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight) - The Ramones
Oi To The World - No Doubt
Groovy Xmas - The Linda Lindas
The Season's Upon Us - Dropkick Murphys
I Won't Be Home For Christmas - blink-182
Don't Shoot Me Santa - The Killers
A Christmas Duel - The Hives & Cyndi Lauper
Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses