The Look Back

Busdriver – Least Favorite Rapper

New track from the new album Jhelli Beam by mile a minute rapper Busdriver. One of the songs with lyrics that actually are comprehendible and somewhat gripping.

Discovery – Carby

Gang Gang Dance and Vampire Weekend members put this out (and feature Ezra Koenig here, lead singer of VW) which I was initially very skeptical of. I’m a convert. This album “LP” is immediately addictive to the point of me listening to it 17 times since getting it last week. Autotune aplenty here but used in a way that makes it a tool rather than a crutch. I know it’s been the tool of choice as of late but non-the less it is not yet getting on my nerves despite what Kanye says.

Tunde Adebimpe – Unknown Legend

Tunde is the lead singer of TV on the Radio. This comes from the soundtrack to “Rachel Getting Married.” The best I can say for him is to stick with TV on the Radio. It was quite possibly the most horrible piece of acting I’ve seen in a year or more. To call it forced would be the biggest understatement of this blog. That was until the scene in the movie when Sydney (Tunde) and Rachel are at the altar exchanging vows and he sings this Neil Young cover song a capella. He can sing and this song got to me. I’ve heard the Neil Young version several times but this really did something for me. The movie itself is best described as a book experience. Nothing really interesting happens in it and you are expected to sit through 1.5 hours of character study. This isn’t all bad but it is exactly all good either. The song is top notch and definitely on the wedding playlist at this point.

Chris LeDoux – Look at You Girl

A true cowboy. Grew up riding broncs and then got into singing. Died 10+ years ago but was an inspiration (good or bad depending on who you ask) for Garth Brooks. This will also be at the wedding but a great song in and of itself.

I went a week or two without a true country song so now you get four that at least have country influence/symbolism.

Smog – I Break Horses

I’ve been delving into Bill Callahans back catalog a fair amount as of late. I also am a sucker for anything involving the west/horses/cowboys. Top that off with a nice dose of breakup music and you have a song right up my alley and this is one such song. While not totally about breaking up it speaks to a person who has a number of one night stands/can’t keep a relationship. While I do not relate to this mentality in any regard I love the symbolic nature of a horse trainer here. You can also tell how well Callahan’s voice has aged over the last 10+ years.

Deer Tick – Little White Lies

This is a good song to follow up “I Break Horses” with. More heartbreak. While the last song might not have been heartbreak from the narrator’s perspective it was definitely there on some level with what was happening in the song. This is direct from the well worn pipes of the narrator, John McCauley. While still under 25 you can tell McCauley has really potential and fits well with the new breed of alt-country/indie-country stars such as Ryan Bingham. Alright, so that might just be for the voice and bad liver but so be it.

Heartland – I Loved Her First

My mom requested this song so that makes it the first official “mom selection” on the Friday Mix. I am still debating on if this is a good choice to post up here and be in the wedding. It’s very obviously a wedding song and one that they were intending to be a father/daughter dance. It’s very sappy and yet does have some level of sincerity from what I can gather on the first 30 listens I’ve given it this weekend. Listen objectively and tell me if this is something that I should have in there or if it is just waaaaay too much on the manufactured, pre-packaged crap side of music that proliferates modern country radio.

Clint Black – Summer’s Comin’

Speaking of modern country radio, I’m sure this song is being played on some radio station right now. Still, it was released prior to the current influx of crap on the radio and thus holds a level of nostalgia for me which is ultimately how I select most of the songs to round out my mix and fit in the “country” check box. Summer is coming and listening to Clint Black describe it I almost want to buy in and think about how great things will be the next two months. Ok, ok, they will be great but still, I want it a little cooler and can’t wait till the fall. (Maybe I should re-label this the song that lets me vent about my disdain for summer.)

Apparently most of Orange and Los Angeles County has been getting rain today, not Laguna Beach sadly. I was hoping for at least a nice dreary day before God kicks in and decides to increase the heat by 30 degrees for the next 3 months. Summer can’t end soon enough, mostly for the weather but also because of college football. Come on college football.

YACHT – Psychic City

Go ahead and download this since Jona Bechtolt (YACHT) likely used pirated software in creating it. (Ok, he’s likely fixed that problem now but it is still a good read on how not everyone is rolling in money in the software development industry.) Very summery hit on this one and one that has had me thinking of creating my annual summer mix cd. Sadly, this summer mix cd usually just gets played at the 4th of July and by the time I remember it again it is September. Still, since I mostly hate summer that isn’t such a bad thing as it means we are almost done with these next dreaded three months.

Portland Cello Project – Seeds May Fall (Featuring Justin Power)

8-16 cellos at any one time make up this ensemble. It’s a unique sound that I was initially curious about due to my roommate’s instrument of choice. The pop elements are there and I’ve found myself listening to this track specifically over and over the last week. The album it is from is also much more diverse than this song would tend to make you think. While I don’t hear all the various sounds one can make on a cello on this album there is enough to make it not just a novelty item. The album is out now digitally. The Thao and Justin Power Session.

Yann Tiersen – Guilty

From the Amelie soundtrack and this week’s wedding track. This sound just sounds like the ideal wedding song for what we are trying to do. The recorded static and old hi-fi sound is there and the “vintage” (for lack of a better word) sound of it is very much fitting.