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Another Cool Mix CD

Since my initial one was such a big hit, I've decided to post my own follow-up to my own mix tape. Aren't I special?

The truth is I'm heavy in the grind of finals, and I need a distraction to decompress after an all night study session (Not technically all night, it is a quarter to four as I type this).

Below's a list of songs and artist, all listened to heavily during this academic year (2000-2001). Underneath is album name, and a description too, so you can get an idea what kind of music it is and whether you'll like it or not. You will notice a lot of weird tracks, and unusual songs, that is because a bunch of these are from Napster, or just friends sending me files. A lot of these (Including the tv show themes) are tough to actually purchase, so you might wish to seek alternative means of acquiring them.

The Mix CD From Hell

1)It's a Long Road by Dan Hill
From Soundtrack to the Motion Picture First Blood
--I like to set the mood on these sorts of endeavors. As such, I try to pick first songs that kinda get you in the mood, musical foreplay I suppose. This song is highly cheesy, and fun to laugh at, but the idea here is that this cd is way to go, and "each step is only the beginning" (According to good ol' Dan). My roommate this year, Ted, introduced me to the Rambo series of films, and we laughed at them in a big way. The theme from the first film only hurts matters, by being a prime example of quasi-macho 80s wuss ballads. All tender aching and notes that are out of the guy's vocal range. And yes, he really does use the words "I'll tell ya" in the song.

2)My Little Red Book by Love
From Soundtrack to the Motion Picture High Fidelity
--This is the second song played over the closing credits of HF (After Stevie Wonder's "I Believe"), and when we first screened it on campus, it got the whole Cinema Board jumping around the empty theater like a bunch of hopped up nutjobs (Half right anyway). Turns out it isn't actually on the soundtrack, but that is what I know it from, so that is what I include it under. The song is psychedelic rock with a bit of a hard rock edge to it, pounding guitars and angry vocals. And a great beat.

3)Mercy Mercy Me by Marvin Gaye
From What's Goin' On
--Another song that I first heard through Pete. Marvin Gaye is famous for how sexy his songs are, but this one is all about how crappy we are letting our planet become. Not exactly the best track to "get it on" to, but man does he have a gorgeous voice. And the sax solo is right on the money.

4)Theme From the Television Program Danger Mouse
--Danger Mouse is a little bit of Mattnostalgia. It's a cartoon about a British super-spy mouse who's got a dorky sidekick and a one-eyed lizard (Wow, I never realized the sexual reference until just now) for an arch-nemesis. I used to watch it on Nickelodeon all the time. Along with Bananaman, a big favorite from when I was real little, we're talking like five or six. And it's still a catchy theme song.

5)The Body Says No by The New Pornographers
From Mass Romantic
--I read about these guys in Rolling Stone, where their cd got a review of four stars. I downloaded a couple of songs to see if it was worth buying, and low and behold it was, this awesome mix of power pop and punk, kind of like The Pixies and The Hang Ups joining forces. Anyway, I've been looking all over for this cd, and nobody but nobody has it. As of this writing I still cannot find it. I've looked in probably ten cd stores at this point and none have had it. Oh well, my quest continues.

6)Faraway (Acoustic) by Supergrass
A non-album b-side track.
--The original version of "Faraway" appears on Supergrass' latest, self-titled cd (And a fine cd it is). This version, I'm not quite sure if it's a b-side or an unreleased demo, but it is quite simply, beautiful. Slower, with more acoustic guitars, the song just seems a lot prettier when it's laid back and easy going with no percussion. I love the two-minute outro with lines like "Well what does it matter?/I'm lost in space./I'm just another loser in the human race."

7)Jaime by Weezer
A non-album b-side track.
--Several people I know have made CD-Rs entirely of Weezer rarities, b-sides, and live tracks. And it's for a good reason; these guys have some great b-side songs. I don't quite understand why they make 10 song albums and then let gems like this fall between the cracks. This song reminds me of something else, but I still can't figure out what. Typical Weezer, crunching guitars with harmony vocals (And a pop "Wooo-ooo-ooo" refrain), but the somber tone places it more towards Pinkerton style than The Blue Album. Rivers Cuomo always sounds sincere when he sings, here he sounds like he's so happy to be with Jaime that it's practically breaking his heart.

8)Now You're A Man by DVDA
From Orgazmo
--Okay, DVDA is who this song is attributed to, but really, it's by Trey Parker, one of the masterminds behind South Park. This track is from the movie Orgazmo, and it's a hilarious send-up of the "It's a Long Road" genre, power ballads. This one sounds like a mix between Spinal Tap and "Eye of the Tiger."

9)Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations
From Soundtrack to the Motion Picture There's Something About Mary
--This one needs no explanation. What a wonderful song. Whenever I go to Cosmo's, the pizza dive by school, I play this on the jukebox. And without fail, the whole place quietly sings along.

10)Fiddler's Green by The Tragically Hip
From Road Apples
--Tragically Hip's a Canadian band (now defunct actually) who can often sound like REM, and I'm not a huge REM fan. Not here though; just a guy with guitar accompaniment. A slow, quiet, very pretty ballad. Mellow, mellow, mellow. Mixing up the moods on this CD, you see. Hence the "mix" concept.

11)Baby Hold On by Eddie Money
From The Sound of Money
--Oh boy, here's a guilty pleasure. From the man who brought you "Take Me Home Tonight" and "Two Tickets to Paradise." I don't know why, I've always liked this song. Simple, but sincere I suppose. Although I can't for the life of me figure out why the title is "Baby Hold On" when the full line is "Baby Hold On To Me." There's no breath in the middle of the two parts when he sings it...why the weird sounding name? It makes it sound like the song's about roller coasters or something.

12)I Can't Get Through To Myself by David Gray
From White Ladder (British Version Only)
--If you know me, then you know my feelings on White Ladder. So imagine my dismay when I learn that the original European release has a hidden track that's not available on the US version. Well I hunted it down. It's a nice little track, the fact that it's missing certainly doesn't ruin the album, but it's still cool. David Gray by way of Sheryl Crow.

13)Now or Never by Duncan Sheik
From...honestly, I have no clue
--Duncan Sheik's an interesting character. In critical circles, he'd probably be something of a one-hit wonder, grouped in with the likes of J. Geils Band or Dexy's Midnight Runners. Yet his albums are wonderful; great range of moods, sounds, and really great vocals. So random Napster searching found me this track. It's not any of his albums, and I don't know much about his b-sides, so who knows what it's from. But it's a great track, both bouncy and smooth at the same time.

14)You Get What You Give by The New Radicals
From Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too
--I don't know anything about these guys. That one hit wonder thing I was talking about up there? That's definitely going on on this track. Dig this song, haven't heard another peep out of these gents. They really remind me of Supergrass in this song.

15)My Music At Work by The Tragically Hip
From My Music At Work
The other track I really like from these guys. Very different from Fiddler's Green, this one's straight rock. But some cute lyrics, and I like the lead singer's voice as well. Makes me want to write music.

16)Where's Bob Dylan When You Need Him? by John Oszajca
From From There To Here
--A recommendation from a friend who thought if I liked David Gray and Pete Yorn, I might like this guy. And I like this song, kind of funk-rock, with a bit of BNL lyrics and rhythms splashed in.

17)Birdman Kicked My Ass by Wesley Willis
From Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
--Wesley Willis, is a psychizophrenic who writes repetitive monotonous songs that all sound alike and feature long boring keyboard solos. This song is about how Birdman kicks his ass (Hence the title "Birdman Kicked My Ass"). You KNOW you want to hear this right now. And I don't blame you.

18)I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow by The Soggy Bottom Boys
From Soundtrack to the Motion Picture O Brother Where Art Thou?
--It's a catchy tune, for all the silliness surrounding it in the film. I don't like this arrangement quite as much, all the extra fiddles and instruments kind of detract from the 4 guys and a guitar vibe that I really liked in the original movie. But I still love the answering harmonies.

19)Mister Tambourine Man by William Shatner
From absolutely nothing
--You really haven't lived until you've heard William Shatner doing a bizarre spoken word rendition of a Bob Dylan classic. He grunts, he yells, he...pauses!

20)Have A Nice Day by Stereophonics
From Just Enough Education to Perform
--Now this is a happy track. Just look at the title! This cd just came out a few weeks ago, I like to listen to this song before I go to class, really helps put a positive spin on things. The guy in Stereophonics has a weird voice, but he works it nicely here. And the "ba-ba-bas" are awesome.

21)Suzanne by Weezer
From Soundtrack to the film Mallrats
--How does a song this good get relegated to the soundtrack of a movie that practically no one saw? It's a crime. Weezer has tons of great songs, but this one might be my favorite. The harmony on the first line is not typical, but it sounds amazing. Sappy love songs never sounded so rockin. And Suzanne is the perfect capper to just about any tape or mix cd, so here it is. And you'll notice its the only track on both my mix tape, and the CD. And occupying the same position no less. Definitely one of my top 5 records.