BLOGS!
MIXTAPE
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
My brain makes things up sometimes.
It's embarrassing.
Not only does it make things up, but it takes hold of the fabrications and runs all the way to the finish line with them.
Then, after I cross the finish line, I look back and realize that I was the only one running.
Schmuck.
This blog is the result of one of my fabrications.
A friend from Philly used to ask me to partake in her newspaper column called "Mixtape" - a cool, simple column that asks for your 10 favorite songs and a short explanation of why you love them.
I'm headed to Philly next month and she wrote me this morning, so I took 45 minutes to write up this little MIXTAPE session for her.
Turns out she doesn't work for that paper anymore. Hasn't for YEARS. She was writing just to say hello. I went back and re-read her email and realized that, well, my brain makes things up sometimes. IT's embarrassing.
So, being raised on the philosophy that 'nothing should be wasted", I bring to you my current MIXTAPE.
IF anyone writes for a paper, feel free to print this : )
Enjoy- and write your own for your friends!
1) Eef Barzelay's "Lose Big" off the record " Lose Big". ALthough Eef is
one of THE COOLEST lyricists out there, this song's melody is what is
addicting. It's one of those songs that people hate me for showing them
because it doesn't leave your head for months. Yes, months.
2) Leonard Cohen's "RECITATION" on 'Live from London'. I saw Leonard Cohen
in LA and was ready to be disappointed- not because i don't love him, but
because I expect the world from him, and who can really deliver the world?
Answer: Leonard Cohen can deliver the world. I was crying at some points-
really crying- and not because I'm such a sensitive guy- but because LC's
presence was positively shattering. The 'porn aristocrat' line is my fav.
3) "PRAY" by Clem Snide from the record HUNGRY BIRD. These guys never fail
to deliver AT LEAST one epic-two-chord-bukowski-esque monster on each
record. AT LEAST one. listen and love.
4)Harry Belafonte's "Scarlett Ribbons". IF God had a voice and a mother
from Jamaica, he would probably sing Harry Belafonte songs all day. This
ballad has lyrics that are truly heartbreaking, but also the sweetest,
warmest most tender vocal you may ever hear. Shut off your cell phone and
play it loud.
5) "Say a Lot" by Buddy from his record 'Alterations and Repairs'. Buddy
is a friend and a local Indie artist here in LA. This record is a
masterpiece. If you're a fan of Radiohead (and, honestly, who would have
audacity to say they're NOT a fan of Radiohead), take listen.
6) "You Taught my Heart to sing" Houston Person and Bill Charlap from
their record "You Taught my Heart to Sing". This whole record is just
saxophone and piano. I heard this song first on a jazz station while
driving through Baltimore. I lost reception before the end of the song and
didn't know who it was. When I finally got back to LA I looked up the
station and the exact time I was listening and found the record. Then I
called all the music stores in town to see who had it. I wound up driving
55 minutes to grab the last copy. Simply put, it's beautiful.
7) "So Rich, So Pretty" by Mickey Avalon. So dirty. So wrong. Why can't I
stop listening?
8) Nick Drake's "From the morning" off of Pink Moon. About once a year I
listen to Pink moon- usually about 3 times in a row, and usually driving
around on a weekend afternoon. THis is the last song on that record. IT
hits a very tender chord in my being for some reason- I don't know why. I
used to try and figure out why, but then I stopped. It sounds even better
now that i stopped.
9) Randy Newman "The World Isn't Fair" from his songbook record.
Seriously, only Randy Newman can make a political comment on Communism
using 'meet-the-teacher" night and fit it all into a song that's 3 minutes
long. He is the best songwriter there is.
10) Thelonius Monk's "Locomotive" from the record 'Straight, No Chaser'.
IF a piano can ever sound like a train, Thelonius Monk is probably driving
it.
The fist tattoo I ever got was of T. MOnk, and the first Monk song I ever
heard was 'Locomotive'. Like most things worthwhile- it's mean and
difficult, but in a beautiful way.
It's embarrassing.
Not only does it make things up, but it takes hold of the fabrications and runs all the way to the finish line with them.
Then, after I cross the finish line, I look back and realize that I was the only one running.
Schmuck.
This blog is the result of one of my fabrications.
A friend from Philly used to ask me to partake in her newspaper column called "Mixtape" - a cool, simple column that asks for your 10 favorite songs and a short explanation of why you love them.
I'm headed to Philly next month and she wrote me this morning, so I took 45 minutes to write up this little MIXTAPE session for her.
Turns out she doesn't work for that paper anymore. Hasn't for YEARS. She was writing just to say hello. I went back and re-read her email and realized that, well, my brain makes things up sometimes. IT's embarrassing.
So, being raised on the philosophy that 'nothing should be wasted", I bring to you my current MIXTAPE.
IF anyone writes for a paper, feel free to print this : )
Enjoy- and write your own for your friends!
1) Eef Barzelay's "Lose Big" off the record " Lose Big". ALthough Eef is
one of THE COOLEST lyricists out there, this song's melody is what is
addicting. It's one of those songs that people hate me for showing them
because it doesn't leave your head for months. Yes, months.
2) Leonard Cohen's "RECITATION" on 'Live from London'. I saw Leonard Cohen
in LA and was ready to be disappointed- not because i don't love him, but
because I expect the world from him, and who can really deliver the world?
Answer: Leonard Cohen can deliver the world. I was crying at some points-
really crying- and not because I'm such a sensitive guy- but because LC's
presence was positively shattering. The 'porn aristocrat' line is my fav.
3) "PRAY" by Clem Snide from the record HUNGRY BIRD. These guys never fail
to deliver AT LEAST one epic-two-chord-bukowski-esque monster on each
record. AT LEAST one. listen and love.
4)Harry Belafonte's "Scarlett Ribbons". IF God had a voice and a mother
from Jamaica, he would probably sing Harry Belafonte songs all day. This
ballad has lyrics that are truly heartbreaking, but also the sweetest,
warmest most tender vocal you may ever hear. Shut off your cell phone and
play it loud.
5) "Say a Lot" by Buddy from his record 'Alterations and Repairs'. Buddy
is a friend and a local Indie artist here in LA. This record is a
masterpiece. If you're a fan of Radiohead (and, honestly, who would have
audacity to say they're NOT a fan of Radiohead), take listen.
6) "You Taught my Heart to sing" Houston Person and Bill Charlap from
their record "You Taught my Heart to Sing". This whole record is just
saxophone and piano. I heard this song first on a jazz station while
driving through Baltimore. I lost reception before the end of the song and
didn't know who it was. When I finally got back to LA I looked up the
station and the exact time I was listening and found the record. Then I
called all the music stores in town to see who had it. I wound up driving
55 minutes to grab the last copy. Simply put, it's beautiful.
7) "So Rich, So Pretty" by Mickey Avalon. So dirty. So wrong. Why can't I
stop listening?
8) Nick Drake's "From the morning" off of Pink Moon. About once a year I
listen to Pink moon- usually about 3 times in a row, and usually driving
around on a weekend afternoon. THis is the last song on that record. IT
hits a very tender chord in my being for some reason- I don't know why. I
used to try and figure out why, but then I stopped. It sounds even better
now that i stopped.
9) Randy Newman "The World Isn't Fair" from his songbook record.
Seriously, only Randy Newman can make a political comment on Communism
using 'meet-the-teacher" night and fit it all into a song that's 3 minutes
long. He is the best songwriter there is.
10) Thelonius Monk's "Locomotive" from the record 'Straight, No Chaser'.
IF a piano can ever sound like a train, Thelonius Monk is probably driving
it.
The fist tattoo I ever got was of T. MOnk, and the first Monk song I ever
heard was 'Locomotive'. Like most things worthwhile- it's mean and
difficult, but in a beautiful way.
