May 2011

This month’s mix is almost exclusively music I’ve been jamming over the past month or so. One-third of this stuff is hot off the presses even! Even for digging into a lot of recent acquisitions, I feel this mix is a totally classic collection; I will even personally guarantee you will fall in love with at least five of these songs, no matter who you are. Yes, that is a challenge, and if you want to respond the only submissions I will accept is in mix form.

May 2011 Mix

1. The Deep Freeze Mice – Minstrel Radio Yoghurt (Teenage Head in My Refrigerator, 1981)
   These guys are my new favorite band. This track opened up their debut LP, however this version (of increased quality) is actually found on a reissue of their second LP. I don’t know why there were armadillos in Radio 1 to begin with, but I bet John Peel was pissed.


2. The Monks – Shut Up (Black Monk Time, 1966)
   The Monks were a group of anti-war American GIs stationed in Germany in the 1960’s. After being discharged from the military, they stuck around Germany for a while and recorded Black Monk Time there, which is probably the first punk rock record. Also, some say it’s probably the first Krautrock record, go figure.


3. The UV Race – Burn That Cat (Homo, 2011)
   The liner notes to this record state that this track is about a dream where a cop stops the singer and tries to plant cocaine on him. Somehow, the cop turns into a cat, and the singer takes him home and throws him in the fire. Musically, this whole record has everything I love: unforeseen sax solos, male/female split vocals, absurdist lyrics, and that wonderful Australian accent. I would let them stay on my couch.


4. Magazine – I Love You, You Big Dummy (Give Me Everything 7”, 1978)
   Magazine has always been another one of those bands that I know I’m supposed to like, but I can’t manage to make them click. I mean, Real Life is a cool record and all, but I never really get the urge to listen to it. During one attempt I tried listening to some early 7”s and that’s where I stumbled onto this song, the b-side on the Give Me Everything 7” from ’78. If every Magazine track was this good, I’d be their biggest fan. Don’t listen to this one at full volume in the office.


5. Los Dug Dug’s – Lost in My World (Dug Dug’s, 1971)
   Los Dug Dug’s were apparently one of the first Mexican bands ever to sing in English. It was a real game changer at the time for a lot of bands, and they ended up living in Mexico City where they were widely popular. The first two records were recently reissued and are both well worth your time.


6. Hairy Chapter – You’ve Got to Follow This Masquerade (Can’t Get Through, 1971)
   I cut the opening 40 seconds of this track; it was a bass only intro that went on for way too long and contained too few notes. Plus, you need to get to the meat of Hairy Chapter as soon as possible. Since they are from Germany in 1971 they get classified as a Krautrock band, but this is really some of the finest proto-metal in my collection, right up there with Flower Traveling Band. Yeah, I went there.


7. Mars Classroom – New Theory (New Theory of Everything, 2011)
   Mars Classroom is Robert Pollard and Gary Waleik (formerly of Volcano Suns and Big Dipper). Every once in a while I get real tired of trying to keep with the amount of mediocre material Pollard shits out in the course of a year, but this is the kind of track that inspires me to keep wading through it. A modern classic, if you will.


8. Times New Viking – No Room to Live (Dancer Equired, 2011)
   After releasing two records on Matador with decreasing production value (but increased pop sensibilities), Times New Viking waited to finally enter a real studio until their Merge debut. Don’t misunderstand that tidbit, it’s not like they went into Abbey Road, but anything is a stretch for a band that sent Matador the masters of their last LP on a VHS tape. Thankfully, the production value is increased only enough to let the hooks shine through.


9. Bombino – Tenere (Agadez, 2011)
   So we’ve covered three continents worth of music so far, now we’re on to number four: Africa! You might be familiar with Bombino already, as he is the leader of Group Bombino, who put out a killer LP a few years back. This is his latest solo affair, and it stands as another shining document of the Agadez music scene. I believe he is touring the world this summer as well, so keep a look out.


10. Ooga Boogas – Sentimental Stranger (Sentimental Stranger 7”, 2010)
    The second Australian band this month, Ooga Boogas share the same guitarist as Eddy Current Suppression Ring. You won’t find ECSR’s witty lyrics and catchy post punk riffs, no - this track is the yin to ECSR’s yang. This would probably be a great song to listen to on a beach during a sunset, possibly while driving off into said sunset, or something.


11. Tobin Sprout – Toaster (Popstram 7”, 1996)
    This has become one of my favorite songs ever in the last month. I apologize in advance for getting it stuck in your head for the next 2-3 weeks.


12. The Halo Benders – Will Work for Food (God Don’t Make No Junk, 1994)
    The Halo Benders are Doug Martsch and Calvin Johnson. I have never liked any of Calvin’s work, not even a little bit, but even I have to admit that God Don’t Make No Junk is a pretty flawless album. Maybe next month I’ll be talking about my new found love for beat happening and sending out invites for sleepovers.


13. The Twilight Singers – Gunshots (Dynamite Steps, 2011)
    Ballads. You either can hang or you can’t. If you can’t, you might as well fast forward a little bit. If you stick around, then I should mention that I can’t hide my love for Mr. Dulli, despite our tumultuous relationship. This track should win an award for best build-up of 2011, as pretty much the whole song is one long progression to the final chorus, well before the closing remarks.


14. Esben and the Witch – Marching Song (Violet Cries, 2011)
    Man, some days I really wish that instead of listening to a bunch of crappy punk bands when I was a teenage, that I donned an all black outfit and went goth instead. Not that it would have helped by social standing in suburbia at all, but at least I’d feel like less of a poseur when I am falling in love with every new remotely goth-sounding band in 2011.


15. This Kind of Punishment – Don’t Go (In the Same Room, 1987)
    Peter Jefferies is one of my top five favorite Kiwis, so it’s no surprise to say I listen to This Kind of Punishment a lot. This record is surprisingly relentless for a Flying Nun release, even in the labels early incarnation. Peter’s solo work is highly recommended, and his brother (the other half of the band) went on to play in an act called The Cakekitchen, who are worth a couple of tracks.


16. Vex – World in Action (Sanctuary, 1984)
    This is one of those songs that the first time I heard it I swore it was a cover. It’s not, at least as far as I can tell. Vex had the weird place in history of recording one 12”, playing a bunch of shows with anarcho-punk bands, and somehow sounding like Killing Joke.


17. Rema-Rema – Rema Rema (Wheel in the Roses, 1980)
    I have a Big Black live set where they cover this track, and Albini intros it by offering a cookie to anyone who can name the cover. He goes as far as to mockingly joke to the crowd, “I bet only four people in this whole room have ever heard this song.” A slightly interesting challenge, as Rema-Rema only released one EP, but on 4AD, so it had to have decent distribution, right? Anyway, the other point to note is that the guitarist went on to join Adam and the Ants. Good move? Your call.

Next month: more of the same!