30 Minute Weekend Playlist (5/1/2009)

Whoa! It's May! My thesis is almost done, summer's almost here, and I'm feeling okay. Bookending this week's playlist are two new Camera Obscura songs, the latter being total Beach Boys worship. I threw in a Dino Jr. song to get you psyched on their new record, coming out soon. If you're into all things heavy, check out that Eyehategod song from Dopesick. If you're into the spiritually heavy, there's "Giant Steps" by Coltrane. Learn the changes, and then revel in the simplicity of Guided By Voices's Tobin Sprout performing "Little Whirl" live.

30 Minute Weekend Playlist (4/10/09)

The last time I did one of these things was almost a year ago, so excuse me if I'm rusty. I wanted to review a couple records, but I can always get to that later. The first track is from Dan Deacon's new record Bromst. I like this guy's music and all, but certain songs rule so much more than others and this is one of them. Sometimes his jams make me feel like I'm locked inside the playgrounds for the under-5 crowd at Six Flags. "Blank Slate" is from The Virginia Ep and I believe it's the B-side to the Mistaken for Strangers single, but whatever. That Iron & Wine song is easily one of his best; it's from the Dark Was the Night LP that I've been spinning nonstop. It's one of those songs with a familiar melody and you're all like, he must have stolen that shit. If you don't know Antony & The Johnsons by now you better get outta town. He's been tearing it up for like 4 years at least. Vijay Iyer is a young pianist that plays with Rudresh Mahanthappa (remember when I blogged about him?). If you're into angular piano-jazz with f'd-up phrasing (and who isn't?), Vijay's your man. The other songs are incidentals that will help get your weekend rolling along smoothly. Will's running the marathon in Champaign tomorrow- I hope he doesn't listen to this playlist for inspiration. He should be listening to Terror.

30 Minute Weekend Playlist (4/18/08)

I lost my pedometer at Murphy’s yesterday, so this entry is a tribute to that. The Pedometer Challenge rages on without me, but do not worry, it’s still in my mind and heart. I’m counting steps in my head as I walk down the street. Believe that.

Check out the track listing, see what I did? Clever right? The list goes off with a classic Cannonball live cut. I dig what that guy says at the start of his records. Oh, to see him live. Total master. I was listening to that first Against Me! yesterday and taking in how good that thing was. In twenty years, people will still be listening to it. New Wave will be in the trash though! Speaking of songs that stand up with time, “Walking in the Rain” by the Ronettes does. I may be involved in the Pedometer Challenge with 200+ library employees, but I’m still out of step with the world. Hence the closer (and photo).

1. Cannonball Atterley – Walk Tall (Live)
2. Kanye West – Jesus Walks
3. The Dodos - Walking
4. October Fall – It Was Summer (Baby Steps)
5. Husker Du – One Step at a Time
6. Against Me! – Walking is Still Honest
7. The Ronettes – Walking in the Rain
8. Shipwreck – Walk in the Woods
9. Saturday Looks Good To Me – Keep Walking
10. Minor Threat – Out of Step (With the World)

Get it here!

30 Minute Weekend Playlist (4/11/08)

Welcome University of Illinois mothers to my blog! It’s Mom’s Weekend- a very special time for students to bond with their moms through alcohol and the Staysh. My mom’s not coming, but if she was, we’d definitely listen to my weekend playlist.

We’re not classy people, but we can listen to classy music. Jazz is classy. I’ve put on a song from Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus to bring the class up. It’s jazzy, hip, and in the groove. Didn’t Spoon rip off Mingus recently? The other song is from Sunday at the Village Vanguard by Bill Evans and his trio. The bassist died a few weeks (or days) after recording this record, and it’s pretty much legendary. So get into it (the groove).

I must also point out that this week’s playlist has two songs from Dodos. Dodos just put out a record called Visiter that is really cool. Figure out how to get a hold of that and let’s talk about it. Let’s work it out. Happy Friday, happy Mom’s Weekend, see ya’ll on Green St. Keep it classy Champaign, and if you can’t, pretend.

1. New Found Glory – Shadow
2. Clipse ft. Spanish Lee – We Got it 4 Cheap
3. Charles Mingus – Theme for Lester Young
4. Dodos – Park Song
5. The National – Brainy (Alternate)
6. Bill Evans Trio – My Romance (Take One)
7. Dodos - Undeclared

Get it here!

30 Minute Weekend Playlist (4/4/08)

Happy Friday loyal readers! It’s April, but who could tell judging from the weather? I wouldn’t be shocked if it started snowing sometime this week.

Spring Break is now a memory, and summer is nowhere in sight. The playlist kind of reflects this. I have been listening to a lot of the Talking Heads and Gang of Four. Their mechanical sound is perfect for dreary Spring weather. The new Panic at the Disco record is surprisingly good, and I have book ended the mix with songs from Pretty. Odd. Everyone is saying it sounds like the Beatles, and I agree. However, it sounds nothing like “Two of Us”. Good song either way. Catch you on the flip side!

1. Panic at the Disco – Do You Know What I’m Seeing?
2. The Format – Do You Believe in Magic (Lovin’ Spoonful Cover)
3. Brian Eno – Sky Saw
4. The Talking Heads – Crosseyed and Painless
5. Gang of Four – Natural’s Not in It
6. R.E.M. – Shaking Through
7. The Beatles – Two Of Us
8. Panic at the Disco – Nine in the Afternoon

Get it here!

30 Minute Weekend Playlist (3/28/08)

Long time, no weekend playlist! I’m sorry about that, but I did not want to post one over spring break. Speaking of, how was everyone’s break? I picked up some crucial vinyl over the past month, including: Alkaline Trio – Goddamnit Redux (Red/black out of 500), Panda Bear – Person Pitch LP, Dykehouse – Midrange LP, Blacklisted – Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God (Clear/green out of 200, record release), The National – Alligator LP, and Saves the Day – Under the Boards LP (Green out of 300) is in the mail.

Now that I have that out of the way, let me tell you about my playlist choices. We start with a great Chameleons song I found via Harsh Distractions (link to the right). This week is a sort of crash course on all things Robert Pollard. He is the lead singer of Guided by Voices and has a thriving solo career now that GBV broke up. With over 1000 songs to his name, he is quite prolific. Other bands on the mix include XO Skeletons, Electric Wizard, The National, and the Beach Boys. The last two songs are particularly exciting. McCoy Tyner is a fantastic jazz pianist that goes unnoticed in most music circles that I’m a part of. The last song is my new favorite from the Blacklisted LP. It is called “Wish.” Sorry, but this is from the leak, so the mix at the beginning is sloppy. The problem was handled on the LP, which you can order at Deathwish. Happy weekend everyone. Tell me how the Repos, PITF, WN, and others were. Try not to hate on MLIW too much, they’re a good band. Adios!

1. The Chameleons – The Fan and the Bellows
2. Robert Pollard – I’m a Strong Lion
3. The Beach Boys – Here Today
4. XO Skeletons – Asthmagasm
5. Electric Wizard – Satanic Rites of Drugula
6. The National – Fashion Coat
7. Guided By Voices – Game of Pricks
8. Robert Pollard – U.S. Mustard Company
9. McCoy Tyner – Impressions
10. Blacklisted – Wish

Get it here!

30 Minute Weekend Playlist (3/14/08)

Welcome back blogosphere! This edition of 30 Minute Playlist is brought to you courtesy of Spring Break! It’s here. I intend to relax in Downers Grove for the week and maybe drive out to a friend’s campus for good times. What do you intend to do? Are you even on Spring Break? Let’s hang out during the week; we’ll buy records or get lunch or drink alcohol. Sounds like a plan to me.

Naturally, the playlist has a lot of feel good jams in it. It starts out with Desmond Dekker’s ’69 classic, “Israelites.” If you don’t know, chances are you are not British. Youtube it. Marley’s oft-forgotten “So Much Things to Say” is next, followed by African musician, Fela Kuti. Driven to madness by Vampire Weekend, I naturally started listening to Paul Simon again. The Band of Horses song is a real winner. The playlist ends with a tune to cater to your inner parrothead. Fact or fiction: 4 Buffett tickets cost $407.35. I’ll put it out there and let you all decide.

1. Desmond Dekker – Israelites
2. Bob Marley – So Much Things to Say
3. Fela Kuti – Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake AM
4. Paul Simon – Graceland
5. Panda Bear – Untitled 1
6. Vampire Weekend – Campus
7. Band of Horses – No One’s Gonna Love You
8. Jimmy Buffett – He Went to Paris

30 Minute Weekend Playlist (3/7/08)

This is the first installment of my thirty minute playlist feature. I think it will be a smash hit on my fresh, up-and-coming blog!

The beginning of the playlist starts with some tunes that will get you all ready for Spring. Song five is from the Blacklisted leak and takes the playlist in a sinister, heavy, and noisy direction. This does not last long, however, as I ease the mix back into the smooth department at about 26 minutes. On the weekend, who has the time to listen to two hour mixes? Not me! The Starting Line song is there to provide evidence of their illustrious career as a band- a career that was put on indefinite hiatus this past week.

1. Vampire Weekend – A-Punk

2. Beatnik Termites – Red Haired Girl

3. El Guincho – Kalise

4. Beach House – Wedding Bell

5. Blacklisted – Circuit Breaker

6. Pulling Teeth – Stonethrowers

7. The Starting Line – Hello Houston

8. Logh – Note on Bathroom Mirror

9. Medeski, Martin, Scofield, and Wood – Julia

Remember: I am not going to host files for download. I assume my loyal reader(s) have some, if not all of the songs. I would be willing to send them somewhere else, but not in this blog. Maybe in person! Or on AIM! SN - Panther1215.