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We recently had Metric Week on DiS because we love them so much. They're also due to play our Great Escape stage tonight, so ahead of that show Emily, Jimmy and Josh have compiled a mixtape each. This is a bit of a bumper edition, for y'all.
Emily
Beastie Boys - 'Hey Ladies'
Nobody but the Beastie Boys can make a heckle sound like an invitation to the best party in NYC. I just moved back to New York and bought Paul's Boutique on vinyl straight away. It sounds so good blaring out onto the street through an open window on a sunny day. Bring the Beasties back this summer, to hell with the rest.
Fleetwood Mac - 'The Green Manalishi'
I have a complicated relationship with Fleetwood Mac. Like, when Lindsay Buckingham sings "What Makes You Think You're the One", I am overcome with murderous rage. I cannot stand that man's voice. But then the chanting starts and the horns kick in on "Tusk" and all is forgiven. "The Green Manalishi" is Peter's legacy from the band's early years. It is one of the most bad-ass and serious tracks about a dangerously hot woman out there. Play it loud and piss off your neighbors.
Black Mountain - 'Wucan'
Black Mountain are from Vancouver. People in Toronto like to make fun of people in Vancouver because they seem to be always ready for a ski. Either that or they are hopeless junkies, slinking around in the rain. Such extremes! Black Mountain represents a more manageable Vancouver, the kind of Vancouver we can get into, one where the West Coast hippie kids get together with the metal kids to host an after party for us in their uncle's garage. Someone lights a joint and the conversation turns to the rights of First Nations people in Canada who are fighting to get back some of the land that was stolen from them. Quality atmosphere.
Wolf Parade - 'Kissing The Beehive'
I know the general consensus has been that the overall Wolf Parade glow has been somewhat dulled by various side projects but I disagree. This song is an ambitious stab at a new genre: Indie-Prog! I love the endless chord changes and the emotional venom in the lyrics: "I wish I could believe in who you are/ You held your cock in the air and you called it a guitar". Boy fight!
Syd Barrett - 'Golden Hair'- Syd Barrett
Convinced your flat is haunted? Hallucinating? Entertaining suicide fantasies? Perhaps this is because you have been listening to "Golden Hair" on repeat ever since she broke up with you. Stop looking at yourself in the bathroom mirror and get some sleep.
Caribou - 'Niobe'
The softest dance track ever written. Even on headphones it sounds like it is pulsing through the walls from some distant room. The whole album, "Andorra", is an electro masterpiece on par with releases from Boards of Canada or Underworld. What's more, seeing Caribou play live is like taking a master class in 1960's modernism, all clean lines and restraint. "Niobe" is long, layered and suspenseful. I could go on about Caribou all day. Listen to this when you have some crap radio song stuck in your head that is making you hate music. Caribou will cure you. It will simultaneously excite and relax you. I love this song. I really love this song.
The Zombies - 'A Rose for Emily'
When I'm feeling sorry for myself this one always snaps me out of it. He keeps singing "Emily, Emily, Emily" over and over to the point that I get sick of hearing my name. The whole vibe is like, Poor Emily, she spent her life growing roses for other people and waiting for someone to bring her a rose of her own but they never did, and then she died and all her roses died and still no one brought her a fucking rose, not even for her grave. Brutal!
Townes Van Zandt - 'Waiting Around To Die'
Speaking of bleak futures, Townes Van Zandt endures an entire nightmarish lifetime-- drink, drugs and jail-- and sums up in 2 minutes and 43 seconds of gruesome, cinematic detail. Makes my solo record sound like Hannah Montana by comparison.
Thom Yorke - 'Black Swan'
Do you ever get the feeling people are purposely looking for ways to not like Thom Yorke even though they are in fact massive fans? Pretending Radiohead doesn't rule does not make your band sound any better, sorry. Just suck it up and accept that they are schooling us all.
Sparklehorse - 'Pig'
Check out this lyric: "I want to be a stupid and shallow motherfucker now/ I want to be a tough skinned bitch but I don't know how". Poetry whispered by an angel. Sigh.
As all but one of Emily's tracks are on Spotify, we've created a playlist for it. Access that here.
Jimmy
Bon Iver - 'Re: Stacks'
Sometimes you have to take a bath. And sometimes you have to bring a stereo into the bathroom and listen to this while you're taking that bath. But don't light candles and fall asleep. And easy with the scented oils.
Rolling Stones - 'Exile On Main St.' (the whole record)
I set up a turntable because my friend left all of his DJ records at my house for a year and a half. It's the only non hip hop record, which is funny because at the time, all they were doing was trying to sound black. Either way, the record's warped and sounds awesome.
Flash Lightnin' - (A record yet to be named)
Im producing a record right now for a band called Flash Lightnin, and its what you do after you listen to exile, a lot, and get sad that no one makes records like that any more, and then decide to just go and do it yourself.
Bloom - Brian Eno
Bloom is an iPhone application that makes you sound like an awesome hippie at a piano in space. I know it's not a band or anything but it is on my iPod and I do listen to it so as far as I'm concerned it counts and it's the only way to get through long flights and waits while travelling. I don't wanna say take a tylenol 3 and let it roll, but take a tylenol 3, or 4, and let it roll.
Talk Talk - 'Laughing Stock'
My friend Kevin, who introduced me to this record, I'll quote in saying"this record is one the best human recordings ever made" I think that's well put. Amazing soulful one mic style jam, from the folks who brought you the real version of its my life.
Devendra Banhart - 'Seahorse'
I so wish my hair would grow longer.
The Abyssinians - 'Jah Loves'
Because Jah does love, if you doubt that you got issues and you should listen to jah when jah is speaking to you. And if hes not speaking to you then your not in the right place.
The Two Koreas - The Sessions EP
These guys are local heroes of mine. Most members are actually music journalists but they get together, under the cover of night, sporting patent white leather shoes and rock your face off while you're not looking. Gives me hope for music and all things unplanned.
Franz Ferdinand - 'Ulysees'
Its just a great song. It makes me wanna do a shot, steal a car, win at blackjack, chill on a boat, crash a house party, you know all the good stuff . And the video pretty much rules too. Yay Franz.
Django Reinhardt - The Best Of
I've been spending a lot of time in Paris lately and its the most I can do to feel like a Parisian. The attitude and the Foulard seem like a bit much so Django is where I draw my line.
Joshua
N.B - Please play in random order
No Age - 'Teen Creeps'
This is the tune you turn on, turn up, rock out, drive fast, and punch hard to. Then go out and have a blast.
Gui Boratto - 'No Turning Back'
Dance track extra special spicy mix.
Animal Collective - 'My Girls'
Best vocal "ooooh" performance, come on, you really feel that one hit.
The Equals - 'Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boys'
OK remember Eddie Grant - 'Electric Avenue'. Yes, I am talking about that amazing '80s classic. This is his old band from the '60s and damn, they killed it with this one. Your boy or girl will dance with you for this one, just play it loud.
Midlake - 'Roscoe'
Seriously 3 chord magic. Plus they are Texans, which rules if you ask me.
John Lee Hooker - 'Burnin' Hell'
Because he is bad ass and deserves it. And so do we.
Lightning Bolt - 'Assassins'
Look, sometimes I really like to get hardcore and scare myself and those around me.
Miles Davis - Nefertiti (the album)
Here is how you do it. Get yourself a copy of 2001: A Space Odyssey and put this on with the volume down. Play the Miles album and repeat for two days straight. I did.
Selda - 'Vaylalar'
One: she's from Turkey. Two: nobody will know she is talking hardcore political revolutionary talk. Three: what is that instrument? So good.
This Heat - 'Health and Efficiency'
Educate yourself, because your punk band actually does suck.
