Category: Music

Here we go again, another mixtape for you.

Here’s a track that was used as the closing credits music for HBO’s True Blood a couple of episodes back. The season was hit-and-miss (although, I’ve gotta tell ya, the over-the-top camp of the King of Mississippi was its saving grace), but the music was usually pretty solid. This particular track is by Eels, from the album Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire: Eels – “Fresh Blood.”

For me, the sign of a great remix is one where you can take a great song, completely change the overall sound and feel of the track, and have it still be great. This remix of the brilliant Janelle Monae definitely qualifies, transforming retro-60s James Brown soul into an electronic dance track: Janelle Monae (ft. Big Boi): “Tightrope (Mr. Nice Guy remix).”

A brief message for the Tea Party types who are making electoral gains in this country, courtesy of Woody Guthrie via Billy Bragg and Wilco: Billy Bragg and Wilco – “All You Fascists.” And no, I’m not Godwinning here. I don’t use that term lightly — if you’re at all intellectually curious, you should look into what these people actually believe, what they say, and how the label applies. Elections have consequences, Progressives. Get off your asses.

Saw Scott Pilgrim and liked it (not perhaps as “OMG AWESOME” as some are making it out to be, but fun). The music was good — especially this track, used in the film as the concert opener performed by Envy Adams and her band, The Clash At Demonhead. In reality, it’s by Metric — who are equally awesome, but lacking a bassist with Vegan superpowers. Metric – “Black Sheep.”

This was a free track given away earlier this month by the Americana Music Association on Amazon, as part of their Americana Music Awards Sampler. A great bit Western balladeering by a Canadian with the best name for a backing band EVER: Corb Lund & the Hurtin’ Albertans – “The Devil’s Best Dress.”

Staying on the border-town angle for a bit, here’s a great piece of music by Robert Rodriguez’ band, used in Grindhouse. The band’s debut release, Mexican Spaghetti Western, has been re-released on iTunes, adding this track as well as several the band did for the latest film, Machete. Well worth picking up. Chingon – “Cherry’s Dance of Death.”

And lastly, a nice bit of blues/country/rock that forms the theme for FX’s Suns of Anarchy, my favorite Hamlet-on-motorcycles family crime drama. Curt Stigers – “This Life (Theme from “Sons of Anarchy”).”

There you go, kids. Enjoy!

It’s been ages since I’ve done one of these, and I was reminded of it recently by Chuck Wendig. So, here we are again.

For a fairly large part of this summer, I was listening to the new self-titled solo album from Slash. Pretty much every member of Guns n’ Roses (with the obvious exception of Axl Rose) played on this album, along with a long list of guests (usually providing vocals). Two of my favorite tracks:

• The lead-off single from the album, featuring vocals by The Cult’s Ian Astbury: Slash – “Ghost (feat. Ian Astbury).”
• One of the two songs featuring Slash’s touring vocalist, Myles Kennedy — this one is a good old-fashioned epic power ballad, which, to be honest, I’m kinda surprised that I like so much, since I’m not a huge fan of the form. Slash – “Starlight (feat. Myles Kennedy).”

I am a huge fan, however, if remixes that turn metal tracks into dancefloor stompers, such as this amazing bit of work from Bassnectar, reworking a Metallica track. Makes you want to MOVE: Metallica – “Seek Destroy (Bassnectar Remix).”

Found out about this one from Tessa Gratton, who pointed me in the direction of the amazing Young-James-Brown-reborn-as-a Gorgeous-Woman music video. Janelle Monae is a Kansas City native who does retro-tinged dance-soul-funk. So, basically, The Noisettes meets Sharon Jones meets Mark Ronson meets Outkast (literally in the last case, as Big Boi guests on this track). Even more basically: exactly the sort of stuff I love. Janelle Monae – “Tightrope (feat. Big Boi).”

For my wife Laura: Her favorite song from Jessica Rabbit. I didn’t realize this, but the vocals for this track were performed by Amy Irving. Yes, THAT Amy Irving — the actress. I had no idea she could sing! I wonder if she was considered for the voice of Jessica before they got Kathleen Turner… Jessica Rabbit (vocals by Amy Irving) – “Why Don’t You Do Right.”

Very nice bit of circa-2006 electronica, which I discovered via the backing track for the CG reel of a freelancer that I was looking at for one of the transmedia properties I’m working on. Hyper – “Cascade.”

My favorite track from Kasabian’s latest album, which I’ve also been wearing out through constant play over the past couple of months: Kasabian – “Underdog.”

So there we go. I’ll try to get this back on a weekly schedule. Enjoy!