05/21/2007
Mix Disc Monday Home / Music Home / Bullz-Eye Home
Roll out, roll out for the mystery tour. Well, it’s not a mystery, but this week’s selection of songs will definitely take us places. From the east coast, to the west…Dear God, I’ve never hated John Mellencamp as much as I do right now.
Since half the journey takes place in the
US and Canada, we’re splitting this up into sides,
winding up in the Far East. Hope you like sushi.
Side One: North America
"Wichita," The Jayhawks (Hollywood
Town Hall)
Funny to think that there was once a time
when the Jayhawks were tagged as Black Crowes knockoffs.
Does anyone even miss the Black Crowes? Not as
much as I miss the Jayhawks, I’m willing to wager.
Please come back soon, Gary.
"Wascana," The Waltons (Cock’s Crow)
When someone asks you what the last great
Billy Joel song was, play ‘em this folk-pop ditty
from one of Saskatchewan’s finest, and see if they
bite.
"Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues," Todd
Snider (Songs for the Daily Planet)
Ah, the hidden track. That’s what Todd Snider’s
biggest taste of success was: a hidden track. My
question: why on earth would anyone hide a song
as funny and as spot-on as this satire of Seattle
in the early ‘90s? "Space needle. Eddie Vedder.
Mud ‘n honey!"
"Brooklyn-Queens," 3rd Bass
(The Cactus Album)
The late ‘80s may have been a dark time
for pop, but it was a spectacular time for hip hop.
Streeeeeetch, boooooiiiiiiing.
"Texarkana," R.E.M. (Out of Time)
Remember when Mike Mills actually played
a significant part in R.E.M.’s songs? Truth be
told, I much prefer "Near Wild Heaven" over this,
but I wanted include cities on Earth, despite Belinda
Carlisle’s claims to the contrary.
"Hollywood," World Party (Bang!)
Wouldn’t she? I don’t care if he’s only
recorded two new songs in the last seven years:
Karl Wallinger’s one of the coolest guys in rock.
"Cleveland Rocks," Ian Hunter (You’re
Never Alone with a Schizophrenic)
It is as sad fact that, of the handful of
kids (I define "kids" as anyone under 30) who actually
know this song, most of them will tell you that
it was written by the Presidents of the United
States of America. Sigh.
"LA," Elliott Smith (Figure 8)
This is how I choose to remember Elliott Smith:
upbeat. I’m still mad as hell at him for checking
out like that, but songs like this soften the blow
a little.
Side Two: London and beyond
There is a world out there, and while we could have spent this entire second side panicking on the streets of London, we decided to spend only a few days in Merry Ole England before hitting the road.
"Guns of Brixton," The Clash (London
Calling)
It is an unwritten law that all bass players
must know how to play "Money," "Jungle Boogie," and
this.
"Battersea," Hooverphonic (Blue Wonder
Powder Milk)
I actually learned me a little geography
the first time I heard this. Hooverphonic soon turned
into a wimpy little synth-pop band, but this, which
is like Massive Attack doing drum ‘n bass, is just
stunning.
"Rumble in Brighton," Stray Cats (Built
for Speed)
History has diminished just how kickass
the Stray Cats’ breakthrough album was. There was
much more to these guys than "Rock This Town," that’s
for sure.
"London Loves," Blur (Parklife)
David Bowie is surely still trying to figure
out how to sue them over this song.
"Vienna," Ultravox (Vienna)
Boom. Boom boo-boom. Ka-Kaaaang. Is there
a more signature electronic percussion track than
this? If there is, well, it means nothing to me.
"Night Boat to Cairo," Madness (One
Step Beyond…)
The opening note is the greatest saxophone
sound in the history of recorded music. The rest
of the song is pretty awesome, too.
"Tokyo Expressway," Fluid Ounces (The
Whole Shebang)
Seth Timbs is a poor man’s Ben Folds, only without
the snark and general crotchetyness. You have to
love a song with a chorus of "There was a party
everywhere I went tonight / And that was all right."
That is all right, indeed.