Follow-Up To The Mix

Glad you liked it! It was nice to hear your comments about the transitions between some of the songs.

Now..to acknowledge, answer, address, and/or respond to some of your comments.

Some Are: Very interesting, very different possible take on the song. Man - when I hear it - I mostly hear sleigh bells, but Sailors is certainly a possibility. Interesting connection to Immigrant song. Yes, fell voices Gandalf. "Very interesting and quite arresting as a kick off." Great!

That's The Way: I, too, am fully on the LZ appreciation train. AND YES! To echo again a comment made here by you, but also on Volume 1 by you: the whole EVIL Heavy Metal Band thing. Possibly the most misunderstood band of all time. So what if Page practiced the dark arts in his home. That was on his OWN time.

A Most Peculiar Man: Drink Deep is all that I can say (and Dan! see Drink Deep by Hylton)

Caroline Says II: Interesting bit about moods in music.

Photograph: this was a close call. Because I almost used Photograph by Nickelback - but that would have completely ruined the album feel that I was shooting for and would have made everybody, including myself, throw up all over their respective blocks.

Thinking About You: If I didn't mention it before - I meant to. This album was purchased at the continued urges of Mr. Mixdorf. He has many, bodily urges.


The End of the Spoon: I agree with the Dave Matthews band comments. They have made beautiful music and they have made boring music and they have made too much music. They do have some gems, though. Often they sacrifice melody and song craft for improv and jamming.

Interesting thought about this being a bookend for Some Are. I thought about it as an ending, but I really wanted to show these songs in a different light. Give them different neighbors, atmosphere - and this one - did end 'Streets' so I placed it elsewhere.


We Live Again: I had some beans the other day. Beck would be proud of the 'new fangled wasteland' that I created in my gym shorts.


Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You: This song had to end it. For me - there was no other choice - plus I really thought it was odd that this song was number two on their debut. It had to end something.

Left you breathless and wanting more, adrift with sleigh bells in the snow...how wonderfully poignant.

Thanks for the comments and Happy New Year Everybody!

Mix and The Poignant Santa (CMC Volume 4)

Poignant would seem to be an understatement, with a collection that runs the gamut from indecipherable yet haunting, to abusive, to untimely deaths, but with a few uplifting messages in there to keep Santa from opening his veins.

This has been an easier collection to review for obvious reasons; knowing 7 of the 10 songs fairly well makes for a comfortable listen, and knowing the musical mind (as much as one can) of Mighty Tom helps to fit the pieces together a little more tightly. Many hours spent staring idly as a cd spins in any of several devices and our minds engaged in little else.

My first run through this was on the way to the airport to pick up Faith after her week in California. Nearly the perfect distance and time for this album to complete its trajectory. What struck me almost immediately was the way the songs merged into one another. While perhaps not perfect, there is a remarkable instrumental/musical overlap between many of the songs on this collection. From one to the next they blend together quite well. At first I thought perhaps this alone was the theme or thread that tied them together. This was before the 'liner notes' were provided, and even before I was certain who a couple of the songs were by. Further listens, reading of MT's comments and of the lyrics has shown a different sort of connection.

Mighty Tom really pulled out all the stops for his introduction to the songs on the first half of this collection. He seems to have lost some steam as he rounded them out, perhaps pressed for time in his fleeting glimpses of the internet, or perhaps simply because he was tired from so much typing. Whatever the reason, an excellent batch of introductory comments.

And now on to the good stuff.....

1. Some Are - David Bowie
I can almost hear MT's 'sleigh bells and snow' but given that the rest of the lyrics seem to be right from my internet search, I'm going to say it's 'sailors in snow', still wintery, but definitely more haunting and odd as befits the song.

I sort of see this as the cousin of "Immigrant Song' by Led Zeppelin (also LZ III-see track 2). "They came from the land of the ice and snow where midnight sun and the hot springs glow....drive their ships to new lands...." These are the sailors in the snow, with calloused hands, some of whom are certainly bound to fail.

A very haunting song, with strange sounds (fell voices on the air?) in the background and that somber synthesizer/piano. I could see this song on the soundtrack to Clockwork Orange. It wouldn't make me run out to buy more David Bowie by itself, but I found it very interesting and quite arresting as a kick off.

2. That's the Way - Led Zeppelin
Boy. I am fully on the LZ appreciation train and this song gives me no reason to do anything but finish the journey. In addition to the usual stellar musical skill, this song is a remarkable lyrical tour-de-force. Such delicate and subtle stand against doing things as they've always been done. Just because mama says that's the way it's gonna stay doesn't make it right. You can see threads of environmental activism (fish in the dirty water dying) to race relations (darker side of town) from a band that to my knowledge never was known to be activist in any way.

It also continues my bewilderment that Led Zeppelin was a) 'heavy metal' and b) subversive or dangerous or whatever else may have been thought of them. It's hard to imagine a band playing a song like this worshipping the devil.

Just a lovely tune, and my admiration for it has grown immensely.

3. Most Peculiar Man - Simon and Garfunkel
Most of all the things that made S&G great, most notably Paul's amazing song writing and guitar playing, and also some of the great harmonizing that you expect, but with lyrics that are not exactly what you'd expect. They certainly had plenty of songs that were touched with sadness and somewhat haunting, but the matter-of-fact way that this subject is treated in this song, along with the generally upbeat arrangement really throws you for a loop. If you're not really paying attention you could easily be fooled into thinking the song was about something else entirely.

Paul really has/had an amazing ability at lyrical phrasing. Some of the deftness in the lyrics to this song and how they're bent to fit the requirements of the tune, but also the needs of the mood. 'Within a house, within a room, within himself.' Remarkable.

I was not familiar with this song, having really only ever heard greatest hits albums from S&G, but it is another gem. I really should drink more deeply from the S&G trough.

4. Caroline Says II - The Velvet Underground
Lou's manner of 'singing' is not for everyone, and his choice of subject matter is often so dark and to the point as to force you to deal with realities you may not wish to deal with. Magic and Loss is a very tough listen for that very reason, much consideration of death and dying and grieving - again, not for everyone. New York is a much happier album, one that is filled with great 'ditties', including Last Great American Whale ("as his painter friend Ronald says, stick a fork in their ass and turn them over. They're done").

I know this song from a greatest hits album of The Velvet Underground and haven't heard it as part of an album, until perhaps now?

I agree that music about depressing subjects is not necessarily a downer, otherwise both the blues and country music would have died out long ago. Listening to someone sing about, and by extension, thinking about sad or depressing things can be part of the healing process. Even if it makes you cry, that might be a good thing, and ultimately leave you in a better mood. And if you've never experienced the things the person is singing about but can feel empathy towards the singer perhaps it leaves you feeling better about your own place in the world. Or if you have, knowing that other people have felt like you feel helps you to take comfort that you are not alone, a very heartwarming idea.

If only this song featured Nico! Her soothing Teutonic inflections could have taken the part of Caroline.

Whatever it is about that studio in Berlin where this and DB's album were recorded, it definitely brings about a mood, and that mood was found and subverted quite nicely on Achtung Baby.

5. Photograph - Ringo Starr
I'm going to get some jeers for this, but when this first came on I thought it was the beginning of a Neil Diamond song. The arrangement is very similar to those used on a couple of Neil Diamond songs, particularly everything up to the point that Ringo starts to sing. Once past that, it's just a really good song with some lovely lyrics and that feel-good sense that you expect from Ringo, who seems to have never had a bad word for anyone. It would certainly fit with the Paul/Ringo - John/George conception of The Beatles. Paul and Ringo are so nice, spending time with them might have driven me to Yoko too.

6. Thorn in My Side - Eurythmics
I do love Annie Lennox's voice, as I have said before. The subtle uniqueness of her voice allows her to sing without the need for tremors or vibrato or any of the other crap that 'great' female singers often have to resort to (think of Maria Carey or even Whitney Houston). Her voice is remarkably pure and wonderful to my ears.

Lyrically, it's a fun little romp, so jaunty and happy sounding that you'd hardly guess that this was some sort of break-up song. This a song that holds up to time pretty well too, with little in it that screams 80's, unlike so many songs from that era. It's generally a straight ahead rock/pop song without much in the way of synthesizer or other weirdness. The sax solo is perhaps a little 80's, but the drums and the guitar would be happy in any recent era, at least to my ears.

7. Thinking About You - Radiohead
From an album by a band that Faith was way ahead of the curve on, and one that I tried to get MT to listen to for years. Pablo Honey was the source of Creep, the one Radiohead song that everyone in college during our era knew. It's a far more straight ahead rock album than anything they've done since (even more so than The Bends, although it's close), but it's filled with great tracks, including Creep (both uncut and radio edit). To my ears, they've not had a bad album.

I love this song, and have since the first time I heard it. Simple, elegant and wonderful. And as is apropos of this collection - remarkably poignant.

8. the end of the "Spoon" - Dave Matthews Band
I like Dave Matthews, though perhaps not as much as I once did. Under the Table and Dreaming was a great album, and very unexpected. Crash was really good as well, but it seems that his albums since then have been too much more of the same for my ears. He is a remarkable guitarist. He moves his hands on the guitar in ways that I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone play guitar. His chord changes seem to be extraordinarily deft.

MT's selection of this portion of a larger song - at least as far as I can make out, it's part of the song 'Spoon' though separated by a rather long silence - is an interesting move. Does it open the door to a new world of 'sampling' or even editing songs together? Probably not from me, but I will certainly be interested to hear from the others on this.

By itself it's a pleasant little tune, and perhaps could have been the bookend for Some Are, at least lyrically, but maybe also sonically. It has a certain spareness to it, though it tends to be more organic, with its liberal use of 'real' instrumentation (I'm a sucker for banjo particularly). The two are 'of a kind' as they say. Dare I say this might have been track 10?

9. We Live Again - Beck
Beck is also a very skilled lyricist, but in a very different way than the previously discussed Paul Simon. In this song he's working with what is essentially free verse, other than perhaps the chorus, but yet it goes together so well that you think you may be hearing them rhyme anyway. How do you make a pop song without rhymes? Hell if I know, and few have tried, probably for good reason. I doubt most could make it sound as luscious as this.

Big fan.

10. Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You - Led Zeppelin
Holy crap! This song blew my mind. Until I got that boxed set that MT mentions, I really had only heard IV and bits and pieces of Physical Grafitti and some others. I had never heard this, and it hit me like a freight train. This may be my favorite LZ song of all time, or at worst in the top 3. This song has everything that made them great, from the most delicate guitars to the explosion of sound and the unrepentent zeal in Robert Plant's voice - what more could you ask of a song. It's asking you for forgiveness and telling you to go to hell. It's drawing you in close and then clubbing you into unconsciousness.

Hard to express more love for this song than that. And keep in mind, this was the second song on their FIRST album - a 6+ minute ballad/epic that never had a snowball's chance to see radio airplay. FIRST album! Holy shit indeed.

Strange though, this song seems the most out of place on this collection to me, and I don't really feel like this is a song to end an album. It leaves me breathless and wanting more, and with no more to follow, leaves me adrift, like a sailor in snow....with no one to callout to....and so, doomed to fail....

more later.....?

Volume V

Volume five is mixed. All that I have to do is burn the CD's, create the cover, and mail it. I will be mailing it in early January. It was a difficult task for me to come up with a theme, but once that first one comes into your head more slowly creep up. I just want to thank everyone in the CMC for mixing great albums and sending them out. I really appreciate the quality of music that I am receiving.

Lyric Fun

Thanks Pat!

Some Are: I have wondered and have read differing accounts on what these lyrics actually are,

What was the source of your find?

I thought..

Sleigh bells and snow
cinder colour blazing eyes
some are bound to fail

or maybe

some about to fail


Interesting!

CMC Volume 4 - Lyrics

Not sure if Mighty Tom was planning on providing these, so to satisfy my own curiosity, I tracked them down. Thank you Google.

1 -“Some Are – David Bowie”

Sailors in snow
Send a callout raising hands
Some are bound to fail
Some are winter sun, ah

Sailors in snow
Send a callout rasing hands
Some are bound to fail
Some are winter sun, ah

2 - “That’s the Way” – Led Zeppelin

I don't know how I'm gonna tell you, I can't play with you no more,
I don't know how I'm gonna do what mama told me, My friend, the boy next door.
I can't believe what people saying, You're gonna let your hair hang down,
I'm satisfied to sit here working all day long, You're in the darker side of town.

And when I'm out I see you walking, Why don't your eyes see me,
Could it be you've found another game to play, What did mama say to me.

*That's The Way, Oh, That's The Way it ought to be,
Yeah, yeah, mama say That's The Way it ought to stay.

And yesterday I saw you standing by the river,
And weren't those tears that filled your eyes,
And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying,
Had they got you hypnotized?

And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers,
But all that lives is born to die.
And so I say to you that nothing really matters,
And all you do is stand and cry.

I don't know what to say about it,
When all you ears have turned away,
But now's the time to look and look again at what you see,
Is that the way it ought to stay?

That's the way... That's the way it oughtta be
Oh don't you know now, Mama said.. that's the way it's gonna stay, yeah.

3 - “A Most Peculiar Man” – Simon and Garfunkel

He was a most peculiar man.
That’s what mrs. riordan said and she should know;
She lived upstairs from him
She said he was a most peculiar man.

He was a most peculiar man.
He lived all alone within a house,
Within a room, within himself,
A most peculiar man.

He had no friends, he seldom spoke
And no one in turn ever spoke to him,
’cause he wasn’t friendly and he didn’t care
And he wasn’t like them.
Oh, no! he was a most peculiar man.

He died last saturday.
He turned on the gas and he went to sleep
With the windows closed so he’d never wake up
To his silent world and his tiny room;
And mrs. riordan says he has a brother somewhere
Who should be notified soon.
And all the people said, what a shame that he’s dead,
But wasn’t he a most peculiar man?

4 - “Caroline Says II” – The Velvet Underground

Caroline says
As she gets up off the floor
Why is it that you beat me
It isn’t any fun

Caroline says
As she makes up her eyes
You ought to learn more about yourself
Think more than just i

But she’s not afraid to die
All her friends call her alaska
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her

What is in her mind
What is in her mind

Caroline says
As she gets up from the floor
You can hit me all you want to
But I don’t love you anymore

Caroline says
While biting her lip
Life is meant to be more than this
And this is a bum trip

But she’s not afraid to die
All her friends call her alaska
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her

What is in her mind
What is in her mind

She put her fist through the window pane
It was such a funny feeling

It’s so cold in alaska
It’s so cold in alaska
It’s so cold in Alaska

5 - “Photograph” – Ringo Starr

Ev'ry time i see your face,
It reminds me of the places we used to go.
But all i got is a photograph
And i realise you're not coming back anymore.

I thought i'd make it the day you went away,
But i can't make it
Till you come home again to stay-yi-yay-yi-yay.

I can't get used to living here,
While my heart is broke, my tears i cried for you.
I want you here to have and hold,
As the years go by and we grow old and grey.

Now you're expecting me to live without you,
But that's not something that i'm looking forward to.

I can't get used to living here,
While my heart is broke, my tears i cried for you.
I want you here to have and hold,
As the years go by and we grow old and grey.

Ev'ry time i see your face,
It reminds me of the places we used to go.
But all i got is a photograph
And i realise you're not coming back anymore.

Ev'ry time i see your face,
It reminds me of the places we used to go.
But all i got is a photograph
And i realise you're not coming back anymore.

Ev'ry time i see your face,
It reminds me of the places we used to go.
But all i got is a photograph
And i realise you're not.

6 - “Thorn in My Side” - Eurythmics

You gave me such a bad time
tried to hurt me, but now I know...

Thorn in my side.
You know that's all you ever were.
A bundle of lies.
You know that's all that it was worth...
I should have known better
But I trusted you at first.
I should have known better
But I got what I deserved...

To run away from you
Was all that I could do.
To run away from you
Was all that I could do.

Thorn in my side.
You know that's all you'll ever be.
So don't think you know better
'Cause that's what you mean to me...
I was feeling complicated.
I was feeling low.
Now everytime I think of you
I shiver to the bone...

7 - “Thinking About You” – Radiohead

Been thinking about you
Your records are here
Your eyes are on my wall
Your teeth are over there
But I'm still no one
And you're my star
What do you care?

Been thinking about you
And there's no rest
Should I still love you
Still see you in bed
But I'm playing with myself
What do you care?
When the other men are far far better

All the things you've got
All the things you need
Who bought you cigarettes
Who bribed the company to come and see you honey?

I've been thinking about you
So how can you sleep
These people aren't your friends
They're paid to kiss your feet
They don't know what I know
And why should you care
When I'm not there

Been thinking about you
And there's no rest
Should I still love you
Still see you in bed
But I'm playing with myself
What do you care?
When the other men are far far better

All the things you've got
She'll never need
All the things you've got
I've bled and I'd bleed to please you

Been thinking about you..

8 - The end of the “Spoon” – Dave Matthews Band

Come in from the cold for a while
Everything will be alright
Come in from the noise for a time
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright

For now, goodbye, friend,
Goodbye.

9 - “We Live Again” – Beck

These withered hands have dug for a dream
Sifted through sand and leftover nightmares
Over the hill, a desolate wind
Turns shit to gold and blows my soul crazy

The end, oh, the end
We live again
Oh, I grow weary of the end

Oh, hungry days in the footsteps of fools
Gazing alone through sex-painted windows
Dredging the night, drunk libertines
Stink like colognes from a new-fangled wasteland

The end, oh, the end
We live again
Oh, I grow weary of the end

Love is a plague in a mix-match parade
Where the castaways look so deranged
When will children learn to let their wildernesses burn
And love will be new, never cold and vacant

These withered hands have dug for a dream
Sifted through sand and leftover nightmares

The end, oh, the end
We live again
Oh, I grow weary of the end

10 - “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” – Led Zeppelin

Babe, baby, baby, I’m gonna leave you.
I said baby, you know I’m gonna leave you.
I’ll leave you when the summertime,
Leave you when the summertime comes arollin’
Leave you when the summer comes along.

Baby, baby, I don’t wanna leave you,
I ain’t jokin’ woman, I got to ramble.
Oh, yeah, baby, baby, I won’t be there,
Really got to ramble.
I can hear it callin’ me the way it used to do,
I can hear it callin’ me back home.

I know, I never leave you, baby.
But I got to go away from this place, I’ve got to quit you.
Ooh, baby,
Baby, ooh don’t you hear it callin’?
Woman, woman, I know, I know it’s good to have you back again
And I know that one day baby, it’s really gonna grow, yes it is.
We gonna go walkin’ through the park every day.
Hear what I say, every day.
Baby, it’s really growin’, you made me happy when the skies were grey.
But now I’ve got to go away
Baby, baby, baby, baby
That’s when it’s callin’ me
That’s when it’s callin’ me back home...

The Poignant Santa - CMC V. 4

A great vat lay at the edge of the backyard. I have paid it many visits, introducing to it countless formulae and ingredients. Suspense grew as a weed.

So many possibilities. So many combinations. Fully capable of being, but not yet in existence. Then, on one visit, I thought I saw a solidifying ripple run from one end of the vat to the other. I strained my eyes in the moonlight to be sure, but the gentle movement of a deer broke my concentration. I would have to wait until daylight.

As the last of the leaves fluttered down for the season, the coalescence finally occurred.

Ten deeply affecting songs delivered to you.


The Poignant Santa

1. Some Are: David Bowie. This was a bonus track from the album: Low, 1977. The CD is from a 1991 release that I purchased around 1994. Mark Anderson turned me on to ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth’ (starring David Bowie) and other somewhat obscure David Bowie albums and projects during our stay on Johnson Street. As far as I know there is no connection to the songs on ‘Low’ and the movie, ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth’ aside from the fact that the cover of the album comes from a modified photo from the movie, a side shot of Bowie against an orange, stormy background. When I was starved for some new Bowie – the cover must have caught my eye. As much Bowie as I have heard and as much as I love David Bowie – I only own two CDs, the other being Changesbowie.

‘Low’ popped up early on as a potential good source for a song for this still evolving compilation. There is some debate as to what exactly he is saying, but there is no mistaking the first line, “Sleigh bells and snow…” and so I thought it would be a wonderful start to this compilation – the most Decemberish line on the CD.

‘Low’ is part of Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy, along with Heroes and Lodger, a trilogy that saw Bowie really developing his synthesizer pop instincts. In the early mid-70s Bowie’s first marriage ended and he had developed a fairly serious drug addiction so he packed up and moved to Berlin to live with Iggy Pop to “clean up.” So, for all you parents out there, if your child starts to stray down the wrong path - Don’t Worry! Send them to Iggy Pop’s Clean Up program in Berlin!

According to the liner notes, Some Are, was recorded between 1976 and 1979 and mixed in 1991. The only credits given are to Eno and Bowie. The other songs feature a whole lot of Eno, Iggy Pop vocal on one song, and some Bowie session musician staples. This must have been one fun album to record. I love the picture of Bowie and Eno sitting in the studio just CRACKING up! RCA was horrified when they first heard ‘Low’ but let it slide – mostly because of Sound and Vision, which I’m sure most of you have heard or have heard about – it’s from ‘Low.’ The only other song that I have heard on the radio was ‘Be My Wife.’ Excellent album! Great instrumentals. Unique. Evidently the Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, and Talk Talk all have cited ‘Low’ as a major influence and source of inspiration.

A playful scene with kids playing in the snow, but lurking by the merry-go-round, a synthesizer-armed David Bowie foretelling their possible dooms:

“Some are bound to fail”…

Fail in life? Or will one of the blades beneath the sled fail? – causing an accident, an especially poignant wondering for me.

This song serves as a bit of orientation for Volume Four. Very few lyrics and spare, synthesizer rich instrumentation with David’s ethereal voice singing the stanza once at the beginning and again at the end, after the instrumental section. Listen for the voices that can be heard throughout the song and the subtle increase in intensity when the second singing of the stanza occurs, complete with an eerie choir, swooshes of sound, and a percussive bouncing sound.


2. That’s The Way: Led Zeppelin. From the album: Led Zeppelin III, 1970. This song is a wrench. The moment the acoustic guitars start up I am transported to a poignant state of mind. I love the arrangement, the altered tuning, and the use of the electric guitar. An English Country Folk song of sorts that barely contains itself at times. So much emotion riding underneath that is let out only slowly through the thorough work out of all the guitars and guitar parts.

My favorite line:
“and yesterday I saw you standing by the river, and weren’t those tears that filled your eyes, and all the fish that lay in dirty water dying, had they got you hypnotized”

Robert Plant’s voice is spellbinding. This recording is masterful and another example of the high level of art that Led Zeppelin achieved as song writers and recording artists.

On No Quarter: Page & Plant Unledded, 1994 – another version of That’s The Way is available that is worth checking out. Not nearly as good as the original recording, but for fans of the song – it may be worth a listen or two. It lets go a little more.

During many of their shows, at least 1970-1973 or so, That’s The Way was often featured as one of the songs they would perform sitting down on chairs. Likely to give their amazing drummer a bit of rest – though it seemed he never really needed one.

Dan and I were hanging out at Camden Coffee enjoying some hanging out time and good coffee when the acoustic duo we were listening to struck up with ‘That’s the Way.” Do you remember?


3. A Most Peculiar Man: Simon & Garfunkel. From the album: Sounds of Silence, 1966. A gentle folk rock song that dealt with heavy subject matter. Through the pretty and perfect harmonies of S&G and Simon’s caressive acoustic guitar you find words talking about a man sick with loneliness. “He died last Saturday…” by shutting his windows and turning the gas on – sung with such a soft treatment. This really struck me in the basement on Easton Avenue. It profoundly affected my consciousness and I have been in love with the song ever since. Perhaps the most poignant moment in the song is when the neighbor mentions the brother “who should be notified soon.”

Dan discussed Kathy’s Song in Volume Two and covered the English Stay of S&G and the adding of drums, bass, and other instruments to their arrangements. I’ll just add that S&G was criticized for sounding like something they were not. Some crazy cross between Folk Rock and English Folk Music, but alas – it almost became who they actually were! I love The Sounds of Silence and I think the arrangements pushed them to where they needed to go before their second, excellent release.





4. Caroline Says II: Lou Reed. From the album: Berlin, 1973. Doomed lovers. Drug addiction. Mental and physical abuse and neglect. The bludgeoning goes on and on.

Lyrically going underground and literally staying there.

Thinking about the suicide rates around Christmas time and people who are hit, I decided that an album of poignant songs should be built around Caroline Says II. You hardly have to go any further than, “Caroline Says, as she gets up off the floor, why is it that you beat me, it isn’t any fun, Caroline Says, as she makes up her eye…” make up on her eye – a sort of self-care, but still hiding on two levels, but still going on – living, if barely.

Golly. For a middle-class kid from the Midwest, Berlin was mind-blowing. Mark Anderson turned me on to Berlin in 1993. He had it on LP and I bought it on CD at a joint in downtown Minneapolis. It remains my favorite Lou Reed album and one of my favorite albums of all time. The first time I remember hearing Lou Reed was as a freshman in college, Great American Whale, off a Green Peace compilation album and I can distinctly remember hearing Mixdorf trying to explain to me who this Lou Reed was. “He kind of talks…” I borrowed Magic and Loss from Mixdorf and possibly New York as well while in college. I definitely owned Transformer before Berlin because I remember getting off track with a girl at ISU because I was speaking about Lou Reed and she was talking about Lou from Foreigner – yikes.

Velvet Underground fans may recognize Caroline Says II as a re-worked Stephanie Says. Journey fans may recognize Aynsley Dunbar working the drums.

Yes – there is a Caroline Says I on Berlin and it too is an excellent song.

A powerful song. Great words. Excellent arrangement. I especially like the piano and percussion when she puts her fist through the windowpane. A fantastic album! The pictures in the liner notes are haunting.

Berlin. This must be some city. Drawing the likes of Bowie, U2, Reed, and of course - Iggy Pop. Probably countless others. Maybe they were just trying to unravel musical secrets from the band ‘Berlin?’

Getting Down with dance music? No, just Getting Down with Lou Reed.

Wrong!

It isn’t about getting down with music at all. In fact – I do not think that this is possible. It is more likely that you would get depressed listening to the new J-Lo song that might be about happy children petting puppies than a song that you love that deals with heavy or depressing subject matter. Why would you LOVE a song because it brought you down or made you depressed? You wouldn’t. When I hear Caroline Says II I do not get down in the dumps. It is interesting – when I want a pick-me-up I will often reach for Velvet Underground albums or Reed’s Berlin! I would love to see some discussion on this.

5. Photograph: Ringo Starr. From the album: Ringo, 1973. Ringo Starr kicks Nickelback’s ass when it comes to songs called Photograph. Ringo’s Photograph is the very definition of poignant.

A spectacular song. Written by Ringo and George Harrison. Sweeping and rousing. It actually reached number one in the charts. Originally from the album ‘Ringo’ – this copy comes via the compilation CD Blast From Your Past released in 1976. I love Blast From Your Past.

Photograph is like one four-minute excellent chorus that never gets old or tired. Complete with Beatle-like stereo blinking, horns, piano, strings, harmony, sax solo – this song has got it all. Ringo’s voice was born for songs like this and the planets were in perfect alignment for the writing and recording of this masterstroke.



6. Thorn In My Side: Eurythmics. From the album: Revenge, 1986. This version comes to you via their Greatest Hits release in 1991. I love this song. One of my favorites from the Eurythmics. Catchy yet poignant, of course. A more 60ish approach to songs than found on previous albums. What really makes the song is her voice. She has one of my favorite voices of all time. She is doing some outstanding harmonies. I really enjoy the vocal arrangement and the build-up to the chorus. She’s doing quite a bit vocally in this song and every ounce of it is delicious. A baby-boomer once said, “she has such a nice figure, why ruin it with the hair.” Ahhhhh figures and hair!

7. Thinking About You: Radiohead. From the album: Pablo Honey,1993. A simple little song with a nice little instrumental break and Thom’s voice front and center. His voice is poignant by nature. I like the touch of accordion. Radiohead’s subject matter can be tricky to sort out – the exception may be the songs from this first album. I love Radiohead as a band. They have a passion, which is out of this world.

8. The End of the Spoon: Dave Matthews Band. From the album: Before These Crowded Streets, 1998. I have always adored this little bit of music. This very same theme can be heard at the end of The Last Stop, from the same album. This bit was lopped off from the song Spoon. The music is poignant in and of itself, but the words are possibly beyond poignant. You are beckoned, come in from the cold, come in from the noise, everything will be all right for now…then Goodbye Friend……wow. Come in now – it’s OK to die now, it’ll be all right.


9. We Live Again: Beck. From the album: Mutations, 1998. Mutations, the unofficial follow-up to Odelay that became official because it is such a GREAT ALBUM! VERY different from Odelay and I think that, along with label issues, caused the confusion.

Beck’s “new fangled wasteland” would be something to behold. And for the Foresters, “When will children learn to let their wildernesses burn?”

The poignancy of We Live Again is the weariness. The driving harpsichord, the constant rebirth. Oh, here comes another ‘end.’ The early worries about the ecological impact of reincarnation.

10. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You: Led Zeppelin. From the album: Led Zeppelin, 1969. This song was originally the second song on Led Zeppelin’s debut album. Here, the song closes out the album. I’m not sure why it was originally chosen as the number two song. It has such a perfect ending.

This song begins folksy and then evaporates, but just before it disappears it launches into some intense rocking. Pummeling.

A superb, extraordinary vocal performance. Titillating. Hear it calling him at 1:41-1:42. Plant powerfully conveys the extreme poignancy and conflict of the lyric.

Great guitars, as usual. And just imagine them sitting around. Page wonders, “what about a Spanish Bit here.”

I’ve received some heavy-duty sprinkles listening to this song. I love the chord descent and hope to play it live one day.

Mixdorf is a big fan of this song and it was from his famous Led Zeppelin Boxed Set that I first recall hearing this song. Again the craftsmanship of the band is on full display.

Breaking One of Dan's Rules...

Just to piss him off. Actually, no, this post is relevant. I've created a new blog, The Annex, as a companion of sorts to the Coalescent Musical Co-op. No doubt we are each going to have music related things we want to share that don't have anything to do with the current CMC selection. In fact this has already happened. Now we have a place for those posts. Let me know if everyone thinks this is a good idea, and I will send out the team invitations, or if no one is interested, I will delete the blog.

ps Has anyone else noticed that Blogger's spell check blows? It doesn't know "blog" or "Blogger," and when I typed "witht" it did not offer "with" as a suggestion.

Wrap It Up

General Thoughts:

As everyone noted there is a fairly consistent feel to the music, and as Pat put it "an odd incestuousness." Dan noted that showcasing different styles would have been welcome. Well, it is my collection bitches, so deal with it. Actually, the main reason for all of this is that these are the bands with whom I am most familiar, partly because of the incestuousness. I don't go out that often, so my introduction to these bands has come from their relationships with one another.


1. The Hopefuls: “Holiday,” The Fuses Refuse to Burn

Yes Mighty Tom they changed their name following a cease and disist from the USOC.

Interesting that Dan thinks Jackson's voice sounds small-time, while MT thinks it is a great voice for rock and pop. I for one love Jackson's voice. I like the hand claps, and the elements that are introduced at the points that MT mentions. I love the lyrics, and think it is just super tight all around.


2. Quillan Roe: “The Buckeye Tree,” ...These First Few Months

Seems to be liked all around. Pat makes an interesting point on the rhyming. When I hear the "ee" sounds I think "I should hate that," but I don't.

Again just a simple song with some great elements (female vocal, harmonica, etc.).


3. Mike Brady: “Man the Swirl of Color,” As Long as the Day is Long

You guys seem to have a love/hate/ambivalent thing for Mike Brady. The love: MT's favorite lyrics on the disk; one of Pat's favorites, though some of the rhythmic elements bother him; while these rhythmic elements appeal to Dan on this "neat art-pop" song. I think you are talking about the triplets on the drums.

4. Accident Clearinghouse: “The One That Got Away,” Written in Rope

Everyone seems to enjoy the lyrics, which are part of why I like this one so much. Nothing ground-breaking, but well done, and, as I said, it makes me want to learn to two step. Dan calls it a novelty. I'm not sure what exactly constitutes a novelty, but more on that later.


5. The Ashtray Hearts: “The One You’re Closest To,” Old Numbers

Mixed reaction here. It does plod, but in a way that I really dig. Dan is on to something about the style being good for an entire album, because that is the case here. I also love the harmonic changes, and Like MT love the guitar solo. I don't think anyone else's voice would work nearly as well for the Hearts.

6. The Owls: “City Girl,” Apartment Music Sampler

Not much to be said here, generally well liked. That is all.


7. Accident Clearinghouse: “Mike’s Country Song,” Volume 1: Saginaw Sweetheart

Now the Mike Brady hate. OK, nobody said they hated it, but it does seem to be the least favorite across the board. True, no new ground covered here, and it is fairly short. I wonder if I approach this song from a different angle than the other members. I think I reject the idea that this one is a novelty (i'll give you Joey, but i am still not sure what I would call a novelty, and if that even invalidates a song). Pat mentions that it seems to be an "ungerminated seed of an idea." I see it as compete idea, short and sweet. I don't think something short and simple is any less valid that something grand and/or innovative musically. I hope that this doesn't sound like I am being defensive, because I am not, simply stating where I am coming from on this song.


8. Spurcut Factory Rider: “Neutral Angel Of Fargo,” One Last Time For The Record

Doesn't do much for Pat. Dan likes it, to my surprise. Pat loves it, to his surprise, so much so that it earns BS.


9. Florida: “Little Sunrise,” Drum Solo on the Bumpers

This one brings the ambivalence for Mike Brady. No one gets too excited. MT likes part of the guitar, but thinks that it may be overdone. I see your point, but I dig it for some reason. In spite of liking it "OK," it represents an album Dan would like to explore further.


10. Kid Dakota: “Ten Thousand Lakes,” The West is the Future

Another one that I expected Dan to not like, but again I am wrong. Overall one of the favorites. I too love the piano, and other instrumentation. Not sure about the whole "taper" thing.


Bonus. Accident Clearinghouse: “Griddle-Cake Joey,” By Blood And Marriage

Not much to say here, except that I was unaware of the whole "shrimp" thing. Funny. I should mention that in addition to seeing Cory in this, I also envision a mustachioed Hylton as the judge at the County Fair Pancake Eating Contest, wearing his round glasses, a striped shirt with a vest, bow-tie, and one of those barber shop quartet hats.

SIWHI/BS:

44 was excluded, because we are all familiar with the works of that legendary quartet, and I wanted to expose myself you to something that was new to you (I had forgotten that I had exposed Mighty Tom to the works of Mr. Jackson. I hope that if you continue to enjoy the disks, you will pony up and purchase legal copies). Same goes for the big names Like the Jayhawks and Mr. Zimmerman. BTW Dan, Ryan Adams is not from Minnesota, and neither is Neil Schon.

In retrospect, I think I would have chosen "Drain the Sea" by The Hopefuls, it was a tough choice between the two. I also considered "Motobike" to add a different voice. I also considered a different Florida song to cut down on the Mike Brady, but don't think I would change that. Maybe a different set of AC songs. For Kid Dakota I think I made the right choice, but would like the others to hear some of So Pretty, like "Crossin' Fingers," or "Pairin' Off."

Best Song, for me, I think has to be "Ten Thousand Lakes."

Coming Early

this year
Santa is

Wither Volume 4?

Almost half the month gone, and not a peep from Mighty Tom.

Dan PR: A Review by T-clog

Dan PR: Volume 2 (Hylton, October 05')

Box Elder-LJ Booth: A great folk song! Maybe it is the forester in me that takes this song to heart? However, it buries it's roots deep into my ears and sings it's sweet lumbering tune through my mind whenever I see a box elder tree. I am impressed with Booth in choosing something as simple as a unfavorable tree to be the focus in his song. He turns this living thing into a celebrated treasure that has been overlooked by the pirates of time. His art in doing this is second to Jesus turning water into wine. How can this not be a theme song for all of us over shadowed in society, and its demands that we all conform to it's mainstream? We are box elder trees, unless we are the most popular, richest, or powerful. Thank you Dan for adding this great song to your picks! As a huge J. Denver fan, folk music holds a special place on my list of treasures. There are some faint harmonies that gives this song just a little Pat of Butter for all to savor.

Kathy's Song-Paul Simon: A very good Paul Simon tune. His charming voice combined with incredible lyrics is the recipe for damn good music. The melody in this song is what actually yanks my mind and demands that I dance with it. Like Mixdorf adding a U2 song to his collection, you have also ensured that your album is great by including a Paul Simon song to yours. a very good pick Dan.

Almost-Pale Boy: This song doesn't do much for me except that it gets me to look at the play list to see what's next. When I hear it, I get a gray picture in my head. It is of a dehydrated woman sitting and looking out of a drafty upstairs window on a cool and rainy day. The lyrics are okay, but they haunt my focus. I can ALMOST smell the dirty smoke that ALMOST pours out of her mouth as she sings. Sorry Dan, but it might be my least favorite tune on the album.

Never Going Back Again-Lindsey Buckingham: I love this little song. The instruments carry this song. The high pitched strings on the guitar are a cool and steely sound that blows a fresh breeze across my brow. I love the phrase "been down one time, been down two times.." It stands out and is just good stuff.

Such Great Heights-Iron & Wine: Is this guy Mark Anderson? What a wonderful song. It has a very calming melody. It lulls me into a relaxed state of mind. Sensational harmonies and pretty good guitar playing. He is very experienced with the guitar, becasue I don't hear the sliding of his fingers. This song is right up there with Boxelder.

Both Sides Now-Judy Collins: This song seems to me to be made for little girls. With the talk of ice castles and feather canyons, I am thrown off and look towards the nrxt song. To the songs credit however, there are some interesting instruments played on this track. Sorry, Dan, but this ties for my least favorite song on your album. When I see Judy Collins, I look away quickly.

Cherry Tree Carol-Marty Haugen & Dona Pena: I love the harmonies in this song. They are calm and contrasting. The deep tones of the man and the higher sweet sounds of the woman make for a great sound. I like the lyrics a lot. Maybe because I like a good Christmas song. The song is relaxing and transcends my mind to the middle east when Christ was born. I am not offset by the religious aspect of this song. I applaud your bravery in putting it on the CD. I suspect that you had an idea that it might not get high reviews from some of the members. I have never heard it before, and I will be hearing it often come this holiday season. Good pick Danny boy!

The 4a-The Incredible Moses Leroy: Awesome tune! I love the acoustic guitar and his soprano / tenor voice. He can really hit the notes. The flow of the song is just right. I listen to this song often while at work. It seems to give me a little charge to finish the day at school. A really good pick Dan.

Guinevere-Lucy Kaplanski: This song takes me in her arms and rocks me from side to side. It is a very comfortable song to listen to. She has a very lovely voice. Some of the world's best songs, in my opinion, are sung with the voice and a solo guitar. The name Guinevere is rare and also is a quality song like this one. Outstanding find Dan. I hope that we hear more of her in future collections.

One Misty Moisty Morning-Steeleye Span: I like the harmonies the best in this song. Wow! I hear some cool instrumental solos around the 02:11 mark. It almost sounded like a synthesizer or a serious electric guitar. Whatever it was, it was cool. Refreshing to hear such a mixture of factors on that track. You sir have a great hear for music.

Album Review: This album carries a soul that is true to it's own design, and gives the listener a musical train ride which provides enjoyment to those who travel upon her tracks. Dan gives Public Radio a wonderful stage in which to triumph and to reach new listeners. I recommend this album to anyone who wishes to hear great and intelligent music.

The Beginning: A Review by T-clog

The Beginning: Volume 1 (Mixdorf, September 05')

Go - Pearl Jam: I enjoy the electric guitar on this song. I am not a big fan of heavier metal, but this collection is one that I am actually enjoying. Thanks Mixdorf for opening a new door for me musically. Going back to the guitar, I am finding out that I enjoy heavy metal / grunge songs with a winning or screaming guitar more than songs that don't. About the 01:44 mark in the song you hear a good example of what I mean. "Don't you want me?" echoes the feeling that he really doesn't want her back. You GO Mixdorf!

Army of Me - Bjork: I have always been curious about Bjork, and I want to hear her sing. Ever since I have seen her on MTV or VH1, she has captured my attention. Her haunting voice is appealing to me, but her videos are captivating. Maybe I like it because the videos are so weird? The drums do make this song in my opinion. I love the Super Mario power-ups.

American Idiot - Green Day: Is this your theme song? It definitely has a political backbone. There is a lot of truth in what he sings. Playing this on the road late at night will keep a dead man awake for hours. I like the lyrics and really groove on the intense beat. I listen to this album more when I am working, than at any other time. It just keeps me moving and makes the work go faster. I don't mean at school, but working around the house on home improvements. You made a very up-beat album. Thanks for making work at home a little easier.

Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes: The base line is hypnotizing. I actually found myself humming the beat one afternoon at school while I was blogging. Good lyrics. Once again, around the 02:12 mark I heard some spooky guitar. "I'm going to Wichita!" reminds me of the time that I was in Kansas City. I sat there in a Greyhound bus station for about two hours looking at trains and a sign that said Wichita.

London Calling - The Clash: The beginning of this song makes me think that an episode of Welcome Back Kotter is going to be on. This is probably my least favorite song on this album. Sorry dude, the only thing that I like in this song is the crow caws. I look forward to Zoo Station every time.

Zoo Station - U2: What can a person say? This song is just great. I like how Bono's voice is distorted in this song. It just seems to fit well with the design of the song. Going with U2 on an album can only make your album that much greater. I really like Bono's wooooos and hoooooos in the songs that he sings. To me it is his signature element. U2 is the creator of my all-time favorite song. That will be revealed at another time.

Black Dog - Led Zepplin: I have always wanted to take the time to explore Led Zepplin, but I never knew anyone who had any of their albums. When I would go to UNI to see my friend Jim, we heard this song all of the time. I was in high school and working at Little Ceasar's Pizza. After work on Fridays, I would go to UNI and party with Jim and some of his friends. Nothing like trying to be nice to the ladies and smelling like Pizza grease. I would have to say that this song is my favorite on this album. Tom Sawyer is a very close second. I enjoy the guitar and lone vocals.

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana: I remember all of the controversy over the cover of this album. It seems like it was the most popular album ever because everyone seemed to have this album but me. I remember hearing it on any given night in the dorms. I think that the lyrics are great. I enjoy thinking about the lyrics. It definitely keeps me moving and I catch myself bobbing my head. Why do I do this? I have no idea. Do I have a hidden head banger inside of me?

Tom Sawyer - Rush: This is very close to being my favorite song on this album. I say scratch that! It is tied for first place. It is just a great hard rock song. I love the synthesizer and the lyrics a lot. Can you imagine Tow Sawyer jamming out while drifting down the Mississippi river? No? Neither can I. Great pick Mixdorf! I need to find some more Rush and to see if I like more of their stuff.

Stop - Jane's Addiction: Absolutely love the Spanish at the beginning of the song. It lures you in and grabs onto you. Another very good song. I can't believe that I don't own any music by these musicians. Excluding U2 naturally.

Review of Beginning: I think that this album is a great collection of songs that gets your toe tapping and it energizes your mind with creative lyrics and soul grooving music. Beginnings taps on your shoulder, pulls you inside, tickles your body, and spits you out shaken and feeling alive. A must have for anyone wanting to jam out!

Mailing Info

Can you include an updated list with Miles address?

Pretty please...

Thank you!

Final Comments on Vol. 3

I do enjoy doing comments in little batches, but if you wish to take that away - -so be it -




Man The Swirl of Color

I like the song - the voice has taken me a while to warm up to. I love the words, best on the collection. This song is possibly the most unique on the CD.

Interesting comments by Aaron - thank you.



The One You're Closest To

The voice is very familiar. I don't know who it reminds me of or if it's a type of voice that it reminds of.

I like the song - heavy and plodding (plodding in a good way, more a description of a type of song).

I typed the word type TWICE! Typey typey!

Nice guitar solo! Really has a voice of its own.



Neutral Angel of Fargo

Excellent words and nice use of harmony. A powerful little song and I am surprised how much I like this one. That's It.



Little Sunrise

Guitar thingy around 45 seconds is nice. Repeated at 1:21 or so and then again a few times at the end of the song - -though the first one was the best. The rest of the guitar was a bit rambly and it may have been better to edit the guitar down a bit. I thought this song was OK.


BS of the Collection

In the early listens - it was likely going to be Holiday, but upon further listens....though City Girl and Man the Swirl of Color had their moments, especially City Girl...but in the end my BS goes to: Neutral Angel of Fargo.


SIWHI

So many...44 songs, Pat & Dan songs, something like 'Drain the Sea' by the Hopefuls...but I think it would have been 'Drive Your Own Bus' by Gary Anderson.


How flattering for these artists! Will they know they have been so lovingly included in a collection distributed to friends? Will you sell them a copy? Hee hee.