Album of the Month: August 2006

Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral

This might come as a surprise again to those who know me well, but I have been listening to this album non-stop for most of this month. No matter how many times I listen to it, there are still times when some of the arrangements kick me in the face with the direction they take. This album has influenced my own approaches towards some of my songs musically, and has really allowed me to come at things from a different angle.

There are times when the lyrics in this album can be kindof juvenile, but there are other times when they can be just as powerful as the music behind them. Its a great listen if you want something to dissect, or if you just want something to give your ears a swift kick in the gut.

I have always known about this album, and it wasnt til recently that I really sat down with it, and I couldnt be happier with what I heard. I highly recommend it if you havent listened to it, it will catch you off guard. And if you have listened to it, I highly recommend listening to it again. Just because.

And if you havent, listen to it with headphones on...you'd be surprised what type of interesting things are there that you would never notice on your boombox CD player.

Summer Mix I

Listen to this Month's Mix!!!

Everybody knows summer is the best time of the year for music. You can listen to it blasting on your car stereo while driving wherever it is you are going with your windows down and just enjoying the summer. And lets not forget outdoor concerts, which make the whole concert experience that much more fun, cause you get sunburn waiting in line and there is a better chance of a mudpit happening.

Of course I could make a million different mixes related to the summer, which is why this is technically labelled the Summer Mix I, because I know someday there will be another summer mix being made by myself.

So I hope you enjoy this mix of what my summer has been so far.

1. Rock N' Roll (Could Never Hip Hop Like This) - Handsome Boy Modeling School - Off of their album 'So How's Your Girl...'.
2. Good Fortune - PJ Harvey - Off of her album 'Stories from the City - Stories from the Sea'.
3. Hot Tamales - Cassandra Wilson - I got this off of the 'Martin Scorses presents Robert Johnson' Collection.
4. 35 in the Shade - A.C. Newman - Off of the album 'Slow Wonder'. I really enjoy this whole album.
5. Plans Get Complex - All-Time Quarterback - Off of their album 'All-Time Quarterback!'. I recently got into this album a lot.
6. Tropicalia - Beck - Off of his album 'Mutations'.
7. Make it Hot - Mirah - Off of the album 'Advisory Committee'. This song makes it hot.
8. Mankind - Pearl Jam - Off of their album 'No Code'.
9. Arco Arena - Cake - Off of their album 'Comfort Eagle'.
10. San Tropez - Pink Floyd - Off of their album 'Meddle'.
11. She Belongs to Me - Bob Dylan - Off of his album 'Bringin' It All Back Home'.
12. Haiti - Arcade Fire - Off of their album 'Funeral'
13. Lightning Strike Rescue Op - Mark Mothersbaugh - I got this off of 'The Life Aquatic' Soundtrack. One of the best soundtracks I have heard in awhile.
14. Alta Mira - The Edgar Winter Group - Off of their album 'They Only Come Out at Night'. Who knew these albino rockers wrote more then 'Frankenstein'.
15. Castles Made of Sand - Jimi Hendrix - I got this one off his album 'Axis: Bold as Love'.

Anyways I hope you enjoy this mix. For those of you who dont know, I make as many copies of this mix as I am allowed by itunes (7), and then I hand them out at my acoustic sets at the Mocha House in Vacaville, CA which occur once a month. So stop by after the show and ask me for a copy before I give them all away.

Or just buy all the music you see listed and put the mix together yourself. Or make your own mixes and post them in my comments so I can check out what you are listening to.