11. Badmotorfinger

Today's Pick:

Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden

1. "Rusty Cage"

2. "Outshined"

3. "Slaves & Bulldozers"

4. "Jesus Christ Pose"

5. "Face Pollution"

6. "Somewhere"

7. "Searching with My Good Eye Closed"

8. "Room a Thousand Years Wide"

9. "Mind Riot"

10. "Drawing Flies"

11. "Holy Water"
12. "New Damage"

People who don't like heavy rock are not going to like this album, but this was huge, and being someone from Seattle, it's not something I can easily ignore. Early 90s Seattle changed the face of rock. The ridiculous glam rock era shifted, and bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden changed that soundscape and brought reality to rock with its full grittiness and raw power. We grew up with this. Chris Cornell's voice is insane. He has a multi-octave range and is a veritable operatic rock demi-god, writing all his own lyrics and playing guitar. I didn't really appreciate the music until nearly a decade afterwards since I wasn't really into the heftiness of metal, but I can definitely appreciate it now for all its emotionality and intensity. The lyrics of "Jesus Christ Pose" and "New Damage" actually helped me cope and get over some things a few years back. The video I believe was banned from television for incorporating the symbol of the cross. People get really sensitive whenever the cross and other religious references are used in artistic expression. Really, the song and the raw suffering and anger is what resonates with me more than the imagery. Plus, I decided to post a live performance by the band in Bremerton back in 92. Oddly enough, he kind of looks like Captain Jack from "Pirates of the Caribbean." Mad times.

10. Automatic for the People

Today's Pick:

Automatic for the People by R.E.M.

1. "Drive"

2. "Try Not to Breathe"

3. "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite"

4. "Everybody Hurts"

5. "New Orleans Instrumental No. 1"

6. "Sweetness Follows"

7. "Monty Got a Raw Deal"

8. "Ignoreland"

9. "Star Me Kitten"

10. "Man on the Moon"

11. "Nightswimming"
12. "Find the River"

Some of these were big hits from the 90s. This album is timeless and a classic during a period when not only good music, but music with substance and depth was actually played on the radio. "Drive" is an emotionally powerful melody and "Everybody Hurts" was an anthem for the 90s that still resonates today. "Try Not To Breathe" has an Irish feeling to it, and I love "Man On The Moon" and "Find The River." Even though they've broken up, the band has left a legacy of music that I can still cherish in the present.

9. Halcyon Digest

Today's Pick:

Halcyon Digest by Deerhunter

1. "Earthquake"

2. "Don't Cry"

3. "Revival"

4. "Sailing"

5. "Memory Boy"

6. "Desire Lines"

7. "Basement Scene"

8. "Helicopter"

9. "Fountain Stairs"

10. "Coronado"

11. "He Would Have Laughed"

This album is a life saver to me. Just the themes that Bradford and Lockett cover in their lyrics has given me something to relate to. Illness, despair, loss, being abandoned, and being unable to relate to the rest of the world emanates from Bradford's lyrics. I just feel it so much. Lockett's "Fountain Stairs" and "Desire Lines" are pieces that contrast this sense of hopelessness and give me hope. Just an overall exquisite, beautiful album and one of my favorites of all time.

8. Future Sounds of Jazz Vol. 5

Today's Pick:

Future Sounds of Jazz Vol. 5 by Various

Disc 1:
1. Life in Loisaida (Chaser)
2. Ode to a Duck (Bjørn Torske)
3. Escobar Blues (Nek-Lok)
4. Reggie's Escape (Earth Bound)
5. Blue Sonoko (Lulu Mushi)
6. The Shake Up (Ill Dependents)
7. Glow Worm (Chroma Obscura)
8. Plants, Animals, H20 (Cine City Feat. Wai Wan)
9. 1300 Milliseconds of Brass (Max Brennan)

Disc 2:
1. Taurus (Fauna Flash)
2. Nasty Funk (Mayhem (20))
3. Tempos Atraz [APE Remix] (Azymuth)
4. Freakmeister (King Kooba)
5. Casablanca (Force & Paul)
6. Solid Water (Extended Spirit)
7. Reloaded (Marschmellows)
8. Voodoo Science (Boom Bip & DJ Osiris)
9. Seismic Simmer (Nonplace Urban Field)
10. Running On The Sand (Calm)

One funky, jazzy compilation of songs that combine electronics with elements of jazz. Some tracks definitely have a retro thing going on, even though these are the "future sounds" of jazz. I remember Sandburgen mentioning this to me on my "Levitation" track, so I decided to check a volume out. I like "Escobar Blues," "The Shake Up," "Reggie's Escape," "Voodoo Science," etc. Unfortunately, this volume is not on Spotify. I know I already posted the Nek-Lok vid, but here it is again along with a few others:

7. Split 12": Lotus Plaza/Odonis Odonis EP

Today's Pick:

Split 12": Lotus Plaza/Odonis Odonis EP by Lotus Plaza/Odonis Odonis

1. "Remember Our Days" (Lotus Plaza)

2. "Out of Touch" (Lotus Plaza)

3. "Highnote" (Odonis Odonis)

4. "Mr. Smith" (Odonis Odonis)

5. "Breathing Hard" (Odonis Odonis)

6. "Angus Mountain" (Odonis Odonis)

Okay, so I realize I can't do one of these every single day just because of time constraints, but this beautiful EP is so worth a listen. I especially love the Lotus Plaza tracks. The first track is unreal gorgeous. Lockett has grown so much vocally and as a performer. The Odonis Odonis stuff is quality too, particularly "Angus Mountain".

6. Arabia Mountain

Today's Pick:

Arabia Mountain by Black Lips

1. "Family Tree" (Alexander)

2. "Modern Art" (Swilley)

3. "Spidey's Curse" (Alexander)

4. "Mad Dog" (Swilley)

5. "Mr. Driver" (Alexander)

6. "Bicentennial Man" (Bradley)

7. "Go Out and Get It" (Bradley)

8. "Raw Meat" (Alexander)

9. "Bone Marrow" (Swilley)

10. "The Lie" (Bradley)

11. "Time" (St. Pe)

12. "Dumpster Dive" (Alexander)

13. "New Direction" (Swilley)

14. "Noc-a-Homa" (Swilley)

15. "Don't Mess Up My Baby" (Alexander)

16. "You Keep On Running" (Alexander)

17. "Kiss It Goodbye" [iTunes Bonus Track]

I can't find the bonus track "Kiss it Goodbye" anywhere! Not even on iTunes anymore. Damn. I wanted to hear it. I think this is a great band. Found out about them because they're good friends with one of my favorite bands ever, Deerhunter. Cole Alexander occasionally posts on the Deerhunter blog here (because him and Bradford and all of them are awesome like that). Some of these tunes remind me of The Ramones and The Clash. Very retro. Very cool. Very punk. Very kick ass. "Mr. Driver" is a great track, only... the lyrics are completely inane. However, they still make it sound so cool.

5. Looking For The Perfect Beat 1980-1985

Today's Pick:

Looking For The Perfect Beat 1980-1985 by Afrika Bambaataa

1. "Zulu Nation Throwdown" - Afrika Bambaataa Nation Cosmic Force

2. "Zulu Nation Throwdown" - Afrika Bambaataa Nation Soulsonic Force

3. "Jazzy Sensation" - Afrika Bambaataa & The Jazzy 5

4. "Planet Rock" - Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force

5. "Looking For The Perfect Beat" - Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force

6. "Renegades of Funk" - Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force

7. "Frantic Situation" - Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force with Shango

8. "Unity Part 1" - Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown

9. "Who Do You Think You're Funkin' With?" - Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force featuring Melle Mel

10. "What Time Is It"

11. "Funk You" - Afrika Bambaataa and The Jazzy 5

One of the fathers of hip hop. I listened to this at work today and it's just refreshing. It's nice to listen to MCs who aren't just about murder, bling, tits, and ass. Seriously, this old school music is the bizness and I massively respect the artistry and energy of Afrika Bambaataa whose "Planet Rock" inspired my "Red Alert." Props.

4. Vacuum / Exit Wound

Today's Pick:

Vacuum / Exit Wound by Audio featuring Mob Tactics

1. Vacuum

2. Exit Wound

When I heard this the first time on Spotify, I immediately fell in love with it and purchased it off iTunes. I have to thank Jonjon for introducing me to the sounds of Audio. His tracks are so powerful, masculine, intense, and the bass is so incredibly loud and big. "Exit Wound" blows my mind. It's the kind of dnb I wish I could create myself. Definitely a major source of inspiration for my own tracks.

3. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Definitive Soundtrack) (1968)

Today's Pick:

2001: A Space Odyssey by Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss Jr., György Ligeti, and Aram Khachaturian

1. Overture - Atmospheres

2. Main Title - Also Sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spake Zarathustra)

3. Requiem For Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Two Mixed Choirs & Orchestra

4. The Blue Danube (Excerpt)

5. Lux Aeterna

6. Gayane Ballet Suite (Adagio)

7. Jupiter and Beyond (Requiem, Atmospheres, Adventures: Altered for Film)

8. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spake Zarathustra)

9. The Blue Danube (Reprise)

10. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Longer)

11. Lux Aeterna (Longer)

12. Adventures (Unaltered)

13. HAL 9000 (Dialogue Montage)

I saw this movie last night and the soundtrack is UNREAL! I love the oddly dissonant overture and the otherworldly choral music. The "Requiem For Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Two Mixed Choirs & Orchestra" and "Lux Aeterna" are exquisitely and mysteriously astounding! I really love György Ligeti's pieces in particular. They are sonically primordial, yet simultaneously futuristic. Khachaturian's piece is beautifully somber as well - a purely timeless soundtrack.

Unfortunately, Spotify doesn't have this soundtrack, but here's a vid nonetheless:

2. 1999

Today's Pick:

1999 by Prince

1. 1999

2. Little Red Corvette

3. Delirious

4. Let's Pretend We're Married

5. D.M.S.R.

6. Automatic

7. Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)

8. Free

9. Lady Cab Driver

10. All The Critics Love U In New York

11. International Lover

Prince is a legend! First song that popped into my head this morning on the last day of 2011 was "1999". I've never heard the whole album before. Love his soulful, quirky voice. It's a time machine trip back to synthesizers and keytars. Didn't realize he was so explicit in some of his lyrics and expressions (check "Let's Pretend We're Married"). Makes me laugh. I also love "D.M.S.R." That's some funky 80s goodness!

1. Tourist

I thought I'd start a little project and listen to at least 1 album, EP, single, etc. a day.

Today's Pick:

Tourist by Seams

1. Hung Markets

2. Carnival

3. Nachtmusik

4. Platz

Delightful experimental electronic earfuls of toy pianos, music boxes, voices, bells and things.

If you don't have Spotify, you can listen to these tracks on Soundcloud here:

http://soundcloud.com/seams/sets/tourist/