Issue 3, Volume 2
Our On The Streets segment features a very odd 1971 Plymouth Barracuda. Every once in a while you see a cool collectible muscle car that you know would probably cost north of 50k to buy, that perfect restoration where the paint is like glass, the tires and wheels shine, the parts are all 'period correct' and the car has a big 'do not touch' sign in the window. This is not one of those muscle cars. While of course, every remaining E body from 1970 to 1974 is collectible, this one is an oddball for the fact that it is in such good shape, but encompasses exactly none of the describing features I just indicated regarding a collectible muscle car.
Plymouth started building the Barracuda in 1964, on the Valiant chassis. It was very similar in styling to the Valiant, and was powered by either two slant six motors, or the 273 V8. There were a few Hurst modified Valiant Barracudas that drag raced with huge hemi motors, but not many for sale at any dealership. Really, the Barracuda was Chrysler's first attempt at a pony car, similar to the Mustang, long before GM had anything similar. The Mustang was based on the lowly Falcon compact, and the Barracuda was based on the lowly Valiant compact, both were stylish fastback coupes, and both could be had with small block V8 power. It was really Shelby who stepped up the Mustang and made it a performance car, more than just a stylish compact coupe. The Barracuda also added some packages to get in on the performance craze of the late 60's. In 1967 the Barracuda was restyled with coupe, fastback, and convertible versions. Still on the Valiant platform, many more were sold with a 273 as the base engine, but the car could usually be had with the hot 340 small block. The Formula S version had special suspension, tires, and was even available with a massive 383 big block, which deleted the power steering, because there just wasn't enough room under the hood. There were also, towards '69, small runs of 440 or 426 hemi powered big block cars, which ruled the drag strips. But while Mustangs got bigger, and had bigger power plants, the Camaro also was running larger and larger engines with more horsepower and more tricks, and both cars had fresh and bold styling. In 1970, the all new Barracuda, on it's own platform shared with the Challenger (called E bodies) was released. The entire gambit of engines could be had, along with a few different styles. To be clear, there were Barracudas and there were 'Cudas (it actually said 'Cuda on the rear nameplate). While 'Cudas were typically stripper sports models with performance options, Barracudas were the pedestrian base models, or the luxury models.
The car you're looking at above is likely a Barracuda (disputed, however), and one of the luxury versions, based on the shark gill vents, the high rent grille, and the hood lifted from the Challenger R/T (known as a Rally hood). These packages, and the colour, were typical of higher end 'Gran Coupe' Barracudas. These cars came standard with a console shift, bucket seats, and a 383 big block, among other things. This car has some non standard items, however, that are probably period correct, which would have put this car in sort of a 'rice' category in the mid 70's, if not for the fact that it has a big block to back it up. First of all, the hideous gold plating treatment is pure mid to late 70's fare, right down to the trim rings on the rally wheels. Second, the factory go-wing was not a Gran-Coupe option, it would have been added after, along with the window slats. These were features common on performance models, like the Hemi 'Cuda. Taking cues from a different Barracuda, the AAR (for All American Racer) you will see the side exit exhaust poking from just in front of the rear wheel. Dan Gurney struck a deal with Plymouth to build custom small block cars outfitted for road course duty, so they could compete in the SCCA Trans American Sedan Series (Trans-Am). They got a cool side exit exhaust, which doesn't quite look at peace here. Half cheesy luxo-cruiser, half muscle stoplight bruiser, this car doesn't know what it is, but it does know that someone took a perfectly good Barracuda and around 1977, messed it up. There's something to be said for a vehicle that also exhibits history of fashion trends (however tacky) of the time too.
Also: Props to my man Craig for recognizing this as a 1971, not a 1970. The gills are a 1971 feature, and although it's impossible to tell what was period-correct added on, and what wasn't (due to the mash up of period correct 1970 Mopar parts on this thing - it's likely the gills came with the car. Thanks Craig!
Also: Props to my man Craig for recognizing this as a 1971, not a 1970. The gills are a 1971 feature, and although it's impossible to tell what was period-correct added on, and what wasn't (due to the mash up of period correct 1970 Mopar parts on this thing - it's likely the gills came with the car. Thanks Craig!
I was driving back from a site visit when I ran into the Idle No More movement coming down Jasper Avenue. It was not far from the Aboriginal permanent sustainable housing project I manage. While I knew personally individuals who were marching in the protest group that was moving up the street, in a peaceful and orderly manner I should indicate, I declined to leave my car by the side of the road and join them. Sometimes in the business world, non-affiliation, and also being expected back at the office in a reasonable time frame, are expectations that cannot be ignored. That does not mean I don't have an opinion one way or another on the subject. But to have an opinion, one needs to be informed.
I decided I would become informed after a friend who had been reading Tipping Point felt motivated to put together a small experiment reflecting the book. What he wanted to do was to have people sing an impromptu O'Canada at the legislature in mid January. I immediately ran into the road block of feeling that if I was to show up at the legislature, not rallying any issues, and began singing O'Canada to support our country, it would almost seem as if I was in some sort of opposition to the recent protests by supporting my country. So, respectfully, I declined. I didn't want to show up to the legislature, start singing O'Canada and have it looked like I was singing the government's praises while other individuals are there protesting C-45.
But what is Bill C-45 and what would my stance be if I actually knew what was going on? I'm not an aboriginal person,so maybe C-45 doesn't effect me - but on the other hand, maybe it does? And even if I'm not aboriginal, I'm still a Canadian, and so are aboriginal peoples, and so C-45 affects us in kind because it effects Canadians. That's reason enough for me to get to know about it. But I wanted to know about it from the perspective of those who are most adamant about it; those that participate in the Idle No More movement, Aboriginal Canadians. While all Canadians should be concerned about C-45 for it's removal of something like 80% of currently protected waterways; ones we depend on for drinking water, recreation, and that habitat depends on, the bill also includes amendments to the Indian act. One very active Idle No More protester that I know, a very smart guy indeed, indicated that it is not necessarily what it changes, but that it changes a very old and very important act without consulting anyone. There is also an environmental side to the bill, in which the changes to the waterways protection acts are being done so such that oil pipelines can be built through them.
Just a little background here about C-45 as an omnibus bill. Watch any US economic documentary, and you will see massive 300 page bills introduced into senate where certain senators criticize the bills for being sweeping and all encompassing, and having a lot of unrelated content in them. One of the most recent was the last financial stimulus package which was said to be full of pork and had a lot of strange tack-ons. Essentially, when there is an emergency or pressing issue that will likely pass, the bill gets amended and voila, the little piece of legislation that might have been contentious or never would have stood on its own all of a sudden squeaks through. In the case of omnibus bills, they're usually packaged with the budget for the year. While the main issue is budget topics, like infrastructure, healthcare, or education, as well as debt repayment or surplus, sometimes 'pork' gets tacked on. In this case, a little piece of legislation that makes changes to the Indian act such that possibly oil pipelines could be built across reserves and in waterways that run through reserves was what got by.
The main issue, and what Frog Lake Cree First Nation is now suing over, is that the bands were not consulted before the legislation was changed.
Anyway, I am not an Aboriginal person who this omnibus bill directly affects. However, it does affect Canadians. Not to mention, omnibus bills are generally economically and socially irresponsible. They can be a way to push an agenda where the topic never gets fully argued or researched, thus allowing a bad idea to get through the system of checks and balances built into our government. So yes, I am opposed, and for that reason, won't be singing O'Canada at the legislature, although I love my country, just so that it doesn't look like I'm supporting the government and not supporting the Idle No More movement, which by being idle, I'm indirectly supporting ironically.
Would You Leave Your Ferrari In A Snowbank? The City of Edmonton would...
The city has an abundance of work vehicles. The most popular one this time of season is the International trucks WorkStar. The heavyweight dual-axle. 1100lb-ft of torque beast is the most popular platform for the city's sanding ploughs. The city even dialed it up a notch this year, for 2013 they purchased trucks with extended crew cabs. These trucks have hydraulically operated dumping beds and ploughs, and special computer controlled salt and sand mixer and distributor features. The WorkStar sells for approximately $110,000 without any options. These special rigs employ a host of specialized equipment added to them that could easily put them north of $200,000, or more expensive than a Ferrari. Some of the vehicles in the city's fleet would likely dwarf the average price for a house. With the average homeowner paying roughly $3500/yr in property taxes, it would take a full 31 houses in a year to afford to buy one WorkStar, that is without all said equipment. These 31 households likely would find it a strain to pay for a new battery for their own car if they had left it out and let the battery run down. That would be a shame. Certainly, no one would do that on purpose.
Now's where I start getting to the point. The city would do something like that on purpose. In fact, they would leave a very expensive vehicle, with a very expensive battery to sit out in the open on a city street unprotected for several days, with the hazards on, until the battery runs dead. At least that's what they did at 109th Street and 82nd Avenue.For at least three days, if not possibly an entire week, a sanding truck was left in a closed off lane with it's hazard lights on. On the third morning I passed it by, the hazards were barely flashing, indicating the battery had been run down. If the truck had an issue, wouldn't it have been prudent to have it towed to be serviced as soon as possible? Rather than leaving it out in the middle of a street? I contacted Ward representative Don Iveson of city council. I indicated there may have been a good reason for this I don't know about. Iveson replied promptly to my email, calling the incident "curious" and assuring that my email would be passed on to the proper individuals in order to get me an answer regarding why this happened. Iveson did this on holiday no less, so I have to say that obviously there are some responsible individuals who work for the city, but in the case of this sanding truck, perhaps some not so responsible ones.It was a very short time later that I received a call from the southwest yard from a manager that was obviously upset at the situation. It turns out a mechanic had gone home sick while he was waiting for a tow, never told anyone, and the tow truck never arrived. Oh, and by the way, it turned out to be a pothole repair truck, not a sanding truck. I'm sure he was ready to kick some ass himself. So what's my point of the story? Well initially I set out to rant about how irresponsible the city was with dealing with our assets, but after this, I was happy that the city was very quick to discuss my opinion and apologize for the problem. Note, on my way home, the truck was gone, and the lane was open again.
TRIPLE MUSIC FEATURE - THE BEST OF 2012
Music & Culture - The Best of 2012
Best of lists are always difficult to compile, and I stopped last year, because not only was my budget for purchasing recorded music much smaller, but the amount of music I was listening to was much greater. This spanned all decades, rather than just singled out to a specific year. Meanwhile, there definitely were some albums released this year that I feel will be classics going forward. So rather than just breaking down the top 10 albums that I bought or listened to this year, I'll give you the highlights of the best of the best, and in no particular order.
The Antlers - Burst Apart
The Antlers are a 'collective' of three musicians headed by Peter Silberman from Brooklyn, who originally made waves with their concept album Hospice. That album, while lyrically brilliant and musically ambient in a pleasant and evocative way, was still somewhat difficult to listen to at times, which can happen with a concept album. Burst Apart is much more cohesive, with more diversity in terms of the musical writing. It is not nearly as lyrical, however, that doesn't mean the lyrics are bad, even in songs where there are only three whole lines of poetry. I think whileHospice would always be a favorite of indie lovers, Burst Apart proves that The Antlers are for real.
The Shins - Port Of Morrow
Who are The Shins really? That's a question I've been asking after James Mercer has replaced almost his entire lineup x2, firing some of his longest long-time members just before recording this album. Joe Plummer from Modest Mouse appears on drums in what is another hit from The Shins. Regardless of if the Shins are a band or if they really are a continuation of Mercer's solo project post Flake Music, it doesn't matter. This guy plays a great live rendition of The Magnetic Fields - Adam In Drag, and he, like Paul McCartney, is fantastic at arranging all different types of music. The Shins are still undeniably The Shins, but they've come a long way since Oh, Inverted World, and you see Mercer's maturity in songwriting develop. Fall of '82 and Port of Morrow seem to be new territory for The Shins, and seem to draw a distinct line to Mercer's time in Broken Bells between albums. While 40 Mark Strasse is a great acoustic number, sort of what The Shins are known for. The album is 'more upbeat' as Mercer agreed to when asked, but it's the darker songs that will make a lasting impression on you, and probably keep you putting the needle in their grooves, or not deleting them from your MP3 player for a long time.
EveryTimeIDie - Ex Lives
Every time I feel like this band might be getting off track, they pull something off that should be in the metal history books. I don't know of any other band that is quite as verbose, and doesn't quite adhere to the rules as EveryTimeIDie. Keith Buckley again pens a winner, while his brother and other band mates form a hard acid rock shell to beat you over the head with it. The first single Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space might be harder than anything else I've heard from them in a long time. Not very swinging, which this band can be from time to time. There is always an element of playfulness. Meanwhile Revival Mode starts off with this melancholy sort of slow dirge, but opens up to a full blown floor pounder. Good from beginning to end, this is one to roll down the windows to and crank up on a sunny day.
Jack White - Blunderbuss
This is one of those albums you picked up right when it went on sale, didn't you? You did, didn't you? If you can't find something you like that Jack White does in any of his projects, from The White Stripes, to The Raconteurs, to Danger Mouse, to The Dead Weather to...okay you get the point. This guy never sleeps. All these musical projects in addition to running Third Man Records, and getting fired from producing a film soundtrack (or whatever happened there) the question had to be there all along: when will Jack White release his own fucking record. Well he did, and it's great. I've often been accused of not liking this album, because I never play individual tracks from it in the car. Trust me, the local modern rock radio station will beat us over the head over and over with whatever they can turn into a single from this album. And really, the album only makes perfect sense when you listen to it cover to cover. But when you do, you'll realize, as you did after you watched It Might Get Loud, that White is someone who has something extra, as if he sold his soul at the crossroads. He's got some other way of looking at music that 99% of the 1% of the best musicians in the world still don't have. As one of the most formidable yet minimalist songwriters of our time, or any time, you might as well call this an instant classic.
The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten
I've taken a lot of flak for liking this album, but I think in the long run, this type of music will outpace stuff from bands like fun, as catchy as We are young might be. Why? Because it's good old fashion rock n' roll, that's why. This album has also taken a lot of flak from critics, even pitchfork's review was fair in it's assessment but it ultimately was awarded only a 5.7, compared to the 8.6 that '59 Sound garnered. Brian Fallon indicated he was going back to his roots with this one, rather than targeting just the new fad of Springsteen indie rock (which has worked well for everyone from The Killers to...well that's the only other one I can think of right now, but I think there's a lot). The result sounds a lot like '59 Sound. And again, that's not a bad thing! I think most people who grew up with 90's alternative as well as their parents' old rock records will appreciate this album. That makes it a highlight of the year for me.
The Avett Brothers - The Carpenter
The band that is best known for January Wedding from their 2009 I and Love and You full length that hit #16 on the US charts did a multiple better this time, hitting #4 with The Carpenter. If you don't know the Avett Brothers, they actuallyare brothers, and play with about 3 other individuals. You could call them folk, or indie alternative, or folk indie alternative, or folk indie, or indie, or whatever you want, but like chocolate and peanut butter, it is a combination that no matter which way you put it together, it's good. I was first introduced to the Avett brothers through their January Wedding single, which had been on my fiance's iPod for a very long time. Now, the hard drive of her Wrangler is loaded with the songs. Whereas I had liked the one single before, I didn't realize that I was tacitly falling in love with the Avett brothers until a few rides with nothing but them to listen to in the Jeep. Now I'm sold.
Mumford & Sons - Babel
Of course, you would have to believe that I like a group or album to put them up here. That obviously I wouldn't just put something up here because it was trendy or I thought it would make me cool. Let me explain my attraction to this album. First of all, in our household, Mumford & Sons is played quite a bit. And if I didn't like them, I don't think I'd ever throw them on the turntable. Second of all, I cannot stress how important this album is. Aside from just being a great album to listen to, this took a whole entirely different genre of music (Modern Manchester Folk - I know wtf is that right?), and thrust it into the limelight to the point it would be harder to ignore than Beiber, Minaj and Kanye combined.Babel got more play in 2012 and was talked about more than even Kim Kardashian. Yes, I went there. I took that stupid pun. To bring the roots of Celtic folk into the mainstream, not even the Pogues or Flogging Molly could do what Mumford & Sons did. While Layne Mitchell from Sonic FM might be right in saying the next big group isn't doing what Mumford & Sons is doing now - in other words, part of this type of music, and the others on the Railroad Revival Tour is a fad, like hipsters. But because it is getting right down to the roots of folk, it will always be around in some form. I should mention that Babel also had the most sales of any album in it's debut in the US in 2012. The album peaked at #1 on 7 different charts world wide, including the Billboard 200, where it finished out the year in 7th. And then the guys all bought each other Mandolins for Christmas. Expensive ones.
Thrice - Anthology
Yes, here is a live album, something I would not normally touch with a ten foot pole. Anthology, however, is Thrice's farewell release. The concert soundtrack to the similarly named DVD, Anthology was recorded on Thrice's farewell tour. For those of you that don't know, Thrice disbanded, or went on indefinite hiatus last year. Dustin Kensrue indicated it wasn't a break up of a traditional sense. No one's feelings were hurt, no one was fired or decided that they couldn't get along with one another. In Dustin's words, he has "three daughters at home" and really needed to be there for them, and touring didn't quite make sense anymore. So there could be a Thrice in the future, but based on how people change and grow, and especially your children (whom Thrice has disbanded for), it's more likely that a reunion tour might be what you get, or some small acoustic side projects. Thrice, since their debut in the late 90's, has been a Tour De Force in alternative music. Starting as an average So-Cal punk band, they threw off those chains, and got harder, got more interesting, wrote more intricately, did concepts, did good albums, and always wrote great songs. Having seen them live three times, the intensity of a Thrice show is brilliant, because those that love them, love them a lot, and are in tune with the music. It will be difficult to say farewell to them, but one should have this live album as a keepsake of all the good times had.
Deftones - Koi No Yokan
I have never made a best of list that, if the Deftones had an album, they weren't on. And that is quite simply because they are my favourite band. NO! That is quite simply because they don't stop cranking out really fantastic work. There's something about the Deftones where they continue evolving, but are somehow always uniquely them.Once described by Alternative Press as, "the biggest underground bend in the world," their non mainstream success continues with their latest release. This is the second album recorded with bass player Sergio Vega, as Chi Cheng is still in rehabilitation with (unfortunately) limited consciousness after his 2010 car accident. The Deftones have always stuck to the fact that Cheng is still their brother, and the decision to go on with the Deftones was what he would have wanted in their words. I feel the progression here does not come from the fact that they perhaps have a new bass player, while Vega's lines are decidedly different than what Cheng would potentially write, I think the big push comes from two things. One is Stephen Carpenter's continuously increasing number of guitar strings. Although the 8 string baritone was present on the last album, in this one the subtle differences and increase in Carpenter's experience with the guitar means a more cohesive experience in the super low register; a tone that you could float away with, or be totally ripped to shreds by. There are also influence of several side projects of the other members of the band. Ultimately, when I first heard Leathers and Tempest I knew the album was going to be unbelievable. But the entire album on it's own stands as what some people have said is the best Deftones album since White Pony. That's saying quite a lot! While I might disagree, it's another home run for the band from Sacramento.
The Lumineers - Self Titled
I have to be honest, it was Ho! Hey! that sucked me in to purchasing this album. The song was infectious. At first I was just singing the chorus. Then I was singing the whole song. Then I was playing the song around the house on Sarah's Epiphone acoustic. Then I bought her a Mandolin for Christmas and forced her to play and sing along with me. Sarah, at the same time, bought me the album for Christmas, which is great, I had tentatively planned to purchase it for myself anyway. After listening to the entire album, I can't put my finger on what exactly makes it great. The songs are quite simple, they are folk-indie, which is nothing new, and it's part of a trend. But I think the Lumineers transcend the trend by having essentially written an album that could have stood on its own merits; whether or not folk indie happens to be trendy at the moment. If you happen to listen to Trampled by Turtles, or Dr. Dog, or even the previously mentioned Avett Brothers, you will still see the Lumineers are somewhat more cohesive and less repetitive in their writing. Moreso, there's a romantic flow to the entire album that is great as a background to a good conversation and a bottle of wine. In its softness, it's not dark either, but rather there's a sort of sunniness to the album that is inexplicable, even if the song is one of heartbreak or about credibility linked to the sighting of Japanese submarines. If I purchased this on my own, I would have been taking a chance, hearing only two singles from the record. But it's up for a Grammy nomination because it is really so damned good, well written, well performed, and enjoyable.
Band of Horses - Mirage Rock
This is probably not my favorite Band of Horses album; that one I'll reserve for Infinite Arms. But then again, it's always difficult to move past your first favorite album by a band, whatever got you hooked on them is probably the yard stick by which you'll judge every other album by that band. So I'll be fair here, and put my yard stick aside. This album is really the culmination of probably where you thought Band of Horses was heading, or perhaps where you thought they came from influence wise. I personally hear a lot of Neil Young from his Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young days. There is definitely a folk-rock element that is present through all their music. This album is also, I find, as mellow, but not necessarily as dark as previous B.O.H. albums. For tracks like Dumpster World and Heartbreak on the 101, you're going to want this album. While it might not be exactly what you expected from Band of Horses, it's still them, and they went somewhere potentially new, but it's still somewhere I feel is reasonable for them to have gone, and most importantly, it's good to listen to!
BUT WAIT!
Like Levar Burton used to always say in reading rainbow, "don't take my word for it!" Rick Lee from Sonic 102.9 FM Edmonton also zoomed me a quick email with his favorite picks of 2012. Among them were:
Mumford and Sons - Babel
Rick called this one 'grandiose' - 'subtle' and 'a game changer' when describing it. His take seems to harmonize with mine, that the album isn't just among one of the best albums of the year, but one of the best things period to come out of 2012, and a cultural beacon.
Of Monsters and Men - My Head Is An Animal
This one was said to have been good throughout by the mid-day radio show host, and top 20 compiler.
Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball
Called, "a darker album for the working class" by Rickster, this album came in at #1 on the Rolling Stone Magazine best of 2012 list.
Garbage - Not Your Kind Of People
Dubbed the 'most underrated album of the year' by Lee, this album marked the end of a six year hiatus for the band.
Nelly Furtado - The Spirit Indestructible
Lee indicated this album was good through and through, and her best album since Folklore. It certainly thrust the Canadian pop princess back into the limelight, and she wrapped up 2012 by singing at the Global Canadian new years countdown.
U2 - U22
Rick cited that Coldplay should have listened to this U2 Album, which is 22 live tracks from their 360 degree tour, before releasing their own live album.
Read Rick Lee's entire rundown here: http://www.sonic1029.
BUT WAIT! THERE IS YET MORE!
Sarah Holly Karb decided to also give us a list of some of the best songs of 2012 to a hardcore indie lover. So if you are into the out-there, check out this list she penned for us!
connoisseur of awkward yet magical indie music that is thrown into the world and straight into the vastness of where the wild Sarah's roam.
Without further adieu, here is my list:
1. JPEG Hoarder- Acid Glasses: I found this little GEM on Blalock's indie play list. It is a perfect mixture of indie electro east meets the salty background noises of the west. Also, the words are really hard to figure out, so you're free to adlib whatever you want. On my drives home, I would miss out on the rage that usually would make me want to drive over people in my Jeep because I was too busy making up words "OH Leave it alone!".
2. Dis/connect- Atlas (BIRP playlist): "and I could catch you when we fall in and out of luck". The magical undertones make a delicious bed for the savoury lyrics in this sexy yet innocent love song. But is it love? There are words such as baited breath, but falling in and out of luck?. The middle has a great pick up featuring a nice guitar riff of creamy retro connect. Ending with more of a lounge-like wind down performance.
3. Dreams (cover)- The Band in Heaven- When I was recently divorced, I left all my music on my ex's laptop. Years and years of music I hand picked, ripened and kept was gone. So I went back to the barren and bold land of weirdo music, and came across this beautifully distorted cover. Ryan is not much of a fan, but knows when he hears this, it's me. So he smiles. And even sings along. But don't tell anyone.
4. Blondes posing as red heads- The Barcode experiment: This is one of my declarative war cry songs. As a natural red head, I decided to go darker a few years back. But then all the birds seemed to flock the same way and I found myself in a sea of reds-blondes posing as. This song's punk anarchistic movement of rage is what explains my rage at the time of all the flakes trying to make it in the crimson light. Except, they're missing one thing which truly is woven into us true red- Chaotic beauty.
5. Red Head Walking- Beat happening: Which brings me to this song. The doors-like background hum beat is completely thrown off by the lead singer who not only has the most off kilter bass voice for this type of song, but honestly, I don't think it would work if he wasn't there. It makes me feel like I'm sitting in the Powerplant at the University, a second year, watching this indie band up on stage while everyone around them are too busy with being cool to look up. While I, am clenching the most recent Vue Weekly with them on the cover biting my lip in excitement.
6. This Fall- Big Tree: Ah, by far one of the most favorite songs of 2012 for me. The beautiful duet tones of these girls makes me feel giddy and fuzzy like a teenager just kissed for the first time. Early drum beats enter 30 seconds in, and continue to cascade into a whimsy altered time tune. Jazz undertones and foot stomping beats make me want to stand up for whatever they believe in. In my world, this song is being blasted while I drive my Jeep across the ocean :) 'I cannot risk being too modest".
7. I'm always manic when I'm around you- A Big Yes and a Small No: Just as the title explains, this song is about manic love. The big band sound is equally weird as well as annoying. I guess I can only listen to it when I'm manic. This would however, make a pretty cute opening song to a cute TV series.
8. Sky is Falling- Blackalicious: This song was given to me about a decade ago. This rap group is by far one of my favorite and nto just because of their saucy name. The beginning of this song builds suspense that leads to a vocal preparation of a end-of-the-world feeling in your gut. When I would listen to to this either walking or riding my bike, I would become so wound up the song would end I would be running away from nothing or taking a faster pace to my pedaling. Something was out there, and it was getting me.
9. Insomnia Olympics- Blockhead: This is my "I'm rocky, in my sweat-suit and I'm warming up....WHAT" song. Although most of blockhead's music has a silent hill, dark-don't disturb me sound, this song makes me feel like an athlete on a Nike commercial. Mid song- an indian chipmunk wallows and it reminds me of the dirt that builds up on 109 street right before the highlevel. The dirty windows, and looking at myself covered in the same mud, running.
10. One Whole Year- Bombadill (BIRP): I feel in love with the bassline at the beginning but then was doubly in love because of the undertones of the Harry Nilson kind of story and the "great unwashed" narrative of hippies squatting and owning up to nothin! Cuz you can! Unfortunately was only one year of good story.
11. Lemonade- Cocorosie: The lyrics are insane and crazy beautiful. It's hard to believe this is a two man plan from France! Anyway, the growly voice and the deep horns with the grand piano sets the scene with a world of a red sky and electric grass. I was having a really hard time trying to sleep a couple years ago and would often find myself walking downtown and in the river valley at all hours of the night and this song brought some brightness to my night and a softer landing to my insomnia breakdown.
12. Terrible Angels- Cocorosie: They use a robot dinosaur as a tempo percussion!
Welp, that's it or else I would be here all night.
cheers
SHK.
AND THAT'S ALL!
Don't forget, if you wish, feel free to send a letter to the editor at istillhaveatapeplayer@gmail.com Thanks for getting us almost 2000 hits!
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