the un, the known, the eric

disc accounted for

UE rockin the BT7

 I'm pushed for time even to burn my own CD, but I listened to both discs today and was surprised, expectant, delighted, shocked, surprised, relieved, pleased, thankful and mightly surprised again, and will give you my fave tracks on those bonus bonus wonderful discs as soon as I can.

I finally started listening to discs, after having these in my possession for almost 2 months.

Initial listen: UE, you are one eclectic motherfucker. Better review to follow this weekend.

Fantastic mix, my unknown friend.  If you, umfumdisi, and I ever get together, this could be the soundtrack of our Big Chill weekend.

DISC ONE - What the Fuck is This Shit?

The Pixies - Bone Machine

My bone has a little La Machine...you should see how well it juices.  I've always enjoyed the Pixies and this is a great song.

Ghostface Killah - Daytona 500

I really enjoy the beat on this track.

Slaughter Joe - Surely Some of Slaughter's Blues

I thought this was a good song by Dylan I hadn't heard before until I looked at the track list. 

Paul Westerberg - As Far As I Know

I always wanted to like the Replacements more.  I'd enjoy hearing one or two songs, but then for some reason, couldn't listen to an entire album by them.  I like this song.

Hank Williams - Cold Cold Heart

This is what country music is supposed to sound like.

Tonio K - H.A.T.R.E.D.

Cool, authentic punk song despite the intro.

Desmond Dekker - 007

I'm not a big reggae fan, but this was nice to listen to.

The Wonder Stuff - Unbearable

I always like happy songs about hatred.

Clarence Frogman Henry - Ain't Got No Home

This has a very Baltimore feel to it, as in, I could picture John Waters using it in one of his films.

Julian Cope - Sunspots

Whoa, I forgot about this song.

Richard Thompson - The End of the Rainbow

Dude, you gotta warn me before you slam on the brakes like that.

Patience & Prudence - Tonight You Belong to Me

Classic, sweet song.  I'm sure someone back in 1956 thought this was decadent negro music.

Devo - Jocko Homo

One of my good friends in 5th grade loved Devo.  He played this song for me and I thought he was weird.  Devo just played two shows in the last two months locally.  I'm surprised how many people still love them.

Paul McCartney - Ram On

I'm one of those people who believe that Paul McCartney died in the 60's.  I mean, it's still the same guy...he's just dead inside.

I, Ludicrous - Preposterous Tales

Yum--Light & bitters!  This is a great song; I've always loved it.  Everyone knows someone like Ken MacKenzie.

Phil Ochs - Draft Dodger Rags

They re-instituted draft registration right before I turned 18.  I remember filling out the form thinking, "If they start the draft again, this will be how my parents find out I'm gay."

Meat Puppets - Lake of Fire

I like this version better than Nirvana's cover.  I wish it got more airplay.

The Times - I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape

The Prisoner is one of my all-time favorite television shows.  McGoohan was great--I always like actors who can overact just with their expressions. Coincidentally, I lived at #6 for 10 years.  Be seeing you.

Loud Family - Chicago & Miss Jovan's Land-O-Mat

Was this band trying to record the next Friends knock-off theme song?

Ry Cooder - 3rd Base Dodger Stadium

I expected a scorching blues tune here.  This song is slower than baseball itself.

Graham Parker & the Rumour - Empty Lives

I remember seeing Graham Parker open for somebody I saw back in the 80s...perhaps it was Yes.  I didn't know anything about him.  Still don't.  I like this song, though.

The Field Mice - Humblebee

This one is a bit too random for me.

I have to admit--I didn't like this one as much as disc one, but there are certainly some gems here. 

DISC TWO - I've Finally Been Sucked By Unknown Eric

Elton Motello - Jet Boy Jet Girl

Ça Plane Pour Moi

Robyn Hitchcock - Sometimes I Wish I Was a Pretty Girl

I remember a friend singing this song to me back in the 80s.  I've never heard it before you sent it.

My Bloody Valentine - To Here Knows When

A little too slow and etherial for me.

Boyracer - He Gets Me So Hard

Okay...you start off with Jet Boy Jet Girl and then this...are you trying to tell me something, UE?

Notorious B.I.G. - Dreams

I don't have much of an opinion of this song.

The Cure - Siamese Twins

I always liked the Cure, but I prefer their faster songs.

Elvis Costells & The Imposters - American Gangster Time

This is what Elvis should have sounded like for the last 15 years.  I'm glad he's out of that slow funk he was in and recording songs that are more indicative of his earlier work.

Momus - Coming in a Girl's Mouth

I don't know anything about Momus other than reading about him appearing at a showing of Cynthia Plaster Caster's work (which he contributed to) wearing a t-shirt with his name on it so people would know who he was and that was his cock. This song is as enjoyable as it's title.

X - Blue Spark

For a band that was as big as it was at the same time I lived in LA, I never really got into them.

Nick Lowe - American Squirm

Great song.  I wish more Europeans made us squirm.

Babes in Toyland - Bruise Violet

I never really cared for this band--they were just too harsh sounding for me.

R.E.M. - Star Me Kitten

I included a version of William S. Burroughs doing a spoken word rendition of this with REM backing him on a prior swap.   I just love hearing that crusty old man saying, "Just fuck me kitten, you are WILD"

Palomar Sky Survey - Blue in One

knkx/Dinah would like this song.

Be Your Own Pet - Bunk Skunk Trunk

What's with all the angry bitches?

Hefner - Another Better Friend

This song is a little early for the coffee house revival of the 90's.

Billy Bragg - A Lover Sings

I'm sure Jes is still mourning over John Peel's death.  Has anyone who showcases live music played in a studio replaced him?  Certainly nobody has that cache.

The Baby Machines - Malleable

I like the early REM feel to the music on this song; voice and lyrics are nice as well.

The Wedding Present - Santa Ana Winds

It's about that time for the Santa Anas to hit.  Please don't play with matches.  Something with an intro this long had better be worth it.  I'm not sure if it is, but I did like the song once it got going.

The Orchids - A Kind of Eden

Another girl song knkx would like.  This light pop song is a nice break from the other tracks on this disc.

The Mendoza Line - 31 Candles

A good basic pop song with nice guitar, lyrics, and vocals.

Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriends

Unnecessary gimmickry at the beginning.  Remember when Prince lyrics would be read by PMRC cunts at Capitol Hill hearings?  I've always appreciated his music and lyrics.

Harper Lee - The Thought of You and Him

Sorry, I found this to be too formulaic.  Like he and the producer were trying to record the quintessential indie breakup song.

Liquid Liquid - Optimo

I like this song's energy.  It has an I, Zimbra feel to it.

Heavenly - So?

So?

quote:

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choadwarrior wrote:

Okay...you start off with Jet Boy Jet Girl and then this...are you trying to tell me something, UE?

---

:) 

I also almost included "A Man Inside My Mouth" as the Cure song on this one, but opted for "Siamese Twins" at the last minute.

quote:

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choadwarrior wrote:

Clarence Frogman Henry - Ain't Got No Home

This has a very Baltimore feel to it, as in, I could picture John Waters using it in one of his films.

---

You know what's funny?  It was Waters himself who re-introduced me to this song.  My friend's dad had this record and I loved it as a kid, but hadn't heard it in 25 or so years until I attended a party at Waters' house (a friend of mine knows him and finagled an invitation for me) and he played it.  I tracked it down on iTunes the very next day.

quote:

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choadwarrior wrote:

Fantastic mix, my unknown friend. If you, umfumdisi, and I ever get together, this could be the soundtrack of our Big Chill weekend.

---More like Big Cock weekend!

DISC ONE - What the Fuck is This Shit?

The Pixies - Bone Machine

My bone has a little La Machine...you should see how well it juices. I've always enjoyed the Pixies and this is a great song.

---Like the humor, love the tune.

Ghostface Killah - Daytona 500

I really enjoy the beat on this track.

---Is there even any need to debate the greatest rap crew of all time? I mean, I loved Run-DMC, but Wu-Tang just kills.

Slaughter Joe - Surely Some of Slaughter's Blues

I thought this was a good song by Dylan I hadn't heard before until I looked at the track list.

---Surely this is a takeoff on "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" from Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited. Plus feedback!

Paul Westerberg - As Far As I Know

I always wanted to like the Replacements more. I'd enjoy hearing one or two songs, but then for some reason, couldn't listen to an entire album by them. I like this song.

---AFAIK, Westerberg is an asshole, but I like this song a lot. choad, what about Tim (the album, not the wizard. also, are we officially past the point where we can just call them discs instead of albums or am I the only one still calling them albums? Really, discs are almost passe at this point)?

Hank Williams - Cold Cold Heart

This is what country music is supposed to sound like.

---Hank Sr., the original country punk. Some think he died in a hotel in downtown Knoxville, but his driver that night claims Hank died while en route to a show in Ohio.

Tonio K - H.A.T.R.E.D.

Cool, authentic punk song despite the intro.

---Actually, I prefer the intro. I've just never cared for punk. Is this from the one with the elephant on the album cover?

Desmond Dekker - 007

I'm not a big reggae fan, but this was nice to listen to.

---If this was reggae before Mr. Marley, then I'm glad he came along.

The Wonder Stuff - Unbearable

I always like happy songs about hatred.

---Reminds me of Ugly Kid Joe's "Everything About You" except this song is better.

Clarence Frogman Henry - Ain't Got No Home

This has a very Baltimore feel to it, as in, I could picture John Waters using it in one of his films.

---Mr. Henry demonstrating how he received the nickname, "Frogman." Classic.

Julian Cope - Sunspots

Whoa, I forgot about this song.

---Like the message. Very nice.

Richard Thompson - The End of the Rainbow

Dude, you gotta warn me before you slam on the brakes like that.

---Hee, hee. I have tried to get into Thompson before with absolutely no success. I can't understand why critics love him so much. His playing is too subtle even when I'm listening for that quality. However, this song...I like.

Patience & Prudence - Tonight You Belong to Me

Classic, sweet song. I'm sure someone back in 1956 thought this was decadent negro music.

---I can't help but think of "The Jerk" with Bernadette Peters and Steve Martin singing this by a campfire on the beach. P&P version is sweet like sugar.

Devo - Jocko Homo

One of my good friends in 5th grade loved Devo. He played this song for me and I thought he was weird. Devo just played two shows in the last two months locally. I'm surprised how many people still love them.

---I'm not surprised that Mark Mothersbaugh has gone on to compose a lot of cartoon music. The guitar in this track is pretty cool.

Paul McCartney - Ram On

I'm one of those people who believe that Paul McCartney died in the 60's. I mean, it's still the same guy...he's just dead inside.

---Burn! Choad - 1, "Paul McCartney" - $evera£ Mi££ion$.

I, Ludicrous - Preposterous Tales

Yum--Light & bitters! This is a great song; I've always loved it. Everyone knows someone like Ken MacKenzie.

---Gooder'un! Also, "Dermott Brereton is a Hood"!

Phil Ochs - Draft Dodger Rags

They re-instituted draft registration right before I turned 18. I remember filling out the form thinking, "If they start the draft again, this will be how my parents find out I'm gay."

---Dodger Rag...Dodger Stadium, you got 'em covered. Good song.

Meat Puppets - Lake of Fire

I like this version better than Nirvana's cover. I wish it got more airplay.

---This basically is Nirvana's version. I think Kurt just wanted to promote the Puppets.

The Times - I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape

The Prisoner is one of my all-time favorite television shows. McGoohan was great--I always like actors who can overact just with their expressions. Coincidentally, I lived at #6 for 10 years. Be seeing you.

---Never watched "The Prisoner". But I do remember the Iron Maiden song which qouted some of the same lines as The Times do here.

Loud Family - Chicago & Miss Jovan's Land-O-Mat

Was this band trying to record the next Friends knock-off theme song?

---Wish they'd been the Quiet Family.

Ry Cooder - 3rd Base Dodger Stadium

I expected a scorching blues tune here. This song is slower than baseball itself.

---Think that's kind of the point, choad. Damn good song.

Graham Parker & the Rumour - Empty Lives

I remember seeing Graham Parker open for somebody I saw back in the 80s...perhaps it was Yes. I didn't know anything about him. Still don't. I like this song, though.

---Sounds like The Police and Elvis Costello had a baby, named it Graham Parker and passed along none of their awesomeness.

The Field Mice - Humblebee

This one is a bit too random for me.

---At last -- the lost soundtrack for 2 Girls, 1 Cup!

---

--- There was a lot of great stuff on here but a few duds. No one's going to like everything, but the good stuff was really good for me. Thanks for including Ry Cooder. I've read about his trilogy, but didn't know if I'd like any of it enough to buy a whole disc (see, I used disc this time). Not sure I could take that voice the whole time, but the Dodger Stadium track is sublime. Also, why can I appreciate Mr. Cooder's slow burn but not Mr. Thompson's. Must be point of view.

I haven't listened to the second disc as much as this one, so I'll review it later.

When I got two discs in the mail instead of one I was totally stoked. Then I heard them both. I continued to be stoked. Both discs are all over the place and have a lot of personality. Here's my take on the first of the pair.

The Pixies - Bone Machine

Pixes = win. I've been meaning to get a poster or a t-shirt or something else ridiculous to proclaim my love for them, but those things cost nominal amounts of cash and space. I'm not made of cash and space.

Ghostface Killah - Daytona 500

Loving this beat and the vocals. The track tickles my hip-hop bone, which I posess because I am so very street. In the house, dog. Raise the roof. These nuts.

Slaughter Joe - Surely Some of Slaughter's Blues

Another good song. This one caught the attention of my roommates, who immediately wanted to know what I was listening to. I told them "Slaughter Joe" and they thought I was fucking with them.

Paul Westerberg - As Far As I Know

It's now been well established that this kind of music is my entire bag, baby, yeah. Mellow, full of heart, good for carefree driving.

Hank Williams - Cold Cold Heart

Oh no! Country! ARRRRRGH

I actually wish more country sounded like this. I'm still not a fan of the genre in general, but this isn't half bad.

Tonio K - H.A.T.R.E.D.

In high school I thought I was into punk, when I was actually into psuedo-punk and punk-pop and alt-punk. Hump gave me some Sex Pistols to listen to and I couldn't handle it. That's about the same reaction I had to this song.

Desmond Dekker - 007

Reggae gets pretty overplayed around here, but this is pretty mellow and feels authentic enough.

The Wonder Stuff - Unbearable

Liking this more and more everytime I play it. The first listen it confused me with the upbeat music and vengeful lyrics, but now it's growing on me.

Clarence Frogman Henry - Ain't Got No Home

In a twist of fate I happened to play this song as a late night infomercial for a Frogman promotional CD collection came on. I got the full history of the guy. I like the song, too.

Julian Cope - Sunspots

I like this track, but there are too chief reactions I get when other people here it: they also like it or they rip on it. I've spent plenty of time making fun of the echoing, cartoonish vocal portions... but secretly I love them. Almost as if they were my very best friend.

Richard Thompson - The End of the Rainbow

Whoa, what happened?

Patience & Prudence - Tonight You Belong to Me

Children's voices are creepy as fuck. For some reason I felt this would go well in a mob movie, where the kingpin is sitting in a recital hall listening to his son while all the businessmen who won't play ball are getting gunned down in their stores.

Devo - Jocko Homo

Are we not men? I actually was given this song's debut album about five years ago by some relative I never see. At the time I dismissed it, but now I love the group.

Paul McCartney - Ram On

Despite my unending hatred for the Beatles I do respect them for their influence in music. I'm even warming up to a couple songs, so it's not really an unending hatred as much as a hatred that is slowly ending. Or something like that. What I'm really trying to say is fuck Paul McCartney.

I, Ludicrous - Preposterous Tales

1)Love this track. 2)I know a guy like this. 3)I used to be a guy like this. In general it's a greatsong and I loveall over it.

Phil Ochs - Draft Dodger Rags

I'd never heard this before your CD, so I thought I was getting some hokey crap track from the 60's. Then I started laughing my ass off. I love this.

Meat Puppets - Lake of Fire

Great tune. I'm sad I hadn't heard this before.

The Times - I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape

Another excellent track. Not sure what it's from, so I should probably brush up on that. Otherwise I'm stoked on it.

Loud Family - Chicago & Miss Jovan's Land-O-Mat

Goes from fun to corny to Jesusy in a fairly predictable rotation. I like to listen to it as background music, but it's not particularly striking.

Ry Cooder - 3rd Base Dodger Stadium

I can't even finish this song. It's SO slow. To this day I have not played it through fully, and believe me I have tried.

Graham Parker & the Rumour - Empty Lives

Once again, a good track. I remember somebody told me about Parker once, maybe one of my old bosses. They recommended him to me, but I never followed up. Shame.

The Field Mice - Humblebee

I actually know who the Field Mice are, so I saw the name and immediately braced myself for psychadelic/electronica/sampling/white noise/environmental. That is precisely what came out of the speakers at me. I know a couple guys who spend a lot of time taking hallucenogens and listening to the Mice, and I've never really understood why. Well, I understood once. Maybe I should hang out with those guys more.

-----

Disc one is a winner! Later on, disc two.

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LuckyGuess wrote:

Julian Cope - Sunspots

I like this track, but there are too chief reactions I get when other people here it: they also like it or they rip on it. I've spent plenty of time making fun of the echoing, cartoonish vocal portions... but secretly I love them. Almost as if they were my very best friend.

---

Julian Cope is totally batshit insane and that's part of what makes him a blast to listen to.  You never know when he's going to bust out a "neeeeeeeee-oohhhhh" or some sort of rambling monologue about foxes or something.

quote:

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Paul McCartney - Ram On

Despite my unending hatred for the Beatles I do respect them for their influence in music. I'm even warming up to a couple songs, so it's not really an unending hatred as much as a hatred that is slowly ending. Or something like that. What I'm really trying to say is fuck Paul McCartney.

---

I used to hate Macca.  Always liked Lennon, thought Harrison had his moments, and that Ringo was an underrated drummer, but should never open his fucking mouth to sing.  I still feel the same way about the last three, but McCartney has been growing on me for a while now.  Maybe I'm just getting old and mellow.

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Loud Family - Chicago & Miss Jovan's Land-O-Mat

Goes from fun to corny to Jesusy in a fairly predictable rotation. I like to listen to it as background music, but it's not particularly striking.

---

It's funny, the reason I chose that particular Loud Family track is because it's probably the most direct and poppy thing in their catalog.  They can get a bit, umm, challenging at times.  But it looks like the poppiness is mostly turning people off.  So I should've just stuck to my initial impulse and put on something weird like "Sodium Laureth Sulfate Hair" or "Why We Don't Live in Mauritania."

Thanks for the feedback!  :)

Disc Two review, coming RIGHT. BACK. ATCHA.

PS nice track titles. I C WAT U DID THAR

Elton Motello - Jet Boy Jet Girl

I heard this on a YTMND site a few years back. I think it was about Tony Blair and George Bush having sex in an airplane. I love this song, and if I remember correctly that site.

Robyn Hitchcock - Sometimes I Wish I Was a Pretty Girl

The only other song of Hitchcock's I've ever heard was Balloon Man, which is both ridiculous and on a compilation of bad Halloween music. This track is delightfully psychotic, and the weird metallic pinging and popping in the last few cycles of the song drive home exactly what's going on in the singer's head. Very cool.

My Bloody Valentine - To Here Knows When

It's kind of floaty and out there, but for some reason I really like it.I can't accurately describe why, either. I just... I just like it. Y'know?

Boyracer - He Gets Me So Hard

I'm not sure what's going on here. Is there a song in the static? I think there's a song in that static.

Notorious B.I.G. - Dreams

Heard this in an episode of The Boondocks. Biggly Wiggly is actually off my radar (believe it or not), but I do appreciate the songs of his that I hear.

The Cure - Siamese Twins

I actually agree with Choad on this one. Nothing against Siamese Twins (it's actually pretty cool), but I like the faster stuff better.

Elvis Costello & The Imposters - American Gangster Time

LOVE this. I don't think there's much more I can say on the subject.

Momus - Coming in a Girl's Mouth

There's a running joke among my staff that I'm some sort of creepy sexual deviant-type person. I can never, ever play this song in proximity of any of them.

Which is why I'm burning them some CDs with it as the opening track. Hah hah! Eat it, you little punks!

X - Blue Spark

I'm a little torn here. Seems kinda generic, but at the same time it's strangely charming. Huh.

Nick Lowe - American Squirm

Um, yeah. Loving this. Listen to that sound! That is some legitimately fun guitar and vocals. Right up my alley.

Babes in Toyland - Bruise Violet

Despite all evidence to the contrary, really good grunge has always been a dark secret vice of min, tracing all the way back to an old Seattle comp I picked up from one of my mother's friends(!!!). Also Otherworld off of the Final Fantasy X soundtrack.

R.E.M. - Star Me Kitten

Mmm, dreamy and floaty in all the right ways. It's like a bearable version of Barenaked Ladies "What do you Dream About?"

Palomar Sky Survey - Blue in One

This is the part of the CD that kicks off a wave of alternative chick rock, which is a not-so-secret vice of mine. I instantly liked this track and continue to like it right now. And right now. And now. And now. And now.

Be Your Own Pet - Bunk Skunk Trunk

Rockin!

Hefner - Another Better Friend

Oh god, the vocals got so strained around 2:30 that I actually cringed. The last minute is really cool, though.

Billy Bragg - A Lover Sings

Another awesome track. Who is this guy? I feel I should start knowing this guy.

The Baby Machines - Malleable

DAAAAH LOVE IT. DAAAAAAH.

The Wedding Present - Santa Ana Winds

There's this band from Sacramento called Mister Metaphor (which I'll have to jam onto the next mix I send out) that sounds a lot like this. Their stuff is either hit or miss, but this particular track sounded like another song of theirs I really like.

The Orchids - A Kind of Eden

Girl pop girl pop love love love.

The Mendoza Line - 31 Candles

Eric. ERIC. Jesus Christ I'm in heaven.

Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriends

Wheeee, Prince! I like Prince. Don't like his current copyright bullshit, but I still like his music.

Harper Lee - The Thought of You and Him

Not really that into this. Too "Boo hoo" and not enough of a hook.

Liquid Liquid - Optimo

I'm not familiar with the kind of thing I'm hearing.

Heavenly - So?

Uh.

Like this CD as well. All the chick rock is on my little travel iPod, as are lots of this song. Some weird stuff, but I think the general message of the track titles was worth it. Good mix!

B====D

I seem to be having a lot of minor spelling and grammar issues. Score!

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LuckyGuess wrote:

The Baby Machines - Malleable

DAAAAH LOVE IT. DAAAAAAH.

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Here's where I let everybody in on the little secret behind this one...

I co-wrote it.  The music's mine, Jess (the singer) wrote the words and the melody.  Glad you liked it.  :)

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UnknownEric wrote:

quote:

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LuckyGuess wrote:

The Baby Machines - Malleable

DAAAAH LOVE IT. DAAAAAAH.

---

Here's where I let everybody in on the little secret behind this one...

I co-wrote it.  The music's mine, Jess (the singer) wrote the words and the melody.  Glad you liked it.  :)

---

You have, in all liklihood, inadvertedly gotten me laid in the next 6-10 months with this piece of information. I just need to preface the conversation with "One time I ate lunch meat with Kansas."