Editor’s note: DeadJournalist.com proudly presents Jon Wolf’s monthly mixtape. As always, to get all the links, join his mailing list: highlyrecd (at) gmail.com or visit his Web site: http://highlyrecd.blogspot.com.
HIGHLY REC’D – THE MONTHLY MIXTAPE
Because good music is a right, not a privilege.
By: Jon Wolf
November ’09: “Why Don’t You Stop…FIGHTING ME?!”
1. Tegan and Sara – Hell
2. Two Hours Traffic – Territory
3. Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band – Who’s Asking
4. Pull Tiger Tail – Loki
5. Wolf Gang – The King And All Of His Men
6. Sea Wolf – O Maria!
7. Port O’Brien – Sour Milk / Salt Water
8. The Sorrys – Achievement Races (special thanks: Herohill)
9. Maritime – For Science Fiction (live, Daytrotter Session)
10. Frightened Rabbit – Nothing Like You (live, Seattle 10/11/09) (special thanks: Peenko)
11. Diamond Rings – All Yr Songs
12. Weezer – Put Me Back Together (Rich Costey Mix)
13. Julian Casablancas – 11th Dimension
14. Discovery – So Insane
15. Half-Handed Cloud – Can’t Even Breathe On My Own Hand
16. They Might Be Giants – Meet The Elements (live, Jimmy Fallon 10/06/09) (special thanks: Culture Bully)
17. Sugar – Hoover Dam (1992)
18. The Jet Age – It Could Be Brand New
19. The Gaslight Anthem – Old White Lincoln
20. Hallelujah The Hills – Blank Passports
21. Hallelujah The Hills – Classic Tapes
22. Stylusboy – Open
23. Meiko – How Lucky We Are
24. Local Natives – Shape Shifter
25. Local Natives – Stranger Things
New Feature: Quick Reviews
Hallelujah The Hills are really good.
New Feature: The Demo Album
Oh yeah, by the way, I’m a Weezer apologist, meaning I listen to their new releases, squint really hard and try to find the slightest positive thing that kinda/sorta sounds like their first few albums (for example: the “best” song (not) on the album is the alternate mix of “Put Me Back Together”, the mix has more prominent guitar and drum parts, it helps a little, but it’s still just okay, the “drool” and “ice cream” lyrics don’t help), and after convincing yourself that one song on the album is good enough, you say: maybe next time. We’re the music equivalent of Cubs fans.
Although that performance on Letterman with the horn section was surprisingly strong. See? I’m doing it again.
Part of the frustration is the massive amount of demo material that has been floating around for years (some of which has been released on the recent Rivers solo albums); tons of promising little songs and snippets that had everyone so excited…and then the albums came out.
