Tag: Tuesday Time Machine

Hello and welcome!

For those reading my column for the first time, these monthly playlists which I’m re-visiting (and continuing to create) came about as a result of an idea I had back in January of 2010: an idea that woud see me create one 80 minute playlist a month.

The reason for doing this was two-fold: I wanted to create and re-enforce very specific lived experiences and memories tied to music, and I wanted a rather consistent set of songs to propel me each month as I created my art.

In creating these playlists, I tried to make things flow— I wanted songs to segue very effortlessly (or abrasively) creating a sense of narrative.

Going forward, once a week, I’m going to update the Spotify playlist that you can find below. 

I’d recommend not shuffling the songs, as they were sequenced the way that they were for a reason. To get the full experience, listen to them in the way in which I’ve arranged things.

Included below is a short description of the tune I’ve included, and/or a description of the specifics memory associated with it. If you’re not trying to read all of that, just hit play on the link above!

April 2014

1. To the World- Kanye West, R. Kelly, Teyana Taylor

Yow. Starting off with an R. Kelly feature?

We can pretend it’s Tank singing instead?

Tank is a better singer than R. Kelly, let’s go with that.

2. Get Closer- Moonstone Continuum

This was the closing song from the second album of one of my favorite Minneapolis bands.

Sean, one of my best friends I made in college, plays keyboards and contributes background vocals on here, and I love almost everything about this song. I’m particularly fond of the guitar solo towards the end of the song— an effortlessly beautiful, simple, and frame-able statement.

Jon Nielsen is the man who played said solo, and I actually got to have drinks with he and Sean, shortly before I left Minneapolis for good.

Mr. Nielsen was certainly my local guitar hero while I was living up there, and I was very thankful for the opportunity to compliment him on his playing, before I left.

3. Wrathchild- Iron Maiden

I think this is the song that made me re-asses whether my boycott of Pre-Bruce Dickinson Iron Maiden was actually a reasonable thing.

This is a smoking piece of music all around, but let’s give a special round of applause to Mr. Clive Burr whose drum kit brings to mind a particular vicious, slithering snake. 

I’m here for it all day, along with the slash-and-burn guitar work that we’re treated to in the chorus.

4. Bronchusevenmx- Autechre

Is Garbage my favorite Autechre release?

It might be.

Idk— this was a go-to cut during my days of doing super serious meditation in my attempt to beat panic disorder.

It certainly helped. Listening to this with your eyes closed, you can’t help but imagine yourself in some small Japanese studio apartment, alternately blinded and humbled by the neon lights outside, illuminating your room.

The percussive aspects are raindrops, of course, striking against the window in a way that’s both random and consistent. 

This is deep trance music, and I can assure you that if you get through all 9+ minutes of this without opening your eyes, you will feel leveled out, and almost fully at peace.

It’s a powerful thing when music is able to do something like that, and I’m both in admiration and appreciation of this.

5. Scarface- Freddie Gibbs and Madlib

As I said a few weeks ago, I’m not really a fan of, “Piñata.”

I think it’s just okay.

This is FAR AND AWAY the greatest song on the album. It’s the first real song for a reason.

It’s 100% a monster.

Both Madlib and Freddie Gibbs are very comfortable in their lanes here, and… yeah, even though what Freddie Gibbs is rapping about is pretty terrifying, you can’t help but be entranced by the persistence of his truth and performance.

6. Africa- D’Angelo

This is the prettiest song off of, “Voodoo?”

“Untitled,” is more famous, but I feel like I’m probably going to listen to this more often.

The closing number from the album, this is like the ultimate wind-down at the end of a perfect day. This is a very beautiful piece of music, but there’s a playfulness about it too. 

I find it similar to Prince’s, “Adore.” There are a couple of very Purple one-like inflections sprinkled throughout it, and I think this is the song that finally made me understand the specifics of D’Angelo’s appreciation of his heroes music.

7. Hold On- Pusha T, Kanye West, and Rick Ross

Strange as it may sound, this is the song that helped me navigate the day of my grandfather’s death with perhaps, more grace than I might have otherwise.

I received a phone call, early in the morning with the news, and after taking that in, I got to work, because that seemed like the right thing to do. 

I don’t think I listened to anything else that day, and it’s difficult for me to speak about this song otherwise, because I can only really think about how it helped me get through that day.

8/9. Smokin and Leanin/No Way Out- DJ Screw & Botany Boyz, Al-D

The Winter of 2014 was BRUTAL in Minneapolis, and I feel like it probably made leaving the city a lot easier for me.

I slept in a bedroom that was quite spacious, but also had no heat.

This meant that I sat at my drafting table wearing 2 or 3 layers, and the same when I slept.

Add in the panic disorder I was working with at the time, and it was… challenging.

DJ Screw’s music threw me a lifeline though. It would send me somewhere else when I listened to it, and almost make me forget about JUST HOW COLD that winter was.

These are probably my two favorite songs from, “3 ’N the Mornin (Part Two),” and as they segue so effortlessly into each other, I’ve included both of them in here.

10. Holding my own- The Darkness

That first album by The Darkness may be an all-time great.

I know, I know— they’re not breaking the mold, and perhaps it’s just, “pastiche,” but it’s a masterful piece of work that I can’t help but enjoy start to finish.

This is one of the heavier ballads on the album, and I definitely used to throw it on, when I was in some kind of mood. 

The guitar solos on here are some of my favorite from the album, and this is just an all-around great tune.

11. March to the Sea (BBC Live Version)- Baroness

Summer of 2012, I got to see this played live at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

It was just before Yellow and Green was released, so it was my first time hearing the song, and I’ll never forget it.

While the studio version of this song is magnificent, this live version is probably the way to go at the end of the day.

There’s a forcefulness present here that just… perhaps got lost when the band recorded this in the studio. The break with the twin leads a la Thin Lizzy also sounds positively MOLTEN in this version, and I delight in imagining a creaky cauldron overflowing, setting fire to straw below it.

This is one that is best played loud.

12. Forty Six & 2- Tool

I’m not a Tool expert, but I feel like this is the song that established the blueprint they’d follow on, “Lateralus,” a few years later?

The exotic rhythm and melody work found within the opening passage is as pretty as anything that Tool has ever done, and the chorus is a real bone-crusher. There’s a bit of swag in there too, which I always appreciate within the confines of modern metal.

My buddy Dave pointed out late last summer that 70s metal was more about groove than outright speed, and I think that’s both a fair an astute observation. Tool is unafraid to embrace some of that history here, and I think that’s cool.

In any case, this is a top-tier entry for them, and it features some especially wild drum work from Danny Carey towards the end– perhaps the highlight of the song.

This is also best played loud.

13. Murder to Excellence- Kanye West & Jay-Z

The second half of this song is possibly one of my favorite things that Kanye every produced.

Sonically, it’s just full-on astonishing.

He and Jay-Z’s verses are fine, but I feel like they’re overshadowed by just how incredible Kanye’s work behind the boards is.

14. Back at One- Brian McKnight

I’ll go to bat for this song.

It’s a STONE COLD CLASSIC.

If you disagree, you’re wrong.

Or, perhaps, you just weren’t at the right age in the 90s when this came out.

But come on, folks— what’s not to love here?

I seem to recall reading that Brian McKnight was inspired to write this after going through the step by step process of programming his VCR?

I think that’s kind of great.

Also, the late 90s– can we just have them back already?

If time stopped December 31st of 1998, and we just didn’t really go forward from there, I’d probably be alright with it.

15. The Will to Death- John Frusciante

When it comes to the quiet songs that John Frusciante has written, I think this one takes the cake as his greatest achievement.

It’s a dead simple piece of music, defined by how naked and vulnerable it is.

It’s not a happy tune, but it manages to exude an optimism of sorts, which I find curious. I feel like it’s a song for sunrise or sunset— though probably the latter.

It also features a really lyrical, albeit understated, double-tracked guitar solo to close things out. I deeply appreciate the simplicity, and almost child-like nature of it. It’s something that strikes me as just so very honest.

We need more of that honesty in music.

Hello and welcome!

For those reading my column for the first time, these monthly playlists which I’m re-visiting (and continuing to create) came about as a result of an idea I had back in January of 2010: an idea that woud see me create one 80 minute playlist a month.

The reason for doing this was two-fold: I wanted to create and re-enforce very specific lived experiences and memories tied to music, and I wanted a rather consistent set of songs to propel me each month as I created my art.

In creating these playlists, I tried to make things flow— I wanted songs to segue very effortlessly (or abrasively) creating a sense of narrative.

Going forward, once a week, I’m going to update the Spotify playlist that you can find below. 

I’d recommend not shuffling the songs, as they were sequenced the way that they were for a reason. To get the full experience, listen to them in the way in which I’ve arranged things.

Included below is a short description of the tune I’ve included, and/or a description of the specifics memory associated with it. If you’re not trying to read all of that, just hit play on the playlist above!

March 2017

1. Bumpa Grille- Chalie Boy

There will come a day when Houston will rightly be recognized as the most sonically critical, and trend-setting American city of the late 20th century.

Look, “slowed and reverb?”

That’s been around since the 90s, back when it was called, “chopped and screwed.”

I suppose the former doesn’t have the chops, but still— these 19 and 20 year old kids, whatever, whatever, they need to acknowledge they’d have nothing to stand on, without the work of the mighty DJ Screw.

In any case, Chalie Boy put this song out after Screw’s passing. This is the regular version too, so I’d really recommending going on Youtube, and listening to the chopped and screwed version, if you want to hear it in all its glory.

In any case, this song is flawless– and, when that deep-fried molasses mess of guitar crops up at 3:48?

Name something tougher or more menacing.

I’ll wait.

2. Lake by the Ocean- Maxwell

I first heard Maxwell sing when I was 8 or 9, and I remember being a bit shocked.

Even at that age, hearing his range, kind of blew my brain apart. Whenever, “Ascension,” came on the radio that summer, I was with it.

As he releases music so sporadically, he kind of fell off my radar, but I was delighted when I came across this, because it showed that he’s still got it.

There’s something effortless about this. The musical accompaniment is gorgeous to boot, and the bridge sounds like it’s submerged in both a lake and an ocean, so I’m all about that.

I feel like this is definitely more of a summertime song than something for March, but whatever season you play it in, I doubt that you’ll be able to feel anything but the warmth of the sun.

3. This is War- Thirty Seconds to Mars

I’m not a Jared Leto fan.

I don’t get it.

That said, I had to put this on here, as it recalled an important memory/milestone.

In 2017, Northwestern made the NCAA March Madness tourney.

I could be wrong, but I don’t think that had happened previously in my life.

While I’m not a religious devotee of NU, I’ve been to a lot of games in my life, and I’m happy when they’re doing well.

For the ceremony in which they announced seeding, my parents, my aunt, her college roommate, and I packed into the old basketball arena, and watched a montage video set to this.

And despite my feelings of antipathy towards Jared Leto, I’ll admit to having this move me.

I’m always going to smile when I hear this song, because it recalls a really happy moment for a lot of people.

4. Sumthin’ Wicked This way Comes- TLC featuring Andre 3000

I’m the dude who’s prepared to die on the hill that TLC’s “CrazySexyCool,” isn’t all that it’s hyped up to be.

It has four WORLD-CLASS songs, and the rest of it is… maybe, just not my cup of tea.

In any case, this is one of those world-class tunes, and probably what I’m going to listen to most often, if I have my way with the aux cord.

First off, we’re blessed with a magnificent Andre 3000 verse, and some top-tier production courtesy of Organized Noise.

T-Boz, Chilli, and Left Eye show up in fine form too, making this an all-around excellent piece of music.

5. Gorilla- Clams Casino

Man… if ever I’m going to sip tea, dark liquor, or red wine, and just watch torrential rain hit the window in a dark room, this is what I’m going to be listening to.

This is about as Clams Casino as Clams Casino is gonna get.

I’m not sure if I can explain things better than that, so I’d just encourage you to listen.

6. You Saved Me (Live)- Gary Clarke Jr.

When Gary Clarke Jr. finds his lane and starts cooking, it can be the most magical thing in the world.

As a soloist, he takes a lot of risks. This means that you’re not guaranteed fireworks every time, but when the magic is flowing through his fingers, I’d argue that there are few more exciting, lyrical, and brutally honest lead guitar players.

Thankfully, he was on fire when recorded this, and some of the lines that he comes with in here are nothing short of mesmerizing.

To be clear, this is a great song too, but he stretches out for over three minutes on his solo, and that’s what it’s really about.

Of particular note is what he starts cheffing around the 7:28 minute mark. It’s one of the greater ascending bits I’ve ever heard in a live context, and he’s aided by his very able-bodied band who’s 100% locked in behind him.

I can’t recommend this highly enough. Please listen.

7. Run to you- Whitney Houston

Growing up, when my mom was in charge of the CD player, we listened to the Bodyguard soundtrack. 

That or Bonnie Raitt.

Probably not as much Bonnie, because I remember my siblings and I making fun of that.

We were all in for Whitney though. And this was a well-liked tune.

Listening to this as an adult, it’s so sad thinking about what road she ended up going down, because my goodness— what a powerful, once in a generation voice. 

Her performance here is transcendent and flawless.

8. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill- Ms. Lauryn Hill

As many radio hits, and A1 pieces of certified-genius as this album had, I still think this might be my favorite cut.

It’s a sad song— a deeply introspective piece of music, but you can’t help but be mesmerized by it.

It’s kinda hard to tell if the strings in here are the real-deal, or if they come courtesy of a Mellotron, but I kinda hope it’s the latter.

The piano and organ work is flawless in here too: full of lyrical flourishes and coloring.

This is just a wonderful song, and deserves its title-cut status.

9. Godspeed- Frank Ocean

Depending on what day of the week it is, this might be my favorite song from, “Blonde.”

It’s simple, like most of the music found on the album, and it has a vulnerability to it that strikes me as very true.

10. Deja Vu- J. Cole

Though I might not always find J. Cole’s music to be my cup of tea, I have a lot of respect for his craft.

I feel like he’s someone who makes a very concerted effort to push himself. He goes out of his way to make moves that might be out of his comfort zone, or, what’s, “in vogue.”

I got back and forth with regards to whether I prefer Bryson Tiller’s version or this, but I will say, that when I’m in the mood, this song hits pretty hard, and I like it.

11. Trap Trap Trap (featuring Young Thug and Wale)- Rick Ross and Wale

Young Thug is one of the few true originals making popular music right now, and Wale can rap a lot better than he gets credit for, so I really like this song.

This song is something for slow motion, or a sound system, so enjoying accordingly. 

12. RiRi- Young Thug

Young Thug is outrageous, he knows it, and his music is made brilliant by him embracing these things.

This song is all over the place, but if there was a better beat made in 2016, I’m not aware of it. I listened to the chopped and screwed version of this A LOT, when this song first came across my radar, and my life is better for it.

13. Good Riddance (Time of You Life)- Green Day

I don’t know why this song made it on here.

I was probably feeling sentimental about something, and this struck me a certain way.

This song gets hated on, but if I’m in the right mood, I really love it.

14. The Ecstatics- Explosions in the sky

This song had me feeling some kind of way.

First of all, I’m not sure music has any business being this pretty.

I think it had me in tears once.

Interestingly enough, I was exposed to this, because of the, “Power Rangers,” reboot movie that came out a few years back?

That’s a fact— no question mark needed, actually.

But yes, one of the benefits of working in after-school programming was getting to see whatever the hot movie was for middle schoolers, even when those movies were kind of bad, because they usually had a little bit of good in the mix, if you didn’t completely check out.

15. Ancient Kingdom- Mastodon

No jokes, this song might have my favorite guitar solo of the 2010s?

I might take that back when I think more about it, but man, Brent Hinds cooks something outrageous in here.

I’ve listened to JUST THE SOLO on loop for hours while drawing, because it’s that hypnotic, pervasive, and wonderful.

Of particular note is what Brann Dailor is laying down on his kit too, because, it’s some nutty polyrhythmic shit, that brings a delicious added texture to the proceedings.

And when the rhythm guitar finally enters the mix at the half-way mark?

I’m dead.

Do not resuscitate.  

16. The Real Me- The Who

I found out about this song when I was 16 or 17, becuase it was named, “The Greatest Classic Rock Bass Performance Ever,” by some website my brother and I used to visit.

And you know what?

It might be.

For the uninitiated, this song is essentially a three-and-a-half minute bass solo being played by John Entwistle that happens to have a song going on atop it.

Here, Pete Townshend’s guitar is the rhythm instrument, and Entwistle’s bass is the lead.

It’s fully incredible, and if you’ve never heard this before, I need you to drop everything that you’re doing to bask in its brilliance.

You will not be disappointed.

Hello and welcome!

Damn… haven’t missed a post here since last year, but it was SO, SO, NICE yesterday that I had to walk for about 3+ hours, and… well.

In any case, for those reading my column for the first time, these monthly playlists which I’m re-visiting (and continuing to create) came about as a result of an idea I had back in January of 2010: an idea that would see me create one 80 minute playlist a month.

The reason for doing this was two-fold: I wanted to create and re-enforce very specific lived experiences and memories tied to music, and I wanted a rather consistent set of songs to propel me each month as I created my art.

In creating these playlists, I tried to make things flow— I wanted songs to segue very effortlessly (or abrasively) creating a sense of narrative.

Going forward, once a week, I’m going to update the Spotify playlist that you can find below. 

I’d recommend not shuffling the songs, as they were sequenced the way that they were for a reason. To get the full experience, listen to them in the way in which I’ve arranged things.

Included below is a short description of the tune I’ve included, and/or a description of the specifics memory associated with it. If you’re not trying to read all of that, just hit play on the link above!

March 2014

1. God Moving the Face of the Waters- Moby

Before he blew up, Moby had a few really excellent tunes on the soundtrack for Michael Mann’s magnum opus, “Heat.”

This is one of those tunes.

While the specifics of shootout between Neal and Detective Hanna are subject to perhaps some criticism/plausibility issues, the film’s final shot and overall resolution are both quite powerful. This sets an appropriate tone for the moment, and continues the vibe into the film’s credits.

An arresting, if not sad piece of music, I have nothing but love for it.

2. Province- TV on the Radio

When their first album came out, I was so stuck on, “Wolf Like me,” that I just… I don’t know, I didn’t really give the rest of the tunes on the album a fair shot.

Thankfully, I’d rectify that later in life, and come to appreciate how incredible this song is.

Ethereal, epic, and effortlessly beautiful, it contains just about everything that I love when it comes to pretty and/or space music. 

It speaks to an optimism of sorts, and on a day when it’s 60-some-odd degrees by the lake in the Land of Lincoln, I’m with it.

3. Barael’s Blade- The Sword

This made my playlist because I saw The Sword live for the second time in March of 2014.

Like the first show of theirs that I saw, it was highly enjoyable, and certain sections straight-up knocked my teeth out.

This is one of The Sword’s heavier, more pummeling early efforts, and the cymbal work found here borders on pure madness.

I love it though. Play it loud.

4. Comrade- Volcano Choir

I really, really, liked Volcano Choir’s second album.

I feel like they get written off as, “Justin Vernon’s other band,” but that’s not really fair.

There are shades of Bon Iver in here to be sure, but I feel like they also more firmly engage, “alternative rock,” as opposed to Bon Iver’s weirdo folk/glitch hybrid of late.

The chorus in here is a soaring, empowering blast of pure love, and it gets me a bit emotional sometimes.

To be clear, I can’t understand what he’s saying, but it strikes me as earnest and true, and I’m appreciative of that.

5. Pyramid- Photek

For the record, Photek’s, “Ni Ten Ichi Ryu,” is hands down, my favorite piece of drum and bass music ever recorded. 

It might be my favorite piece of electronic music ever recorded, to be honest.

I’m not sure if he ever once again climbed to the heights of that tune, but he came damn close here.

Whereas “Ni Ten Ichi Ryu,” is his love letter to ninjas and samurais, this evokes some decidedly more exotic middle eastern flavor, and not in a cheesy way either.

This is probably what Indy and the boys were bumping when they had their marathon dig session for the Well of Lost Souls.

Or, is it the Cave of Lost souls?

In either case, I could watch, “Raiders,” once a week, and never get sick of it.

6. Five Preludes for Solo Guitar, W 419: Prelude No. 3 in A Minor: Andante- Sonja Prunnbauer

I came across this tune when I was suffering from panic disorder, and I used to play it in an attempt to calm myself down.

I got varying mileage there, but at it’s best, this would allow me to kind of push my problems away momentarily, and focus on my breathing instead.

I hadn’t listened to it in many years until today, and now that I no longer suffer from panic disorder, it’s really nice to be able to appreciate it as just a really striking, introspective piece of music, and opposed to musical medicine.

7. Flight- Hans Zimmer

I kind of loved Man of Steel.

Yeah, it had some real problems, but it had some great things going for it too, namely, America’s greatest living actor MISTER Michael Shannon.

Is Shannon ACTUALLY the best?

He really might be.

Obviously, this movie is nowhere close to his career-defining work, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t have a hell of a lot of fun, playing General Zod.

Also, I think that’s Johnny Marr on here, playing that slide guitar?

Anyways, Hans Zimmer did some interesting things, with his Batman and Superman themes.

In both case, they kind of don’t resolve?

The Batman one certainly doesn’t, which I suppose is fitting, because Batman’s job is never done, yeah?

Here though, for Superman’s, there’s a heaviness and weight that I guess kinda… dips out, but then it comes around?

I’m not doing a very good job of explaining myself. Give it a listen though, cuz it’s pretty excellent.

8. Southside- Common featuring Kanye West

Everyone— remember when Kanye West used to make music like THIS?

His line about, “… tear them all up/tear the mall up,” may well be one of my favorite things ever, because it embodies the playful cleverness that used to be such a hallmark of his music.

Common’s contributions here are fine, but this is mostly Kanye’s show, with a filthy fuzz-tone fueled beat, and a vintage verse.

I still love this.

9. Check ’n Me Out- Def Squad

Def Squad only put out one proper album which is a bummer because… man… in 1998, Redman was MOST CERTAINLY at the height of his powers, and Keith Murray and Erick Sermon were still throwing haymakers for sure.

This is basically three REALLY good rappers talking a whole boatload of shit, but, you know what? All three of them can back it up, and the beat’s great too.

10. Uno- Freddie Gibbs and Madlib

I’m one of like, 4 people who didn’t think Piñata was a very good album.

Sorry folks, it just didn’t do it for me.

That said, there are 3 or 4 songs that I love DEARLY, and this is one of them.

I think it’s because it’s an outlier on the album— it almost sounds like it doesn’t belong.

The synths twinkle a little too much for a Madlib beat, and I could see this being on the radio at one point in time, which I don’t think you could say for the rest of what’s on the album.

This is a good song to drive to. It’s a perfect late night highway cruising song.

11. Erotic City- Prince

This is a naughty song, and I think I felt a little scandalous the first time I heard the chorus because I was at work– in a, “family,” restaurant.

I’m pretty sure we hadn’t opened for the day yet, and the cooks were bumping it in the back, but in either instance, yeah– a bit dirty.

When Prince passed away, I believe The Current in Minneapolis played the entirety of his commercial discography, save for this song and a few others because… you kinda just couldn’t.

In any instance, this belongs alongside Prince’s best 80s work. It’s a great tune.

12. Fireworks

I have conflicting opinions about, “Strawberry Jam,” as an album, though I’m pretty sure my brother loves it. 

There are days where I think it’s fully brilliant, and days where I think it’s a mess, masquerading as brilliance.

However I’m feeling, I always find myself in awe of this song.

It almost shouldn’t work because it’s really just… noise? But there’s melody sneaking around in there too, and it kinda sounds like someone losing their minds, which I always find fascinating.

Animal Collective stans, if you want to go at me in the comments, I’ll understand.

13. Heart it Races- Architecture in Helsinki

This is a great cover.

I heard this on a winter road trip to a Wisconsin cabin, and though we had snow, snow, and more snow on our drive, this put some sunshine in the mix.

The bassline here is a strutter, which I always love, but the real star is an ascending guitar figure in here that’s almost King Crimson-esque. Juxtaposed against a groove that brings to mind David Bowie’s, “Fame,” it seems a bit strange, but it also makes sense, because Bowie called up Robert Fripp to play guitar on both, “Heroes,” and “Scary Monsters”?

Okay, I’m done.

14. Mystery Man- Terje Rypdal

Synth-y 90s smooth jazz with blues undertones sounds really, really, bad on paper, but man— young Terje pulls it off here.

Actually, he might have been old when he recorded this, I don’t know.

Like the first song from this playlist, this comes to us courtesy of, “Heat,” When Robert DeNiro is falling madly in love with Judging Amy.

Amy Brenneman?

I could Google that, but we’re just gonna go with Judging Amy.

Man, I might have to watch, “Heat,” tonight now… just gotta clear 3+ hours from my schedule.

15. Madre no Llores- Munchi

I’m trying to remember how I came across this, and I’m struggling to do so.

I think it was recommended to me on Spotify, because I was bumping Photek?

It definitely has a similar flavor to it, so that makes sense.

In any case, this is like deep contemplation, or night-time drawing music. It’s best enjoyed with headphones.

16. Lord of Light- Iron Maiden

The riff that kicks in at 1:41 is one of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE things Iron Maiden has ever recorded.

That’s saying something too.

What makes this one special is the immediacy and borderline panic that it exudes. To my ears, Iron Maiden doesn’t necessarily have that anywhere else in their catalogue?

That’s poorly worded– they do, but nothing that’s played like this.

I feel like a riff like that is the kind of thing that kicks off when the power plant is about to blow up, and you only have 30 seconds to get clear.

The rest of the song here is pretty good too, but man, oh, man, that riff— it’s just in a league of its own.

I love it.

Hello and welcome!

For those reading my column for the first time, these monthly playlists which I’m re-visiting (and continuing to create) came about as a result of an idea I had back in January of 2010: an idea that would see me create one 80 minute playlist a month.

The reason for doing this was two-fold: I wanted to create and re-enforce very specific lived experiences and memories tied to music, and I wanted a rather consistent set of songs to propel me each month as I created my art.

In creating these playlists, I tried to make things flow— I wanted songs to segue very effortlessly (or abrasively) creating a sense of narrative.

Going forward, once a week, I’m going to update the Spotify playlist that you can find below. 

I’d recommend not shuffling the songs, as they were sequenced the way that they were for a reason. To get the full experience, listen to them in the way in which I’ve arranged things.

Included below is a short description of the tune I’ve included, and/or a description of the specifics memory associated with it. If you’re not trying to read all of that, just hit play on the link above!

March 2011

1. (The Infamous Prelude)- Mobb Deep

I know, I know. This song is essentially, the late Prodigy talking a WHOLE lot of shit about anyone who might cross him and Havoc.

Apparently, this led to an altercation with Keith Murray, a year or two later?

In any case, this track is MOSTLY here to act as a COMPLETE and total tonal counterpoint to:

2. Mujer Hermosa- Los Incomparables

My Spanish isn’t good enough to understand what’s being sung about here, BUT, this is a jovial sounding piece of celebratory music with some great horn work.

I really, really love it.

3. I’ll Try Anything Once- Julian Casablancas

I’d bet good money anyone who’s heard the demo of this track can remember exactly HOW shook they were the first time they heard it.

This is a live version, cuz Spotify obviously doesn’t have demos up, but it’s still solid.

The song that this would become is also a great number by The Strokes, but this is a better piece of music (I think).

Pretty naked, and not-quite-perfect, there’s an honesty about it that lets the lyrics shine through. I’m appreciative of that, and there are few tunes that make me feel like I’m 23 again, like this one.

4. Drifter- Wild Nothing

Aw, man. Anyone remember Wild Nothing?

“Gemini,” was incredible, and this was the standout number from it.

Bright enough the begin the thaw of spring, but also kinda icy because… you know— we get snow in March in the midwest. 

Fun fact, my buddy J. RESSSSSSSSSSS has a legendary Rickenbacker bass, that was used in recording this album, if I remember correctly.

I’ll have to call him and check.

5. Laura- Girls

My brother and I were jamming HARD to this album when it came out.

Our music tastes were not as in sync as they once were at this point in time, but I recall us having at least one conversation about how this album kicked ass.

The bass is a lot more present than I remember, and it’s just as easy to sing along to as it was all those years ago.

6. Under the Hedge- Ted Leo and The Pharmacists

Man… I went through a BIG Ted Leo phase towards the end of college.

This was probably my second favorite song off of, “The Tyranny of Distance,” and it recalls a lot of optimism and happiness for me.

Pitch perfect as a pop song, this one is best for a mid-afternoon bike cruise on a sunny day.

7. Big Brother- Stevie Wonder

For awhile, this was my favorite Stevie Wonder song.

It’s something that manages to be fairly understated, even though there’s a lot going on, and I respect that.

Lyrically, it’s one of his more biting criticisms, and though blunt, when he sings, “I live in the ghetto, you just come to visit me around election time,” it hits hard.

Further adding to the brilliance of the song is the fact that it’s a really upbeat (almost celebratory) thing from an instrumentation standpoint, in spite of the song’s rather crushing narrative.

8. Sweet Angel- Jimi Hendrix

This is as intimate and slinky as Jimi Hendrix ever got (in my humble opinion).

I first heard this when I was 14 or 15, as my guitar teacher played it for me on a nylon string acoustic.

I knew it was very pretty sounding, but I just didn’t get it. 

Thankfully, that changed when I grew up.

9. Runaway- Kanye West

MBDTF came out like 5 months before I made this playlist?

In any case, I couldn’t get over this song.

Maybe I still can’t.

It might be Kanye West’s, “Stairway to Heaven,” for my money.

I don’t think we need another person diving into the brilliance of this piece of music, so I’ll just say that 10+ years after its initial release, it’s still a potent, incredible statement.

10. Heaven or Las Vegas- Cocteau Twins

While this doesn’t get my vote for the best tune from, “Heaven or Las Vegas,” it’s fully deserving of its title cut status.

The chorus is… I don’t know, the best part of every dream that you ever had and were unable to recall, until this made its way into your ear canals.

While I’m not sure I can say I’m, “old,” at 33, this song brings to mind a very vigorous, energized feeling within me, and reminds me of when I used to have more rosy, albeit naive opinions about art.

11. My First Kiss at the Public Execution- Blood Brothers

I know Blood Brothers really aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I had a few friends from college who really, really, loved them, and I would come to as well, the more I listened to their music.

There’s something about this that manages to be catchy, even though the vocals are borderline grating. 

This is some prime early-2010s scene shit, to be sure, but it brings to mind some people I haven’t seen in many, many, years who I miss dearly.

12. Ticks & Leeches- Tool

Is there a more simultaneously cathartic, terrifying, and invigorating moment in 21st century metal, than when Mr. Marynard screams “Suck me dry,” at the top of his lungs whilst Tool teeters on the brink of full-on Death Metal?

I’m thinking no.

This is another song that is definitely not for everyone. That said, if you’re in the right mood, this is 100% some of the toughest shit that ever came down the pipe, and you should check it out, if you never have before.

13. Toussaint L’Overture (Live)- Santana

I’ll just say this:

Everything that I love about Santana and his band’s music is dialed up to 11, here, and I’ll always be here for it.

Marvelous, marvelous.

14. California Love- Tupac, Dr. Dre, and Roger Troutman

Look, Dr. Dre and Tupac are good and all that, but let’s talk about Roger Troutman on the talk box, singing about, “Computer-puter-puter-puter,”

There will never be anything better.

15. Snake Pond- Raekwon

Rae’s followup to Cuban Linx II kinda flew under the radar, which is a bit unfortunate, because it’s pretty solid.

This was the album’s standout track by a mile, and it manages to be both creepy and slick.

16. Climbing up the Walls- Radiohead

For awhile, this was probably my favorite Radiohead song.

After listening to it again this past week, maybe it has that distinction, once again.

To be clear, this song is scary as shit and horrifying, but man— do they make both of those things sound awesome.

Pretty sure I read that this song is about home invasion and a serial killer, so again— not the best, but this is like a James Bond song by way of early Bjork, cut with heroin, bleach, and laundry detergent, or whatever scary-ass drugs people were doing in the mid-late 90s.

Probably going on repeat as I work tonight. We’ll see.

17. Cuddle Fuddle- Passion Pit

Something light, so we didn’t end on pure terror, yeah?

This song is kinda silly, but I still like it.

Not as great as, “Sleepyhead,” but what is?