The Badlands

Hello Eleventilicious crew.

i have just mailed out all the October cds tonight, a little behind schedule. i hope they get to you soon.

As a note, i didn't mean for this mix to be so personal, in the sense that i am randomly sharing my life with a group of people that i don't know at all (except for a small taste of your fine musical preferences), but i suppose that all my mix tapes are about mood and feeling and memory. i am not sure though, why i decided to spill so much personal bullshit in the liner notes. So please pardon the over-sharing.

The Badlands is not as emo as the title might suggest. Actually, it is far more literal in the geographical sense, in that i was remembering a trip at the end of this summer through the badlands of the Alberta prairies. And it was a good trip, and a good summer, save for, well, i guess, feelings and emotions, which are not my forte.

The other thing about this mix is that i spent summer traversing the whole of North America for microbial conferences (yay grad school reimbursements!) and other fun life stuff, one of the stops being nxne in Toronto. nxne was a lot of fun and it was a blast running around in the nighttime heat trying to see as many awesome bands as possible with friends, so a lot of the bands on the mix were at nxne. And in hindsight, they are all super good at capturing my state of internal craziness, hence the appearance of so many nxne alumni on the mix.

So i hope you enjoy The Badlands. And thank you for letting me be a part of Eleventilicious.

cy

September CD

Hi All!

Just an FYI that I heard from Billy Kleinfeld and he put his September CDs in the mail today! He's not on the blog and apologized for his tardiness- so I just wanted to pass along the news.

Dice, Brassknuckles and Guitar

Hi, all! I hope this CD finds everyone well, and that everyone is having a great summer.
When first thinking about this collection, I considered multiple themes – “music about music”, “music with place names in the title”, “music by children of more famous musicians” – but, I ultimately decided to go with no real theme.

However, I still wanted a bit of a challenge. My instinct when putting together collections of music is always to go right to indie rock, so I knew I wanted to go a bit of a different route. Consequently, this collection has a bit of an alt-country flavour to it. See, since joining an alt-country band a while ago, I’ve been listening to a lot of music I never really paid much attention to before, and found that there’s a lot of really great stuff out there.

This is a collection of songs from those albums which have really stuck with me, songs which carry all of the same qualities that I’m drawn to in songs from any other genre: great musicianship, clever, well-written lyrics, and substance. Songs with beautiful stories like Damien Jurado’s “Abilene”, a song so well-written and recorded that it manages to trigger a bit of synaesthesia in me as I actually hear dark blues and blacks. Songs that find a unique way to tell us about love, like Hayes Carll’s charming song “Girl Downtown”. Songs that tickle my existential anxiety, such as First Aid Kit’s haunting cover of the Fleet Foxes tune “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song”, proving that it is possible to take an already great song and turn it into something even better.

In addition to songs I’ve been listening to more recently, I did manage to include a number of old favourites in this collection, as well; selected songs that I feel fit. Among others, there’s the Silver Jews’ whimsical “Honk If You’re Lonely”, the Kinks’ timeless “Strangers”, and a fitting outro with Will Oldham’s “I Am Goodbye”.

Thanks to Eleventilicious, I’ve had a really interesting year in music, and I’m looking forward to hearing the rest of the contributions. I hope everyone enjoys this collection as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

I meant to include this on the July Eleventilicious Playlist

This was a recent find through NPR and I meant to include this on my playlist. I even ordered the vinyl. Better late than never. Enjoy.

The Sounds & Scents of Summer July Eleventilicious CD

1. The Sound of Sunshine-Michael Franti-Michael Franti is one of my favorite all-time artists. While his lyrics and musical style are quite simple, this song and video epitomize the sound of summer to me. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Michael Franti through work and not only is he generous and kind in his lyrics and in his personal life, but he was and is to this fan. Never have I seen 5,000 people hold hands and sing lyrics like I did at the Coachella Festival Michael Franti tent. It made me forget the 60 water bottles I had to drink on that 120 degree weather day (Ugggh!) in Palm Springs.
2. Life For Rent-Dido-This album (and another song in particular on this album) symbolized a step towards my freedom about 9 years ago. This song was selected for this album because of Dido’s reference to the sea and some of my internal longings and fantasies about the living by the water well before I moved to Redondo Beach where I currently live. Her lyrics, in this song, move me and take me to a different space and place each and everytime I listen to it.
3. Anytime You Need Me-Michael Franti-I had to sneak another Michael Franti song in here somewhere. This relaxed soulful melody to me is the perfect sound track while laying out in the California sun-at the beach. While the simplicity of his songs and lyrics speak to me, I value him as an artist who is representative of so many things in which I believe: freedom, positivity, living life with joy and happiness and everything that is simple and uncomplicated.
4. On the Sunny Side of the Ocean-John Fahey-I chose this song because of its title. I do think John Fahey is one of the best acoustic guitarists of all time. His art is classic.
5. You and Me-Dave Matthews-This song is one of my all-time favorite songs. It represents everything I like about life’s simplicities PLUS it references the ocean, with whom I have had a long-time love affair. This song represents an escapism and the romanticism I feel when I’m by the water. When I first heard DMB’s lyrics of “and when when we get to the ocean, gonna to take the boat to the end of the world,” they instantly reminded me of my mom’s favorite song of all-time called “La Barca,” which is a song that was written in the early 1920’s. “La Barca” is also featured on this CD. DMB’s song is more about escaping with a loved one. “La Barca” is about a loved one leaving on a boat as you’ll read later.
6. Only The Ocean-Jack Johnson-Our household owns every recording ever done by this artist. He’s our go-to artist when we are wanting to open up the windows to let the ocean breezes in and begin to enjoy the start of warmer weather.
7. Under The Sun-Mia Todd-I love this indie song. However, the lyrics of, “the cream in my coffee” bug the heck out of me. Disregard them. The rest of the song I can keep. She’s one of my most recent discoveries. I love that she sings in Spanish, Portuguese, and English on her most recent album-all languages I understand. She just now needs to add songs in French and in Italian so all of my languages are covered.
8. To The Sea-Jack Johnson-His connection to the ocean rings deeply with mine. Jack always takes me to my easy breezy pace and space in which I like to remain.
9. Surboard-Sergio Mendes and Will.I.Am-This song is not my favorite style of music but I do find the mixture of the king of Bossa Nova with the king of contemporary pop a bit interesting. International collaborations are always of interest to me. They add flava to the recipe.
10. Rockaway Beach-The Ramones-How could I not include The Ramones in this compilation? Don’t all roads in rock end with The Ramones? The Ramones not only influenced my taste in music but they’ve also inspired one of my favorite artists of all-time, U2. U2’s song “In A Little While” which might just be my all-time favorite song was the last song heard by Joey Ramone before he died.
11. Here Comes The Sun-The Beatles-I would be remiss if I didn’t add this classic song. It’s shimmery lightness is always a delight and keeps me thinking of summer-all year long.
12. The House of The Rising Sun-The Animals-I just added this song to my playlist recently after I heard it played at a local bar when we were out with friends on a Saturday Night. My first thought: “Another Sound & Scent of Summer-The House of The Rising Sun!”
13. Sunshine of Your Love-Cream-If you know me, you will know that I love classic everything: Classic architecture, classic rock, classic clothes, classic everything. Not being one who follows trends, this song jumped out when looking at my playlist to create this CD compilation.
14. Walking on Sunshine-Katrina & The Waves-Not only did the song fit but the CD title but so did the artist name. This song while poppy makes me happy and makes me want to walk on sunshine-always.
15. Soak Up The Sun-Sheryl Crow-This song has two of my favorite all-time lines in a song. These lines make me take ownership of this song. “It's not having what you want. It’s wanting what you’ve got.” and “Don't have no master suite.I'm still the king of me.” Growing up in Mexico, I didn’t grow up with as many things as kids who did grow up with in the States. I’m actually quite happy I grew up this way. I have a much more contented heart as a result of this upbringing than most Americans, learning to love what I’ve got instead of thinking about what I don’t have.
16. Saturday Sun-Nick Drake-My son who is away in college on the East Coast has made me rediscover artists I loved and has made me love them ALL OVER again. His intense love and passion for all genres of music has allowed me to find “new finds” from the past. Nick Drake is one of them. I’m thankful I have reconnected with Nick. More importantly, I’m thankful that it wasn’t through Facebook!
17. I Can See Clearly Now-Jimmy Cliff- Do you remember the song, “It Never Rains in Southern California?” Well, I’ve got news. It does. And it rains alot-particularly in the winter. This song is always played in our household when the sun finally comes out in the winter. Usually, it means 79 degree days in the dead of winter when the rest of the country is snowed in. This song plays to those days and my love for seeking the sun again.
18. Margaritaville-Jimmy Buffet-I chose this song because of it’s reference to flip flops and what would summer be without flip flops? Additionally and more importantly, what would summer be WITHOUT margaritas? I love how the lyrics bulld from, “But I know it’s nobody’s fault” to “Hell, It could be my fault” to “And I know it’s my own damn fault.” We’ve all been there, right? Let’s just say this song is my own recovering Catholic confession. It’s ALWAYS MY FAULT!!!! :)
19. Summer Lover-Mia Doi Todd-Why not? She’s my-new-favorite -find and the title fits the theme.

21. Gracias a La Vida-Mia Doi Todd- I would be remiss if I didn’t include two songs that are reflective of my upbringing. Song 21 is also by Mia Doi Todd. This, however, is a song in Spanish and it speaks to the Latina in me. The song title translated means ”Thank you to Life.” Who knew that a little girl from Mexico who told her grandmother by age 4 that she was going to live by the beach would actually get to do that? This song speaks to that 4 year-old girl who had a dream and didn’t forget it. While it took an additional 36 years to get to the beach, I finally got here and this is my hommage to that dream. I thank “life” for getting me here and for literally allowing me to live and breathe almost 12 months of the year, The Sounds & Scents of Summer. PS-That little 4-year-old didn’t get to see the beach until age 20.

22.La Barca-Luis Miguel-This song was originally written in the 1920’s and is a classic song throughout Latin America. It was revived by Luis Miguel in the 1990’s and it became a huge international hit when he recorded it. I didn’t originally know this song through Luis Miguel. I knew this song originally because it’s my mother’s favorite all-time song. I heard it played by Mariachis in my home when my dad would seranade me on my birthdays with live music. I heard it played on my mom and dad’s old victrola. The song’s lyrics are beautiful and also make an ocean reference “The beach is draped in bitterness because your boat will sail away to cross other seas of madness.” This song is about a love lost and yet ends in hope.

It is my hope that these songs share a little about me: My-not-so-cool-taste in music like many of you who have such awesome indie tastes. This playlist reflects many of the things I love: Music, the sun, the ocean, the guitar, the art of simplicity, and songs that speaks of love without saying the word “love” but instead are about the “act of devotion”-something I proudly show to my friends, family, and loved ones.

Summer of Divisors Tracklist

Hi all! Sorry it has taken me most of the month to get June’s mix out to all of you. Unfortunately, I have been packing for an out-of-state move and working on the last stages of my dissertation while compiling this album, so it’s been a busy month!

This album contains only songs that are in 3/4 time or some variant such as 6/4 or 6/8. I’ll admit that I have a hard time telling the difference between 6/4 and 6/8, and I think it sometimes just depends on the sheet music (which may not even exist for some songs, if the writer doesn’t compose that way). I may have even gotten some of them wrong in my descriptions below. But I’ve always loved waltzes and anything that can be counted in multiples of threes.

Which brings me to the album’s name: I wanted this album to be summery (it loosely progresses from daytime to nighttime feel), but couldn’t resist throwing some darker songs in. Also, clearly the greatest common divisor of the beats in each measure (and the sixth month, June, as well as the number of days in said month) is 3. And finally, “summer” is a sad little pun that adds a mathematical flavor (i.e., “sum”). :)

One last note: Frustratingly, I lost almost all touch with the music world when I began grad school in 2007. Almost all of this music comes from before then, and most noticeably from a stretch of the 2000s when I was most musically attentive. Luckily, good songs never lose their appeal!
Enjoy!


1. “Tennessee Waltz” Patti Page- This song was recorded by Patti Page in 1950. My Japanese mother, born that year, used to sing it around the house when I was growing up. When making this album, I learned that “Tennessee Waltz” was once the top-selling song of all time in Japan…that explains it! This song is a classic, with harmonies that are the epitome of “dulcet.”

2. “Pop Quiz” Stereolab- A fun, summery, swingy song. I love the bubbly popping sounds in the intro.

3. “Into You” Richard X featuring Jarvis Cocker- This song samples “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star (another 6/8 song). It is the sexiest song I’ve heard in a while (thanks to Jarvis, lead singer of Pulp), and I was obsessed with it a few months ago when I first heard it.

4. “Jenny You’re Barely Alive” Rilo Kiley- I’m a big fan of Rilo Kiley and Jenny Lewis’s other projects. This song is from a compilation put out by Saddle Creek, their label.

5. “Electric Feel” MGMT- This is one of the few reasonably contemporary bands I’ve caught wind of recently. This song is truly in 6/4 time, whereas most pop/rock songs with 6 beats per measure are in 6/8 time (i.e, using eighth notes instead of quarter notes).

6. “Sprout and the Bean” Joanna Newsom- I first heard this song in the horror movie The Strangers. It’s amazing that I can still enjoy Joanna’s eerie, childlike voice and harp-playing, but the song is very pretty and sunny in the right context. (Don’t listen to this song alone at night in an old house in the middle of the woods.)

7. “Daysleeper” R.E.M.- Always loved this single off the Up album, and it makes a really great ringtone for your morning alarm.

8. “A.M. 180” Grandaddy- Grandaddy is my favorite band in the world, and this is one of their trademark songs. It was in 28 Days Later, and people tend to either love or hate the quirky electronic loop running throughout.

9. “Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space” Spiritualized- Classic song that is a spin-off of another classic song, “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (which is also 6/8).

10. “Love Will Come Through” Travis- I think of this song as the one that was on the Garden State promotional website but not on the soundtrack. I was very frustrated that this song wasn’t identified on the site or the soundtrack…several years later, I discovered that I had owned it all along on a Travis album that I hadn’t listened to thoroughly.

11. “Susanne” Weezer- From the Mallrats soundtrack. “My Name is Jonas” by Weezer is also a 6/8 song. My favorite line of this song is, “Even Izzy, Slash, and Axl Rose…when I call, you put them all on hold.”

12. “Nude” Radiohead- Lovely, quiet song off In Rainbows.

13. “Forever” Turin Brakes- I love this achingly beautiful song, and Turin Brakes in general.

14. “Los Angeles Waltz” Razorlight- I am not sure this is technically a waltz (3/4), because it sounds like 6/8 to me. But I like it anyway!

15. “For Your Eyes” Micah P. Hinson- If I had to proselytize about anyone on this album, it would be this guy. I saw him open for The Paper Chase a couple of years ago, and I was completely knocked over. He looked like an absolute wisp of an indie kid, sneakers and nerdy glasses and pale hair and eyes, and then he opened his mouth and a gruff, melodic, bullfrog voice came out. He is from desolate west Texas (Abilene), and while he is quite popular in Europe, I hope he finds wider success here in N. America.

16. “If You Go Away” Emiliana Torrini- I heard this song while watching Pumpkin (wow, didn’t realize so many of these were in movies), and immediately “rushed” three feet to my computer to look it up. Apparently I missed the fact that it’s considered a pop standard, originally French, and has been recorded by dozens of artists. This version is definitely the most wrenching I’ve found, and I’ve since been building my collection of Emiliana Torrini songs.

17. “Arlington Girl” Shivaree- When I saw that Shivaree was on the Two Minute Drill album, I felt some kinship because I love them. This is a soft, shuffling, contemplative song.

June: Summer of Divisors

Hello everyone! I have good news and bad news. The good news is that I finally, finally got the June albums in the mail. The bad news is that there is apparently a Canadian postal worker strike in effect right now (that began on June 3, so essentially it's been going on all month), so I was unable to mail the two albums that go to Chuck and Cynthia in Calgary. I could have mailed them for $40 each; sorry guys, apparently my fondness for Internet friends has a monetary ceiling. And I checked both USPS and UPS prices. Following the news, I see that an end to the strike appears imminent within the next several days.


I'm going to get with Paul about the situation, but the Canadians and everyone else, please feel free to offer advice. Basically I can wait until the end of the strike, or I can upload the album and let you guys download (or both). Suggestions about these or other options are appreciated!

Here is a preview of the packaging; I got really into the project. I'm sorry again that it is arriving so late in the month, but I hope you'll still have some time to enjoy it before July's CD arrives! I'll post the liner notes in a few days, too.