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.

May Day!

My CD collection entitled May Day! went out in the mail today. I had a blast collecting all of the songs for it and at the same time expanding my musical tastes a bit more as well.

I had a few goals when creating this CD. First, I wanted it to be a mix of bands that were long-time favorites of mine, ones I've been meaning to check out for some time, and finally, ones that were brand-new to me so I can maintain some semblance of keeping up with the times.

Also, I wanted to see if I could create a collection using entirely free, legal MP3s that are available on the Web. That was the most challenging goal, and I'm pleased to report that I succeeded, and in the process found a lot of cool music blogs and other sites where your musical horizons are just waiting to be expanded.

Here are a few of my favorites sites, some of which were the source for the MP3s I used:

http://betterpropaganda.com/Default.aspx

http://www.clickitticket.com/articles/topAlternativeblogs.htm

http://freealbums.blogsome.com/other-music-sources/

Below are the liner notes that I've also included as an insert with the CD you'll receive soon. I had more great songs but these are the 21 that made the cut, and just barely fit under the 80 minute capacity for the CD.

The Black Lips - “Cold Hands” : This self-described “flower punk” band from Atlanta has more in common with 60s garage bands than they do the Sex Pistols, but their musical diversity stretches from punk to doo-wop to country, and back again.

Sleater-Kinney - “Oh!”: Emerging of out the 90s queercore and riotgrrrl movements in Olympia, Washington, Sleater-Kinney was named after the road that led from the interstate highway to one of their early practice spaces. This song from their 2002 album One Beat showcases this female trio's (two guitars and drums) groove-heavy riffing, sweet harmonies, and lead vocalist Corin Tucker's impassioned warbling.

Moldy Peaches - “Anyone Else But You”: After years as an underground favorite duo on the anti-folk circuit, the Peaches entered mainstream culture when this song was famously included on the soundtrack to the movie Juno. Its low-fi minimalism and male-female vocal duet give it a ragged charm, and Kimya Dawson's muttered aside at :09 is the most obvious post-bong hit musical utterance (complete with cough) I've ever heard.

Mission of Burma - “Max Ernst”: When MOB emerged from the Boston punk scene in 1979 I went to a lot of their local shows, up until their last one, a grand finale at the Bradford Hotel Ballroom in 1983, and they became one of my all-time favorite bands. They reunited in 2002 so you can now catch the magic in its second coming. Their fusion of punk intensity, experimentalism (tape loops figured prominently into their sound) and art rock complexity has made them a seminal band with world-wide impact in the indie music world. “Max Ernst” is the B-side of their first 45, and this ode to the German Dada and surrealist artist shows them at their furious, enigmatic best.

Gang Of Four - “Damaged Goods”: I'm including one of my favorite British post-punk bands right after MOB in homage to the phenomenal triple bill I saw at The Channel in Boston in the early 80s with GOF as the headliner, MOB as the middle act, and Pylon as the opener. Talk about a dream lineup. “Damaged Goods” was their first single in 1978 and then included on their superb 1979 album Entertainment! Mixing leftist politics, funk, and bristling punk attitude, GOF was the perfect band to dance to as the world burned.

Minutemen - “Ain't Talking 'Bout Love”: Not only does the Minutemen's cover of this seminal Van Halen song turn the original on its head, they do it in their “econo jam” style in just 40 seconds. I was lucky enough to see them multiple times during the early 80s. Fusing hardcore punk with jazz, funk, R&B, classic rock, beat poetry, surrealism, and an occasional Latino flourish, the Minutemen are considered one of the most influential American post-punk bands ever. When singer/guitarist D. Boon died in a van accident in 1985 it was a bigger deal to me than losing Elvis or John Lennon.

Dub Narcotic Sound System – “Teenage Time Bomb”: This Olympia, Washington indie-funk/punk band is one of my latest discoveries. Band founder Calvin Johnson named the group after his Dub Narcotic recording studio. They made a lot of albums in the mid to late 90s and still tour and record occasionally.

Neon Indian - “Children of the Revolution”: These chillwave/glo-fi darlings take the old T. Rex song on an electronic magic carpet ride. Groove on this song to feel retro and cutting edge at the same time.

Ten Foot Polecats - “Chicken Head Man”: I found this self-described punk blues band playing at a dive bar in my town of Framingham, Massachusetts one Friday night a few years ago and became an instant fan. Think Howling Wolf backed up by the Ramones after they've split a jar of moonshine. They've since broken out nationally and have been signed to the Hillgrass Bluesbilly record label in Austin, Texas. I'm already saying I knew them way back when.

Das Racist - “Swate”: Think hip-hop is just a 'hood product? Check out the words and beats from Das Racist, an Indian-American and Latino duo who went to Wesleyan University instead of jail. The title is a reference to the street pronunciation of the word “sweet”. It's ominous-sounding, hypnotic, street and book-smart, all at the same time. They're an underground sensation and would probably shudder at the idea of pop success.

The Fall - “U.S. 80's – 90's”: Mark E. Smith's nasal whine in a strong Manchester accent is one of the most distinctive voices in British alternative music. With its roots in the Brit punk of the late 70s, The Fall has now endured for over thirty years and dozens of albums, with Smith being the only constant member. With a bleak, brittle, and caustic sound, they're an acquired taste for some but in my opinion a taste well worth acquiring.

Jim Carroll Band - “It's Too Late”: Like Patti Smith, Carroll started out as a poet who then began singing in a rock band. This live version of one of his best-known songs highlights his biting lyrics over a kick-ass beat. Sadly, he died in 2009 at age 60, just before his long-awaited first novel was completed, which was published posthumously.

Bikini Kill - “I Like Fucking”: Time for another riotgrrrl band, one of my weaknesses. Formed in Olympia, Washington in 1990, Bikini Kill influenced Sleater-Kinney and many other female-led groups in the 90s. You've got to give props to a band that releases a single whose title almost guarantees it will get little airplay, even though the lyrics only contain a single f-bomb.

Carolina Chocolate Drops - “Hit 'Em Up Style”: A contemporary black string band from Durham, North Carolina, the Drops perform a stunningly reworked cover version of R&B singer Blu Cantrell's 2001 hit. This is a concert version of the song, which is also included on their wonderful 2010 studio album Genuine Negro Jig.

The Black Keys - “Ohio”: One of the few bands that give me faith that soulful blues rock lives. The fact that they're only a two-piece, guitar and drums, makes their full and chunky-funky sound all the more amazing. The best thing out of Akron since Devo (who they opened for at a 2008 benefit concert for Barack Obama).

Jason Ricci and New Blood - “Snowflakes and Horses”: Jason Ricci is considered one of the best contemporary harmonica players in the world, but his tenure with his band New Blood is what really made his star shine. With guitar phenom Shawn Starsky and jazz-trained bass player Todd “Buckweed” Edmunds he created some of the most electrifying music on the blues/jazz/rock/jam band circuit in the past ten years, playing an average of 300 live dates a year. Luckily I caught them in 2009 before they broke up. A live version of one of the songs from their album Rocket Number 9, this tale of the perils of cocaine and heroin use has a groove that won't quit.

Billy Bragg - “Wrong Star”: Billy Bragg is what Phil Ochs would sound like if he had been born in the UK and come of age in the punk era. He's an incredibly earnest, left-leaning songwriter who skewers people across the political spectrum. Bragg has created an impressive body of work over his long career that combines social awareness with spare arrangements and great song hooks.

Buzzcocks - “Jerk”: One of my favorite bands ever, they mix punk speed and energy with an unerring sense of pop melody and hook-laden love songs. Since their initial run from 1976 to 1981, they've broken up and reformed several times. This is from their 2003 EP of the same name. One of my best memories of my early punk days was seeing them at the Bradford Hotel Ballroom in '81. Everyone who was anyone in the Boston underground music scene was there, singing along and dancing ecstatically in this lavish ballroom like we were at a punk rock prom.

Gil Scott-Heron - “Me and the Devil”: The godfather of rap goes electronic in this haunting, ultra-cool cover of proto-bluesman Robert Johnson's tale of his encounter with the prince of darkness.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - “Conscience Killer”: Yes, they've moved beyond their noise merchant origins to often incorporate a more American roots music sound. This song, from the 2010 album Beat the Devil's Tattoo, is still rollicking enough with its fuzzed-out guitars and shout-out choruses to be included in the video game Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit.

The Wiyos - “Dying Crapshooter's Blues”: For my money one of the best bands on the “oldternative” circuit. The Wiyos, named after a 19th century New York City street gang, put out great recordings (I have them all) but their live show is not to be missed (I've seen them three times). They play American roots music with a fervor like few others, with a mix of covers and originals that range from hillbilly swing, blues, New Orleans jazz, to contemporary elements like beat-boxing. Covering Blind Willie McTell's classic in this live version, vocalist Michael Farkas' harmonica plays a mournful dirge and the band's harmonies reverberate like a Greek chorus.

April - Queen of Languages

Hey Guys,

Our mix CD, Queen of Languages, is finally done and about to be shipped out. We sure had trouble with this one. We hadn't planned on making a themed mix until we got three nicely themed mixes in the mail and the pressure started to mount.

The title of the mix refers to the fact that part, all, some, a few, many, one, a couple or none of the lyrics to the songs happen to be in a language other than English - the language of America. There is one exception to the rule. The title track is in plain old Canadian English.

We hope you like it!

After a long and circuitous route, the March CD is in the mail! I started with the intellectually satisfying and millennium-spanning theme of "Recorded History" covering such topics as Mesopotamia, Samson, Anastasia, President Garfield and the Wabash Cannonball. But it turns out that most of my historical songs are miserable tales of war, suffering, assasination or all of the above. It really doesn't make for a fun Spring record, much less a musical introduction to me. Besides, it just wasn't gelling as a collection, so I scrapped the idea like a bad term paper; hours of my life crumpled in the garbage can next to my desk. If someone else decides to tackle a historical theme, I am more interested than ever.

I ran the opposite way, the March CD is called "Two Minute Drill." While I am tempted to say this is a call to better clock management for the NFL CBA negotiators to improve on their miserable March performance, it is actually more about power tools. That's right, two minute bursts of violent rotational force ripping through wood, concrete, dental fillings and your ear drums if you play it loud enough. It is a heavy dose of punk and modern, but with a number of fun surprises and a few breathers mixed in. The best part about this theme is that I fit 46 tracks on the CD! My musical tastes are best described as random, even if they are largely alphabetical by artist. So if you come across a track you don't like, don't worry, it will be over in two minutes or less. Oh and just a warning, sometimes artists swear when they sing really fast.

Finger Lickin' Blues - Feb. 2011

Feburary CDs are in the mail!

I recently discovered that I have an awful lot of old songs about food in my music collection. Most of this music dates back to the 1930’s and 1940’s. Scratchy old blues music might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I encourage you to at least throw it on while you are in the kitchen whipping up your next meal and give it a listen. Even if you are into more contemporary music, you just might hear an artist here that influenced those who influenced your new favorite rock band. Louis Jordan, Jesse Stone and Wynonie Harris, have all been credited with writing or performing some of the first “rock” songs, so this is where it all started. Most of these songs come with a fun side-helping of double entendre and innuendo if you listen closely enough. Below are a few tasty tid-bits about each song in case you want to dig in and digest a bit more about the artists.

1. Mountain Oysters- Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis- 1948 Saxophonist who played with the likes of Louis Armstrong and Count Basie. And yes, back then they used every part of the pig.

2. Beans And Corn Bread- Louis Jordan- 1949 Louis Jordan has so many songs that pertain to food that it was hard to narrow it down to just a couple for this compilation. This is one of my favorites…I’m a sucker for anthropomorphic food.

3. Coleslaw- Jesse Stone Orchestra- 1945 Jesse Stone was born in 1901 and had a huge influence on rock in roll. Stone used the pseudonym of Charles E. Calhoun and wrote “Shake, Rattle & Roll” which is often called the first rock and roll song. Stone mentored Louis Jordan in Harlem and a few years later Jordan also recorded Coleslaw and had a hit with it. And for the Grateful Dead fans out there here’s a fun fact: The Jerry Garcia Band performed Jesse Stone's "Don't Let Go" live in concert over 100 times.

4. Potato Chips- Slim Gaillard-1952 He was the original hipster and was mentioned by Jack Kerouac in On The Road. In the 1930s Slim invented his own language called “Vout” that he uses in many of his songs.

5. Red Beans- Professor Longhair-1980 New Orleans music and food go hand in hand, like red beans and rice.

6. Chicken, Gravy and Biscuits- Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials- 1989 Chicago car wash employee turned slide guitarist, Lil’ Ed Williams serves up this song just the way it should be- good, hot and greasy.

7. Jambalaya (On The Bayou)- Fats Domino- 1961 There are lots of great versions of this song but this is one of my favorites. Sadly Fats has been in ill health recently and had to cancel some appearances. He lost his New Orleans home to Hurricane Katrina and has yet to completely rebuild it and return.

8. Okra- Olu Dara- 2001 Olu Dara Jones was born in Natchez, Mississippi in 1941 and is an accomplished jazz/blues/world beat musician and playwright. He’s also the father of rapper Nas and has contributed to several of his son’s recordings…including being the inspiration for Nas’ song “Poppa Was A Player”.

9. Chicken Stuff- Hop Wilson & His Chickens-1958 Hop Wilson was a blues steel guitar legend in Houston, TX but hated touring and didn’t record often, so he isn’t well known. Despite his lack of fame, his unique slide stylings have influenced artists like Johnny Winter, Jimmie Vaughan and Ron Wood.

10. Good Biscuits- Memphis Minnie- 1938 Guitar player Memphis Minnie has several songs that focus on food, cooking and baking…And when she says “Don’t let no outside woman bake no biscuits for your man.” You can be sure she isn’t strictly warning about the dangers of carbohydrates.

11. Nobody In Town Can Bake A Sweet Jelly Roll Like Mine- Bessie Smith- 1927 Speaking of food being used as a sexual metaphor…

12. Water Water- Michelle Willson & The Evil Gal Orchestra- 2001 A band from Boston that is chock full of talented and funny musicians. Michelle Willson has a fantastically powerful voice.

13. Coffee Man- Calvin Owens- 2002 Another Houston, TX musician, Owens was a famous band leader for B. B. King and a jazz trumpeter. This song is a little shout out to Willie and Kathleen who are our CD Club’s resident experts when it comes to the coffee beans.

14. I Like My Baby’s Pudding- Wynonie Harris- 1950- Famous in the 40’s and 50’s for his risqué songs, he was a popular African/Native-American blues shouter from Omaha, Nebraska.

15. I Don’t Want Love- Howard McGhee Quartet w/Joe Carroll- 1970 Beebop drummer/vocalist Joe Caroll and trumpeter Howard “Maggie” McGhee team up on this rare recording.

16. Matzoh Balls- Slim & Slam- 1938 Slim Gaillard is back with partner Leroy Elliott "Slam" Stewart.

17. Saturday Night Fish Fry- Louis Jordan- 1949 This song was one of the first “race records” to crossover to become a huge national hit for white audiences as well. The narrative style of the song is said to have had a strong influence on Bob Dylan’s song writing.

18. My Butcher Man- Memphis Minnie- 1933 Just Minnie and her solo guitar telling everybody she’s got the best butcher man in town.

19. Kidney Stew Blues- Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson- 1947 Another great blues shouter and saxophonist. This was his signature song. “Goin' back home, and get my old gal Sue. She ain't the caviar kind, just plain old kidney stew.”

20. Barbecue- Washboard Sam- 1940 Robert Brown was his real name and he was a half-brother to Big Bill Broozy. Washboard Sam was very successful in Memphis and Chicago in the 30s and 40s until the electric blues movement passed him and his acoustic washboard by. He then became a police officer in Chicago.

Bon Appetit! MMM

Everything’s Cool!

By now many of you should have received your copy of the January Eleventilicious CD, “Everything’s Cool.” Here’s the set list — along with the liner notes for easy reference. Enjoy!

1) Cool (Pylon) : Pylon was a great band from the same Athens, GA scene that brought us REM. “Cool” is their first single and is fairly typical — propulsive bass and drums, quirky guitar and rudimentary lyrics that are growled and shouted instead of sung.

2) My Son Cool (Guided By Voices) : Robert Pollard wrote “My Son Cool” about his son Bryan for the album “Alien Lanes.” I have no idea what the lyrics mean, but it’s one of my favorite songs.

3) Fade Sister Cool (Lida Husik) : Lida Husik’s music has taken a turn toward electronica lately, but “Fade Sister Cool” is a shimmering gem of jangle pop that hooked me instantly.

4) Ice Cold Ice (Hüsker Dü) : “Ice Cold Ice” is from Hüsker Dü’s final studio album, which captured a band that was maturing and falling apart at the same time.

5) 14 Cheerleader Coldfront(Guided By Voices) : “14 Cheerleader Coldfront” is a Tobin Sprout original about being a teenaged outsider. I’m proud to have another Tobin Sprout original hanging up in my living room.

6) Cold Son (Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks) : While I still prefer Stephen Malkmus’ work with Pavement over his solo work, he and the Jicks sound like they’re having an awful lot of fun at the end of “Cold Son.”

7) Leaves Me Cold (Lush) : Lush featured the loud, layered guitars and hushed vocals typical of shoegaze, but were always more melodic than experimental. “Leaves Me Cold” is from their first EP.

8) Cold Light of Day (Mark Eitzel) : The torment of being Mark Eitzel has always been a bonanza for listeners. “Cold Light of Day” is one of several songs that feature Kid Congo Power’s understated, otherworldly guitar work.

9) Cold Turkey (The Soft Boys) : The Soft Boys cover John Lennon’s “Cold Turkey” as more of an anthem than a lament, which might be why I prefer it over the original.

10) Angel in the Snow (Elliott Smith) : “Angel in the Snow” isn’t a sad song, but it makes me sad to know that Elliott Smith isn’t around to write more songs that are equally beautiful.

11) Snow White (Snowpony) : Snowpony was billed as a “supergroup,” but never quite made an impact. “Snow White” features indifferent vocals over an explosive beat — an oddly effective combination.

12) Snowsuit Bound (Sloan) : Sloan had the misfortune of peaking at a time when the world hungered for grunge instead of their Beatles-meets-Sonic Youth melodic pop. “Snowsuit Sound” is a winter wonderland.

13) Freeze (Shatter Mix) (Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians) : “Freeze” is a tense, nonsensical song featuring REM’s Peter Buck on guitar and Robyn Hitchcock on seemingly random visuals.

14) The Frisko Freeze (The Mummies) : Q: What is better than a four men wearing ace bandages and playing primitive garage rock like it really mattered? A: Nothing. Exhibit A: The Mummies’ “Frisko Freeze.”

15) Freezer Burn (Wow & Flutter) : Wow and Flutter sound like a lot of other bands I like, but mostly sound a lot like themselves. “Freezer Burn” is from their third album “Pounding the Pavement.”

16) Frozen Dub (Augustus Pablo) : “Frozen Dub” is the oldest track on this mix, recorded during the heyday of Jamaican dub. Augustus Pablo’s melodica and King Tubby’s production will make you forget the snow.

17) Frozen Mile (Eleventh Dream Day) : That Eleventh Dream Day isn’t a household name is one of music’s great injustices. The slide guitar work on “Frozen Mile” could thaw an Arctic glacier.

18) Summer Babe (Winter Version) (Pavement) : Did I mention Pavement? “Summer Babe (Winter Version)” put them on the map with its whimsical lyrics and tortured vocals.

19) Winter on Ice (The Spinanes) : The Spinanes wrote warm, moody songs of longing that featured Rebecca Gates’ smooth voice and jagged guitar work. Case in point: “Winter on Ice,” from the album “Strand.”

20) My Country is Winter (Exhaust) : Exhaust are an experimental band from Montreal who don’t sound like anyone else. “My Country is Winter” is tense and ominous, like an imminent blizzard.

21) Winter Sketch (The Durutti Column) : I discovered The Durutti Column only recently, and marveled how Vini Reilly’s crisp guitar work could have possibly originated in 1980 Manchester. I believe the soft and evocative “Sketch for Winter” to be the perfect conclusion for this collection.

Please feel free to comment on the blog or to email me with any questions or comments.