Not all of can assemble the perfect wintry weather music but I expect some of you will be inspired by recent weather and will share suggestions here. November was a strange listening month, and I've cracked open some very varied plays:
Once Upon a Time, the Simple Minds released a fairly commercial album that still held their 
sound but had a broader reach than their other work. Well, besides the Breakfast Club theme song which wasn't even written by them, chaah! Anyway, I grabbed the CD for a drive to Houghton, Michigan, and enjoyed the nostalgic spin for what it was... and the word "earnest" springs to mine. Two things of note: "All The Things She Said" is sadly underrated or overrated depending on who you talk to, and I find it a great song that it is simply ignored. Next, Jim Kerr got married to both Chrissie Hynde AND Patsy Kensit (not simultaneously, please) and for some reason I just marvel at that. Oh, he got divorced from them too.
No, this isn't holiday music, but in early summer and early winter I reach for the Blow 
Soundtrack. I've never seen this particular Johnny Depp movie, but I suspect it is a heartwarming family film about drug trafficking. The soundtrack is ALL over the place which is appealing on some strange level, sort of like someone's songs for the bus. I don't want to get all therapy over it, so I'm not going to try to expand on why I simply enjoy the weird recipe so darn much other than to admit it makes me want to go rollerskating.
Â
Thankful 4 a Tankful! MPR Web producer Brett Baldwin put together a knock-me-out playlist that I've dragged around since just before Thanksgiving. Come on, The Velvet Underground shifting into Lee Marvin in a playlist? How strangely yummy is that? De La Soul and Three Dog Night in the same set?! This is tasty like pretzels and chocolate! I love the variety Brett assembled and I love that he said I could share the Thankful 4 a Tankful tracklist:
- Time And Place - Lee Moses
- Don't Break This Heart Of Mine - ? And The Mysterians
- Feelin' Alright - West Coast Revival
- Ain't Hip To Be Labeled A Hippie - De La Soul
- Cramp In Ya Action - Sacred Hoop
- Bring On The Dudes - Baldo Rex
- The Hit -Â Young Dudes
- Droid - Selby Tigers
- Rock Song (Hyperopia) - His Mischief
- We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together - The Velvet Underground
- Wand'rin Star - Lee Marvin
- Reggae Magic - Jackie Mittoo
- Douga - Quintette Guineenne
- One Kiss - Holly Golightly
- I Can Hear You Calling - Three Dog Night
- Rub It Down - The DES All Stars
- Headlines - White Williams
- Blackmans Cry - Lever Brothers
- Skokiaan - Louis Armstrong
- Tear The Bag - Sir Victor Uwaifo
- Bulldog - The Shangri-Las
- Tezeta (Nostalgia) - Mulatu Astatke
Rest is up to you: Share what you're listening to here and I’ll try it - if I can find it, some of y'all got deep and rare musical libraries - and maybe we'll all discover something new for music's sake.
________________
Julia Schrenkler
Interactive Producer
Minnesota Public Radio
American Public Media
Objects in Mirror
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
Comments: 40
The Pogues - Fairytale of New York (Christmas song hehe)
NoFX - A wide variety, but the Wolves in Wolves Clothing album has been getting a lot of play
Kimya Dawson - My Rollercoaster
The Eels - Bus Stop Boxer
Mason Jennings - If you need a reason
The Dresden Dolls - Girl Anachronism (Reminds of some people I knew)
Mike Doughty - Busting Up a Starbucks
Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek
But for me, my mood is set by the bits buried deep inside the ipod - shuffle all songs and listen away. From Frank Zappa to Johnny Cash. Techno, punk, indie, folk. It's a crazy ride!
I've been listening to the pianist Lang Lang (in particular, the Dragon Songs cd), Josh Groban's Noel, and Girls and Boys by Ingrid Michaelson.
However, it was recently brought to my attention that Shawn Phillips will be performing at the Guthrie in Minneapolis next year (yes, that Shawn Phillips from the 70's!) so I've been listening to some of his recordings on Amazon. Does anyone remember "She was Waitin' For Her Mother At The Station In Torino And You Know I Love You Baby But It's Gettin' Too Heavy To Laugh"? (I used to just call it the "Woman" song.)
I love the guitar / bass on that Doughty tune, Jeremy, thanks for reminding me to give it a play.
Priscilla, I'll be honest, I haven't heard the Jewel Christmas CD. Does she rework the classics? Do you have a favorite track?
Dang Donna, have you seen that video? That's what hurts.
I remember that Windham Hill sound, Mark. Haven't listened to one in years. YEARS.
WS R, sometimes silence is exactly what is necessary. I suspect when you get back into it you'll send me to strange places on the Internet to follow your musical taste.
There is a lot of repeats from previous lists, partially because I'm too lazy to get rid of some of them, or I just still love them to death:
The Hidden Cameras - Death of A Tune
Rockfour - Goes Around (it's got sleighbells on it so it's kinda Holidayish)
Arctic Monkeys - Teddypicker ( my absolute favorite song for right now. and a wry Duran Duran "Save a Prayer" lyric reference to boot!)
Rachid Tacha - Rock El Casbah (yes, THAT Rock el Casbah)
Robert Palmer - Simply Irresistable
Cheap Trick - The House Is Rockin' (With Domestic Problems)
Elvis Presley - A Little Less Conversation (remix)
Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
Quiet Riot - Mama, Weer All Crazee Now (RIP Kevin Dubrow)
Rachel Stevens - Some Girls
Suzanne Vega - Frank and Ava
Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
Oingo Boingo - You Really Got Me (the BEST cover of this song EVER)
Beirut - Postcards From Italy
Queen - Rock It (Prime Jive)
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals - Say You Will (one of my new fave raves)
Beastie Boys - Fight For Your Right
Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Wives
David Bowie - Rebel Rebel
Richard Thompson - Shane and Dixie (who knew you could make a song about attempted murder and suicide so fun to listen to?)
They Might Be Giants - Yeh Yeh
Barry Thomas Goldberg - Red America
Ali Farke Toure & Ry Cooder - Diaraby
Bryan Ferry - Sign of the Times
The Fratellis - 3 Skinny Girls
Tinariwen - Cler Achel
Sly/Family Stone (Feat will.i.am) - Dance To The Music (remix/mashup)
Massive Attack - Teardrop
Denim - I'm Against the '80s
Live - Selling The Drama
Thompson Twins - In The Name of Love
Maybe it would do my brain some good to mess the music up more. You know with all the talk lately of staving off Alzheimers, shuffling one's tunes might be one more trick to try.
Most of the tunes on there are fairly new, or from the past 2-5 years (Thanks to the Current), but I do have stuff ranging from 1920's Jazz to current releases. Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals is my most recent purchase. If you like Otis Redding and good R&B, I highly recommend it.
and yes, Duran Duran is from over 20 years ago. So is the Thompson Twins and Oingo Boingo. The Bowie and Bryan Ferry are about 30 years old now.
The Apex Theory - FACES..thus far dissappointing
Protest the Hero - KEZIA..love..LOVE this band and album..prepping for hearing the new one rather soon.
Andre Matos Band - TIME TO BE FREE..moving up on my year-end list.
Jellyfish - revisiting Both LPS. These guys were highly unique
My Bloody Valentine - LOVELESS..not hearing the brilliance here that so many others do.
Biffy Clyro - PUZZLE...may still move up my list for '07.
Laura Veirs - SALTBREAKERS..dig this and her a fair amount.
XTC - SKYLARKING..my 1st time hearing anything in full..I may get a lot more into them in the next year.
In Vain - THE LATTER..still really enjoying this classic epic debut.
Thurisaz - CIRCADIAN RHYTHM..wow the more I hear this, the I find it brilliant. Less \M/etal, and more melodic music with Metal tinges.
Fields - EVERYTHING LAST WINTER..may not remain as high on in the year-end list. Still dig it, but espeically the production is kinda spotty.
Bloc Party - A WEEKEND IN THE CITY..same as Fields..UNIFORM does still kickass though.
Silverchair - YOUNG MODERN I still regard this as a well made and written record, but it lacks depth in classic tracks; which may knock it out of my top 10.
Fates Warning - NO EXIT remaster 20 year (19?) anniversary. Remastering did help some. I will never stop being a big fan of this band.
House of Fools - LIVE AND LEARN..classic. The show on Saturday ruled.
The Dresden Dolls - both LPs. Digging them for the most part. Remind me of Murder By Death and Kiss Kiss a little.
Upcoming:
revisiting and hearing for the 1st time, more 2007 albums
Ayreon - 01011001
The Cinematic Orchestra - Both
Kevin Drew
Dug Pinnick - STRUM SUM IP
Protest the Hero - FORTRESS
The Mars Volta - THE BEDLAM IN GOLIATH
The Helio Sequence - KEEP YOUR EYES AHEAD
Janus - TBA
Everyone gushes about the album, Steviewest ;-), and I really want to love it but I can't get over the cover of "Fortune Teller." The Stones version of the song is a personal fave and I... I'm being a difficult fan. BTW, thanks for supportin' the MPR. *grin*
Susan, your music is like taking a trip around the world. Will have to check out Tinariwen!
p.s. I don't need anyone to remind me of music I enjoyed the first time around 20-30 years ago, thankyouverymuch. ;-)
==Sigh== who can keep up with soundscapemn? Hope you enjoy the XTC, I almost envy you for getting that first time around spin. Don't even know where to begin with your list.
And, yeah, check out the Tinariwen, they're pretty interesting.
Kathy Mattea, Joy for Christmas Day
Kathy Mattea, Good News
various, Narada Best of Celtic Christmas [Altan, Natalie MacMaster, etc]
Carrie Newcomer, The Geography of Light
Eileen Ivers, An Nolliag
various, Winter's Eve [Alison Brown, Pierce Pettis, etc]
Albert & Gage, One More Christmas
King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band
Clarence Gatemouth Brown--"Back to Bogalusa"
Freddie Spruell--Blues singer who first recorded in 1926
Mp3 player on shuffle too
Ozomatli – Believe
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Fight Outta You
Ursula 1000 – Kaboom
Terry Reid – Tinker Tailor
The Dears – Whites Only Party
Fountains of Wayne – (the ubiquitous) '92 Subaru
The Delgados – Everybody Come Down
Beck – Girl
Ursula 1000 – Elektrik Boogie
Kaiser Chiefs – Na Na Na Na Nah
Southern Culture on the Skids – Wolverton Mountain
Tom Petty – You Wreck Me
Pixies – Here Comes Your Man
Prince – Automatic
The Trammps – Disco Inferno
Gogol Bordello – Dub The Frequencies of Love
The Beatles – The Inner Light
The Decemberists – 16 Military Wives
The La's – Feelin'
Rancid – Junkie Man
The Lightning Seeds – Love Explosion
Sufjan Stevens – Chicago
Unknown – Some song that I had but forgot who it is.. Maybe Slade
The Beatles – Baby, You're A Rich Man
Dusminguet – Go!
ELO – Living Thing
Tom Jones – Black Betty
Steve Miller – Jet Airliner
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – I don't know the title….
The Jam – That's Entertainment
The Browns – the Three Bells
Trans Am – Obscene Strategies
Hey Ian M, Aimee's always a good choice. She's coming to the Twin Cities for a Holiday show... *thinking*
Robyn F., we all feel your pain.
Kerry, you're another person who blows me away and makes me think I should get out more. For instance, I haven't thought of / listened to Kathy Mattea in years.
Something tells me Nippy's shuffle would make the world spin.
Nice bus list, Frick. I keep forgetting about Steve Miller. I think I saw him at the Met Center, which is probably more revealing than I mean to be. And hey - for you, I put in a good word with Santa.
On the non holiday front I've been listening to the greatest female rock band in the effing world! The Donnas! I love the Donnas. They are true to the spirit of rock and roll, no political BS, no collaborations with rap stars but the real deal. Judging from the lyrics, the Donnas want to get you drunk, steal you from your girlfriend, have sex with you, then leave you crying in the parking lot without your pants.
This is the stuff to listen to when you want no nonsense guitar rock generated by fun tough chicks.
sooooo.. The Mrs. (bless her heart) got an iPod Nano for me for Christmas. Sooooo.. iTunes is my new friend and so I went on a little spree... mostly 90's songs, but also stuff I don't already own....
Kate Bush - Love and Anger
Belly - Feed the Tree
NIN - Closer
Peter Murphy - Cuts You Up
Love Spit Love - Am I Wrong
B-Hole Surfers - Pepper
Teh Cult - She Sells Sanctuary
Nirvana - All Apologies/Man who Sold the World
Gary Numan - Rhythm of the Evening/White Boys and Heroes
Mott the Hoople - All the Way From Memphis
Human League - (Keep Feeling) Fascination
Tones on Tail - Go!
L7 - Pretend We're Dead
Porno for Pyros - Pets
The Cranberries - Linger
Garbage - Stupid Girl
Monsoon - Tomorrow Never Knows
then added some Zeppelin, Arctic Monkeys, Fratellis, Hidden cameras and Fountains of Wayne..
w00t!
p.s. Tusk!
Who doesn't love The Donnas, Bret W. ?! In other news you wrote my favorite quote of the week:
They'd probably appreciate that.
Hooray! A new iPod (what color?) with GARBAGE on it. Happy Holidays, Frick.
p.s. Teh Cult!
Yeah.. Teh Cult...
Now Playing: Gary Numan - Rhythm of the Evening...
I keed! I keed!
yes, I am very lucky! She's the best.