Get Ready (SXSW2005 mix) - 3/7/05

Okay, so today's show was supposed to be primarily songs by bands playing at this year's South By Southwest festival, which is where I will be taking my first vacation of the year beginning Saturday. But, being as scatter-brained as I am, I knew I couldn't stick to that totally so I included some other stuff as well. Which was all well and good. It worked pretty well. In the lists below (yes) = at SXSW and (no) = not at SXSW.

The Good:
Leonard Cohen (no), Bloc Party (yes), UTFO (no), M.I.A. (no), MC Lyte (no), Taj Mahal (no), The Dears (yes), The Gourds (yes), Hot Hot Heat (yes), The Raincoats (yes), Too Short (no), Dick Dale & His Del-Tones (no), Rezillos (yes), Otis Day & The Knights (yes), Millie Jackson (no), Ryan Adams (no), Tyler Hilton & Bethany Joy Lenz (no)

The So-So:
LCD Soundsystem (yes), Kasey Chambers (no), Aimee Mann (yes), Blessid Union of Souls (yes), Amel Larrieux (no)

The Not-So-Good:
The Juliana Theory (yes), John Frusciante (no), Melissa Ferrick (yes), The Slits (no), Ely Guerra (no), The Rev. Horton Heat (no)

I played Leonard Cohen - "Everybody Knows" as an homage to the Christian Slater 80s classic "Pump Up The Volume."
For some reason I thought The Juliana Theory was a female-fronted band. It's not. And for some reason this disappointed me - a lot.
I've been reading a lot about LCD Soundsystem and while some of the praise is justified, this tune falls a bit short of the hype.
Bloc Party - "Banquet" is a good song. The whole album is actually pretty good. I will be seeing them (if it doesn't interfere with my mission to see The Donnas).
UTFO - "Bite It" is an old school rap classic. And everybody knows I'm all about classic rap.
That John Frusciante song was all instrumental and wasn't bad but I wanted there to be words - and there usually are.
Kasey Chambers - "True Colors" was just not as great as the original. As much as I like the New Zealand cutie's voice, there's just no need to cover Cyndi Lauper tunes.
Everyone is raving about M.I.A. and I agree. Check her out. It's rap and it's political and it's good. Really good (when you say that you should think John Cusack and Jack Black discussing the "skate punks'" band in "High Fidelity.")
My sister loves Melissa Ferrick and I just don't get it. It's like upbeat - without the hardcore lesbianism - Ani DiFranco.
Taj Mahal gives a great rendition of "She Caught The Katy..." I always think of this song in terms of the Blues Brothers but there are so many different versions and they're all worth checking out.
Aimee Mann - "I Should've Known" starts out very dischordantly (kind of weird techno-y) and then settles into her traditional mode but by the time it got around to be traditional Aimee Mann I'd lost interest.
Blessid Union of Souls are going to be at SXSW. This surprised me as much as seeing that Vanilla Ice was going to be there too.
The Dears sound so much like The Smiths it's scary. But it helps them to be really good too.

The Gourds are best known to me as being the band that did that off-kilter cover of Snoop Doggy Dogg's "Gin & Juice" but this cover is equally inspired.
Hot Hot Heat is a band I really hadn't heard but some of the first songs I loaded into iTunes were from some discs a friend of mine was carting around and one of their albums was among the songs. And it's good. Good enough to listen to repeatedly.
I was first exposed to The Raincoats in "10 Things I Hate About You" (a passable movie with an exceptional soundtrack).
The Slits are, apparently, one of those early grrrl punk bands that everybody claims to love but I have to say: me = not so much.
Ely Guerra - "Lucrecia Y Rigoberto" was a recommended download in Blender a couple of months ago and after all that effort I was not blown away. Or even interested, really.
The Rev. Horton Heat has an extensive discography and I just think this song doesn't live up to his (their) potential. When it's good, it's rockabilly with force. This song is more ballad-y and I felt gyped.
Too Short - "Oakland" is another classic rap cut (Meaghan knows what I'm talking about) and, surprisingly - it being Too Short and all - expletive free.
Dick Dale is an amazing guitarist (and from what I hear he puts on what is the loudest concert - I know, I know we've all seen really loud shows but supposedly this one makes them all seem like a quiet evening at home).
Rezillos - "It Gets Me" is a song I heard about from reading an interview with former Sex Pistol Steve Jones (who apparently has a radio show in L.A. these days). I'm really glad I found this band.
Otis Day & The Knights - "Shout" is a song that I have loved from my days at summer camp. A little bit louder now.
Millie Jackson is the best of the best in sassy soul. If you love soul and you like women who speak their minds (and do it while singing great R&B/Soul) you should be a Millie Jackson fan too.
I've had Ryan Adams - "Hotel Chelsea Nights" in my head since I first heard it. It is such a slow-burning tune that it takes a while to sink in but it is easily one of the best tunes I've heard in the last few years. The guy who does the show after me said it reminded him of Prince - Purple Rain and, after thinking about it, I had to agree. I love Prince and maybe that's why I like this song so much. Subconscious association.
Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm a sucker for teen television dramas and "One Tree Hill" is no exception. Tyler Hilton and Bethany Joy Lenz combined their talents to bring this song to television and iTunes delivered it to me.
I stumbled across Amel Larrieux while looking for something else on Amazon.com and the reviews were so glowing I decided to check her out. I think she'll grow into my new favorite, but today: eh. Tomorrow will probably be a much different story.

Look below. It's the list.


CD1
Leonard Cohen - Everybody Knows
The Juliana Theory - This Is Not A Love Song
LCD Soundsystem - Never As Tired As When I'm Waking Up
Bloc Party - Banquet
UTFO - Bite It
John Frusciante - Breaking The Girl (acoustic - instrumental)
Kasey Chambers - True Colors (Cyndi Lauper)
M.I.A. - M.I.A.
MC Lyte - Keep On Keepin' On
Melissa Ferrick - Everything I Need
Taj Mahal - She Caught The Katy And Left Me A Mule To Ride
Aimee Mann - I Should've Known
Blessid Union Of Souls - Hey, Leonardo
The Dears - Lost In The Plot

CD2
The Gourds - Isis (Bob Dylan)
(The Raincoats - Love A Loser and a little bit of The Slits - Love And Romance played over the about half of this song)
Hot Hot Heat - This Town
The Raincoats - Love A Loser
The Slits - Love And Romance
Ely Guerra - Lucrecia Y Rigoberto
The Rev. Horton Heat - Hello Mrs. Darkness
Too Short - Oakland
Dick Dale & His Del-Tones - Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash)
Rezillos - It Gets Me
Otis Day & The Knights - Shout
Millie Jackson - My Man Is A Sweet Man
Ryan Adams - Hotel Chelsea Nights
Tyler Hilton & Bethany Joy Lenz - When The Stars Go Blue (Ryan Adams)
Amel Larrieux - Make Me Whole

I also decided that I'd include the track listings from the discs I burned to do Monday's show. Which is going to make this week's blog really huge but since there'll be no show next week (hello, I'll be in Austin), I thought this would be okay. There are a few duplicate songs because I was in a hurry while making the discs.

CD1
1. I Should've Known - Aimee Mann
2. Hey Leonardo - Blessid Union Of Souls
3. Lost in the Plot - The Dears
4. Isis - The Gourds
5. This Town - Hot Hot Heat
6. This Is Not A Love Song - The Juliana Theory
7. Never As Tired As When I'm Waking Up - LCD Soundsystem
8. Dance a Little Closer - Nancy Griffith
9. Rapture - Pedro the Lion
10. It Gets Me - Rezillos
11. Walking With a Ghost - Tegan and Sara
12. I Should've Known - Aimee Mann
13. When the Stars Go Blue - Tyler Hilton & Bethany Joy Lenz
14. Bite It - UTFO
15. Shout - Otis Day & The Knights
16. My Man's A Sweet Man - Millie Jackson
17. Hotel Chelsea Nights - Ryan Adams

CD2
1. Leftfielder - Buck 65
2. Listen To The Spirit - Pousette-Dart Band
3. Love A Loser - The Raincoats
4. Love And Romance -The Slits
5. Lucrecia Y Rigoberto - Ely Guerra
6. Make Me Whole - Amel Larrieux
7. Ne Me Quitte Pas - Regina Spektor
8. Neighborhood #2 (Laika) - The Arcade Fire
9. Never As Tired As When I'm Waking Up - LCD Soundsystem
10. Rapture - Pedro the Lion
11. Ring Of Fire - Dick Dale
12. She Caught the Katy and Left Me a Mule to Ride - Taj Mahal
13. Splash - The Saints
14. Stolen Car - Beth Orton
15. This Is Not A Love Song - The Juliana Theory
16. This Town - Hot Hot Heat
17. You Got The Love - Candi Staton
18. Zuton Fever - The Zutons

CD3
1. Ain't It A Shame (new edit) - The B-52's
2. Angel Eyes - Beres Hammond
3. Baby I'm Drunk - Reverend Horton Heat
4. Banquet - Bloc Party
5. Bite It - UTFO
6. Breaking The Girl (acoustic) - John Frusciante
7. Breathe (2 a.m.) (long) - Anna Nalick
8. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You - Lauren Hill
9. Computer Age (Push T) - Newcleus
10. Everybody Knows - Leonard Cohen
11. Filet of Sole (Live on WXPN) - The Dead Milkmen
12. Hello Mrs. Darkness - Reverend Horton Heat
13. Hey Leonardo - Blessid Union Of Souls
14. I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
15. Iesha - Another Bad Creation
16. Isis - The Gourds
17. It Gets Me -Rezillos

CD4
1. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
2. Lonely - Nomeansno
3. Looking Back On Vanity - Remy Shand
4. What We Shared - TaMara
5. You Got The Love - Candi Staton
6. Ring of fire - Dick Dale
7. Lucrecia Y Rigoberto - Ely Guerra
8. Sunshine On A Rainy Day - Emma Bunton
9. Get Up Out of the Ghetto - Gil Scott-Heron
10. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You - Lauren Hill
11. Everybody Knows - Leonard Cohen
12. Pretty Brown Eyes - Mint Condition
13. Ocean's Eleven - Moloko
14. Don't Give Up - Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush
15. I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
16. Oakland - Too Short
17. I Touch Myself - Jack Off Jill

CD5
1. Neighborhood #2 (Laika) - The Arcade Fire
2. Stolen Car - Beth Orton
3. Reasons To Quit - Cracker
4. Bike Ride To The Moon - Dukes Of The Stratosphear
5. Sabrina - Hanson Brothers
6. Mudfootball - Jack Johnson
7. True Colours - Kasey Chambers
8. M.I.A. - M.I.A.
9. Keep On, Keepin On - MC Lyte & Xscape
10. Everything I Need - Melissa Ferrick
11. And You - Mindy Smith
12. 22 Questions - Queen Omega
13. Worn Me Down - Rachael Yamagata
14. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning (live) - Richard Thompson
15. A Girl In Trouble (Is A Temporary Thing) - Romeo Void
16. Love And Romance - The Slits
17. The Good Kind - The Wreckers (Michelle Branch & Jessica Harp)

CD6
1. Make Me Whole - Amel Larrieux
2. Bertha Lou - Meteors
3. Pyar wich (Planet Rock remix) - Panjabi MC
4. Love A Loser - The Raincoats
5. Don't Rush (Take Love Slowly) - K-Ci & JoJo
6. Nightmares - The Creation
7. Let's Hibernate - Eugenius
8. Never Had A Dream Come True - S Club 7
9. Release The Bats - The Birthday Party
10. Suspect Device - Stiff Little Fingers
11. Modesty Plays - Sparks
12. Queens Of Noise - The Runaways
13. After The Lights Go Down Low - Scofflaws
14. I Wanna Be Your Dog - Iggy Pop & the Stooges
15. I Can't Stand The Rain - Ann Peebles
16. Keep On, Keepin On - MC Lyte & Xscape
17. Expect The Worst/'Cos She's A Tourist - The Dears
18. I'm Coming Over - X