It's summertime! Built to Spill mix!! (broken link fixed)

Hi friends,

It's summer time so I thought you should all enjoy this Built to Spill mix that I made, which Jayson Greene will either love or disown. I encourage you to love it!

Built to Spill mp3 Mix, zipped - click to download!
[NOTE: an XML file is included but the tracks are not tagged with any order, so after adding tracks to library, go to iTunes and choose "File, Import" and add the XML file.]



Also, as a bonus, here's a two song single they released in 2007 (their most recent release):

Built to Spill - They Got Away / Re-Arrange 7" - click to download

I said earlier this month to friends:

So what of these two particular songs? Well, I actually sort of enjoy "They Got
Away" and do not think it is the same song as always. Yeah, it's repetitive, but
it's also a reggae song, which is the point. I am surprised at how well
Martsch's voice works within the musical structure of reggae. It seems to sort
of fit the sonics and ideas of "You In Reverse" but works more successfully and
inspired than anything there except "Going Against Your Mind" and "Liar". As far
as "singles" go, it's not gonna do rock the world because it isn't a pop song,
but I think it's the kind of drony midtempo track that I would actually
appreciate mid-album. For some reason the fact that reggae encourages simple
repetition makes this song more acceptable and even welcome to me than the dirgy
and boring repetition on most of "You In Reverse".

"Re-Arrange" is
interesting in that it's the first Built to Spill song that sort of looks back
to the "classic sound" since Ancient Melodies came out. For this reason, I was
at least immediately welcome to hearing it. Unfortunately, yeah, a) the lyrics
make me kind of nauseous, b) the vox sound and even sound are a little Death Cab
for Cutie, and c) the best parts of the song, the softly humming guitar sighs,
are basically a redux of a rather unknown "Carry the Zero" b-side called "Now
and Then"--which is a much better song and, in my mind, truly worth holding
onto.

And Jayson Greene said:

"They Got Away" does almost nothing for me. This would be the portion of the
Built to Spill live show during which I completely zone out, where I notice that
my feet hurt and that I want a drink of water. Doug Martsch seems perfectly
content to play with the same guitar tone for the rest of his life and to play
his smeared-tone, noodly solos forever. This is the most flat kind of artistic
stasis. This is miles away from the Built to Spill that lit me on fire in high
school, the band that demonstrated new ways of songwriting and showed me that
lyrics need not be autobiographical or even specific to be work completely.

And "Rearrange." Pretty tune, promising lead-in. Then the
lyrics quickly veer off course. What the fuck is he trying for with this kind of
shit? Has he gotten so lax that he really thinks he can sing whatever the fuck
he wants before he starts up the spacey slide guitar again?

Sorry Ben,
sorry folks -- there are no "teeth" in these tunes. This is as fresh as
month-old bong water.

He's probably right.

And FINALLY:

Built to Spill covering the L. Skynyrd classic "Freebird", live! - click to download

You can find "Freebird" and a few other live BtS covers here.

Enjoy!

Summer Summer!

Some silence / Some sound (two mixes)

Hyperliving has been a bit dormant the past week as I've enjoyed some needed rest. Coming soon is the next month's Hyperliving schedule tonight, but here's a few mixes for the nice weather.

[Note: there should be XML files in both of these zips that you can import into iTunes to automatically rebuild the playlists once you've added all the songs.]

Mix 6: Out of Time / Anglophilia

Click here to download the "Out of Time" mix zip file



This mix goes against one of my general mix-making precepts, which is to vary artists and sounds. Also, a number of these songs have appeared on other mixes I've made. But Out of Time, which I put together over the winter, isn't really about rules--it's about pop songs that I absolutely can't get out of my head. It's definitely a "pussy mix" and it's sort of subtitled "Anglophilia" because most of it has a sort of foppish heart-on-sleeve general sensibility--but basically this is a mix to put on in your car on a beautiful spring day like today and roll the windows down, smoke a cigarette and bask in the sunlight while you let yourself burn to the great feeling about being alive today.

A few specific points on this mix, which is filled with some of my favorite pop songs of all time (or at least in the last year or two):
- The 60s raver "Lazy Line Painter Jane" is the best song Belle & Sebastian ever wrote and is unlike everything else they ever did.
- "Teenage FBI" is Bob Pollard at his absolutel catchiest.
- "Out of Time" (appearing in two versions), "It's All Over Now," and Beck's never released "Untitled" are three songs that I have been beyond obsessed with in the past few months and have played each too many times to count. I can't really explain why I've loved each of these songs so much, except that they are obviously great and they seemed to speak to me and where I've been in the world recently. There are a number of versions of the first two songs, by these artists and others, but these are my favorites
- I normally don't care much for Bright Eyes, but this cover of Daniel Johnston's "Devil Town" is spectacular and has convinced me many times against the rest of my judgement that his last few records deserve a few more spins.
- "My Lighthouse" is a single from the very first Pulp album WAY back in 1983 (who knew they were that old?). It's nothing like the modern band you may know and love but I'm right with Jarvis here. Sidebar: I have a distinct memory of being 15 and listening to this album in my house after borrowing it from a Jarvis-obsessed friend and having my dad--who rarely commented to me about any music choices that hadn't once been his own--look at me plaintively and said, "Ben, why do you like this? The lyrics, I mean, well, they're just terrible. I don't get it." His eyes looked almost pained and I'll never forget it. A moment when I realized sometimes you have to agree to disagree. "Babies", on the other hand, is an undeniable testament to the fact that Jarvis knows exactly what the fuck he's doing and that it's worth all our time.
- "Beautiful" is, yes, a Christina Aguilera cover, and it's honestly exactly that (that's no. 2 unexpected goodness byproduct of Ms. Aguilera)
- "Activation" is an arresting track by Deerhunter side project Atlas Sound and is my latest obsession. I can't quite explain what about the song just does it for me so much, but I can't stop putting it on and I can't get that aching out of my head.
- I thought about putting the My Bloody Valentine cover of Wire's "Map Ref" on here but opted for the original instead. Hope you agree (though replace as necessary).

and

Mix 7: Rock Against Winter

Click here to download the "Rock Against Winter" mix zip file



I made this one, essentially another roll-down-the-car-windows singalong mix through a garage/punk filter, for a friend this winter to stave off the cabin fever blues. Again, many of these tracks number among my all-time favorites.

A few notes:
- "You Won't See Me Anymore" is the first single released by the Nice Boys, the band formed by surviving Exploding Hearts guitarist Terry Sixx after the rest of his band perished in a tragic van accident. Nothing can ever really approach the true power-pop glory of the Hearts (see: "Shattered") but this track is pretty fantastic and, incidentally, way better than anything included on the subsequent album the band released later.
- "The Classical" is easily my favorite of all Mark E. Smith snarl machines. The first couplet is really too much ( i daren't repeat it here). It is truly a track to shake hearts and minds
- Despite what I just said about "Teenage FBI", "Buzzard and Dreadful Crows" is and will always be my favorite Guided By Voices song--perhaps because it was the first one I connected with (off the canonical Bee Thousand) but I can play it a million times in a row and never get tired of it.
- Jay Reatard is THE FUCKING JAM (click link to see Jay and Co live at Cake Shop via P-fork TV--a great show attended by Doorknobs, Hendo and I)
- Since seeing them last fall, I've totally come around on the Black Lips. At first I didn't quite get what they were about but then something clicked and I now understand that they are some kind of brilliant extension of the way I'd like to see my own place in the world.
- "Drowning" has shown up on three mixes I've made in the last six months--I dare someone to not enjoy it. It seems to get at the heart of whatever it is that makes a great rock n' roll song.
- I hate "earliest is best, of course" arguments because I dig growth and extension, but seriously, "Box Elder" is just one of the best best things Pavement ever did, right at the beginning of their lengthy and almost always excellent career (though it says '93 above, the track was originally recorded and released on the Slay Tracks EP in 1989). I thought for the sake of being cute that I might include the reverent Holly Golightly cover instead but I knew that would just be crazy--so just listen and enjoy. Also, here's a vid of SM doing it solo too.
- My Teenage Stride is a Brooklyn band and "To Live and Die" is one of those songs that remind you of everything great about pop music.
- "Shocker in Gloomtown" is a Guided By Voices cover from a limited release 10" that was the last gasp of the first period Breeders--the EP, recorded by J Mascis, also ironically included a cover of Sebadoh's "The Freed Pig" (a post-DJ Lou Barlow song written about Mascis).
- Speaking of D Jr., their comeback record Beyond from 2007 may have been one of the best legitmate comeback records ever (real tunes, no schtick, all goodness) and "We're Not Alone" is just a perfect DJ moment that, when hearing, feels like the one you've waited your whole life for.
- "That's How I Reached My Uncertain Fate": if only Mission of Burma's entire output had sounded like this. Stands alone with "Academy Fight Song" and "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" as the shining moments in the limited discography.
- "Star Star" aka "Starfucker" is the best song on the so-so slept on Stones album Goats Head Soup and seems like a great way to say goodnight, goodbye, talk to you tomorrow.

thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated. more to music/words to come. Hyperliving will be back. love it. love it. love and love. it's almost summer.

love,
JB

Looking Backwards: ENO MIX alteration.

Hi all--now that I am listening to tunes again I've been able to go back to some of the music I put together for everyone last week and, of course, my obsessive compulsive attention to sonic detail is taking hold of me once again.

You may remember that Day 5's mix of Week 3 was my Brian Eno popmix. I went on at length about the degree I am obsessed with this motherfucker and how much I love his tunes. I have to say though that upon further reflection, I feel absolutely compelled to post a "correction" to the tracklisting of the mix I posted:

Please revert the order of the first two Songs (after Windows 95), "Needle In the Camel's Eye" and "Burning Airlines" so that "Needle" comes second and "Burning" is third.

When constructing this mix I went back and forth about which of these two songs should come first and though it seemed to make more sense to go with "Needle" first, I decided to go all contrarian and start with "Burning". I realize now I was wrong. So please, to satisfy my insanity, to us all a favor and edit the track number for each into the proper order.

If you haven't already, you can download the (improperly ordered) mix here.

love,
Jeffrey

Week 3, Day 7 Mix-a-Day: The Baroque Pop of the Harpsichord

I am struggling this week. Not only have I still not completed enough mixes yet (nor all the right ones), but my friend who is in town has informed me that he is taking back his beautiful, crisp Yamaha speakers that have been powering my living rooms sound systems--and, by extension, my life--for the past three years. These speakers have pumped so much sonic blood into my ears and through my mind and heart that I'm having trouble imagining life without them. But I guess 2008 is all about new beginnings and stepping outside my comfort zone, so here goes.

Speaking of stepping outside my comfort zone, it's also a strange coincidence that my speakers are being taken away from me on the day that begins my week of "abstaining from aural pleasure." This means that finishing my last two mixes ain't gonna be happen this week. But friends, I will follow through: my remaining mixes will come to you, at some point. I received so many great ideas for mixes, but many of them should require an entire week of research and investigation unto themselves--doing them in a day would pretty much ensure that they'd be a waste of time. Which means that I can't do them now, but I will do them. Oh yes, I will do them. A list shall be posted and I obligate myself to complete them.

And now, on to today.



Today's mix features songs that utilize that great but somewhat forgotten instrument, the harpsichord. I have some things to say about the harpischord. I will say them later (tomorrow) as revisions to this post. But here's the mix for now:

The Baroque Pop of the Harpischord (click to download)




No joke, this harpsichord is constructed entirely out of Legos. Seriously.

Week 3, Day 5 Mix-a-day: Eno

The man today

If I had eight seconds to name my three favorite non-friend people in the world, the first bloke off my tongue would absolutely be Brian Eno. I exaggerate not one iota when I say that I unequivocally love--no, love the shit--out of this man. I would marry him if he'd take me. Brian, you listening? I'm available with a capital J.

Yes, I love this strange bald man more than anyone in the world not named Hot Doorknobs, Lil' Beaumont, or My Mom. Through his initial work with Roxy Music, to his solo pop efforts, his late 70s Davids Bowie and Byrne collaborations, his explorations into and development of "ambient music," and, above all, his constant and nearly unwavering good taste--including producing seminal recordings by Talking Heads, Devo, U2, Television, and of course the No New York compilation--Brian Eno is a man in music like almost no other. Others like John Cale and David Bowie have had widespread impact in their trifectas of music, production, and tastemaking, but no has done in it in such an egoless fashion. This isn't to say that Eno Has No Ego, as I'm sure he does, but that he's managed to create and nurture powerful music without having an over-the-top stamp of "I Am Eno, Hear Me Roar!" Subtlety and dynamics have always been his domain and they have allowed to him to stay in the background while his 70s peers picked up the acclaim and accolades. He also created the opening theme for Microsoft Windows 95 (!!).

Because the immense diversity of his "footprint on music", it's pretty hard to pin everything down to one mix (and so I didn't). The music he has been involved with can be split into four groups: pop, ambient, collaborations, and production. The mix I am presenting today is of the first group, his poptunes. Soon (though likely not this week) I will follow-through with an ambient mix and then, for fun, a mix combing through his collaborations and production work. For now though, please enjoy the mix below.

For more reading on Eno (highly recommended) please check out the following:

- A shockingly comprenhensive Eno discography
- AWESOME AWESOME article on Eno by Lester Bangs, originally intended for a book that was never published. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
- Article on his creation of Microsoft Windows 95 theme
- Eno interview from Arthur magazine

Also, as a cute anecdote, Brian Eno is also responsible for the famous sentiment that "Only about 1,000 people ever bought a Velvet Underground album, but every one of them formed a rock 'n' roll band."

And so finally, here's the mix. I took Spiffae's suggestion and wrapped in an M3U playlist file to make life easier, but again, consult the playlist below so i don't have to toss in my sleep anxiously wondering whether or not these tunes are being "digested properly" (do the same for the other mixes if you didn't already).

EnoMix1: Pop
Click here to download: DOWNLOAD!






The man in full

Week 3, Day 4: ....... Bowie??

I should have realized that this week would be more difficult than I was letting myself think. I pretended that making mixes wasn't hard, forgetting they require a lot of time and concentration, AND that i'm obsessive compulsive about this and i usually end up spending weeks on each one.

So.

I'm not done with the last two nights yet. Sorry. I WILL finish though, if not now then soon. But in the meantime, I will offer you the following nugget compiled by me recently and tightened a bit this week:

Favorite David Bowie, 1971-80
Click here to download: DOWNLOAD!
NOTE: YOU MUST RECONSTRUCT INTO A PLAYLIST BASED ON MY TRACKLIST BELOW.

A few thoughts--

You'll see that I don't say "Best of" for a few reasons:

1.) Bowie released so much great music in the 70s that it's incredibly difficult to encapsulate an entire career in one retrospective (even when that mix, at 143 minutes, takes up two discs). It's pretty much impossible for anyone to make a perfect selection of his work... but it's still fun to try
2.) Also, there have been many Bowie comps released over the course of his career, many of which are stellar (probably the most famous of which is Rykodisc's 1990 release Changesbowie), and so, for that reason my mix is lacking a lot of the more famous highlights that adorn those mixes. A number of the tracks i've chosen are such "classics" but there are also plenty of less familiar album cuts, and, of course, worthy b-sides.

This mix is, for me, a representative slice about what i loved about Bowie during this time period (minus his Low/Heroes instrumentals, which i've intentionally left off due to the conflicting spirit of most everything else here). Hope you enjoy.

Here's the tracklist:

Week 3, Mix-a-Day

I am still in the process of finalizing my week of mixes. However, the week's schedule so far:

Sunday, Prog/Futures Mix
Monday, "Introducing Jeffrey Beaumont"
Tuesday, New Music from Doorknobs Computer
Wednesday, Songs With Harpsichord
Thursday, "As Fingerprinted By Brian Eno"
Friday,
Saturday,
Sunday, Review of Mixes Past

I have a number of other great themes in mind but i've also received so many great suggestions that i'm still agonizing over which ones to choose. By morning I'll have the rest up (yeah, no sleep til Brooklyn).

love,
Jeffrey