Hello, partygoers! Welcome back to the rumpus room! Please feel free to grab a seat in your favourite comfy chair, wrap your feet in a big ol’comforter and settle back with a cup, mug or glass of a little somethin’ somethin’ to listen to Dave and Mary guide you through this week’s mixtape.
On this episode, Mary and Dave listen to the first side of Mike Davidson’s second mixtape. As usual, it’s a fun mix of both old and new and hopefully new to you music from Dave’s ridiculously large music collection.
So unplug your ears, unchain your mind and rock out/boogie down/sedately listen to:
- Gaz Coombes – “20/20” – Matador, 2015 – 14:45
- Sebadoh – “Keep the Boy Alive” – Secret EP, 2012 – 34:30
- Eddie Floyd – “Big Bird” – 7″ single b/w “Holding on with Both Hands”, 1968 – 49:15
- The New Pornographer – “Streets of Fire” – Twin Cinema, 2005 – 1:02:34
- Love – “Your Mind and We Belong Together” – 7″ single b/w “Laughing Stock”, 1968 – 1:15:47
- The Free Design – “A Leaf Has Veins” – You Could Be Born Again, 1968 – 1:32:30
- Nick Drake – “Place to Be” – Pink Moon, 1971 – 1:37:30
- The Futureheads – “Meantime” – The Futureheads, 2004 – 1:50:32
- Band of Horses – “Weed Party” – Everything All the Time, 2006 – 1:59:14
- The Three O’Clock – “Seeing Is Believing” – Sixteen Tambourines, 1983 – 2:11:56
- Lambchop – “Up with People” – Nixon, 2000 – 2:28:16
And we also heard:
- Destroyer – “Streets of Fire” – We’ll Build Them a Golden Bridge, 1996 – 1:09:35
- The Futureheads – “Park Inn” – 7″ EP Nul Book Standard, 2006 – 1:55:41
Here is that video of Gaz Coombes Dave mentioned during the show:
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Didn’t I already hear “Sneaky Dragon Episode 36” almost 8 years ago? And wasn’t it not a “Sneaky Dragon Listening Party” episode also numbered 36? And wasn’t “Sneaky Dragon Listening Party” not even a twinkle in any Dedrick’s eye back then? And weren’t those first two songs not even recorded yet? PLEASE EXPLAIN!!!!!
Oh.
All I can say is: Whoops!
But thanks for pointing out my dumb mistake because now it’s fixed!
Okay, folks, the votes are in, and here they are…
Gaz Coombes – I don’t think I’ve heard any of Gaz’s solo stuff before, so this was a nice surprise and a good opener that was even better on repeat listen. Kind of how Donovan might sound if produced by Nigel Godrich. (‘I should cocoa’ is an old fashioned English expression of incredulity, incidentally, with a meaning similar to ‘as if…’)
Sebadoh – Really good, simple song, and interesting backstory. Loved the contrast between the tightly rhythmic drums and laidback, stoner vocal, and the way the melody lifted in the chorus.
Eddie Floyd – Got to say I’m surprised you both love this one so much. From the intro, I thought it was going to be great, but then the terrible lyrics kicked in and the song overall deteriorated into soul-by-numbers. Ties for joint least favourite track on this list.
New Pornographers – Liked this one a lot. Agree it sounds more like Destroyer, but that’s fine. The original version was more like a basic demo than a song anyone else would think of releasing officially. I liked its intimacy and naive charm, but do prefer the later one. And, yes, that drum bit rocks.
Love – (sigh…) Well, you keep trying, Dave, and I know the accepted wisdom nowadays is that Forever Changes is a classic album. Honestly, though, this sounds like a spoof from the likes of the Rutles or Flight of the Conchords. Maybe one day I’ll grow to love Love. Not yet though.
The Free Design – Okay, it’s as twee as a fairy cake on a lace doily, but cleverly arranged and good fun. This worked for me as a palate cleanser.
Nick Drake – Beautiful. Nick Drake’s a good example of someone I didn’t appreciate at first but have grown to love over time.
Futureheads – Nice change of pace. Nothing startling, but I liked both of these okay. I always enjoy hearing singers who use their own accents.
Band of Horses – This one’s really grown on me since first listen in the legendary laundromancer mix a few episodes back. Excellent choice, Mary. 🙂
The Three O’Clock – Pretty good song that’s ill-served by a weedy production, cheesy synths and metronomic drumming. ‘Frothy lightness’ was a good description. That was me shouting ‘Long Ryders, Dave!’
Lambchop – I’m a sucker for handclaps, so this got off to a good start. Song moved through some interesting changes and built to a great finish, rounding off the side really well.
Nice idea to include timings for the songs. Thanks yet again for another great show!
Hi Chris! Well, the votes are in and we love getting your comments!
But, wow, you didn’t like “Big Bird”? Just writing about it, the song is playing in my head I love it so much! Oh well, different strokes…etc. but I’m surprised it flew right over your head. (Heh heh!)
I am not surprised, however, that you didn’t dig Love. (Sigh…) I foolishly thought they were generally admitted to be great by all true-blue music fans, but it seems like they just don’t make it here in the Rumpus Room.
Anyway, I’m glad you enjoyed the rest of the songs this episode. Better than the one song Mary liked!
Take care.
PS. Laundromancer used a lot of songs that I chose for the Tapemix Project such as “Weed Party”.
So glad you put the times with each selection! I had to look up the Gaz Coombes song, it’s just mesmerizing. Then I saw that you conviniently had it here all along! Your podcast is so good for the soul, nothing wins over discovering new music that others love to share. Your podcast makes my week…every other week.
I was listening too “Along Comes Mary” by The Association and I wondered if you’d ever weave it into the show for Mary?