Mixed Bag Playlist

May 4th, 2005

Filed under: General

My contribution to Lefty’s Mixed Bag was sent out today. Based on some of the discs I’ve seen so far, my collection is going to be a little more mellow but no less eclectic.

My musical tastes can probably best be described as that area where country, classic rock, alt rock, and folk meet. Throw in a little punk and an occasional show tune and there you have it.

I have this strange affinity for depressing songs. Have you ever noticed that while male singers and groups can produce some very depressing songs (Billy Joel, Captain Jack; Pink Floyd, The Final Cut; Christy Moore, Ordinary Man), there are female singers who seem to make a whole career of them (Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Kasey Chambers)?

Before you decide that I need some therapy or at least strong medication, I’m also a big fan of upbeat and up beat songs. My mix has a good selection of both (but can you decide which is which?)

For those interested (or those listeners who wonder what the heck I was thinking), here is the annotated version of my playlist, including lyrics.

7 Responses to “ Mixed Bag Playlist ”

  1. Shane
    May 4th, 2005 at 11:00 pm

    As long as there isn’t any Aimee Man you should be ok. :)

  2. Will
    May 5th, 2005 at 3:00 pm

    Aimee Mann’s career has been pretty much about depression and angst (but still, she crafts a beautiful pop song and I would highly recommend her along as a highwater mark of the soul-bruised singer-songwriter mode). She hits the right balance of oh-so-clever lyrics and bittersweet melody for me.

    I’m glad you liked Fight Test, Scott (and hopefully the rest of the Yoshimi album — give their previous disc Soft Bulletin a spin too if you get a chance).

    Again, a great world of downer (yet uplifting) music to be found with Jeff Tweedy’s band Wilco (especially the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot — recommended sample track: “Jesus, etc.”). They are “alt-country” (Tweedy can rightfully claim half-ownership of the foundation of the genre from his days with Uncle Tupelo), but their albums have progressively transformed the soundscape of the band into different directions.

    And especially because you said this:
    “My musical tastes can probably best be described as that area where country, classic rock, alt rock, and folk meet. Throw in a little punk and an occasional show tune and there you have it.”
    I have to throw you bodily into listening to Billy Bragg and Wilco’s album, “Mermaid Avenue, Volume 1″… which is a collaborative venture in writing melodies for lyrics never completed as songs by Woodie Guthrie, entrusted by his estate to Mssrs. Bragg and Tweedy. Top notch and far-ranging (it features a few olde-timey ballads, a rocka-billy drunken sing-along, a lovely ode/proposition to Ingrid Bergman, a tongue-in-cheek clamor for Jesus as president… man, what a great album), the lyrics are just perfect for the mood you seem to cultivate with the playlist you’ve made here and the kind of music you seem to gravitate toward.

    If you don’t especially love the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and last song, I’d be shocked. If downloading to sample, look for: “Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key” (with backup vocals from Natalie Merchant), “Walt Whitman’s Niece”, and “The Unwelcome Guest”.

  3. Chip
    May 5th, 2005 at 9:44 pm

    Great collection. I’m a Texan born and bred and a newly minted fan of Texas country. I just got Ian Moore’s latest, “Illuminaria,” which I highly recommend to you. Seems like it would fit with your sensibilities.

  4. tomthedog
    May 6th, 2005 at 4:44 pm

    Wow, I’m really looking forward to getting your disc. Looks like some good stuff.

  5. MacQuarrie
    May 6th, 2005 at 8:15 pm

    “that area where country, classic rock, alt rock, and folk meet”

    I think that would be spelled “Harry Chapin.”

  6. Ratbat
    May 7th, 2005 at 8:36 am

    Ah, ‘Mighty Quinn’ was originally a Bob Dylan? I never knew. (Yes, I like the Manfred Mann one as well.)

  7. Josh
    May 8th, 2005 at 2:37 am

    “Quinn the Eskimo” was inspired by the movie “Savage Innocents,” in which the Eskimo is called Inuk but is played by Anthony Quinn.

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