I try to make a mix tape every month or so, but lately, it's been coming down to every season. I present, without further adieu, the Spring '05 Space Hardware Mix.
"A New England" by Billy Bragg
A forgotten gem from the 80's, with one of my favorite lyrics ever: "I saw two shooting stars last night / I wished on them, but they were only satellites / It's wrong to wish on space hardware / I wish, I wish, I wish you cared." Hence this mix title.
"An Honest Mistake" by the Bravery
Yes, it's a new retro-sounding band with "The" in their name, but it's a catchy tune
"Hardcore Days & Softcore Nights" by Aqueduct
Good beat, and you can dance to it, with a nice electo touch thrown in. Plus, a great title. I'm digging it.
"Will You Smile Again for Me" by ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Our Dead
Yes, AYWKUBtToOD is a pretty ridiculous name for a pretty ridiculous band, but they're so gosh-darn earnest. They pound their instruments like they're the next Led Zeppelin, and I love the tune just for the fact that it goes a dozen directions in seven minutes
"More Than This" by Peter Gabriel
No one does haunting synth-rock like ol' Pete, and it's nice to have him back in rotation
"Maps" (live) by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Acoustic versions of hard rock songs rarely work, but this is a nice exception. Her voice carries it, and makes the in-your-face original sound almost poignant.
"Teardrop" by Massive Attack
The first time I heard this song was in the credits for my new favorite show, HOUSE. Luckily, my wife is much cooler than I am and owns MEZZANINE, which I've been listening to on a regular basis every since.
"Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley
Another gift from television, heard a couple years ago in a West Wing episode. A beautiful song, nonetheless.
"Redmen and their Wives" by Guided by Voices
One of the (many) things I love about GbV is that, every time I listen to them, I find a new favorite song...heard this one on their AUSTIN CITY LIMITS performance.
"Specialist" (live) by Interpol
The missus is currently obsessing over these kids, and there's no denying the appeal of their soaring melodies. And, as she says, it's nice to hear a band on the radio that's got half a brain in their head.
"If You Leave" by Nada Surf
I loved these guys before ANY of you alt-rock posers. And yes, this is a cover of the OMD 80's classic. Who cares? Shut up!
"California" by Low
See the "All at Once the Ghosts Come Back" post.
"I Have Known Love" by Sidecar
This is one of those songs that just came to me out of the ether. Seriously, I found it in my iTunes Library one day. No idea whatsoever how it got there. But I like it.
"Banquet" by Bloc Party
When the EP came out, these guys were shaping up to be the new Arcade Fire. Now the full-length is out, and they're shaping up to be the new Killers. This album is very, very good. Buy it now and give it a good listen so it's out of your system by the time the nimrods on K-Rock (or your local jackass-populated radio station) start raving about it as the new big thing six months from now.
"Hounds of Love" (new mix) by the Futureheads
See the above about the Bravery. This one's even catchier, though.
"Don't Save Us from the Flames" by M83
M83 has seen the hole left wide open in the electronic-cinematic-swoop-rock field since Brian Eno disappeared fully up his own arse in a whoosh of processed dead air, and they've filled the gap nicely.
"No One Takes Your Freedom" by DJ Earworm, the Scissor Sisters, the Beatles, George Michael, and God knows who else
Yes, it's a mash-up. Mash-ups are the new big thing. Mash-ups are COOL. Don't you listen to the radio?
This mix, albeit in a bastardized iTunes version, is available on, what else, iTunes, if any of the above has piqued your curiosity.
