Episode 13 - Best of 2010 part 1

10/08/10

Download the AAC file here. It contains album artwork and chapters for each song for your iPod or Zune player. Just make a playlist and drag the file in. I can't figure out how to make iTunes recognize it as a podcast. Can someone help me with that??

The aim of this podcast is to highlight my favorite music of 2010. I did it again, track 10 is from 2009.

01 - Arcade Fire - Empty Room
02 - Violens/The Byrds - I See You”/”Only Shallow
03 - Mgmt - It's Working
04 - Love Is All - Kungen
05 - Metric - Gimme Sympathy (Daytrotter Session)
06 - Bart & Friends - Weave Your Name
07 - Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks
08 - Massive Attack - Paradise Circus Feat. Hope Sandoval
09 - The Hot Rats - The Crystal Ship
10 - Then - Anorak City (2009)
11 - Wild Nothing - Summer Holiday
12 - Vampire Weekend - Cousins
13 - Lucky Soul - Woah Billy!
14 - Dum Dum Girls - Blank Girl
15 - The Blanche Hudson Weekend - Grip Of Fear
16 - Mittens - Jaffa Cakes
17 - Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes
18 - The Love Language - Anthophobia
19 - Portrait Painters - Love Scar
20 - Husky Rescue - They Are Coming
21 - Health - Eat Flesh (Crystal Castles Rmx)

Notes

I've been listening to too many comedy podcasts lately, thus the delay in my own podcasts.

Share this podcast if you can. Leave comments here. I want to hear from you! Thank you for listening.

BigJB

Episode 13 using Mixcloud

Episode 13 by Thesoundtrackofmylife on Mixcloud

This is my first time using Mixcloud. I used to use Splashcast when I started this blog, but they eventually disabled some of the original functions that made it so great. To make a long story short, Splashcast ultimately folded. I really think they missed the boat with the social aspect possibilities. Mixcast is nowhere near what Splashcast offered. Mixcast does allow you to upload music but it has to be the entire podcast in a single file unlike Splashcast which allowed you to upload individual files so you can create playlists on the fly. The track numbers in Splashcast were automatic. You have to manually index the tracks on Mixcast and it only allows you to drop an index every 4 seconds. That is why some tracks above don't start exactly when they should (frustrating). Overall, It's the only thing that's out there, so I guess I have to use it. What do you think?

Best albums of the year....what??

I started this blog years ago as a reaction to everyone's "Best of the year" lists. I couldn't understand how the major music sites and publications, like Pitchfork and Filter, were way off on their choices for the year. I understand that music is not a perfect science, everyone has different tastes that are dictated by the total exposure of music and possibly the influence of people around them. I respect other peoples tastes and I try very hard to listen to mostly everything I can get my hands on. There are definitely certain types of music that I avoid because I just don't like them, hey you can't like them all. 

We live in a time that I think albums are irrelevant. With many services like iTunes and Amazon, buying full albums doesn't make sense when you can buy the best songs. I remember in my youth carrying a boatload (seriously a small luggage or lunchbox) of cassettes to listen to and wasting my batteries fast forwarding past those duds on the album. I can't remember when I didn't have some sort of music player in my pocket from a Sony Walkman wm-102, Minidisc, pre-ipod mp3 players to my current 160gig ipod. The idea of buying the best songs off a record was not possible with records and cassettes unless the song was a released single, but if you wanted other songs, you had to buy the entire album. Bands fill up these albums with filler with song titles like "Intro, reprise, or instrumental tracks." Anyway, we don't have to waste our money with this rubbish if we get what we want, the best tracks off the album.

I listened to the albums on the Amazon and NPR "Lists so far of 2010" and the 98% of those albums don't have more than 2 or 3 good songs on them, if any. How can you recommend an album that doesn't have more than 50% of good songs on them? Instead of telling you about good songs, I try and create a podcast so you can listen to them. I do apologize for not releasing a new music podcast in the last 7 months. I plan to be more vigilant in my endeavor and share my favorite songs and albums of the year.

Episode 12 - Best of 2009 part 2

01/01/10

Download the AAC file here. It contains album artwork and chapters for each song for your iPod or Zune player. Just make a playlist and drag the file in. I can't figure out how to make iTunes recognize it as a podcast. Can someone help me with that??

The aim of this podcast is to highlight my favorite music of 2009. I did it again, track 09 is from 2008. Track 35 is technically from 2008 but it was released in the US in 2009.

01 - Superdrag - Slow To Anger
02 - Amber Oak - Audrey
03 - Grass Widow - Cut It Off
04 - Vanilla Ride - Hilma
05 - Lissy Trullie - Money
06 - Dog Day - Rome
07 - Silversun Pickups - Substitution
08 - The Jezabels - Electric Lover
09 - The Wendy Darlings - Enormous Pop
10 - Tegan & Sara - Hell
11 - Sonic Youth - Poison Arrow
12 - Tiny Masters Of Today - Skeletons
13 - Lacrosse - We Are Kids
14 - Girls - Lust For Life
15 - Regina Spektor - Two Birds
16 - Camera Obscura - The Sweetest Thing
17 - Very Truly Yours - Reminders
18 - Lovers - Imaginary Women
19 - Karen O And The Kids - All Is Love
20 - The Wave Pictures - Bye Bye Bumble Belly
21 - Immaculate Machine - You Destroyer
22 - Liechtenstein - Roses In The Park
23 - Iran - Buddy (Feat. Kyp Malone)
24 - Cameron Mcgill & What Army - Minor Suite
25 - Marissa Nadler - Brittle, Crushed & Torn
26 - Clues - Haarp
27 - The Legends - Always The Same
28 - The Joy Formidable - Austere
29 - Yo La Tengo - Nothing To Hide
30 - The Maccabees - Kiss And Resolve
31 - Come On Like Gangbusters - Birds On The Power Line
32 - Dreamdate - Wait For You
33 - Cola Jet Set - El Sueño De Mi Vida
34 - Eat Lights Become Lights - Klustered (Part 2)
35 - Ida Maria - In The End

Notes
I've been a bit distracted since the last podcast. Anyway, these are some of the songs I've been listening for the past 7 months. I'm already working on part 3.

Thank you for listening.
Share this podcast if you can. Leave comments here. I want to hear from you! Happy New Year!
BigJB

Episode 11 - The American Songbook Series

The Soundtrack Of My Life
Episode 11
5/30/09

Download the AAC file here. It contains album artwork and chapters for each song for your iPod or Zune player. Just make a playlist and drag the file in.

The aim of this podcast is to highlight my favorite tracks from the American Songbook series collection. I received a couple of requests for song standards so I decided to compile a list from this series I was listening to at the time. If you are not familiar with the American songbook, this will be a real treat for you. Give it a listen, I can't imagine someone not singing along with these songs after you listen to it. Some of these songs are not the definitive version but they are just as good.

(Track)-(Artist)-(Song) (Composer)
01 - Billie Holiday - Solitude (Duke Ellington)
02 - Gwen Verdon - If My Friends Could See Me Now (Dorothy Fields)
03 - Lee Wiley - Easy To Love (Cole Porter)
04 - Louis Armstrong - Mack The Knife (Kurt Weill)
05 - Teddi King - This Is Always (Harry Warren)
06 - Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra Featuring Frank Sinatra - The Song Is You (Jerome Kern)
07 - Frances Langford - I'm In The Mood For Love (Dorothy Fields)
08 - Fred Astaire - Puttin' On The Ritz (Irving Berlin)
09 - Betty Hutton - Rumble, Rumble, Rumble (Frank Loesser)
10 - Peggy Lee - Lover (Rodgers & Hart)
11 - Kitty Kallen - It's Been A Long, Long Time (Jule Styne)
12 - Helen Forrest - I've Heard That Song Before (Jule Styne)
13 - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra Featuring Liza Morrow - All The Cats Join In (Alec Wilder)
14 - Ella Fitzgerald - What Is This Thing Called Love (Cole Porter)
15 - Mabel Mercer - It's De-Lovely (Cole Porter)
16 - Jo Stafford - The Things We Did Last Summer (Jule Styne)
17 - Gogi Grant - Why Was I Born (Jerome Kern)
18 - Mel Tormé - P.S. I Love You (Johnny Mercer)
19 - Chet Baker - Everything Happens To Me (Tom Adair & Matt Dennis)
20 - Eileen Farrell - In The Still Of The Night (Cole Porter)
21 - Tony Bennett - I Wanna Be Around (Johnny Mercer)
22 - Ethel Merman & Donald O'Connor - (You're Not Sick) You're Just In Love (Irving Berlin)
23 - Peggy Lee - Big Spender (Dorothy Fields)
24 - Judy Garland - Get Happy (Harold Arlen)
25 - Margaret Whiting - You Couldn't Be Cuter (Dorothy Fields)
26 - Bob Crosby Featuring Helen Ward- Day In, Day Out (Johnny Mercer)
27 - Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra - I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Dorothy Fields)
28 - Johnny 'scat' Davis & Frances Langford - Hooray For Hollywood (Johnny Mercer)
29 - Lena Horne - Then I'll Be Tired Of You (E.Y. Harburg)
30 - Jo Stafford - Dream (Johnny Mercer)
31 - Doris Day - I've Never Been In Love Before (Frank Loesser)
32 - Betty Hutton - Blow a Fuse (It's Oh So Quiet) (Hans Lang and Bert Reisfeld)
33 - Peggy Lee - It's All Right With Me (Cole Porter)
34 - The Boswell Sisters - Louisiana Hayride (Arthur Schwartz)
35 - Esther Williams And Ricardo Montalban (Khan!!!) - Baby, It's Cold Outside (Frank Loesser)
36 - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters - Don't Fence Me In (Cole Porter)
37 - Cole Porter - Anything Goes (Cole Porter)
38 - Julie Andrews - Thoroughly Modern Millie (James Van Heusen)
39 - Wini Shaw - Lullaby Of Broadway (Harry Warren)
40 - Al Bowlly - Time On My Hands (Vincent Youmans)
41 - Andy Williams - Moon River (Johnny Mercer)
42 - Judy Garland - Over The Rainbow (Harold Arlen)
43 - Mildred Bailey - I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart (Duke Ellington)
44 - Peggy Lee - I've Got You Under My Skin (Cole Porter)
Requests??? Theme ideas??
Thank you for listening. Share this podcast if you can.
Join the The Soundtrack Of My Life Facebook group here! Represent!
BigJB
photo credit

Episode 10 - Best of 2009 part 01

The Soundtrack Of My Life
Episode 10
5/3/09

Download the AAC file here. It contains album artwork and chapters for each song for your iPod or Zune player. Just make a playlist and drag the file in.

The aim of this podcast is to highlight my favorite music of 2009.

01 - Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch
02 - Morrissey - All You Need Is Me
03 - Joy Zipper - Just Like Heaven
04 - The Indelicates - The Recession Song
05 - Matt & Kim - Ginders
06 - The Low Frequency In Stereo - Texas Fox
07 - Metric - Help I'm Alive (Acoustic)
08 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Little Shadow
09 - Marissa Nadler - River Of Dirt
10 - M. Ward - Rave On (Featuring Zooey Deschanel)
11 - The View - Gem Of A Bird
12 - Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision
13 - Of Montreal - First Time High (Of Chicago Acoustic Version Of 'An Eluardian Instance')
14 - Devics - Catch
15 - Camera Obscura - French Navy
16 - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Come Saturday
17 - St. Vincent - Actor Out Of Work
18 - Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band - Worldwide
19 - Neil Young - Just Singing A Song
20 - Storsveit Nix Noltes - Trakijska Racenica
21 - Peaches - Show Stopper
22 - Fol Chen - No Wedding Cake
23 - The Cloud Room - La La Losing
24 - A Band Called Quinn - BabywhenIseeyoureyes
25 - Fanfarlo - The Walls Are Coming Down
26 - Dog Day - Neighbour
27 - Findlay Brown - I Still Want You
28 - The Empty Set - Alton Towers (I'll Cry)
29 - The Kills - Crazy
30 - Polly Scattergood - Breathe In Breathe Out
Recommendations
There are enough good songs on these albums to recommend them:
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart (My favorite album of 2009)
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
M. Ward - Hold Time

Buy the other albums at your own risk but do search for the posted songs and support these artists.

Thank you for listening. Share this podcast if you can.

Leave comments here. I want to hear from you!
I also started a Facebook group here....join if you can!
BigJB

Episode 09 - Best of 2008 part 7

The Soundtrack Of My Life
Episode 09
3/31/09

Download the AAC file here. It contains album artwork and chapters for each song for your iPod or Zune player. Just make a playlist and drag the file in.

The aim of this podcast is to highlight my favorite music of 2008. I did it again, track 10 is from 2009.

01 - Love Is All - Movie Romance
02 - Tilly And The Wall - Jumbler
03 - The Apples In Stereo - Stephen Stephen (for Stephen Colbert)
04 - Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - Travel
05 - Crooked Fingers - Luisa's Bones (Daytrotter session)
06 - Elbow - One Day Like This (Daytrotter session)
07 - Winterpills - Immortal
08 - Emiliana Torrini - Hold Heart
09 - El May - I Remember
10 - Washington - Guerre De Rue
11 - The Kills - Black Balloon
12 - The Bird And The Bee - Ray Gun
13 - Klaus & Kinski - Crucifixión, La Solución
14 - Sr. Chinarro - Timidos
15 - Bubblegum Lemonade - Susan's In The Sky
16 - Hotel Lights - Nobody Let You Down
17 - Misophone - Grey Clouds (Part 2)
18 - David Vandervelde - Cryin' Like The Rain
19 - One For The Team - What Are You Gonna Cry About
20 - Headlights - On April 2
21 - Dreamend - If Only For A Day
22 - Moscow Olympics - Safe
23 - Sigur Ros - Vid Spilum Endalaust
24 - The Organ - Even In The Night
25 - Lightning Love - Work Today
26 - Los Campesinos! - Sweet Dreams Sweet Cheeks
27 - The Light Sleepers - Panama
28 - The Passionistas - Righters Block
29 - The Wave Pictures - One Line At A Time
30 - Mates of State - Lullaby Haze
31 - Ida Maria - See Me Through
32 - Jenny Lewis - Love Hurts (Live On Radcliffe And Maconie)
Recommendations
There are enough good songs on these albums to recommend them:
Love is All - A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Emiliana Torrini - Me and Armini
Moscow Olympics - Cut the World
Sigur Rós - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Klaus & Kinski - "tu hoguera està ardiendo"
Headlights - Some Racing, Some Stopping
One for the Team - Build It Up
Bubblegum Lemonade - Doubleplusgood
Tilly And The Wall - O

Still listening to (but liking):
David Vandervelde - Waiting for the Sunrise

Buy the other albums at your own risk but do search for the posted songs and support these artists.

Thank you for listening. Share this podcast if you can.

Leave comments here. I want to hear from you!
BigJB

Episode 08 - Best of 2008 part 6

The Soundtrack Of My Life
Episode 08
2/24/09

Download the AAC file here. It contains album artwork and chapters for each song for your iPod or Zune player. Just make a playlist and drag the file in.

The aim of this podcast is to highlight my favorite music of 2008. (Well...sort of...I made 2 errors this time. Track 3 is from 2009 and Track 16 is from 2006. It was too late to re-cue the tracks so I left them in.)

01 - Portishead - The Rip
02 - Emiliana Torrini - Birds
03 - Loney, Dear - Distant Lights
04 - Ray Lamontagne - Gossip In The Grain
05 - Liz Durrett - Not Running
06 - Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
07 - Slow Club - Let's Fall Back in Love
08 - Tilly And The Wall - Pot Kettle Black
09 - Bromheads Jacket - Where
10 - The Black Keys - I Got Mine
11 - Be Your Own Pet - The Kelly Affair
12 - Queen Adreena - In Red (Live Astro Hall)
13 - Nine Inch Nails - 1,000,000
14 - Raconteurs - Salute Your Solution
15 - Klaus & Kinski - Nunca estás a la altura
16 - Headlights - Tv
17 - Piano Magic - Vacancies
18 - Bubblegum Lemonade - Tyler
19 - Cocoanut Groove - The End Of The Summer On Bookbinder Road
20 - MGMT - 4th Dimensional Transition
21 - Love Is All - Wishing Well
22 - Ida Maria - Morning Light
23 - One For The Team - Dress Up Party
24 - No Age - Sleeper Hold
25 - The Little Ones - Morning Tide
26 - The Bird And The Bee - You're A Cold
27 - Jolie Holland - Corrido Por Buddy
28 - Elvis Costello And The Imposters - Pardon Me Madam, My Name Is Eve
29 - Company Of Thieves - Mia's Ballad
30 - Joan As Police Woman - To America
31 - Girls In Hawaii - Sun Of The Sons
32 - Little Champions - Sea Of Frogs
33 - The Light Sleepers - The Family Lisp
34 - Okay - Blind
35 - Gus Black - I'm Fucked

Episode 07 - Shoegaze Part 02

I will be updating this post this week with my comments.
Download Episode 07 here

01- Ride - Like A Daydream (Smile 1990)
02- Secret Shine - Stars in the Sky (All Of The Stars 2008)
03- Swervedriver - Son Of Mustang Ford (Demo Version) (Original version on Raise 1991)
04- Mogwai - Glasgow Mega-Snake (Mr. Beast 2006)
05- Chapterhouse - Guilt (Whirlpool 1991)
06- Moscow Olympics - What Is Left Unsaid (Cut The World 2008)
07- The Raveonettes - The Best Dies (Lust Lust Lust 2008)
08- Cocteau Twins - Otterley (Treasure 1984)
09- Slaraffenland - How Far Would You Go (Private Cinema 2007)
10- Slowdive - Catch The Breeze (Just For A Day 1991)
11- Astrobrite - Kisspeach (Whitenoise Superstar 2007)
12- Kontakte - Sterile World (Soundtracks To Lost Road Movies 2008)
13- The Vera Violets - You Turn Me (The Last Kiss 2005)
14- Autolux - Plantlife (Future Perfect 2004)
15- Saloon - Have You Seen The Light (Lo-Fi Sounds, Hi-Fi Heart 2006)
16- Serena Maneesh - Drive Me Home The Lonely Nights (Fixxations 2003)
17- My Bloody Valentine - She Loves You No Less (Ecstasy & Wine 1989)
18- Yesan Damen - Perfect (or So It Seems) (The Never Beginning Story 2006)
19- Moose - Jack (Jack EP 1991)
20- Blonde Redhead - 23 (23 2007)
21- Film School - Lectric (Hideout 2007)
22- Pale Saints - Baby Maker (In Ribbons 1992)
23- Superdrag - Bloody Hell (The Fabulous 8-Track Sound Of Superdrag 1995)
24- The Boo Radleys - Tortoiseshell (Every Heaven EP 1991)
25- The Twilight Sad - Twenty Four Hours (Joy Divison Cover) (Killed My Parents & Hit the Road 2008)
26- The Rational Academy - White Bears Of Norway (Stranded: A Compilation of Brisbane Music 2007-2008)
27- Kaito - 3 A.M. (Band Red 2003)
28- M83 - Asterick (Before The Dawn 2005)

Episode 06 - Best of 2008 part 5

The Soundtrack Of My Life
Episode 06
12/29/08
Happy Birthday to me.

Download the AAC file here. It contains album artwork and chapters for each song for your iPod or Zune player. Just make a playlist and drag the file in.

The aim of this podcast is to highlight my favorite music of 2008.
It makes a good New Years mix.

01 - Crystal Castles - Air War
02 - Of Montreal - Id Engager
03 - Bon Voyage - Birthday
04 - Vampire Weekend - Mansard Roof
05 - Goodnight Monsters - Milk Club
06 - Ida Maria - I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked
07 - One For The Team - A Better Job
08 - Daniel Wylie - Car Guitar Star
09 - The Submarines - You Me And The Bourgeoisie
10 - Red Light Company - Scheme Eugene
11 - Sara Bareilles - Love Song (Stripped Version)
12 - Juliana Hatfield - Shining On
13 - Damien Jurado - Gillian Was A Horse
14 - Bubblegum Lemonade - A Billion Heartbeats
15 - Embarrassing Fruits - First Time
16 - Coldplay - Viva La Vida
17 - Voyager One - M
18 - Headlights - Towers
19 - El Perro Del Mar - Somebody's Baby
20 - Los Campesinos! - Death To Los Campesinos
21 - Love Is All - Sea Sick
22 - Pete And The Pirates - Knots
23 - Lightspeed Champion - Let the Bitches Die
24 - The Eames Era - Both Hands Full
25 - Stricken City - Lost Art
26 - Jay Reatard - Always Wanting More
27 - The Shortwave Set - No Social (Radio Edit)
28 - The Orchid Highway - Medicine Tree
29 - Theresa Andersson - Birds Fly Away
30 - Dot.Ay - Default To Paranoia

Breakdown
01 - Crystal Castles - Air War (Single Version) (Crystal Castles)
I like this version better than the one on the album. I love the 8bit/chiptune movement and Crystal Castles is leading the way. A definite recommendation!

02 - Of Montreal - Id Engager (Skeletal Lamping)
I've been a fan for a while and I respect Kevin Barnes' creative style and musicianship, this album's melodies are disjointed. Skeletal Lamping, however, is on many top 10 lists for album of the year.

03 - Bon Voyage - Birthday (Lies)
It's my birthday on the 29th so I put this one on here. 2 good songs on this album and an uninspired cover of Girlfriend in a Coma by The Smiths doesn't get my recommendation for a buy.

04 - Vampire Weekend - Mansard Roof (Vampire Weekend)
I don't get the hype, really? This was the only song I liked from the album. I guess anything with Vampires is having a good year.

05 - Goodnight Monsters - Milk Club (Summer Challenge)
This album has a couple of good songs but not enough to recommend.

06 - Ida Maria - I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked (Fortress around my Heart)
What a great album! I wonder if Hanna-Barbera Productions will be suing her for lifting that melody from The Banana Splits song, only time will tell. Buy this album!

07 - One For The Team - A Better Job (Build it Up)
This is a good album. It missed making my top 5, but certainly in my top 10 for the year.

08 - Daniel Wylie - Car Guitar Star (Car Guitar Star)
Only song I liked from this album. Don't bother.

09 - The Submarines - You Me And The Bourgeoisie (Honeysuckle Weeks)
Only song I liked from this album. I loved this song all summer and then Apple used it incessantly in every iPhone commercial. Good for the Submarines, bad for me.

10 - Red Light Company - Scheme Eugene (demo version) (Demos)
I only heard this single and it's very catchy. The chorus is so 80's sounding, if I didn't know any better, I'd think that this was a Flesh for Lulu song.

11 - Sara Bareilles - Love Song (Stripped Version) (Little Voice-Expanded Version)
The only song I like by her. It's a great song without the slickness of the album version.

12 - Juliana Hatfield - Shining On (How to Walk Away)
I really liked this album. Buy it!

13 - Damien Jurado - Gillian Was A Horse (Caught in the Trees)
Best song on the album. Don't bother picking this one up.

14 - Bubblegum Lemonade - A Billion Heartbeats (Doubleplusgood)
This album sounds like a mix between Primal Scream's-Gentle Tuesday and The Stone Roses-This is the One. I eat this sound up, it brings me back to the late 80's. A must buy if you like Twee. Every song on this album is great.

15 - Embarrassing Fruits - First Time (First Time EP)
I only liked the title track of this EP but I look forward to a full release in 2009 because this bands shows promise.

16 - Coldplay - Viva La Vida (Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends)
I hate Coldplay. I think their music is so mediocre it makes me sick and I hate the fact when I look at Delacroix's painting I have to be reminded of this band. With that out of the way, I have to admit that I do like this song maybe because they didn't write it (hehe). That's debatable, but it was the only song with a catchy melody. This is the best selling album of the year, really??? I can go on with my dislikes of Coldplay for hours, but why bother. Btw, why use a French painting with an Spanish phrase??? It should've be called Vivre la Vie.

17 - Voyager One - M (Perfect as Cats: A Tribute To the Cure)
I liked this tribute album better than Just Like Heaven - A Tribute To The Cure (2009). There were a good number of decent covers on this one. If you like The Cure, why not. The proceeds go to charity.

18 - Headlights - Towers (Some Racing, Some Stopping)
I saw the video of "Cherry Tulips" at the beginning of the year but I didn't hear the album until August. Very good album. Top 5 on my list.

19 - El Perro Del Mar - Somebody's Baby (From the Valley to the Stars)
I liked 3 songs off this album. I wish this album had more to offer because I like their sound, but sadly there is not enough to recommend this one.

20 - Los Campesinos! - Death To Los Campesinos (Hold On Now Youngster)
I liked 3 songs off this album. I don't think they deserve the hype they've received all year and so what they made 2 albums this year. The newest one was really bad.

21 - Love Is All - Sea Sick (A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night)
I just started listening to this album this week. I loved the last one and this song rocks.

22 - Pete And The Pirates - Knots (Little Death)
Only 2 good songs off this album. That's it. You've heard it on these podcasts.

23 - Lightspeed Champion - Let the Bitches Die (Falling off the Lavender Bridge)
Same story here, only 2 good songs off this album. Don't bother.

24 - The Eames Era - Both Hands Full (Heroes & Sheroes)
I liked 3 songs off this album. These songs, however, are great. I hope they continue to improve on their next album.

25 - Stricken City - Lost Art (Lost Art single)
Good song. They only have one other single, no album yet. I can't wait.

26 - Jay Reatard - Always Wanting More (Matador Singles '08)
I liked some songs off the other singles collection. Honestly, I haven't finished listening to this new collection of singles.

27 - The Shortwave Set - No Social (Radio Edit) (No Social)
I'm not sure if I heard the entire album or I found this off a collection. I love this song, I should make sure and listen to it if I haven't already.

28 - The Orchid Highway - Medicine Tree (The Orchid Highway)
This band wants to sound like other bands. Each song sounds like a different band, weird. They do a good Big Star/Cheap Trick like song here. It's like they are saying, "Yeah, we can sound like The Beatles, Big Star, Cheap Trick, etc..." I think Todd Rundgren did an album like this once. They sound like a great cover band without their own identity.

29 - Theresa Andersson - Birds Fly Away (Hummingbird, Go!)
I like this song but I haven't listened to the album yet.

30 - Dot.Ay - Default To Paranoia (Stranded: A Compilation Of Brisbane Music 2007-2008 CD 03)
I'm finishing this podcast the way it started.

Final note
Again, buy these albums at your own risk but do search for the posted songs and support these artists.

Thank you for listening. Share this podcast if you can.
Leave comments here. I want to hear from you!
Next podcasts "Shoegaze part 02" around 1/14/09 and Best of 2008 part6 around 1/28/09
BigJB

Episode 05 - Shoegaze Part 01

This is the beginning of my journey recalling some of my favorite Shoegaze bands and highlighting the bands of the last 5 years that have kept the torch burning. I previously mentioned that I was reaching 50 songs, well I think it's up to 100. I am going to post this series every other podcast so I can continue my favorite selections of 2008. This is going to span well over 6 or so podcasts. I hope you join me in my journey!I am going to highlight the bands that influenced the genre, so I have to start with the obvious choices: The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy and The Cocteau Twins' early ep's.
There have been many albums that have changed my life at first listen: The Stooges - The Stooges, The Smiths - The Queen is dead, Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation, The Replacements - Tim, T. Rex - Electric Warrior, Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister, Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque, Big Star - #1 Record/Radio City to name a few. Psychocandy was one of these albums. I picked up the cassette when I was working in a record store because I liked the look of the cover. When I first heard it, I thought there was something wrong with my Walkman. I didn't understand the noise that I was hearing was feedback. I've heard feedback, but not to this extreme. It sounded like The Crystals inside a wind tunnel. I loved it!
I don't remember how I started listening to The Cocteau Twins but I remember getting Blue Bell Knoll on cassette when it was released (1988) and hearing a difference in their sound. It must have been around 1986, I bought all the 4AD imports once I was hooked. I was entranced by E. Fraser's voice and the waves of guitar flowing through my headphones. It was melodic, undeciferable, and I loved it! It was strange when E. Fraser started to make sense. I liked it better when she was singing gibberish, like scat singing, but I still like the songs sung in english.
Most Shoegaze bands follow one of these two dominant paths or a combination of the two: The Jesus and Mary Chain (e.g. Ceremony) sound or The Cocteau Twins (e.g. Slowdive) sound. Listen to the last two songs. There are other influences, but I will talk about that next time. Enjoy!

01 - The Jesus & Mary Chain - You Trip Me Up (Psychocandy 1985)
02 - Cocteau Twins - Lazy Calm (Victorialand 1986)
03 - My Bloody Valentine - Thorn (You Made Me Realise EP 1988)
04 - Pia Fraus - Springsister (After Summer 2008)
05 - Dawn Chorus Ignites - Glimmer (Glimmer EP 2008)
06 - Moose - Boy (Jack EP 1991)
07 - A Place to Bury Strangers - Missing You (A Place to Bury Strangers 2007)
08 - Lush - Downer (Gala 1990)
09 - Skywave - Baby It's Just You (Echodrone 1999)
10 - Pale Saints - She Rides The Waves (Barging Into The Presence Of God 1989)
11 - Kevin Shields - City Girl (Lost In Translation OST 2003)
12 - The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters (Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters 2007)
13 - Guitar - House Full of Time (Blue Skied an' Clear (Slowdive Tribute - VA 2002)
14 - Celestial - Lake Como (Dream On 2007)
15 - Smashing Orange - Any Further, It's Over (Smashing Orange 1991)
16 - Swervedriver - Sandblasted (Raise 1991)
17 - The Radio Dept. - A Window (Pet Grief 2006)
18 - Slowdive - Shine (Holding Our Breath 1991)
19 - Ceremony - Someday (Our Last Goodbye 2005)

Download Episode 05 here.

Episode 04

The Soundtrack Of My Life
Episode 04
11/16/08

Download the AAC file here. It contains album artwork and chapters for each song for your iPod or Zune player. Just make a playlist and drag the file in.

The aim of this podcast is to highlight my favorite music of 2008.

01 - Fleet Foxes - He Doesn't Know Why
02 - Headlights - Cherry Tulips
03 - The Donkeys - Gone Gone Gone
04 - The Do - Travel Light
05 - Jolie Holland - Mexico City
06 - She & Him - Black Hole
07 - The Black Keys - So He Wont Break
08 - Liz Durrett - You Live Alone
09 - Bears - Wait And See
10 - The Boy Bathing - The Questions Simple

Recommendations
I still highly recommend A Mouthful from The Do. I honestly haven't listened to the other albums at length so I reserve my opinion as of this moment. I have listened to the albums by the Fleet Foxes and The Black Keys for a while and they only have two decent songs on each. I've liked M. Ward's albums up to this point and I've had a crush on Zooey Deschanel since Elf. So when they teamed up for an album, I was intrigued. You know, It wasn't bad at all. I liked it a lot, especially this song on the list and the Beatles cover. I recommend this one but stay away from the travesty that is Scarlett Johansson's album Anywhere I Lay My Head. Not every actress can sing.

Final note
Again, buy these albums at your own risk but do search for the posted songs and support these artists.

Thank you for listening. Share this podcast if you can.

Leave comments here. I want to hear from you!

See you in 2 weeks.
BigJB

Episode 03

The Soundtrack Of My Life
Episode 03
10/27/08

Download the AAC file here. It contains album artwork and chapters for each song for your iPod or Zune player. Just make a playlist and drag the file in.

The aim of this podcast is to highlight my favorite music of 2008.

01 - Conor Oberst - Danny Callahan
02 - Hotel Lights - Wedding Day
03 - Earlimart - Before It Gets Better
04 - Human Highway - My Beach
05 - Martha Wainwright - Comin' Tonight

Commercial Break - Batman Merchandise - J.C. Penny Spot, Dallas Ft. Worth

06 - Supergrass - Ghost Of A Friend
07 - The Eames Era - Last To Know
08 - Get Set Go - Modern Age
09 - Little Champions - Glory Take A Shot
10 - Company Of Thieves - Far Past Monday

Recommendations
No album recommendations this week except for The Company of Thieves 2007 album called "Ordinary Riches." They have an acoustic ep for free and you can find the song from this episode. Download it...it's free!
I'm still listening to the newest Human Highway album so I'll reserve my judgement of this album for a latter episode.

Comments
I'm not a fan of Bright Eyes except for "Four Winds." It's a good song but I think I like it more because the lovely Maria Taylor is playing drums in the video. I did see him in concert but only because Feist opened up the show. Anyway, Danny Callahan is the best song on the album.

Final note
These are a bunch of good songs from mediocre albums or ep. Again, buy these albums at your own risk but do search for the posted songs and support these artists.

Thank you for listening. Share this podcast if you can.

Leave comments here. I want to hear from you!

See you in 2 weeks.
BigJB

Episode Two

The Soundtrack Of My Life
Episode 02
10/13/08

Download the AAC file here. It contains album artwork and chapters for each song for your iPod or Zune player. Just make a playlist and drag the file in.

The aim of this podcast is to highlight the best music of 2008.

01 - Los Campesinos! - You Me Dancing
02 - Mates of State - The Re-arranger
03 - Jenny Lewis - Pretty Bird
04 - The Raveonettes - Black Satin
05 - El Perro Del Mar - How did we forget

Commercial Break - Velvet Underground - 3Rd Lp Promo

06 - The Do - Stay (Just A Little Bit More)
07 - Smokekiller - Foolish Heart
08 - The Kills - Goodnight Bad Morning
09 - Pia Fraus - Late Again
10 - The Ruby Suns - Adventure Tour

Recommendations
"Lust Lust Lust" from The Raveonettes is a very good album. I liked some songs off of their other albums but this one is special. My top album of the year, even though it was released in '07 in the UK-released in 'o8 in the US.
"A Mouthful" from The Do is a very good album also. The feel of the songs vary from one to the next. This might be my second favorite album of the year.
I'm still listening to the new Jenny Lewis so the verdict is still in the air.

Final note
The song by Smokekiller and The Ruby Suns are the only songs that I like from each band. Seek out the song but listen to the album at your own risk. I can't recomend the albums from the other artists because of the lack of good songs.

Thank you for listening. Share this podcast if you can.
Buying the songs through the Amazon link above will allow me to buy more music to review for the podcast. Any support is appreciated.

Leave comments here. I want to hear from you!

See you in 2 weeks.
BigJB

Episode One - The Mixtape strikes back..hehe

The Soundtrack Of My Life
Episode 01
9/30/08

Download the AAC file here. It contains album artwork and chapters for each song for your iPod or Zune player. Just make a playlist and drag the file in.

The aim of this podcast is to highlight the best music of 2008.

01 - Juliana Hatfield - Such A Beautiful Girl (Feat. Matthew Caws)
02 - Pete and The Pirates - She Doesn't Belong To Me
03 - The Breeders - It's The Love
04 - The Ting Tings - Be The One
05 - Sons And Daughters - Rebel With The Ghost
06 - Little Scout - Dead Loss
07 - Stereolab - Daisy Click Clack
08 - Tilly And The Wall - Dust Me Off
09 - Ida Maria - Queen of the world
10 - Evangelicals - Bloodstream

Recommendations
I liked the Juliana Hatfield album. I was never a fan of her music but this one surprised me. There are a couple of songs that I like from "How to walk away" and I bet that you would to.

I wasn't expecting much from the latest Breeders album because albums after a long break don't usually produce.
I was wrong. It's not "Pod" (which is my favorite) but a respectable output of songs that don't disappoint. If you like the Breeders, you should like this album.

Close but no cigar
I like a couple of songs from Tilly and the Wall's album "O" but it's not enough to recommend it.

Final note
The other songs on this list are the only songs that I like from each band. Seek out the song but listen to the album at your own risk. The Ida Maria song "Queen of the World" is not the version on the album. I'm not sure where I got this version.

Thank you for listening. Share this podcast if you can.
Buying the songs through the Amazon link above will allow me to buy more music to review for the podcast. Any support is appreciated.

Discuss this podcast in
The Soundtrack Of My Life Forums
or leave comments here. I want to hear from you!

See you in 2 weeks.
BigJB