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Modaji - Dave Grusin
There's an interesting story behind how this track worked its way into my life, via my piano teacher in St. Louis, and the subsequent (by several years) acquisition of this vinyl LP. This song ended up being so significant in not only my musical education, but in my appreciation of Dave Grusin's music, that it pleases me to present it as the opening track on this mix. Hang on--you're in for a fun ride.
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August Moon - Jeff Kashiwa
As I've stated before, I'm really not a fan of smooth jazz unless it presents some interesting twists and turns. A sax playing over one computerized groove, in one key, doesn't do it for me. I could do that. I want to listen to something that makes me want to achieve something, and this track from former Rippingtons saxophonist Jeff Kashiwa delivers. It's totally smooth and pleasing, and the chord changes are intriguing and highly mobile, making it a pleasure for the senses.
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The Gardens Of Sampson & Beasley - Pink Martini
I discovered Pink Martini on the Internet, and hadn't heard much of their material. However, they seemed nicely esoteric and undefinable, and when Jen and I were shopping at Patina before Christmas, I spotted this album, and couldn't get its title--Hang On Little Tomato--out of my head. The beautiful girl bought it for me for Christmas.
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Leisure Suite - Feist
Another Christmas present of presents was Feist's CD, Let It Die, which is a gem all the way through. In the middle of the album, after appropriately seducing the listener, we step into this "leisure suite", where she, in whispering voices, invites us to "hang up your jacket" and "undo my backzip". This, paired with beautifully understated production, makes this one a classic.
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Judith Dancing - Josh Dodes Band
My first visit to CD Baby put me in touch with this artist, who came up under the search "sounds similar to Bruce Hornsby". Unbeknownst to me, Dodes would get a few last-minute influential jabs in at my 2000 demo I recorded just prior to being graduated from college. This track, second on his disc, has great movement, and illustrates Dodes' funky, bald-headed style.
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National Holidays - Spymob
There was a review written somewhere about this song, citing it as the "most upbeat song about child custody" or something like that. I love the oscillating piano groove, and the unconventional chorus ("This box is highlighted yellow/With one box of blue").
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A Face For Radio - Spiraling
The four-song Challenging Stage EP by Spiraling contains examples of power-pop songwriting from each corner. At the top of the disc is this song, which has seen widespread exposure through MTV.com. The song never deviates from the four-bar groove and changes, and, again, is a shining example of what songwriting should look like.
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Amplifier Fire - Attila
I received the My Lives box set of Billy Joel's with great anticipation, as it contained a single track from a former moniker, the two-man, heavy-metal, organ-drived Attila, which featured the Piano Man on an overdriven, wah-pedal-laden B3, and drummer Jon Small handling anything else. In college, my roommate Dominic was an expert on Billy Joel and knew about this band, whose career lasted the duration of one album, which was summarily buried and disavowed. In light of their musical style, hair style, and sad existence, I couldn't help but draw comparisons to Spinal Tap whilst listening to this track. It's absolutely hilarious, and absolutely priceless. Plus, BJ is a freaky-cool organ player. One can tell he couldn't wait to get his hands on those keys.
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Taxman - The Beatles
After dropping off guitarist Justin Sharbono and his wife Rebecca at the Xcel Energy Center last fall to experience Paul McCartney in concert, I drove over to Best Buy, and picked up Revolver. We had eaten dinner across the street from the arena, where an iTunes random mix of Beatles songs was playing. Justin and I spent our dinner identifying the album each song came from, and other great songs on each of those albums. I remember hearing this track down at Webster, where the school's DJ put this song on repeat for 24 hours on April 15. Who's your favorite Beatle? Mine's George.
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Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? - Chicago
My buddy Grahame first played me this beautifully 70's song in his car in 1996. My collection, at that time, contained no Chicago, but my mom had the four-LP "Live At Carnegie Hall" set, which afforded me a second listen. The live version contained a fun little ad lib by keyboardist Robert Lamm, almost buried in the background, singing, "I don't give a shit" near the end of the song. It took Rhino several years to remaster this baby in its full glory, and as it also arrived on Christmas, I knew this track was goin' in.
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Filthy Criminals/Chamber 17 - Nelson Riddle
1989 changed my life--the year of Batman. Last year, I found this soundtrack at Film Score Monthly, and sought out several fun tracks. This particular one features the fun Batfight music, unveiled during the hotel room fight. This piece segues into the Lydian-centered escape/kidnap via the jet umbrellas, and follows Bruce Wayne and Miss Kitka into "Chamber 17", where they are left to deliberate their fate.
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Explosive Corrosive Joseph - John Schroeder
After listening through the tracks on the "Ocean's 12" soundtrack, this one, recorded in the 60's by John Schroeder, is given a 21st-century spin by expert spinner David Holmes. I just love it for the B3 in the mix, and the super-chanky guitar.
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Junkie - The Jane Doe's
Justin turned me on to Andy Tubman and the Jane Doe's, with a CD I borrowed for way too long. He's a Rhodes player, and makes excellent use of it in conjunction with a very high-pitched vocal. It's super sweet and soulful, though. The groove is untouchable.
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Unknown Legend - Neil Young
I love how simply mellow this song is. My buddy Grahame also turned me onto this track, which he had on a tape somewhere in the neighborhood of 1994 or 1995. We were both involved in the Lifeline youth group at Grace Church in Edina, MN, and I had just gotten my driver's license. One Wednesday night during the summer, long after everyone else had taken off, we kicked back in my '86 VW Golf and listened to this one song over and over and over and over as we talked about the future: where we thought we were headed, what we'd like to do, and, since we'd been friends since kindergarten, where we'd come from. A truly awesome, "Stand By Me"-esque coming-of-age moment, with a soundtrack summed up in one song.
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Big Sky Country - Acoustic Alchemy
After acquiring a few AA albums, I put together my own little "best of" mix. Their first album, Red Dust And Spanish Lace was such a strong entry that each of the tracks were included in my mix. This one, from the more recent The Beautiful Game, also was included, primarily on account of a simply gorgeous bridge section, painting an amazing picture of open fields in the West. Which, in light of its title, accomplishes the goal. Stunning.
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Airdance - Giraffe
Another absolutely beautiful track, composed largely by the late, great, oft-cited Kevin Gilbert. Between acoustic guitars and synths--skillfully produced--it has the feel of being up in the clouds. There's also something of a Celtic bridge which comes from out of nowhere, in an odd time signature, which quickly settles back into the beautiful, almost medieval third act. A composition of epic proportions.
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Piano And Strings - Henry Mancini
The penultimate track on the original, un-remastered soundtrack to "The Pink Panther", this is a super-mellow, ultra-lush song, fully capturing the feel of Mancini in his more pensive moments. Jazz chords are abundant, making the strokes that much wider and more colorful.
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Someone Like You - Van Morrison
I bought two import versions of the soundtrack to "Bridget Jones's Diary" for Jen for Christmas, as it's one of her favorite movies. On Volume 2, this song appeared, and we decided it would be the song for the first dance at our wedding. Lyrically and sentimentally, it was exactly what she was looking for, and, as a musician, I'm always blown away by what Van Morrison is capable of. |
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I Believe In A Thing Called Love - The Darkness
Admittedly, I first heard this song in the sequel to "Bridget Jones's Diary", when Hugh Grant and Colin Firth are fighting in the fountain. The track has a complete sense of recklessness that perfectly underscored these rowdy boys fighting over a girl. After hearing the song in its entirety on the soundtrack, The Darkness gained a new fan. |
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Someone I Don't Know - These Modern Socks
Bassist Al Bergstrom plays with the electronic band These Modern Socks, and planted deep anticipation in many of us of their forthcoming, eponymous CD. This track, near the end of the album, is a great balance of forward-thinking production, combined with the musicality that draws my ear in. |
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Lullabye - Ben Folds Five
This wonderfully final track on the Five's last studio album is a lyrical waltz about a late-night flight with James Earl Jones(?) As will happen with songs by Ben Folds, with or without his band, there are several movements to this piece. After satisfying the recipient of the lullabye with the tight trio, we enter the dream as the orchestra joins in. The soaring strings mimic the taking of flight, and the playful bouncing and tumbling, before landing safely back on the ground, flipping the light off, and closing the door. |
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