All is full of stuff
I have many MP3s. When I saw “many,” I mean “eight thousand and nine.” Now, I’m not terribly worried about the RIAA beating down my door, because the collection is unevenly divided between songs I’ve burned off my CD collection (1400 or so) or downloaded from band/fan websites – the latter songs being demos, live tracks, gags.
So now I’ll hit “random” and “next” 10 times and say what I’m listening to.
1.) Bjork – “Hyperballad”
The best Bjork song, bar none. Two haunting melodies battle for the spotlight under a gauze of bleeps and hissing. Who produced Post? He/she kicks my ass.
2.) CCR – “Green River”
Surprisingly, I’ve only burned 10 CCR songs off the six-CD box set. This is as good a choice as any, and better than 80% of pop music simply for the inclusion of John Fogerty vocals.
3.) Oingo Boingo – “Only a Lad”
One of the batshit new wave classics from Danny Elfman’s debut album. Not something I’d play to a gang of hipsters, but poisonously catchy.
4.) Pet Shop Boys – “Yesterday, When I was Mad” (Disco 2 remix)
Why the hell do I have this? Disco 2 is a one-off PSB compilation that shops their awesome pop songs to DJs and acids them out of all reasonable interest. This takes the opening synth part and repeats it 10,000 times. Woo.
5.) various artists – “Pajama jama da” (from Urusei Yatsura)
J-pop crap from the classic Rumiko Takahashi cartoon. I have a ton of Japanese pop that isn’t very good. But it’s expensive!
6.) Dennis Wilson – “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away”
Live, acoustic cover from that most alcoholic of Beach Boys.
7.) Lexo and the Leapers – “Plainskin”
Bob Pollard (of Guided by Voices) side project. Brilliant. Duh.
8.) Klaatu – “Dog Star”
Oh, Jesus Christ. Bland 70s pop-rock from the band that gave us “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft.” I have all of their records.
9.) Neil Young – “Hold Back the Tears”
Sorrowful solo ballad by Mr. Pleasantvoice.
10.) My Bloody Valentine – “Swallow”
Another gorgeous EP track from the best Scottish band ever. Take THAT, Strawberry Switchblade!