Thursday, September 6, 2012

Feel Bad For THE MAN

"Rock and roll is all about sticking it to the man!" – Someone

Now that the Democratic National Convention is in full swing, I figure it's time to post the August Feel Bad for You Mixtape. This month's theme is THE MAN! The dogs days of summer are only made worse by sitting in your cubicle and slaving away for THE MAN! At least that’s how I came up with the theme for this month's mixtape. Though THE MAN could be your boss, the government, whitey, your woman, Nashville record executives, your landlord, etc. I told the contributors to be creative with this one.



1. Snog - Corporate Slave
Remote Control (1997)
Submitted By: Bryan http://ninebullets.net/
Comments: This one was easy. Snog was bashing corporate america long before it was fashionable to do so and I knew as soon as you said the theme was "The Man" I had to include one of their songs. This song originally appeared on their 1997 album Remote Control but this particular version of it is from their 2006 retrospective Sixteen Easy Tunes For The End Times. Hope y’all like it as much as I do.

2. Ben Folds - The Ascent of Stan
Rockin’ the Suburbs (2001)
Submitted By: @philnorman
Comments: You wondered why your father was so resigned. Now you don’t wonder anymore…

3. The Clash - Clampdown
London Calling (1979)
Submitted By: April @ Now This Sound Is Brave
Comments: "The men at the factory are old and cunning / You don’t owe nothing, so, boy, get running / It’s the best years of your life they want to steal"

4. Chuck Prophet - American Man
¡Let Freedom Ring! (2009)
Submitted By: hoosier buddy
Comments: Chuck Prophet is the Captain America of guitar-slinging singer-songwriters. His trademark scarf and vest let you know he’s comfortable with the way he looks. The musical influences in this one song alone are a veritable melting pot of American culture. Twang meets classic rock and celebrates the love child with shameless 80′s riffage, His shield is the honest truth about what’s wrong, what’s weird,and what’s going on: "American man, three times your size, with blood on my lips, milk in my eyes." We all recognize this American man. Heck, some of us are him. Proud as hell, too!

5. Neil Young - Ohio
From: bootleg (1971)
Submitted By: tincanman
Comments: I had so many 'Man' punisms running through my head to impress you with I almost forgot the ultimate 'The Man hath run amok' song.

6. Woody Guthrie - Vigilante Man
Dust Bowl Ballads (1940)
Submitted By: Gorrck

7. Ralph Stanley - I Am The Man, Thomas
Ralph Stanley And The Clinch Mountain Boys: 1971-1973 (1995)
Submitted By: Truersound
Comments: I AM THE MAAAAN!

8. Minus 5 - Dear Employer (The Reason I Quit)
Down With Wilco (2003)
Submitted By: toomuchcountry
Comments: Oh yeah? Wow now you’re minus SIX my friend! I’m outta here.

9. OPM - Heaven is a Half Pipe
Buy: Menace to Sobriety (2000)
Submitted By: Ryan (Verbow @ altcountrytab.ca)
Comments: I remember this song getting a lot of play round the turn of the millenium. I don’t know if I would say its a good song but it makes me bob my head and laugh thinking, “yeah all I need is my board and my weed – the man can go eff himself!”

10. Peter Tosh - Legalize It
Legalize It (1976)
Submitted By: Simon
Comments: On the eve of Jamaican Independence 50th Celebrations and on the day the country is poised to make it a male/female sprint double gold at London 2012, then it's got to be Peter Tosh's "Legalize It," this Wailer gave the bird to The Man and if the stories are to be believed that's what cost him his life. Beat this Snoop Dogg.

11. Rodriguez - This Is Not A Song, It’s An Outburst: Or, The Establishment
Buy (mp3): Cold Fact (1970)
Submitted By: BoogieStudio22
Comments: It's the establishment, man.

12. John Keating - Jesus Christ Superstar
Sound Gallery Vol 1 (1972)
Submitted By: Bowood
Comments: Andrew Lloyd Webber on FBFY, it was always on the cards.

13. Anthrax - I’m the Man (Def Uncensored Version)
I’m the Man (1987)
Submitted By: Rockstar Aimz
Comments: Gorrck sent this CD to me in 2001 when the anthrax scare hit the east coast. We told one of our other friends that "I got Anthrax in the mail." She said, "Are you serious!!!" Our friends are not too bright. And we are immature.

14. Furnaceface - We Love You Tipper Gore
Just Buy It (1992)
Submitted By: Lord Summerisle
Comments: A song about "The Man" that's about A woman.

15. Screeching Weasel - A New Tomorrow
Anthem for a New Tomorrow (1993)
Submitted By: annieTUFF
Comments: So, when I heard the theme for this month was "The Man," I thought of rebelling against status quo, rejecting the norm and living your life the way you want to live it. Instantly I thought of this song, Screeching Weasel is a band I’ve loved for years. It doesn’t matter what music I’m listening to, or if I’m going thru a "only listening to Buck Owens on repeat/surf music 24-7/or whatever else constantly" phase, I’ll always be able to add a Screeching Weasel song to my mixtape (or really…we all know it’s a playlist…but mixtape just sounds better dudes, ok?). Anyway, back to this particular song, anytime I’m starting to question my life choices I can listen to this song and instantly feel better, really. Sound dumb? Who cares, it works for me.

16. Roger Alan Wade - Cars and Guns
Stoned Traveler (2009)
Submitted By: Adam Sheets

17. Drive By Truckers - Puttin’ People On The Moon
The Dirty South (2004)
Submitted By: TheOtherBrit
Comments: This was the first song that came to mind when I thought about The Man keeping ya down, especially convenient with the Mars landing just happening.

18. Bradley Wik and the Charlatans - Friday Night is for the Drinkers
Buy (Bandcamp): Burn What You Can, Bury the Rest…
Submitted By: Cowbelle www.morecowbelle.net

19. Pete Yorn (w/Natalie Maines) - The Man
Buy: The Nightcrawler (2006)
Submitted By: Trailer

20. The Countdown Five - Money Man
B-Side/Shaka Shake Na Na/Money Man (1969)
Submitted By: @popatunes
Comments: This theme seemed a bit of a challenge finding something that wasn't an obvious 'The Man' protest song, (my interpretation of the theme) so I was lead deep into the garage for an enjoyable excursion that distracted me to from my initial, but thought this little b-side gem from Texas City's The Countdown Five was worth sharing. Y'all know by now I have soft spot for low-fi psych garage grooviness. The band had two Billboard Top 100 hits, "Uncle Kirby" and "Shaka Na Na."

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Nine Bullets Radio: the RNC edition


Last week my buddy Bryan at NineBullets put together a radio show loosely themed "Fuck the RNC." The poor guy's hometown has been invaded by Republicans! Per Bryan:
Last night's show was a loosely themed "FUCK THE RNC" show. It's coming to town next week, closing our streets, closing our parks, and telling us what we are and aren’t allowed to do. All the while, they're sequestering themselves away for their own private circle jerk and telling us how happy we should be that they've graced us with their presence. I also brought the local band Bootleggers And Baptists into the studio in an effort to break up the rage. So take some time and put your ears on the archived stream of the show.
Below is the playlist for August 23, 2012 {Artist - Song [Album (year)]}

01. Todd Farrell – Nine Bullets Theme
02. Otis Gibbs – The Peoples Day
[One Day Our Whispers (2004)]
03. American Graveyard – Common Ones [Hallelujahland (2010)]
04. Chris Knight – Nothing On Me [Little Victories, released 9/11/2012]
05. The Drive-By Truckers – Putting People On The Moon [The Dirty South (2004)]
06. Soul Asylum – Gravity [Delayed Reaction (2012)]
07. Bootleggers And Baptists Live In The Studio
08. Great American Taxi – Blair Mountain [Paradise Lost (2011)]
09. Chuck Allen Floyd – Hard Times [Schedule A]
10. Bootleggers And Baptists Live In The Studio
11. Frank Turner – Glory Hallelujah [England Keep My Bones (2011)]

In the words of the mighty Todd Snider, "Know what scares people these days? Republicans. That, and Democrats."

Sunday, August 26, 2012

New Lucero Video

Actually, the only Lucero video. In their 14 years as a band, this is Lucero's first official video. Per Paste: "Although the band's been making music for 14 years, this is their first official music video. 'Our fans have made videos over the years, we've never made one ourselves until now,' lead singer Ben Nichols said. 'Why? Basically because we're unorganized and lazy.'" And, once again, Ben Nichols tells the story of my life.

Several weeks ago the band put a call out for fans to show up at some location south of Memphis in northern Mississippi. This video was the result of that call. It's basically a big party, and essentially exactly what happens at a Lucero show, but without the pond. (Edit: I can't speak for all Lucero shows, but previous the gigs in Toronto and Boston have not had ponds.) My favorite part of the video is when drummer Roy Berry adds a "Y" to the end "Lucero" painted on the van, to read "Roy Rules." Then he does a vile jello shot with a chaser of Budweiser. Awesome. The only thing that video director should have done differently is splice some live footage of the band performing between party scenes. Or is that too 80s?

Sunday, August 19, 2012

There will be moshing on Mars

Source: Horns Up Rocks

Today in weird music news, Anthrax became the first metal band played on Mars by the Curiosity rover. I pulled this article from the Facebook group "I Fucking Love Science." Of course it begs the questions as to why a robot needs a wake-up call. Or is it that the Mars scientists are closet metal-heads? Regardless, I want the Mars robot DJ gig. Anyone have an in at NASA?

Ever wondered what the first metal band played by the Curiosity rover on Mars would be? Wonder no more! On day 6 Anthrax became the first metal band played on Mars by Curiosity, when their 1990 track ‘Got the Time’ was played on the Martian
surface as part of Mars rover Curiosity’s daily wake-up playlist.

As Anthrax's Scott Ian put it: "yes, there will be moshing on Mars."

The first metal band played on Mars was by Opportunity in 2004 - on day 12 the rover played Motörhead's 'Leaving Here' while it went for its first drive.

The people who choose the playlist clearly have a great sense of humour - The Mars rover Spirit played 'I Touch Myself' by the Divinyls when the rover examined itself with instruments on day 92.

Other music Curiosity has played: ‘Echelon’ by 30 Seconds To Mars; The Beatles ‘Good Morning Good Morning’; Good Morning, Good Morning from Singin' in the Rain; the Star Wars theme; the theme from "Mission Impossible"; Break on Through by The Doors; Got My Mind Set on You by George Harrison; Simon and Garfunkel's cover of the Everly Brothers' "Wake Up Little Susie"; Come Fly with Me by Frank Sinatra; and Wagner’s ‘The Ride Of The Valkyries’.

You can check out the morning playlists for Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit here: http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/MER%20Soundtrack.html

Anthrax - Got the Time
Buy: Persistence of Time (1990)

Motörhead - Leaving Here
Buy: Bomber (2001)