My Mix Tape

Oh man sometimes I miss making a mix tape. All those hours of my teenage years spent carefully deciding what music to fit onto the thing that would fit into the thing that would fit into my pocket. Back then we called it a walkman. Since they never made a pocket 8-track, I guess that was the oldest portable music device, even if the mp3 was designed in the 1970s.

Anyway, I got to thinking...what with all our technology, it's been ages since I made a mix tape. I asked around and a few friends got back to me with theirs. I didn't do mine though...until now.

I originally set a rule, which was that the tape in its entirety couldn't be longer than 45 minutes. Obviously, when it was my turn, this rule went out the fucking window quick smart. I recall there being 120 minute tapes. I used a couple of them - you'd only get a handful of plays out of them and then they'd get all messed up inside, like the magnetic tape fell over itself trying to escape or something.

Alright, so without further ado, here is the first 60 minutes side of my 120 minute mix tape. It's disturbing how little recent music made it on there. Enjoy.

Side One

1. Its Catching Up - NoMeansNo

First track off of Wrong, considered by many to be their seminal album, although as far as I'm concerned these guys have ruled from the beginning and continue to do so.

http://www.nomeanswhatever.com



2. Stone the Crow - Down

The glory of Phil Anselmo with a degree of soulful chill not often felt in his music. I absolutely love this song.



3. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Gil Scott Heron

Perhaps the proudest, blackest, fiercest man to come out of the whole Black Power scene; a poet, a performer and an inspiration. The word "brother" has never been pronounced with more soul than it is at the beginning of this song.



4. Monkey Trick - The Jesus Lizard

The angularity. The shrieking. The barely controlled paranoia and rage. Amazing on record, amazing live, and goddamit if that isn't one of the fattest bass sounds ever, standing out all the more because of that demented descending guitar lick.



5. Money Talks - Extrema

Money talks...about yooooooooooooooooou. These guys could be dismissed as Pantera-lite, but this song really does it for me, from the riff to the sentiment of the song, and especially that growl in the middle bit. Metal.



6. Facts of Life - King Crimson

King Crimson are, if not the best, then at least the most interesting band ever. Fact. Every time I hear their music, no matter what lineup or album, something new jumps out at me, a new understanding of their composition strikes me. Although I tend to prefer the Bruford-era material drumming-wise, this song has one of the most aggressive beat downs ever. If you aren't making your sour grape metal face, you're not listening.



7. Retrovertigo - Mr. Bungle

I could have put almost any Bungle song in here, since I love them that much. But in a way, it's the restraint and lilting beauty of this song which makes it so magical. They have never sounded more ethereal or more emotional. The brief bursts of sinister counterpoint the sweetness perfectly. Glorious.



8. Blaze of the Grail - Secret Chiefs 3

One of my all-time favourite bands, and again, I could have picked any tune. This comes from Book M, and I chose it because even though it doesn't have the Middle Eastern influence as present as their other work, the drumming, the groove and the cinematic scope of the tune not only always transport me, but provide a great bridge from the sound of the previous song to the next few. Remember, this is a mix tape, right?



9. Chameleon (Pt. 1) - Herbie Hancock

The tightness of this groove, the richness of the tones even though they're self-contained units rather than a wall of sound...funk.



10. Flashlight - Parliament Funkadelic

I think this track is a great counterpoint to the Herbie track above. For all the Head Hunters restraint, Funkadelic are always balls-to-the-wall out of control. The euphoria of the synth lead-in, the crunchy bounce of that bass line, the joy and simplicity of funk at its sweaty, pressed-against-each-other best.



11. 1997 - Sleepytime Gorilla Museum

Another of my favourite bands, this song will always have a special place in my heart because it was the first one by them that I heard. The riff, the bounce, and more than anything else, the timing and progression of the middle bit make this pure audio butter, if butter was sentient, laced with PCP and wanted to kill you.



12. Panzrama - Giddy Motors

Sadly, this song wasn't on any video site for me to share it, or on any radio site. The best I could do was this Last FM link. These guys are incredible, and this song captures all of the raw insanity, hatred and filth of their writing, playing and thinking. DISEASE.

http://www.last.fm/music/Giddy+Motors/_/Panzrama