Rads, this was one hell of a mix, so I hope I do it justice.

-----------------------------------------

Summertime Thing - The Mid-Tempo Monger Mix

Partners in Crime – Slim Dunlap

“Our secret code word is ‘who gives a shit?’” - Great song to kick things off, a perfect mid-tempo groove to set the tone of things to come. I like this song a lot, probably just the Replacements vibe alone. So who’s his partner in crime? Clearly some really awesome broad. That cr-yi-ya-ime is infectious.

Red Shoes in Italy – Andrew Matheson

“Before I die, I’m gonna buy, red shoes in Italy” – Why does he want to buy red shoes in Italy before he dies? I haven’t figured that out yet quite yet, it seems to be catching the eye of a great girl and getting out of this town and country, but he likes drinking wine and talking about wasted potential. I guess we all set different bars of success and our protagonist here has set his to another great tune.

I Made A Mess Of This Town – Scott Miller

“Ever face I see when I look around says it’s time to leave, you’ve made a mess of this town” - Now here we go. This is a fucking great song, with someone who’s taking time to impart some wisdom to us. He’s got a spring in his step, a song on his lips and he knows how girls talk. He also tells us about people you meet and people you know while he’s sitting at the bar. Listen carefully because the secrets of the universe may lie in here.

Impossible – The Charlatans

“You can't kill an idea just cause it's raining” – I love that line because it’s raining right now and I feel uninspired to do anything much. Fortunately this song is acting as a bit of a catalyst. It’s not magnesium on fire, but it’s good. The singer’s voice, cadence and that harmonica at the end are giving me a Dylan feel.

Jewelbomb – Richard Buckner

“The truth is I want you, but I’ll slip away…somehow” – This is a little deeper and heartfelt than the previous tracks about breaking out. This guy is really in pain here, does he want her or doesn’t he? Maybe he can’t. This guy talks to thunder for christ’s sakes, sane and clear thinking people don’t address the weather directly.

That’s How I Got to Memphis – Kelly Willis

“If love somebody enough you’ll follow them wherever they go” – That’s how she got to Memphis. Fuck, that’s how I got to Saskatoon. All in all, I’d rather be in Memphis, but that’s beside the point. And if she doesn’t find him here, she’s heading for the train to find him. Is she crazy? Possibly, but her voice suggests otherwise. She’s just crazy in love and the sleepy pedal steel let’s us know it’s true.

Can I Get a Witness – Frank Black

“And some of these people are just so lame…” – Isn’t that the truth? Frank is always welcome to preach in my house. I’d never heard this song before and was glad to hear it. Is Frank awesome or what?!! Testify!

When I See You Smile – Rusty

“When the trees all change with time, I’ll see you by my side” – For one horrible second when I read the title I flashed to that god awful song for ’91 by Bad English and was reminded of John Waits’ plaintive whine. Now when I see this song title I will wonder why they can’t be more like this classic sounding Rusty song. For some reason I really started thinking about London when I heard this song, walking down Richmond St. with all those huge trees in autumn. Probably because of the tree reference in the chorus, but I was transported. That’s all that matters.

Show Me – Over the Rhine

“Baby, you’re my favourite Rolling Stone” – Jesus, I’m instantly in love with whoever is singing this song. I pray it’s not a guy. There are moments during this song where I wish all music sounding like this, plus she reminds us that we can sleep when we’re dead. I think this is my partner in crime right here.

Sweet Hitchhiker – Tommy Womack

“Last big spoon sticking out of my mouth, chewing on the Dairy Queen logo heading south” – What a goddamn brilliant song. I was pretty much instantly hooked by the opening line. I’ve heard anyone reference the fucking Dairy Queen straight out like that. Plus he ends up talking about the King James bible on cd-rom and ice cold Schlitz in tiny little glasses. I think any sweet hitchhiker would be glad to get a ride with such a fun guy who like beer and ice cream and reading the bible. Although I suspect his motives may not be entirely pure.

All Wrapped Up – Go To Blazes

“I almost had a feeling of dreams that won’t come true” – Jesus, what a sad line. He came close to have an inkling that things actually were going to keep going as shitty as they are. Maybe he’s lucky actually, who the fuck wants to know there’s no hope left. This might be the most mixed up song ever because how in the hell is he letting us know. Has he had a precognitive moment of his life laid out? Ultimately it doesn’t matter when it’s married to a southern groove. You know he’s going to make the best of it. We all have to believe that.

Right By Your Side – Oh Susanna

“Now I'm rollin' like a bitch on wheels across the great divide” – Ha, I love this line. And the fact she’s counting the time makes it even better. This song has got an imperative beat too that pairs well with her promise.

Something Left to Save – The Hangdogs

“And a soul only costs what a body's worth and the next one's just as cheap” – Pretty desperate stuff in this one, nice Stonesy feel to it. I don’t know why but I started craving a cigarette during this song, really badly too. I have a feeling that if this song came on in the car, I would immediately light up. It’s just got that feel, especially singing about street corner preachers and faith and being saved. Damn, I wish it was Friday.

Crash – You and I

“I’m lost in the ether again and if it’s all the same to you, let me crash” – Man, I like this song a lot. I especially like that line about the ether, not the chemical that can make you feel funny, but they 19th century concept of an oceanic void that propagated all electromagnetic fields. It’s been called the ‘nothing that connects everything’. I don’t know what ether he meant. Maybe he was lost getting high on ether or he was lost in the oceanic void that connects everything together. I hope it’s the latter.

One Hundred Years from Now – Wilco

“Would anybody change their minds, and find out one thing or two about life?” Probably not, people are slightly padded monkeys, acting on the belief and assumption of free will. Hey, he asked the question! Great song, didn’t know this was a Byrds/Gram Parsons song. I haven’t heard anything this immediate from Wilco since Being There. I think I want to hear that album real goddamn soon to continue forgetting about A Ghost is Born.

What You Wanted – Hadacol

“I remember you hanging on his every word” – I’m drinking some black tea right now and which got considerably more bitter after this song. This guy watched it all and took it in and seems to be taking some solace in that she’s going to get what she deserved. The chorus reminded me of ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ actually with the organ and all. It’s a wonderful song.

Pretty Girl – Reigning Sound

“Some guys are good in school and some guys are good at acting very cool” – This bastard can’t BELIEVE his good luck, he doesn’t even have to try for the pretty girl. He’s got her with him. This is a wonderful throwback, you don’t hear songs like this enough. And I am a sucker for a sha-la-la choruses.

Between the Lies – C.C. Adcock

“I’m older now I don’t think I can fake it and it scares me that I’m running out of time” - I am instantly hooked by the very first chords. After the Reign notwithstanding, all songs should sound like this one. This lazy, shuffling beat set to those words, ‘fading away between the lies, the truth can’t hide’. Oh and that pedal steel that bleeds in occasionally to remind you non-verbally if the words aren’t sinking in. Nearly perfect in the DumpJack Bible of Right and Wrong.

Summertime Thing – Chuck Prophet

“Take off your clothes and chill to the rhythm, it’s a summertime thing!” – Fuck I love this song, it epitomizes everything about the summer in about 4 minutes with a lazy, hazy groove. Beck probably wanted to write this song, but he got run over by a steamroller on his way to OT III. So Chuck Prophet took care of it for us. Is this the best summer song ever recorded? Yes it is. Fuck the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean. Despite his pleas for us to listen to that black-hearted Mike Love, I will play Chuck Prophet.

There Will Come A Day – Steve Wynn

“But As I made my wishes and I cast my spells, I stopped myself and I said a prayer and said these words to myself” - This might be one of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard about praying for the ruination of your enemies. Actually this might the only song of its kind. I don’t know who fucked over Steve along the way, but he’s clearly in a better space. What goes around, does actually come around. Its physics, the universe is governed by natural law, so this must be true. And let’s face it, wasting your time praying for them to be struck down by disease, while fun, isn’t doing your health any good. So there will come a day when it all lines up. Great song.

Great review, DumpJack! I love how you've pulled a line out of each lyric. This sorta response is what makes putting these mix things together worthwhile.


There's a few Slim Dunlap songs that would've fit this mix. He really seems to favor this sorta groove. I think that's Westerberg on the bg vox.


Andrew Matheson was in the Hollywood Brats. I think he's only put out the one solo album (Night Of The Bastard Moon), and it's pretty hit or miss - sounds like he can't decide if he wants to be the Stones, the Pogues, or Bon Jovi (and one of those entities just don't fit). There's a handful of great tracks though - and this is one of them (reminds me of Mink Deville ack-choo-illy). I can't figure out why he needs the red shoes so badly either, but I stop thinking about it after every "yeah yeah yeah".


This is the Scott Miller of the Steve Earle-championed V-Roys, not the Scott Miller of Game Theory. The V-Roys were the type of kick-ass country band that would cover the Replacements' "IOU" on their live album, and Scott Miller solo continues that same (commercially doomed) trajectory. Any Ryan Adams fans should look into his stuff.


Yeh, this is definitely the Charlatans going through their '60s Dylan/Stones period. I sold this album, but managed to burn this one song off it. Glad I did.


I just fuckin' LOVE this song.


This comes from the Tom T. Hall tribute Real. She's got a great album called What I Deserve that was produced by Chuck Prophet - but be careful with her other albums. A lot of it is glossy mainstream Nashville product.



From his collection of b-sides and rarities Oddballs. In the liner notes he says of this one that he's "trying to be Dylan".


In the early '90s Rusty went from grunge also-rans to glorious garage band over the course of one album and then promptly disappeared. You can find Out Of Their Heads in cut-out bins for CHEEEEAP.



This is the song that intro'd me to Over The Rhine (it was on a Paste sampler). And yeh, that voice slays.


He's one of those guys that just gets totally ignored. I don't get it. One of these days I'll have to get you a copy of his song "The Replacements", which is an 8 minute epic detailing his conversion into becoming a believer in the 'Mats. It's pretty awesome.


Oh Susanna started out doing those briefly trendy country gothic murder ballads, but on this 3rd album she finally stretched out a bit and proved she's got talent beyond the indie shut-in crowd. Predicably, almost nobody bought the reckid.


This, along with the Slim Dunlap track, is the song that sparked the idea for this mix. It doesn't rock, it doesn't sulk, it just kinda swings with a hint of unused muscle.


You Am I are sort of comparable to the Tragically Hip in Australia - they play a traditional brand of rock that gets dismissed by the try-hards, and they're massively popular in their homeland while they're virtually ignored everywhere else. It's about time they released a new album too.


This is from the Gram Parsons tribute Return of the Grievous Angel. Jay Bennett was still in the band back then. Wilco will never come close to being this good ever again (as evidenced by the anemic attempts at rocking on that new Loose Fur thing).


From his Lafayette Marquis album, which is pretty damn great. How great, you ask? So great that Jack Nietzche produced one of the tunes.


A-men to all that. Love the Chuck.


I've still gotta pick up Wynn's new Tick...Tick... Tick album. I've heard reports that instrumentally it sounds a little like Television.


So again - thanks for the awesome review. You'll be first on the mailing list for volume 2!

And thank you again for the mix. It was aces, I look forward to Vol II!

I like that review a lot (along with the mix, d'accord)

I also realized, Uncle Monger, that I can fill my entire 6 disc changer with Monger mixes...and that they can basically SDTK a full day of OPEN MONGERING, to wit:

In the afternoon, you play the Midtempo Monger mix and ease into the day with some beers...around the time "One Hundred Years" comes on, you are smiling, waxing poetic, and with much erudition about the fact that the Gram Parsons' tribute album is taken from is the best tribute album you've ever heard, and that you should put that on. You don't put it on, instead you obtain a few more beers.

Old Monger is up next, which is a bit more rollicking, but not really full tilt, driving-the-gray-goose-on-the-way-to-prison, and drink more beer, and you are still in a good mood, and able to speak coherently about Sports, music, politics life and love. Sometime around the time of "Bad Luck at Tulane," you tell a story about the time you and Ol Gar hit up that party with enough coke to scare a Columbian, and ended up tapping out three chicks between the two of you. You then declare "I must be getting drunk," stand up and go to get more beers.

Next up is Tower of Mong, which is good timey and fun...really life of the party. Sometime after you drink from the pitcher, you then funnel a couple, switch to liquor (bourbon or vodka, in TALL GLASSES) and start getting, what Derris terms, The Leer. By the time "3 Steps from the Bar" comes on, you are standing up in your chair, pumping your fist and screamin "And I'm havin one more..." and order a round of Jaeger Bombs...

Now for Power Monger. You notice that you have stopped chasing your mixed drink with a beer in one hand, and have, in fact, done away with the mix as well. Its shots time. Or, barring that, you are cutting oranges and grapefruits in half with a Randall Knife on someone's bare countertop, and squeezing them into a glass that you think is Vodka. In fact, it is probably Gin, or even Tequila. You wince, but you drink it anyway and make another. You start playing air guitar during "What a Waster." By the time "Credit" is over, you've lost your voice, your wallet, your keys, and your friends. You have not lost the Randall knife, and you have two oranges in the inside pockets of your suit coat. You find a random glass with clear liquid in it, and chop an orange in half in the palm of your hand. You might knick yourself. you might not, you wouldn't care anyway. Sometime around the "Don't Lay it On Me," you pull a shiv and just piss in the hallway.

Not much is remembered past this point, or its choppy. Cut to 2 or 3 am. You are starting to come back around, but only because of the rolled up bill in your hand. You try to sing along with "Where Are All of My Friends," but its incoherent, even to you.

The next morning, you wake up, head on fire, tongue feeling the rug in a camel tent, and understand why the girl in "2002" left, and beg for the "Rock of Ages" to indeed, rescue you.

Then someone mentions its almost time to start drinking again.

Jayzus, Loogs, that was beautiful. Brought a tear to my eye.

And this...

... is fever-dream poetry worthy of HST himself. Or maybe even Samuel Taylor-Coleridge.

Those should be the liner notes to the inevitable Radcliffe box set, available soon in a jail near you, for the low, low cost of a carton of cigarettes and your very soul.

I am SO buying this!

np: Supergrass - "Your Love"

poetry man. poetry.