1. Rich Hope & the Evil Doers - Sweet Vanilla 4/5

I know nothing about Rich Hope and seemingly neither does AllMusic. Lots of stonesy guitar riffs. Either Rich Hope owes Damon Albarn for the use of all these Woo Hoo's or visa versa. I like this..kicks off the mix well.


2. The Honeydogs - Glee 4/5

I dl'ed their album "Seen A Ghost" back in the days when emusic offered unlimited downloads and I was more willing to sort through the crapstack in search of that unknown great discovery. I've stopped downloading stuff because I listened to way too much crap and apparently my ears were too damaged by the crap to often recognize the good ones. This is a lot better than I remembered and a lot rawer than I remembered them being. This is more stonesy even using the adjective "gin-soaked", where I remember "seen a ghost" as being more beatlesque. I'm going to pull out that honeydogs cdr and give it another spin but are you a big fan, rads?


3. Two Dollar Pistols - Too Bad that You're Gone 3.5/5

Starts out with a little twang and gets better from there. This rating would be higher if the singers voice didn't at times remind me of Hootie. I have some Two Dollar Pistols and again never listen to them. Are you pulling the best of the best from these artists or am I ignoring some great shit in my collection?

4. Southern Culture on the Skids - Hittin' On Nothing 4/5

Nice cover. I'd probably rank this much higher if it were an original but I do like it. I've heard of them but I think this is the first song I've actually heard by them. I like it and they seem right up my alley. How are their originals? AMG seems to think highly of them. Where should I start?

5. Marah - Head On 2/5

I just don't really get the attraction to these guys. It sounds very messy -lots going on and not much to draw me in. I guess this is where I get off the monger train.

6. Bedoin Soundclash - When the Night Hears My Song 2.5/5

I want to like this but ultimately it just doesn't have enough of a groove or melody to it to draw me in. Have you ever heard Venice Shoreline Chris (aka Chris Murray)? He plays solo old school acoustic ska. If you like this, you might dig him as well. I think he might be originally from Canada although he lives in LA now.

7. Tommy Stinson - Hey You 3/5

Getting better again. What's this from? I have and really like Bash & Pop. I would have never predicted it but Paul Westerberg has probably been the most inconsistent solo artist of all the replacements.

8. Oh Susannah - Mama 3.5/5

I think this is the third Oh Susannah song I've got on various mixes from you. I don't mean that as a complaint, sometimes I need a good kick in the noggin that I need to take an artist more seriously. I'm liking this.

9. Kristi Rose - this Should Go on Forever 3/5

This is pretty but with some nice guitar licks. I get a little bored by the end. Still, I recognize that my not loving this is probably more reflective of how tough I am on female artists than the quality of the song.

10. Houndog - Cruisin Part I 3/5

I hear potential in the song but its not drawing me in. I suspect that this rating is severely penalized by my listening setting, at work at low volumes as opposed to the front porch with a wheat beer in hand and the stereo cranked.

11. NOra O'Connor w/ Andrew Bird - Sticks and Stones 4/5

Definitely dig this. I didn't see that snarl coming. what is this from?

12. John Ford - Dragged 4/5

This song makes me wonder whether I'm capable of really appreciately a good rock jam anymore. The 4 rating is a sum of the parts valuation. I really love parts, especially when there's not much going on but the slower groove of the guitar and the glamish vocals but when the song picks up and it rocks harder I start to lose interest. Some great parts for sure here but I'm undecided what I think of the song as a whole. Perhaps there's just too much going on for me to fully appreciate it. As a sidenote I'm not sure why I'm bothering to rate individual tracks as I seem to be giving everything a 4.

13. The Zatopeks - The Night Spider Earned His Colours 3/5

I can enjoy it in the context of the mix but its got a bit of the feel of a throwaway song

14. Deaf School - All Queued Up 3.5/5

More glammy new wavish rock. Its got a bit of a theatrical feel to it with some nice punchy horns. I like it but again I'm not sure how much I'd dig it outside of the context of the mix.

15. Nikki Sudden - Looking for a Friend 4.5/5

This is probably my favorite track so far. I dig the rollicking piano especially. I've had pretty limited exposure to the Swell Maps and no exposure to Nikki Sudden solo material. Clearly, I need to explore both more.
16. The Deadly Snakes - So Young and So Cruel 3/5

Seems like there are a lot of Snake bands these days. I'm not sure these guys are one of the better ones. A big drop in recording volume here might be contributing to that which is especially felt through the low volume work speakers. Sounds ok. Might like this more at home at higher volumes.

17. Tift Merritt - Ain't Looking Closely Today 4/5

Nice simple song that doesn't try to hard to be too much. Everything fits together well and she's got a nice voice.

18. CC Adcock - Y'all'd Think She'd Be Good To Me 4/5

Spoon'ish start to the song witht he Brittesque vocals and handclaps. But with some violin and twang added in. I like it more on repeated listens than I did at first. Give me more info.

19. Oranges Band - White Ride 3.5/5

More spoon'esque rock. I first heard them opening for spoon and the influences seem pretty strong. I like 'em but something seems lacking.

20. Crash Kelly - Penny Pills 3.5/5

Has most of the essential ingredients to a good song but still seems to be missing that little bit of magic. I like the harmonizing though.

21. The Everyothers - Like A Drug 2.5/5

I have a feeling I've heard this before, but I'm quite sure I haven't. Its not bad but still isn't really drawing me in. Maybe it has a little too much of a radio friendly rock vibe for me and the chorus bugs me.

22. The Dee Rangers - This is Dee Day 3/5

Not bad but not much going on or drawing me in either.


Thanks Radcliffe for another fine mix. I don't like it as much as the other one but that's a hard yardstick to measure up against. If you could recommend I pick up one album from this mix what would it be?

Rich Hope has been a guitarist for a bunch of bands around Van. for quite a while now. He used to be a member of (now defunct) John Ford as well. He's got one previous solo album (Good To Go). I'd say this song is the definite highlight of the Evil Doers album.



I'm not a big fan - I had a similar reaction as you to Seen A Ghost and sold it - but I consider their Here's Luck to be one of the best "alt.country" albums since Wilco's Being There. I think it's their best set of songs, and the production is perfect - but they definitely favor the Beatles over the Stones. This song is the gruff stand-out on Everything, I Bet, which is otherwise quite similar to Seen A Ghost.


Oh man, I wish you hadn't brought up that Hootie connection. Now I hear it too. I've got a bro-in-law who does that shit to me all the time (to wit: "hey, this Nathan Larsen reminds me of Culture Club"). Before I take action I'll have to figure out how to dispose of the body. Anyway, I don't have much in the way of Two Dollar Pistols (but Bloor sent me a $2DP ep collaboration with Tift Merritt that is excellent) - I pulled this song off a Yeproc sampler.


Good question. I've got 4 SCOTS albums and they tend to blend into each other. The one that stands out for me is Liquored Up And Lacquered Down, mainly because "Hittin' On Nothing" is on it. A word of warning: they ill-advisedly don't let the chick sing many songs.


Yeh, I can see that. Of course, the mess is what I like about it. I like to crank this one so loud that it sounds like the band is in my living room with the full horn section.


Never heard Venice Shoreline Chris, but seems like it might be something I'd dig. I really got into this Bedouin Soundclash album (Sounding A Mosaic), but it hasn't had a very long shelf life. Figured this mix needed a detour from the rock - and in retrospect maybe I should've picked one of the band's more world beat-influenced things for you.


This is from Tommy's Village Gorilla Head, 50% of which I'd say is as good as anything Westerberg has done in his solo career. It's worth picking up if you can find it for cheap. And - damn - I rashly sold my copy of Bash 'n' Pop.


Yup - Oh Susannah is one of my fall-back favorites for mixes, because hardly anybody's heard her, but she's high quality. I've probably tapped her out too often, though.


I'm still looking for her This Is Pulp Country album. I really like her voice - but I agree with your rating totally.


Another intentional detour. This is the more experimental side of Los Lobos' David Hidalgo.


This is the best performance on Hard Headed Woman: A Tribute To Wanda Jackson - but there's a few other good'uns as well (like Neko Case, Laura Cantrell, and the song on this mix from Kristi Rose).


I went through about a month period of playing this song LOUD in the car - it was the only place that it sounded so good. When it speeds up it sounds like they've got Johnny Thunders AND Keith Richard in the band - but I've tried (and tried) to convert others and failed every time, so maybe it's all about the speaker settings in my car.


I get a kick out of the mix of modern pop/punk and a kind of wistful, innocent '50s sock hop sensibility. That and that moment when the music stops and the chick says "he's hardcore, real hardcore" in that cuuute British accent. Slays me.


Bought the album this is from (English Boys/Working Girls) back in '78 without ever having heard a note. It became one of those inexplicable oddball favorites (along with Gruppo Sportivo's Mistakes) that never even become well-enough known to be forgotten. One day I'll transfer the whole album to CD and see if "English Boys (With Guns)" is as good as I remember it.


This is off Sudden's last album Treasure Island, which has both Mick Taylor and Ian MacLagan on a few tracks.

From last year's Porcella. Pretty good album. Not essential by any means, but pretty good. And, yeh, it IS mastered at a strangely low volume. I hate that shit - totally messes up my mixes.


I liked Tift before I saw her live, but liked her even more after. She puts on a great show, rocks like a mofo, and is crazy hott to boot. This is from her Tambourine release, which nails that southern soul thang pretty squarely on the head.


From his Lafayette Marquis album. He does that Noo Awlins voodoo swamp thing filtered through his white boy infatuation with the Stones. Jack Nietzche produced one of the songs ("Slangshotz 'n' Boomerangs", as I recall), but the whole album is one of 04's more pleasant surprises.


This is my fave Oranges Band song, mostly for that nearly one-note guitar solo.


Another one of those songs - like "Dragged" - that I flipped out over and subsequently couldn't find anybody who shared the sentiment. For me it's got the magic... maybe it's the car speakers again.


I first listened to this album at a reckid shop and rejected it for that exact "radio friendly rock vibe" reason. Put it back in the stacks with great relief that I hadn't wasted twenty bucks on it. Then a CD-swapping acquaintance sent it to me completely unsolicited and I grudgingly put it in the 5 disc random play - and whaddaya know, the fucker won me over. There's a real Bowie "Queen Bitch" vibe to the album (although I wish they would've produced it like "Queen Bitch" rather than like Foo Fighters) that is pretty sweet.


The rest of this album (Five Spanish Minutes) is pretty typical '60s garage rock fare, but then they end with this song and the singer tears his throat and heart out while they attempt a sort of R&B ballad. I might like this more for the effort than the result.



This was a hard mix to make. I figured I'd try to find some recent stuff that might possibly NOT bore you, so it's full of second guesses and kinda veers all over the place. And, to answer one of your questions - yes, I'm definitely cherry-picking the best songs off a lot of these albums.

If I had to recommend one album from all of those, it'd be either Tift Merritt's Tambourine or C.C. Adcock's Lafayette Marquis. I might favor the latter.

Thanks a bunch for the review! I appreciate it!

I'll keep my eye out for the tift merritt and cc adcock cds. thanks again rads. And damn, that's a review of a review. You put to shame all the obnish that can't bother to review any mixes or even acknowledge FT's review of their mix.

Looks like I got a variation of the mix you received, billy, so I'll post my review here as well. Soon, I promise!

Damn. When I saw a new post in this thread I poured myself a mug of coffee and settled in all excited-like to read a review. Totally got suckered.

SCOTS are a NC band and thus, I've kinda known about them since middle school. I don't actually own any of the albums, but the songs I've heard always have a great sense of humor and have kind of a rockabilly swag to them. I've seen them live a few times, and they are awesome, throwing out chicken wings into the crowd and passing around a big platter of day-old banana pudding (to go along with the song "Banana Puddin," oddly enough). Its been a few years, but always dug them live.

To add to the SCOTS commentary, yes, familiar with them and they were pretty popular in the SE when I was in college. Never saw them live, but they have some great humor and chops.

I've got 'Dirt Track Date' on cd, if anyone is interested. They did a cover of "Venus" on that one.

This billyg review and radcliffe commentary was pretty interesting to read.

Dirt Track Date is by far S.C.O.T.S.'s best album IMHO, I'm a big fan of it and pull out fairly often.

I was pretty disappointed with their "Plastic Seat Sweat" album, and that "Liquored Up, Lacquered Down" one was just okay for me. Does anyone know if they're still together and making music these days?

Radcliffe’s Seamlessly Themeless

1. Those Bastard Souls – The Last Thing I Ever Wanted Was to Show Up and Blow Your Mind – I really dig this. Very sexy. 4/5
2. The Pink Mountaintops – Plastic Man, You’re the Devil – This is nice and rolling, but at the same time, not really grabbing my attention. 2/5
3. Rich Hope & His Evil Doers – Sweet Vanilla – Again, typically not the kind of music I’d choose to listen to, but it’s catchy and sly and fun. 3/5
4. The Deadly Snakes – Sissy Blues – Fun and swaggering. 3/5
5. Flophouse Jr. – Wiping Tears – the guy has a nice voice—it reminds me of what Sufjan would sound like if he had more confidence. This is a SWEET song, not very Radcliffe-like, ha ha! 4/5
6. Richard Buckner – Her – I don’t know much about Richard Buckner but I have seen his name bandied about a bit on this board. I hear artists like this for the first time and wonder what the hell I’ve been spending my time on (wait, don’t answer that question!). How could I be so dense? Beautiful. Again, Rads… were you feeling particularly thankful for your wife when you included this??? 4/5
7. Tangiers – 100 Million Feathers Weight – I like this. You’re beginning to scare me though. Who knew there was a softer, kinder Radcliffe under all that cantankerousness? 5/5
8. NQ Arbuckle – Goodnight Irene on New Year’s Eve – I must say, I’m not a fan of his twangy voice. I like the lyrics though. 4/5
9. Richard Thompson – Oops! I Did it Again – well, of course, the kitsch factor along with Richard’s take is great, however, I get scared when I hear this song get covered over and over again by reputable artists. I can only hope they’re making fun of Britney, but at the same time, I’m not sure I want this song branded into my psyche. 3/5
10. The Dragons – Three Steps from the Bar – Yay, more songs about drinking! Great track! 5/5
11. The Everyothers – Break that Bottle – man, when this song first started playing, I got a giddy vibe, because it reminded me of some the jangle-style rock I was into in the 80s. I like this. 5/5
12. Soul Hooligan – Night Owl – I’m digging this… reminds me of something I’d be listening to in the car on the way home from a late night out. 4/5
13. Houndog – Cruisin’ Pt. 1 – I think I’d have to be in a specific mood for this to really hit me the right way, and I’m not in said right mood at the mo’. I think I’ll have to give this one 3/5 because it has potential.
14. Nora O’Connor w/ Andrew Bird – Sticks ‘n’ Stones – Fun song, and I’m not familiar with Nora, so I must say, I really like her voice! 4/5
15. The Mountain Goats – Palmcorder Yajna – I’m not overly fond of the Mountain Goats for whatever reason. This isn’t a terrible tune, but not very remarkable in my opinion, although I like the lyrics. 2/5
16. The Auteurs – How Could I Be Wrong? – I ask myself this question every day. This is good. This is like hair of the dog. 4/5
17. Mink Deville – She’s So Tough – Nice! Got a bit of a Mick/Van voice, imo. 3/5
18. The Dream Syndicate – That’s What You Always Say – hmmm, didn’t really have strong feelings one way or the other on this tune. Given the band and their influence, I’m sorry to say that. 2/5
19. Deaf School – All Queued Up – I’m liking this one a lot… very theatrical in it’s own way. 4/5
20. The Diodes – Red Rubber Ball – Fun. Punky. Are these guys English or just trying to “sound English?” 4/5
21. Amy Rigby – Dancing with Joey Ramone – the title itself lends to some imaginative visuals, with Joey’s monstrously tall and lanky frame. I actually think I’ve heard this song before, but can’t place when or how. I dig it, esp. that sped-up ending. 4/5
22. Crash Kelly – Penny Pills – you posted this a while back and I loved it then. Still do. 5/5
23. The Comas – Invisible Drugs – Why haven’t I heard these guys before? This rocks. 4/5
24. Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias – Anarchy in the UK – definitely an interesting take on this song! Makes me smile, although it’s not the best track on this mix cd. 3/5

Overall: 3.5/5
Why is it that Radcliffe’s mixes are always best for either (a) drinking yourself into an oblivion, (b) feeling sorry for yourself after you’ve already drunk yourself into an oblivion and realize you did/said something stupid, or (c) being wry and ironic—drunk or not? I guess I now get the Uncle Monger moniker that is so often foisted upon Radcliffe.

Some of the “love songs” on the cd actually reminded me a lot of me and my husband though, so that’s good—in that casual, “catch a glimpse of him across the room, and smile to myself because I remember why I’m here for the long haul” way. Strangely enough, I did this very thing last night, and when he caught me looking at him, he gave me the finger. Ah, that's my man!

Solid mix, and as usual, thanks for introducing me to a few bands I’d never heard before.

Wow, thanks for the review, Dana. I love reading dese tings.

Those Bastard Souls were a kind of working holiday for David Shouse, who was in the Grifters (I think - it's been so long since I checked the liner notes that I might be forgetting the exact pedigree). This song comes from their Debt And Departure album, which also features Morphine's Dana Colley on sax. It's a pretty solid album - and I keep seeing it in used bins

Yeh, I know what you mean. This song was pretty new at the time I put this mix together, but it hasn't been wearing well with repeat listens.

Flophouse Jr = Jon Wood. He's a Vancouver dude - totally nice guy - and something of a musical genius IMO.

I'm always thankful for my wife. Consistently thankful for Richard Buckner too. In retrospect, I probably should've kept to a single tone on this mix (although then I would've needed a different title), and this 3 song stretch would've been a good tone to maintain. Next time, Dana.

Cranks, grumps, and cynics are usually misunderstood optimists trapped in an overly sensitive shell. Just sayin'.

This one gets better for me every time I hear it. So far. Maybe I'll hit that play #37 and suddenly it'll suck. Dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor not a clairvoyant.

I can't speak for the likes of the Fountains of Wayne, but Richard Thompson included this on his 1,000 Years Of Popular Song collection, which was his selection of the best "pop" songs of the last millennia. So I'm pretty sure he thinks very highly of the song, if not Mrs. Federline.

Noice!

I really like the album it's from (Music Like Dirt), which is basically Brit pop with loops 'n' samples and a (mostly) unfortunate tendency to rap. No really, it's better than it sounds.

I think Nora's a Chicago artist, and part of the Bloodshot Records fambly. And I agree - her voice is pretty stellar.

I'd just found this in the used bins after not hearing it for about a decade. What can I say - I was on a nostalgia kick.

Both of these bands meant a LOT to me in my youth (and both albums they're from made my Listmania), but I can see how their potential for impact has dulled over the last 20 years. That guitar solo in the Dream Syndicate song, for example, has always been one of my fave rock moments - but somedays even I can't hear what I loved about it anymore.

These guys were Toronto's first punk band. This came out in '77 or '78 - and song's written by Paul Simon.

This one keeps surprising me. Sounds like a cute ditty that I'd tire of after the second spin, but damn if it doesn't keep giving.

I pulled this off a compilation - and I asked myself that same question. Somebody's keeping a secret.

Again, this seemed SO much more hilarious and subversive a quarter century ago. So did the Dickies and Richard Pryor. Time, o my friend, he is a callous whore.


Thanks again for the great review! And after reading your reactions here I think I could put together a mix that you'd totally dig. Like I said earlier - next time!

Yeah, I have that same soft spot for the guitar solo in R.E.M.'s "Camera." Sometimes it *does* still get me, but it's very rare I pull it out randomly to listen to it. Why is it that songs we loved in our youth seem to have longer-lasting effects than the new stuff we hear today? Was it because we were going through pivotal changes in our lives at the time, or because we had the time, patience and inclination to really absorb what we were listening to? I miss that focus.

my theory is that those songs are better than the new ones coming out these days

I've also had that theory rolling about in my head at times too. Then I think maybe I'm a grumpy, old bitch who doesn't openly welcome new stuff-- at the same time, I'll be listening to something new that sounds like recycled DK's or VU. I do think there's not much originality these days.