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It's been awhile since I (or anyone actually) has done this and so because it's a slow night I've decided to throw on the earphones, roll the dice, and kick out the jams with the new music Darrin has hand-picked for the Obners.
You'll note that I'm using the American football team rating system, 2005 edition here for this mix.
5 footballs - Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL Superbowl win)
4 footballs - Seattle Seahawks (NFC Championship winner)
3 footballs - Chicago Bears (NFC North division title)
2 footballs - Washington Redskins (made the playoffs at least)
1 football - Atlanta Falcons (didn't embarrass themselves too badly)
0 footballs - Arizona Cardinals (forever hopeless)
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THE LEOPARDS - Surf On!
Surf punk with attitude and some male falsetto vocals to boot. Somehow this reminds me of the Cramps. The song is pretty driving and energetic but has no wow factor or anything. It doesn't offend me. I like the freak out at the end. Rating:
Washington Redskins (2 footballs)
GRANDMASTER GARETH - Minute Mammary
Well now, who
doesn't like breasts? I love the carnival sounding cheesy keyboards over the male/female robot vocal samples. Even with my wild imagination I can't picture how women would exercise their breasts to this but no matter, for 51 seconds of tit interlude here I got a good laugh out of it. Rating:
Chicago Bears (3 footballs)
HAMMEL ON TRIAL - Choochtown
Ok, this is just some dude talking over an uptempo Iggy Pop "Nightclubbing" backing band vibe. He's rabbiting some e-fueled story apparently that my mind just tunes out after about 15 seconds. The music's not bad though. I can tap my foot to the beat while I listen to this. Rating:
Washington Redskins (2 footballs)
GALLON DRUNK - The Big Payoff
Spy theme? Hey, remember that Propellerheads tune, "Take California"? Yeah it's similiar to that, but old school 70's style and this isn't quite as good though I love those buzzing guitars and Wurlitzer organ riffs. I can picture this instrumental as a chase scene in the movie
Snatch. Hey, there's even some dirty saxophone thrown into the mix here. The world needs more saxophones. It sounds better upon repeat listens. The best so far. Rating:
Chicago Bears (3 footballs)
DORIS ALLEN - Shell Of a Woman
Darrin has a knack for digging out (what seems to me) some great soul classics and this tune is no different. If you enjoyed his previous selections such as the northern soul of Ann Peebles'
I'm Going To Tear Your Playhouse Down then you're sure to love this too. This 60's era female vocal soul groove is stunning and heartbreaking. When Doris Allen screams and wails at the end, I feel her pain too. Rating:
Pittsburgh Steelers (5 footballs)
THE THING - Have Love, Will Travel
More saxophone? Kickass. Stomping, romping drums throughout. I like it.
Rating:
Seattle Seahawks (4 footballs).
MEK OBAAM - Goodnight, Thank You
This male/female duet starts out as tame folky strumming then thankfully picks up the pace into a rollicking, driving rhythm. There are handclaps here. It's alright though, I'm kind of neutral about this overall. Rating:
Chicago Bears (3 footballs).
M CRAFT - Sweets
I've been waiting to hear some of this for quite some time now as it been favored heavily all year, no? I love the sound of his voice, so sleepy, wistful, and relaxing sounding. That loose jammy guitar solo part towards the end is nice too. Who's the female singer? I think that this song would've been better with just him singing this. It's good overall. Rating:
Seattle Seahawks (4 footballs)
NATHAN FAKE - The Sky Was Pink
Swirling clouds of keyboards and synth with this peaking, dive-bombing, air raid siren guitar. An aural equivalent of a morphine dream. It lifts you up and takes you somewhere else far, far away. I love it in the same way that I love M83 and Mogwai. I'm going to have to buy this album for sure now. Excellent. Rating:
Pittsburgh Steelers (5 footballs)
JAMES ORR COMPLEX - Slip Into Slumber
A nice acoustic guitar piece with male vocals. It floats nicely along in the background while I desperately try to read about the nasopharyngeal airway in my textbook. That's all I have to say about this. Rating:
Chicago Bears (3 footballs).
RODDY FRAME - Shore Song
A good segue from that last tune but this is too coffeehouse-sensitive artist-open mic night sounding for me. It's competent and alright for what it is though. Rating:
Chicago Bears (3 footballs)
CAGEDBABY - 16 Lovers
Thumpthumpthumpthump. Dig that retro, bouncy, dirty synth and 80's echo vocals. Very early Prince-like but with that electroclash groove lacquered onto it. This would sound better if was remixed I think. Still, this is my thing overall for sure. I actually can see the dry ice rising from the dancefloor when I listen to this. Rating:
Seattle Seahawks (4 footballs)
JOHNNY OSBOURNE - Budy Bye (somehow incorrectly labeled as "Dennis Brown - Westbound Train)
Dancehall dub madness. Bounce your head back and forth while you float around in a hazy herbal bubble, mon. I especially like the singers crossover into the "Frere Jacques" nursery rhyme
Rating:
Seattle Seahawks (4 footballs)
THE ASSOCIATES - The Associate
So, THIS is The Associates. I don't think they ever made it big over here in the States and I can kinda see why. It's sort of experimental and meandering. Man, those are some
weird sounding keyboards. I'll give it points for being different than everything else though. Do their songs all sound like this? Rating:
Chicago Bears (3 footballs)
PAY BACKS - Black Girl
Eh. 70's era generic sounding rock...and not the good kind. What's with that annoying, "lalalalalalala" part the singer's doing. Clearly unimaginative guitar chord progression there. No. Stop this. Must turn it off. Sorry. Rating:
Arizona Cardinals (0 footballs)
PETER, BJORN, and JOHN - Let's Call It Off
With a name like
Peter, Bjorn, and John they are bound for commercial success, no question. Um, I don't like this either. The late 60's era voice echo kind of sounds like Peter, Paul, and Mary...except that it's without the girl..or the good harmonies...or the...oh well, nevermind. Rating:
Atlanta Falcons (1 football)
VIAROSA - Soul Light
There's a candle in the darkness. A voice rises up from the shadows. It's earnest but slightly quavering. The man is suffering. His soul yearns to be free and he's here to sing about it. Rating:
Washington Redskins (2 footballs)
IMPRESSION: Well, overall I have to say that this mix is a success. Some great finds here and an interesting, entertaining listen. Darriin always brings (at least to me) the unknown and the eclectic and I thank him for that. Well done my man. Well done.
