So I got tapped to participate in . Given the nature of that have , I'm guessing that some of the material on my mix is going to stray a bit afield from the other participants. Hey, variety is the spice of life and all that, right?
Anyway, here's what I sent, along with various thoughts about the songs.
1. First song (on the first side) of the first album you ever purchased: Nirvana, "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
I know, if you're of a certain age, that's unforgiveably cliche.
But it's true -- Nevermind was the first album the greasy-haired youth who would become me ever purchased. I'd gotten a thing or two as a gift* in prior years, but Nirvana's breakthrough album represents the first time I ever walked up to a music-store counter, money in hand, and walked out with a tape. It started a sickness for purchasing and listening to music (especially louder stuff) that has only festered to this day.
Thanks, Kurt. (Incidentally, Kurt Cobain's body was discovered on my birthday. Now that's a way for a superfan to lose his innocence, no?
)
2. Holiday song, for the holiday of your choice: The Rugburns, "I Hate Christmas"
A gloriously cantankerous swan song for the alt-country jokers, this shows up as a hidden track at the end of their mediocre disappointment Taking the World by Donkey. I used to think the title was "I Hate Fuckin' Christmas" until iTunes told me otherwise, if that says anything.
3. Geographical location song: Jello Biafra D.O.
A., "Wish I Was in El Salvador"
Jello ragging on the cops while D.O.
A. churns and thrashes behind him. What's interesting about this is that, while it's a standard snotty protest song, Jello briefly (and probably inadvertantly) taps into a lot of the resentment and anger that leads to the creation of uniformed mini-Hitlers like Darryl Gates and Justin Volpe: "I stare at you and smolder with my nightstick and my shield / Little kids throw rocks at me, their moms call me a pig.
" Also, it just plum rocks my socks, especially the "people are pouring into the streets" interlude.
4. A medley: The Pogues, "Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to Dublin/Galway Races"
Well, yeah.
It says 'medley' right there in the title. How could I not, etc.
5.
A dance song: Dwight Yoakam, "The Loco-Motion"
Stumbled across this on iTunes, and do I even need to explain? It's Dwight Yoakam. Singing "The Loco-Motion.
" Somewhere in there, I think the meaning of life can be found.
6.
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