Monday Music Mix: June 29, 2009

I know I haven't been posting much lately. We've all been busy with the Hero Central Food Drive. It was a resounding success, so I'm now throwing myself back into the blogs and our other social networking platforms.

Some of you know I had a birthday earlier this month. One of my fantastic gifts was a 16G touch screen MP3 player. So in my rare free time I've been loading it up with a wide variety of artists and genres. I've barely got 4G worth, so I'll be busy for some time. I thought I'd share some of my favorites with you, though, as part of this Monday's music mix.



I was a late convert to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but now I can't get enough of the New York City indie rockers. Karen O's vocals are edgy and quirky, which always works for this listener. Hope you'll tell me what you think!



I've posted tracks and videos from The Joy Formidable before, but here's my current favorite. There's just something about this band, the energy and angst, that gets me going. This song gets frequent repeat plays whether I'm listening to the CD or it queues on my playlist. I like the video nearly as much as I like the song, despite the cliche of smashing their equipment. Enjoy!



Absolutely Kosher is one of my favorite record labels. I spent a little upload time loading Bottom of the Hudson tracks to the new toy. Another New York band, Bottom of Hudson, has two records out on Absolutely Kosher, and I thought you might enjoy this cut from their second release, Fantastic Hawk.

And I haven't forgotten my beloved 80's in my uploading frenzy, many CDs were ripped over the last week, much to my husband's displeasure (he's not a fan of my covetous hoarding of compact dics, nor my tendency to leave the piled haphazardly when I'm ripping them). Here's a couple links to videos of some of my favorite 80's songs. Songs that were also added to my playlist!

Fields of Fire by Big Country

The Sun Always Shines on TV by a-ha

All I Need Is Everything by Aztec Camera

Bonus Video:

One Hit Wonder Wednesday - Butthole Surfers

Though much respected by critics and their peers in the alt-rock scene, the Butthole Surfers (Gibby Haynes, Paul Leary and King Coffey) had little commercial success until 1996’s Electriclarryland. Pepper, the only real single off the album, was their one chart hit. So, despite my love for them, they do fall into the one-hit-wonder parade!



I've got a great extra on this one, though...do any of you remember the Saturday Morning Cartoon CD compilation that came out in the mid-nineties? It had some great cuts, including my VERY favorite, the Butthole Surfers rendition of the Underdog theme song. Color me super thrilled to have found it!



Of note: Future superstar Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain named the Surfer's first EP in his journals as one of his top 10 favorites. He also met his future wife, Courtney Love Cobain at a Surfers concert.

Hope you enjoyed!

Flashback Friday: The Fixx

The Fixx, college friends Cy Curnin on vocals and Adam Woods on drums, were a major New Wave fixture during the 80s. While many other bands were inundating the airwaves with saccharine sweet pop, The Fixx had a darker, more intense sound, thought it was still New Wave and dance friendly.

Their top U.S. hits were "Saved by Zero", "Are We Ourselves" and their main standout..."One Thing Leads to Another".

The Fixx are still performing to this day...and folks are still turning out to sing along. And they are recording their long awaited 9th studio album which is expected hit the shelves this year.

We've got live video of two of their hits and the 80's MTV styling of "One Thing Leads to Another".

ARE WE OURSELVES



SAVED BY ZERO



ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER

One Hit Wonder Wednesday - Wall of Voodoo

Image Courtesy of: Click Here

According to Wikipedia, Wall of Voodoo's unique sound was a mixture of new wave synth and spaghetti western twang. It's a pretty fitting description. "Mexican Radio" is one of those songs that was great every once in a while, but got rather annoying with repeated radio play and over rotation. Now, looking back on it from the '00s, I can remember why it was so catchy, at least for the first several listens.



Bonus Video: Wall of Voodoo performing "ring of Fire"! Click Here.

Flashback Friday - Lesser Known Green Day

Since they've got a new album out, I thought I'd flash back by looking at some "lesser" known songs from one of my favorite bands. In fact, I've seen this band live more than any other. So I thought I'd add to the end of the week fun by posting live video footage.

I've long been a Green Day fan. I'm one of those music snobs who can say that I actually liked the band before their break-out album, Dookie. So here's a little Green Day live action from their second album, Kerplunk...



While "Longview" and "Basket Case" were the big hits off Dookie, they weren't my personal favorites. I did like "When I Come Around", but that was fairly popular so I thought I'd dig a little deeper and see what else I could come up with today. After all, since I'm the one writing the blog, I should get to showcase my favorites, right? So, her you go...



And last, but no least, from 1995's Insomniac... (this one was hard, I wanted to post "Westbound Sign" which is my absolute favorite, but couldn't find anything suitable)here's "86".



And here's a fun extra...

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong took part in a little side-project called Pinhead Gunpowder. Here they are covering Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi". Click the link below to enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIJizkfAjR0

One Hit Wonder Wednesday - The Breeders

The Breeders - Courtesy of NoAloha.com

I bet all of you remember the catchy bass line that opened "Cannonball" by the Breeders. The Breeders came to life when Pixies bassist, Kim Deal, started writing new material that didn't really fit in with the Pixies sound. Initially the band included Tanya Donnelly, who left after the first album to form Belly. Kim recruited her sister Kelley, and the well known band line-up came into play with Josephine Wiggs on bass and drummer Jim MacPherson.

Last Splash, the third Pixies album, was released in 1993 and gained critical success with three singles, but only the catchy "Cannonball" really took off with the general population, getting lots of radio time and MTV play. More indie and college rock stations showcased the second single, "Divine Hammer".



More from the Breeders:

Watch "Divine Hammer"!

Watch "Saints"!

BONUS VIDEOS:

The Pixies, performing Kim Deal's standout "Gigantic". Click Here >>

And one more...here's Belly's "Feed The Tree". Enjoy!

Tuesday Tunes - Tin Cup Prophette

Amanda Kapousouz took her stage name, Tin Cup Prophette, from the tip cup she dangled from her violin case as she traveled. The transplanted New Yorker has a magnetic and fearless stage presence, probably because she cut her entertaining teeth on the city's subway platforms.

Check Out: Going Numb

Check Out: Curses on Purses