Obama accepts Nobel Peace Prize?

This song was written as an anti-Bush song, but most of it still rings true today. The Dems continue to drag their feet on true health reform and we're still fighting two wars. The honeymoon is over.

p.s. Not sure why the date is wrong up there, today is actually December 10!

Christmas Party Soundtrack!

I know, right? It's that time of year again. I'm putting my comp up early this year, because last year's three Christmas comps have been far and away the most popular downloads I've put up here at Burn and Shine. The first three Redux volumes, by the way, have new download links, and you can find them here: Seventy-Five of the Best Holiday Tunes Known to Man!

I struggled a little bit with this year's volume, but Mrs. Maximum Jack came in and saved the day by helping me sequence it, and by making some hard decisions as to what to leave off (thanks Sweetie!). We both agree that the standout track on this year's comp is the Reigning Sound's "If Christmas Can't Bring You Home". A song neither of us had heard until this year. It was released as an old-fashioned Christmas 7" on Norton Records in 2004, and I stumbled upon it via some nice blogger who had done a vinyl transfer (I wish I could remember who that was-- apologies). Another new to me highlight is "It's Xmas So We'll Stop" by Frightened Rabbit. A Scottish band that I didn't think I really liked-- or at least I didn't like their last record, but this song is just achingly beautiful. It was also released as a 7" last year on FatCat Records. Again some random nice blogger did the vinyl transfer--- not me.

Anywho, with four volumes and nearly five hours of Christmas Rock, you now have the perfect soundtrack to your next holiday get together.

Happy Listening!

Christmas Redux Four

01. “Seasons Greetings” by Robbers on High Street [2:23]
02. “Merry Christmas Will Do” by Material Issue [3:36]
03. “Careless Santa” by Mono Puff [2:16]
04. “iPod Xmas” by Hello Saferide
05. “This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway [3:32]
06. “Christmas is Cancelled” by The Long Blondes [4:29]
07. “Let Me Sleep (Christmas Time)” by Pearl Jam [3:00]
08. “If Christmas Can’t Bring You Home” by The Reigning Sound [2:32]
09. “Ghost of Christmas” by Manic Street Preachers [3:39]
10. “I Believe in Father Christmas” by Greg Lake [3:22]
11. “Back Door Santa” by Clarence Carter [2:10]
12. “Christmas Eve” by Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci [1:51]
13. “Christmas Must Be Tonight” by The Band [3:41]
14. “Little Saint Nick (Single Version)” by The Beach Boys [2:11]
15. “There Ain’t No Sanity Claus” by The Damned [2:31]
16. “Christmas Vacation” by The Descendents [2:39]
17. “Power Pop Santa” by The Pointed Sticks [3:20]
18. “Holiday Hymn” by Orange Juice [3:01]
19. “Lonely This Christmas” by Carter USM [2:12]
20. “Christmas” by The Posies [3:53]
21. “Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday” by William Bell [2:39]
22. “Silver Bells” by Swearing at Motorists [2:03]
23. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by The Ronettes [2:42]
24. “It’s Christmas So We’ll Stop” by Frightened Rabbit [5:28]
25. “Christmas Time (Is Here Again) by The Beatles [3:03]

Total Time: 1:15:25

Download it here: Christmas Redux Volume Four

Beware the Savage Jaw of 1984!

A few years ago, I put together a 15-Disc CDR compilation of the 80's. It was a massive and time consuming process, but I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. I had originally intended to post those comps here at Burn and Shine eventually. As you can surmise, I've decided against it-- at least for the time being. Instead, I have decided to start tackling individual years. I'm starting with 1984 for a few reasons.

First, it was the year that I discovered "College" music. I was in tenth grade, and was still very much into heavy metal and it's slightly uglier sister, hair metal. My brother gave me a tape with R.E.M's Murmur on one side and Reckoning on the other. Needless to say, my musical listening habits changed quite drastically. While I can't claim to have heard all of the artists on this compilation as early as 1984 (some of them I didn't hear till much later), I can safely say that tape my brother made, put me on a collision course with most of the artists I've used to represent the year.

Second, 1984 is generally considered a great year among Rock & Roll Historians. As I alluded, College music was in it's heyday. No less than three consensus, classic albums were released on independent labels (I'm thinking of Zen Arcade, Double Nickels and Let it Be and the case could be made for a few others . . .). The mainstream also produced some timeless gems (Purple Rain, 1984, Born in the USA and The Unforgettable Fire spring to mind). While nothing on my compilation could be classified as obscure, I have stayed away from the artists generally considered as mainstream-- though some of the artists did find huge mainstream success later.

Finally, it's been 25 years since these records came out. I might make this an annual tradition in November, as it seems to be a month with few options for themes (you don't really think of music when you think Thanksgiving do you?)-- with apologies to the years 1980-83.

Happy Listening!

1984: We're Behind Schedule

01. Guadalcanal Diary, "Watusi Rodeo" [2:45]
02. The dB's, "Amplifier" [3:11]
03. The Bangles, "Live" [2:36]
04. The Go-Betweens, "Unkind & Unwise" [3:06]
05. The Replacements, "Favorite Thing" [2:20]
06. Lloyd Cole, "Perfect Skin" [3:19]
07. Nick Lowe & His Cowboy Outfit, ""Half a Boy and Half a Man" [2:57]
08. Meat Puppets, "Plateau" [2:22]
09. The Pandoras, "It's About Time" [2:22]
10. The Smiths, "Hand in Glove" [3:23]
11. Talk Talk, "It's My Life" [3:54]
12. Let's Active, "Easy Does" [3:25]
13. The Waterboys, "Somebody Might Wave Back" [2:43]
14. The Cure, "The Empty World" [2:37]
15. Minutemen, "History Lesson Part II" [2:12]
16. Echo & the Bunnymen, "Crystal Days" [2:25]
17. Depeche Mode, "People Are People" [3:46]
18. Hüsker Dü, "Something I Learned Today" [2:03]
19. The Fall, "2 X 4" [3:38]
20. The Church, "Constant in Opal" [3:31]
21. Los Lobos, "Will the Wolf Survive" [3:44]
22. Dumptruck, "How Come?" [4:08]
23. Game Theory, "Nine Lives To Rigel Five" [2:49]
24. The Psychedelic Furs, "Heaven" [3:27]
25. R.E.M., "Letter Never Sent" [3:03]

Total Time: 1:15:31

Download it Here: 1984: We're Behind Schedule

Halloween Music!

I can't believe it's been a year since I started posting these comps! Halloween is upon us, so I thought I'd dish out another platter of Ghoul-ly, Rock & Roll Goodness. I think I've come up with another interesting mix, though it does seem to be a little heavy on the Post-Punks (The Cure, Jazz Butcher, Joy Division, The Gun Club, Pixies, Opal and the Sound all make an appearance here!). What is it about that era and it's fascination with morbid themes?

One song from that era, which unfortunately will probably never make one of my Halloween comps is the supremely fabulous "Bela Legusi's Dead" by Bauhaus. This song still sounds ahead of (and somehow behind?) it's time, and it's even been called "Goth's 'Stairway to Heaven'". It probably won't make one of my comps, because it's nearly 10-minutes long. I have, however, posted it via the Youtube video above (it's not really a video, but it is the original version of the song from 1979).

Just in case you missed it last year, or you're just now stumbling upon this blog: I've re-upped the first volume of Candy Apples & Razor Blades. Feel free to slide on over to the original post if you'd like to download it: October 30, 2008

A few comments about CA&RB Vol. 2. I have three returning players from the first volume: Roky Erickson, The Misfits and Frank Black (though here he's with his band, Pixies). Making his first appearance at Burn and Shine is Warren Zevon. Though I've never been a huge fan, I've always had a soft spot for "Werewolves of London". Instead of using the definitive version, I used an alternate take that can be found on the rarities compilation, Preludes from 2007. I like the Hamlet quote that kicks it off, and I think the creepy background vocals on it are a nice touch. Okay, that's enough blabbing.

Happy Listening!


Candy Apples & Razor Blades Vol. 2: More Music for All Hallow's Eve:

01. "Bo Meets the Monster" by Bo Didley [3:03]
02. "Graveyard Orbit" by Crystal Stilts [3:26]
03. "Devil's Food" by Alice Cooper [3:35]
04. "Happy Nightmare Baby" by Opal [2:57]
05. "The Blood" by The Cure [3:43]
06. "Vampire" by Antsy Pants [1:20]
07. "Dawn of the Dead" by The Weakends [2:14]
08. "Black Candy" by Beat Happening [3:00]
09. "Children of the Grave" by Black Sabbath [5:18]
10. "Lil' Devil" by The Cult [2:44]
11. "Night of the Vampire" by Roky Erickson [4:19]
12. "Zombie Love" by The Jazz Butcher [3:56]
13. "Nightmares" by Jay Reatard [2:12]
14. "Dead Souls" by Joy Division [4:57]
15. "Ghost on the Highway" by The Gun Club [2:46]
16. "Evil Hearted You" by Pixies [2:37]
17. "Night of the Living Dead" by The Misfits [1:59]
18. "The Devil" by PJ Harvey [2:56]
19. "Pet Sematary" by The Ramones [3:30]
20. "Skeletons" by The Sound [3:27]
21. "Werewolves of London (Alternate Take)" by Warren Zevon [3:38]
22. "Bride of Frankenstein" by Toy Love [2:08]
23. "Zombie Zoo" by Tom Petty [2:56]
24. "Grave Robbers" by Mount Eerie & Julie Doiron [1:47]
25. "Halloween Parade" by Lou Reed [3:33]

Total Time: 1:18:05

Download it here: Candy Apples & Razor Blades Vol. 2: More Music For All Hallow's Eve

Pip Squeak a Go-Go!

Someone just recently turned me on to Pancake Mountain. We don't actually get the show here in Chattanooga, but you can find a ton of stuff on YouTube or on their website: Panckake Mountain. Maria loves music, and I swear she made me watch the "Vowel Movements" video fourteen times in a row. Lucky for her, I love Ian MacKaye. Her favorite part is when the kids are rocking out:



Anywho, seeing that video reminded me that it had been a long time since I put together a kid's music disc. We've got several volumes around the house, and I generally like to pick stuff that adults and kids will enjoy equally. I'm big on bringing them the classics on these discs, but I'm also not afraid to use obscurities. Stuff that's fun to sing or reminds me of my own childhood also usually makes the cut. I think this one turned out pretty nice.

Happy Listening!

Pip Squeak a Go-Go!

01. Jason Ringenberg, "Get Up Up Up!" [1:38]
02. Bill Haley & His Comets, "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock [2:11]
03. Feist, "1 2 3 4" [3:04]
04. Irma Thomas, "Break-A-Way" [2:34]
05. The Cyrkle, "Red Rubber Ball" [2:20]
06. Rick Springfield, "I've Done Everything For You" [2:44]
07. Pure Prairie League, "Amie" [4:22]
08. Joe D. Johnson, "Rattle Snake Daddy" [1:46]
09. Ben E. King, "Stand By Me" [2:58]
10. Traffic, "You Can All Join In" [3:37]
11. Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Cotton Fields" [2:54]
12. Brenton Wood, "Oogum Boogum Song" [2:30]
13. Sweet, "Funny Funny" [2:51]
14. Guided By Voices, "Teenage FBI" [2:54]
15. Talking Heads, "Road To Nowhere" [4:19]
16. Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians, "Balloon Man" [3:36]
17. Chris Kenner, "I Like It Like That" [1:58]
18. Chubby Parker, "King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Mi-O" [3:10]
19. The Foundations, "Build Me Up Buttercup" [2:59]
20. Wanda Jackson, "Let's Have a Party" [2:09]
21. Nina Simone, "My Baby Just Cares For Me" [3:03]
22. Dr. John, "Iko Iko" [4:10]
23. The Edsels, "Rama Lama Ding Dong" [2:28]
24. Shirley & Lee, "Let the Good Times Roll" [2:24]
25. Peter, Paul & Mary, "Leavin' On a Jet Plane" [3:27]

Total Time: 1:12:05

Download it here: Pip Squeak a Go-Go