Disc 2

July 2005: Tracks that suit a Saturday afternoon at a cottage or a drive in the car.

1. Talk - Coldplay
   
   I haven’t figured out if the new Coldplay record “X&Y” is a disc that I like a little bit or a lot. At times it feels like a big anthemic record. Yet I find that the lyrics feel like cliches and that the band didn’t grow as much between this record and the previous pair. This track is a standout for me and it samples an old Kraftwerk tune.
2. Wake Up – The Arcade Fire
   
   The first time I heard an Arcade Fire track I didn’t connect with it. My first impression was clearly off the mark. The album “Funeral” is a great record that gets better with each listen. U2 has been using this track as the final track to play over the arena loudspeakers as the band takes the stage.
3. In Between Days – Ben Folds
   Piano-centric rock tunes tend to resonate with me which is why I buy BF records. The Cure’s original is still a standout by this energetic version is worthy of repeat listens. From the “Speed Graphic” EP.
4. Love Will Tear Us Apart – Calexico
   The southwestern-influenced band tackles the dark Joy Division classic and shines some light into it with a the Beatles-esque ‘Love. Love. Love.’ finale.
5. She’s Got Everything – Old 97’s
   An alt.country reworking of a Kinks obscurity. From the Starbucks produced record “Sweetheart 2005″.
6. Going To Hell – The Brian Jonestown Massacre
   Watch the documentary “Dig!” to follow Anton Newcombe’s drug-fuelled musical journey. This track is a standout from their 1998 disc.
7. Hell Yes – Beck
   
   “Guero” brings Beck back together with producers extraordinary the Dust Brothers. I liked the record including Black Tambourine and Girl. Something about the ping that catches me time and time again.
8. The Big Jump - The Chemical Brothers
   
   The duo lost me for a while but good guest performances and somewhat stronger tracks have brought me back into the fold. There is a fan project online that remixes the entire “Push The Button” record called “Flip The Switch” which is worth googling around for.
9. Daft Punk Is Playing At My House - LCD Soundsystem
   
   A very catchy tune that probably won’t stand the test after many listens. In the meantime, the blend of punk, funk, disco et al marries perfectly with the sarcasm and frat boy-isms.
10. Gold Into Straw - Brendan Benson
    
    I was a big fan of his previous record “Lapalco”. Lots of power pop on this record and it will sit nicely in the record collection of any Sloan fan. Benson is rumoured to be working on a project with Jack White of White Stripes fame.
11. Boulevard of Broken Songs - Green Day vs. Oasis vs. Travis vs. Eminem (Party Ben Mash-up)
    The only mash-up in the mix. Party Ben deftly mixes Brit-Pop and Cali-Punk heavyweights that makes you think all the songwriters were in the room crafting this one.
12. Keep The Dream Alive - Oasis
    
    There are a couple of tracks on the back half of the band’s new record that stand out as some of their best. This record is a return to form for Noel and crew. Having multiple songwriters in the mix has paid off.
13. Rebellion Lies - The Arcade Fire
    
    Had a hard time picking only one song from “Funeral” so I added a second. Also worth checking out is their recently re-released EP with the song No Cars Go. Amazon.com has a free download of Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)”
14. 10 lbs. – The Superfriendz
    Released in 1995 “Mock up, Scale Down” has those Matt Murphy penned pop moments that always find their way to the top of my favourite tunes list.
15. Like Eating Glass - Bloc Party
    
    The opening track from “Silent Alarm” the band’s US debut. Lots of promise with these guys who’ve dipped into the early 80’s British catalogue for their inspiration.
16. Graceland – The New Pornographers
    A.C. Newman’s Vancouver ’supergroup’ nails the perfect pop song in this B-side recording for Matador Records. The band has garnered a lot of favourable press for their new record “Twin Cinema”. Glad that I added that CD to my collection . Amazon has a free download from it which can be found here.
17. California – Low
    Sunny. Syrupy. Sounds right by me. I’m a sucker for these type of songs.
18. Enemies Friends - Hope Of The States
    Watching MTV2 late one night I caught the second half of the video for this track. It took me almost four months to find a copy of the album at the Tower Records in Seattle, WA. A Radiohead influence can be felt across this debut release.
19. Opening: New York City Is Beating Its Chest… Again – Iggy Pop
    From the “Buddyhead Presents: Gimme Skelter” compilation, Iggy Pop rips into Moby in this riff driven track.

users can listen to part of this mix by clicking here.

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