Gecko Group

Here is James's August CD playlist, as a jpg file.

Michael Hurley & Friends

1 Midnite Rounder / Michael Hurley (from Snockgrass)
2 Mr. Spaceman / The Holy Modal Rounders (I & II)
3 Hog of the Forsaken / Michael Hurley (Long Journey)
4 All My Money / Dan Reeder (Sweetheart)
5 Rooster in Love / Lullaby Baxter Trio (Capable Egg)
6 Same Old Man / Karen Dalton (In My Own Time)
7 Werewolf / Michael Hurley (Wolfways)
8 The Revenant / The Reptile Palace Orchestra (Hwy X)
9 Death Fears No Man / The Colorblind James Exp. (Solid! Behind the Times)
10 The Coo Coo Bird / The Be Good Tanyas (Blue Horse)
11 Werewolf / Cat Power (You Are Free)
12 Blue Mountain / Espers (The Weed Tree)
13 Could We / Cat Power (The Greatest)
14 Paint a Design / Sue Garner (Shadyside)
15 Tea Song / Bingo (Hom)
16 O My Stars / Michael Hurley (Sweetkorn)
17 Beautiful / Dan Reeder (Sweetheart)
18 I'm Gettin' Ready To Go / Michael Hurley (Snockgrass)
19 Amen / Jolie Holland (Escondida)
20 Old Black Crow / Michael Hurley (stationtostationone)

First the title. I tried to make a take on the Replacements song Alex Chilton where line What's the sound? I showed the cover to others and no one got it. So, I stink at album titles.

So many songs, so little space on a CD... I tried to come up with a variety plus find some rarities. I also tried to find local artist in Minneapolis area that you may not have heard. Then just songs I liked are what I added. Anyway, the background on the songs:

1: Summertime Thing (Chuck Prophet): For me a great way to think about summer is with this song. A couple years old (2002 – No other love), but I love to play this all the time.

2: Down to Zero (Joan Armatrading): I really like to television series “Homicide: Life on the Street”. I have been given the DVD as presents each year as they come out and I love to watch them. One of the interesting parts of the series is their use of music through-out the series. Not too long ago I was watching an episode and this song came on. I couldn’t get out of my head, thus I am proud to share it with you.

3: My Sunshine(Downpilot): A band really has some nice song crafting in them. They haven’t put a new album out in a bit, but I hear they are still together, touring the west coast right now. Their songs are little low-key but this one is a bit more upbeat on the album.

4: This one’s for the ladies (Figgs): Originally done by the Young Fresh Fellows, this song is a cover on a tribute album. I really liked their version and was struggling whether to use it or put an YFF song on the CD. If we do this again, I may dig up another Young Fresh Fellow song for you to enjoy.

5: Fly Away (RubyBoots): I was working with a guy several years ago and he mentioned he was going to be at a concert near my house. It was his friend and she was doing this little show, blah, blah. Anyway, I went to see the show. It was the CD release show and it was quite a good show. Very low-key kind of people. A group of sisters and friends put together a CD and show. I was really impressed by the show and thankfully bought the CD that night at the show. This song had a touching story to it and is one of my favorites on the album.

6: Cash Machine (Hard-Fi): How much does this song sound like the Clash? I think a lot. A pretty good album overall.

7: Full Inside (Mary Bue): I stumbled across the album at a local record store in the local section. I was talking to the clerks at the famous Let it Be records and they talked about her performance the week before. Another one of those good artists that really don’t fit into the big music business scene but is very talented. Let it be is no longer around as they are tearing it down to build condos. I like the theme of this song.

8: Only Changing Drugs (Stuart Davis): I was a DJ for awhile at public radio station. The station made a good effort to play local artists. This album came out and there was a really big buzz about the artist. He would come in a do benefits for us and was great to work with it. I remember the first time I played this song and the number of phone calls I received asking me who this guy was overwhelming. I was busy and was not even paying attention to the song to understand people’s question. One guy called me asked, “What was that song you played where guy talks about getting his stomach pumped in high school?” I had to play this song after my shift so I could finally hear what people are talking about. My favorite line about it is about Minnesota: “10,000 lakes and treatment centers, Betty Ford is our state-wide mentor”.

9: Littlest Birds (Jolie Holland) : This song is off of a Minnesota Public Radio benefit cd that you get if donate money. What does it take items for me to donate some times? Any way, if you were “charter member” for the new local station you got this album, which has several gems for in studio performances.

10: My Little Runaway (The Stone Coyotes) : A family band (not like the Osmonds) that was on a compilation from Amazon.com. One of those gems you find on a free disc that you want to share with others, but it really didn’t exist anywhere (at least that I could find….)

11: Saint Simon (The Shins): I just got this album a few weeks ago and I was intrigued immediately by the interesting song mixes. This song seemed to fit the mix the best.

12: Smart Went Crazy (Atmosphere): A Minneapolis based rap group that has been smart in support their own record label instead of getting into big label bs. Warning about some swearing on the lyrics, but I think you can handle it. A pretty darn good album overall, but this song is my current favorite song of it.

13: Manhattan (Visqueen) : This is from the second album. The band has been through some changes lately and have a new bassists. I really like the groove of the their first two albums a lot. “Standing on my little island!”

14: Crash Your Party (The whirligigs) : A band that does not exist any more. I was roommates during college with several of these guys. I always liked their music. One of those almost bands that was getting label interests, but nothing ever came of it. The bass guitar player and I loved this song.

15: Boulevard of Broken Songs (Party Ben) : A mash-up of Green Day, Oasis, and Travis. I have heard several mash-ups of this Green Day song, but this is decent one that is not ten minutes long.

16: Sugar Magnolia (Big Backyard) : Minneapolis band that was ready to break through and then broke up. Who knows what goes on with them.

17: Dig (Patrick McGuigan) : Who knew! I worked with this guy at a bagel shop and he had this tape he made and he just had a couple of copies and I was lucky enough to get one. I really liked it and soon he was off to college somewhere. I never heard from him again. Not too long ago I started going through all my tapes and converting them to digital. I decide to look him up on the net and wa-lah who knew he went continued with his music dreams a couple blocks from me. I am not even sure of the name of the songs as the tape only had his name on it and no song lists!

18: East of Eden (Lone Justice) : Another song I stumbled across. My friend recently sent me a bunch of CD’s (he works at online music store) he had and I just grabbed this one and the random cd played this song. I liked it, so you get to listen to it.

19: Gunsmoke & Whiskey (Archie Fisher) : A guy that has been playing for years. I was stuck in traffic about the time the Gecko club was formed. This song came on the radio and I thought this is good song to add to a mix. I really like the folk song mix with his voice.

20: Passage to Texas (The Mood Swings) : A nice fast moving song that melds freshness to an older genre.

21: Stinging Velvet (Neko Case) : I struggled with how to end the CD, so instead of trying to pick the right message song, I went with putting a strong voice.

Well, I am currently under the gun to produce something pretty darn nifty. I am trying to find things that you I know you haven't heard, plus some songs I just happen to like.

Considering the vast variety that we have been sent, I am hoping to find a least one gem for ya all. I don't we have had any complete stinkers - that's for sure.

Any who, I will provide the details behind the songs on the blog instead of in a sheet. So, by middle of next week I hope to get over myself and make final decisions on the songs.

Inspired by Brian's February CD, what was the best live show you ever saw? For me, it was Laurie Anderson back in about 1982, just after "O Superman" became a sort of underground hit and she was picked up by Warner Brothers. It was one of her first shows in a large theater, but she treated it as she had her previous small-venue shows. She just talked with the audience, played her violin, spoke/sang those asymmetic songs of hers. Very relaxed affair, but all of us were completely captivated. Like nothing I heard before or since.

Brian Grijalva, February 2006, "See It Live"
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: Fish in the Dish
Mofro: Ho Cake
Maktub: You Can't Hide
Ozomotli: Dos Cosas Ciertas
Breakestra: You Don't Need a Dance
Parliament: Up for the Down Stroke
Brooklyn Funk Essentials: Woman Thing
Lee Fields: Hey Sallie Mae (Get Off My Feet)
Maceo Parker: Pass the Peas
Sugarman 3 with Charles B: Take It As It Come
Jamiroquai: Cosmic Girl
Mofro: Dirtfloorcracer
Morphine: Buena
Flaco Jimenez, Los Lobos: Don't Worry Baby
Maktub: So Tired
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: This Land Is Your Land
Los Mocosos: Senor Presidente

Okay, so I have a dilemna here! I made three different CDs as testers for my February CD and now I can't decide which one I want to send out to the club! So I decided to let you guys decide. I'll quickly describe each of the CDs, and then ask for what you think you'd like. Then, I'll send out the CD that has the most votes. That way, I don't have to decide!!!!! YAY!!

CD #1: This is what I call a 'road-trip' CD as it is filled with music that, at least to me, is the kind you'd want to hear while driving along a lonely, two-laned road in middle-America. It has a lot of alt-country and folk-type music on it and is generally pretty mellow.

CD #2: I recently had one of my closest friends pass on, and I made this CD as a tribute to him. He was a lover of swing, rockabilly, and roadhouse blues...and this is what you'll find on this CD.

CD #3: Getting funky!!! I've recently found a lot of funk-soul type bands that really know how to turn it on and I made a complilation of some of my favorite tunes alongside some classic funk bands like Parliament.

So, it is either Road-trip CD (#1), Tribute CD (#2), or Funky CD (#3). Which one sounds interesting to you???? Please keep in mind that I tried to stay as far from the mainstream as possible, so you'll probably find a lot of new bands on all three CDs.