Author: mystro2b

I Wanna Be Sedated by The Ramones.

My association with punk rock growing up was purely wannabe. I grew up as middle-class kid with loving parents and never felt any angst toward anything, really. I played the clarinet from grade 4 through high school and sang the National Anthem with my buddies at the hometown California Rodeo- definitely NOT punk rock material.

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So why the Ramones? There is something about Joey Ramones’ voice that is quintessential “stoner” and easily imitated. Way before Keanau Reeve’s “Excellent!” and “Party on Wayne!” The Ramones were the dudes cranking out 3 chords and 2 minute masterpieces we wish we all would have written.

Get Deep by Lorenzo.

A random story to introduce why I love this track: on my birthday June 2009, my wife surprised me with a new car- not a fancy sports car, but a red Prius. Yep. Super sexy I know. She traded in our mini van for an even cooler car. While my initial response was a “Thanks Hon!” (disingenuous smile of gratitude included), it wasn’t until I played some tunes in this car that I came to love driving this hybrid nerd-mobile. It came equipped with a JBL premium sound system that was amazing. This track thumps the bass so hard, that my rear window shakes. EDM and House tracks get the sonic treatment they demand, finally! A couple of fender benders later and nearly 100K miles, I still drive this chick magnet sensible car and crank it to 11.

Psycho Killer by The Talking Heads.

This is the live version from the ground breaking 1984 film Stop Making Sense. When a friend of mine insisted we drive two hours to see a concert movie at a theater in Berkeley CA, I thought he was nuts. “Watch a movie of a previously recorded live concert, in a theater…really?” I’m glad he persisted. The impact of watching this crazy stage show go from one goofy man in a suit with a boom box to the final song with a stage full of musicians rocking out was one of the best zero to 60 music moments in my life. It was filmed in such a way that you really felt like you were in the audience; I was on my feet in that Berkley auditorium by the 4th song. If you ever have the opportunity to go see this in a theater with a great sound system, do it. I’ve also included the original version for you TH purists. You’re welcome!

Bomb Away by The Police.

One of my favorite “B-side” tracks from The Police.

*”Bombs Away” was recorded on a tape that Nigel Gray had just used with Siouxsie and the Banshees. Copeland said: “when he first set up his home studio he got hold of a load of second hand tape which included some stuff by Siouxsie and the Banshees. ‘Bombs Away’ was written on a Siouxsie and the Banshees backing track. I changed the speed and did things to the EQ to change the drum pattern. So with the desk I can get my song playing, then press a switch and there’s Siouxsie singing away.”^[7] Zenyatta Mondatta also saw the band’s lyrics turning towards political events, with Sting’s “Driven to Tears” commenting on poverty and Copeland’s “Bombs Away” referring to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

*Wikipedia entry.

Grown So Ugly by The Black Keys.

It sounds like they recorded this in a garage with some old amps and a Radio Shack mixer. But there is no denying the raw energy this blues duo pumps out. Dirty distortion turned up to 11.

Praise You by Fatboy Slim.

Expertly sampled goodness from the following: * “Take Yo’ Praise” by Camille Yarbrough,^[2] as well as a prominent piano sample from the track “Balance and Rehearsal” from a test album entitled Sessions released by audio electronics company JBL.^[3] The song also features a guitar sample from the opening of “It’s a Small World” from the Disneyland Records-released album Mickey Mouse Disco^[4] and the theme from the cartoon series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.^[5]
*Wikipedia. The official video from Skint Records is fun too.

I Scare Myself by Thomas Dolby.

This Spanish inspired groove is Dolby’s interpretation of the original by Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks. I only discovered Hicks version this year and it’s worth a listen below. I think Dolby adds to the smoky flavor of the original with the the muted trumpet and that tasty trombone solo I transcribed note for note so I could play along at home.

It Keeps You Runnin’ by The Doobie Brothers.

Michael McDonald pounding it out on that Fender Rhodes keyboard…

Gaslighting Abbie by Steely Dan.

One of several tracks off this album that are mixed perfectly. I always use this as a headphone test song. Nothing is out of place.

Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz.

This song freaked me out when I first heard it. Creepy minor jam complete with maniacal laugh. Enjoy!