JOIN THE CLUB

One of our office-mates recently approached us at the water cooler (actually, we don't mingle around the water cooler as much as the color laser printers) to announce he had joined the club. The night before, he had received an iPod Shuffle as a birthday gift. And our new digitally accessorized co-worker wanted to know if there was an official handshake.

"You need at least a iPod mini to be in the club," Bill S. responded.

"We could put him in the junior division," I suggested, "which iPod Shuffle did you get?"

"I'm a minimalist so I got the 512. I don't need more than 512..." Steve, our new iPod owner said confidently.

"Yes, what we have here is an apprentice. He's in training" Bill S., a 15Gig and iPod Shuffle owner observed, as evident from his confident statement about not needing more than 512, "We are obliviously dealing with a newbie."

"As for the handshake," I said, "There are different handshakes for different models. The club for the iPod Photo is tres exclusive, in fact, I am the only member of the club in this office so I shake my own hand." This brought a puzzled look and raised eyebrow to their faces.

"And, the handsake for the iPod Shuffle is completely random. It changes every time." Bill S. explained.

SXSW 2005 Selects

PLAYLIST NAME: SXSW 2005 Selects

PURPOSE OR USE: songs from Austin's famed 2005 music festival, looking for new sounds and talents

RANDOM/ORDER: Random

SONG LIST:

1. 105 Feet High AMY SMITH
2. Ohh La La DITTY BOPS
3. Just as Well EMILY SPARKS
4. Martin Sheen EDIE SEDGWICK
5. Silver Screen Demos JESCO HOOP
6. Darkness KELLEY HUNT
7. Not Going Anywhere KEREN ANN
8. Bring On Happiness L'ALTRA
9. Van Nuys (es Very Nice) LOS ABANDONED
10. Hey Mama LOS MOCOSOS
11. I'll Be Your Bird M. WARD
12. Fingerprints MAGGIE WALTERS
13. Performance MARLOW
14. Mercy Now MARY GAUTHIER
15. Family MAU MAU CHAPLAINS
16. Have A Little Faith MAVIS STAPLES
17. The Night I Lost My Head MAXIMO PARK
18. Nutopia MEG LEE CHIN
19. The War MELEE

COMMENTS: an electric mix from folk to retro rock to sultry jazz, a cappella to techno, reggae to mirthy swamp music and guitar backed with strings... a mix made for random play

PAT'S PLAYLIST

PLAYLIST NAME: Pat's Playlist

PURPOSE OR USE: songs to be played at Pat's celebration

RANDOM/ORDER: Random

SONG LIST:

1. Spread Love FIGHT CLUB
2. Can't Get Enough EMMA SHAPPLIN
3. Reach Inside DIMITIRE
4. Santa Maria GOTAN PROJECT
5. (Just Like) Starting Over JOHN LENNON
6. Whispering Mind MOBY
7. Fashion Show La Vida Es NEK VS EIFFEL
8. Move the Body NINA SKY
9. Natural Blues MOBY
10. A Very Stylish Girl (?) a Paris Match anon mix
11. Jet PAUL MCCARTNEY AND WINGS
12. Piano Man BILLY JOEL
13. Physical OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
14. See Through You FLUNK
15. Overture to Candid EIJI OUE; MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA

COMMENTS: Pat Mathews was a model, indie film actress, a key player in the history of Mpls/St. Paul Magazine, past National President of the City and Regional Magazine Assocation and in 2005 she decided to retire from the magazine. These songs, mostly gathered from Laura Stephens and Robb Mitchell serve as a reminder of her. She took her last powder for us and we wish her all the best in future life adventures... we know she'll have many more!

SUBMITTED BY: Robb M.

DRIVING IN THE MOTORCAR

PLAYLIST NAME: Bill's Driving playlist #3

PURPOSE OR USE:  driving in the motor car

RANDOM/ORDER: Random

SONG LIST:

1. Harmonic Generator THE DATSUNS
2. Vacation THE GO-GO'S
3. Roses OUTKAST
4. Followed the Waves MELISSA AUF DER MAUR
5. East Bound and Down JERRY REED
6. I Always Get What I Want AVRIL LAVIGNE
7. Dancing With Myself THE DONNAS
8. Runaway BON JOVI
9. Gigantic PIXIES
10. Somebody Told Me THE KILLERS
11. The 1234 THE START
12. The List METRIC
13. Hold On to Me COURTNEY LOVE
14. Dream Police CHEAP TRICK
15. Knockin' on Heaven's Door BOB DYLAN

COMMENTS: As with the ridin' playlist, my driving playlist is real long. Like 100
songs. So I randomly grabbed 15. No commentary.

SUBMITTED BY: Bill S.

SNOWBOARDING SKEETCH SHEET

PLAYLIST NAME: Josh's One-day Snowboarding List

PURPOSE: to vary the intensity and speed when boarding

RANDOM/ORDER: Random

SONGS:

1. Egg Man THE BEASTIE BOYS
2. Track 19 ATMOSPHERE (not sure of the song title)
3. Deliverance BUBBA SPARXXX
4. The Real Slim Shady EMINEM
5. Have Love Will Travel THE BLACK KEYS
6. Homebrew 311
7. Moment of Truth GANGSTAR
8. All Along the Watchtower JIMI HENDRIX
9. Step to the Rear BRAND NUBIAN
10. Woo Hah! BUSTA RHYMES
11. Superhoes FUNKDOOBIEST
12. Grind ALICE IN CHAINS
13. No Quarter LED ZEPPELIN
14. Long View GREEN DAY
15. Jenny Says COWBOY MOUTH
16. Ring of Fire JOHNNY CASH
17. Ants Marching (live) DAVE MATTHEWS
18. Fell in Love With a Girl THE WHITE STRIPES
19. Fatman G LVOE
20. Tequila Sunrise CYPRESS HILL
21. Blackened METALLICA
22. Piece of My Heart JANIS JOPLIN
23. Clap Your Hands A TRIBE CALLED QUEST
24. Blister in the Sun VIOLENT FEMMES

COMMENTS: This is part of the playlist I had last time I went snowboarding. I usually just hit random, though. I've got such varied tastes, that a playlist will get old after I listen to it once.

SUBMITTED: Josh R.

MEMPHIS 60s SOUND

PLAYLIST: Memphis Soul/R&B Sound

PURPOSE: trippin back to the glory days of regional indie music

RANDOM/ORDER: Random

SONG LIST:

1. Let's Do It Again STAPLE SISTERS
2. (Sittin' On) Dock of the Bay OTIS REDDING
3. Gee Wiz (Look at His Eyes) CARLA THOMAS
4. Shaft ISAAC HAYES
5. Last Night THE MAR-KEYS
6. Tramp OTIS REDDING & CARLA THOMAS
7. Mustang Sally WILSON PICKETT
8. Hold On! I'm A Comin' SAM & DAVE
9. Respect Yourself STAPLE SISTERS
10. Green Onions BOOKER T. & THE MG's
11. Try a Little Tenderness (Live) OTIS REDDING
12. In the Midnight Hour WILSON PICKETT
13. Soul Man SAM & DAVE
14. Knock On Wood EDDIE FLOYD
15. Walking the Dog RUFUS THOMAS
16. I Thank You SAM & DAVE
17. These Arms of Mine OTIS REDDING
18. Uncloudy Day STAPLE SISTERS

COMMENTS: It is truly astonishing all this talent worked together in Memphis during this period, mostly, in and around an the abandoned old movie house Stax Records -- the history of the period in music is incredibly rich and rivals anything Motown offered at this time. Those horns, the rhythm, and the soul cannot get enuf!

SUBMITTED BY: Robb M.

BMX RIDIN' LIST

PLAYLIST NAME: Bill's Bike ridin' playlist

PURPOSE OR USE:  BMX-ing

RANDOM/ORDER: Random

COMMENTS: (Follow songs)

SONG LIST:

1. Ashes To Ashes DAVID BOWIE - Otherworldly sound reminds me of riding an empty swimming pool.

2. Checkin' It Out THE DONNAS - Song #1 on this list pulled from a BMX video. Plus, The Donnas rock.

3. Hungry Like the Wolf DURAN DURAN - Song #2 pulled from video. Who'd have thunk you can actually ride to Duran Duran?

4. Harsh Light HELICOPTER HELICOPTER - Song #3 from video.

5. Let's Run LE TIGRE - From video. I always shudder when the song gets to the part where the guy takes a slam.

6. Sweet Home Alabama LYNYRD SKYNYRD - Aha! Not from video. Was playing at skatepark, something about the relaxing effect of this song works...

7. Such Great Heights THE POSTAL SERVICE - Although it came from a video, I was clued into these guys from a friend.

8. Ears Ring RAINER MARIA - A prize if you can guess how this song made the list.

9. Send Me An Angel REAL LIFE - To most people, a cheesy '80s song. It's inclusion in cheesy '80s movie "RAD", puts it in every BMXers music collection. EVERY contest I've been to has played this song.

10. Date with the Night YEAH YEAH YEAHS - No no no, not another song from a BMX video! Yup, but hey - that's why they're on the list

SUBMITTED BY: Bill S.

MUSIC FOR WALKIN 'ROUND BODIES OF WATER

PLAYLIST NAME: Ju's Mix

PURPOSE OR USE: Soundtrack for Walking Around London, New York or
Minneapolis Body's of Water

RANDOM/ORDER: Random

SONG LIST:

1. No Cars Go ARCADE FIRE
2. Fly Me to the Moon ASTRUD GILBERTO
3. Big Time Sensuality BJORK
4. Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre) GOTAN PROJECT
5. Homme WAX POETIC & BRAZILIAN GIRLS
6. Midnight Train to Georgia GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS
7. Corner Store BRAZILIAN GIRLS
8. Respect Yourself STAPLE SISTERS
9. Take Me to the River TALKING HEADS
10. Call Waiting ZAP MAMA
11. La Wally WILHELMENIA WIGGINS FERNANDEZ
12. TKO LE TIGRE
13. Wishin' and Hopin' DUSTY SPRINGFIELD
14. Blue Monday FLUNK
15. Waiting CIBELLE
16. Cannonball BREEDERS

COMMENTS: I select the songs but I want them delivered to me in random order because controlled surprise is best... this list was inspired by something I really enjoying doing and so does Juliana (thus the name of the playlist) -- walking around cities and listening to songs as a backdrop. Yes, this is basically dance music but it seems to work best for walking or working out

SUBMITTED BY: Robb M.

MUSIC FOR GIRLS

PLAYLIST: Girl Music

PURPOSE OR USE: for Sophia

RANDON/ORDER: Random

SONG LIST:

1. Birthday BJORK
2. Betty Davis Eyes KIM CARNES
3. Get Off the Internet LE TIGRE
4. Satellite LUSCIOUS JACKSON
4. The Tide is High BLONDIE
5. Leaving on a Jet Plane BJORK
6. Canonball BREEDERS
7. At Last ETTA JAMES
8. No Need to Cry NEKO CASE
9. I'm Feeling Good NINA SIMONE
10. These Days NICO
11. Dancing Barefoot PATTI SMITH GROUP
12. Never on Sunday PINK MARTINI
13. Whatever Lola Wants SARAH VAUGH & GOTAN PROJECT
14. Into the White PIXIES

COMMENTS: I don't know what I'm thinking... I could be crazy

SUBMITTED BY: Juliana M.

the current wave...

Picture this scene: a twenty-something girl returning home for spring break, replete with an array of fresh tatoos and six or eight new facial piercings, sitting down with her parents to make a shocking confession:

"Mom... Dad, please sit down, I have something to say."

"Yes, darling" Mom says as tears well up in the corner of her eye.

"I listen to public radio," she states as hands tremble. Completely thrown off by bazaar news, the parents naturally have questions.

"When did this start?' father firmly asks.

"I'm a PR-addict," their college student daughter continues to accede, "I can't stop listening."

"Did you give into their persistent fund drives, honey?" Mom asks.

"No, it wasn't that, I swear!" she protests.

"You know they don't need all that money!" father intones, "It's the MPR President Kling, he's mono-monicial, he's an empire builder and now's he's grabbing up young minds... with what?" directing his questions to his wife, "All for more money and more pledges. Oh no, you didn't give MPR your student loan money did you?"

"Nooo, I like the randomness of 89.3" the disheveled daughter explains, "I like the unpredictability, the formatlessness..."

"Oh yeah, anarchy and chaos!" father grumbles.

"...they play rap music, and then Perry Como, and then Patsy Klein. or Moby and then The Sensational Joint Chiefs"

"WHO? The Joint what?" father asks.

"The Sensational Joint Chiefs? Oh my gawd." mother repeats.

"A great Minneapolis funk/soul/rock band from the late 90s!"

"How can that radio be any good sweetie?" Mom gently inquires, "When we grew up, we knew the kind of music the radio station was going to play. Nothing was left to chance. You had WCCO, KQRS, KDWB..."

"But it's good for me..." the daughter interrupts, "It non-commercial."

"Why is that good for you?" father asks cynically.

"Because its public radio!"

HOT PLAYLISTS

Everybody is making 'em.
The record labels hate 'em.
RIAA will try to sue 'em.
DJ's feel snubbed by 'em.

Tweedy academics (like the 89.3 programmers) are trying to revive the album because playlists have destroyed this hollowed institution.

But baby, playlists are where it is at! And hot playlists are what this blog is all about!

You make em, we listen!