The YouTube Mix Tape

Okay, so the whole Yacht Rock cancellation has me bummed out a bit. Inspired by Bill Simmon's YouTube Hall of Fame article, I'm going to cheer myself up a bit by diving into the YouTubeiverse and make a little mix. Now, back in the day, before CD burners and later MP3's and handheld players, mix tapes were a passion of mine. I was always on a quest to make the "Perfect Mix" and, without getting all John Cusack-y from Hi- Fidelity I was pretty damn good at it. A Paj Mix Tape, sometimes complete with liner notes was a big gun in my arsenal and I relied on it quite a bit...and yes, before you say anything...I was one of those cheeseballs.

Now, I'm making this specifically for ME not any of you...but if you think that I'm giving you a shout out, then I am...remember, everything I do is intentional.
Here we go:


Modest Mouse- "Positive/Negative" -Live

I absolutely love this band. I got latched on to them early and followed them through guest spots on the OC, Saturday Nite Live, and the ultimate in knowing that you've made it ... a version of their song on a volume of Kidz Bop. This particular song is so manic and uneven and just crashes. It's sums up how I feel...a lot. It's probably my favorite Modest Mouse song.



Lemonheads-"Great Big No"

Ten years later and I still don't understand my fascination with this band. I think part of it is that Evan Dando is very spacey, goofy, guy but honest with his songwriting , which I can really relate with. I'm a veteran of five Lemonheads/Evan Dando performances and I wouldn't hesitate to see him again. Plus, the Lemonheads scream Boston to me and associating places with music is a big thing personally and a constant theme here.


Eric B. and Rakim- "Eric B. is President" Live on Yo! MTV raps.

This is the hip-hop that hooked me and this is the reason why I love this genre. This is hip-hop at it's purest. Two turntables and a microphone. No women, no bling, no Cristal, no bullshit. Rakim flows like no other and the fact that he's still a sought after addition for modern day hip-hop records 20 years later is just a testament to his skill.


Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick- "La Di Da Di" Live

These two were the second act in the greatest concert I ever attended. It was the "Pioneers of Hip-Hop" show on the Sunset Strip in the House of Blues. The bill featured EPMD, Doug E. Fresh, and Run DMC It was a hot ticket and I lucked out getting in. It was an intimate show with a high-profile feel to it. Lots of celebs in attendance. Ed Lover emceed the show and Funkmaster Flex DJ'd during the downtime. It was my first taste of why there is no other place in the world like L.A. and I've been hooked on Cali and what it can bring ever since. Much like the clip, everyone at that show was rapping along too.


Mighty Mighty Bosstones - "Where Did You Go?"

This is also a reminder of an excellent show. The Bosstones played four sold out shows in San Fran. I took my "Watts" to see this show and we had an incredible time. They were the most fun band I've ever seen live. After seeing this show, my on again off again dream of being a Hype Man for a ska band came back, but then it faded like it always does, only to be replaced my my other dream of living above a White Casle and having endless burgers sent up to me by dumbwaiter.


Teagan and Sara -"Speak Slow"

I've really been into them since I heard "Walking with a Ghost" and I make it a point to try to fit one of their songs into my morning commute. Their inclusion in several Grey's Anatomy epsiodes makes me like the show more than I should. I think I've narrowed down that what I'm looking for in a woman (at this moment anyway) is an embodiment of their music, but add 5 to 10 years to it because I didn't realize they were so flippin' young...


Nirvana - "Drain You"

Known back in the day as "NUMBER 8!!!" which was it's track number on Nevermind. I look back at college and I'm so glad that this embodied the era of when I was in school. I can't imagine it any other way. This particular Nirvana song is also special to me because my whippedness was once called out to this song, lets just say I made a mental note at that moment that it would never happen again.


"Bastards of the Young" - The Replacements

This is a band that makes me wish I was older. I missed their peak by a few years and had to play catch up with their music. This is another band that gets associated with a a particular city. When I visited their hometown of Minneapolis, their music was the mental soundtrack of trip, everywhere I went I had the Replacements in my head. I thought it would be Prince, but sadly I never made my way to Lake Minnetonka. Anyway, their statement is so anti-video here that I can't help but dig it.


"What I've Got" - Sublime

This song was poplular when I first got to Cali and San Francisco. Just hearing this song brings back memories of walking through the 'Loin and Union Square for the first time and later of riding shotgun in a Miata cruising through the Marina and parking for crepes or frozen yogurt.


Daddy Yankee "Rompe -Remix"

Because I can't...escape...this...goddamn...song... na na na na na na na na na na na na na...it's taunting me...must...kill


"Me and Bobby McGhee"- Waylon Jennings

It's not the most famous version of this song, that would be Janis Joplin's. Nor is it my favorite version...that would go to the Fabulous JP's cover. The Fabs would use this song to close out their earliest shows. Stan would always give an awkward closing ad-libbed shout out to the crowd, while Steve would do the na na na parts. It wasn't pretty but it certainly had it's charm.


"Laffy Taffy" - D4L

This song embodies paradox. It's everything I hate in present day hip hop, but the very fact that this song not only made it on the radio but became a huge hit is too rich an irony to ignore. How many songs sond like their being rapped over nintendo beats? Throw in the ESPN bumper done acapella and you have magic!


Hall and Oates - "Private Eyes"

Okay now everybody ready to do a jumping sidekick with me? One, Two, Threee "Halll and Oaaaaates"

Tags: YouTube Mix Tape, Music