"This place gets smaller as the universe swells" - Voxpoptart Mix

Josh Joplin Group - "I Am Not The Only Cowboy"

"And it starts like this..." are the first words I hear, which is an uber cool way to start the mix. This begins with some talking accompanied by a guitar, then the singing starts. It has a countryish/soft rock sound with drums, keyboards and (I think) strings introduced soon afterward. I like that it's unusual and comes across like a story. During the singing parts I'm bopping a bit, the lead singer has a wonderful, clear voice and I get a very slight U2 vibe. Definitely a good start.

5/5

http://www.joshjoplingroup.com/


Modest Mouse - "Gravity Rides Everything"

I was excited to hear something from this group (since I'm likely the only person on the planet who hasn't heard their album Good News for People Who Love Bad News.) This is sort of disjointed in sound and a little odd, but the strumming guitars and percussion at the very beginning remind me of when I worked on freight trains. There's an acoustic feel which is something I generally enjoy. Getting into the track, I think I like this but it might take a few listens to grasp properly. (Actually, it has already risen a bit since being assigned a 3 the first time through.) I guess I'll have to trust them as they sing, "In the motions and the things that you say. It all will fall, fall right into place."

3.5/5

http://www.modestmousemusic.com/
(You can listen to the single "Float On" here but you have to sign up for their mailing list to do so. You can also watch the video which, oddly, doesn't require the free sign up.)


Rheostatics - "Mumbletypeg"

Yay for Canadian music! Cool song names seem to be quite common on this mix. This track is sung quite quickly but the singer is a bit flat. I like the music a lot, it's infectious but the drums are just a bit too monotonous and prominent for me. Brian (the reigning King of Comment Titles on Epinions) titled the mix "A Knight, a Fraggle or a Johnny Guitar" and this is where he got it. "I was like you - a dot, a figure or a point on a star. I could be king, a knight, a fraggle or a Johnny Guitar." The song recalls the innocence of youth and the loss of something when we grow up but some of the lyrics also strike me as having sexual connotations. On their web site it is noted that two Rheostatics albums (Melville and Whale Music) were placed in the top ten Canadian records of all time by Canadian music critics.

3.5/5

http://www.rheostatics.ca/
(Has videos available to watch.)


Damn Personals - "Sleeping On The Floors, United"

Ohhh this is odd, the beginning is very strange with strumming guitars, some singing (some words are very high pitched,) and some lines almost shouted. However, eventually we get into some great rocking with fast paced guitars and I like that part. During my research I found a couple of references that this short song sounds a bit like Queen and I agree. While doing that search on the band name, the very first result is a review by Brian himself (which I, succumbing to his sinister plan, read and rated immediately.)

3.5/5


Helicopter Helicopter - "Time Machine"

I instantly like this, it has a great indie/soft rock/pop sound with guitars and melodious vocals. This track is from the very cool-titled album, Wild Dogs With X-Ray Eyes which I want. Now. There's a bit of a Creed/Savage Garden/Matchbox 20 feel going on. This is definitely one of my favourites on the mix.

5/5

Listen to them at:
http://www.helicopterhelicopter.com/default.htm


Dan Bern - "Soul"

We move into a much slower mood. This is acoustic, mellow and contemplative with a Celtic/folk tone. Dan's voice reminds me of Bob Dylan's gritty, mumbling style. Plus, how could you not love a song with the lyrics, "Do the skeletons in your closet all got 20 pairs of shoes to choose from" and "Lions gotta roar and monkeys gotta bonk. Birds gotta swim, fish gotta fry."

4/5

http://www.danbern.com/


Richard Shindell - "Fishing"

With a slight 50's vibe in the beginning this starts as another mellow folk track (not as slow as the previous one though) but speeds up shortly thereafter. There's a bit of a Celtic vibe and the song sounds beautiful but the words are quite eerie. Meshing the happy sound of the song together with the lyrics makes my mind tilt a bit but I love it anyway. It appears to be describing someone being interrogated and threatened with deportation, "Here's how it works: I've got these faces. You give them names, and I won't deport you. Make sure you face my tape recorder." The racist interrogator is a nasty piece of work, threatening the victim's family and comparing him to the fish his questioner used to catch. "It's easy to bite, just take the bait. Don't snap the line, don't fight. The hook hurts less if you don't try to dive." The lyrics also mention Ontario, which is way cool.

4.5/5

http://www.richardshindell.com/

http://www.fishrecords.co.uk/rs.html
(Samples to listen to. However, the download it mentions was not available when I last checked.)


Nothing Painted Blue - "2nd Class Citizen"

Back to the rock (actually more punk than rock, I think.) The prominent drum sets an almost too heavy beat, this is a somewhat raw sound. The singer doesn't have a great voice or much range, but still, there's something appealing about the track and the enthusiasm of the performers comes across. About half-way through, the song slows down for a short stretch and I'm not as fond of that part as the rest.

3.5/5


Jim's Big Ego - "Stress"

Electronica? That's my first thought with this track. Then the words come very quickly in a combination of singing and speaking. (So quickly it's almost like he doesn't take a breath for the entire song.) I hear trumpets in there and he even talks to one and it responds, which is amusing. This is unusual but there's a definite attraction here. After the first splash it sidesteps toward jazz and is quite boppy until the end when there's a bit of a jazz fusion with an almost cacophony of instrumentation. Very cool. What's it about? Well, I'm not exactly sure it's about anything in particular (except stress, obviously.) He begins by talking about how's he's addicted to stress and then goes on to say he has to cut down on coffee. The problem with that is, he drinks it all day long. Then work is discussed and how much he loves it but what he really wants is to get away to a desert island. The song ends with: "But actually I think would be really relaxing, just me by myself in the middle of the ocean, and thats what I'd really like to do more than anything else. Except I'd probably hate it." Yep, it's a hoot.

4/5

http://www.bigego.com/jbe04/#red
(You need Flash 6 or higher installed)

A flash presentation of the song:
http://bigego.com/stress/


Amy Rigby - "Balls"

This is sort of pop, sort of rock.. closer to rock though. She reminds me a little of Melissa Etheridge on "Come On Over." I like this one immediately with drums and guitars in the forefront; it's a nice, simple, clean sound and she has an excellent throaty voice. Amy is singing to a guy she knows is bad for her but she can't stay away from. "You’ve got a lot of nerve to be calling here. But I love your nerve. You’ve got a lot of gall, you don't even care, about me at all. You’ve got a lot of balls, you don’t even care. Wish I could grow a pair." Me too (sometimes.)

4.5/5

http://www.amyrigby.com/


Paperbacks - "Raise A Styrofoam Cup"

Another likable track with a rock sound. Nothing fancy here, just my type of music. The vocals are crisp and clear, the music is lyrical with an excellent indie flavour. This track is from the Canadian group's 2003 debut album, An Episode of Sparrows and if this is typical of them, it definitely deserves looking into.

4.5/5

http://www.newmusiccanada.com/genres/artist.cfm?Band_Id=10494


Maria Mena - "You're The Only One"

Oh I get a definite Alanis Morissette vibe here, Maria even sounds like her. So much, in fact, that if you didn't know who was singing, you could easily mistake this for the Canadian icon. Considering I love Alanis, that's a very good thing. The words come quickly and the sound is great rock/pop based in guitars and keyboards. Maria is telling her guy how important he is to her - but with a wink and a smile: "I hope you can forgive me for that time, When I put my hand between your legs, And said it was small. Cuz its really not at all. I guess there's just a part of me that likes to bring you down. Just to keep you around. Cuz the day you realize how amazing you are, you're gonna leave me. You're the only one who holds my hair back when I'm drunk and gets sick. You're the only one who, knows exactly what I mean." I've learned Maria is a huge hit in Norway and deservedly so.

4.5/5

http://www.mariamenamusic.com/
(Go to the video link there to see the video for this song.)


Actual Tigers - "Standing By"

Piano driven, this is a good track but it fails to make a huge impact for some reason. The sound is not particularly imaginative or original but it's bouncy, enjoyable and happy. The group was formerly known as Willis and this song was on the soundtrack of Never Been Kissed. (Hey Liz! These guys have been compared to The Beatles, so you might like them!)

3.5/5


Weakerthans - "Plea From A Cat Named Virtue"

I keep wanting to call these the Weatherkans for some reason. Another example of a cool song name, there's a strong drum beat and it's very catchy. The song is actually sung from the perspective of a cat to the person it owns, urging the person out of depression. "So we should open up the house, invite the tabby two doors down. You could ask your sister if she doesn't bring her basset hound... I swear I'm gonna bite you hard and taste your titty blood. If you don't stop the self-defeating lies you've been repeating since the day you brought me home. I know you're strong." Since I'm a huge believer in getting rid of the negative self-talk by replacing it with positive messages, that's good advice, I'd say. [Rant narrowly averted, bet you're happy about that.]

4/5

http://www.theweakerthans.org/

Listen to this song and others, plus see videos here:
http://www.theweakerthans.org/news_load.html


Mountain Goats - "Elijah"

This is a slower track, guitar driven and folk in style. I'm not sure yet what it's about exactly, there are some vague religious references (including the song title, which isn't exactly vague.) The track has an emotional, raw, breathless, live feel to it that I like. This is a barebones recording, just a guy and his acoustic guitar but it's quite lovely and evocative.

4/5

http://www.themountaingoats.net/


Ted Leo - "Bridges, Squares"

With a rock/punk mix this is engaging, fast paced and interesting but the drums should have been toned down just a tad. The words are sung quickly and I find myself chair dancing immediately. The lyrics are quite thoughtful as the singer looks upon modernization and wonders what happened (I think.) "And from that point where I did stand, I wondered at the works of man. I wondered how this walk began, til red line train came round again. But it's not the time to ossify. It's not the end of wondering why." There's also a sense of giving back when we have taken so much, "As I can take, so I could give, if I could shop where I could live. As I can read, so I'd write books, if I could eat where I could cook. Where talkers have a place to meet, where walkers walk along the street, and subways travel paths well hid, but ferries take you off the grid. And it's not the time to ossify. It's not the end of wondering why." The spiritual undertone is unmistakable to me, "And where is the builder? Was there something missed? Hidden in the plans to the bridge that started this?" Have we forgotten something very important along the way?

4.5/5

http://www.tedleo.com/


Tanya Donelly - "Landspeed Song"

Whoa, she has a very high pitched voice, this might take some getting used to. As the track plays I begin to like her more, especially during the fast, guitar laden parts. However, there are a few slow interludes I don't find as enjoyable. Again, it's that indie/rock sound I've come to love, which is no surprise since Tanya is a former member of three hugely popular groups: Belly, (Kristin Hersh is her step-sister,) Throwing Muses and The Breeders.

3.5/5

http://www.tanyadonelly.com/
(At the time of this writing - December/04 - the site is down for redesign, but I place it here for future reference.)


Piebald - "Karate Chops For Everyone But Us"

This starts with blistering guitars and a definite (to me) aggressive rock sound. Then, abruptly, it slows down for the chorus. Despite the discordance, I like this track. I haven't the faintest idea what the song is about but there are definite elements of humour, as if the band doesn't really take itself too seriously. "It was the intention to make the third verse the same as the first. Getting dumber as I get older." It's kinda refreshing, to tell the truth.

4/5

http://www.piebald.com/


New Pornographers - "The Laws Have Changed"

Another Canadian group (that makes, I think, four on the mix,) this one hailing from Vancouver, they have a power pop/New Wave sound that gets me bopping immediately. Keyboards and guitars are very prominent, the style is reminiscent of the 50's with heavy doses of The Cars and The B-52's thrown in. Behind the summery fun music and loads of great vocal harmonizing, the lyrics take a veiled swipe at politicians.

4.5/5

http://www.thenewpornographers.com/


Loud Family - "Give-in World"

A nice rock/pop track with drums, guitars and synthesizers at the forefront. Don't let the band name fool you, on this track at least, they're far from loud. Brian once called this a wedding song and after a few listens, I understand why. "It's a give-in world. And will you fight the good fight with me?... It's a back-off world. And will you stand some hard ground with me?"

4/5

http://www.loudfamily.com/index.html


I'm not sure if it was coincidence or intended (I'm leaning toward the latter, considering who made the mix) but there are a number of selections here that connect with me in various ways. Some of the artists are Canadian, one song references my home province and one of the singers even shares my last name (almost, one letter off,) among other things. This is, on the whole, a thoughtful, intelligent, most excellent selection of songs with a few of them being a bit tongue-in-cheek. I like all of them and love many of them. I hope, if you seek out these songs and artists, you'll enjoy them also. (Brian's written reviews on a number of these artists so head over to his profile page, scroll down for the list and check em out!) Huge thanks to the adorable Brian for providing this fantastic mix; it was my immense pleasure. I am in your debt.

I just realized this also happens to be my 50th submission to Epinions.. cool.

Coming soon: Paul's mix, where I'll try my best not to say the word "cool" quite so much. (Keep in mind "coming soon," for me, means hopefully sometime in January.)