A number of participants have asked for a forum for questions, discussion, likes/dislikes, etc. regarding the mix CDs. Let's do it here, in the comments section.
I hope that whoever included "Bing Crosby" by Van Dyke Parks on his/her Cd has the entire album "Discover America", which is one of the great weird albums of all time. - The Secret Admirer
I just listened to disc 3 and really liked it. The recorded sound is beautiful and the flow of the mix is great. Track 4 seems to be Arvo Part. The two selections from the Oblique Sessions are really fun. Ives was a good ending.
I'm just getting started digging in to the CDs, but I really enjoyed the sequencing on CD #1. Particularly the first 10-11 tracks. It nicely creates a context of pop music which draws inspiration from traditional music.
I smiled when I got to track 4, looked it up, saw that it was by Queen, and thought that, really, it was surprisingly fun to think of it in the context of classic songs of the sea.
It does exactly what you try for with a mix CD -- provides a context that makes the song more entertaining than it would be hearing it just by itself.
I also thought track 11 was a very nice transition. Following so many tracks which are, generally, quiet and slow tempo, it feels forceful and carries real weight. Whereas it could be easy for a Toots and the Maytals track to sound dated if it were in the context of contemporary pop that was heavy on the bass.
Also, there are a number of tracks that I like on CD #4, but one of the most surprising pleasures was the final track, the version of "Honeysuckle Rose" which is such a hot performance (both virtuoso and happily risque) without feeling show-offish at all. It's fun and so confident.
Have we got the correct track listing for Disc 3 yet?
I have powered through quite a few of the discs and love this 'event' for the fact that I have new music to start off the new year. It's like a new radio station for 2 weeks during my drive to work.
Disc 6 - "Blood" by Middle East is great! Thanks for that.
Great thing about the Xmas disc swap is that new 'great' songs continue to reveal themselves more I listen.
Disc #3: 1)Dieux Vieux 2)A Mexican Spaghetti Strangler, Oblique Sessions 3) Violin Concerto: II., Philip Glass 4) Taking Tiger Mountain, Brian Eno 5) The Skatalan Logicofobism, Pascal Comelade 6) Lake Chocorus Jhala, Alan Hovhaness 7) Suéltate Las Cintas, Oswaldo Golijoz 8) Humoresque, Antonin Dvorák 9) Souviens-toi de ces douces soirées, Oblique Sessions 10) The Unanswered Question, Charles Ives
Secret Admirer--I am a huge VDP fan and I have copies of Discover America and the amazing bizarre Song Cycle...both original copies on vinyl. I was really into him this year.
On another note, two standouts for me thus far are "Hand Covers Bruise" by Trent Reznor, and the King Creosote / Jon Hopkins piano piece at the end of disc 10(or 11?).
18 Comments:
A number of participants have asked for a forum for questions, discussion, likes/dislikes, etc. regarding the mix CDs. Let's do it here, in the comments section.
Hope the CDs made it to everyone in one piece!
I hope that whoever included "Bing Crosby" by Van Dyke Parks on his/her Cd has the entire album "Discover America", which is one of the great weird albums of all time. - The Secret Admirer
Quick Observation is that the Song Tracks provided and the actual tracks on the CD do not match for Disc #3.
I noticed that, too. I'll try to get the real list and put it up here.
I just listened to disc 3 and really liked it. The recorded sound is beautiful and the flow of the mix is great. Track 4 seems to be Arvo Part. The two selections from the Oblique Sessions are really fun. Ives was a good ending.
Richard
I also had a chance to listen to Disc 10.
The Gil-Scott Heron is a great, dramatic opening. Lots of interesting songs. The cover of Case of You really stands out.
Nick, thanks for the inspiration to participate in this music exchange.
Richard
I'm just getting started digging in to the CDs, but I really enjoyed the sequencing on CD #1. Particularly the first 10-11 tracks. It nicely creates a context of pop music which draws inspiration from traditional music.
I smiled when I got to track 4, looked it up, saw that it was by Queen, and thought that, really, it was surprisingly fun to think of it in the context of classic songs of the sea.
It does exactly what you try for with a mix CD -- provides a context that makes the song more entertaining than it would be hearing it just by itself.
I also thought track 11 was a very nice transition. Following so many tracks which are, generally, quiet and slow tempo, it feels forceful and carries real weight. Whereas it could be easy for a Toots and the Maytals track to sound dated if it were in the context of contemporary pop that was heavy on the bass.
Also, there are a number of tracks that I like on CD #4, but one of the most surprising pleasures was the final track, the version of "Honeysuckle Rose" which is such a hot performance (both virtuoso and happily risque) without feeling show-offish at all. It's fun and so confident.
I never knew that song was Queen, either.
There's apparently a whole world of Queen I don't know about.
Even more surprising, I looked up the song and found out that it was off of what is arguably the definitive Queen album, A Night At The Opera.
I really don't know Queen well at all.
Disc 4 is great! Nice change of pace.
Another great song on A Night At the Opera is "I'm in Love With My Car."
Have we got the correct track listing for Disc 3 yet?
I have powered through quite a few of the discs and love this 'event' for the fact that I have new music to start off the new year. It's like a new radio station for 2 weeks during my drive to work.
Disc 6 - "Blood" by Middle East is great! Thanks for that.
Great thing about the Xmas disc swap is that new 'great' songs continue to reveal themselves more I listen.
Walsh... I will see you on the 20th.
I just listened to Disc 13 and enjoyed it very much. So many distinctive, beautiful voices.
Richard
Disc #3:
1)Dieux Vieux
2)A Mexican Spaghetti Strangler, Oblique Sessions
3) Violin Concerto: II., Philip Glass
4) Taking Tiger Mountain, Brian Eno
5) The Skatalan Logicofobism, Pascal Comelade
6) Lake Chocorus Jhala, Alan Hovhaness
7) Suéltate Las Cintas, Oswaldo Golijoz
8) Humoresque, Antonin Dvorák
9) Souviens-toi de ces douces soirées, Oblique Sessions
10) The Unanswered Question, Charles Ives
Nate,
There is something still missing from the disc 3 track list -- at least my copy of that disc has 11 tracks.
Thanks for putting this all together -- and thanks for sending the extra set to Bellingham
Secret Admirer--I am a huge VDP fan and I have copies of Discover America and the amazing bizarre Song Cycle...both original copies on vinyl. I was really into him this year.
Yeah, Disc #3 tracklist is still off. My bad.
On another note, two standouts for me thus far are "Hand Covers Bruise" by Trent Reznor, and the King Creosote / Jon Hopkins piano piece at the end of disc 10(or 11?).
Video of Dave Von Ronk performing "Losers" live -- (performance starts 3 minutes into the video).
Seeing it live, makes clear just how showy his vocals are on that song.
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