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MIXTAPE REFLECTIONS
Many of the things I associate with Andy are encapsulated in the song that kicks off his mixtape, Husker Du's "Celebrated Summer." This is one of those anthems
The song that kick's off Andy's mix, Husker Du's "Celebrated Summer", encapsulates a lot of the things I associate with Andy. This is one of those classic Husker Du anthems of nostalgia and ecstatic renewal, and there is a transcendence reached somewhere in the swirling hyper-treble guitar that expands like a mist, like one of those moments when you emerge from a tunnel and the light is overwhelmingly bright and your whole field of vision is filled with shimmering and the world is brief and beautiful. Andy favors songs like this, and it suits him well, as he has a greater sense of the simple joy of being than anyone I know. Andy, pessimism suits you poorly. I believe that you are most yourself in love and rejoicing.
"Celebrated Summer" sets a tone for the whole mix, and there are a number of counterparts along the way, the most direct being No Age's "Sleeper Hold." I must confess that this was my first time hearing the much-hyped band, and after a few listens I've come to find this track quite beautiful. No Age's definitely wear their influences on their sleeve-- Husker Du, old Dinosaur Jr., Isn't Anything era My Bloody Valentine-- but it's earnest and heartful and it's easy to look past the derivativeness and get lost on that lovely noise.
Also in the same vein is Ingrid's "Tryangle." These kids are old friends of Andy and I and I feel that there is a particular mode of reminiscence at play deploying a familiar track like this one. Ingrid's sound is somewhere between Embrace and Tiny Hawks. It feels cathartic and fantastic and makes me think of driving around with Andy in DC during the summertime. I understand Joey (from Ingrid) is going through some difficult times and I wish him the best.
A sort of dark familiar to "Celebrated Summer" is Nirvana's "Mr. Moustache." Nirvana are the most not-overrated band of all time, and I think that their gleefully violent and grotesque first record Bleach (where this track comes from) is still under appreciated. "Mr. Moustache" is a bright pop song filled with ugly noise and black humor and leaves me with a big old grin on my face.
Andy's mix is divided about half and half between these blissed out anthems and darker, more reflective rootsy stuff like Townes Van Zandt and Vic Chestnutt. Andy and I have been friends for a very long time and our relationship runs very deep and we are very honest with one another. A good part of this relationship has been spend playing, listening, and exchanging music, and I believe we have developed a very particular mode of communication through the medium of music trading, something we do consistently. Often, these tapes have messages encoded in them, songs for which we can sense how the other person will react, as well as understanding where the transmitter is coming from. These gestures are totally abstract, like a nod or a sympathetic smile or a pat on the back. Generally they are referent to past conversations or struggles that one or the other is experiencing.
There are a couple such instances on this mix. Two stand out as the most striking. One is "I've Been Riding on a Strange Wave" by the Everybody Fields, which contains, over the lovely melancholy murmur of the pedal steel, a very familiar sentiment: "I have tried so hard to make this time different." I hear you, buddy.
This is a live video,"I've Been Riding On A Strange Wave" is the second half, kicks in about 4:20. Very good sound.
Even more stirring is Neil Young's "On The Beach," which shoots directly down my spine like a bolt of lighting. I love Neil Young. I appreciate the expressiveness of his guitar playing which is concerned more with texture than actual melody, and these lyrics feel very resonant with me at this time. "The world is turning/Hope it don't turn away/All my pictures are fallin' from the wall where I placed them yesterday." Or even heavier: "I need a crowd of people/but I can't face them day to day." Ain't that the truth.
Thanks for the mix, Andy. It means a lot to me. I got your letter as well. You have my most recent mass-mix, but maybe I'll cook up something a little more personal to send with my letter.
Lizz, your mix is next. As for the rest of you, I'm still waiting. You owe me. (Will, I will send yours soon.)
Many of the things I associate with Andy are encapsulated in the song that kicks off his mixtape, Husker Du's "Celebrated Summer." This is one of those anthems
The song that kick's off Andy's mix, Husker Du's "Celebrated Summer", encapsulates a lot of the things I associate with Andy. This is one of those classic Husker Du anthems of nostalgia and ecstatic renewal, and there is a transcendence reached somewhere in the swirling hyper-treble guitar that expands like a mist, like one of those moments when you emerge from a tunnel and the light is overwhelmingly bright and your whole field of vision is filled with shimmering and the world is brief and beautiful. Andy favors songs like this, and it suits him well, as he has a greater sense of the simple joy of being than anyone I know. Andy, pessimism suits you poorly. I believe that you are most yourself in love and rejoicing.
Click to view"Celebrated Summer" sets a tone for the whole mix, and there are a number of counterparts along the way, the most direct being No Age's "Sleeper Hold." I must confess that this was my first time hearing the much-hyped band, and after a few listens I've come to find this track quite beautiful. No Age's definitely wear their influences on their sleeve-- Husker Du, old Dinosaur Jr., Isn't Anything era My Bloody Valentine-- but it's earnest and heartful and it's easy to look past the derivativeness and get lost on that lovely noise.
Also in the same vein is Ingrid's "Tryangle." These kids are old friends of Andy and I and I feel that there is a particular mode of reminiscence at play deploying a familiar track like this one. Ingrid's sound is somewhere between Embrace and Tiny Hawks. It feels cathartic and fantastic and makes me think of driving around with Andy in DC during the summertime. I understand Joey (from Ingrid) is going through some difficult times and I wish him the best.
A sort of dark familiar to "Celebrated Summer" is Nirvana's "Mr. Moustache." Nirvana are the most not-overrated band of all time, and I think that their gleefully violent and grotesque first record Bleach (where this track comes from) is still under appreciated. "Mr. Moustache" is a bright pop song filled with ugly noise and black humor and leaves me with a big old grin on my face.
Andy's mix is divided about half and half between these blissed out anthems and darker, more reflective rootsy stuff like Townes Van Zandt and Vic Chestnutt. Andy and I have been friends for a very long time and our relationship runs very deep and we are very honest with one another. A good part of this relationship has been spend playing, listening, and exchanging music, and I believe we have developed a very particular mode of communication through the medium of music trading, something we do consistently. Often, these tapes have messages encoded in them, songs for which we can sense how the other person will react, as well as understanding where the transmitter is coming from. These gestures are totally abstract, like a nod or a sympathetic smile or a pat on the back. Generally they are referent to past conversations or struggles that one or the other is experiencing.
There are a couple such instances on this mix. Two stand out as the most striking. One is "I've Been Riding on a Strange Wave" by the Everybody Fields, which contains, over the lovely melancholy murmur of the pedal steel, a very familiar sentiment: "I have tried so hard to make this time different." I hear you, buddy.
This is a live video,"I've Been Riding On A Strange Wave" is the second half, kicks in about 4:20. Very good sound.
Even more stirring is Neil Young's "On The Beach," which shoots directly down my spine like a bolt of lighting. I love Neil Young. I appreciate the expressiveness of his guitar playing which is concerned more with texture than actual melody, and these lyrics feel very resonant with me at this time. "The world is turning/Hope it don't turn away/All my pictures are fallin' from the wall where I placed them yesterday." Or even heavier: "I need a crowd of people/but I can't face them day to day." Ain't that the truth.
Thanks for the mix, Andy. It means a lot to me. I got your letter as well. You have my most recent mass-mix, but maybe I'll cook up something a little more personal to send with my letter.
Lizz, your mix is next. As for the rest of you, I'm still waiting. You owe me. (Will, I will send yours soon.)