Zenformation Playlist 9/20/05Back to the Basics with a little Dark, a Little Light, and a Bit Mellow

1. Jason Lee - All Girl Summer Fun Band
Rather obscure indie song about an oft-overlooked artistic talent. Jason Lee, well, kicked ass in Chasing Amy and Mallrats.

2. Walt Whitman's Neice - Billy Bragg and Wilco
Recently got this as part of a Librarian-themed compilation, courtesy of Ms. Monkeythong. Haven't heard this song in ages! Combines three of my favorite things - Walt Whitman, Wilco, and the good Mr. Bragg.

3. Faith Children - Little Wings
I've seen Kyle Field and whoever he manages to drag along for the Little Wings ride play live at least 20 times - all while in California. Bars, coffee houses, and I think even at a party in Morro Bay. One of those weird solo projects under a band name.
Field (shown in the adjacent photo, right) really has some a unique earthy sound, though his later albums seem to be missing that original, lo-fi sound and a bit of the soul too.

4. Lo Boob Oscillator - Stereolab
Its hard for me to envision this song being more than ten years old, but it is.

5. Jambalaya - The Residents
What is it with me and the Residents' Hank Williams covers lately? the Residents are one of those bands that never really got the props they deserved. Stars and Hank Forever (Ralph, 1986) is one of those mythical albums from the 1980s - people had heard of it, maybe a few bars in some flick, but it still remains rock's version of Big Foot.

6. I'm Down - Calvin Johnson (the guy at left in the press photo above)
One of those making-out-underneath-a-blacklight type songs. And there has to be a lava lamp involved, the scent of Nag Champa, a tarot reading, and some discussion of favorite authors. Maybe a Gin and Tonic, Zenformation-style: Bombay Sapphire, two limes, with a dash of Grenadine.

7. Song of the Dispossessed - Dead Can Dance
See notes for No. 6.

8. Your Mama Used to Dance - Old Time Relijun
Abouncy, out-of-tune fuzz guitarfest. And well, the Dead Can Dance, right? What better follow-up...

9. Romeo is Bleeding - Tom Waits
Such an awesome song. Not to be confused with the movie of the same name.

10. Angie - The Rolling Stones
One of my favorite Stones tunes. Had to play it...adding to the mellow mood. Even though Jagger looks closer to the grave with every passing day and the corpse of Keith Richards (who I'm convinced died sometime in 1976) continues to play tothis day, one can't overlook the classics.