SCD Mixtape

[Trollheart]

We're a week in now, so could everyone try to make an effort and listen to the tape and if possible post your thoughts before next Sunday? That's February 16. Then we can get on to compiling the next one, and we have three alternative themes to choose from - animals, weather or countries/states/cities, so perhaps give us your thoughts there too. If you have another theme you'd like us to consider, let us know. TVM!

[Trollheart]

Fine, I'll go first.

"New Rose" (The Damned)
Not being the biggest fan of punk (but slowly getting a little bit more there) I do know of the Damned but know few of their songs. This one is new to me (how appropriate) though I do think I've heard of it. It's got a lot of energy and a good guitar riff driving it. Sort of reminds me of "Teenage Kicks" by The  Undertones in parts. Not bad, but probably would not be my thing personally.


"Diggin' the New" (Joe Strummer)
Another punk rock icon, I'd have to say this is as far from The Clash as it's possible to be - until it kicks up for the chorus. Kind of a punk blues track? I'd say elements of early Bowie about it too. Pretty cool.


"Cricketz" (New Boys)
Ah, love the sound of actual crickets as this starts - real or made on synth? Don't know, doesn't matter. Like the way it stomps along and it sort of reminds me of the Beastie Boys, who I don't like that much but this is pretty good.



"Sic Transit Gloria" (Brand New)
Very hypnotic bass line going through this, then the post-hardcore style of vocals is an interesting change. Love the guitar solo. Another great track. Might be my favourite so far.
Yup.


"Them Changes" (Thundercat)
I reviewed this album back in 2017 and I believe I liked it a lot. The squelchy bass (or synth) here is great, almost cartoonish, and I like his voice, very sort of seventies soul. I also like how it slows down into a very soul groove. Yes, I know it's a sample. But it's cool.


"Born Again" (Blutengel)
This isn't really usually my sort of music, but I really love Blutengel, and I really like this song. The keyboard line going through the song meshes so well with the percussion, and the vocals of Chris Pohl and Ulrike Goldmann are a great mix of dark and light. Sehr gut!

(Not gonna rate my own choice!)

[Guybrush]

I have a suggestion for theme. A little morbid perhaps, but I thought songs by confirmed or alleged murderers might be fun.

I have listened to the entirety of the mixtape 🙂 I will share some thoughts later on.

[Lisnaholic]

"New Rose" (The Damned)
First Damned song I've listened to and I really liked it: lots of energy, great bass riff, great guitar riff, and isn't there hidden in it a hint of some retro rockabilly song ? Or did I just imagine that because of the surprising intro, "Is she really going out with him?" lol.
4 stars.

"Diggin' the New" (Joe Strummer)
Happy to follow TH's lead by not grading my own choice. To me this a solid but not outstanding track from JS. As usual, his lyrics are open to interpretation, which is a polite way of saying  "don't make a lot of sense". But more and more, that's how I like lyrics to be, and JS's voice has a very pleasing tone to my ears. In this song I like the way the tempo shifts around too, but the song is a bit short and lacks the weird instrumentation that the Mescaleros throw in on some of their better songs.

"Cricketz" (New Boys)
I liked the kind of echoey glockenspiel sound dancing along through this song, I also liked the chorus (1 min in) when the backing singers are chanting and a strange female voice comments on tight jeans. For me,I think she was the star of the song. Unfortunately, I found lead-singer Tyga's contribution to be kind of irritating, like when a friend is talking too much and you just wish he would be quiet.
2 stars

"Sic Transit Gloria" (Brand New)
I kept getting distracted by the clever video and never really worked out what the guy was singing about, but I liked the powerful guitar interlude (too short ☹) and the anguish in the shout at the end. It has a decent beat all the way through, but to me this was a rather forgettable song.
3 stars

"Them Changes" (Thundercat)
My favourite of the playlist with that delicious funky riff running through it: in the YouTube comments they describe it as "golden syrup" and "funky, retro, nostalgic, sexy, disgusting, groovy, all at once". TH goes one better and calls it "squelchy" and I can't improve on that, apart from throwing in the word "cool".
Also a wonderfully intriguing opening line: "Nobody move, there's blood on the floor..."
4.5 stars

"Born Again" (Blutengel)
I really liked the intro, with its build-up of instruments, and of the 2 vocalists, I much preferred Ulrika, whose voice cuts through the mix so clearly. The lyrics themselves I thought were excessively doom-laden, and also a bit pedestrian as the rhyme plodded from one line to the next: "...say...stay / head...dead".  But then, at about 4 mins in, the guy sings "Day and night I will pray for your soul..." and I found myself really enjoying the song from then on.
3.5 stars 

[Trollheart]

I have a suggestion for theme. A little morbid perhaps, but I thought songs by confirmed or alleged murderers might be fun.

I have listened to the entirety of the mixtape 🙂 I will share some thoughts later on.

It's an interesting idea, but I just wonder is it a little limited? I mean, I can see maybe Boston Strangler, Jack the Ripper, but could you get a song for Ted Bundy? or Jeffrey Dahmer? Or is your idea to have sones that feature these people in the title or lyric? I'm not entirely sure what you're going for here. I'd also say, possibly, maybe not everyone knows enough about serial killers to be able to track down songs about or referring to them, but maybe I'm wrong. What does everyone else think, and/or have you any other ideas you want to throw into the mix?

[Guybrush]

It's an interesting idea, but I just wonder is it a little limited? I mean, I can see maybe Boston Strangler, Jack the Ripper, but could you get a song for Ted Bundy? or Jeffrey Dahmer? Or is your idea to have sones that feature these people in the title or lyric? I'm not entirely sure what you're going for here. I'd also say, possibly, maybe not everyone knows enough about serial killers to be able to track down songs about or referring to them, but maybe I'm wrong. What does everyone else think, and/or have you any other ideas you want to throw into the mix?

Not songs about murderers, but by confirmed or alleged murderers. You know, people like Jerry Lee Lewis, Sid Vicious or Varg Vikernes.

[Lisnaholic]

^ Yep, that might generate some interesting material. I imagine that for the next mixtape TH can reset the poll with that category included:

Let The People Decide!!

[Trollheart]

Hmm. Again, I would not be that familiar, though I guess Phil Spector would be one, would he? And there's a whole album of so-called "music" by some little-known guy called Manson..

Can I edit a poll? Or can I remove it and add another? Not entirely sure. Will check. If not, perhaps I'll have to start a thread for the next mixtape separately?

[Lisnaholic]

I bet Guybrush has the answers to those questions, TH. But perhaps, on reflection, a new thread for each mixtape is the way to go: that's how some album clubs have operated and it has the advantage that people aren't scrolling around, trying to find the most recent info while at the same time tripping over posts that've come in late regarding the previous mixtape. I think we all know how these things can play out...

[DJChameleon]

I listened to them all at the gym yesterday morning. Later tonight I'll rate them

[Guybrush]

Hmm. Again, I would not be that familiar, though I guess Phil Spector would be one, would he? And there's a whole album of so-called "music" by some little-known guy called Manson..

Can I edit a poll? Or can I remove it and add another? Not entirely sure. Will check. If not, perhaps I'll have to start a thread for the next mixtape separately?

Not so sure about Manson (he got his cultists to actually commit the murders), but definitely Phil Spector 🙂

If the theme seems too narrow, then perhaps songs about or featuring murder could be more fun 🤔

Sorry for being morbid!

[Trollheart]

Yeah, murders and murderers (and victims, perhaps) sounds like it might give more scope. Again, I'll go with the majority.

[DJChameleon]

"New Rose" (The Damned)

First time hearing this band but it wasn't bad and I found myself listening to it a few times in the days after my initial listen. Also timely song with Vday around the corner.


"Diggin' the New" (Joe Strummer)

I wanted more from this song. It is pretty average and dare I say forgettable. I can't quite put my finger on the missing component but I definitely wanted more from this track. I might have to listen to some other tracks from JS to see if this is par for the course.



"Cricketz" (New Boys)

This song had an interesting beat. At first I was annoyed by the cricket sounds but I got used to it by the end. This song definitely sounds like they were trying to repeat the success of their other song "The Jerk". Tyga's verse stands out obviously but in the comments of the video people were saying he was dissing them on their own track. I didn't hear that.


"Sic Transit Gloria" (Brand New)

I won't rate my own track but I love the harmonizing vocals. It reminds me of a Taking Back Sunday song. The driving bassline throughout the song is super pleasing to my ears as well.

"Them Changes" (Thundercat)
I'm a big Thundercat fan. I got into him during the pandemic with his DragonBall durag song. I then went back through his discography. Love this funky tune that describes how you feel after a break-up.


"Born Again" (Blutengel)
I could hear this song in a vampire flick's soundtrack during the part when the vampire is hunting it's prey that's also mesmerized and not trying too hard to escape. I really enjoyed it and would listen to it again.

[Trollheart]

Thanks for your considered comments, DJ!
And to anyone else who has posted their views (think that's just me and Lisna, yes?)
I'm not pushing anyone, and will probably in fact do as suggested (no, not kill myself) and make a separate thread for the next tape, but if we follow the two-week limit for responses then it's time to prepare the new tape. I think a week to get tracks in and a week to respond seems fair?

So I'll put up the next thread later and see what sort of themes people want to look into. If you have any suggestions, you know what to do. Or, you could post or PM them, either is good.

[Lisnaholic]

^ That all sounds good, and yes, thanks for your reviews,TH and DJ; I enjoyed reading them and comparing them with my own assessments of the mixtape selections.

I'm sorry you were disappointed by the Joe Strummer one, DJ, and Diggin' The New is a bit of a throw-away really. If you're Joe Strummer curious, here are a couple of tracks I'd recommend:-

Spoiler

Seven minutes of the cool, ramshackle genius that is JS and the Mescaleros at their best:-

A nice touch of throbbing electronics, and JS's rather hit and miss lyrics, in which some lines don't add up to much, but then a gem will shine out:

"So long, Liberty, let's forget you didn't show."

And finally, a track that shows how the Mescaleros could deliver tight, fast rock:

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