#0072 – 2008 In Repose

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It had to happen, as it does just about everywhere this time of year:  a year-in-review show.  I’ve been through several iterations of this mix with a few different approaches to get to here.  It’s been difficult.  I thought about highlighting music that I discovered this year, not necessarily stuff that came out this year, but anything I discovered you’ve heard in the previous episodes. We also got in about another 43 shows of Radio Gen1us this year, which is huge.

So I decided to highlight songs you’ve not heard (probably) on albums that came out this year:

#0069 – Waiting on a Revelation

We’re living in serious times, but we’re reminded every now and again that there’s a strong case for some optimism.  This mix is a reflection on this idea.

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Jim and I attended the rally in Grant Park, Chicago on election night last week, and it was a very moving experience.  People hugged each other — a woman came up to me on the street and offered a hug — a real, warm, longer-lasting full bodied hug.  The city of Chicago was just glowing on Tuesday night.  People have been walking taller, noticing their neighbors more — I mean, it’s not all Pollyana and people still drive like a bunch of assholes — and Cubs fans?  Well, they’re the worst (present company excluded, Jim).

Despite all the good times, the economy is showing signs that we’re still headed for shit.  We’re no closer to getting out of Iraq or avoiding further confrontation in Afghanistan than we were before.  Poverty, Health Care, Cancer, AIDS, Gay Marriage — I mean, there’s a lot of issues that require serious action and attention — yet even without doing anything, we’re reminded that as a nation whose wealth dwarfs that of almost every other nation, where the black community is a shrinking minority, we elect a minority to the highest office — something that all the other “western” nations have yet to do.

For the first time in a very long time, I actually have some sense that no matter what, we’re all going to be okay.

Some notes about this mix: The Lucero track was contributed by Jim, and it’s been one of my favorites for almost a year now. Since he never played it, I figure I have dibs on it. A fellow by the name of John Campbell suggested The Gossip after a Twitter discussion about Shazam (he used the service as he got a haircut and this cover of Wham! was what it pulled up). I had to throw a new one by The Cure, because it’s probably their best album since Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me. And I don’t talk anywhere on this mix, so just pop it in your car on your long commute or drive and just enjoy.

This mix includes…

  • Lucero – Tonight Ain’t Gonna Be Good
  • R.E.M. – Supernatural Superserious
  • INXS – Don’t Change a Thing
  • Mark Ronson – You’re All I Need to Get By
  • Stars – Take Me to the Riot
  • Band of Horses – Is There a Ghost?
  • ColdPlay – Lovers in Japan
  • Keane – Spiralling
  • Frightened Rabbit – I Feel Better
  • The Cure – Only One
  • Travis – Sing
  • Radiohead – Reckoner
  • Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire
  • The Gossip – Careless Whisper
  • Muse – Map of the Problematique
  • Liam Finn – Better to Be
  • Deerhoof – Offend Maggie
  • Beck – Gamma Ray
  • Dan Deacon – The Crystal Cat
  • Say Hi To Your Mom – The Twenty-Second Century
  • The Arcade File – Rebellion (Lies)

#0068 – Dancin’ On All Hallows Eve

Aaron’s note:  Everyone welcome Jason, our first guest DJ!

Jason (aka Replik8)The term Halloween comes from “All Hallows’ Eve” as it is the eve of “All Hallows’ Day”, which is now also known as All Saints’ Day.  Halloween originated in Gaelic culters as a celebration of the end of Harvest Season. Irish and Scotish immigrants continued varied versions of the tradition and brought it to North America in the nineteenth century.

The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31 the boundary between the alive and the dead ceased to exist, and the dead became dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops. The living held festivals that involved bonfires, into which bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them.  So since most of us aren’t farmers, but often get sick during the fall season (at least I know I do), then we might want to consider celebrating Halloween to drive out all negativity and evil spirits from our lives and have some fun while doing it. How you celebrate it is your choice, but as long as you know it’s actually not a celebration of evil spirits or promoting types of morally wrong paganism as some “modern” religious groups might have you to believe. This mix won’t change your life or make you a sinner, but should put you in the mood for Halloween and turn you on to some bone chillin’ tracks you’ve never heard before. Cheers!

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  1. Introduction – Replik8
  2. The Boogie Monster – Gnarls Barkley [http://www.last.fm/music/Gnarls+Barkley]
  3. Dancin’ On My Grave – Ghostland Observatory [http://www.last.fm/music/Ghostland+Observatory]
  4. Paperbag Writer – Radiohead [http://www.last.fm/music/Radiohead]
  5. Lusty – Lamb [http://www.last.fm/music/Lamb]
  6. Buggface – Big Boi [http://www.last.fm/music/Big+Boi]
  7. Scarecrow – Beck[http://www.last.fm/music/Beck]
  8. The Rip – Portishead [http://www.last.fm/music/Portishead]
  9. Last Living Souls – Gorillaz [http://www.last.fm/music/Gorillaz]
  10. Where I End And You Begin – Radiohead [http://www.last.fm/music/Radiohead]
  11. Monster – Chab feat. JD Davis [http://www.last.fm/music/Chab]
  12. Where Is My Mind – Pixies [http://www.last.fm/music/Pixies]
  13. Cowboys – Portishead [http://www.last.fm/music/Portishead]
  14. ATLiens – Outkast [http://www.last.fm/music/Outkast]
  15. Smile Like You Mean It – The Killers [http://www.last.fm/music/The+Killers]
  16. Christiansands – Tricky [[http://www.last.fm/music/Tricky]
  17. I’m Afraid of Americans – David Bowie [http://www.last.fm/music/David+Bowie]
  18. My Mind Is Playin’ Tricks On Me – Ghetto Boys [http://www.last.fm/music/Geto+Boys]
  19. The Eraser – Thom Yorke [http://www.last.fm/music/Thom+Yorke]
  20. Don’t Save Us From The Flames – M83 [http://www.last.fm/music/M83]

Put On Your Happy Face!

In his first Fireside Chat, FDR closed his remarks on the Banking Crisis in 1933 with this:

“…there is an element in the readjustment of our financial system more important than currency, more important than gold, and that is the confidence of the people. Confidence and courage are the essentials of success in carrying out our plan. You people must have faith; you must not be stampeded by rumors or guesses. Let us unite in banishing fear. We have provided the machinery to restore our financial system; it is up to you to support and make it work.

It is your problem no less than it is mine. Together we cannot fail.”

To hear FDR actually deliver it, check it out here. Otherwise, buck up, campers. Radio Gen1us is back. We’re not going anywhere and together, rocking out, mano in mano, we’ll get through this shitty shitstorm of shit. So let’s rock out a bit.

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  • Dollars and Sesne – Bob Dorough & Friends
  • I Don’t Feel Like Dancing – Scissor Sisters
  • Step On – Happy Mondays
  • Blue Jean – David Bowie
  • Baby, Hold On – Eddie Money
  • For a Few Dollars More – Ennio Morricone & Terranova
  • Newjack – Justice
  • Forever – Walter Meego
  • El Movimiento – Alla
  • Money (In God We Trust) – Extreme
  • Big Fat Money – Van Halen
  • Faith – Limp Bizkit
  • Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love) – The Ramones
  • Halloween Parade – Sleep Out
  • William, It Was Really Nothing – The Smiths
  • Transmission – Joy Division
  • With Plenty of Money and You – Tony Bennett & Count Basie
  • Mo Money Mo Problems – The Notorious B.I.G.
  • Straight Out the Jungle – Jungle Brothers
  • Debra – Beck

#0061 – File under: Year Two New

AaronCan you believe this podcast has been up for over a year?  Four different hosts and sixty shows later, we’re still doing this and the shows are only getting better.

Sorry to have disappeared for the last month or so since Iron Deejay in June, but it’s been busy.  We had a second kid.  Work’s been rough.  There’s been some summer wind-down as the weather finally gets good enough in Chicago to be a distraction.

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Nevertheless, as we are already into Year Two for Radio Gen1us, I’m going to showcase a bunch of new music that’s been on heavy rotation on the iPod:

  • Vuja De – The Orb
  • Deep Blue – Ladytron
  • Give Me a Beat – Girl Talk
  • Milk Crisis – The Go! Team
  • Keep Your Head – The Ting Tings
  • Harder Than You Think – Public Enemy
  • List of Demands (Reparations) – Saul Williams
  • Discipline – Nine Inch Nails
  • All Kinds of Stuff – The Cure
  • Inside the Fire – Disturbed
  • The One With ‘Kid’ – Local H
  • We Call Upon the Author – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
  • Chemtrails – Beck
  • Going On – Gnarls Barkley
  • 100 Days, 100 Nights – Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
  • The Modern Leper – Frightened Rabbit
  • Long Division – Death Cab for Cutie
  • Lost – Coldplay
  • Down to Earth – Peter Gabriel

#0021 – File under: Birthday

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Happy Birthday, Logan! This mix goes out to my favorite THREE YEAR-OLD with happy, sing-song tunes by The Foundations, Jack Johnson, The Replacements, The White Stripes, The Muppets (Kermit and Fozzie), America, The Aquabats, Beck, Jamiroquai, Capsule, Tom Jones, Perry Como, Vic Damone and perennial favorite, Crowded House.

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