Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Green Monkey Music Project — Snotty-Ass Rock-n-Roll

Spotchy, over at I, Splotchy has cooked up a killer music mix project entitled "Green Monkey Music Project." In short, Spotchy came up with a theme, and those who wanted to participate came up with 5-8 songs that fit the bill. This weeks' theme: Snotty-Ass Rock -n- Roll. Participants in this round included:

Chris
Bubs
Flannery Alden
Splotchy

Rock and Roll has always been about attitude. In my humble opinion no genre exhibits more attitude than punk. All the songs that I featured have a decided punk flavor to them, or have some serious roots in the genre.

Follow this link to download the following songs, as well as the selections from my Snotty-Ass musical mix comrades. It's also available as an all-in-one zip file.

+ to be played l o u d +

01. I Would Never Wanna Be Young Again - Gogol Bordello [buy]
My first experience with this band was seeing them live at SxSW 2005. I was up front with my Dutch comrade, Hans, and we were amid a throng of moshers. At one point one of the tiny adorable Asian girls "surfed" the crowd on top of a big bass drum. You can hear these girls scream in this track, and it's precisely the reason I chose this song to kick start the mix. And no, I don't think I'd ever want to be young again.
02. Beat on the Brat - The Ramones [buy]
Whenever I find myself driving along and feeling the effects of traffic, I like to play the Ramones. Louder than I should, mind you. I love 'em. This is a classic track off the stellar compilation: Anthology. It takes the edge off after that asshole cuts me off for the second time.
03. Who the F*ck? - PJ Harvey [buy]
PJ Harvey. I've had a RSGF* crush on her ever since I saw her perform in Atlanta in 2000. I've followed her career since I first heard her "breakthrough" single: "Down by the Water." This song is all about attitude, and pretty much epitomizes a woman scorned by her man. Or her hairdresser. I don't know which, but I sure wouldn't touch her lovely curls. No way, man. Let those curls be!

*RSGF—Rock Star Girl Friend
04. Debaser - Pixies [buy]
Oh, the Pixies! It was a girl by the name of Susan, that turned me on to Doolittle. I had a used copy of Trompe le Monde in college, but it wasn't until Susan played this album for me that I truly became a disciple. I have since caught the Pixies on their reunion tour in 2005. Front row, right in front of Kim Deal. She had a smile on her face the entire night. I did too. This album is one of my desert island discs.
05. Guns of Brixton - The Clash [buy]
"When they kick at your front door
How you gonna come?
With your hands on your head
Or on the trigger of your gun?"

What attitude! I love The Clash, and though this release came out when I was just 4 years old, it still holds up. The reggae beat of this song combines with the just barely restrained angst to form a potent anthem for the youth of any era. London Calling seems to get "re-discovered" about every ten years or so.
06. Sharks - Morphine [buy]
It was another girl, Mary that turned me on to Morphine. Alas, it was too late to see them perform live, as Mark Sandman had already passed through the veil, but the songs they recorded still remain. It still amazes me how much sound that this trio was able to accomplish. This is a fast number, and one that I can listen to on repeat.

"Don't let your fingers dangle in the water...."
07. Rich - Yeah Yeah Yeahs [buy]
Karen O. of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has more attitude in her pinky finger than most performers have in their entire bodies. Known for her stage presence and "tics" Karen O. is totally punk rock. In this track from their 2003 album Fever to Tell she unleashes an uninhibited furious assault upon the listener. Did I mention she was totally punk rock?
08. I Predict a Riot - Kaiser Chiefs [buy]
These lads are from Leeds— formed in the summer of 2003. They have a certain wry wit that is only bourne in England. They're insanely catchy, but that doesn't mean that they aren't oozing with British snottiness. They've got it in spades.
And if the entire sum of the mix wasn't snotty enough, Splotchy charged us with one more task: pick your snottiest. I had to look no further than this track from 1978...

Bonus: Rock-n-Roll Nigger - Patti Smith Group [buy]
Patti is the matron saint of Punk, and it just didn't seem right not to include her in this list. Now, before y'all cast the first stone, Patti isn't using this epithet in a inflammatory manner the way that many readers might automatically assume. I interpret this usage to refer to anyone who refuses to be labeled or boxed in by societal constraints. Consider this lyric:

"Outside of society, they're waitin' for me.
Outside of society, if you're looking,
that's where you'll find me."
Amen, sister.

8 comments:

Cup said...

Of course you know I love every song on your list. This is wonderfully snotty! I just discovered Gogol Bordello this summer; they're coming to Atlanta this fall, so I would imagine they'll be in your neck o' the woods, too.

Rawk on, Big Shoulders.

Splotchy said...

That Gogol Bordello song is a great way to kick off the mix. Gypsy punk, violins and screaming!

Love the flow of your selections, especially track 4 into 5.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer kind reminds me a little of the chick from Romeo Void. If there's every another snotty mix in the future, I'll haveta include that "I Might Like You Better" song.

Thanks a lot for showing us your snotty side.

bigshoulders said...

Thanks, Splotchy for saving me a spot in said mix. I'm not familiar with the band Romeo Void, but I have a feeling I'd dig 'em.

Catch Gogol Bordello if you get the chance. I know they've just added a bunch of tour dates and they put on a fantastic show. Very entertaining, loads of vibrant colors, screaming, moshing, raucous percussion, and just plain good fun.

cheers,
b.s.

Jenny Jenny Flannery said...

I've got some catching up to do. I look forward to listening to your mix.

Joe said...

What a great combination of old-school punk and new stuff! I just recently heard Gogol Bordello for the first time, and now I'll get to hear Kaiser Chiefs for the first time too!

Some Guy said...

I'll give them a listen. I'm a big Morphine fan. Who knew a baritone sax could rock so much?

Dale said...

Excellent tunes BigShoulders, love them all. The lead guy from Gogol Bordello was in the film "Everything is Illuminated" and did a bang up job.

That Romeo Void song takes me back Splotchy. Karen O from YYYs is a lot taller and slimmer though I think.

bigshoulders said...

flannery: I'm looking forward to your mix as well. the Violent Femmes are one of my faves as well. I'm glad to see that "Add it Up" made it back in as the bonus.

bubs: glad you like the mix of old & new. you've got some stuff in your lineup that is new to my ears. Thank you!

chris: You're absolutely right. Morphine had a sound that will likely never be seen again. And Mark Sandman mostly played a 2-string bass. I think 5 and 6-string basses are ludicrous whenever I see them. That's like 3 or 4 strings too many. lol.

Dale: actually most of the band was in the film as well. I think I recognized the violin and the accordion player in the film. I don't think the screaming Asian girls were in the film, however. ;)

cheers,

b.s.