Jueves 20 Mar 2008, 23:36

I am a member of a really great last.fm group called CDX: Special Artists Unit

This is a twelve member group in which each member has one month to make and distribute a "best of" CD for their chosen band. This month I did the CD for the exchange and I broke the rules a bit and did a CD that was what I considered my "best of" 1984 - my favorite year in music.

Here is the spiel that came with the disk:

Welcome to 1984

First off I will state that this CD is different and even violates the rules of CDX: Special Artists Unit because it isn’t a bands greatest hits as interpreted by the month’s featured burner - it is a year’s greatest hits. Second of all this is a lot more punk than previous selections - quite noisy at times - oh well. If you don’t like punk you’ll hate it! Furthermore this is an MP3 CD so it might not play in your stereo - but it ought to work in itunes. Oh - and I don’t know how to print fancy graphics so consider this a mix tape from a friend with the tracks scrawled on the cassette box in magic marker - okay?

1984 was, to me, one of the greatest years ever for music. Some of my all time favorite albums were released that year: The Minutemen’s Double Nickels on the Dime (my fave album - EVER); Hüsker Dü’s Zen Arcade; Meat Puppets’ Meat Puppets II; and of course Black Flag released like ten albums that year - some of which were great. All of these releases were from SST Records. Also The Replacements’ widely praised Let It Be was released in 1984.

So here is the playlist with notes:

The Politics Of Time Minutemen Double Nickels On The Dime
(As stated previously my favorite album of all time and one that changed my life. "we're time nazis / we strip our tunes / we jam econo / it makes us stench" d Boon’s birthday is April 1st.)

Never Talking To You Again Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade
(Zen Arcade is generally considered their magnum opus - I actually like New Day Rising better, but that came out in 1985)

Aurora Borealis Meat Puppets Meat Puppets II
(This might be my second favorite album of all time. This song is great for very long training runs when your brain is drenched in endorphins)

My Ghetto Black Flag Slip It In

We're Comin' Out The Replacements Let it Be

Kill Yr. Idols Sonic Youth Kill Yr Idol
(not the greatest release by Sonic Youth - but it was where they were at in 1984)

This Ain't No Picnic Minutemen Double Nickels On The Dime

Mr. Robot's Holy Orders Minutemen Double Nickels On The Dime

Split Myself in Two Meat Puppets Meat Puppets II

Think Again Minor Threat Out of Step
(This album came out in 1983 - big deal)

Nothing Left Inside Black Flag My War
(This track, and some others, might be difficult for some listeners, but I love the big, muddy, gloomy throb of side two of My War)

I Love You Black Flag My War

Room With No Number Elvis Costello & Attractions Goodbye Cruel World

I Wanna Be Loved Elvis Costello Goodbye Cruel World
(Elvis Costello claims this was his worst album ever; but I disagree. Here are two great tracks from GCW.)

It's Expected I'm Gone Minutemen Double Nickels On The Dime

I Will Dare The Replacements Let It Be

Indecision Time Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade

No Love Big Boys No Matter How Long The Line At The Cafeteria, There's Always A Seat
(A little obscure punk)

Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out The Replacements Let It Be

Shit From An Old Notebook Minutemen Double Nickels On The Dime

Something (Live) Butthole Surfers Live PCPPEP
(These jokers came out with two records in 1984, both of which I bought. The first was Brown Reason to Live. The second was PCPPEP - which was exactly the same album only it was live. And there was no track listing on the outside of the record!)

Broken Home, Broken Heart Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade

Love Dance Minutemen Double Nickels On The Dime

Wichita Cathedral (Live) Butthole Surfers Live PCPPEP
She Said The Cramps Bad Music for Bad People

Metastasis Naked Raygun Throb Throb

Wound Up Black Flag Slip It In

Chartered Trips Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade
(When you receive this CD I will probably be in Ecuador. I’ll be thinking of this song)

Maybe Partying Will Help Minutemen Double Nickels On The Dime
(Question: Will partying really help? We’ll just have to find out for ourselves)

Pink Turns To Blue Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade

Black Girls Violent Femmes Hallowed Ground

The Stranger in Our Town Gun Club The Las Vegas Story
(Granted this was weak release by this band. Check out their fantastic 1981 release Fire of Love)

Newest Industry Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade

Ecstasy New Order Power, Corruption & Lies
(1983 - oh well)

Young, Fast Iranians The F.U.s Do We Really Want To Hurt You?
(A non-PC rocker from those Boston lunkheads)

Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing Minutemen Double Nickels On The Dime

No Big Boys No Matter How Long The Line At The Cafeteria, There's Always A Seat

Corona Minutemen Double Nickels On The Dime
(Don’t let it bother you that this was the theme to JACKASS on MTV. It is still a great song that certainly pre-dates and transcends JACKASS)

Dead in a Motel Room The Dicks These People

Jesus And Tequila Minutemen Double Nickels On The Dime

Lost Meat Puppets Meat Puppets II

West Germany Minutemen Double Nickels On The Dime

We're Here Meat Puppets Meat Puppets II

Talk’s Cheap Flipper Gone Fishin’
(Flipper and to a lesser extent Tragic Mulatto are two bands who really could not play very well, but made lovable music, that released records in 1984)

Tac Squad Tragic Mulatto Judo for the Blind

Back on the Chain Gang The Pretenders Learning to Crawl
(Even the top forty was not too bad in 1984 - here’s an example.)

I'll Never Forget You Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade

Plateau Meat Puppets Meat Puppets II

Armageddon Man Black Flag Family Man
(I am wondering how many of you will make it this far.)

Gary's Got A Boner The Replacements Let It Be

Jump Van Halen 1984
(I bet you thought I’d end this with the sentimental, tear-inducing History Lesson Part II by the Minutemen. Well, the last track here is a joke!)

So can’t you see me standing here,
I got my back against the record machine
I ain’t the worst that you’ve seen.
Oh can’t you see what I mean ?
Might as well jump!
Jump !
Might as well jump!
Go ahead, jump!
Jump !
Go ahead, jump!