Author: djwikiben

DJ based in Berkeley, CA. Originally from Omaha, NE. Lived in Madison, WI for a while. Musical omnivore interested in electronic, garage, britpop, indie rock, hip-hop, funk and soul, among other things.

Best of 2009 Show, 2010-01-04, 6-8am

The WSUM Morning Zoo got a nice little write up in the Madison A.V. Club for our Best of 2009 shows this week.

Show aired on WSUM, 91.7 FM, 2010-01-04, 6-8am

  1. When I Grow Up by Fever Ray from Fever Ray (Enhanced)
  2. Young Hearts Spark Fire by Japandroids from Post-Nothing (Polyvinyl)
  3. Bells Of Creation by Trail of Dead from The Century of Self (Justice)
  4. What We Know by Sonic Youth from The Eternal (Matador)
  5. Bunuel by Califone from All My Friends Are Funeral Singers (Dead Oceans)
  6. Lovesick Teenagers by Bear In Heaven from Beast Rest Forth Mouth (Hometapes)
  7. While You Wait For The Others by Grizzly Bear from Veckatimest (Warp)
  8. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective from Merriweather Post Pavillion (Domino)
  9. Famous Last Words by Deerhunter from Rainwater Cassette Exchange (Kranky)
  10. Walkabout (w. Noah Lennox) by Atlas Sound from Logos (Kranky)
  11. Treat Me Like Your Mother by The Dead Weather from Horehound (Warner)
  12. Molalatladi by BLK JKS from After Robots (Secretly Canadian)
  13. I Say Fever by Ramona Falls from Intuit (Barsuk)
  14. Stillness Is The Move by Dirty Projectors from Bitte Orca (Domino)
  15. Basic Space by The XX from The XX (XL)
  16. DJ by Amanda Blank from I Love You (Downtown)
  17. Head Full Of Doubt / Road Full Of Promise by The Avett Brothers from I And Love And You (Sony)
  18. Give Blood by Rain Machine from Rain Machine (Anti)
  19. It’s Not Like That Anymore by Morphine from At Your Service (Rykodisc)
  20. From Africa To Malaga by JJ from JJ No 2 (Sincerely Yours)
  21. Funny Little Frog by God Help The Girl from God Help The Girl (Matador)
  22. Gimme Sympathy by Metric from Fantasies (Metric Music International)
  23. Dominos by The Big Pink from A Brief History Of Love (4AD)
  24. Exploding Head by A Place To Bury Strangers from Exploding Head (Mute)
  25. No You Girls by Franz Ferdinand from Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
  26. Life Magazine by Cold Cave from Love Comes Close (Matador)
  27. Glorious Dawn by Carl Sagan from Glorious Dawn Single (Colorpulse/Third Man)

Xmas Playlist, WSUM, 2009-12-15, 6-8am

I will be out of town during the next two regularly scheduled slots for Pattern Recognition, so this week’s show is my Christmas card to you all. Many thanks to Nate G. and Randy B. for covering my shifts.

The Christmas Show:

  1. Little Drummer Boy by Lindstrom from Little Drummer Boy Single [Self-Released]
  2. If You Were Born Today by Low from Christmas [Chair Kickers Union]
  3. Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight), Ramones cover by Asobi Seksu from Do You EAR What I EAR? [Ear Farm]
  4. Tennessee Christmas by Alabama from Time-Life Treasury of Christmas [Time-Life]
  5. Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas) by The Decemberists from Connect Set: The Decemberists EP [Capitol]
  6. My Uncle Ruined Christmas Again by The Nephews feat. Uncle Jerk from SSMXMAS2004 [Suburban Sprawl Music]
  7. Christmas Eve Blues by Julie Doiron from Do You EAR What I EAR? [Ear Farm]
  8. Are You Coming Over For Xmas by Belle And Sebastian, Self-Released
  9. That Was The Worst Xmas Ever! by Sufjan Stevens from Songs for Christmas [Asthmatic Kitty]
  10. Christmas Treat by Julian Casablancas from Phrazes For The Young [RCA]
  11. Christmas Is Coming Soon by Blitzen Trapper from I’ll Stay ‘Til After Christmas [Animal World]
  12. O Holy Night by My Morning Jacket from WFPK-FM Xmas [WFPK]
  13. Listening To Otis Redding At Home During Christmas by Okkervil River from Don’t Fall In Love With Everyone You See [Jagjaguwar]
  14. Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy by The Reverend Horton Heat from We Three Kings [Yep Roc]
  15. Mrs. Claus’ Kimono by Drive-By Truckers from The Fine Print, A Collection of Oddities and Rarieties 2003-2008 [Yep Roc Records]
  16. Holly Jolly Christmas by Old 97’s from Honky-Tonk Holidays: Christmas in Deep Nöellum [Big Iron]
  17. Hey Parker, It’s Christmas by Ryan Adams from The Year They Recalled Santa Claus [KROQ]
  18. Blue Christmas by Sharon Van Etten from Do You EAR What I EAR? [Ear Farm]
  19. Ain’t No Chimneys by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings from Ain’t No Chimneys Single [Daptone]
  20. Purple Snowflakes by Marvin Gaye from The Ultimate Motown Christmas Collection [Motown]
  21. Christmas In Hollis by Run-DMC from Together Forever: Greatest Hits 1983-1991 [Def Jam]
  22. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by The Ravonettes from Wishing You A Rave Christmas [Vice]
  23. We Three Kings by Blondie from We Three Kings Single [Self-Released]
  24. Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis by Neko Case from New Coat Of Paint: Songs Of Tom Waits [Manifesto]
  25. Come On! Let’s Boogey To The Elf Dance! by Sufjan Stevens from Songs for Christmas [Asthmatic Kitty]
  26. Silent Night by Low from Christmas [Kranky]
  27. Fairytale of New York by The Pogues (ft Kirsty MacColl) from If I Should Fall From Grace With God [Pogue Mahone]
Highlights / Suggestions / Further Reading:

Guest DJ set, 2009-12-10, 6-8am, “The SUM of All Parts”

  1. California Dreamin’ by Eddie Hazel from Games, Dames & Guitar Thangs [Warner Bros]
  2. Know Your Onion by Of Montreal from Satanic Panic Cover EP [Polyvinyl]
  3. The King of Carrot Flowers by Mike Doughty from The Gambler EP [ATO Records]
  4. Take Ecstasy With Me by !!! from Take Ecstasy With Me Single [Touch and Go]
  5. Wouldn’t It Be Nice by The Beach Boys from Pet Sounds Sessions [Capitol]
  6. Higher Than The Stars [St. Etienne Remix] by The Pains of Being Pure At Heart from Higher Than Stars EP [Slumberland]
  7. In Your Heart [Vince Clark Remix] by A Place To Bury Strangers from In Your Heart Single [Mute]
  8. Ambling Alp by Yeasayer from Ambling Alp Single [Secretly Canadian]
  9. A/B Machines by Sleigh Bells, Self-Released
  10. Take It In by Hot Chip from Take It In Single [EMI]
  11. Teen Angst [What the World Needs Now] by Cracker from Cracker [Virgin]
  12. [I Was Born In A] Laundromat by Camper Van Beethoven from Key Lime Pie [Virgin]
  13. Take the Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven from Telephone Free Landslide Victory [IRS]
  14. Send Me An Angel / Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground by The White Stripes from Peel Session [Spiral Soundz]
  15. I Cut Like A Buffalo by The Dead Weather from Horehound [Third Man/WB]
  16. U.R.A. Fever by The Kills from Midnight Boom [Domino]
  17. Keep on Knocking by Death from …For The Whole World To See [Drag City]
  18. Romantic Rights by Death From Above 1979 from You’re A Woman, I’m a Machine [Vice]
  19. I Only Want You by The Eagles of Death Metal from Peace Love Death Metal [Ant Acid Audio]
  20. Watching The Planets by The Flaming Lips from Embryonic [Warner]
  21. Chase The Tear by Portishead from Chase The Tear Single, Self-Released
  22. Super Electric by Stereolab from Switched On [Too Pure]
  23. Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division from Peel Sessions [Strange Fruit]
  24. Life Magazine by Cold Cave from Love Comes Close [Matador]
  25. Here To Fall by Yo La Tengo from Popular Songs [Matador]
  26. Cousins by Vampire Weekend from Contra [XL]

Playlist, WSUM, 2009-12-07, 6-8am

  1. Crown on The Ground by Sleigh Bells, Self-Released
  2. LA Suxxx (The Choice) by Rory Kane [feat. Nika Roza Danilova], Self Released
  3. All Covered in Darkness [Mr. P Remix] by DJ Food from The Shape of Things That Hum [Ninjatune]
  4. The Rip by Portishead from Third [Mercury]
  5. Pill by Beak> from Beak> [Ipecac]
  6. Pray for Rain by Massive Attack from Splitting The Atom EP [Virgin]
  7. Time to Pretend [MGMT Cover] by Digital Leather, Self-Released
  8. Pictures of Matchstick Men [Status Quo Cover] by Camper Van Beethoven from Key Lime Pie [Virgin]
  9. Walk A Thin Line [Fleetwood Mac Cover] by Atlas Sound from Deerhunter Blog Music [Self-Released]
  10. Easy Listening for Armageddon by Mike Ladd from Easy Listening 4 Armageddon [Mercury]
  11. (I’ll Love You) Until The End of the World by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds from Until the End of the World Soundtrack [Warner]
  12. Banned From the End of the World by Sleater-Kinney from The Hot Rock [Kill Rock Stars]
  13. Cheerleader [Neon Indian Remix] by Grizzly Bear, Self-Released
  14. Deadbeat Summer by Neon Indian from Psychic Chasms [Lefse]
  15. Rising 5 by Hudson Mohawke from Butter [Warp]
  16. What Would I Want? Sky by Animal Collective from Fall Be Kind EP [Domino]
  17. Stillness is the Move by Dirty Projectors from Bitte Orca [Domino]
  18. Change of Heart by El Perro del Mar from Love Is Not Pop [Control Group / Tcg]
  19. Lovesick Teenagers by Bear In Heaven from Beast Rest Forth Mouth [Hometapes]
  20. Keep The Streets Empty for Me by Fever Ray from Fever Ray [Mute]VCR by The XX from The XX [XL]
  21. Hellhole Ratface by Girls from Album [True Panther Sounds]
  22. Watching the Detectives by Elvis Costello & The Attractions from Best of [Rykodisc]

Best of the Week

Best Essay on The Music Industry – Pampelmoose

Dave Allen is a thoughtful guy. He writes regularly at Pampelmoose, and on Twitter. If you missed his essay earlier this week, Dear Musicians, Please Be Brilliant or Get Out of the Way, stop right now and go read it. Dave moves beyond the “internet is killing music” argument, and into some really interesting territory about how artists need to manage their personal brands, and reach out to their fans.

Amanda Palmer – Internet Celebrity

I’ve probably been drinking the Amanda Palmer kool-aid a little too much lately. But I think she gets what Dave is talking about above. She reaches out to her fans via her blog, twitter feed, and internet events. She continues to promote her work with the Dresden Dolls, as well as her work as a solo artist. I’ll be honest, my first impression was “this girl tweets too much.” But, I get it. I get how passionate she is about her work, her fans, and communicating. And that’s something to be admired. It also helps that she generally has something interesting to say.

Best Songs of 2009 – Sean Micheals – Said The Gramophone

For starters, check out Sean Michaels’ Best Songs of 2009 [includes 75 mp3s, which you can check out individually, or as a 315MB ZIP file] at Said The Gramophone. These will only be up for a short time. So, preview the songs while you can, and then support the artists by buying the actual singles/albums. Sean and his compatriots write about new music [nearly] every weekday. Sean also publishes over on McSweeneys. It’s a pretty astounding & well-thought out list.

Sean isn’t the only one writing over there. Be sure to check out Dan Beirne’s list, too.

(Big thanks to Dave at LargeHeartedBoy who continues to point me towards new musicians, books, and websites.)

Christmas Music – Suburban Sprawl

For second, check out this year’s collection of Christmas music over at Suburban Sprawl Music. They get their friends together and write new music, or cover old songs. They started this tradition in 2002 with 17 songs. 2009’s compilation has exploded to 53 tracks. As I write this, I’m listening to Thunderbirds Are Now covering Christmas In Hollis. Not all of the songs are this frenetic/spastic, but I hope you get the idea. You can also check out their label’s page here.

8-bit Christmas Music

Fans of glitchpop, or Nintendo Entertainment Systems, may enjoy It’s a Chiptune Holiday over at IGN. I think back to a year or two ago, when I picked up The 8 bits of Xmas by The 8bitpeoples. [As a bonus, you can pick up their covers of the Beverly Hills Cop theme in 8-bit style.]

My Real Name is David Jones

Many of you have already seen this 1967 Letter from a 20-year-old David Bowie to a 14-year old American Fan. I think Letters of Note is an interesting read, especially since few people write letters anymore. I’m struck by how young & earnest Bowie is here, “I hope one day to get to America. My manager tells me lots about it as he has been there many times with other acts he manages.”

Overdue Tidbits – Gorillaz (new album) – Spoon (new single)

Gorillaz will be back with a new album, to feature Snoop Dogg, and also possibly Lou Reed and Mos Def. More information over at Gorillaz Unofficial News.

New Spoon Single – Written In Reverse – available for pre-order from Merge. You can also preview it over at NPR – All Songs Considered.

Concert: Cracker / Camper Van Beethoven, Sat 09-Jan-10, Chicago

Cracker + Camper Van Beethoven
Saturday, January 9th – Cubby Bear – Chicago, IL.
Tickets $15 (+ $4 Ticketmaster fee and tax, so more like $19.20 ea)

Cracker + Camper Van Beethoven

Saturday, January 9th – Cubby Bear – Chicago, IL.

Tickets $15 (+ $4 Ticketmaster fee and tax, so more like $19.20 ea)

I have been singing “Take The Skinheads Bowling” to myself ever since seeing a skinhead outside the Pixies show.

Nod to Muzzle of Bees for the news tip.
(actually via @muzzleofbees on twitter)

Playlist, WSUM, 2009-11-30, 6-8am

  1. Welcome to the Monkey House by The Dandy Warhols from Welcome to the Monkey House [Capitol]
  2. We Used to be Friends by The Dandy Warhols from Welcome to the Monkey House [Capitol]
  3. Line Up by Elastica from Radio One Sessions [Strange Fruit/BBC]
  4. I Am The Fly by Wire from Chairs Missing [Harvest/EMI]
  5. Blackbird by Tortoise from A Lazarus Taxon [Thrill Jockey]
  6. White Rhino by Trans Am from Liberation [Thrill Jockey]
  7. Black Metal Valentine by Califone from Roots & Crowns [Thrill Jockey]
  8. I Can Hear The Grass Grow by The Fall from Fall Heads Roll [Narnack]
  9. Maples Leaves by Jens Lekman from Oh, You’re So Silent Jens [Secretly Canadian]
  10. All My Friends by Franz Ferdinand from All My Friends Single [DFA]
  11. The Cold Swedish Winter by Jens Lekman from When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog [Secretly Canadian]
  12. Suburban Beverage by Real Estate from Real Estate [Woodsist]
  13. My Girls by Animal Collective from Merriweather Post Pavillion [Domino]
  14. Young Hearts Spark Fire by Japandroids from Post-Nothing [Polyvinyl]
  15. Sick Muse by Metric from Fantasies [Last Gang / Arts & Crafts]
  16. Love Is A Deserter by The Kills from No Wow [RCA / Rough Trade]
  17. Ashes by The Superjesus from Sumo [EastWest / Warner]
  18. Molalatladi by BLK JKS from After Robots [Secretly Canadian]
  19. Halfway Home by TV On the Radio from Dear Science [Interscope]
  20. Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs from It’s Blitz! [Interscope]
  21. I See Lights by King Khan & The Shrines from What Is? [Vice]
  22. In Your Heart by A Place To Bury Strangers from Exploding Head [Mute]
  23. The Diamond Sea (edit) by Sonic Youth from The Diamond Sea [Geffen]
  24. Be Good To Them Always by The Books from Lost & Safe [Tomlab]
  25. Cornerstone by Arctic Monkeys from Humbug [Domino]
  26. Obstacle 1 by Interpol from Turn on the Bright Lights [Matador]

Guest DJ set, 2009-11-23, 6:45-8am, “Freak Scene”

  1. Pattern Recognition by Sonic Youth from Sonic Nurse [Geffen]
  2. In Your Heart by A Place To Bury Strangers from Exploding Head [Mute]
  3. Over & Over by Skywave from Synthstatic [Alison]
  4. Manta Ray by Pixies from Complete B-Sides [4AD]
  5. Cannonball by The Breeders from Last Splash [4AD]
  6. Hang On To Your Ego by Frank Black from Frank Black [4AD]
  7. Buena by Morphine from At Your Service [RYKO]
  8. Funeral Singers by Califone from All My Friends Are Funeral Singers [Dead Oceans]
  9. Chain Chain by Red Red Meat from Bunny Gets Paid [Sub Pop]
  10. The Calculation by Regina Spektor from Far [Sire/WB]
  11. I and Love and You by The Avett Brothers from I and Love and You [American]
  12. Periodically Triple and Double by Yo La Tengo from Popular Songs [Sub Pop]
  13. You Are The Light by Jens Lekman from You Are The Light EP [Secretly Canadian] Request
  14. Heartbeat Radio by Sondre Lerche from Heartbeat Radio [Rounder]
  15. Perfection As A Hipster by God Help The Girl from God Help The Girl [Matador]
  16. Call Call by The Faint from Blank Wave Arcade [Saddle Creek]
  17. Zero by Yeah Yeah Yeahs from It’s Blitz [Geffen]
  18. I’m Not Done by Fever Ray from Fever Ray [Mute]

Guest DJ set, 2009-11-19, 8-9am, “Snap, Crackle & Pop”

Lloyd Dobler: Hey my brother, can I borrow a copy of your “Hey Soul Classics”?
Jason Dobler: No, my brother, you have to go buy your own.

Guest DJ set at WSUM 91.7 Madison, filling in for DJ Dave’s all-vinyl show. Had “Say Anything” on the mind, so I made a trip to the record store to make sure I had enough Motown.

Lloyd Dobler: Hey my brother, can I borrow a copy of your “Hey Soul Classics”?
Jason Dobler:  No, my brother, you have to go buy your own.

I had a lot of fun doing a guest DJ set at WSUM, filling in for DJ Dave’s all-vinyl show. I had Say Anything on the mind, so I made a trip to the record store to make sure I had enough Motown.

  1. Kosmos by Thomas Luck from Kosmos: Soundtracks of Eastern Germany’s Adventures in Space [All Score Media]
  2. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg by The Temptations from Greatest Hits [Motown]
  3. Baby, I Need Your Loving by The Four Tops from Greatest Hits – Motown
  4. Brick House by The Commodores from Greatest Hits [Motown]
  5. Shining Star by Earth, Wind, and Fire from Best Of Earth Wind and Fire 1 [Columbia]
  6. P.Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up) by Parliament from Mothership Connection [Casablanca]
  7. Let’s Dance by David Bowie from Let’s Dance [EMI]
  8. America by Neil Diamond from 12 Greatest Hits, Vol II [Columbia]
  9. Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond from Gold [Universal]
  10. Soul Man by Sam & Dave from Best of Sam & Dave [Atlantic]
  11. You Send Me by Sam Cooke from Best of Sam Cooke [RCA/Victor]
  12. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Diana Ross from Greatest Hits [Motown]
  13. All Night Long by Lionel Richie from Can’t Slow Down [RCA]

Notes: