Richardpalooza 2013

Richardpalooza 2013

1. The Who, "Baba O'Riley"
2. Prince, "P Control"
3. Gloria Jones, "Tainted Love"
4. 2pac, "Hail Mary"
5. ZZ Top, "Just Got Paid"
6. The Doors, "Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)"
7. John Lee Hooker, "Boom Boom"
8. Eddy Grant, "Electric Avenue"
9. Talking Heads, "Burning Down the House"
10. Bill Withers, "Use Me"
11. Mobb Deep, "Shook Ones Part 2"
12. The Specials, "Nelson Mandela"
13. Johnny Cash, "Tennessee Stud"
14. Nine Inch Nails, "Head Like a Hole"
15. Iggy & the Stooges, "Search and Destroy"
16. Snoop Dogg, "Gz Up, Hoes Down"
17. Metallica, "Master of Puppets"
18. AC/DC, "Thunderstruck"

I've known Richard long enough where I can put something as ridiculous as "P Control" or "Gz Up, Hoes Down" on a birthday mix without getting judged. The latter song, which was cut from Doggystyle due to sample clearance issues (but the sexism was apparently OK), may have been a precedent for "Homies Over Hoes," the satirical Boondocks hit from closeted rapper Gangstalicious.
Looking forward to hearing what Richard thinks.

Happy early birthday, RAC.

Dave Grohl Hosting Chelsea Lately

Dave Grohl has turned into alternative music's Snoop Dogg, seemingly able to publicly align himself with any sort of dorkiness and keep credibility intact. Chelsea Lately sounds like something that I'd rather claw my eyes out than watch, yet the former drummer from Scream looked great in his guest-host opening skit a few days ago. Could you imagine Billy Corgan, Trent Reznor or Eddie Vedder surviving this?



Yes, that's Dave Grohl unloading the riff to "Let There Be Rock" on E!. I hope he gets to host the Oscars next.

Music is Going to the Dogs

Margaret got a dog.



Music is Going to the Dogs

1. Pulp, "Dogs Are Everywhere"
2. Led Zeppelin, "Black Dog"
3. The Stooges, "I Wanna Be Your Dog"
4. John Lee Hooker, "No More Doggin'"
5. Rufus Thomas, "Walking the Dog"
6. Elvis Presley, "Hound Dog"
7. Johnny Cash, "Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog"
8. The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, "Chicken Dog"
9. Aerosmith, "Sick as a Dog"
10. Neil Young, "Old King"
11. Harry Nilsson, "Me and My Arrow"
12. Snoop Dogg, "Doggy Dogg World"
13. The Magnetic Fields, "Fido, Your Leash is Too Long"
14. Warren Zevon, "Even a Dog Can Shake Hands"
15. Tom Waits, "Rain Dogs"
16. Bob Dylan, "If Dogs Run Free"
17. Modest Mouse, "Wild Packs of Family Dogs"
18. Guided by Voices, "Bulldog Skin"
19. Robert Johnson, "Hellhound on My Trail"
20. Nick Drake, "Black Eyed Dog"
21. TV on the Radio, "Love Dog"
22. David Bowie, "Diamond Dogs"
23. George Clinton, "Atomic Dog"

Margaret knows more about music than nearly anyone I know, so I'm throwing all the aces in on this one. Elvis, Zeppelin, Bowie and more all competing for the canine ode championship of the world, tackling a rock theme that dates back to the earliest blues pioneers, two of whom appear here. Of course "Atomic Dog" was a must, which somehow I didn't already own. I ended up throwing my music cred out the window by procuring "Atomic Dog" through the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack, which is now apparently the easiest way to legally pick up George Clinton's biggest solo hit.

This mix's MVP might be Rufus Thomas, who not only provides one of the best songs here but sticks around to thrash with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Then again, I've also included pop music's doggiest figure, represented by his doggiest song ever. Like Iggy Pop before him, Snoop just wants to be a dog. Who can blame him?

At risk of understatement, dogs bring out some some strange emotions in people, from the heartwarming "Old King" to the grouchy "Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog" to Warren Zevon's best Springsteen impression. Then there's Bob Dylan with "If Dogs Run Free," his weirdest song ever. If Tom Waits recorded it, we'd think he was playing a character, but since it's Bob most people probably assume he was stoned.