Posted on: Monday, March 7, 2005
Don't have your own mix? Just borrow one
| • | Index to the artists |
By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
Titled or thematically arranged like the mix tapes we all made back in the day — "Tattoos and Bubblegum," "Happy Happy Car Mix" — iMixes are great tools for discovering new tunes and rediscovering long-forgotten favorites. That is, as long as they're among the million-plus songs currently offered for sale by iTunes.
The iTunes site has thousands of iMixes. But some of my personal faves are the ones submitted by club DJs, waxing on the music that grooves them when they're not spinning.
• • • House at Get Fresh! (Indigo Eurasian Cuisine) Feng Shui (Hyatt Regency Waikiki), Casa (Bliss), on KTUH-FM Essential song: Anything by Pink Floyd Why? "On Pink Floyd's last CD, David Gilmour addresses his fans: 'What do you want from me? ... Do you want me to play till I can't play anymore? If I told you I didn't have the answers would you go?' I will answer each question. I want more ... Yes ... How the hell am I going to not stop wishing for one last masterpiece or tour?" G-Dog Mash-ups at Skyline (Hanohano Room), Hip-hop/R&B at Club DeVille (The Living Room), Bitchen' Kitchen (Sam Choy's Diamond Head) Essential song: "Moonlight Lady" — The Gabby Pahinui Band (from "The Gabby Pahinui Hawaiian Band, Vol. 1," 1975) Why? "Gabby 'Pops' was my first love of Hawaiian music. A classic Hawaiian love song that takes me back to the beach, as a child, with my family. Sandcastles, sunsets and songs." Mark Chittom "Left-field" house at Get Fresh! (Indigo Eurasian Cuisine); thirtyninehotel Saturdays Essential song: "The Great Curve" — Talking Heads (from "Remain In Light," 1980) Why? "This being a rock song built on a serious groove. It combines two of my top qualities: It rocks and it's danceable. Plus, it's ... original, artsy and still sounds fresh even after 20 years. Kavet the Catalyst Hip-hop at Trip the Lights with lightsleepers (formerly at Studio 1, new location soon) Essential song: "Double-Minded Man" — Earth Movers featuring Modern Day Marvels (from "Build," 2004) Why? "I love good posse cuts, especially if it (involves artists from) Hawai'i and the Bay Area. Yayo!" Byron the Fur House at Wave Waikiki, Wonderlounge (W Honolulu) Essential song: "Just Like Heaven" — The Cure (from "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me," 1987) Why? "One of the first songs I heard from The Cure when I was growing up. ... I've seen The Cure live twice, and I can remember the exact moment when they played this song at both shows." • • • More tracks from the lists of essentials we hit up our DJs for:
G-Dog
iTunes' iMix. Thousands of song lists compiled by iTunes users. Also check out iTunes' Celebrity Playlists link for iMix-style lists compiled by musicians such as Jack Johnson, The Flaming Lips and Snoop Dogg. Free iTunes player downloadable at www.apple.com.
Amazon.com's Listmania. Type the name of almost any musician into the site's search engine, and you'll get a sidebar of user-submitted music lists related to that artist. At www.amazon.com. The Village Voice's Pazz and Jop. Music critics nationwide are annually invited to submit year-end Top 10 album and singles lists for this annual poll. The New York-based weekly then compiles these into master best-of-year lists, and displays the individual lists of every participating critic. Archives go back to 1971. At www.villagevoice.com. SONG LISTS ON PAPER
"The iPod Playlist Book," By Cliff Colby (Peachpit Press, 2004). A fun-to-explore compendium of genre-hopping playlists created by music geeks, DJs, radio programmers, journalists and music critics. IN THE CLUBS
iPod Night at Wave Waikiki: Plug your iPod into the Wave's boom-bastic sound system and play any four songs you think will move the masses. Everyone gets a chance (several if you want). Byron the Fur is your DJ guide. Entry is free if you're carrying an iPod, $5 if you're not. Sundays from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., 21 and older. Peas In a Pod at thirtyninehotel: Choose three songs for the gathered, be willing to claim them as your choices, and let DJ Mark Chittom do the rest. Starts March 23 and continues weekly. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.; 21 and older. • "Open Your Eyes" — Bobby Caldwell (from "Cat In The Hat," 1982). "Many hip-hop enthusiasts know this song as the original sample that Common used in his 2000 classic 'The Light.' This song brings me to my knees (with) that healin' feelin'." • "Uncontrollable Urge" — Devo (from "Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!" 1978). "Growing up as a punk rock skateboarding kid ... early Devo was part of the soundtrack of our radical youth. Till this day, if I hear this song I'm out the door with my board." • "Your Love Is King" — Sade (from "Diamond Life," 1985). "Hey, come on. My nickname is 'The Smooth Operator.' Helen 'Sade' Adu is my all-time favorite artist. Nuff said." Kavet the Catalyst
• "Somersault (Danger Mouse remix)" — Zero 7 feat. MF Doom (CD single, 2004). "The perfect remix. The artists involved say it all. And it sounds better sped up with more of a 'boom-bap.' " • "Wood/Water" — The Promise Ring (entire CD, 2002). "Just a great indie rock band. The lead singer's voice is sick." • "Coup de Theatre" — HaikuD'etat (from "Coupe de Theatre," 2004). "Three of the greatest emcees on an untouchable composition." • "Television Head" — Kavet the Catalyst (from "Television Head," to be released in April). "It's a new track, and I have to memorize the lyrics to perform it." Mark Chittom
• "Simple Twist Of Fate" — Bob Dylan (from "Blood On The Tracks," 1975). "If you're depressed, this song is perfect because you can empathize. If you're not depressed, it makes you appreciate being happy. A real heartbreaker." • "Caught Up" — Metro Area (from "Metro Area," 2002). "This track is six years old, but most of today's dance music producers are still struggling to catch up. People will be listening to this song in 20 years." • "Gouge Away" — The Pixies (from "Doolittle," 1989). "This has to be the best rock song about biblical strongman Samson ever recorded. (OK, it's probably the only one.) Kurt Cobain ripped off the structure of this song for 'Smells Like Teen Spirit.' A two-minute nihilistic masterpiece." • "Time After Time" — Miles Davis (from "You're Under Arrest," 1985). "Yes, it's Miles playing a Cyndi Lauper tune. Jazz-heads consider it fluff, but Miles taps into something here. It's a beautiful song." Byron The Fur
• "Busy Child" — The Crystal Method (from "Vegas," 1997). "Lots of memories are attached to this song by one of, if not my most favorite artists. The one song that always got my group of friends dancing." • "O Fortuna" — Apotheosis (CD single," 1989). "One of the first dance tunes I can remember that inspired me to be a DJ. The 'Carmina Burana' sample always catches everyone's ear." • "Stepping Out" — Joe Jackson (from "Night And Day," 1982). "I really don't know what it is about this song. Maybe it's the piano, or maybe even the bass line, but I've always really liked it." • "Protection" — Massive Attack (from "Protection," 1994). "A great reminder of my days at Radio Free Hawaii, not to mention the lyrics are amazing." G-Spot
• "Bolero" — Maurice Ravel (1928). "Need something to relax to once in a while? Why not an eight-minute classical crescendo. A piece of music better related to Bo Derek's sex life." • "Walking In My Shoes" — Depeche Mode (from "Songs Of Faith & Devotion," 1993). "Sometimes music serves a purpose for me. The song talks about how other people will fall if they try to walk in your shoes. Listen to this before or after meetings." • "Kashmir" — Led Zeppelin (from "Physical Graffiti," 1975). "If you want to rock, this is your song. One time I was picking up my great aunt and this song was playing in the background of the ride. I was playing it softly because I didn't want to alarm her. She said, 'Wow, this song has a lot of passion,' and turned it up." • Anything by Prince. "You can achieve so many ranges of emotion and feeling with his music — funky, nasty, bluesy, heartbreak, etc. When you lose your virginity with Prince's 'International Lover' in the background, I don't think (you) can ever be the same." Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.
Anxious to test the limits of your brand-new MP3 player's 10,000-song capacity? A good place to start is the Apple iTunes store's iMix section, where music fans are given space to share playlists of their favorite songs.
Jon Orque • The Honolulu Advertiser
G-Spot
• "Electric Relaxation" — A Tribe Called Quest (from "Midnight Marauders," 1993). "This trio brought the jazz element to the golden era of hip-hop (1988-1993). This song is perfection. No bling bling here!"
SONG LISTS ON THE WEB
