my liner notes:

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Track 1 - Rasputina - Brand New Key

I've got a brand new pair of roller skates, you've got a brand new key! Cheeky babes, Rasputina albums are all over the map, and this is definitely the most perky song they cover. Beware the rest of their music, it is dark stuff.

Track 2 - Bebel Gilberto - August Day Song

Who doesn't sometimes dream of places far beyond? Bebel Gilberto is the sexy sounding daughter of the famous Brazilian parents - musician João Gilberto and singer Miúcha. . . this entire album, Tanto Tempo, is fabulous.

Track 3 - Talking Heads - The Good Thing

I have adopted this and made it my own, "Cut back the weakness reinforce what is strong". Early Talking Heads albums are a treasure trove of weird smartness!

Track 4 - Balanescu Quartet - Pocket Calculator

This is a fantastic cover of The Kraftwerk classic, so much fun to hear the stringed instruments reproducing the wacky electronic sounds. Sweet.

Track 5 - Ben Folds Five - Selfless, Cold, and Composed

Picking out just *one* Ben Folds Five song is the worst! This whole album is great. This song won a showdown with "Song for the Dumped" to make it into this mix. Brainy music buoyed by sophisticated piano beauty. Yeah, suss that sentence. In the end, it is true.

Track 6 - The Dandy Warhols - Get Off

Fucking good. Buy all their albums.

Track 7 - Dan Zanes and Sandra Bernhard - Thrift Shop

Thrift shop fans unite! Sandra Bernhard and Dan Zanes bring it all home, so to speak. Dan Zanes used to be in the 80's band the Del Fuegos, but now he is collaborating with many different NYC pals to make fun folky music.

Track 8 - Yo La Tengo - The Crying Of Lot G

"The way that I feel, when you laugh, is like laughing. The way that I feel, when you cry, is so bad." Those lines, a vibraphone, and one gets the feeling they are wavering in some sort of inner/outer space. This is the most beautiful night album ever. All good.

Track 9 - Cake - Frank Sinatra

"We know of an ancient radiation that haunts dismembered constellations..." Cake just never fails to amuse or amaze with their smart lyrics.

Track 10 - Chris Knox - Meat

Chris Knox is a smashing import from New Zealand. This song always makes folks feel like running around, crazed gerbil fashion, in an attempt to get some shit done! There are some other super songs on this album, like "Citric Acid", an ode to... citric acid.

Track 11 - Komeda - It's All Right Baby

Super catchy! It's all right, it's okay!

Track 12 - Lou Reed and Dan Zanes - What a Wonderful World

The only palatable version of this song I have ever heard. There is something about the style of Lou Reed that is so comforting and credible. To hear the author of "Laurie Sadly Listening" (a reflection on 9/11) record a song that holds on to the hopeful details of daily life is heartening.

Peace.

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