Don't Surf Mixtape #2
Most of these mixes I made in the last few years, and it's really weird seeing my moods when these were made. I always try to infuse new songs in there, but it mostly gets muddled down with old favorites. There's a part in the middle of this mix where I must've been going through a rough patch. I think that's a theme in a lot of these mixtapes.
Amazon Music - https://rb.gy/sl3anp
Wax - “California” - The first time I heard Wax was on the Saturday Morning Cartoon's Greatest Hits compilation. They did a cover of Happy Happy Joy Joy! Ren and Stimpy was my favorite show at the time and they played the song fast. They would later pop up in Biodome, where they cover Cheap Trick's “He's a Whore” and “Do You Want to Dance?”, but much closer to the Ramones version.
The Suburbs - “Love is the Law” - Last year, I took my kids to see the Aquabats for their Valentine's Day show and they covered this. I hadn't heard it in a long time.
Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards - “To Have and To Have Not” - I heard this for the first time on the Punk-o-Rama show on KDOC back in high school. I didn't discover it was a Billy Bragg song for at least another five years.
Bad Religion - “Lose Your Head (Demo Version)” - I always love hearing Bad Religion and as far as new Bad Religion songs go this is probably my favorite one.
Bob Mould - “Siberian Butterfly” - Until Husker Du gets back together, Bob Mould's solo albums will have to do.
The Replacements - “Lost Highway” - The best band in the world does a coherent cover for their guitar player who needed help with medical bills after he had a stroke.
Screeching Weasel - “My Brain Hurts” - Someone put this on a mix tape for me years ago and I was hooked. I know there have been issues with Ben Weasel in the last few years, but these early albums are pretty fucking solid.
Billie Joe Armstrong - “Gimme Some Truth” is a cover of a John Lennon cover, but the Generation X version is the better of the three.
Pixies - “Hear Me Out” - This is a highlight in a just-ok reunion of a great band.
Guided by Voices - “Electronic Windows to Nowhere” - More Guided by Voices, but I probably heard this while my Spotify was on random some day.
Violent Femmes - “Look Like That” - A song from the underrated “Why do Birds Sing?” album. The Femmes process feelings on a level only seen in a therapist’s office.
Paul McCartney - “Deep Down” is not the best Paul song, but I give him credit for trying something new.
Depeche Mode - “But Not Tonight” - I can safely say this is the only Depeche Mode song I like.
Thompson Twins - “If You Were Here” - I must have been making this playlist when I did my big John Hughes rewatch for the comic I've been writing.
Nine Inch Nails - “Hurt” - I like a handful of Nine Inch Nails songs. This is probably my favorite one. For as much as I like Johnny Cash, I like this version better.
Elvis Costello and the Imposters - “If You Love Me” - Elvis Costello covering Johnny Cash.
Tom Petty - “It's Good to Be King” - I don't listen to Tom Petty as much as I should. This and “The Last DJ” are probably my favorite songs from him. I got obsessed with Elvis Costello and a good friend of mine worshiped Tom Petty. There was always good music on our drives.
David Bowie - “Tryin’ To Get To Heaven” - David Bowie has always done interesting covers. This Bob Dylan one is included. The arrangements are usually done respectfully, but different enough from the original.
Superdrag - “Sucked Out” - I remember this video being on MTV a lot. I think it was a Buzz Clip. It was just so random, but not in a weird David Lynch way. The song has that Beatles pop feel to it.
Yo La Tengo - “Here Comes My Baby” - I remember hearing the original song from, I think, the Rushmore soundtrack. It was probably the first time I had heard Cat Stevens. People would mention his songs more and more, so I paid attention. Yo La Tengo is a great band and great to listen to for something that mostly stays mellow.
Colin Hay - “Overkill” - I would like to say the first Colin Hay song I heard was “I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You” from the Garden State Soundtrack, but it was probably Men at Work on the Radio and was possibly this song. I like this version better.
John Doe (Featuring Eddie Vedder and Corin Tucker) - “The Golden State” - I am not a fan of either Pearl Jam or Sleater-Kinney, but they sound nice on this song.
Dashboard Confessional - “Age Six Racer” - I think this may be my favorite Dashboard song. I liked Dashboard Confessional at the beginning but became less inclined as he got successful and the songs became more poppy and happy. I didn't go to Dashboard Confessional for joy… I went to Dashboard Confessional to be wistful.