McCrank's Juke - December Mix (2008)

McCrank's Juke - December Mix (2008)

I must admit the Facebook phenom is waring off on me. (Missed me lately have you?) With the latest posting about the Best of 2008 and an upcoming post (new albums for 2009) I have been hitting the music scene more regularly. Locating bands I missed in 2008 and finding music that is rare, unreleased and ready to blow-up. From the musings of The Cribs to the electronica of Booka Shade. I have composed a special December mix that captures my monthly favorites. A McCrank's Juke playlist if you will (yes, it's on my ipod). Let me know your favorites and current musical obsessions. I must admit I grow weary of Coldplay and Lil Wayne related "Sam Goody" rock and rap. Hit me with your special indie-cred list and I will publish it here on McCrank's Juke. The rest of you stay silent.

McCrank's Juke - December Mix (2008)
01. Sweet Lies (Radio Edit) - Booka Shade
02. Come Back - Magnetic Morning
03. Breathe Into Glass - Asobi Seksu
04. Panic - The Cribs w/Johnny Marr
05. There's Been An Accident - Twilight Singers
06. Drug Deal Blues - Angelo Badalamenti & David Lynch
07. Sweeter Than Sweet - Lulu Rouge
08. Converging In The Quiet - Crystal Stilts
09. Undertow - Stars

10. My Dearest Love - Morrissey

Links Above

McCrank's Juke - Top Albums of 2008

I had to weigh-in on the best albums of 2008. After reading the latest list from SPIN and Rolling Stone (think: Lil Wayne and Coldplay) I had to bring a sanity check to all the blog lists and indie music pubs spinning their list of best music, albums, singles of 2008. I think we've got a case of groupthink out there with 8 out of 10 lists putting Fleet Foxes, Deerhunter, Bon Iver and The Hold Steady in the top 5. Seriously, indie cred starts with being able to admit certain bands suck. Indie is built on the garage sound and the independent music scene (not Clear Channel!) and having these 4 bands make the top 5 on multiple blogs seems a bit rare to me. I must admit, some of my list matches up with many of them, because bands like MGMT, Santogold, Ra Ra Riot, M83, and Glasvegas are truly unique and promising bands that delivered the musical goods in 2008. I can't say a conspiracy is afoot, but my musical ears tell me there is some profit and labels at work here, my friends. Think She & Him, Vampire Weekend and TV on The Radio -- certain rock shouldn't be crammed directly into our minds, repeatedly - labels. Once you see my list, you'll see I am as mainstream as the next guy!

Either way, the best way to learn about new music and explore bands you may never have listened to, but perhaps read about, is to scroll the 2008 lists and learn about new albums, snappy singles and rare upstart bands. That is how I got into The National, M83, Girl In a Coma and other cool talents. Largehearted Boy has collected all the lists (except this one) and given you a good cross-section of music blogs to choose from. Explore, spend the 10 hours, learn about a new song or band. Don't take Billboard and Rolling Stone at face value.

McCrank's Juke - Top Albums of 2008
01. Counting Crows - Saturday Nights, Sunday Mornings
02. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
03. Diplo & Santogold - Top Ranking
04. Glasvegas - Glasvegas
05. Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It
06. Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line
07. Glasvegas - Glasvegas
08. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
09. The Walkmen - You & Me
10. Girl Talk - Feed The Animals
11. The Black Keys - Attack & Release
12. Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
13. Crystal Stilts - Alight of Night
14. Nine Inch Nails - The Slip
15. Metallica - Death Magnetic
16. M83 - Saturdays=Youth
17. Sun Kil Moon - April
18. Low Vs Diamond - Low Vs Diamond
19. Spiritualized - Songs in A+E
20. The Cure - 4:13 Dream

No links required :-)

McCrank's Juke - November Mix (2008)

It's been less then a whole month and boy can the music business pivot on a dime in just a few short weeks. We've got Guns N' Roses to look forward to, an amazing new Cure album out and a bunch of Obama based songs dropping as easy as last night's Indian buffet-sized shit. Now last month my mix-tape featured a retro feel, but I fear I have too much indie banging up this listing. Hot bands like M83 (on tour near you now!) and new albums from stellastarr, including a couple of gothy tracks, are making music waves faster then I can write about them. Fuck you Pitchfork, keep paying your corporate monkeys to crank out their Weezer, Oasis and Radiohead based posts. You are like Clear Channel, Foo Fighters anyone?

I am trying out here, holding it down with a few solid off-the-chart bands and up-and-comers, like The Knux. Sprinkle in a few sophmore bands delivering albums in time for your Christmas stocking. Take a listen, McCrank up their Myspace pages and see if some of these bands don't shout out 80's rock mixed in with Interpol-vibes. You were warned.

McCrank's Juke - November Mix (2008)
01. This is Nowhere - The Airborne Toxic Event
02. Couleurs - M83
03. Stay Entertained - stellastarr*
04. A Strange Day - The Cure
05. Violent Heartstrings - The Opposite Sex
06. G.L.O.W - The Smashing Pumpkins
07. Unloveable - The Smiths
08. Fuss And Fight - The Dazzling Strangers
09. Believe (feat. D'Angelo) - Q-Tip
10. Playboys - The Knux

Links Above

McCrank's Juke - October Mix (2008)

McCrank's Juke - October Mix (2008)

Seems to be a lot of hits coming out right about now for 2008. Must be the pre-Christmas rush. New songs from The Dears, Ra Ra Riot, Los Campesinos! and some others. I know I am still waiting on the new Cure disk, but this is my pre-Halloween mix featuring some rare singles, old classics and hard to find live tracks. If you like the great David Byrne or if you feel like wheezing out with Asobi Seksu and dreaming the dream -- then this list has something for everyone. Singles, Cds and a loner, goth like afterburn featuring Glas Vegas and the Secret Machines. Feel free to peruse the new artists and grab a smack off their myspace pages. I suggest you go directly to iTunes to purchase and groove-box them into your playlist.

McCrank's Juke - October Mix (2008)
01. How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths
02. Miserabilia - Los Campesinos!
03. Great Desolations - David Byrne
04. A Manner To Act - Ra Ra Riot
05. If You Care - Doll and the Kicks
06. Heroes - Ian Mcculloch
07. Thursday - Asobi Seksu
08. Disclaimer - The Dears
09. Go Square Go - Glas Vegas
10. Underneath The Concrete - Secret Machines

Links Above

McCrank's - Bands to Watch (Sept. 2008)

McCrank's - Bands to Watch (Sept. 2008)

I know, I know -- most of these bands are already huge. I suck in that way. It took me a while to compile the list and shoot through my overflow of porn. Sorry about that! Anyways, Low Vs Diamond are hitting the US in a massive tour and coming to a friendly theatre near you will be the indie pop makers -- Stars (pushing the Lonely Robots EP). OneRepublic makes the list as the millenium version of New Order (mashed with pop, cutesy-teen angst). I rather like Cool Kids, but selected Chester French and MGMT, who are already taking up space in local music mags. Ra Ra Riot is hitting stateside with a tour, GlasVegas are supporting Echo & The Bunnymen on their Ocean Rain odyssey. Plenty to choose from including a comeback worthy of mention -- as 90's rockers Oasis have returned to form with their latest disk (Dig Out Your Soul) and tour. Likewise, Witchcraft are making Eagles of Death Metal and others look like jokes, with their latest tour. All indie bands and rising sensations are not fully endorsed or supported by the lovely Sash Suicide (pictured).

McCrank's - Bands to Watch (Sept. 2008)
01. Low Vs Diamond
02. OneRepublic
03. Chester French
04. MGMT
05. Oasis (Rare Form)
06. Ra Ra Riot
07. Boy 8-Bit
08. Stars
09. GlasVegas
10. Witchcraft

No links required :-)

McCrank's Juke - August Mix (2008)

McCrank's Juke - August Mix (2008)

I say, I say. New music, superb duets and a taste of the indie. I am really looking forward to the new Bob Dylan unreleased 2 disk set - "Telltale Signs". One of my favorite albums is "Time out Of Mind" with the solemn, haunting tracks produced by Daniel Lanois. We should finally see the outtakes and b-sides. Likewise, the Lallapalooza duets with Slash and Perry, make me think that Velvet Revolver may just be back, with Perry Farrell on the lead mic. The Jane's reunion talk has cooled, so look for something to pop-up there. Here's my mix-master-burn-faster mix for August. Some simple Mp3's you should purchase or find in the Google "singles bin". Look up Stephen Malkmus and let me know if I am on track here...Chi-City!

McCrank's Juke - August Mix (2008)
01. Clampdown (Clash Cover) - The National
02. Dreamin' Of You (Unreleased Time Out Of Mind Track) - Bob Dylan
03. Free Fallin' (Where The Light Is) - John Mayer
04. Dragonfly Pie - Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks
05. Jane Says (Live Lallapalooza 2008) - Perry Farrell + Slash
06. Last Letter - One Day As A Lion
07. Homecoming - Kanye West Feat Chris Martin

08. Nothing Lasts Forever - Ian Mcculloch

09. The Photographer - Girl In A Coma

10. Hazel St - Deerhunter

Links Above

McCrank's Juke - July Mix (2008)

McCrank's Juke - July Mix (2008)

I know, I know. Think about how miserable this makes me feel to be posting so soon some of the outrageous new music and sounds. I've been catching some solid hits and tunes in my killing jar and I wanted to show them to you, including some jazz from Karen O., Lemmy, Santogold and others. Enjoy my July mix and hip-hop to the artist page to support their music. Nothing like beating the crowds. EPs out now!

McCrank's Juke - July Mix (2008)

01. OOO - Native Korean Rock (Featuring Karen O.)

02. Get Out (Acoustic) - Soldout

03. Five Long Years - The Head Cat (Lemmy Kilmister and Slim Jim Phantom)

04. Wild International - One Day As A Lion (Zack De La Rocha + Jon Theodore)

05. Guns of Brooklyn - Diplo + Santogold

06. Love Is Noise - The Verve

07. New Man - French Kicks (Daytrotter Sessions)

08. Mama Lay Softly On The Riverbed - Morrissey

09. Jane Says (Live Red Rock Casino) - Perry Farrell & Dave Navarro

10. Sounds - Earlimart

Links Above

McCrank's Juke - Final Mix (2008)

McCrank's Juke - Final Mix (2008)

Not much else to say here, other then thank you for all the comments, support and posts. I have had a blast doing this and it is hard to walk away, but it's time for something more trivial and more personal. The music is and always will be my passion -- but the focus, just has to be elsewhere for now. Best to ALL y'all.

Keep on Crankin'

McCrank's Juke - Final Mix (2008)
01. Baltic Fleet - 3 Dollar Dress
02. The Clash - Train in Vain
03. Echo & The Bunnymen - A Promise
04. Siouxsie & The Banshees - The Killing Jar
05. Islands - Creeper
06. The Cure - To Wish Impossible Things
07. Rancid - Fall Back Down
08. Social Distortion - Nickels & Dimes
09. The Big Sleep - You Can't Touch The Untouchable
10. Explosions In The Sky - The Birth And Death Of The Day!

No Links -- and Farewell!