2011 – Bees In The Cookie Jar
This greatest hits CD is one I have thought about a couple of times over the years, and always thought that the 20 year anniversary would be as good a time as any to do it. Turns out that this was a lot harder to assemble than I thought it would be.
When I started going back to the old mixes I discovered that I hadn’t archived things very well, so it took me some time to gather all of the playlists and figure out song artists, especially from the cassettes of the early years. Once I had that I then realized that I had 340 songs I needed to go through to decide what I would consider to be the best songs of the bunch. I also discovered that of those 340 songs, there are 11 tracks that I no longer have due to missing CD’s. There are also about four different occasions where I forgot that I had used a song previously and used it again on a later mix. I also eliminated all of the title songs I used on the 18 In 20 cd.
I was able to cut the number down to about a hundred songs pretty quickly, but it became more difficult to cut songs from there as the whole point of these mixes is to share some of my favorite music, so inherently I like it all. Then I was stuck trying to figure out if I should truly focus on the best songs from the bunch, or if I should try and pick a few of my favorites from each mix so that all them are represented.
Turns out that this problem took care of itself. I eventually whittled my list down to 36 songs, making some tough choices along the way as certain artists were over represented, and discovered that I had at least one song from each of the previous mixes.
Also interesting is how I often return to many of the same artists. The artists where I have only used one song from over the years are definitely in the minority, with most artists being represented two or more times. Here are some of the ones I tended to return to more frequently:
- Beck – 5 songs
- Jane’s Addiction – 6 songs
- Joe Jackson – 6 songs
- Michael Franti & Spearhead – 6 songs
- Crash Test Dummies – 8 songs
- Eels – 8 songs
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – 9 songs
- Collective Soul – 10 songs
- R.E.M. – 11 songs
- Nirvana – 12 songs
- XTC – 15 songs
Putting this mix together also presented other challenges. Often as I am making a mix I will have selected more songs than will fit on a CD, but it gives me some options as I work out a song flow. In this case I did not want to cut any of the final songs I had chosen, as I had already struggled to get the number down to this select few, so some of the transitions from song to song are a little forced. But there are also some really good transitions.
The songs that may have been on this mix but weren’t because they ended up on 18 In 20 are David Byrne’s Walk On Water and Arkells’ Oh, The Boss Is Coming!.
Anyway, of those 340 songs, these are my favorites, what I consider the Greatest Hits – your mileage may vary.
Go to this page if you want to add the album artwork to iTunes.
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Yell Fire
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Yell Fire
When Yell Fire first came out it was about the only album I listened to for at least 4 months. I truly love every song on this album, and used to listen to it over and over. It is all too rare that I can find albums like this, but when I cherish it when I do. The title song is such a scorcher of a song, I can’t help but to crank the volume. I wanted it to be my opener for Hot Concrete, but I had none of the other songs worked as a follow up.
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Son of a Gun
Nirvana
Insecticide
When I go back and listen to Nirvana’s songs, I am deeply disappointed at what we have missed out on due to Curt Cobain’s death. His music may have been abrasive to some, but it was all genius from a darker place.
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Army Of Me
Björk
Post
Whenever I hear a Björk song I’m reminded that I don’t have enough of her music. This woman is a true genius of the art form with a beautiful voice.
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Ghetto Sound Wave
Fishbome
Truth And Soul
These guys are fun. Every song on this album is fantastic, though the production is sounding dated. Would love for this album to be remastered.
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Smashing Young Man
Collective Soul
Collective Soul
Collective Soul was one of my favorite bands in the 90’s. Their first five album were exceedingly strong and consistent in quality, while always sounding fresh. This song off of their second album was always a favorite of mine. I think I like it more because I have never heard it played on the radio.
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Come On! Feel The Illinoise!
Sufjan Stevens
Come on feel the Illinoise
This is almost two songs in one, but it’s all good.
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Scattered Black & Whites
Elbow
Asleep In The Back
This is probably one of my ten most favorite songs. Great writing, wonderful production. I wrote in more detail why I love this song on the Pawn Shop page.
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Greenman
XTC
Apple Venus Vol. 1
Who else can make rock and roll with an oboe? XTC is far and away one of my favorite bands. It’s a shame that they are no longer together. I am still waiting for an album from Andy Partridge, the main writing force for the band..
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L’Enfant Roi
Noir Desir
des Visages des Figures
This French band could probably cross over to the US market if they did a few songs in English, but I suspect that wont happen, and it’s a loss for us. Not understanding French certainly takes nothing away from this album, and this song in particular showcases more how the human voice is used as an instrument. L’Enfant Roi literally translates to The Child King.
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Cuttin’ The Rug
Izzy Stradlin & The Ju Ju Hounds
Izzy Stradlin & The Ju Ju Hounds
I’ve always liked what was a very unexpected solo record from the Guns and Roses rhythm guitarist. This record has some great rockers on it, but this is my favorite.
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Breed
Nirvana
Nevermind
This record changed everything. This song is just one of many great songs from this band and from this album. When I bought this album I was spending many late October nights drafting set designs by hand. I would put this CD on repeat, clamp on the headphones and work until three or four in the morning.
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A Cigarette Is All You Get
Crash Test Dummies
Give Yourself A Hand
This is a truly frenetic song not at all in the typical Crash Test Dummies vein. That’s not to say that the other Dummies tunes aren’t worth listening to, as there are many very good one, but this one is unique in it’s style. What isn’t different is Brad Robert’s voice and writing skills.
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Piranha
Tripping Daisy
Elastic Firecracker
Here’s a band that really flew under the radar. I had a hard time picking between this song and Raindrop. This band broke up after the drug overdose of it’s lead guitarist, but the band’s leader and vocalist went on to form The Polyphonic Spree
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Oddfellows Local 151
R.E.M.
Document
This is one of my favorite R.E.M. songs, and there are many of them. I am a huge fan of everything R.E.M. before Automatic for the people. Out Of Time was a great album, but I think the shift into the mainstream damaged their writing style. But their first 9 albums are really a testament to their talent.
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Hold It In
Jukebox The Ghost
Let Live and Let Ghosts
This is one of my favorite songs off of Bipolar Disco, though there are many. I particularly like the piano in this song.
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On A Plain
Nirvana
Nevermind
This is one of my favorite Nirvana songs. Of all of the tracks to get endless airplay for years after this album was released, this is one of the few clean songs to not get played to death.
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Hole In The Bucket
Spearhead
Home
Michael Franti is very popular now, but I am proud of the fact that I was keyed into him in 2004 with the release of his first album. It had more of a Hip-Hop tone, but the lyrics were still smart. It’s still a great album, with songs like Positive (wondering about the results of an Aids test), Piece of Peace, and Red Beans and Rice. Hole In The Bucket is definitely a nice commentary with a little Irony.
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Feeling Gravity’s Pull
R.E.M.
Fables of the Reconstruction
Another great and underrated song from R.E.M.
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Complicated Game
XTC
Drums And Wires
Most XTC songs are a little off the beaten path of mainstream music, but this song is blazing trails that few can follow. One of the best examples of how quirky and good XTC can be.
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Green Mind
Dink
Dink
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Lounge Act
Nirvana
Drums And Wires
Another great song off of an equally great album.
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I Am Not The Only Cowboy
Josh Joplin Group
The Future That Was
I really like how Josh Joplin writes and his voice. It’s a very different sound after the three preceding songs, but just as good.
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Hello Bonjour
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Yell Fire
Another great song off of this landmark album. Love the song, love the message.
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Beautiful World
Colin Hay
Man @ Work
I agree with everything about this song.
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Queen Bitch
David Bowie
Hunky Dory
Quite possibly my favorite Bowie tune, thought there are many. A great little rocker that never gets any airplay.
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Colored People
dc Talk
Jesus Freak
These guys are like musical chameleons. I bought this album because I heard the title track, which does an incredible job of channeling Cobain. They do a good job of emulating Seal and others, but all with a very positive message. I have always enjoyed this song.
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Hidden Track
Eels
Jesus Freak
This song pretty much sums up the quirkiness of this band and it’s leader. Every Eels album holds a treat, and the Souljacker album is one of the best. Be sure to get a copy with the bonus EP, which is where this song resides.
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Full Moon, Empty Heart
Belly
Star
The really really great thing about making this CD was going back and listening to all of the old mixes for the first time in many years – after all, when was the last time you played a cassette? While my musical tastes have evolved over time, it’s always a joy to find a gem that is good in any era. Something about this song and Tanya Donelly’s voice that really does it for me.
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Burning Down My Sanity
Moth
Provisions, Fiction & Gear
I really like this song, and really like the album. If you liked Pawn Shop, I highly recommend getting this album.
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Spinning Away
Eno/Cale
Wrong Way Up
Brian Eno and John Cale. It’s just amazing how much these guys have influenced music and artists over the years. Working with Velvet Underground, Bowie, Talking Heads and others, their influence is everywhere. This is a great, feel-good song.
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Queen Of The Lot
The Spring Standards
Would Things Be Different
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – Tuba!. Fun song and great production.
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Oui Camera Oui
The Heavenly States
Oui Camera Oui
Everytime I hear this song, it gets stuck in my head. Sometimes that’s a good thing.
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Church Of Women
XTC
Wasp Star (Apple Venus, Pt. 2)
XTC, XTC, XTC, XTC, XTC, XTC. This is a great song on the other end of the spectrum from Complicated Game. Love the horns, and the production and writing quality are top notch.
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Tomorrow, Wendy
Concrete Blonde
Bloodletting
Another gem of a song lost to time. Very dark in tone and feel, but I love the sonic quality of the song.
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One Day Like This
Elbow
The Seldom Seen Kid
If you don’t have at least one Elbow CD in your collection, you are doing yourself a disservice. This is a great uplifting song which really highlights all of this bands strengths. Strong song writing and composition, awesome production, majestic & calm all at once. Bonus: They now have their own beer. Only available in the UK, but I hope to get my hands on some someday.
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Question Of Life
Fishbome
Truth And Soul
One of the other great songs off of this album.
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It’s All Right
The 25th Of May
Lenin & McCarthy
A fun song here. The band only produced this one album.
✧ ✧ MidWestMyers ✧ ✧ 
