harryday.com

I recently heard about the iTunes celebrity playlists for the first time. I checked some of them out, and then starting thinking about what I would put  for my playlist if they asked me. Then I pondered why some of these people got asked to do this. Then I got back on track with my own list.

I went through my iTunes library and added all of my favorite songs (as well as just great songs) to a list, then from that list I would limit it down  to 20 at the most. Luckily, I had only 20 songs on my list. I’ve arranged them so that it has some sense of flow to it. Download these songs, rip it to  a CD, and stick it in your car. Then one day when you get bored while driving, you can say “Hey, I wonder what crap Harry Day likes.” Then you’ll listen  to this 80 minute gem. Then you’ll know what crap I like.

1. Title: Carlotta Valdez (2:45)
  Artist: Harvey Danger
   Album: Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?

This album went bust on the charts. Sure, Flagpole Sitta was a great song and still is, but there are much better songs on that album. I highly recommend  it to anyone that liked Flagpole Sitta.

2. Title: Love Everybody (2:37)
  Artist: The Presidents of the U.S.A.
   Album: Love Everybody

These guys rock. Lump was a hit, Peaches was a hit. This is by far PUSA’s best album and got no credit. Also highly recommend that album. Every track is  up beat.

3. Title: Surf’s Down (1:44)
  Artist: The Presidents of the U.S.A.
   Album: Love Everybody

Not one of my all time favorites, but a good track. I love the tone of the keyboard. Everything fits. Short and to the point and always made me want  more.

4. Title: Waiting (3:15)
  Artist: The Rentals
   Album: The Return of The Rentals

Synthesize me captain. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys live in Chicago, and the energy was huge. It’s fun to move your mouth to the moog part.  Syllable keyboard mouth.

5. Title: Memphis Exorcism (2:24)
  Artist: Squirrel Nut Zippers
   Album: Hot

Another ’90s flashback (well, ’20s flashback). Fantastic instrumental.

6. Title: Ocean Breathes Salty (3:49)
  Artist: Modest Mouse
   Album: Good News for People Who Love Bad News

I was way into this album my sophomore year. I rarely listen to it anymore, but every time I listen to it, I am shocked at why I don’t listen to it all  the time. It’s rather good. I have a lot of sentimental value in those songs.

7. Title: Two-Headed Boy (4:26)
  Artist: Neutral Milk Hotel
   Album: In The Areoplane Over the Sea

Most incredible lyricist. Unbelievable. I can’t comprehend how one could write so beautifully.

8. Title: Black Grease (4:32)
  Artist: The Black Angels
   Album: Passover

Lots of crunch, lots of history. When I first heard this album, I thought “Cool, an old protest album.” Then I looked it up and found out it was an  album about the Vietnam war, 30 years after the war ended.

9. Title: Speedballin’ (5:08)
  Artist: Outkast
   Album: Stankonia

THE driving song. I actually burned just this song to a CD and listened to it on the weekends. Sort of like Darude’s Sandstorm, but with lyrics.

10.Title: Ricochet (3:17)
  Artist: The Madeira
   Album: Sandstorm

A completely different Sandstorm, this is is pure desert surf. Grab your surfboard, jump on your camel and kick it.

11.Title: Nine Lives (time?)
  Artist: Stray Cats
   Album: Blast Off!

The first time I heard this song, I was probably about 7. And I thought that it was the best music I had ever heard. And I wouldn’t appreciate it and  what it did for my music taste until 10 years later.

12.Title: Ain’t No Telling (1:50)
  Artist: The Jimi Hendrix Experience
   Album: Axis: Bold as Love

My favorite Hendrix song. His best upbeat song and best song for a great first impression.

13.Title: There There (5:23)
  Artist: Radiohead
   Album: Hail to the Theif

This song is mixed really well. Everything’s liquid. The drums flow into everything. It’s great.

14.Title: Fall Together (2:00)
  Artist: Weezer
   Album: Maladroit

I had to have a bunch of Weezer. This song is really thick and I love how the chorus feels. Powerful and in control of you the whole time.

15.Title: Make Me Bad/In Between Days (5:35)
  Artist: Korn (featuring The Cure)
   Album: MTV’s Unplugged

I’m neither a big fan of Korn or of The Cure, but this song is raw and dark. Better than both of the originals. It has a very religious feel to me.  Sort of like The Devil Went Down To Georgia, but evil and sort of satanic. Jonathan Davis is the devil and Robert Smith is a freaky, lipsticked Jesus.  Marty Haugen eat your heart out.

16.Title: Crab (2:34)
  Artist: Weezer
   Album: Weezer (The Green Album)

I love thick guitar. Boxy, chunky crunch.

17.Title: El Scorcho (4:03)
  Artist: Weezer
   Album: Pinkerton

This song describes how I feel about relationships. So does the music video. So good, even crappy covers of this song are always great. Also, this song  barely beat out Buddy Holly.

18.Title: Say It Ain’t So (4:18)
  Artist: Weezer
   Album: Weezer (The Blue Album)

Another classic Weerez song. I know this is a lot of Weezer, but I have to justify wearing my Weezer hoodie all the time. Seriously though, they’re  amazing.

19.Title: Only In Dreams (7:59)
  Artist: Weezer
   Album: Weezer (The Blue Album)

My favorite song. I knew the solo at one point, and could play it pretty damn well. Good times. Crescendorific.

20.Title: Tiki (4:07)
  Artist: The Metrolites
   Album: In Spy-Fi

A cover song as well as the best set ender of all time. Only In Dreams would be a good song to end on if Tiki didn’t make me feel so god damn pumped  every time I hear it.

Well, there it is. The order didn’t turn out great, but there are some songs that don’t fit anywhere else. I had to change the font for this post to align the Artists right. I kind of picked a bad format. Happy listening.