For Our Ignorant, Inane, and John Mayer Loving Friends....

As musical elitists, we should be able to take any person's ears and turn them away from "that radio station" and and tune them to the wonderful world of musical elitism.

That said, certainly one would never play a Tom Waits song off of Rain Dogs, Joanna Newsom, or Deerhoof to a newbie.

The purpose of this form is to make a "mix cd" of songs for the virgin ears. They should be melodic, listenable, and probably not break down too many musical barriers (sorry MBV fans).

Maybe we can all agree on a certain set of songs and pass them out to our friends!

I love John Mayer!!!!!!!! Don't hate.


I think +/- - Ventriloquist is most irresistible.

Everyone loves britpop, it bridges everything.

Throw them a Dandy Warhols cd too.. everyone will be happydancing, and dear old adam here will still scorn our non-indieness.

That said, John Mayer is alright.

EDIT:

I actually am in the process of doing this to my sister, well not really.. I'm not trying to make her listen to Deerhoof, Sonic Youth and Newsom, just something that won't rape my ears with it's poppy musical stupidity. So far she likes Eels and REM.. that's a start.

Hmm, interesting thread idea.
For the record, John Mayer is a stupid loser. He actually claims that he's not a girly, sissy sell-out singer-songwriter (oh boy a whole lotta S's there) who cooes out all his words. And uh, yeah.

For Help on Becoming an Elitist (Tracks):

1) The Roots - You Got Me
2) The Jesus and Mary hain - Darklands
3) Sonic Youth - Teen Age Riot
4) R.E.M. - Sweetness Follows
5) Beirut - Postcards from Italy (you gotta start somewhere!)C
6) The Hold Steady - Chips Ahoy!
7) Joseph Arthur - In the Sun
8) Nick Drake - Pink Moon
9) Big Star - In the Street
10) The Velvet Underground - I'm Waiting for the Man

Meh, seeing as I'm finding it very hard myself to convert others, my list probably isn't the best one. Whatever.

John Mayer is undoubtedly one of the best guitar players of this era and to disregard him as nothing but a pop singer is having your nose way to stuck in the air (And an indicator that all you have heard is Room for Squares and/or "Waiting on the World to Change"). Not everything well liked is complete crap, just most of it. Doesn't mean you have to enjoy it, but to not respect it is ignorance.



There Is No There by The Books
Step Into My Office, Baby by Belle and Sebastian
Windsurfing Nation by Broken Social Scene
In the Morning by Junior Boys
Love Is No Big Truth by Kings of Convenience
Your Ex-Lover Is Dead by Stars
Me and Mia by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

Not in that order or anything but yeah. And I agree that Chips Ahoy! is a great Hold Steady track to intrigue new listeners.

pattismithowns said:
My fun mix:
1.John Cage - 4'33"
2.Wilco - Less Than You Think
3.Lou Reed - Metal Machine Music Part 3
4.The Beatles - Revolution #9
5.The Velvet Underground - European Son
6.Throbbing Gristle - Death Threats

Six really great songs you can take home to your parents!


So accessible. 2 questions though.
Is 4'33" the composition that is just silence?

And you haven't actually listened to all of Metal Machine Music have you?

The way to do it is to mix the indie with the classics with a few borderline mainstreamers. Observe a mix I made for my Incubus/Brand New loving girlfriend (I guess she could have much worse taste though...I'm thankful):

1)This Will Be Our Year
2)If I Can't Have You
3)Sea Legs
4)Come On
5)Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery
6)Popular Mechanics for Lovers
7)Independence Day
8)Magic
9)Mary Jane's Last Dance
10)Bright Young Thing
11)You're The One I Want
12)Night Drive
13)The Way I Feel Inside

Now, you may scold me for putting songs like Ben Kweller's Magic (off of his new album...choke) onto this...but it is artists like him that bridge the gap between mainstream and indie music who make the transition easier. If its worth anything, she listens to this all the time. Its about time to take her deeper.

Toodles!

Yeah, but even though Vaughan was technically good at what he did, the guy was a hack.

zfarrow said:
The way to do it is to mix the indie with the classics with a few borderline mainstreamers. Observe a mix I made for my Incubus/Brand New loving girlfriend (I guess she could have much worse taste though...I'm thankful):

1)This Will Be Our Year
2)If I Can't Have You
3)Sea Legs
4)Come On
5)Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery
6)Popular Mechanics for Lovers
7)Independence Day
8)Magic
9)Mary Jane's Last Dance
10)Bright Young Thing
11)You're The One I Want
12)Night Drive
13)The Way I Feel Inside

Now, you may scold me for putting songs like Ben Kweller's Magic (off of his new album...choke) onto this...but it is artists like him that bridge the gap between mainstream and indie music who make the transition easier. If its worth anything, she listens to this all the time. Its about time to take her deeper.

Toodles!

Zach has actually been very successful with his mixes in the past. I believe most people start out really really really liking his songs while it may take a few listens to fall in love with mine. Either way, Zach, Kaitlyn said I had a better taste in music than you last week.... oooooooh!

And about John Mayer:

A good guitarist is not defined as someone who is good at jamming. Look at the artists in Phish or The String Cheese Incident... they are all extremely talented in their own right on the guitar, but they fail to do anything besides this. That is to say, while John Mayer may be better than your average Joe, he is still nothing special in the musical world. Look how many people are more innovative, look how many write better songs. I'm not saying he's horrible, I'm just saying all the credit falls on shoulders that are not deserving.

The best example I can think of when defining the best guitarists always comes to Kevin Shields with My Bloody Valentine. The sounds on Loveless have never ever ever been able to be duplicated. How many people can play a John Mayer song?

RufflesOLeary said:
I love John Mayer!!!!!!!!



Shocking! ;)

dinosaur_act said:
RufflesOLeary said:
I love John Mayer!!!!!!!!



Shocking! ;)


Don't hate, Dino. :)

Why do you have to follow it up? Slint didn't do the same thing either, doesn't mean they're anything less. Also it wasn't an oddity, all of MBV's stuff from before it (besides the first EP with a different group/style) are all excellent. Isn't Anything is one of the absolute best records from the 80s. Clearly THEY evolved and got better and better, and I think if they thought they couldn't top it they have no obligation to do so and "tarnish" their reputation sort of like all the classic rock dinosaurs doing reunion tours. Would I like them to do more shit? Of course. But it doesn't make them anything less. Loveless is still ahead of everything. Probably will be in 10 years. Maybe 25.

Also I haven't heard any shoegaze group that is THAT big in their sound. Sure many get close but it never sounds that similar really. Shields' visionary sound is just as great as Hendrix or whoever playing a million notes and all that. He took guitar to it's limits really, and I think that's great.

I don't think it needs to be a "pick up any guitar" kinda thing.

Being a good guitarist is all about being able to play the bassline to Seven Nation Army. That's what gets you the ladies.