the dunce cap

The Dunce Cap: Week of Jan. 5, 2015

in: heavy rotation

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 53: The things that used to mean so much to me have gone the way of dinosaurs – hopes and dreams and everything. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks or play above)

1. “Career Day” – The Format
2. “Silver Things” – Limbeck
3. “Her Words Destroyed My Planet” – Motion City Soundtrack
4. “Blacking Out the Friction” – Death Cab for Cutie
5. “Social Development Dance” – Pete Yorn
6. “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” – Weezer
7. “Let Me Go” – Marvelous 3
8. “I Saw Lightning” – Telekinesis
9. “I Need My Girl” – The National
10. “Breathing Underwater” – Metric

Happy 2015, y’all! I’m still mostly listening to tracks from the past decade, though I admit I’m really hopping on the Swift train with the singles from her recent release. Just a few notes on these:

  • “Her Words Destroyed My Planet” has such a solid Veronica Mars reference in it; the whole track reminds me of being 17 and heartbroken and desperate to move forward (Justin Pierre’s near-yelp of “I’m learning to speak Japanese!” slays me every time), and it’s just great.
  • My sister and I are big Pete Yorn fans; I was 11 when I picked up musicforthemorningafter from Tower Records in Buckhead, and my father – tired of hearing it constantly – dubbed him “Pete Yawn.” His follow up efforts didn’t come close to his first record, but 2009’s Back and Fourth comes pretty damn close. “Social Development Dance” is a decidedly weird song – but I like it.
  • In September, Riot Fest brought an incredible line-up to Chicago’s Humboldt Park, including the likes of The National, The Hold Steady, Weezer, The Get Up Kids, Tegan and Sara and a whole slew more. It was, in short, fantastic. Ten artists played their seminal albums in their entirety, like The Get Up Kids’ Something to Write Home About and Weezer’s Blue. Somewhat surprisingly, the most captivating moment of the three-day festival was Metric’s showstopping finale; I caught the tail end of Metric somewhat on a whim and was bowled over by their haunting performance of “Breathing Underwater.” The studio version doesn’t quite do it justice, but it’s certainly a start.

Happy listening, and happy new year.

The Dunce Cap: Week of May 26, 2014

in: heavy rotation

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 52: But it’s as warm as saxophones and honey in the sun for you. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks or play above)

1. “Honk + Wave” – Limbeck
2. “Hey Julie” – Fountains of Wayne
3. “Let’s Get Drunk and Get It On” – Old 97’s
4. “Honey In The Sun” – Camera Obscura
5. “If She Wants Me” – Belle & Sebastian
6. “Far Away From Close” – Butch Walker
7. “In Ohio On Some Steps” – Limbeck
8. “Holiday” – The Get Up Kids
9. “Blue Moon” – Beck
10. “I Thought I Saw Your Face Today” – She & Him

The Dunce Cap: Week of Nov. 4, 2013

in: heavy rotation

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 51: I was out of your league, and you were 20,000 underneath the sea. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks or play above)

1. “All Time High” – The Holidays
2. “Video Games” – The Young Professionals
3. “True Affection” – The Blow
4. “Blurred Lines” – Vampire Weekend
5. “I Knew You Were Trouble” – Rixton
6. “Coming Home” – Butch Walker
7. “Hate It Here” – Wilco
8. “New Years, Old Years” – Marc Scibilia

The Dunce Cap: Week of Dec. 5, 2012

in: heavy rotation

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 50: Look so nice, standing by yourself. I don’t want to be with anybody else. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks or play above)

1. “Kate” – Ben Folds Five
2. “It’s Nice to Be Alive” – Ball Park Music
3. “The Concept” – Teenage Fanclub
4. “Teenage Queen” – Snowglobe
5. “Let the Distance Keep Us Together” – Bright Eyes (ft. Britt Daniel)
6. “Blue Ice” – Shout Out Louds
7. “Sex” – The 1975
8. “Kiss Me on the Bus” – The Replacements
9. “Hey Sandy” – Polaris
10. “Song for You” – Alexi Murdoch
11. “All I Want for Christmas is You” – Jimmy Fallon, Mariah Carey & The Roots

I realize I made this mix last month – last year, if we’re being technical – and simply forgot to blog about it. So, mostly, I’m just postin’ it here without much explanation. This is simply a collection of tunes I adore, including an awesome version of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” live from “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and featuring a kids’ chorus. Truly festive.

As always, happy listening.

P.S. 8-bit Dikembe Mutombo? Genius.

The Dunce Cap: Week of Aug. 26, 2012

in: heavy rotation

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 49: Well, I’ll fall if I don’t fight. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks or play above)

1. “Bodegas and Blood” – Butch Walker
2. “No One Else” – Weezer
3. “Market Girl” – Headlights
4. “Breakin’ Up” – Rilo Kiley
5. “I Want You” – The Tallest Man on Earth
6. “Criminal” – Fiona Apple
7. “The Ballad of El Goodo” – Big Star
8. “Landslide” – Smashing Pumpkins
9. “Watching the Detectives” – Elvis Costello
10. “Stephen” – Voxtrot

I’ve been a good, good girl. I’ve been careless with a fraudulent man. And it’s a sad, sad world, when you’ll trust a boy just because you can.

Alright, y’all know I’m no Fiona Apple, and I certainly don’t purport to be a masterful songwriter (or, even, much of a satirist at all), but I’m really feeling these tunes this week. I never seem to quite learn my lesson – and drama tends to trail me* – and I’ve found myself, so soon after the most recent transgression, knee-deep in interpersonal muck. This mix is a testament, in various ways, to those damn unpretty situations.

Some of the songs are more straightforward than the others – “Watching the Detectives” is fairly lyrically apt, the murder stuff, y’know, aside, while “Stephen” is appropriately titled but reflects a previous point of view – but I think they all convey a particular current state of mind for me. I’m done wading through your (the general ‘you’) philandering bullshit, I’m done being objectified, I’m done being walked all over or weak or manipulated, so I’m strapping on my dancing shoes and letting loose.

It’s time for a fresh start.

Happy listening.

*there are those who’d suggest I seek it out, but I’d beg to disagree.

The Dunce Cap: Week of July 2, 2012

in: heavy rotation

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 47: Oh, it’s tough when love’s a weed – it grows inside of me. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks or play above)

1. “Ho Hey” – The Lumineers
2. “Nothing’severgonnastandinmyway (again)” – Wilco
3. “The First Single” – The Format
4. “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” – Nine Days
5. “For Nancy (‘Cos It Already Is)” – Pete Yorn
6. “If It Makes You Happy” – Sheryl Crow
7. “Do You Love Me?” – Guster
8. “New Shoes” – Paolo Nutini
9. “Here Comes The…” – Butch Walker
10. “In the Sun” – Joseph Arthur
11.  “How’s It Gonna Be” – Third Eye Blind

Welp. It’s been one of those weekends, the kind that throws your entire conceptual existence for a loop and forces you to rethink the very construction of your day-to-day life. Not to be, y’know, melodramatic and whatnot. To be fair, and to be concise, I put myself in an incredible pickle, one that’ll take a lot of finagling and change (true, serious, real, long-lasting change) to get out of. I will get into that later, surely, in vague and agreeable terms, but I think knowing even that informs the composition of this Dunce Cap. This one’s a happy one.

I realize I’m recycling a lot of tracks from previous mixes, but I’m certain this particular combination of songs is fairly perfect for this moment. It’s a little longer than a traditional Dunce Cap (10 plus one, woohoo!), but it’s a mix replete with handclaps, soaring choruses, killer harmonies and unbridled optimism. From the most excellent opening by the Lumineers that spells out its lightheartedness in its title to the Sheryl Crow girl road trip anthem (see “Crossroads” if you don’t believe me) to the incredible Butch Walker/P!nk collaboration, this mix is a relatively uplifting reminder that good things don’t have to end. I’m going to lay some real claim to my very favorite Wilco track, “Nothing’severgonnastandinmyway (again)” from the exceptional album Summerteeth, which seems, at current, fairly apt. It’s a real winner, but it’s certainly not the lone standout on this Dunce Cap. There’s that Nine Days single from the late ’90s about “a girl who cried a river and drowned the whole world,” and I’m pretty sure that’s who I’ve become as of late. Pete Yorn’s “For Nancy (‘Cos It Already Is)” was my sister’s favorite track from his debut album, musicforthemorningafter, and it’s one I like to keep on standby as a call to arms of sorts. In my mind, I like to think I can hear it and keep it as a reminder to keep moving forward, to keep the faith because things are already okay, or they will be, or whatever, though in rereading the lyrics, there seems to be a lot more to it than just that – they’re lyrics, and a point of view, I can really get behind these days. Maybe give the lyrics a gander and see for yourself. I think you’ll get it.

I don’t know, y’all. I’m trying to listen exclusively to happy tunes. I’m trying to move forward. I’m trying to try and to be better, you better, you bet.

So, for now, and for future iterations of the Dunce Cap, truly happy listening.

Oh, yeah, I should say too –
This week’s been kind of fun and good and stuff, too, not just a lesson in life. Three quick things: I liked this week because

1. It made liking Katie Holmes cool again!
2. I properly ID’ed a Creed song at trivia. I’ve still got it. So proud.
3. Dawson’s Creek season five seems to open nearly every episode with establishing shots of Boston. I couldn’t be more excited*.

*I keep forgetting – more on that later.

The Dunce Cap: Week of June 10, 2012

in: heavy rotation

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 46: It’s just another wish you wished in a very long list, ha-ah-ah. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks or play above)

1. “Concrete Bed” – Nada Surf
2. “California” – Delta Spirit
3. “El Scorcho” – Weezer
4. “Once Around the Block” – Badly Drawn Boy
5. “If You’re Feeling Sinister” – Belle & Sebastian
6. “Fuck and Run” – Liz Phair
7. “A Boston Peace” – Say Anything
8. “Strange Condition” – Pete Yorn
9. “Umbrella” – Dog’s Eye View
10. “Motorcycle Drive-By” – Third Eye Blind

I’m all backed up Dunce Cap-wise, so I’ll make this one short. This one’s unthemed, for the most part, just ten songs that I’ve been listening to as I pound the metaphorical pavement. A lot of these, I see now, are songs of heartbreak. Actually, maybe, they kind of all are? Take that as you will.

I’ll be back soon with some real content. In the meantime, feel free to peruse the site and take note of a few new changes. My totally revamped resume can be found on the “Contact” page. Give it a gander.

As always –
Happy listening.

The Dunce Cap: Week of May 21, 2012

in: heavy rotation

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 45: And the whole damn complicated situation could’ve been avoided if I’d only shut the window. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks or play above)

1. “Can’t Hardly Wait” – The Replacements
2. “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” – T. Rex
3. “Instant Karma!” – John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band
4. “Living in Paradise” – Elvis Costello
5. “Train in Vain” – The Clash
6. “Venus” – Television
7. “Let’s Go Crazy” – Prince
8. “Spit on a Stranger” – Pavement
9. “Murder (Or a Heart Attack)” – Old 97’s
10. “All My Friends” – LCD Soundsystem

Happy spring from the Windy City!

I realize it’s May, creeping into June and ohmygodgraduationisrightaroundthecornerholycrap, and it’s been May for a serious chunk of time, but Evanston’s weather is finally getting its act together and being the painstakingly beautiful place I knew it could be (I say “painstakingly” because this weather makes me wanna stay put). It’s breezy by the lakefill, with a seriously impeccable blue sky looming into oblivion, and it’s hard to stay motivated when captivated by something so, well, pure. All I want to do is climb down the rocks and lose myself in the wake of airplanes and point out cloud shapes (dead presidents’ heads) and laugh uproariously.

But, for me, the best part of this weather, all warmth and afternoon sprinkles, is the opportunity for night drive perfection. I spend so long riding in cars (with boys) that I ache for the ability to roll my windows down all the way and drive at unconscionable speeds with the volume at maximum. And, for the last week, these are the tracks I’ve been blasting through town. I can’t say too much except that all ten of these are killer sing-alongs. This Dunce Cap opens with The Replacements’ “Can’t Hardly Wait” – the studio version from Pleased to Meet Me to which I am partial –  and those memorable and intoxicating horns, morphing into the definitely handclappable T. Rex megahit, “Bang a Gong.” Then there’s a little John Lennon solo with one of the most smile-inducing choruses in modern music, a cheeky Costello diddy from This Year’s Model that seems to be about the perils of deceit (appropriate) and four tracks in a row that would abs-o-hu-lutely make my 100 favorite tracks of all time list. The playlist closes with a seriously precious Old 97s track that only intensifies my overpowering crush on that doe-eyed ingenue Rhett Miller and The Best Driving Song of the Last Decade, “All My Friends” by LCD Soundsystem. I realize retrospectively that I put “All My Friends” on a previous Dunce Cap, but it was two years ago, so I’m willing to overlook it – and I hope you are too. That track defines summer for me, long night drives down nearly abandoned Atlanta highways with that breeze I just feel in my bones.

Basically, these are ten tracks I can’t get out of my head. And considering that, with the exception of “All My Friends,” not a one of these tracks was released in the last 13 years, I’m feeling a bit embarrassed that I seem, for the first time in my whole life, to have lost touch with whatever’s occupying the charts. Mostly, though, I listen to nearly 35 hours of music per week (at least), and I just want to hear things I won’t tire of.

Just a few more things to leave you with:

– I just found out that Alex Chilton, of Big Star, was also the lead singer of ’60s Memphis rock group The Box Tops. The Box Tops had a major hit in ’67 with “The Letter,” a song I know quite well because my mother and I used to belt it out on road trips. I feel a bit like my world is exploding, and it’s way too cool to process.

– I think I’m going to be writing a bit of a longer entry soon on happiness. There have been some notions percolating as of late, and I’m interested to see where they’ll take me as I muse without any sort of real direction.

– I just realized, as I’m loitering around the student center food court, that I have never eaten at this campus Sbarro. Four years, and nary a breadstick.

– And, finally, in big news, this. Jokes on jokes, but actually.

Happy listening.

The Dunce Cap: Week of March 19, 2011

in: heavy rotation


The Dunce Cap, Vol. 44: Fall in love with a new thing every day. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks or play above)

1. “Cruel, Cruel World” – Ezra Furman
2. “Awkward Kisser” – Telekinesis
3. “Simple Girl” – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
4. “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen
5. “Got My Mind Set on You” – George Harrison
6. “Scared Straight” – The Long Winters
7. “Maggie May” – Blur
8. “If I Wanted Someone” – Dawes
9. “Hand Me Downs” – The Morning Benders
10. “Heartbreaker” – Girls

Well, damn. I’m, like, super-behind on posting this Dunce Cap; I’m so behind, in fact, that I’ve mostly forgotten what I planned to write about this one. Here are a few quick notes:

Ezra Furman, either with the Harpoons or solo, is pure genius. I’m really loving this track, the lead from his first solo album, The Year of No Returning, which is in regular rotation on Chicago’s WXRT. It’s great and awesome and really melodic, and I highly recommend you check Furman out; maybe try “Take Off Your Sunglasses,” from 2008’s Inside the Human Body.

Carly Rae Jepsen’s infectious “Call Me Maybe” was blowing up my stereo for awhile there; the video is positively cheeky and worth a watch (or ten).

George Harrison’s video for “Got My Mind Set On You” is also hysterical. There’s some weird shit with somersaults and taxidermy, and it’s pretty fun. My roommate in San Francisco and I watched that video in pretty constant rotation, and it’ll forever occupy a special place in my heart.

Blur covered Rod Stewart. For the love of Rod! Enough said.

And on a somewhat disappointing note, The Morning Benders have changed their name and rebranded themselves Pop Etc. My last.fm artist count is going to hate this.

Finally, the cover photo is from Bob Carey’s brilliant The Tutu Project. Make sure to check out the gorgeous prints, all for a good cause.

Happy listening.

The Dunce Cap: Week of Feb. 21, 2012

in: heavy rotation

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 43: I should find someone better for me, but Mom says we’re born this way. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks or play above)

1. “Holland 1945” – Neutral Milk Hotel
2. “Dawned on Me” – Wilco
3. “Star Wars” – Ryan Adams
4. “Rubber Lover” – Marmaduke Duke
5. “Sweethearts” – Butch Walker & the Black Widows
6. “Girls and Boys in Love” – The Rumble Strips
7. “Range Life” – Pavement
8. “Holiday” – The Get Up Kids
9. “Glendora” – Rilo Kiley
10. “I Can’t Make You Love Me” – Bon Iver

I’m sorry for the delay with this post, folks. I made the mix some time ago, but I’d forgotten to post the accompanying WordPress post. I’m sure you all were eagerly awaiting my return.

I’m stationed currently in one of the journalism labs at Northwestern, and I’m looking out the giant glass window, positively dismayed to find snow flurrying outside. What is this nonsense? Chicago weather is utterly fickle, and we’ll go from sunshine (see Wednesday’s love-for-global-warming-inducing midday 60s) to driving rain to snow. It’s days like this I revel in the idea of approaching Florida warmth.

For now, this playlist ought to rev up your desire, too, for something resembling spring. These ten tracks are fairly representative of what I’ve been listening to quite a bit lately. I’m sans iPod – and, really, reliable technology in general – but spending 40 hours a week in a moving vehicle, so I’ve started to slowly rebuild my music collection. Reckless Records and Second Hand Tunes, two local Chicago record stores, offer much in the way of cheap used CDs, and I’ve spent hours on end picking through their selections. The result is a car trip full of 90s nostalgia, from Pavement to the Get Up Kids to Jawbreaker to the Gin Blossoms, and, while Pavement’s getting quite a bit of play on my radio these days, it’s Neutral Milk Hotel which has really stolen my heart. I had the unique pleasure of catching NMH’s Jeff Mangum in Milwaukee last month, and it was truly transcendental. Both of the group’s full lengths have been in regular rotation as of late, and “Holland 1945” – rumored to be about Anne Frank – is likely my favorite tune from both releases.

The Pavement track here (“Range Life,” from their seminal album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain) is one of my favorites, with, it seems, frontman Stephen Malkmus cleverly employing a thesaurus to detail the comforts of laziness. The Get Up Kids’ “Holiday,” the lead track from their 1999 album Something to Write Home About, remains one of my very favorites, and I was thrilled to find a copy of the album after losing mine so many years ago. This mix also has a sweet Butch Walker track from his newest album, The Spade, and an excellent Bon Iver B-side, his haunting cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” as well as two of the catchiest tracks I’ve heard in some time, Marmaduke Duke‘s totally filthy “Rubber Lover” and the Rumble Strips‘ “Girls and Boys in Love.” These are ten I’m really loving, which, I suppose, has been my m.o. with these for a while now. Alas, alack.

Happy listening.