iTunes Playlist v2.0

I had fun compiling my last iTunes playlist, and seeing as how iTunes has been on brain lately (not just because it’s like crack for music lovers, but also because of the whole Real/Apple debacle*), I thought I’d post another one.  Keep in mind, this isn’t always the latest and greatest, but a mix of old and new, of songs that I’ve loved for years with songs that I’ve recently discovered.

1. The Walkmen - “The Rat” I’m not feeling The Walkmen’s Bows + Arrows as much as some, but there’s no doubt that “The Rat” is absolute monster of a song, racing at breakneck speed and seemingly destined to collide with itself.
2. Seal - “Crazy” This song absolutely enthralled me in high school, due in large part to the video, which remains lodged in my subsconscious for some reason.  Even now, 10 years later, it’s still a solid piece of work.
3. Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci - “How I Long” If there’s a better song for idealized summers of nostalgia, I’ve yet to hear it.
4. Echo & The Bunnymen - “Bombers Bay” I borrowed my roommate’s copy of The Cutter, which contained this post-punk classic.  Makes me regret not getting into them more back in the day.
5. Interpol - “Slow Hands” - More of the same from some of indie-dom’s biggest (and best-dressed) superstars.
6. Slowdive - “Souvlaki Space Station” Souvlaki has been playing nonstop in my car for the past 2 weeks, and this song floors me every single time I hear it.  Possibly the most celestial song to come out of the shoegaze movement, and one of the few songs that could probably inspire a film.  Set in space.  With giant, crystalline space stations.  Or something like that.
7. cLOUDDEAD - “Apt. A (Side A)“ Before hearing this song, I never would’ve used the words “psychedelic” or “ethereal” to describe hip-hop.
8. The Gift Of Gab - “Flashback” If you don’t get a wave of nostalgia while listening to this song, then I don’t know what to do with you.  No offense to “Summertime”, but this is the real deal.
9. The Cocteau Twins - “I Wear Your Ring” It’s next to impossible for me to pick a fave song from Heaven Or Las Vegas, so I’ll just go with this one.  For today.
10. Scientific - “You Wanted Blood” Just out of curiosity, I put Scientific’s (RIP) name into the ITMS, and From The Nest Of Idea came up.  This is probably my fave track off that album.

* - If you’re curious as to what I mean by “debacle”, you’ll find a couple of good articles here, here, and here.  John Gruber has some great commentary up on his site:

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• Aug 26, 2004, 12:00am