Center Of The Universe #28: Summertime Drive

Giant Sand, “Center Of The Universe”
Martyna Basta, “It Could Be As It Was Forever (feat. claire rousay)”
Modest Mouse, “Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset”
Arthur Lee, “Everybody’s Gotta Live”

Welcome to the Center Of The Universe! The ASMR anxiety of this Martyna Basta/claire rousay collaboration following our theme song may not sound like the way to start a summer driving mix, but you gotta remember summer mornings here on the west coast can be pretty grim. So let’s assume we're in the part of a long day’s drive where you’re trying to get on the road before the lovely weather. You should be ten minutes on your way by the time young Modest Mouse is talking shit about a pretty sunset, and a solid fifteen when Arthur Lee (unrecognizable to Love fans in his '70s “I’ll take it from here, Jimi” period) reminds us everybody’s gotta live. It's true!

Tim Hecker, “Glissalia”
Mudhoney, “Here Comes The Flood”
Erasure, “Sometimes”
Digital Underground, “Kiss You Back”

If you’re not out of the city yet, I’m sorry. That sucks. And the three minutes of queasy majesty from the latest Tim Hecker album is in your honor. If you’re seeing harrowing evidence of climate change or right-wing political lunacy, I’m sorry. That sucks. And the three minutes of scathing mockery from the latest Mudhoney album is in your honor. If you’re either free of such malarkey, or wishing you’d put on a throwback mix instead my bad vibes, I’m also sorry. And the three and a half minutes of effervescent pleading from ‘80s Erasure is in your honor. Hopefully, three and a half minutes of sweetly tentative romance from Digital Underground (how did this barely make the Top 40?!) will get everyone on the same happy page.

*NSYNC, “Pop”
The Cranberries, “Salvation”
The National, “New Order T-Shirt”
Lindsay Lohan, “Who Loves You”

Let's enjoy more of that dirty pop! If I was in your car, I couldn’t resist talking about how the lyrics to “Pop” are a manifesto on the level of Public Image Ltd’s “Public Image,” demanding mutual respect as you bring the attention and dollars and they bring the non-stop musical excitement! The poptimist contract! I’m probably not in your car, though, and instead you could just recall the days of TRL. For those a little older than those who'd like to recall them...ever notice how the first single on the third Cranberries album sounds a lot like Rocket From The Crypt? Could it have been inspired by the European success of “On A Rope”? I think the timeline works out! I’ve never been sold on The National - something about sotto voce dudes leaves me unmoved - but I must admit I dig their new album’s new single. It's definitely pop in the David Gray crossover sense. Though I’m disappointed to learn the sotto voce dude is saying “cool of your hand on the back of my neck” instead of “Coolio hat on the back of my neck.” I wonder how many National fans also know that Lindsay Lohan had a couple jams back in the day. More than a few, I bet! Sotto voce dudes and trouble girls are a mutual admiration society.

SOPHIE, “Ponyboy”
Goo Goo Dolls, “Never Take The Place Of Your Man”
Jackie Wilson, “You Got Me Walking”
Bill Callahan, “From The Rivers To The Ocean”

And now, some of that wackadoo casserole I love to make for Center Of The Universe. A modern hyperpop classic from the gone-to-soon SOPHIE. An ‘80s pop-rock classic sung by Buffalo DJ/lounge singer Lance Diamond on the Goo Goo Dolls’ 1990 album. ‘50s/‘60s pop icon Jackie Wilson saying he’s ready to take the place of a great woman's last man (“aint no man so bad/ that he cannot be had”) on an early ‘70s single. Bill Callahan, an eccentric ‘90s indie rocker turned respectable singer-songwriter in the ‘00s, with a song from the first album not released under the alias Smog. “Have faith in worthless knowledge,” says Bill. Lord knows, I’m trying.

The Doors, “Five To One”
Viva La Musica & Papa Wemba, “Nani Temoin”
MC Yallah, “Miniboss”
The Kinks, “Big Black Smoke”

I respect the novelty of the The Doors’ blueprint. The idea that Brecht/Weill, Willie Dixon, drugs, organ solos, organ basslines and free-form poetry aren’t just grist for the thrill-seeking hipster’s mill, but pop. But I also don’t need much more than their definitive, self-titled debut. The rallying cry “Five To One,” from their third album, is an exception to the rule. It’s a shame Jim Morrison didn’t live to get into to soukous! Just imagine! Papa Wemba teaming up with Jim Morrison instead of Peter Gabriel! Come on, do it! Let your mind run wild! Apparently, Uganda’s MC Yallah has been rapping for over 20 years, but I never heard of her before Pitchfork big-upped her second full-length earlier this year. Thank you, Pitchfork! And thanks to Ken and Tyler back in the day at City Lights Records for making sure everyone in earshot knew how much great music the Kinks put out in the late ‘60s. Maybe the only band whose outtakes could beat most of their peers’ A-sides, their actual Bs and As interchangeably great. This was a B.

Love And Rockets, “Kundalini Express”
15-60-75 (The Numbers Band), “Narrow Road”
Richard Hell & The Voidoids, “Another World”
Wilson Pickett, “Get Me Back On Time, Engine Number 9 (pt. 1 & 2)”

“Uhhh…Anthony…wasn’t this supposed to be a summertime drive playlist?” All right! Fine! If the previous blocks were too obtuse for your needs, here’s four long, undeniably stylish drives down the road. Love And Rockets’ “Kundalini Express” is actually about transcendence via yoga and meditation, but the music leans into the train metaphor with the slick, sunglassed spirit of the band at their best. Greg back at City Lights Records pushed Jimmy Bell’s Still In Town by Cleveland's legendary 15-60-75 (The Numbers Band) on me when it was reissued, and I’m pushing it on you if you’d love a live album from a post-Velvets Van Morrison. Richard Hell & his Voidoids qualify as post-Velvets poetry party rockers as well, with “Another World” their longest throwdown. Pretty sure Wilson Pickett was actually singing about a train rather than transcendence via voga, but he sure sings like next level awaits. Safe travels yourself this summer, and thanks for your time!