Upcoming

Alas, dear listeners, I've failed to deliver on my weekly commitment. Rest assured, Audio Autocracy will return next week with a guest submission from Travis Dyer, AKA DJ Illustrious—a bona fide DJ from Charlottesville, Virginia. Travis turned in a really cool "synth pop" mix many days ago, but due to child-rearing responsibilities and a subsequent lack of sleep, I've been unable to post it. Look for it next week.

Shortly thereafter, Carl Beach and I plan on alternating weeks with a series of mixes that explore some highlights from music released in 1994. In addition, I hope to have a folk-country mix ready which will feature tracks from the newly released Johnny Cash album (his last recordings), the Avett Brothers, Ryan Bingham and others.

But first, dear listeners, comes sleep. I'm overdue.

Guest Mix 04: a.fluid.affect: volume V

Thanks to a recent week off from work, I am able to rejoin this project again. My newest mix begins with some smooth electronica and quickly moves into contradictory pop territory: from a song recently featured as a Starbuck's single to one of my favorite longtime artists, Suzanne Vega, to a funky cover of Beyonce's 'Halo' to a song featured on a Korean Gap ad (and one I couldn't get out of my head for weeks) to some indie rock to pure, unadulterated K-pop that I hear incessantly from my students' iPods (and therefore, can't get out of my head for weeks). Thus, to say the least, this mix is all over the place. So, like a venereal disease, in the name of sharing for pleasure, get the latest goods. Yiggay'all, Carl.

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Mix 05: In the Court of the King

Every budding dramatist and fledging writer is familiar with Joseph Campbell's paradigm for the hero's journey. Our most beloved novels and films, from Star Wars to Harry Potter, are examples of modern mythology that utilize Campbell's definition of a hero. In summary, the hero starts in an ordinary world, receives a call to adventure, undergoes a series of tests and trials (often with assistance of a wise sage or learned warrior), and then faces an ultimate challenge or test, often resulting in the discovery of an important self-knowledge.

My personal journey began when I left the familiar terrain of Wyoming for the rolling hills and sunshine of San Diego. Though hardly a distant land, the move was a symbolic journey of sorts. It was my first venture into the real world—a journey that would transform my youthful ideals into adult realism.

This journey could have been disastrous without the aid, friendship, and brotherly advice I received from one learned warrior, Mr. Trevor Hill. Together, Trevor and I battled jobs in two of the same arenas (Auto Trader & WildStorm), traveled the endless roads, highways and freeways of San Diego County, drank good wine, ate wonderful food, and attended a slew of concerts and street festivals. For a few years, life in San Diego was truly mythical.

Older, wiser, and more stubborn, Trevor is everything this young hero could ask for in a stalwart brother and this mix is dedicated to him. The songs were chosen to reflect the soundscape of the time. We commuted to work together and spent many hours listening to these artists (and a ton more not featured here). Six of these bands we saw live. After a few listens, I noticed that a lot of these songs deal with resignation, loss and moving on. Maybe my subconscious is allowing me to let go of a wonderful adventure... and to remind me that even if I am no longer a resident in the Court of the King, he forever remains a brother and best friend.

01. Aerials • System Of A Down
02. Nice To Know You • Incubus
03. Place For My Head • Linkin Park
04. Rise • The Cult
05. Laughing • Sprung Monkey
06. Maybe Someday • The Cure
07. We Used To Be Friends • The Dandy Warhols
08. You Speak My Language • Collective Soul
09. Get In or Get Out • Hot Hot Heat
10. San Diego Shutdown • Los Straitjackets
11 - 12. Larry Berry Bonus Tracks

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Mix 04: Battle of the Sexes

If you've seen the film High Fidelity, you will know that it's a story of a record store owner who searches for meaning and maturity while in the midst of a crumbling relationship. He is obsessed with music and is convinced that each of us is defined by our individual tastes in pop culture. "These things matter," he claims. He soon learns, however, that here is much more to life than records, mixtapes and good taste in music (and despite the existence of this very blog, I think I've learned that lesson as well).

In the spirit of High Fidelity, I thought it would be fun to explore the complexities of romance by juxtaposing love songs performed by both male and female artists alike. I began working on this mix a few weeks ago in anticipation of releasing it the week of Valentine's Day. But then something happened. I had compiled a playlist of 20 or more contending songs when I learned that one of my good friends was undergoing some relationship woes of his own. Suddenly, life began to imitate art and I found myself crafting this mix with my friend foremost in mind.

By no means is this mix meant to make light of a very serious matter. On the contrary, I thought a mix of venom-laced breakup songs might just be a little therapeutic. After all, I would bet that the majority of lyrical music written has something to do with love, the opposite sex, or the end of a romance. Relationship woes have plagued mankind from the very beginning (just ask Adam and Eve). For those of you, dear listeners, who are fortunate to have a solid relationship... count yourself lucky. For those who don't, this mix is to remind you that you are never alone.

01. Good Times Bad Times • Led Zeppelin
02. High Fidelity Dialogue Part One
03. Anything, Anything (I'll Give You) • Dramarama
04. Point of View • D.A.D.
05. Understand Your Man • Johnny Cash
06. Ciao! • Lush
07. Ever Fallen In Love? • Nouvelle Vague
08. I Can See For Miles • The Who
09. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone • The Monkees
10. I Just Wanna Get Along • The Breeders
11. High Fidelity Dialogue Part Two
12. Ball and Chain • Social Distortion

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