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On The List: Aloha

Hot Jams in a Hot Van: Songs From the Aloha Summer Tour

Matthew: Tracks 1-3, Cale: Tracks 4-6, T.J.: Tracks 7-9, Tony: Tracks 10-12

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Tracks

1. Eduardo Bort - Thoughts "Pensamientos" 1 Parte

This track starts off sounding like Grand Funk, but turns into the most amazing thing ever. Synth, chimes, a horrible drum solo, overwrought singing about making love to the world, and a weird bass break down, make this song almost perfect. I kind of freak out when he breaks out his rock voice, and goes ah ah ah ah ah ah ahhhhh.

2. Steely Dan - Bad Sneakers

My love for Steely Dan started in the backseat of my dads AMC Matador, when I was six, singing along to Rikki Don't Lose that Number. But this is one of my all time favorite tracks. The chorus is amazing, I love how the piano mimics the wordy vocal line.

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3. Harry Nilsson - Me and My Arrow

There is a fine line of hokey-ness that he crosses over constantly. You take the good with the silly. For every song like Coconut, there are three fantastic songs. And this song is just about perfect.

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4. Genesis - I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)

I love the unmistakable Peter Gabriel hook. The chorus builds up into a glorious, almost childlike percussion & vocal chant. These are the tricks that get me going.

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5. The Beach Boys - Wind Chimes

I hate to be the person in Aloha that puts a song on this list with a marimba as the featured instrument, but, its too perfect for me right now not to post this one. It also has that low melody, I call it the Heroes and Villlains theme, that haunts throughout this record.

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6. East Flatbush Project - Original Mix

You can't top this beat. This is now classic hip hop, that I never get sick of. I've yet to hear a better drum break than this one on anything, and the verses, again, haunt me.

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7. Can - Tango Whiskeyman

This is an early track with their second singer, Damo. Its really raw sounding, but it's a great example of their strange pop sensibility, mysterious and totally understandable at the same time.

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8. Steve Reich - Pulse - Sections I-X - Pulse

This is the most beautiful piece of music Ive ever heard. Transcendental.

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9. Miles Davis - Masqualero

This is the ultimate Wayne Shorter composition for me. The rhythm section and the horns sound perfectly in harmony and as if they're playing different songs at the same time. Very loose, virtuosic, yet very human.

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10. Scott Walker - Two Weeks Since You've Gone

This is Scott Walker unabashedly sad, and it's a masterpiece of love lost. Features a perfect breakup summary: If I close my eyes long enough, will you happen to me again? Ends with a shimmering waltz that reminds you how bittersweet it is to miss someone. A traveler can relate.

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11. The Clientele - Since K Got Over Me

To hear the first note of this record is to commit to listening to the whole thing. It's just type of record. Perfect for driving when you're on time and you have space to think.

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12. Broadcast - I Found the F

Trish Keenan is probably my favorite lyricist these days, I'm always wondering what she's thinking. This song stubbornly refuses to change chords for great spans of time and the buildup is intense. A relentlessly progressive band.

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