Daily Dischord’s Monday Mixtape 14/03/11

What’s good DD, its Paul back again with my monthly hit of all things musical with this weeks Monday Mixtape. This week’s theme is slightly morbid… it’s death. Musicians who have been taken away from us too early. It may seem a slightly morbid subject matter, but unfortunately, musicians’ dying early is an unsettling trend.

I’ll start off with a song which is probably my favourite song of all time…

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird (Ronnie Van Zant: 15/01/1948 – 20/10/1977)

I’ve wanted to include this song in one of my mixtapes for a while now and this months theme (somewhat unfortunately) gave me the perfect opportunity. Victim of a tragic plane crash, he wasn’t the only member of the band to be killed. Ronnie was the only one who performed on the studio recording of this song, but that doesn’t stop us remembering band members Steve and Cassie Gaines who were also tragically taken away from the world earlier than they should. The song speaks for itself. 9 minutes of early 70′s southern rock that has what I believe to be the best guitar solo ever recorded. It gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it and seriously angers me whenever someone will cut it short. Perfection.

Sparklehorse – It’s A Wonderful Life (Mark Linkous: 09/09/1962 – 06/03/2010)

I didn’t know much about Sparklehorse until I read about how sole member Mark had taken his own life in March last year. I won’t go into suicide as this isn’t the place to talk about it. What I will say is that I regret not checking him out before I heard of his death. His distorted, melancholy lyrics blend with acoustic guitar, piano and some subdued drumming that’s mixed into the background so well and, with a slight crackle in the background, it gives a very raw sound that puts this song above anything he’s did throughout his entire career.

Broadcast – Pendulum (Trish Keenan: 1968 – 14/01/2011)

Yet another group I checked out after one of their members passed away (Trish died of Pneumonia after spending a prolonged period in hospital battling swine flu). I knew nothing of them until I heard a remix they did for Gonja Sufi with The Focus Group, but even then, I didn’t properly take notice until I saw ‘RIP Trish Keenan’ all over Twitter from some of my favourite beat makers. Their sound is firmly planted in electronic indie scene, but with a very strong love of 60′s pop and library music. This song, from their 2003 album ‘Haha Sound’ is a perfect example of their sound and showcases Trishs exquisite vocals and how they will be very much missed.

J-Dilla – Stop! (James Dewitt Yancey: 07/05/1974 – 10/02/2006)

How could I not include Jay Dee? Quite possibly one of the greatest hip hop producers that ever lived. His influence can be heard everywhere and you can’t help but think that the hip hop/beat scene would have been a hell of a lot more different if Jay hadn’t graced this earth for the alarming short time that he did. I had an incredibly hard time choosing just one song that could of used (at one point, I was seriously considering having an all J Dilla mixtape, but I didn’t think it’d be too popular!), but in the end, I had to choose this track, from his last ever album ‘Donuts’. Just a simple sample reshaped in a way that many have tried to copy since and never come close.

Eyedea & Abilities – Now (Michael ‘Eyedea’ Larsen: 09/11/1981 – 16/10/2010)

I had a tough time picking a last track. I could have gone for anyone from The Notorious B.I.G. to Arthur Russell. But I decided to go for someone who I was truly saddened about when I heard of his death. Where as with the rest of these artists, I found out about them after their death, I was very much aware of Mike Larsen and everything he had put his name to. Totally out of the blue one Sunday evening, I got a text from a mate telling me the news and I just kinda froze. I stared at the computer, not really registering what had happened. The man who was co-responsible for one of my favourite hip hop albums of all time had passed away and it was totally out of the blue. I shed a tear or two that night. It’s when something like that happens that you realise how much music can effect you, how much you really care for this mans art. This song perfectly showcases Eyedea’s vocal range and how he flip between normal and double time with ease. No other rappers flow can match his. Nearly 5 months since his passing, it still painful to think he’s actually gone.

And that’s it. Hopefully next weeks will be a bit more upbeat, but for now, enjoy!