Guest Mix: Alyeska
Alyeska is a LA-based trio that should be on your radar immediately, like right now. Their debut LP is expected this summer, and in the meantime we're happy to welcome to our blog for a Guest Mix. You can read up on why they chose each track and then take a listen.
“Get Me”- Dinosaur Jr - This song is my pal. This was one of my favorite Dino songs growing up, I used to listen to it on the way to school and make my dad turn it down when we pulled up to my one room school house in Montana. I wasn’t bold enough to drive up blasting Dino, but I was bold enough to wear my cut up Dino Purple Cow shirt to rep my favorite band.
"Oleander" - P.W. Long - Reelfoot reelfoot. PW used to front Mule. This is one of my favorite songs of all time. Really heartbreaking.
“Black Hearted Love” - PJ Harvey & John Parish- Great guitar song on top of the fact that PJ Harvey’s voice basically kicks ass.
“Brought to Water” - Deafheaven- I wish I had gone to Coachella mainly because of these guys. This is some beautiful shit. Love the chiming guitars that come in over the lead line. Alls that and Black Metal demon vocals. Reminds me of classical music in a strange way.
“Ode to Billie Joe” - Bobbie Gentry - This song really creeps me out because it tells this fucked up story, half of it around this weird family dinner.
“Stars” - Hum - This is a really good riff. Really heavy. I feel like if I learn how to play it, I will be a cooler person. Still working on that.
“Cannonball” - The Breeders- I’d be a fuckin' fool not to put this song on. My sister and I definitely did some hair thrashing to this.
“Teenage Spaceship” - Smog- This song makes you feel like you are moving in slow motion. I really love the line “People thought my windows were stars”. This song doesn’t have some sort of big climax, instead it just sort of grows, like a person just expressing their thoughts to no one in particular. Bill Callahan has a one of a kind delivery.
“New Box of People” - Lee Hazlewood- I love this song, the concept it really cool. I believe he has just emerged from insane asylum/detox and is singing about what it feels like to be back in the world. Lee’s voice is like butter— I don’t know if it true or not, but I heard that he used to track his vocals in an empty oil drum. I want that to be true just like I want someone to open up a new box of people.
“Within Your Reach” - The Replacements- My one drum machine song. I love the ascending/descending slide-y guitar part. I just think this song is so simple in such a great way, and of course Paul’s vocals kill me every time. He’s the master of ache.
“Son of a Preacher Man” - Dusty Springfield- Another amazing voice. I try and emulate some of the cool things she does or at least that’s what I tell myself.
“Motel Blues (Alex Chilton’s Cover)” - Alex Chilton- I like this cover of Loudon Wainwright’s song. I actually was inspired to write lyrics to one of my songs “GingerAle” from this song. It’s weird though, because I’m a 19 year old girl, and the song is about some lonely rocker who wants this 19 year old girl to "keep him company” and he’ll write a song for her on his next LP and he’s got clean towels and soap. When I first listened to the lyrics, I was wondering, “is this what happens in a guy’s brain”. However, it is really just about being lonely.
“Winter” - The Rolling Stones - Another all time favorite. Keith and Mick Taylor's guitar parts are so beautiful. Mick sings this one simply with emotion. I love this song so much.