Emma, Staring at the Cathode Rays Too

Emma, Staring at the Cathode Rays too by Dj Ulsan on Mixcloud

When I was a hipster in New York I used to sit on my fire escape, smoke cigarettes and stare out the back window of my Brooklyn apartment. I had a smattering of vinyl at the time, including every Randy Newman record I owned. 1. Win -- Hollywood Baby Too

I vaguely remember seeing this single when I worked at a record store in Berkeley. I don't think I ever heard it until it came up on a guest DJ appearance on Jarvis Cocker's BBC show by Lawrence of Felt. Unfortunately the show has been taken down by the BBC. They only keep them live for seven days. Why would they do that?

2. Arlo Guthrie -- Valley to Pray

Interviewed Van Dyke Parks once. He was playing a show in S.F. At the show I went up to meet him and he signed an 8x10 for me. It said "thanks for the interview...and for being so undemanding!" I took that as kind of a jab.

3. Frankie Rose -- Pair of Wings
4. Nite Jewel -- Autograph

A couple of the better albums of the year me thinks.

5. Bad Slorp -- 555-9333

6. The Darkside -- Spend Some Time

One of my favorite albums as a kid. After I downloaded this I was thinking I probably like The Darkside better than anything Spacemen 3 ever did.

7. Beach Fossils -- Lessons

8. Soviets -- Soviets

9. Apologies For Innocence -- Across the Wire (Extended)

10. The McTells -- Right Way Round
11. Clag -- Harry

I used to fantasize about living in the UK during the 80s when bands like The McTells were coming out and common place. In reality, they were probably fantasizing about what it'd be like to be a band in the Bay Area in California.

12. The Jacktars -- Matter to Make

Terrific Orange Juice-esque track here.

13. French Films -- The Great Wave of Light

Kind of a guilty pleasure, this one. What a name. Sounds like Crystal Stilts, which won't net anyone many hipster points by now I guess. Great tune tho.

14. The Umbrella -- Make Hell (For the Beautiful People)

This song is so over the top it's nearly bad. But it's not.

15. Strum Urd Drang -- t.i.t.s.

16. Alien City -- Staring at the Cathode Rays

Also quite over the top. Some guy in Seattle doing his best David Bowie impression. This says he was institutionalized at some point (an original of this record goes for $100???). I love 80s songs about the dangers of TV. People were really afraid TV was taking over our lives back then. In Asia, people seem to willingly accept this.