Ten From Epic Soundtracks

Ten From Epic Soundtracks by Dj Ulsan on Mixcloud

Similar to the Felt collection I made earlier in the year here are 10 songs from singer/songwriter Epic Soundtracks. I got the idea to do this while listening to Wild Smile, the 2012 anthology by Soundtracks. This isn't really meant as a complaint, because any effort to bring more attention to an artist like Soundtracks is gravvy, but Greatest Hit type of releases of this nature are tricky. On one hand you have a nice (albeit lengthy) introduction for the uninitiated on Disc 1. But will said uninitiated ever be interested in the Disc 2 full of live versions and rarities? And for the rabid fan who'd like to get a hold of an A Capella version of "Don't Go to School," of what use are the 20 "hits" on Disc 1? Who pays $21.99 for it?

So I set out to create a collection for those less familiar with his work. I pushed myself to distill his catalogue down to 10 tunes. Truth be told, I think Soundtracks wrote 4 or 5 truly wonderful songs, and then quite a few more that are very nice. On occasion, I think he was able to get by simply because he was cool and probably had a great record collection. I would never put him in the class of some of the greats I think he tried to emulate -- Parsons, Dylan, Chilton and Lennon. I actually think he's a little like Evan Dando, who comes from similar origins and was a big Soundtracks fan and supporter. I'm sure that comparison would make a lot of Soundtracks fans sick, but Dando too has written a handful of truly great songs.

My own introduction to Soundtracks -- post Swell Maps, who I always wanted to like more than I actually did -- wasn't until 1999 with the release of Everything is Temporary, a posthumous collection of mostly outtakes and demos that was co-licensed (or something) by the record store I was working for at the time. By virtue of that it was played at least once a day for several months. Yeah, I know I just said demos don't make a good introduction, but "Everything" flows a little differently than a typical collection of demos. It sounds more like a stripped down album in my opinion, which is ironic because one of his strong suits on his proper albums was the production -- again, I'm sure the guy was above all else a music fan if not a collector.

Over the years I've wound my way through his albums, typically recognizing 2 or 3 songs from "Everything," and usually finding improved, fully realized versions on the full lengths. "There's Been a Change," "Emily May" and "Fallen Down" were such cases and all three are on this collection. A couple songs "Something New Under the Sun," which is really the first Soundtracks song that caught my ear, and "Night Time," are both presented in their stripped down "Everything" versions.

Well Rounded

Well Rounded by Dj Ulsan on Mixcloud

Didn't really have Devine in mind when I created this -- was thinking more like a "well rounded" student, someone studying several disciplines to make their parents happy (in Korea). This was one of the first mixes where I really started pushing myself to include music from different decades/eras and I like the way it came out. In listening again the Fleetwood Mac really jumps out. Obviously unlike any Fleetwood Mac many are familiar with, but a wonderfully melancholy instrumental. Other standouts for me include the Women track, who I believe are Canadian, as is Brave Belt.

Juicy Thighs

Juicy Thighs by Dj Ulsan on Mixcloud

R. Stevie Moore -- Pop Music

Probably getting some attention due the Ariel Pink connection, but I can't say I think Moore has been a criminally ignored genius for 40+ years. However, this is terrific song with it's playful pokes at pop music and early Chicago (band) style horns.

The Rah Band -- Messages From the Stars (Longwave Mix)

Pretty sure I have these guys on a mix somewhere else but I can't remember where. Groovy, futuristic boogie with all kinds of cool sound effects. Wouldn't think it would fit between the two acts I have here, but it works for me. From Beat Electric.

The Olivia Tremor Control -- Jumping Fences/Define a Transparent Dream

I'm not usually too affected by musician/entertainer deaths, but this stuck in my head for a few days. There were a few moments in the late 90s where I might have even claimed OTC were my favorite band period. I saw them three or four times over the Terrastock Festival weekend in San Francisco, and they did an in-store at the record shop I was working at.

After Doss died I listened to their few albums and concluded that as a whole I never really thought the albums were great, but that OTC did record a handful of near-classic songs, and "Jumping Fences," which I'd put somewhere in my Top-something of all time. I'm attaching "Define..." here because it just doesn't sound right to not to. R.I.P. Bill Doss.

Matt Munisteri And Will Holshouser -- Orange Crate Art

A random, late addition to this mix, ripped from the YouTube posted on Facebook by an old friend who created this nifty mag. As he said when he posted it: great version of a great song.

Jerome LOL -- Forever One half of the LOL Boys, which is a great name IMO. I'd seen the name LOL Boys around, but hadn't heard it or this guy until this song. Cool, minimalist electronic funk here. Went and listened to LOL Boys afterwards and didn't like it at all. That's the way it goes sometimes.

The Fall -- Container Drivers
Wire -- A Question of Degree

My friend, whose mixes I also put on this site from time to time, is good at including "classic" songs among his new stuff and obscurities, so I wanted to do some of that on this mix too. Both Wire and The Fall are about as classic as it gets in my world.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti -- Is This the Best Spot? Solid album. Still the worst live act I've ever paid to see.

The Records -- Affection Rejected

Where have The Records been my entire life? Actually, I've heard of the group for years, but like The Sound, never really investigated. Heard both this year. Didn't like The Sound at all. The Records are classic!

Sybil -- Don't Make Me Over

Didn't realize until just now this was a Dionne Warwick song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Guess that explains why it caught my ear. Grabbed from Soul-sides.

The End -- It's O.K.

Sometimes I'll download something like this off these kinds of sites you'll find at right and they just hit my spot perfectly. Reminds me of record collecting back in the day. B-side is total crap, which is exactly how it works sometimes!

Thom Janusz -- Memories of Georgia

Another found on Soul-Sides, which led me to look up Thom Janusz and find that he's not on Wiki, but has a reissue on Ubiquity. Also led me to this blog, which I'll take as credible and go to later by virtue that it's got Janusz on there.

Slowdive -- Alison

Almost took this off as I was finishing this mix. Probably the best song by the band, but doesn't fit here at all, and when I went back and listened to the album I rediscovered why I'd stopped listening. But like I said, great song.

David Blue -- Come on John

Off a site that for the time being has unfortunately stopped posting. This goes out to my friend Jon who I've stopped speaking to, perhaps also for the time being.

Aztec Camera -- Walk Out to Winter

What better song to say hello to the cold weather that's not quite here yet, but is fast approaching. I'm just seeing all of the band's albums are being reissued, but from what I gathered the first was the only one worth listening to by a longshot. It is a very good album all the way through.

i'm into dark things

I'm into dark things by Dj Ulsan on Mixcloud

Put this together in late 2010 and am uploading it for archival purposes. It's a strong set starting with The Twerps "Dance Alone," a song I think the band has had trouble topping since, and ditto Raw Thrills "For Someone." Or maybe I just think of these as being the band's best material since I included them on a mix.

There are a couple minimal-synth tracks here with Absolute Body Control, Linear Movement and the French group Clair Obscur and then a tri-fecta of V.U. inspired people/groups in the "Russia," song, which sounds kind of like Nico, Virgin Insanity, which sounds like vintage Doug Yule V.U., and then Nico herself to close the mix.

And Here They Come, the People From the Bible

And Here They Come, the People From the Bible by Dj Ulsan on Mixcloud

Another strong mix from my friend. Back in the day we were all about industrial music. I don't think it mattered much who or what it was as long as it was aggressive and weird. Oh, and it had to say "Wax Trax." This isn't all industrial, and he's even got a great Nite Jewel tune on here to go along with some Harmonia & Eno and Faust.

Maybe Tomorrow

Maybe Tomorrow by Dj Ulsan on Mixcloud

A new mix my friend from the U.S. sent over. He wrote and told me he found this great site Vinyl Obscurity and ended up putting on several songs from there. He'd wondered if I'd heard of it and, year, of course I knew it was a great site. I usually download 30-40% of what goes up on VO, so luckily there was plenty I hadn't heard. I liked The October Group and Graphic Shadows so much I went back and located those.

Incidentally, this photo looks like a beach with a factory towering over it. The umbrellas remind me a little of Haundae Beach in Busan, but the factory shadowing it reminds me of Il-kwang Beach, which is about 20 minutes north. Hard to find much of anything in English, but here's a photo. There's a large nuclear reactor there, right next to the beach.

Summer Rockin'

Been thinking of doing an Yacht Rock mix for awhile, largely inspired by the site Hard Rock/AOR Heaven, off of which I've found a few gems that are included here and other places. The great thing about this recent wave of obscure file blogs (there must be a better name) is that all genres are fair game, so it stood to reason that there'd be some great Yacht/AOR/West Coast/Soft Rock jams out there to be found.

Angeles -- Prologue

As soon as I heard this I knew it was going to lead this mix. This album was actually made, as I understand it, by a Japanese guy who came over to the U.S. and hired a bunch of his favorite AOR/West Coast studio musicians and vocalists to put music to songs he wrote. That's such a Japanese thing to do.

The President -- Turn Me On

A two man Dutch band checks in with a classic sounding track that reminds me a little of Toto. This is off a Japan only re-release. Notice a trend here?

Fair Warning -- She Don't Know Me

This album really grew on me. Fantastic songwriting all the way through and when it came time to select a song off it I was torn between four before I finally decided it was ok to include two. Interesting snippit from the post:

"Fair Warning" included a potential hit single penned by Avsec titled "She Don't Know Me". However, an upcoming band from New Jersey called Bon Jovi were recording their first album for Mercury Records at this time and needed a strong debut single, so "She Don't Know Me" was selected for them. This label executive move ruined the chances of the song being pushed as a single for Fair Warning.

Just goes to show what a fine line there is between coke-snorting, babes-to-burn success and utter back-in-the-cubicle-you-go failure.

Nielsen/Pearson -- If You Should Sail

Assumed this was somehow related to Harry Nilsson, but actually N&P were a duo during the 80s that made it to #38 with this song. Shades of Michael McDonald on the backup...have to assume that's Pearson. Songs about boats on the sea...how Yacht Rock can you get?

Glen Frey -- The One You Love

I know I've heard this sax line a number of times, but not sure if it's as a sample or if I just know this song. The backbeat is actually quite slick. I listened to this song on repeat about 20 times.

Jumpstreet -- Someone Else is On Your Mind

Included these guys on my last mix. Nice Steely Dan vibe, and, as much as I like S.D. I have to say the quality of this album does rival some of Fagan and Becker's lesser moments, which ain't bad.

Steely Dan -- Bad Sneakers

One of my favorite songs period. Seemed like a good way to follow up the previous song. Used to listen to this again and again while walking around NYC. Reminds me of my old boss Bernard, who was put in jail for hiring a kid to kill his ex-wife.

James Taylor and J.D. Souther -- Her Town Too

Smooooth song. Really nice combo here. Some goofy lyric meaning speculation here.

Lulu -- I Could Never Miss You

Scottish woman. This track comes off of Vol. 14 of a comp on the blog AOR/Night Drive. I'm not sure where the recording comes from, but there's some canned audience applause at the start. I was thinking of trying to edit it out, but it grew on me. If it's a live version it's very good.

The Beach Boys -- Match Point of Our Love

The one song credited solely to Brian Wilson off the M.I.U. album, released in the late 70s. Not exactly "soft rock," but the album, which is typically rated as the group's worst among it's "credible" work, is filled with mainstream late 70s production, so it fits here and fits well in my opinion.

Fair Warning -- Night and Day

Another terrific song off this album. Has a beachy mai tai kind of feel to it.

Stephen Bishop -- It Might Be You

Theme from Tootsie. Fairly underrated song in my opinion. Entirely schmaltzy, but in an affecting way.

Angeles -- Sayonara

The one overtly Japanese theme on this album. Not a great collection of songs actually, but the two tracks seemed to bookend things nicely.

Summer Rockin' by Dj Ulsan on Mixcloud