Visions of the Unexcused

episode 31 - Unexcused Visions of the Southern States

Dave is an old friend from college who was gracious enough to guest DJ for episode 31. Dave hails from Atlanta, GA and DJ's regularly around the city with his comrade in music, Drew, as DC² = DJs. Both are on a hell bent mission to keep the ATL listenable, and they're doing a damn fine job of it. Below you'll find the set list along with some brief explanations on Dave's song choices. If you like what you hear (and you will) be sure to become a fan of DC² = DJs on Facebook, and be sure to give Dave a shout-out.

Side A
1. The Soft Pack - Answer To Yourself (The Soft Pack - 2010)

2. Best Coast - Something In The Way (Something In The Way 7'' - 2010)

Two recent favorites, no the best coast song is NOT a Nirvana cover...

3. Feist - I Feel It All (Britt Daniel Remix) - (I Feel It All EP - 2008)

I gotta have Britt in here somewhere

4. Lulu - To Sir With Love (To Sir With Love 7'' - 1967)

While I no longer listen to Soul Asylum, I saw Lulu perform this song with them on MTV unplugged back in middle school and I’ve loved it ever since…even after I dreamt of young Dave Pirner strangling me with his nasty dreadlocks.

5. Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me To Stay (Fresh - 1973)

The obligatory influential afro-funk track as if to say “I like more than white kids with guitars.” Who doesn’t see through that these days? Come on…lets not fool ourselves any longer.

6. The French Kicks - Atlanta (Swimming - 2008)

A shoutout to mah home! I realize most of you are located in the northeast...come visit me...I'll take you for Barbecue!

7. Broken Social Scene - Canada vs. America (EP To Be You and Me - 2005)

This goes out to the hockey fans...I'm not sure what I love more, my country or humiliation.

8. J Roddy Walston & The Business - Used To Did (Hail Mega Boys - 2007)

Do you STILL like Kings of Leon? I never did… If KOL could write a half decent song, maybe they’d sound like these guys.

Side B
9. The Broken West – Auctioneer (Now or Heaven - 2008)

I just like this song, most people I play it for like it too…

10. Bruce Springsteen – Atlantic City (Live) (Nebraska - 1982)

As much as I love Nebraska, I love the full E Street Band version of this song that they do in concert…plus I love it when he does a “1,2,3,4” mid song.

11. Sebadoh – Magnet’s Coil (Bakesale - 1994)

I once helped Lou Barlow shop for a discman. He’s not quite the prick people say he is.

12. Wilco – A Magazine Called Sunset (More Like the Moon EP - 2003)

Pre YHF, Derek got me really into Summerteeth…bastard…do you know how much $$$ I’ve unloaded on this band since???

13. Leonard Cohen - So Long, Marianne (Songs of Leonard Cohen - 1967)

Sometimes these things are like puzzles, sometimes they’re like stream of consciousness…this one creeped its way in.

14. The Jesus Lizard - Deaf As A Bat (Lash EP - 1993)

Wanted to know if this would actually work after Leonard Cohen, did anyone catch the reunion shows? Never heard so many dorks talk about wanting to get kicked in the face.

15. Spoon – Waiting For The Kid To Come Out (Soft Effects EP - 1997)

I remember when I first got into this band, I found their first EP in our old CD library at WONY and a promoter told me to listen to this song on headphones…what a difference it makes…turned me into the obsessive Spoon fan I am today.

16) The Radio Dept. – David (David EP - 2009)

You and I are so vain, I bet you bet I think this song is about me…another recent favorite…fact: Carly Simon recently revealed “You’re So Vain” is actually about David Geffen.

episode 30 - In Dubious Battle

 "In Dubious Battle" by John Steinbeck

1. Sleigh Bells - Ring Ring (2HELLWU CD-R - 2009)
2. Spoon - Who Makes Your Money (Transference - 2010)
3. Caribou - Odessa (Swim - 2010)
4. Lake - Sing 99 & 90 (Let's Build a Roof - 2010)
5. Wild Nothing - Chinatown (Gemini - 2010)
6. Dr. Dog - Shadow People (Shame, Shame - 2009)
7. Real Estate - Atlantic City (Real Estate - 2009)
8. The Mantles - Bury Me Dead (The Mantles - 2009)
9. Surfer Blood - Slow Jabroni (Astrocoast - 2010)
10. Midlake - Roscoe (The Trials Of Van Occupanther - 2006)
11. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Carry On (Deja Vu - 1970)
12. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home (From Below - 2009)

episode 29 - The Punk-Post-No-Rock-Wave Mix

I found myself unexpectedly going to my roots in this episode - for reasons I still can’t discern. Growing up - like most adolescent American males, there was a period of my life where, for lack of a better word, punk rock ruled the universe. This podcast is meant to reflect that great angst fueled time. You'll hear songs from the 70’s - 80’s - 90’s - & 00’s - and hopefully you can see why they’re all part of the same family tree.

episode 28 - Top 21 Albums of 2009

episode 28 presents us with the third annual Visions of the Unexcused “Best Of the Year” podcast. This podcast has traditionally been the most fun and challenging to make. Fun because it always ends up being one of the longest casts of the year, and challenging because:

A) There seemed to be so many great albums released in 2009
B) When making a “Best Of” mix the songs aren’t necessarily going to make as much sense transition-wise from the DJ standpoint.

These songs are supposed to represent the 21 albums I personally enjoyed the most over the past year. It’s a time capsule for me to look back on years down the road, and I hope it also helps you remember some of what this sacred weird year of 2009 had to offer us. As always - thanks for listening, and may this New Year be your happiest & healthiest to date.

episode 27 - Optimism On the Edge

Simply put, Episode 26 was a highly emotional podcast to put together. While appearing upbeat, it was kind of a hopeful bummer for me. So for this cast I tackled the foe of optimism, and hopefully came out swimming, with a smile and a wink.

episode 26 - fully operational

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R.I.P. Lucille E. Hixon.

Two years ago yesterday.

Visions has been my therapy, and if you’re reading this, thanks for coming along with me.

Digital-Derek
08/20/09
10:18 AM EST

episode 25 - Flight 539 Mix

Somewhere over the middle of America. (VOE Illustration)
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This is the second episode of Visions of the Unexcused that I've created on a plane. I use it as a means to quell my fears of flying while keeping myself busy, and I have to say, I think it works pretty damn well. Last time I tried this was en route to Puerto Rico, and now I find myself somewhere over the middle of America, on my way to Chicago to not just celebrate the birth of a Nation, but also the birth of a nephew.

The flight is fairly smooth aside from what appears to be an unfortunate curse of traveling that I've acquired. You see, I'm what I'd call an athletic 6'3'' tall, and am not exactly a tiny guy. For whatever reason, when I travel I always end up having a tiny 5'2'' Asian girl sit in front of me who has to make sure that her seat is pushed all the way back. Fully reclined. Meanwhile, I have my knees at my chin and am currently typing and editing at a literal 45 degree angle. She's able to cross her legs with room to spare at least, thank God for that. Lesson of this rant, if you’re under 5’5’’ be aware who’s behind you and if you must recline, maybe meet half way, otherwise it’s just selfish.

Sigh, all that aside, I hope your fourth is a festive and safe one, see you soon.

DJ Digital-Derek
Elevation - 38,000

episode 24 - The Summer Begins

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There consistently seems to be something special about the first few weeks after Memorial Day. I understand it's supposed to be the official beginning of summer and all, I get that, however it seems to possess something a bit more then that. Maybe even teetering on the edge of magical...

So I urge you to please enjoy the freshly minted trees that are in bloom now, and maybe take a second to breathe it all in, because from looking around, these are some mighty good times to be alive.

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In other related Visions news, I should have the audio player on the upper right finalized very shortly with all episodes, newest to oldest. Hope to see a lot of you around this summer, cheers.

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episode 23 - DJ Mint Pillow

High Fidelity is the obvious inspiration for this episode, and it poses one of my top five favorite music questions of all time.

What are the best opening track songs of all time?

It’s almost an impossible question to answer, and because of this, it’s one I didn’t try to answer fully. This episode is the shortest podcast yet for Visions of the Unexcused, and for good reason. I wanted this podcast to not appear any more forced then it already may be. Mixing together numerous first tracks was a little more challenging then I expected. But it always is isn’t it?

Consider these eight songs some of my finalists, but certainly not THE finalists. Some notable songs that are finalists, but didn’t make the cut for one reason or another are (in no order):

- Gimme Shelter
- Box of Rain
- Space Oddity
- Bring Da Ruckus
- Summer Babe
- Like a Rolling Stone
- Toy in the Attic
- Liquid Swords
- All Along the Watchtower
- Whole Lotta Love

As you can see the list can span all over the place from all sorts of time periods. In the eight songs I selected I’ve managed to represent the 60’s - 70’s - 80’s - 90’s & 00’s which I think seems about right. I didn’t bend the genre in the cast too much for cohesive sake. We start of fairly aggressive, however I tried to pull it back some, to have it end on somewhat of a whisper.

episode 22 - Track One, Side One

High Fidelity is the obvious inspiration for this episode, and it poses one of my top five favorite music questions of all time.

What are the best opening track songs of all time?

It’s almost an impossible question to answer, and because of this, it’s one I didn’t try to answer fully. This episode is the shortest podcast yet for Visions of the Unexcused, and for good reason. I wanted this podcast to not appear any more forced then it already may be. Mixing together numerous first tracks was a little more challenging then I expected. But it always is isn’t it?

Consider these eight songs some of my finalists, but certainly not THE finalists. Some notable songs that are finalists, but didn’t make the cut for one reason or another are (in no order):

- Gimme Shelter
- Box of Rain
- Space Oddity
- Bring Da Ruckus
- Summer Babe
- Like a Rolling Stone
- Toy in the Attic
- Liquid Swords
- All Along the Watchtower
- Whole Lotta Love

As you can see the list can span all over the place from all sorts of time periods. In the eight songs I selected I’ve managed to represent the 60’s - 70’s - 80’s - 90’s & 00’s which I think seems about right. I didn’t bend the genre in the cast too much for cohesive sake. We start of fairly aggressive, however I tried to pull it back some, to have it end on somewhat of a whisper.