Punk' N Center SIX

Hello.
Was anyone else slightly disappointed in Punk' N Center Five? We certainly were, and albeit we concede that perhaps quality was sacrificed at the sake of maintaining a theme and 12 song playlist, the Unincorporated did not want to repeat this for SIX. Our colleague in Ro-Town warned us against that, but.... all we can say is you told us so.

This week we are excited though about what we have. One of the better tracks off last week's mix was the Cynics cover of the Brian Wilson song, and therefore we decided to run with the school theme and feature songs about educating young people.

Click on picture below to obtain Punk' N Center SIX.


1) School Is Out:Gary 'U.S.' Bonds
We at the unincorporated still look forward to summer the season, but no longer can we equate it with freedom. This was a hit in the sixties. "School is In" which follows in the album, less so.

2) Brain Damage:Eminem
This second song in the mix is sort of a bookend with the second to last song, except from the male perspective. We haven't seen 8 Mile, but if you grew up white in a poor black neighborhood of Detroit with the name of Marshall Mathers, this is the kind of vitriol that you would spit too.

3) Up Against The Wall: Tom Robinson Band
Punk band from the seventies, raging against, well you know kids just like to rage.

4) Middle School Frown:Josh Rouse
In this song Josh takes out his retrospectoscope and uses it to recall how he may have been meanas an adolescent. Sentiment prevails.

5) School Uniform:The Pipettes
We'll make the proclamation that this is the only GLB(sans T) song in existence about school uniforms. All done with girl group harmonies. The Pipettes have only one album, but it is excellent and worth checking out.

6) School Spirit:Kanye West
We can hear the cries now.... "Bring back the Old Kanye!"

7) College Life (1906):Billy Murray
The Unincorporated sometimes pines for days of old, and perhaps romanticizes things that need not be romanticized. Like higher education from yesteryear. Better quality, more serious. But judging from the lyrics from this song, such was not the case. BTW, not that Bill Murray, much to everyone's disappointment.

8) Don't Be A Dropout:James Brown
James. Brown.

9) I Don't Want To Go To School:The Naked Brothers Band
We at the Unincorporated know the Naked Brothers Band. Now you know the Naked Brothers Band, which by some may considered a bad thing like the Madoff Ponzi scheme or SARS. We disagree. This song rocks.

10) You Can't Blame the Youth:Bob Marley and the Wailers
"you teach the youths about the christopher columbus, and you said he was a very great man"

11) Becky: Be your own pet
We have been just waiting the use this song in a mix because it rocks beyond belief. BYOT, from Nashville, TN, now defunct.

12) College:Animal Collective
Bringing it all back to Brian Wilson.

Enjoy.

Hello.
Wanted to include a quick photo and link to an album from our trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Awesome. All Unincorporated reader/listeners are encouraged to come with next time.


Well, the Steelers did it in MI inducing fashion. This prompted us here at the Unincorporated to put together a mix of famous artists from the Burgh. However, it was much more difficult than we planned. Not that there are not some great songs by great artists, but let's say at this point they are a lot less famous than James Harrison (or even Jeff Reed for that matter).

Click here to obtain: Punk' N Center FIVE.

1) Mother:Christina Aguilera
Ah, the pride of Wexford.

2) Heartache By The #'s:Sodajerk
Western PA via SxSW

3) Lush Life:Harry James composed by Billy Strayhorn
Jazz great.

4) The Rapper:Jaggerz
Donnie Iris. Perhaps the most famous rocker from da Burgh. Dah-nie Eye-rish!

5) June Is Finally Here:Don Caballero
Math rock. Is that anything like optics rock?

6) Lightnin' Strikes:Lou Christie
Enjoy this oldie. Then listen/read lyrics. Wait, what is this song about?

7) Nice Work If You Can Get It:Maxine Sullivan
Embodies Pittsburgh's great Jazz tradition.

8) Be True To Your School:The Cynics
Brian Wilson reinvisioned by these late 80's garage revivalists.

9) My Old Kentucky Home, Goodnight:John Prine
Stephen Foster classic.

10) Leaving On A Jet Plane:Me First And The Gimme Gimmes
NO, not John Denver, but the lead singer of this quirky (gimmicky?) cover band.

11) Five O'Clock World:The Vogues
We love oldies at Punk' N Center.

12) Pittsburgh:The Lemonheads
No this band's not from the burgh, but this song is called Pittsburgh, and so a fitting close. "You might find, your baby Frankenstein"

Enjoy.

Punk' N Center Four

Hello All.
We have landed in Pittsburgh for the next 3 days. And on this last day of January we have finally been able to find the time to post our final mix for the the first month of the year. Here's to the start of February being SUPER, or we hope.

No pics, or pseudo travelogues this time, no sirs and madams, just music. Part two of music that somewhere in the world has seen its physical release in January, 2009. Just to warn yinz, some songs on this mix are slight more fringe pop, definitely not as mellow as the prior. But, let's be real, this is still pop music. That's how we roll at the Unincorporated.

And here it be: PUNK' N CENTER FOUR

1) Stronger Than Jesus:A Camp
Remeber the Cardigans? Well, A Camp is their lead singer, Nina Persson. We'll probably see her again on PNCU this year when we debut our ESL mix.

2) Stop Taking (So Many):Circlesquare
This song sort of builds and builds, but no resolutions really. Canadian band, so we suppose this is to be expected.

3) When She's Near:Fiction Family
Nice break, especially after that Circlesquare song.

4) The Wrestler:Bruce Springsteen
Hey, the Boss is everywhere. In our opinion he should stick to songs like this. Ditch Clarence and his sax, grabber the Seeger sessions musicians, and keep it acoustic. Also, attempt to avoid selling your latest greatest hits volume being sold exclusive at WalMart.

5) Your Sick Blooms:The Hunches
Watchout. Things have a tendency to break when you play this song.

6) Charlie:Kenneth Pattengale
Imagine a world in which Ray LaMontagne was happy and beardless. Meet Ken.

7) Daddy's Gone:Glasvegas
We at the Unincoporated cannot vouch for this album, and we hate this band's name, and the lyrics, well, try to listen too closely, but this song is just so darn singable.

8) Whar:f. Kool G Rap, Ghostface Killah & Tash Mahogany:RZA
From the soundtrack to the show described as: The TV anime series is set in a "futuristic, yet feudal Japan," and stars a samurai named Afro, because of his hair. That is unadulterated from wikipedia, peoples.

9) James Blues:J. Tillman
Drummer for the ubiquitous FleetFoxes. Really great song in our opinion.

10) Her Beautiful Ideas:The Guggenheim Grotto
It is unfortunate that a band's name can be an immediate turn off, but sometimes, if you can get past that first instinct you will find some very good music. Other times, not so much.

11) Brothersport:Animal Collective
There's that resolution we were missing. For what music they make, and what they call themselves, they look surprisingly ordinary.

12) Animal Party:The King Khan & Bbq Show
Conceptually, a song about having a party with animals at your house is long overdue. And it rocks, too. Also, in order to make up for the Unincorporated not getting Four out in time for you all, click here to get theKK&Bshow's self titled album.

Enjoy.

Punk' N Center Three

Hello all. Apologies for a belated post this week, but we were busy here at Punk' N Center. To make up for it, bonus post later this week, with a bonus mix.
We took a trip up to the mountains last week, and for your viewing pleasure we have included some pictures of the lovely trip.
This last weekend we went into Kingsport, TN to do some antique shopping. The Unincorporated were able to pick up a wonderful old oak office chair for headquarters for a bargain price. We like bargains.

On Sunday we were able to continue our worship at The Idol of Mike Tomlin. Steelers going to the Super Bowl, just like old times.

But, here's the bridge folks, unlike things of old it's all new music this week! Yeah! These are all physical new releases available this month. We hope you like.
Click here for: PUNK' N CENTER THREE!

1)First Time High (Of Chicago Acoustic Version):Of Montreal
Yes, Jon Brion is an insane genius. On the EP release this month he remixes 2 Of Montreal songs 5 ways. Do the math.

2)Doves And Stones:Gary Louris & Mark Olson
Oh, Gary and Mark back together, you remind us of 1995, but in a good way.

3)The Privateers:Andrew Bird
Stop reading. Buy this album.

4)Like A Hitman, Like A Dancer:A.C. Newman
Carl AKA A.C. writes a killer pop song. He put several on them on one record.

5)Lonely Girl:Blue Giant
This was a complete surprise. I know nothing about this band, but this is a pretty great EP.

6)Aeon:Antony And The Johnsons
Anotherworldly. Tragic.

7)Katherine Kiss Me:Franz Ferdinand
These erudite dance party punks in my opinion should write more songs like this.

8)Call and Response:Or, the Whale
This album was released in 2007, but apparently getting its label release this month. Still new to us.

9)But For You Who Fear My Name:The Welcome Wagon
Sufjan, we hear you. You can't hide behind this pastor and wife.

10)birthday:the bird and the bee
Pretty good, pretty cute.

11)Blood Red Sentimental Blues:Cotton Jones
How many bands that you know are from Maryland?

12)Get Yr Shit Together:Friendly Foes
Power pop, rock and roll, sugar.

Enjoy.

Punk' N Center TWO

Hello everyone.
We are having a very exciting week here at Punk' N Center headquarters. The Steelers put the hurt on the Chargers, and although we have an open mind when it comes to music, this does not apply to football. Black and Gold is bled down here.

And we also had the chance to do something we haven't done before, which is attend a Professional Bull Riders event. Basically a cowboy gets on a bull, which the bull detests, then attempts to buck him off. If the rider surpasses 8 seconds on the bull, he gets a score based on the quality of the ride, the difficulty of the bull, and other factors of which we are unawares. This is much more exciting than it sounds, although the danger is about what you expect when you ride an angry half ton animal. You can check out photos of the event by clicking on the picture below.
As a kind of kindred spirit to the PBR event, this week's mix is one inspired by old school country. Now, some of you may be thinking... country? Hold on, before the rush to judgment. Country music, when good, is about the most evocative musical experience you can have. Heartfelt singing, mournful melodies, lyrics that are funny and sad, sometimes in the same song.

So, without further adieu, Punk' N Center TWO:

1 Are You Ready For The Country?:Waylon Jennings and the .357s
Song was on Waylon Forever, which came out last year, 6 years after his death. Spearheaded by his son Shooter this album featured his band the .357s. I haven't listened to a lot of the .357s, but I have it on good authority from DC in Philly that they are worth looking into.

2 Blood Red And Goin' Down:Tanya Tucker
Embodies country gothic lyricism. A storyline about daughter watching her father murder his philandering wife. Tanya could really sing before her own life went wrong.

3 Mouth to Mouth Resuscitation:John Hartford
This song is about CPR. "Good for the country, good for the nation"

4 Patches:Clarence Carter
Clarence really pushes his voice in this song and despite it's unabashedly sentimental lyrics, you can really get down to it.

5 You Win Again:Keith Richards
Keith channeling Hank. Our I guess he had been trying to live his life like Hank, except Keith made it to old age against all odds.

6 Suspicious Minds:Elvis Presley
Elvis's best late period song. Mistrust and allegations of adultery pervades country music, this song slam dunks that home.

7 One Night Stand:Lucinda Williams
Lucinda, life is hard.

8 White Lightning:George Jones
Singing this song did not help George fight alcoholism, but it probably did contribute to him being honored at the Kennedy Center last month.

9 One Dyin' And A Buryin':Roger Miller
Roger Miller was the master of the 2 minute song. This is not his happiest tune, but truly worth checking out, especially those with children, although this song is not representative of that.

10 Wildwood Weed:Jim Stafford
Funny. We are not sure who Jim is exactly, but despite this song, are pretty sure he and Willie Nelson are not the same person.

11 Neko Case & The Sadies:Rated X
My word Neko, what a voice you have. It is not the last time this year Neko is going to be on Punk' N Center, as she has a new album coming out this year.

12 Harvest:Neil Young
We here at Punk' N Center think there are several Neil Young songs that could be better sung by someone else, but not this song.

Enjoy. Wait, bonus for you and DC from Philly, Waylon Forever.