Mixtape #26: Goodbye Space Ladies

This is it, folks. My final contribution to Everybody Taste. I started this site in February of 2009 and over the years I've written roughly 1,200 posts. Everybody Taste started as an outlet to share music and work on my writing while I worked at a general interest magazine. It was never about quantity of material but, hopefully, quality. This little one-person site has led to a handful of amazing opportunities: interviews with the best bands in the world, articles published in magazines, countless new friends, and even a little record company, Analog Edition. But in the words of the band Christmas Island—whose song is featured on this 26th installment of ET's mixtape series—"I'm already 29 and running out of time." Technically, I'm 28, but I'm ready to make a mark or two on this bat-shit-crazy world before it completely passes me by.

This summer I tied the knot with my best friend, and now I'm set to open a market and coffee shop in the Fall called Little Red Fox. It's going to take every moment of my waking life to make this endeavor work, so I'm going cold turkey on the endless search for new music for a stretch. But if you're ever in DC, please stop on by for coffee, a beer, fresh homemade grub, and of course, all your favorite music. And Analog Edition isn't going anywhere just yet, so if you can, please keep supporting the label and the fantastic bands on it. In my absence, please also proceed to get your musical kicks via these consistently inspiring, tasteful, and wonderfully passionate folks: Aquarium Drunkard, Rollo Grady, We Listen For You, Castle Face Records, Burger Records, Father / Daughter, Mississippi Records, Italians Do It Better, and Woodsist. Now, here it is, ET's final mixtape: Goodbye Space Ladies.

Side A

Vic Godard & The Subway Sect - "Stop That Girl"

Brenton Wood - "Baby You Got It"

Hunx & Hix Punx - "Dream On (Little Dreamer)"

The Jags - "Back of My Hand"

Richard Swift - "The Bully"

The Rock*A*Teens - "I'm Your Puppet"

Sonny & The Sunsets - "Dark Corners"

Alex Chilton - "Hey! Little Child"

The Who - "The Kids Are Alright"

Side B

Alex Bleeker & The Freaks - "Who Are You Seeing?"

Bodies of Water - "Like A Stranger"

Christmas Island - "Twenty Nine"

Beaut - "Goodbye Judy"

Wyatt Blair - "Girls!"

Tomorrows Tulips - "Casual Hopelessness"

Damien Jurado - "Mountains Still Asleep"

The Blue Rondos - "Little Baby"

Chris Bell - "You and Your Sister"

Download:

Goodbye Space Ladies

or

Stream on 8 Tracks

Big Star :: Documentary Trailer & Covers

I've been on a Big Star kick all week, thanks to the trailer for Nothing Can Hurt Me, a new documentary about the band's "massive critical acclaim, dismal commercial failure," and enduring legacy as "pop music's greatest cult phenomenon." The movie's tagline sums it up: I never heard Big Star on the radio, or even at a record shop. I listened to Big Star because other band's told me to via cover songs and tributes. My introduction to Alex Chilton first came through Elliott Smith's hushed cover of "Thirteen" (there are countless takes on "Thirteen," but like Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah," Smith's is the definitive cover version). Later, as I dove more into Replacements' lore, I was pushed more into the world of Big Star, always remembering Paul Westerberg's line from "Alex Chilton": "Never travel far, without a little Big Star." So today, while I play #1 Record, Radio City, and Third/Sister Lovers on repeat, I thought I'd share my favorite Big Star covers by some of my favorite bands. And maybe even turn a few readers on to one of rock's greatest songwriters.

RIP Alex Chilton

Alex Chilton, the cult hero and legend behind pop acts the Box Tops and Big Star, died Wednesday in New Orlanes at the age of 59 from what is believed to be a heart attack. The musician will certainly be remembered, not only for his own great work, but in the music of his fans and friends. Particularly, Paul Westerberg's 1987 ode to his hero, aptly titled "Alex Chilton," and Elliott Smith's beautiful cover of "Thirteen."

The Replacements - "Alex Chilton" (from Pleased To Meet Me)

Elliott Smith - "Thirteen" (Big Star cover)