Have a Kick Ass Summer

Another season is upon us which means another mix disc from the Cash-man. Have a Kick Ass Summer is its title and the contents match it well. I have left the track names and artist names out intentionally as I want to review this in a very artist agnostic manner. I include the "People that like this also liked" sections to further isolate the artist comparisons. In fact at first I wanted to make no reference even to "like" artists but simply could not avoid it. Okay enough, let's dig in.

1. We start with a strong retro-rock opening. What wonderful summer mix would be complete without a track lyrically covering the topic of a best friend. Furthermore, what is a summer without a best friend.

People that like this also liked: The Rentals

2. Continuing on in the rock opening. Vocals are great in this song. Nice play from male vocals to very comfy female ones. I believe this back and forth to be the core of what this mix is intended to be, that is. A game between male and female. Just a stab but that's how I took it. I love this band and need to get more of their stuff.

People that like this also liked: Villeneuve

3. Oh dear, throwing down this track is some serious business. Certainly my favorite Tears for Fears track ever from an all too small collection imho. This track is timeless, obviously. Also, I have always felt that this song feels like it's falling on you, sometimes heavy and sometimes light but always tumbling. One word, okay two. Hell yeah!

People that like this also liked: (Good music in general)

4. We now throttle back a bit. This track fits well here as it feels like it is tumbling as well. The simple piano sound is great with suprise appearances of accordion and strings. This track feels like a denoument.

People that like this also liked: Blur

5. Turns out I was right about the denoument we have now switched gears into chill mode. Nicely done! This remix is more upbeat than the original yet still very chill which is nice. Love the beats.

People that like this also liked: Garden State Soundtrack

6. We go into even more delicate territory. The sounds/beats are wonderfully syncopated here.

People that like this also liked: I am the World Trade Center (for vocals) and Aphex Twin (for random noises syncopated together)

7. We now are picking things up. This track is unlike any other that I have heard. I won't attempt to put it into a genre; okay disco funk. This song is catchy as hell and don't anticipate even trying to get it out of your head you won't want to either.

People that like this also liked: Felix the Housecat

8. We are now in the electronic part of the mix fo sho (stolen from previous track, sorry). A modern mix of Blue Monday to give the comfort of something familiar yet the interest of something new. This is a great lead in to the next track.

9. This track is supah nice. This is what would have happened if The Clash put out an electro track.

10. Continuing on in the electro vibe with a twist of disco we arrive at a Lords of Acid-esque product. Interesting to hear LOA sound in this context.

11. Okay, so further laying down the gauntlet we come upon a gem of a remix of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's. Please see previous shoe post on the author's feelings regarding this album. This track has the best lyric on the whole mix, "I wish I could buy back, the woman you stole". Oh my gawd it makes me want to scream!

12. Would it be a mix from Senor Cash without a Placebo track? NO! It wouldn't! So there. Being a seasoned vetran of the Joe/Cash mix disc anthology wars I will lay down this clever, YES CLEVER dammit, observation. This track is the watermark of the mix (i.e. hey listener you are listening to a mix disc by Cash so check it). This track echoes the feeling of the beginning.

People that like this also liked: Alpinestars

13. So we put away these feelings of looping back to the start of the mix by heading into a nice remix of Interpol. Ooh, this band has such a powerful sound. Hard to try to interpret anything beyond what the band wants you too here. This anchors any mix disc.

People that like this also liked: Joy Division (duh!)

14. Wow, how I love the Sundays. I find them particularly end-of-summer-ish. Hey that's almost akin to the placement of the track on this mix. Intentional? Surely that is too diabolical. Or is it?!!! Where is the mystery machine when you need it? The track of this song and its placement in the mix is highly suggestive. Are we ending a section of the mix?


15. Indeed we have changed gears into what I anticipate to be the last phase of the mix. Latin flavored guitar laden tracks and the end of the summer are such a perfect match. Touchez! I can't get images of spendid sunsets out of my mind. Thanks indeed!


16. This track is very stripped down and has lovely vocals.


17. Nice music but the lyric, "Today, I will step out of your past" is haunting. Is this mix gonna leave me haunted? Oh dear, have you been spying on what my next mix will be. Only time will tell or maybe the next track will?


18. Ah a remix of "If You Leave". Anyone that hears this and doesn't picture the end to a brat pack movie where 80's teens played games (male vs. female) is kompletely insane. Can't picture a more perfect end to this mix.