Spring ♣ Fling

Mixtape #02

Here's a collection of indie pop and electronica. Nothing too mellow, but it will definitely set the mood for a pleasant car ride with that cute girl you carpool with... huh?... what?

Anyways, highlights here are the new Gorillaz track, some Vampire Weekend (which has rapidly turned into an indie staple), and Danger Mouse's collaboration with The Shins' James Mercer– Broken Bells. Lastly, don't overlook Darwin Deez, who's sure to make you tap your feet, and enjoy the retro feel of Empire of the Sun. The set closes with a cover of Sophie B. Hawkins which has become my favorite for reasons unsaid. >:-D

Here's a wonderful track by Freelance Whales called "Starring"

------Spring Fling------

1. The High Road - Broken Bells
2. Starring - Freelance Whales
3. Stylo (Radio edit) - Gorillaz feat. Bobby Womack
4. Run - Vampire Weekend
5. Deli - Delorean
6. Up In The Clouds - Darwin Deez
7. Stone Me - Babyshambles
8. Dipomat's Son - Vampire Weekend
9. Constellations - Darwin Deez
10. Dream of Eva and Chan (abridged) - Dntel & Ben Gibbard
11. Ghost Train - Summer Camp
12. Complications - Broken Social Scene
13. Drink To Moving On - Grand National
14. Walking On A Dream - Empire Of The Sun
15. Low Shoulders - Toro y Moi
16. Damn (I Wish I Was Your Lover) - Daniel Johnson



AvianEddy's Mixtape #02
Spring Fling 2010

---

F Key for Bossa

Rich, Freddy, Eddy, and Tony at Medallions

Stanton Street is working on a little Bossa Nova song currently called F Key for Sax since we hope to implement a melodic sax in there and some sax-y lyrics :-D. Here's a little impromptu with Eddy and Freddy [two guitars, two vocals]:

"F Key for Sax" freeFreddy & AvianEddy

when i think too much i think of you
when i try to open my mind
its just no use its just no use
theres no use you got a hold of me
you really got a thing on me

without a count i cant even speak
i cant even act i cant even sleep
all these cats lying around
singin a beauitful song for you
and hold that thought real high
i aint got nothing to give you
but a smile on a rainy day

well it's raining now
wont you pick the phone
i've been calling for hours
tell me what did i do wrong
(we should put a friggin bad-ass hook here)
come back come back come here come herre

its not black and white
i know that things got crazy
i know that these things got muddled too
i'm muddled, too

hey, so many things i'd like
only one thing just give me the words
let them pour from me
lárgate, lárgate

i cant seem to find the words
cant seem to find the way
only that this letter says that,
you know what? i dont think of you
... that often

---

~freeFreddy

Healthcare Reform, Get Well Soon

So the Senate killed the Public Option months ago, the GOP is still employing its stalling tactics and the vast majority of the Dem's are too cowardly (or duplicitous) to stand up to them– let alone call them out. And worse yet, The White House is too busy playing nice to argue in favor for Healthcare Reform. (sigh)
It seems "CHANGE" and "HOPE" were fast becoming last year's slogans.

ENTER THE CONGRESSMAN FROM FLORIDA

Congressman Alan Grayson [Central Florida (FL-8)]
YES, there IS hope. There are few among Congress with moral decency and GUTS to go with it like Grayson who will stand up to the bought-out Republicans and the spineless Democrats :

I introduced H.R. 4789, the Public Option Act. This simple four-page bill lets any American buy into Medicare at cost. You want it, you pay for it, you're in. It adds nothing to the deficit; you pay what it costs.

In many areas of the country, one or two insurers have over 80% of the market. They can charge anything they want. And when you get sick, they can flip the bird at you. So we need a public option.

Sign our Petition at WeWantMedicare.com
Thankfully, there ARE public officials who are actually serving THE PUBLIC. Join Grayson's cause (it is OUR cause, afterall)

---

~avian

Astral ★ Exploration

Mixtape #01

I proudly present the FIRST in what will become a series of mixtapes: the PERFECT playlist to listen to while star-gazing. This mixtape came about during a recent camping trip when I was thinking about what music would inspire wannabe-astronomers like me. I mean, who doesn't like to look up at the night say and just wonder at what lies beyond? Next time you think about the constellations and the galaxies that form them, swith your iPod™ to this list.


Carl Sagan "Glorious Dawn" mixed by Colorpulse

------Astral * Exploration------

1. Space Jazz 3030 - Cowboy Bebop
2. Ballad of Gloria Featherbottom - Mux Mool
3. See Waves - Nice Nice
4. Country - Empire Of The Sun
5. Exploration - Various Artists
6. Carl Sagan "Glorious Dawn (ft. Stephen Hawking)" - Colorpulse
7. Café Floré - Dr. Rockit
8. Work This City - Body Language
9. Then It Happened - Milosh
10. Mettle - Outputmessage
11. Blurry - Bluejay
12. Counting Stars - Nujabes
13. Carl Sagan "Glorious Dawn" - Mux Mool
14. FUSE - Hudson Mohawke
15. Minors - Toro y Moi
16. To the Lighthouse - Memoryhouse
17. Forgotten Dreams (with Evolote) - AvianEddy


In this mixtape I have placed some space-traversing music that begins with a little jazz. Then, as the rocket ignites, you are catapulted outside the atmosphere thanks to the upbeat techno by Mux Mool and Nice Nice. As your ship slows down to cruising speed, enjoy some Empire of the Sun while you hear some encouraging words by our mentor, Carl Sagan. The late and great astrophysicist makes two appearances here. :-D There's even a guest appearance by yours truly at the end.

Pleasant voyage!

AvianEddy's Mixtape #01
Astral ★ Exploration

---

Stanton Street Fashionistas

The Stanton Street Collective had a small show this weekend for our pal David's Fashion Show this Saturday March 7.

It was a bigger spot than we were used to but we pulled it off nicely. Preceding us was Christine singing, with Josh doing bass work, and the mystical Mouse on the drums. Mr. Mouse went on to sub for our beatmaster Tony. Following our set was a great local band called Riboflavin' who performed some impressive hip-hop that sounded like it had heavy influence from People Under the Stairs.

The Stanton Street Collective: Rich, Eddy, Celene, Freddy. (Not pictured: Tony)

I am currently looking for any recording someone may have made. In the meantime, here's a little list of our set:

• Freddy's Red Robin
• F Key for Sax
• Tiene Hambre, Tiene Sed
• ¿Como te Llamaras?
• Avian's Forgotten Dreams
• Celene's I Am Leaving You
• Celene's Juarez Poem

---

~avian

Achy Obejas was here

Achy Obejas, Cuban-American writer, translator, and journalist just recently visited El Paso and UTEP for Women's History Month.

As a journalist, she has received awards for several of her freelance stories written in the Chicago Tribune. In addition, she has earned the Lambda Literary Award for her novels Memory Mambo (1997) and Days of Awe (2002).

After meeting her in person this past Tuesday, I have to say that she has a wonderful and refreshing personality.  If you have the opportunity, check out some of her novels. 

Bibliography:

• "Havana Luna (novel)" (2009) Akashic Books
• Ruins (novel) (2009) Akashic Books
• Havana Noir (editor) (2007)
• This is What Happened In Our Other Life (poetry) (2007)
• Days of Awe (2001)
• Memory Mambo (1996)
• We Came All the Way from Cuba So You Could Dress Like This? (1994)

On Tuesday, she signed several copies of her books for me; during which we had a small conversation.  I noticed that in my copy of days of Awe she wrote: "Send me a Poem" with her e-mail. I found it very flattering; yet as soon as she had written this, I felt as though every thing I had ever written in my life was suddenly crap.  Of course, I'll follow up though, I just wanted to share.

---

~ Richie M.

While on the Commute

On the same lot where I sat and listened to church bells ringing

I saw two pigeons perform necrophilia on one of their fallen comrads

Flattened , formed to the grooves of a tire,

Scabbed over blood ,

Feathers matted to the asphalt 

Still the two pigeons stalked and cocked their heads 

as they took turns mounting and dominating the carcass.

I'm sure scientist and pigeon psychologists have explanations for this pigeon behavior 

Their explanations , I'm sure, are backed by hundreds of books and documented studies

But that doesn't matter to me

I'm on my daily commute

To my left bells resonate a progression 

To my right pigeons fuck their dead

From  the bell tower, a flock of the feathered rats takes flight

Round and round they go

---

~Josh F.

Improvisation's the name of the game

A lot of improvisation going around, lately. Our little project Stanton Street Collective has been getting into some dub. Here's a piece started by our pal Josh Fierro on the bass. Rich is on the sax, I jump in on the guitar, and Freddy's doing the beats:

"Funeral for a Snake" orig. composition by Josh

Super Socks was started by our old friend Andyspank. He had been getting into reggae and during one of our practices I suggested he improvised some reggae rhythms with his guitar. Jeff immediately picked up on the set and the bass part just seemed to flow from me... before we knew it, Jeff and I were singing and jamming along. It was a unique experience I'm glad was captured by Dm3o and his "robot."

"Super Socks" improv reggae jam by Evolote

---

~Jeffro ~avian ~freeFreddy