Wills Mix Tape... Travel Edition

Ok guys, it seems that there has been mass outbreak of the travel bug going round, while some have stayed immunne thanks to vaccinations of "lack of money" it seems a large amount are already infected. Myself included.

And so i give you my late night attempt at... the Travel Mix Tape....

This is a bit more specific than a simple bunch of tracks to take on a trip, these tracks are for one type of moment that all us travellers will face, the long waits...
Sitting on a train between countries, waiting at a terminal or station, Jetlagged alone in your room. These are songs for reflection and observation, to watch the surroundings and soak it all in. They are not party songs, they are not motivaional songs, they are songs to calm and inspire you. Well at least thats what i was hoping for.
I have to tell you that it is late and i am tired so i am sure that this list could be better.... and i will endevour to make a second list which is a bit more planned. But as a tired worn out individual at the moment these songs playing as i type are inspiring me... they are making me think... they are making me think of travel... so i guess they can't be too bad. And so.... i give you....  My Travel Mix Tape...

1. You Could Make a Killing - Aimee Mann
This is a morning after song, it is for recovery.... it's from Cruel Intentions.... the thinking bit....

2. Nothing Happening - Ben Kweller
This song makes me think of travelling through countryside... Dont actually know why....

3. Watch over me - Bernard Fanning
This is possible the most peaceful song i know... it makes me relax in my most stressful moments, something about Bernards voice and the simplistic arrangement. No matter how much of a wanker people may think he is, he is bloody talented.

4. Moab - Conner Oberst
Connor oberst is a traveller, his songs are all based on exploration and the Road. And this song is no different.

5. She moves in her own way - The Kooks
I once put this song to music of a friends trip to Europe and it really worked...

6. Television Theme 43#- My Friend the Chocolate Cake
Really like the build up in this song, very upbeat and makes me think of sitting on a park bench watching the world go by.

7. Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros
This is probably the most well fitting track for this mix tape, this is a song that makes me want to go out and explore, the uplifting orchestral arrangement is beautiful and would make any trip seem at least 10 times more majestic and beautiful... if you only take one track from this list take this one.

8. The Heart of Life - John Mayer
John Mayer was not somone i really liked until he released his album Conntiunum, this is a great song off that album and is a great chill song to sit back and listen to in the more stressful of moments.

9. The Cave - Mumford and Sons
I love the drum and banjo combinations in this song, its got a real travelling feel to it, through some rolling hills or over a lake....

10. 5 Years Time - Noah and the Whale
Pretty much the same sentiment as the one above, great travelling song and i love the vocals from Laura Marling.

11. I am Siam - The grates
Cool chilled track, a soak in the surrounding type of track, a song to think to.

12. Wake Up - The Arcade Fire.
Most people know this track... i think its awesome and it reminds me of just about every concert i have ever been to at the Entertainment Centre. But i think it would make a great travelling song too.

13. Long Distance - Nizlopi
I like the upbeat feel, and the lyrics about travel.... and love.... and the trumpets.

14. Mexico - James Taylor
Nothing screams peaceful travel like James Taylor.... enough said... and if you are going to mexico its just like a travel guide... but poetic.


Once again, i am very tired.... and so i apologize for the lack of writing skill.... there will be a pt 2 coming later when i find time.

Download it 

This Weeks Mix Tape - Part 2

This was my second list, more of a sentimental one, these are songs that come back into circulation every now and then for me. You will probably already know them, you will probably hate them... but they played a part of my musical upbringing and thats all that matters.

1. Chicago - Sufjan Stevens
This was the first time i ever heard Sufjan, i was in the car with a friend listening to whatever crap commercial station he had set it to when i finally decided i'd had enough and changed it over to the J's, this really awesome chorus of people were singing this orchestrated head bopping number. I was blown away quickly slapping away his hand as he tried to change the station (because he didn't know who it was) and just fell in love with Sufjan after that. Its a great song and one that lasts with you.


2. The Way it is - Donovan Frankenreiter
I have a soft spot for artists like Jack Johnson and Xavier Rudd, Surf pop i guess you could call it, And Donovan is that and more, think Jack Johnson with some orchestrations and a bit of Jazz.... In 2008 i saw Donovan Frankenreiter live at Falls Festival, it was a rainy New years eve and the sun was just setting, but this only made the crowd go even more nuts as Donovan and band jammed, improvised and just had fun, the instrumental work was amazing and you could tell they were just letting go. It was one of the best performances i have ever seen and the fact that i was soaked meant nothing.

3. Closing In - The Living End
Chris Cheney has to be number one on my list of favorite guitarists, and this song shows exactly why, and this was off the debut album... enough said.

4. Don't Start a Band - Reel Big Fish
I went through a really big SKA phase. I couldnt stop listening to it, punk rock with horns... awesome. Since then i have moved into less 90's stylings but i still always keep a spot free for SKA.
Why this song? I dunno... its fun.

5. Pretty in Pink - Dresden Dolls
This song is in here for two reasons, one... i love the dresden dolls, Amanda palmer is an awesome lyricist (i know... this is a cover... not her lyrics i get it!) as well as a musician. The other reason is that i never got a chance to grow up with John Hughes films... in fact the only one i really ever watched was Ferris Bueller...until now. I just got a box set and i am finally watching  The Breakfast Club and well.... Pretty in Pink.

6. Bottle Rocket - The Go! Team
This song is pure motivation... funky dance tunes over cheerleaders, what could be more uplifting. This is one of my top Gym songs, makes working out so much easier.

7. Shizukana Hibi No Kaidoan Wo - Dragon Ash
This was the end track from Battle Royale... this film was awesome. Battle royale was the first film to get me into asian cinema and now i am surrounded by it. As for the song itself, although i dont understand it i have to admit it is really catchy. Go Japanese Hip Hop!!

8. Run Free - Hanz Zimmer
For a long while i had an obsession with Film scores and in some ways i still do. Hanz Zimmer is the master of action scores, he knows how to bring up images of chases and explosions through music as well as emotion. This was the score for the Animated Film Spirit : Stallion of the Cimmaron, (i think thats what its called) its a great peice of music and made up the soundtrack for many a trip with certain friends.

9. All coming back to me - Meatloaf
This was just a really unexpected find for me, Originally this song was written for meatloaf to sing on Bat out of hell 2.... however it wasn't and so it was given to Celine Dion... But in Bat out of Hell 3 it was returned to Meatloaf. This was an exceptional album, and i would reccomend people listen to it. Throw away your pre conceived notions, he is awesome! This song is a good example of that.

10. Scatmans World - John Scatman
I dont really have an explination for this... apparently he stuttered and thats why john scats.... enjoy. Scatfest is coming!


Sorry this is poorly written... i am still shaking from having just met MC Hammer!!!! You can find all the songs here as well in Zip.

Liner Notes: Chocolate Covered

I listen to a number of Podcasts, i am addicted to them. Mostly they are just hour long conversations about nothing important that serve as mindless litening, but one is different, its a podcast of Song covers called Coverville.

Song covers are amazing things, the ability of one artist to take anothers song and make it their own, not out of greed but out of respect and tribute. A Musical way of saying "good work". Now i know there are exceptions to this and so in my mind i created the three rules which define a cover song to me:

1. Must not sound exactly like the Original
This is a given, but is very regularily overlooked. A cover needs to be an artists interpretation of the song, it needs to be every bit a part of themselves as it is of the original artist. When Joe Cocker did his cover of the Beatles "Little Help from my Friends" he didnt make it sound like the Beatles, he didnt perform it note for note. He made it his own, (in fact it is one of the only covers i can think of in which the cover version was better than the original.) The song became a Joe Cocker song in its own right while still being fathful to the original.
On the other end of the scale, Brittney Spears's Cover of "I love Rock and Roll" or Spiderbaits "Black Betty" are not covers, performing a track just like the original is not a cover, its just theft.

2. A Cover is a B-Side
If you are covering a song with the intention of making it a single, you are not making a cover, you are just greedy. I am not saying that your song cannot become famous, number 1 or whatever, but if you record it with that intent then you are not doing it for the right reasons. A song cover is a bonus, it is a short tribute to another performer. I will accept people like Michael Buble etc who only really have their voice to work with, but i wouldnt really classify them as cover either. A cover is a specially done track by the artist to display their repect and love for another artist.
Once again Brittany Spears's Cover of "I love rock and Roll" is not a cover. Spiderbait... i had  faith in you....tsk tsk..

3. Respect is Key
Whether the song is done in jest or not a certain amount of respect needs to be had, if you are playing a song because you know it will be popular, or you know you can just make a mockery of it then become a Commercial radio DJ, to perform a cover you should like the song you are performing, whether it be sentimental, nostalgic or personal to someone you know, you need to respect the song and put effort into the recording. I will just put it out there that i dont like Wierd Al Yankovich for this reason.


When a cover song is done just right it is amazing, when performed live it is something that makes you feel you are witnessing something special, a cover song is a pure form of creativity that shows of an artists talent more than anything else because it is the ability to take the essence of a song and give it new life.

And so i leave you with two Covers that i really like... eventually i will make a covers mixtape... but not now cos i cant be bothered....

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air - Kay Pettigrew
This cover is great, i love acoustic renditions especially of rap songs. This is a prime example of an artist putting their own style into the song. Enjoy.


Somewhere over the Rainbow - IZ
A lot of people would have heard this cover before, it was featured in the movie Finding Forrester and now it seems to be featured in westfield playlists.... nonetheless it is a great cover and is most definatley done with amazing passion and respect and gives the song a whole new feel.


This is a very limited list in terms of showing the scope of what a song cover can do... so wait for the next playlist where i'll try and give you a wider spectrum.

Will's Mix Tape Volume 1 - A Mixed Bag

Ok... time to deliver some music from my itunes to your ears.... enjoy.

1.  All is Love - Karen O
Catchy Song from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer, will have you singing along in no time.

2. You Wouldn't Like Me - Tegan and Sara
An older song from T and S's debut album, cool build up and as usual great harmonies.

3. Love of an Orchestra - Noah and the Whale.
Madly in love with this song at the moment, thinking of running to vegas with it.
Epic and uplifting with that Noah and the Whale charm.

4. Sundial - Wolfmother
Say what you want about Wolfmother but they do know how to create an awesome riff. This song is no exception and the i love the use of piano.

5. Work - Bluejuice
This i just couldnt get out of my head, great beat and piano, catchy simple lyrics... very chilled and head nod-able.

6. Ampersand - Amanda Palmer.
Moving piano pop, heavy lyrics, great vocals. Amanda Palmer is an aquired taste but if you like Ben Folds then you will at least like the piano as i am pretty sure its him.

7. Get Well Cards - Conor Oberst
I really enjoyed Conors solo work away from bright eyes, he is an amazing lyricist and this song is not exception...

8. I Just Don;t Think i'll Ever Get Over You - Colin Hay
Taken from the Garden State soundtrack this is a moving peice of music, Colin still has it and some.


9. Claudia - The View
Something about the heavy scotish accent really works for me with this band. Love the guitar solo.


10. Not worth waiting for - Zoe Gault.
This is a little plug for a friend of my brothers, she is really talented. This recording was from the performance she did at the Opera house for an HSC showcase and really shows off her skills having composed not only the song but the orchestral backing for it.

I've put into a .rar file....
Download it Here


OK... thats my first mix tape... hope you enjoy it... Lemme know what you think.