Reasonerable Thoughts

As promised, here is guest columnist Karl Reasoner.  None of his writing has been edited, you will see my opinion in bolded parenthesis throughout.  Looking forward for more of these to come!  Without further adieu…

Reasonerable Thoughts

When Jeff invited me to write a guest column for his Report I paused, turned my head sideways, coughed twice, gave him a half-smile to show my appreciation for his gentle touch and began to ponder potential topics.  (He is off to a great start!  Frighteningly!)

Jeff has many talents, but he is particularly proud of his knowledge of music, his ability to find new songs, and his skills in putting together mix tapes. He has been making mixes for me as far back as our friendship goes. Sometimes I have asked for them, many times I have not (very true). The difficulty for him is that I’m not a big music guy. I can appreciate a good song, but I was never one to spend hours on MySpace searching for new bands.

But back to the point. If our talents are a reflection of our life experiences and values – which I believe they are – then our most unique ones must tell us something especially interesting. So when Kleeman’s request for a guest column coincided with the delivery of a brand spanking new mix tape, I decided to do a “live blog” of the first listen and describe my dilettante (this is a word!?) reaction to the songs, while occasionally trying to decipher what the selection said about Jeff, the man. This is bound to end disastrously way off-the-mark.

KFC Master Peace

Track 1. – Vance Joy – Riptide

If you’re going to put together a mixtape the first song is crucial.  It sets the tone for the rest of your experience.  Jeff typically likes to start with something bright and perky, and you can’t blame him. He hits the mark with this one, but there is one problem.  This song was on the mixtape that the Missus and I made for him in late 2014.  To be fair, he did inform us of this error beforehand, so I won’t go on about his lack of attention to detail or discuss the early warning signs of dementia. This song also has the benefit of demonstrating Jeff’s eclectic musical tastes – modern American folk is so hip right now.

(Dementia is definitely forming in my old age..but thanks for the complement!  1 for 1!)

Track 2 – Walk the Moon – Shut Up and Dance

The little U2 riff at the beginning is nice, but it is a farce, as the song quickly delves into poppy alternative music. He keeps the pace high and tight with this choice, which is risky considering the audience – I tire easily at thirty-one.  I’m not quite sure about the psychological basis of this choice. Jeff loves to dance, and he does have some talent in the arena, so perhaps he was reminiscing about his glory days on the Char dance floor. Or perhaps he simply wanted to throw in a song that lifts the spirits and makes you think anything is possible.

(I think I was going for what I like to call…”space filler”, but it’s a catchy little song)

Track 3 – David Guetta Ft. Sam Martin – Dangerous

Nice segue song. The piano allows us to catch our breath for a moment after the first two tracks, but that changes quickly as the standard Guetta anthem beat comes in. Solid, driving, almost funk, beat in this song. It is easy to have visions of Kleeman standing behind the Char Bar DJ stand, headphones half off, yelling at some overly intoxicated blonde that is requesting Get Low for tenth time.

(All valid..so far I think I’m 3 for 3?)

Track 4 – Prince Royce Ft. Snoop Dogg – Stuck on a Feeling

This is a song that Kleeman would send a snapchat of him lip-singing to. He would probably whip his head to the left, then right, throw in a couple of head bobs to the beat, move in slowly towards the lense with his glasses falling ever so slightly down his nose in a way that makes you think it couldn’t have possibly been planned – but it certainly was. It is nice to hear Snoop Dogg throw out some geriatric raps, but even he can’t save Prince Royce.

(I thought for sure he would bring up how this song sounds like 112…was sure of it…also if you’re drunk it sounds like Nine Inch Nails…long story)

Track 5 – Zhu – Faded

I’m instantly transported to a la mousse dance party in Southern France. Foam gushes out of the barrels as the voice hits its creepy auto-tune stage. Strobe lights blind you, but also save you from seeing the creepy Spaniard feeling up the 18 year old American Girl that had one too many appletinis. Jeff put this song on here because he knows me too well – I have a soft fleshy spot for techno.

(This song is a clear cut winner for everyone.  So good!)

Track 6 – Hozier – Angel of Small Death and The Codeine Scene

Wow, he is really pulling out all of the stops on this effort. Sleezy techno to southern folk, gospel, rock. I feel like I could be watching Rustin Cohle cruise through the bayou right now. This is the type of song we needed at this point, especially after a crazy night at the la mousse party (hahaha brilliant) – we invited the Spaniard to the after party, he was actually a really cool dude. The conclusion builds gracefully, with the claps matching the increasing tempo of the lyrics. This buildup makes me fearful of what Jeff has in stall for us next.

Track 7 – Sir Sly – You Haunt Me

The musical aspects of this song aren’t all that pleasing, which makes me think that Jeff relates to the lyrics on some level. Again, I’m no psychologist, so my guess at his connection to the song is probably as wrong as those who claim that climate change is caused in part by humans.  Perhaps he connects the restlessness, fear, and uncertainty that Sir Sly describes with his own life during his 20s that he has alluded to in previous posts? But really, can’t we all?

(Ha I actually really like this song…  My fiance did just say…”This is definitely a Karl song”…)

Track 8 – Taylor Swift – Blank Space

Jeff threw this one in for the Peach (my nickname for Karl’s adorable wife Ashley), at least that is what I tell my self as the song starts. If we’re going to be honest, and a live-blog is certainly the occasion to do so, I’ll admit that it is hard not to like this song. If you cut through all of her self-aggrandizing crap about being a menanizer, she, or rather – the writer, is able to capture the feelings of young love quite well. And when you are as old as we are now, you can actually begin to reflect back and appreciate, perhaps even feel nostalgic for, the carefree nature of the days of yore.  Youth is wasted on the young.

(It’s a great, albeit overplayed song…next!)

Track 9 – Bahamas – All The Time

Quintessential Kleeman song. It perfectly straddles the line between odd/obscure and mainstream, a spot that Kleeman also comfortably occupies.

(Perfect description, much like this song, it’s good, but short and forgettable).

Track 10 – Ariana Grande Ft. The Weeknd – Love Me Harder

This choice screams confidence. A lesser man would have been to shy to place Ms. Grande on here, but when it gets down to brass tax, you have to respect the vocal talent and Jeff knows that. The girl can sing, really well. Does that mean I was enthralled from start to finish? Absolutely not. I stopped actually listening to the lyrics after she said “gotta” for the 20th time, which was approximately 29 words in.

(Repetitive lyrics yes, but The Weeknd is going to be awesome, also is it just me or is she the weirdest “hot” girl?  Hot, but she looks 12…wears cat ears…I don’t know?  I guess if Big Sean likes her…)

Track 11 – Priory – Weekend

So, we are about ⅔ through the mix and at the point where you risk hitting a wall. Putting together 80 minutes of high quality music is difficult when you’re trying to find “new” stuff. And this track has the feeling of hitting just such a wall. If you view the creation of a mix tape as a marathon, then you could make the argument that these kind of tracks are necessary, as it allows for time to check facebook and twitter, refill a drink, and recuperate.

(Good idea!  Time to make a Jack and Coke)

Track 12 – Banks – Beggin for Thread

And we are back! Distinct voice, almost Lana Del Rey, but a little more upbeat. Not a song I’ll go back to multiple times, but pleasing enough.

(It’s nice, I like Banks…she’s no Lloyd Banks, but close.)

Track 13 – AlunaGeorge Ft. DJ Snake – You Know You Like It

Is this tropical hip hop? Is there such a thing?  Google tells me there is, so it must be true. About 45 seconds in I begin to hear faint murmurs coming from the deep recesses of my mind telling me to “push next,” but shockingly at the minute mark the song makes a drastic change for the better as a great beat drops in.  This could turn into one of my favorite tracks.

(This song is amazing.  The video is…odd.  trop hop? I’ll take it.)

Track 14 – Lilly Wood and the Prick – Prayer in C

Nice transition to a gentler song that can cure us of the tropical hip hop fever that AlunaGeorge gave us. Oops, spoke too soon – all of a sudden this song serves up a slice of techno pie?  Where does he find this stuff? I’ve never experienced such clever deception from a Kleeman mix.

(That is the best complement I have received in…I don’t know, but a great complement nonetheless, great song)

Track 15 – Odezsa Ft. Zyra – Say My Name

I never thought I would like electronic music, but the recent stuff coming out of bands like Big Data are making me a fan. This song affirms that trajectory. On a different note, this is the second song on this mix that talks about wanting to dance. Is this the “Shy Jeff” he often refers back to, sitting on the outside of a high school dance floor daydreaming about grabbing the popular girl like Nick Cannon in Love Don’t Cost A Thing and dancing the night away?

(This was good, a good Nick Cannon reference will always tickle my funny bone)

Track 16 – Neon Indian – Polish Girl

Is it a song about a girl who wears polish or a girl from Poland? Do they wear polish in Poland? This song is almost too busy. I know that it is common to have a recurring beat or bass line, but this one takes it to the extreme and it doesn’t work. First miss of the mix.

(admittedly a huge reach…I’m wavering on this song, it has it’s moments..but I get it…plus what the H is with the title?)

Track 17 – Mark Ronson Ft Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk

Bruno fucking Mars. How talented can one man be? It seems unfair.  I’m convinced he made a deal with devil (Bedazzled is an underrated movie by the way) – he traded average height for a butt load of talent, and it appears to actually be a good deal.

(This is the song of the year, uncontested as of now.  I’m gonna listen to it now, then finish the last two!)

Track 18 – St. Lucia – Elevate

The synthpop in this song makes it sound like something out of the ‘80s, and it is highly enjoyable. At this point Jeff is simply showing off. He has taken us on a journey from American folk to T-Swift and infected us with tropical hip hop in a discothèque in southern France along the way.  Now he attempts rocks us to sleep with some easy listening. This choice makes all too much sense when you consider that Take on Me by a ha was the impetus for his love of music.

(He’s right, and oddly enough my mom really likes this song.  Also I found these guys on Seth Meyers.  He gets great bands on his show if anyone is a fellow night owl)

Track 19 – Milky Chance – Stolen Dance

Final track. My stance on last songs is similar to how I feel about season/series finales. All too often they are overhyped, overwrought, and involve silly cliff hangers.  Breaking Bad and The Wire are great examples of doing it right. The major events take place in the second or third to last episode (see Ozymandias of Breaking Bad for an excellent example) and then they coast through the final episodes allowing the characters to do the things we’ve come to know and appreciate.  In that vein, this song provides a similar ending. It is a solid choice, nothing flashy, and lets us coast to the finish.

(I had one miss!!!!  Not bad!  Nobody is perfect, but I aim for perfection!  Next mix coming…in a few months, next Karl blog hopefully sooner than that!)

As always, thanks for reading!  I think we can all agree Karl did a bang up job!  Watch out for next weeks blog and my upcoming guests bloggers.