Not a Halloween 6 pack

The Friday 6-pack this week has nothing to do with the image above(ed: this is clearly a lie). Nope. That's just our Ben Carter as the Greatest American Hero. (ed: closer to the truth. you can do it.) Stop interrupting. This 6 pack's all over the place with songs by Outkast's Big Boi, a Marvin Gaye brass band cover that'll knock your sexy nurse costume off, xx & two songs by SF band Girls. It all kicks off with a lil Carmina Burana intro.

Alright, fuckit. We included the Greatest American Hero theme song for a little Halloween tie-in. (ed: see, was that so bad?)

Now someone give me an Almond Joy.

DOWNLOAD: Not a Halloween 6 pack.zip

"Orff: Carmina Burana - Part 3, Cour D'Amours: Si Puer Cum Puellula" - Eugene Ormandy: Philadelphia Orchestra
The choral route sets the tone for the weekend

"Crystalized" - the xx (HT: Lindsay emoto)
Male/female duet for your indie goth karaoke night. Dark charming and flirtatious.

"Hellhole Ratrace" - Girls
I love this band. Read up on their fucked-up backstory here. There's loss and hurt and pain in singer Christopher Owens voice, but it's overcome by the sense of wonder in his warble and low-fi production. Where say, Morrisey was wallowing at home wishing he were out among the people who are young and alive, Owens sounds like he's wandering the streets of The Mission, getting fucked up and trying to create his own magic. Admirable.

"Greatest American Theme Song (Believe it or not)" - Joey Scarbury
Captures that moment where either a) you're falling in love, b) you're beginning to explore your bisuperheroity, or c) it's the early 80s and you've just done a shit-ton of blow and want to head down to the Marina and hit on divorcees.

"You and I" - Ingrid Michaelson
Sweet and acoustic. Another duet, but one that leans feminine. (ed: It's okay - you can dress up in drag this weekend. We won't judge you for it.)

"Lust for Love" - Girls
Where Hellhole is all widescreen angst and wonder, this is sun dappled by way of Buddy Holly. "I wish I had a ______, but instead i'm crazy and fucked in the head" in Christoper Owens hands sounds like an adventure I want to go on. Girls, you have a standing invite to stay in our RV at Burning Man 2010.

"Shine Blockas" - Big Boi
Outkast returns in this smooth jam. We hardly miss Mr. 3000. Big Boi doesn't get enough credit for his sonic adventures.

"Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye cover)" - The Hot 8 Brass Band
I can't wait to learn to DJ, just so I can put this in as a break. Badass and wonderful. Stripped of Marvin's angst and need, it's a joy to listen to in brass band magnificence.

Be safe out there this weekend. Don't do anything I would do. (ed: true dat.)

Girls - "lust for life" video VNSFW edition

I highly recommend this song, but also just as strongly recommend *not* watching this at any place of employment. Unless you're in the porn industry. In which case, how are things going? Know of any good Halloween parties?

Girls are highly recommended. Peep Hellhole Ratrace, too.

Friday 6 pack, Galileo is a punk edition

(model: Armando birthday boy and Brent Durrand. Photo: Brittany Oldham)

This Friday's 6 pack goes out to everyone who's getting a little younger at heart every time the sun passes around the Earth. (What? Galileo what? Fuck 'em, we're Copernicusts here.)

DOWNLOAD: Galileo is a punk.zip

TRACKLISTING:

"Green Eyed Love (Classix Remix)" - Mayer Hawthorne (HT: Maxwell)
Classix does these amazing disco-ish, glitter sparkly remixes. HypeM to find more. I was playing this the other night and our assistant editor asked me if it was gay house music time. I consider that a strong endorsement of this song.

"Let Love Rule (Justice Remix)" - Lenny Kravitz
Do all Justice remixes sound alike? Yes. Does that fact make this any less duh-ope? Nope.

"Island, IS" - Volcano Choir
Justin Bon Iver's side project. A little more syncopated but no less lovely.

"Yalira" - The Very Best
We've been pimping 'The Warm Heart of Africa' to anybody who'll listen. (No, really go listen now.) This is amazing afro-pop goodness. The Very Best is playing at the Echoplex this Saturday night.

"New Moon Rising (YACHT remix)" - Wolfmother
There's a wonderful tension between Wolfmother's inherent FWHAAAAA! and YACHT's poppy disco vibe that is pure cognitive dissonant madness. In the best way possible.

"Down by the Water(The Soundmen Remix)" - The Drums
Opens with a bunch of whales squealing then opens the floodgates to a filthy synth line. Epic and slightly forlorn. I don't know what tv show this soundtracks but I bet it's on Showtime after Californication.

"Ocean Rain (live)" - Echo & the Bunnymen
The Bunnymen bring a full orchestra (Hazelrigg: just strings, really) to the Nokia on Saturday night. This song is beautiful and hushed, amazing in the way that Ian Mac can sing "Screaming from beneath the waves" as the picture of restraint, until two verses and one Will Seargent guitar solo later it's tragic in the most full-throated, widescreen way imaginable. Stunning still after 25 years.

the Return of the Six-pack

(pic by Daniel Jung. model Wiseacre.)

I was going to do a complete write-up along with a story about meeting a Backstreet Boy, but real life got in the way.
I missed you all. Thanks for asking what happened with the 6 packs.

(Btw, Congratulations to Mascha & JD!)

DOWNLOAD: Friday long-time 6 pack.zip

tracklist:

Poker Face (Lady Gaga cover) - The Leftover Cuties
Worried Mind - Megafaun (HT: Guy & Bon Iver)
Know Better Learn Faster - Thao & the Get Down Stay Down
Seven Seas - Echo & the Bunnymen
There's a Party - NASA f. George Clinton&Chali 2na
I Wonder Who We Are - The Clientele
I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys