Other Mixes By Rob Conroy
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Single Artist
CD
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Mixed Genre
CD
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Mixed Genre
Cassette
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Single Artist
The puzzle piece behind the couch that made the sky complete
Artist | Song | |
Lemonheads | Your Home is Where You're Happy | |
Lemonheads | Mallo Cup | |
Lemonheads | Ballarat | |
Lemonheads | Half the Time | |
Lemonheads | Year of the Cat | |
Lemonheads | Stove | |
Lemonheads | Different Drum | |
Lemonheads | Paint | |
Lemonheads | Ride with Me (acoustic) | |
Lemonheads | Skulls | |
Lemonheads | It's a Shame About Ray | |
Lemonheads | Rudderless | |
Lemonheads | My Drug Buddy | |
Lemonheads | The Turnpike Down | |
Lemonheads | Hannah & Gabi | |
Lemonheads | Frank Mills | |
Lemonheads | Confetti (acoustic) | |
Lemonheads | Alison's Starting to Happen (acoustic) | |
Lemonheads | Being Around (acoustic) | |
Lemonheads | Divan | |
Lemonheads | Into Your Arms (acoustic) | |
Lemonheads | It's About Time | |
Lemonheads | Down About It | |
Evan Dando | Frying Pan | |
Lemonheads | If I Could Talk I'd Tell You | |
Lemonheads | Losing Your Mind (acoustic) | |
Evan Dando | The Outdoor Type [live at the Brattle Theatre] | |
Evan Dando | Shots is Fired | |
Evan Dando | Why Do You Do This to Yourself? | |
Evan Dando | In the Grass All Wine Colored | |
Comment:
When I posted my original version of this mix in 2001, it was greeted with one of the most profound AotM silences that I've ever encountered, and quite frankly, I don't understand the indifference with which Evan & the Lemonheads are treated in the rock snob community. The fact that the guy (prior to his ravaging twin addictions to heroin and crack, anyway) was pretty and allowed himself to be an early-90's alterna-hunk poster boy should not detract from his genuine talent (he's actually one of my favorite vocalists, is a terribly underrated lyricist, and has a way with a winsome pop melody) and sublime taste in covers and influences (he obviously has a comprehensive, eclectic record collection, covering songs by artists as wide-ranging as Gram Parsons, Mike Nesmith, Epic Soundtracks, the Misfits, Victoria Williams, ABBA, the Nightcrawlers, and Charles Manson, as well as Oasis, Metallica, Suzanne Vega, New Kids on the Block and REO Speedwagon. I should add that I only like eight of those bands and I'm just making the point that he obviously loves music and embraces a variety of stuff, all of which turns into passable music when he actually deigns to do a cover version, live or otherwise.). At any rate, I saw him play again a little over a week ago and he was as great as ever--a tad bit more strung-out looking than usual, but great. As a result, I decided to substantially revise this mix. Although I love a few Ben Deily songs from the first couple of records, I opted to make the disc Dando-only at this point and therefore included songs from his solo album and e.p.'s. For those of you who double as Dando detractors, I'd be interested in hearing why you feel the way you do...Feedback:
Can't say I'm all that familiar with their work...outside of their cover of Mr. Robinson. (which I noticed is not listed, here. And, for which, I thank you.)
I believe, as with Brian Jonestown Massacre, an acquaitance is in order.
I believe, as with Brian Jonestown Massacre, an acquaitance is in order.
I have their three albums from the 1992-1996 period and enjoy them when I occasionally get one out. Don't know any of their pre-major label stuff or any of Dando's solo work. Never disliked anything I've heard from them but wasn't ever excited by it either. My wife likes them a lot.
My problem is, I don't like rock. <> I like exactly one of these groups. But I am not anyone's target audience, so take this as no one's opinion.
Dang, that was where I quoted your list of who Dando's covered.
Evan Dando has never appealed to me. He always struck me as kinda dumb & dopy in interviews, and that's a big turn off for me. His music is boring, predictable, and uninspiring. His voice does nothing for me, I'm not impressed by his california surfer-dude look, and I resent him for covering Year of The Cat. Case closed.
He didn't cover "Year of the Cat." That's an original.
I got 3 Lemonhead albums and I like them well enough. Dando himself...I really have no opinion.
Well, then he stole the title, thus contaminating the Al Stewart classic forevermore. (And by the way, Mr. Dando, it really isn't such a shame about Ray. Get over it already).
The Lemonheads and Evan Dando have always been easy, too easy in my opinion, targets for snobbery and nastiness based on minimal knowledge. I like the Lemonheads because they plain and simple delivered a number of good-to-great songs and that's what matters the most, not public image or measuring up to hipster standards. A band can have all the street cred in the world, but without the songs what does that cred matter. Good mix.
christ on a cracker, what's with the lemonheads haters?? maybe i'm old enough to remember them first coming out & being new & refreshing & too much fun to ignore. wonderful mix here, bravo!
Just a couple of days ago my wife was saying the same thing to me. I quickly reminded her that I didn't dislike The Lemonheads, I just never pull them out for a listen. She felt he gets dissed much as The Strokes do for being a affluent kid and somehow that is resented in the big rock and roll picture. I dunno, but a theory worth mentioning.
I might add that whenever a client of hers is given all the tools for success on a silver platter and then they fuck it up by doing stupid stuff, she refers to it as "Doing A Dando" which I don't think her co-workers get, yet they have adopted that phrase. Poor Evan.
I might add that whenever a client of hers is given all the tools for success on a silver platter and then they fuck it up by doing stupid stuff, she refers to it as "Doing A Dando" which I don't think her co-workers get, yet they have adopted that phrase. Poor Evan.
"doing a dando"... what a great line.
I've never had particularly strong feelings either way regarding Evan "Alternahunk" Dando, although in saying that I think I've usually liked anything I've heard by him (which, admittedly, isn't much).
I'm with CASETTA here...I think Dando is a talented songwriter and has a great rock voice, I just never pull him out for a listen....nice picks by the way!
I've never paid much attention to them. Maybe I should.
I'm more of the mind of my last four colleagues there. But I'm sure that this is a damn good, thoughtful mix on top of it all!
i dig and have always dug the lemonheads. his cover of "frying pan" is great, and "it's a shame about ray" is one of the top pop albums of the 90s, and "lovey" ain't half-bad either. wonderfully culled retrospective, rob.
ummmm...what gaucho/k****freak said. exactly. great stuff, Rob.
No sound of silence on this mix (and mrs. robinson either, for that matter), with 18 comments. I don't find myself reaching for my Lemonhead CDs too often either, but I agree that Mr. Dando has a very cool voice (far better than the other early Lemonheads' vocalist) and that It's A Shame About Ray is one of the best records of the early 90s. He is certainly capable of writing top-notch pop songs, most of which are included here.
nice guy
Very, very nice stuff, Mr. Conroy, and good for you to draw attention to both the Lemonheads and Dando solo. I've been a big Lemonheads fan for a good while now, although admittedly I wasn't so sure at first - I had a similar reaction to Cosmic Rough Riders when I first heard them, but have grown to love both bands. I think it's more than commendable to be able to write good, alternative pop, with great lyrics. And I love Rudderless, so I'm glad that's here!
Hmmm, managed to miss this debate two months ago. My two cents: I remember picking up Come On Feel The Lemonheads and being totally taken in by about half the songs, perfect little pop nuggets with killer hooks, sweetened further with the Hatfield backing vox. Yet almost immediately, and I don't remember how or by whom, I was made to feel like it was a Guilty Pleasure. Maybe it was snarky reviews, maybe Dando's personal bad press. Through a combination of that and just plain boredom, I put that album aside. Yet I still pull it out now and then and I'm still sucked in by those same songs. So fuck 'em if they can't enjoy a decent pop song.
Wwo, I love the Lemonheads and think his solo album is sublime. Frankly, I don't think it hurts that he's hot - when I've seen him live I have no problem swooning and listening at the same time. My Drug Buddy is one of my all time favorites (especially the live acoustic version where you hear more of Juliana.) The grass all wine colored went on all my summer mixes the eyar it came out.