There's always one song or artist that usually lights the spark of inspiration for every mix I make, and becomes the foundation for what I'm about to share. In this case, it was two. The first; while on my recent visit back to New York, I was driving around with a friend that still listens to terrestrial radio. A cover version of The Cranberries "Linger" came on performed by Royel Otis, whom up until that point I'd never heard of. It immediately gave me a new-found sense of appreciation for this beautiful, beautiful song that I'd always liked, but never fully loved until hearing this reinterpretation. I knew it would have to be the opener for my next mix.
The second inspiration came in mid-September when I reconnected with my high school buddy Harrison Schoenfarber here in LA for dinner. It dawned on me we probably hadn't seen each other for over 20 years at this point, but we grew up in the same circle of musician friends in our most formative years. I was familiar with his post-high school band Hepburn, who were pretty awesome. But I had no idea that back in 2012, he had made an album under the moniker of Name Brand Safe, with a friend he was helping go through a difficult divorce. Much in the same way that Christian James Hand had helped me make the Pike Project album as a way to cope with grief. The next day when I listened to this album, "Celebrate Your Wounds," I was blown away beyond words. I couldn't believe this guy I went to high school with had written such a beautiful album, which is now, literally, among one of my all time favorite albums. Especially the two tracks "Don't Look Back" and "Let Go," which are more relevant to me now than ever! So, thank you, Harris. Ever since our meet up, he's been cranking on a new album's worth of stuff and posting it online, and it's GREAT. And it's inspired me to finally start hashing out the next Pike Project album, whatever that might be.
So, that's the foundation for "With Friends Like These..." which is a title that also came to me out of the ether, and felt perfect. This features new tunes by my friends in Playing Dead and Skyhill, as well as The Cure, Jane's Addiction, Mogwai, Dean Lewis, Anthony Raneri of Bayside. Covers galore with Willie Nelson playing Flaming Lips, Sponge playing Oasis! The All-American Rejects playing Harvey Danger. New discoveries like gursday, a Long Island band recommended to me by Sam Hoyas. And a Bob Moses song "Broken Belief," which I heard on an episode of THE PENGUIN of all places!
A few older songs round this out because of their personal significance with me while putting this together; Taking Back Sunday's "Faith (When I Let You Down)" and the mighty John Parr's "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)," which could be the one break-down from Christian James Hand that I've listened to the most. I know I say this every time, but it's because I truly believe it... this is my best mix yet!
RE: the cover image, I just googled the phrase "With Friends Like These," and it brought me to this artwork created by Michael Whelan for the Alan Dean Foster book of the same name. Synchronicity!
Without further ado, I give you...
2024, Vol. 6: With Friends Like These
1. Linger by Royel Otis
2. High Road by Anthony Raneri
3. We Dont Want The Same by Playing Dead
4. Let Go by Name Brand Safe
5. Supersonic by Sponge
6. Flagpole Sitta by The All-American Rejects
7. Broken Belief by Bob Moses
8. God Gets You Back by Mogwai
9. Alone by The Cure
10. Ghost Light by Skyhill (featuring Maiah Wynne)
11. Black Hole Heart by 1000 Years (featuring System Syn)
12. Empire by Dean Lewis
13. don't stop by gursday
14. Do You Realize?? by Willie Nelson
15. Boys & Girls by Alisa Xayalith
16. True Love by Janes Addiction
17. Don't Look Back by Name Brand Safe
18. Faith (When I Let You Down) by Taking Back Sunday
19. St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) by John Parr
