Erik's January 2012 Mix - God Only Likes Those Who Stay High Enough on Him

God Only Likes Those Who Stay High Enough on Him from BubbleWolf on 8tracks.

I'm not exactly sure where this mix came from. I think it came on the heels of streaming Craig Finn's new country-tinged solo album Clear Heart Full Eyes, going back through Pitchfork's Best of 2000s albums list and hearing Ryan Adams' Heartbreaker, and rekindling my love of Milwaukee band The Championship's Midnight Golden. All of these elements came together, and I found myself assembling a country-ish playlist. I like it. 


God Only Likes Those Who Stay High Enough on Him


01. Bob Dylan - Sarah Jane
This is a track of of the much-maligned Dylan album. Not especially country, but it takes on new meaning when you realize that you're essentially listening to "I Want You Back" by Jackson 5.


02. Fleetwood Mac - That's Enough for Me
As always, my Tusk phase continues. This is another one of Lindsay Buckingham's coke-fueled anger songs.


03. Ryan Adams - My Winding Wheel
As stated, I recently heard Heartbreaker and fell for it. This and Old 97's Too Far to Care are great gems in indie-pop-alt-whatever-fuck-labels country. And this song in particular is fantastic.


04. The Clientele - Saturday
Also going through Pitchfork's 2000s list I heard The Clientele's Suburban Light and was totally taken by it. This was actually the first song I put on this list.


05. The Hold Steady - 212 Margarita
This track is a B-side or something. I saw this video a few years ago and it re-convinced me that Craig Finn is a genius. There are a lot of great lines in this one.


06. The Championship - Christian Man / I'd Rather Be Truckin' 
The Championship was a Milwaukee band that I think is now defunct. All I know is that Midnight Golden is one of my favorite winter albums (check it out on iTunes. Buy it). Yes, he sounds like Springsteen or Johnny Cash. But it's not a bad thing. And the second half of this track is some great drivin' music.


07. Neko Case - Stinging Velvet
I'm super-predictable when I think of "country" music, because my mind immediately goes to about 4 bands. Neko Case, Drive-By Truckers, Old 97's, and Lucinda Williams. I love how all of these artists take standard country and southern rock conventions and make them a unique and heartfelt listening experience. Neko Case is so brilliant and emotive with her voice. She can pretty much do no wrong in my eyes. And she's funny as hell. This track is off of Blacklisted.


08. Old 97's - Big Brown Eyes
Too Far to Care is one of the best albums of the 90s, in my humble opinion, and the opinion of this blog. I remember seeing The Old 97s in The Break-Up and liking "Melt Show" a lot. I then looked into a greatest hits album, and I loved a few choice tracks. Years later, I ended up listening to TFtC and realizing that every song I had previously liked was on it. And, I liked every other song on it. "Big Brown Eyes" is great in the way it builds, has fantastic lyrics, and a phenomenal hook.


09. Elliott Smith - I Don't Think I'm Ever Gonna Figure it Out
I'm pretty sure this track is a demo from the Basement on a Hill sessions. Elliott Smith had a rich appreciation for country music, and you can hear a lot of that influence in his music. This is a folk, song as is customary for him, but it really has country undertones.


10. Lucinda Williams - Mama You Sweet
Lucinda Williams is a throwback to the old traditions of Tammy Wynette and Patsy Cline of writing from a really sentimental and oftentimes wounded place. "Mama You Sweet" is a beautiful track. I get a little edgy and breathless as that last verse trails on and on and on, but as soon as it comes full circle it's one of my favorite musical moments.


11. Drive-By Truckers - Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife
This song is devastating. If you don't know the subject matter, read into it. A heartbreaking story and a gut-wrenching way to tell it.


12. Bright Eyes - Devil Town
I watch Friday Night Lights.


Until Next Time,
-e.