My mix cd for the Very Shenry Christmas CD Swap was fired away in the mail last week. I've even heard that a couple of people have received their copies. Sheryl received my cd a couple days ago. She listened to half of it and immediately demanded a refund. Princess Kristie just informed me that she received a copy; however, she has yet to complain, so I assume she hasn't played it yet. Before I cause anymore trauma and lose anymore readers I'll explain things a bit:

The Book of Shenry: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

1. Houses of the Holy, Led Zeppelin: This had to begin with either Zep or Dylan. And though I worded that as if I had a choice, there is really no choice at all. No free will. Zep has the pep to kickoff this mix. Respect the Led Zeppelin Law: No fucking with the stereo when it's blasting Led Zeppelin.
   
2. Ghetto Musick, OutKast: Ghetto is where I live. Seriously. The projects are half a block to the north and the liquor store is half a block to the south. The foot traffic we get from 10AM-midnight is amazing. Doubly amazing is that the drunks toss their empties in our yard… not necessarily amazing on the surface, but do the math. We live 40-yards form the lq. They buy 40-oz bottles of malt liquor (usually King Cobra). The average adult male stride measures 1-yard…
   
3. 7, Prince: My Prince song… mine.
   
4. Duvet, bOa: This song is the title song for the mind blowing anime Serial Experiments: Lain. I highly recommend the four-disc series to those among us who maintain a virtually persona (that's basically all of us) and who don't mind anime.
   
5. Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat), Digable Planets: Every year after my birthday I adopt a new annual theme song; this year's song is Rebirth of Slick, because "I'm cool like dat."
   
6. Demonoid Phenomenon, Rob Zombie: This song was a last second addition. I wasn't digging the transition between Digable Planets and Bob Dylan. I'm not saying this works all that well, but it's better than what it was. ("Enjoy that dead girl's body.")
   
7. My Back Pages, Bob Dylan: This is prototypical Dylan. Guitar, voice, and lyrics. Dylan's vocal wine is beautifully forlorn and cuts the ears like a rusty knife. Those who criticize Dylan's voice are only hearing… not listening and feeling.
   
8. Epistle to Dippy, Donovan: I dunno why I tossed this song into the mix.
   
9. Sweet Child O' Mine, Guns 'N' Roses: Oh that opening guitar riff is so majestic. Let go and enjoy. You know every word so sing it and don't be embarrassed.
   
10. Twelve Jewelz, Gravediggaz: Rap song is not an oxymoron. Take this piece as spoken word poetry if you're not into rap. The rapid delivery, the tempo changes, the verbal inflections, the intricate wordplay, the subtle play on words, and the way the RZA growls, "fingernaaaaaail"… that kinda stuff takes talent.
    
11. Let's Get Retarded, Black Eyed Peas: These guys are my favorite personal discovery of the year. I saw them perform on the Grammies this year and I rushed out to buy (as in pay money for at the store) their album the next day. I have since procured their first two albums and all of their stuff is crunk-a-licious.
    
12. Three Little Birds, Bob Marley: This is my philosophical theme song. Not annual theme song like track #5… This song reflects my approach to living. And the little anecdote about this song at Marley's homepage is priceless (check it here).
    
13. Super Bad, James Brown: Supafunkified. I got soul and I'm super bad! You can't top that earsplitting scream at minute 3:50-ish. I want this song played at my funeral, so one of y'all best come prepared.
    
14. Retro Godfather, Method Man: Disco rap is good. I love Meth's lazy style, because I can actually follow his rhymes without tripping over my slow tongue.
    
15. Mankind, Pearl Jam: Vedder who? An often overlooked tune by my favorite grunge band. It won't be long until Pearl Jam starts cropping up on classic rock radio stations.
    
16. Pressure Drop, Toots & The Maytals: The traditional reggae drop-beat is completely irresistible… kinda like me.
    
17. Musica, Aterciopelados: I only understand about 10% of this song, but that's not the point. Aterciopelados's wicked hooks get me singing words I don't even know.
    
18. Yes It Is, United Dope Front: Colorado-grown trip-hop.
    
19. Nowhere to Run, Crystal Method, DMX, Ozzy Osbourne, Ol' Dirty Bastard: I wanted to end the cd with pounding, guitar-driven rock. I was thinking Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water, or Black Sabbath's Paranoid. But then Ol' Dirty Bastard kicked the bucket and I knew I had to pay homage to him on this mix cd. With this song you get a bizarre fusion of both worlds, brought together on a techno canvas. One of my favorite moments on is DMX barking, "Come on!" to Ozzy… I find it surreal. So, when you get to the end of this song and O.D.B. is ranting nonsensically, pour a bit of your King Cobra 40 onto the sidewalk for our fallen homie, O.D.B.
    
20. Effervescing Elephant, Syd Barrett: Thus ends my mix, with a dash of spicy hippo plankton food, an ironic smirk, and a half-assed attempt at a moral.

Thanks, everybody, for participating in the cd swap.
...and so it was written, shenry at 12/14/2004 07:51:00 AM.
...and so it was appended with .