Mixtape Madness: Sick Day Mixtape

In this most frigid of winters, people have been dropping left and right with colds, the flu, bronchitis, etc.

While the office at Death and Taxes today is quite full, the record store I work at is ailing big time, with about half the staff having fallen victim to Winter’s treachery. Rather than rush to their aid though, I’ll entertain music fans with a playlist of tracks detailing the symptoms of when I last fell ill.

Queens Of The Stone Age – “Sick Sick Sick”

Opening up the tape is a thrashy anthem from QOTSA’s “Era Vulgeris” album. The chorus says it all – the full on surrender of the illness chanted over a roaring riff the rips through hot like a fever. The song is also of interesting note when thinking about former tourmates Nine Inch Nails’ influence on the group and their subsequent influence back on them. Note NIN’s “The Slip” record for evidence of Queens Of The Stone Age’s tampering.

The Beatles – “I’m So Tired

When getting up to go the bathroom becomes a chore, you know you’re in bad shape, let alone fixing yourself a drink. One thing I know is when I’m dead tired, I don’t spend my time smoking cigarettes and cursing Sir Walter Raleigh. For one, I don’t smoke, but also because there’s plenty of stupid gits from the past century I could talk shit about.

Beastie Boys – “Time To Get Ill”

January seems to be the most popular time to get ill, although our usually merciful December was a cold hard bitch this past year, pushing everyone into their sick day a tad early. The closing track from “Licensed To Ill,” “Time To Get Ill” gets away with murder in terms of sampling – pulling in clips from Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and “Mr. Ed,” a show picking up where “Howdy Doody” left off in terms of creepy family programing.

Tori Amos – “Caught a Lite Sneeze”

Tori Amos – Caught a lite sneeze
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While sneezing is harmless among the healthy, in a sick environment it can spread germs very quickly. This single from Tori Amos’ “Boys For Pele” record is one of her best tracks and a testament to how her 90′s work was more than just a cut above the Lilith Fair fodder she was often associated with.

Frank Black – “Headache”

This song is making a second Mixtape Madness appearance from when it first popped up on our “Four Loko Mixtape” from last month, but a headache’s a headache, and what better way to demonstrate its power than this tune. This song is one of Frank Black’s best post Pixies songs, and one of several gems from his ambitious “Teenager Of The Year” record. This symptom can be handled easily with a handful of Tylenol.

The Cure – “Cold”

The Cure’s 1982 goth masterpiece “Pornography,” is a sick day record in of itself, although it will most likely make you feel worse. The fevered streaks of drug damaged sound pulsate through the album until it throbs in your brain, due also in large part by Lol Tolhurst’s tribal drums throughout. “Cold” is one of their iciest tracks. The synths are harsh and engulfing, and Robert Smith’s despairing vocal, singing the words, “your name like ice into my heart,” is enough to make you not want to move for a while.

The White Stripes – “Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine”

Sometimes homemade remedies like those conjured from the bark off a tree might be just what the body needs. This “Elephant” track is one of the White Stripes most brutal bursts of punk rock energy, and is good victory anthem once you’re all better again.

James Brown – “Cold Sweat”

Influenza can make the body temperature rise and fall. Waking up bathed in cold sweat is very common and can often make you feel like you pissed yourself in your sleep. The song “Cold Sweat” is one of the Godfather of Soul’s most recognized grooves is considered by many to be the first funk song.

Siouxsie and the Banshees – “Dizzy”

The last time I got sick, it was difficult to walk very far without getting a spell of the dizzies. A decent later day track from Siouxsie and the Banshees, “Dizzy”‘s warm sultry vibe might be a comforting remedy for the bored and bedridden.

Dinosaur Jr – “Puke + Cry”

Being sick is an emotional condition, especially if you can’t even keep your food down. This song is from Dino’s first major label record, “Green Mind,” an album J Mascis recorded mostly by himself as it would seem his band mates were making each other want to puke and cry on site.

Bush – “Cold Contagious”

Bush were a mid 90′s cold that the charts shook off fairly quickly. In all fairness, I always liked the Steve Albini produced “Razorblade Suitcase,” with its heavy “In Utero” drums and “Surfer Rosa” metal picking. I often feel bad for frontman Gavin Rossdale, a man who for a time was posted above every teenage girl’s bed, who’s now a footnote in superstar wife Gwen Stefani’s bio. It’s shame. He seems like a nice guy.

The Smiths – “Still Ill”

Not better yet? Neither is Moz. This early Smiths track is a classic in their repetoire. This version is the superior John Peel version from “Hatful of Hollow.”

Tilly and the Wall – “Coughing Colors”

A beautiful song from a band more well known for their tap dancing percussion rather than their drumless ballads. While coughing up colors can be an alarming symptom, one that I would check with your doctor about, the song “Coughing Colors” is a lovely torch song that should be listened to over a hop cup of tea. Trust me, it’ll be good for you.

That’s it for this week. Get well soon!