Ginny is a punk rocker.

Last night I went to the midnight premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) and left the theater wanting more than anything to be a wizard. I had my ticket weeks in advance, watched all the previous movies, and started listening to some magic related music. It was the usual stuff: The Wizard by Black Sabbath, Do You Believe In Magic?, The Flaming Lips' album At War With The Mystics, etc. But that wasn't quite cutting it. Then I remembered a band I had heard of a while back; Harry & The Potters. I had dismissed them as a comical example of how creative fans can get. Seeing that I didn't have any of their albums, I thought I might as well get some. That's how I found Wizard Rock. That's right, Wizard Rock; music about and inspired by the Harry Potter books. Did you know there are over 70 bands in the genre? That's alot for a 'gag genre'. But here's the thing: its not a gag, these people make real music. Ok, so Harry & The Potters' first album isn't a great example, but later in their discography they really pull it together. So how about this: if you saw Deathly Hallows Pt.1, are going to see it, or have any vague interest in this sort of thing, listen to some Wizard Rock (conveniently provided for you here). If you like the bands, the rest of their music is just a google away. Wands at the ready. Swish and flick!

http://www.mediafire.com/file/fzkalwqvb8yy7d5/Wizard%20Rock.rar
Also: When did Ginny Weasly get so attractive?

Who's gonna carry all that weight? That's not my weight. Not my weight, not my problem. That's what I say...

This week's entry is dedicated to The Beatles. Now, I don't care if you don't like The Beatles; I do and so that's what I'm writing about. You don't have to like The Beatles, that is your choice. However, I have no interest in getting into a “stop liking what I don't like” conversation. I ask that if you despise The Beatles and every piece of music they have ever created, that you either skip this week's entry, or do your best to go into it with an open mind. I will do two things to alleviate your pain (and to bring some essence of creativity to a Beatles discussion. I'll admit it; its been done). First of all, I won't talk about The Beatles' influence on rock music or any other genre. Second, I will not have you listen to songs recorded by The Beatles. This will be an all covers post.

If you do like The Beatles, disregard that last paragraph. Let's get to the point: anyone who knows me knows that I like The Beatles. As for my favorite album, I like Abbey Road. Sure, there are songs I may skip depending on my mood (I'm looking at you, Maxwell's Silver Hammer...) but for the most part I will listen to every song, every time. Oddly enough, my favorite song is not on Abbey Road- in fact, it's not on any studio album (It's Don't Let Me Down in case you were wondering; though Carry That Weight is a close second). Abbey Road is an album that demands to be listened to in its entirety. Side B's Tracks 3 through 7 and then 8 through 10 are popularly and semi-officially considered the Abbey Road and Golden Slumbers Medleys respectively. Whether official or not, the tracks carry musical themes that make the entire second half of the album hard to separate into tracks. This is a perfect example of the vinyl experience; it was made to be listened to all together, even taking into account the pause between sides. The long heavy I Want You (She's So Heavy) ending Side A is followed by the liberating opening of Side B- Here Comes The Sun- for a reason. Meanwhile the rest of the album tells a story, albeit a strange one. It has plenty of great lyrics and catchy melodies and I have plenty of good memories of listening to it. The point I'm really trying to make is that I love Abbey Road. It holds personal meaning to me and that is a stronger argument than any intended or unintended quality or theme that may have been inserted. Now, I'm sure even Beatles fans will disagree with my choice. Everyone has their favorites, Abbey Road just happens to be mine. As always, I'd love to hear what yours is. To each their own.

But anyway, here's this week's little project:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/odlbnnb6lb8tuc2/%5BLIJ%5D%20Mixtape%20%233-%20Abbey%20Road%20Repaved.rar

Abbey Road Repaved

Side A:

Track 1) Come Together- Michael Jackson

When I found this track, I listened to it purely out of curiosity. I had no intention of putting it on this mix. Then it was good... really good. Michael Jackson had become a worldwide joke before his death, and still is to some extent. Because of that, I wasn't even going to give this song a chance. However, I think its a great example of an artist taking a song, preserving it, yet still making it his own.

Track 2) Something- Jim Sturgess

I loved Across the Universe; I thought it was a well executed idea. If I had the money, I'd have liked to do something similar. My roommate would disagree, but he has said himself that he is probably in the minority. Whether you liked the movie or not, the way Sturgess sings this song is great.

Track 3) Maxwell's Silver Hammer- Let's Wrestle

Let's get one thing straight; I take John Lennon's stance on this song (Lennon thought it was stupid and refused to participate in its recording). It certainly has a right to exist, but if this song was removed from the album, I doubt I'd even notice. I grabbed this cover because it wasn't too bad, even for a song I don't like.

Track 4) Oh! Darling- Huey Lewis

Remember Huey Lewis and The News? This songs nothing like that. Apparently The News was too busy to show up for this recording, changing the entire sound. Despite that, its a nice cover and Lewis' voice really makes it work.

Track 5) Octopus's Garden- Jeffrey Lewis

You may or may not be surprised how hard it was to find a cover of a song written by Ringo Starr. I honestly just included this one because it was the only cover of the song I could find. It's not bad, but its not exactly a masterpiece either.

Track 6) I Want You (She's so Heavy)- George Benson

Jazz meets The Beatles. George Benson jazzed up about 90% of Abbey Road and released it as The Other Side of Abbey Road in about 1971. It was a big hit then, and I'm hoping it'll be a big hit with you too, fabulous readers. I love good jazz, and Benson is certainly good jazz.

Side B:

Track 1) Here Comes The Sun- Nina Simone

In the words of the late Joe Strummer: “Let Nina Simone rule the world!” Her song To Love Somebody is on the Joe Strummer documentary soundtrack, The Future Is Unwritten. I would suggest checking out both the song and the documentary as they are both worth experiencing. Her 1971 cover on the album of the same name is equally so.

Track 2) Because- Elliott Smith

Elliot Smith just can't be happy (barring his excellent work in Heatmiser) and this song is no exception. After all, this is a guy who committed suicide by stabbing himself in the chest... His cover of this track is beautifully sad.

Track 3) You Never Give Me Your Money- Nine Below Zero with Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze

Nine Below Zero is a band signed to Glenn Tilbrook's record label. I'm not sure why he decided to record this song with them, but I'm glad he did. I love Squeeze, they were a big part of my middle school days. That was when my musical tastes were just starting to branch out and for that, Squeeze will always have a special place in my heart.

Track 4) Sun King- Gomez

This is another song that was hard to find a cover for. But this one is a little above average compared to the other harder to find tracks on Abbey Road.

Track 5) Mean Mr. Mustard- Cornershop

Ok, I admit some of these come from Mojo Presents Abbey Road Now, mostly because they were the best or only covers of the song I could find. But hey, why fix what isn't broken, right?

Track 6) Polythene Pam- Atom & His Package

I'm never sure what to feel about Atom & His Package. They're an interesting band and can both very talented and very funny, but I feel like I haven't listened to enough of their songs to pass judgment just yet. This cover is a bit different with heavy distortion and slightly altered lyrics.

Track 7) She Came In Through the Bathroom Window- Los Lonely Boys

This is a band my uncle introduced me to a few years back. They have a Hispanic flare- rock by way of good old Mexico- and some of the best guitar work I've heard. That was the only time I think we've really talked in depth about a single subject. Its strange how doing the research for this brought me back to some interesting memories; The Beatles, Squeeze, my family. Everything is connected...

Track 8) Golden Slumbers- Ben Folds

Ben folds is another nostalgia blast for me. Until now I hadn't listened to Ben Folds in several years, but I immediately remembered why I used to; Ben Folds is incredibly talented. I've been listening to his albums all this week and I can recommend some great non-Beatles related songs. But non-Beatles related is not what we're talking about right now so I'll save it for later.

Track 9) Carry That Weight- Trash

If this one sounds like the original, there's a reason for that. Trash was a band signed to The Beatles' own Apple Records and this track comes from Come and Get It, a compilation of rare and unreleased songs from Apple Records including some Beatles Covers and an early James Taylor's Carolina In My Mind with Paul on guitar and George doing backing vocals. Its full of great tracks; definitely worth checking out..

Track 10) The End- Cheap Trick

I bought Cheap Trick Plays Sgt. Pepper Live because for whatever reason it makes me laugh whenever I think of it. Though the concept may or may not be funny, it ended up the same way the Michael Jackson cover did. Its good (and not from Sgt. Pepper, I might add) and so it made the mix.

Track 11) Her Majesty- Chumbawamba

I think this cover is brilliant. It both turns the originally very short ending piece into a full song, and criticizes the Royal Family. Who would have expected this from the band who brought us Tubthumper?