the mennu method – Lo Rotzim Lo Tzarich!
- Haim Laroz-Man A Kill Man (Kutiman RMX)-Laroz Restars-2008
- MC Karolina-Lion-Funset-2005
- Dana Berger -Learning to Fly (Pollyanna Frank Remix)-Plastelina Vol. 1-2003
- J. Viewz-Smooth criminal-The Besides EP-2008
- Itamar Ziegler-Jimi Stack Shakshooka Shack-Itamar Ziegler-2005
- Eatliz-Attractive-Violently Delicate-2007
- The High Windows-Yekhezkel-The High Windows-1967
- Panic Ensemble-Jewish Woman-Panic Ensamble-2008
- HaBiluim-Clone in G7-Sheol Vekishalon-2007
- The Ramirez Brothers-Taltalim-The Ramirez Brothers-2009
- Girafot-Yesh Lo Bachurot Kmo Mayyim-Chatting With The Chair-1999
- Itamar Ziegler-Arabic Surf Dance-Itamar Ziegler-2002
- The Apples-Kol Ha Yom Ba Halal-Buzzin’ About-2008
- Coolooloosh-Untill The Day-Elements of Sound-2008
- Johnny-Chicka Virtualit-The Johnny Show-2008
- Lemmus Lemmus-Tame of the Shrew-Lemmus Lemmus-2008
- Yoni Rechter-Quiet From The Road-Fourteen Octaves-1975
- Gary Eckstein-Coffee House Blues (Live in Neueba)-Off The Air-1978
- Pollyanna Frank-Sentimental Instrumental-Betty Ford Bar 5 Year CD-2007
download a zipped folder with individual mp3 files
Notes:
This mix was originally made to celebrate Israel’s 61st birthday and the 100th birthday of Tel Aviv.
Here’s my original liner notes from 2009:
Last year there was a lot of hype over Israel’s 60th birthday. Now it’s 61 years old, and love it, hate it, praise it, or criticize it as much as you want, it’s here to stay. At least for another year. Hopefully more.
It’s Tel Aviv’s 100th birthday this year. To think that a century ago, Tel Aviv was just a crazy idea, and now it’s the most populous city in Israel. I would also say that it’s the most awesome city in Israel, particularly if you enjoy city life and staying out all night. The picture on the album art is a graffito of Herzl, visionary of the Jewish State. Anyone who’s seen The Big Lebowski knows Herzl’s famous quote about the possibility of a Jewish State, “If you will it, it is no dream.” In the picture here, he says, “lo rotzim, lo tzarich…” It translates as “you don’t want? you don’t need!” It’s the kind of thing that an Israeli teacher might say to his class when they are acting up. Kind of like, “if you don’t want you recess, you don’t need your recess!” In this case, I think Herzl is saying this to a new generation of Israelis: You want to complain about the state? You don’t want a state? Then you don’t need one.
All the music on this album is made by Israelis or in Israel. Most of the music on this mix is from the past three years, with a few notable exceptions. The playlist above lists the artist, title, album and year of release.
1 – I’ve had the original mix of this song for a few years. Haim Laroz is one of the best dub reggae producers in Israel or anywhere else in the world. This past winter I bought an album called “Laroz ReStars” which is his “Laroz All Stars” remixed. While the original mix of this sounds more like Lee “Scratch” Perry, this remix by Kutiman sounds like it just fell out of Bob Marley’s ashtray.
2 – It’s always a party with Karolina.
3 – I had a hard time choosing which track I wanted to take off the Plastelina Vol. 1 CD which has remixes of Israeli songs by Pollyanna Frank. I ended up with Dana Berger, of all people, whose music usually reminds me of a watered down Fiona Apple. But this track is a lot of fun.
4 – I’m a big fan of j.viewz, but you know this!
5 – This is dedicated to Cafe Ole on 3rd between Race and Arch in Philadelphia. They make the best shakshooka anywhere. Seriously. Last time I was in Tel Aviv, I passed on a subpar shakshooka on my last day there, with the intention of getting a better one in Philly.
6 – I got this album from the station manager at Kol Hacaumpus http://www.106fm.co.il. It’s my favorite station in Israel.
7 – This is about the prophet Ezekiel. He saw some real trippy stuff: dry bones getting covered with flesh and coming to life, two sticks merging into one, and a god coming down from heaven on a chariot with four headed animals pulling it.
8 – “They always do it/these Jewish women/cut off your head and celebrate.” At the end of the song she starts muttering in Yiddish. Sounds appealing but I’m not sure what she’s talking about.
9 – This track starts with a Yiddish radio broadcast from the 6 day war in 1967.
10 – I just missed these guys concert by a day when I was last in Tel Aviv. Some of the members of The Apples are in this band.
11 – This song can get any bar full of Israelis on their feet. I could have picked something from their 2006 release, but particularly over passover, I had this song on my mind, particularly when drinking arack with my father.
12 – This song has a great tempo.
13 – The title of this song means “All Day in the Spaceship.”
14 – Could have picked about five tracks from this album. I chose this one because of the cities shouted out at the end of the song.
15 – This album was made by a teenager who collaborated with some of the best artists in Israel. This track is very cute: he’s singing about his virtual chick.
16 – Pink Floyd forgot to record this on Piper At The Gates of Dawn.
17 – Israel blues.
18 – Even more Israeli blues.
19 – Betty Ford is a bar in Tel Aviv. For their fifth year, they put together a mix cd, which is solid end to end. Seriously. You should think of picking it up. It’s all good.