Flak Magazine: Lavina Lee's 2001 Annotated Mix CD, 01-10-02

Taking into consideration my obsession with keys, put the subject of not being able to find one's keys to cricket-like chirps and some of Björk's sweetest vocals since the Sugarcubes' "Birthday," and I'm hooked.

2. "Aaron & Maria" | American Analog Set
Know by Heart | (Tiger Style) | 3:10

The chorus is defiance at its, boy howdy, cutest? But it's a close race with the exasperated exhalation of "Aaron sighs, 'If the TV's right, put your hat on tight, you'll catch your death outside.'" See the main list.

3. "Communist Love Song" | Soltero
Science Will Figure You Out | (Kentuckyland) | 3:24

A guy, his guitar and a heavy-hearted vow to be your indestructible Berlin Wall. And I have to confess my weakness for squeaky guitar noises, the word "please" in a song and being able to hear the spit in someone's mouth. See the main list.

4. "A Movie Script Ending" | Death Cab for Cutie
The Photo Album | (Barsuk) | 4:19

As long as I'm talking about particular words, I typically prefer the use of "yes" to "yeah" in a song. There are two of them here between 3:14-3:16.

5. "Sentimental Man" | The Dismemberment Plan
Change | (De Soto) | 4:16

I didn't take to Change as quickly nor as much as I did to the masterpiece that is 1999's Emergency & I, but I also found it difficult to get past the surprisingly melodious vocals of this first track from a guy who usually sounds pretty good being feisty.

6. "The Trees" | Pulp
We Love Life | (Universal Island) | 4:49

Away from the sultry sleaze of This is Hardcore and into the woods I go with Jarvis Cocker and Co.

7. "Bbtone" | Pinback
Blue Screen Life | (Ace Fu) | 4:48

The distinctive tag-team vocals of Pinback are plentiful here as well as the fun and games of trying to figure out what they're singing.

"Hip, hip, hippie hobo" is actually, "Rip, rip, rip me open."

8. "Sunflower" | Low
Things We Lost in the Fire | (Kranky) | 4:39

It seems sort of frivolous to spend half the ransom on sunflowers, even if they are sweet, but the desperation behind the voices is convincing enough for a field's worth. See the main list.

9. "Hum" | Bardo Pond
Dilate | (Matador) | 3:43

It's like following the hypnotizing sounds of a guitar and a tambourine to the far corner of a factory empty with the exception of the loud hum of machines at work.

10. "I Want Wind to Blow" | The Microphones
The Glow, Pt. 2 | (K) | 5:32

11. "The Glow, Pt. 2" | The Microphones
The Glow, Pt. 2 | (K) | 4:58

The Glow, Pt. 2 is really an opus of experimental and overwhelmingly beautiful cacophony made possible by Phil Elvrum and his dusty-throated crooning, so extracting two tracks is rather like doing the album a disservice. But some Microphones is better than no Microphones.

12. "New Slang" | The Shins
Oh, Inverted World | (Sub Pop) | 3:51

It has already been established by fellow Flaksters that this pop song nears perfection. I'll cast my vote by including it here. See the main list.

13. "Late-Century Dream" | Superchunk
Here's to Shutting Up | (Merge) | 4:38

The bass line sounds more New Order than Superchunk, but that's not a bad thing.

14. "Stop Your Crying" | Spiritualized
Let It Come Down | (Arista) | 5:16

The video features Jason Pierce in the spotlight, surrounded by an orchestra and a choir that are lit only during the chorus of Pierce's "come on, baby" pleas. By the end, they're smashing their instruments rock-star style while Pierce stands calmly before them. The song is good, too.

15. "The Dark is Rising" | Mercury Rev
All Is Dream | (V2) | 4:52

Jonathan Donahue's high-pitched angelic wail lends gravity to the grandeur of All Is Dream's opener.

16. "More Yellow Birds" | Sparklehorse
It's a Wonderful Life | (Capitol) | 4:53

"Gold Day" may be optimistic, but this song includes birds and ponies.

17. "Church on White" | Stephen Malkmus
Stephen Malkmus | (Matador) | 3:20

Malkmus takes a breather between his signature nonsensical lyrics for this sincerely delivered line "But all you ever wanted was everything and everything, plus the truth. I only poured you half a lie..."

18. "Little Room" | The White Stripes
White Blood Cells | (Sympathy for the Record Industry) | :50

A condensed 50 seconds of drum-thumping energy before Fugazi's droning hooks. See the main list.

19. "Argument" | Fugazi
The Argument | (Dischord) | 4:23

I'm sure Ian MacKaye had different intentions when he wrote "I'm on a mission to never agree." Taken out of context, though, I can use it as my motto for the year and live up to accusations of being difficult.

You can e-mail Lavina Lee at lavina@stutters.net.