Pittsburgh Net Radio

Courtesy of Unicorn Mountain - Dave Bernabo is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon's Tepper Business School, is an active writer, musician, and artist. His poetry has been published in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Falderol, and Oakland Review, and a collaboration with Greg Cislon yielded Holy Music and Art, a book of vignettes and experimental writing published by Incredibly Thin. David's musical output consists of five full-length albums and three EP's with Vale and Year, a solo album, and compilation and guest appearances. David is currently working on a book of writing and drawings called Real Titles.
David Bernabo on My Space

Episode #10

Lily Allen- Everything's Wonderful (Alright Still)
I'd like to think I'm above peer pressure, but at a recent visit to Paul's CDs I gave in and didn't buy this record on the "advice" of my friend. I'm not proud of it, but the record (from what I've heard) is really great. I couldn't get the hit "Smile" out of my head for a few weeks. There's a lot of interesting production techniques on here and the songs really can't be beat. That is why it is leading off this mix.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly- Behind the Sun (s/t)
It's been a while since the last Blur record, and the Gorillaz records don't really do it for me much. So, I had mixed expectations when I heard about this project. I think the individual players are greater than their sum, but I'm still really down with the record. Dangermouse production keeps it murky. This is my favorite song on the disc and I really love it. So, I'm gonna put some more time into this record and try to force myself to like it more.

The Constantines- The Long Distance Four (The Constantines)
I always thought of The Constantines as the Pearl Jam of indie rock (for lack of a better term). Very solid rock, good hooks, and will probably mild with age. Given the Cons last record, which I like a lot, I'd say my comparison is coming true. That's a bit beside the point, though. This track is from their first record and has remained my favorite from them. From the first time I saw them at the Brewhouse through some shows with them in Canada through a more recent show at Garfield Artworks, the Cons have consistently held it down, making non-pretentious, thoughtful yet powerful, full-blooded rock music.

Pearl Jam- No Way (Yield)
Yield was always my least favorite PJ record, but I'm coming around. I think it came out at a time when I was questioning (perhaps, wrongly) whether some of the grunge music I grew up on was valid. Yield marked the point where a lot of my friends questioned why I continued to ask for Pearl Jam records for my birthday. Anyway, I continued on and, for the most part, I think it was worth it. Pearl Jam has put out consistently good records. At this point, there's nothing amazing, possibly nothing even impressive, but a lot of their output still makes me smile.

The Roots- Game Theory (Game Theory)
Admittedly, when it comes to hip hop, I don't keep up much and am pretty ignorant about a lot of the output. But the Roots were a group I caught onto fairly early and never really left. Game Theory really seemed like a return to form, a good mix of hard beats, jazzy runs, and unforced experimentation. I'm a big fan of their production, great drum sounds, and lots of musical layers. Just really smart production and rhymes.

Miles Davis- Nothing Like You (Sorcerer)
Perhaps one of the most unlikely tunes to hear on a Miles record, "Nothing Like You" combines a 1962 Miles-led sextet with the writing and singing of cult personality Bob Dorough. Oddly enough, it is Wayne Shorter's first recording with Miles. Sorcerer was the third record with the Miles Davis's mid 60s quintet, and it's a cavern of dark twists and odd beauty. This sticks out like a sore thumb on the record, and that's why I decided to put it on a mix.

Steely Dan- Sign In Stranger (The Royal Scam)
I think this is the 10th mix I've made for PNR, and I have a feeling that I already included this track on an earlier mix. That said, if I put it on every mix it still wouldn't be enough. You gotta love a chorus that starts with "You Zombie." Suffice to say, I love Steely Dan and I love when other people do, too.

Weezer- Across the Sea (Pinkerton)
Like many people, I am real into the first two Weezer records. Pinkerton was my jam for a number of consistent weeks. I like the bells on this track and wished they would have continued with more orchestration and complexity. Alas, that, obviously was not the case. They just fuzzed out into boredom. But this is still a masterpiece of a pop record.

The Beatles- Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey (The Beatles)
Sometime in high school, I became obsessed with trying to write a song like this. Chord-wise it is very simple, but the bulk of the music is a moving bass line, a lead guitar, and that bell. Lyrics are great. Can't say much that hasn't already been said.

Loose Fur- Stupid as the Sun (Born Again In The USA)
If you've been listening to my mixes, you could probably sense how much I'm into Jim O'Rourke. While we wait (perhaps in vain) for another song oriented record, Loose Fur gives you a few Jim songs, which are always great to hear. Funny, deceptively complex, and shaking, this song is a lot of fun. If you have the time and cash, please check out some of Jim's earlier tape and drone records that have recently been reissued in the past few years. They are well worth it.

Centipede E'est- Blue Streak (Cheeks of Neptune)
Centipede are a Pittsburgh band. If you're listening to PNR and from Pittsburgh, you probably know them. Kind of an all-star group with Caulen and Jim Lingo from Boombox, and Sam from Johnsons Big Band, Local Honey and a bunch of other bands. And Nicholas Fallwell on guitar. I actually don't remember what he was in before. But anyway, this record is real good. Check it out. Check them out if you haven't already.

Scorch Trio- Sunnja Vega (Luggumt)
Easily one of my all-time favorite drummers Paal Nilssen-Love is joined by Raoul Bjorkenheim on guitar and viola and Ingebrigt Haker Flaten on double and electric bass and electronics. The sounds they get are amazing veering from Hendrix leads to beautiful soundscapes of plunking and whines. Amazing record from rune grammofon, which consistently releases some of the best records around.

Mary Celeste- Before the Rain and After the Rain (Like Selling Symptoms to the Sick)
The first day of recording this EP, I helped set up a few mics and then went to the hospital where I spent the next two weeks bed-ridden with a deadly blood clot. Luckily, I was not needed, cos my man Greg Cislon helped Mary Celeste make a great document of their band. Greg also adds some sax to this track, which trips it out pretty well. Anyway, it's a real cool EP. Check it out.

Sonic Youth- French Tickler (A Thousand Leaves)
I was late to the Sonic Youth game. I got into NYC Ghosts and Flowers when it came out. My descent into Sonic madness came with a research paper linking Sonic Youth with the Beat Generation. Twelve pages later and an A+, I was fully hooked. Especially when O'Rourke joined fulltime. Knowing that it shouldn't be heard to see how A Thousand Leaves to present SY comprise my favorite SY records.

Bjork- Gratitude (Drawing Restraint 9)
I might be repeating myself again, but this track deserves it. I think it's the most beautiful Will Oldham has ever sounded. Others might disagree - it's not his words/his voice. But that's fine with me. An amazing soundtrack. Here's looking forward to her next record.

A Tribe Called Quest- Excursions (The Low End Theory)
Thought I'd end this mix with a little Tribe. Can't get enough of Q-Tip's smooth voice.