A Season in Hell #156: Best of 2013

It's that time of year when the sun goes down earlier, the air gets a bit chillier, and DJs from around the world try to claim that they have what is the absolute BEST music of the year to share with you.

Well they don't. They're all suckers. But I do!!!

My Best of 2013 is perhaps my best BEST OF show in all of my 25 years in radio. Really. Would I lie?

I'm listening to new music all of the time. There are times that I'm looking at my music library, and I wonder just when I'll listen to any of that "old" music again? And when I say old, I mean from last month. There just aren't enough hours in the day. Am I right? I can't wait until I'm too old to do anything by listen to my music. Then I'll hire some hot nurse who'll have to bathe me and put records on my turntable. That's the life.

In the meantime enjoy this collection of fine tunes from 2013. We've got many local talented groups that deserve your attention like Thee Oh Sees, Rin Tin Tiger, Y Axes, Vandella, Mikal Cronin, KalriSSian, Bears! Bears! Bears!, and my favorite "local" band, The Melvins.

Two hours is just not enough time to play all of my faves from 2013. I suggest you tune into Radio Valencia throughout December to check out the many "Best of" shows that are going to cover the airwaves like a warm that sticky film of fat that covers the turkey the day following a good feast...or something like that.

Enjoy.

To stream my Best of 2013 show, go here.
To download it, and give it as a gift, go here, and then burn it onto a CD. You know what CDs are don't ya?
To hear all of my Best of shows, go here.

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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White Rabbit: Shannon and the Clams
Humans be Swayed: Thee Oh Sees
Teenage Eyes: Spider Bags

My Best Friend: The Melvins
Mt. Abraxas: Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats
Blowin' Kisses: Jacuzzi Boys

Let's Get High: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Hurt Me: Vandella
Silver Timothy: Damien Jurado

Neon Streets: Y Axes
Preacher: Fuzz
The West: Ty Segall

Half of a Century: The Delphines
Haunted Now: Rin Tin Tiger
Shout it Out: Mikal Cronin
Fuck you Cop: Birdcloud

Spanish Speaks: Weekender
I Feel You: The Parrots
Hallelujah: GRMLN
Life Hurts: Kalri$$ian

Living Space: Bears! Bears! Bears!
American Cowboy: Futurebirds
Who Needs You: The Orwells

Ghouls: Wooden Shjips
Emmylou: First Aid Kit
Tie My Pecker to a Tree: The Melvins
Cold River Blues: Loretta Lynch

A Season in Hell #155: Sure is Pissed!

Ok, so sometimes when I'm staring at my music collection, which is quite large, I have no idea what the hell I'm going to play for you. Seriously. Most of the time, when I'm preparing for my show, I totally know what I'm going to play for you. I have a theme in mind, or it's all new music, or based on a band, etc. There are times when I've finished my show and I can't wait until the following Monday when I can play you some tunes that I didn't get to. Then there are those days when I'm just staring at my walls of music (yes, I said walls) and I can't for the life of me figure out what I'm going to play.

What to do, what to do?

That's when I know it's time to really mix it up. For tonight's show it's all about the many genres and strange goings-on in John Hell's music library. Psych, international, grunge, pop vocals, prog-a-capella, accordions, pissed off preachers, ripped off originals, pissed off black men, legendary music-makers, mash-up copyright infringers, and Iggy Pop.

There you have it. Just take a look at this play list, and I'm sure that you'll agree, 4 out of 5 dentist can't be wrong.

You know you just have to drive this one home today!

Download this deal of a lifetime here.
Stream this into your HI-FI here.
Check out all the weirdness by clicking here, or just scroll down.

Enjoy.

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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I Get a Kick out of You: Tony Bennett
Swan Lee: Syd Barrett
Truth: Alexander Ebert

Other Stars: Wooden Shjips
Leave It (A Capella): Yes
Iron Man: Giant Sand

Baby's Arms: Kurt Vile
Pray til you Sweat: The Monkeywrench
Red Hair: Bevis Frond

Singto: Lion
Mao (Drunk): Don Sornrabeab
OudTaLud Bump (Hurtle Bump): Soonthorn Sujaridchan
Kard Klan Nam Mun (Lack of Gasoline): Rayrai No Koratch

Devil Went Down to Georgia: Those Darn Accordions!
Now Ah Lissen: Some Preacher...and he sure is pissed
My Biggest Mistake: Joan of Arkansas
When the Levee Breaks: Memphis Minnie

George Bush Doesn't Like Black People: Legendary K.O.
East Bound and Down: Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies
You Can't Catch Me: Chuck Berry
Dirt: Iggy Pop

Ca Plane Pour Moi: Thee Headcoatees
What a Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong
My Favorite Things: Negativland

A Season in Hell #154: Never Enough Time

Radio is an artform. It's like having a blank canvas and painted it with sound. Most of the time I've got two hours to create a masterpiece for you, and I always feel like I'm just getting started when it's time to go. Tonight, I've got three hours to make this show shine!

And shine it does!

Lots of great new music here, and some classics you've never heard before.

I know you gonna dig this.

Enjoy.

Take this extra slice of life everywhere.
Stream this into your consciousness.
Dig shorter versions of my show by clicking here, or just scroll down.

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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It's Hard to be Humble: Mac Davis
Dear Flies, Love Spider: The Low Low's
I Want It All: Trans Am

Mt. Abraxas: Uncle Acid
Black Saint: Witch
Forbidden Waters: Webley Edwards

Buenos Tardes Amigo: Ween
The Throes: Rova Saxophone Quartet

It's the Sun: Polyphonic Spree
Glass Museum: Tortoise

Turk: Dirty 3
Come Outside: Ty Segall

Ruins: Wooden Shjips
Preacher: Fuzz
Mountain: Chad & The Meatbodies

Interview with Mikl Em and Tye McKenzie

You're in the Army Now: The Melvins
Walter's Lips: The Melvins
Subtle Reminder: STRNGRS

Kick Against The Pricks: Obliterations
Moving Forever: Theo Verney
It's Cool: Rozwell Kid
I Been Gone: Moon Duo

N.I.G.G.A.(Not Okay): RADKEY
No More: Elvis Presley
Half of a Century: The Delphines
I Feel You: The Parrots

Scumbag: The Glockenwise
The Fifties: The Symposium
Rata: Guadalupe Plata
Couldn't Hold A Candle: Audacity
Narcissist: Hunters

(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay: Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Brainfreeze: Bully
You're From The Shadow: Gap Dream

A Season in Hell #153: 1973 The Way It's Supposed To Be

A couple of years ago I hit on the idea that it would be fun to host a show from 1971. It was an amazing year for rock and roll. Led Zeppelin IV, Sticky Fingers, Who's Next; the rock rolls on and on. Since doing that show in November 2011, I was encouraged to repeat the challenge for 1972 last year. Again, what an amazing year! So it looks like I've hit upon a regular annual feature for A Season in Hell. Last night was all about 1973!!!

When I started the research I was afraid it was going to be wimp rock. I'll be honest, I wasn't as into this one as I was 71 or 72. But upon careful research, from my very large, and very deep library of awesome-ness, I found that indeed, there are some unbelievable tunes coming from this year!

Debut releases from Tom Waits, Queen, Montrose, Iggy and the Stooges, and the New York Dolls, just to name a small few. Are you kidding me?!?!? Soul and funk were getting on the ONE during this era, and British Glam Bands were on the rise. Music was starting to diverge like never before. We were as far away from the vocal politeness and anti-Vietnam banter as we could get by this year. Sabbath released "Sabbath bloody Sabbath", Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" was released (not my favorite, btw), Zeppelin's "Houses of the Holy", and The Who's "Quadrophenia" hit the shelves and the arenas.

My Best of 2013 is coming up in a few weeks, and on Monday, December 16th, Rotten Ronnie Donovan and I are hosting Rock Fight 11!!!! This time it's all about the Rock Block!

This show is an epic journey. I think you're really going to enjoy this one.

Have fun.

Get into the time machine and stream this show here.
Download this trip down memory lane, here.
Check out my shows from 1971 and 1972, and all of my shows by going here, or just scroll down.

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

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Basketball Jones: Cheech and Chong
Steppin' In Her I. Miller Shoes: Betty Davis

Right On For the Darkness: Curtis Mayfield
Natbush City Limit: Ike and Tina Turner
The Boss: James Brown

The Love I Lost: Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Use Me: Bill Withers
Born To Boogie: T-Rex
Jet Boy: New York Dolls

Raw Power: Iggy and the Stooges
Watch That Man: David Bowie
Berlin: Lou Reed
Old Shoes: Tom Waits

A National Acrobat: Black Sabbath
The Great Gig in the Sky: Pink Floyd
Song Remains the Same: Led Zeppelin
Punk vs. The Godfather: The Who

Meat City: John Lennon
Modern Times Rock N' Roll: Queen
I Don't Want It: Montrose

Walk On Hot Coals: Rory Gallagher
Dinah-Moe Humm: Frank Zappa

Sweet Lady Genevieve: The Kinks

A Season in Hell #152: I Heard It Where?

Standing in front of my music library tonight, I had a thought: "what am I in the mood for"? I wasn't inspired. Honest. I love doing my show every week, but I really have to feel it to be able to give you a great show. I ended up going online to see who's birthday it was, thinking maybe that would do the trick. A couple of things, but nothing really hit home. I then headed over to my vinyl shelves, and started flipping through them, and I noticed a trend in what was catching my eye: psychedelia. Oh yes, that's a good direction.

Indeed it was a fine decision.

Enjoy with a cup of mushroom tea.

Stream this into your subconscious, here.
Download this into your existential mainframe, here.
To groove out to all my hip shows, go here, or just scroll down. 

A Season in Hell with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia, 87.9FM in SF
http://radiovalencia.fm

Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Facebook
Follow Radio Valencia on Twitter
Follow Radio Valencia on Facebook

I Heard it on the X: ZZ Top
Shit Luck: Modest Mouse
B-Movie Boxcar Blues: Blues Brothers

Augmented Banality: Illogistical Resource Dept
More Trouble Every Day: Frank Zappa

Blood Suckin' Baby: Eric McFadden
Carpe Diem: The Melvins
Elevation: Television
Watcher of the Skies: Genesis

Forest Ocean Sound: Landing
Jackson Head: Boris
Swami: The Romulans

SOL '07: Wooden Shjips
New Potato Caboose: Grateful Dead

Embryo: Pink Floyd

Rotten Ronnie Donovan Phone In

Cortez the Killer: Neil Young