Mixtapes 2007

Jim and Greg ring in the New Year with their annual mixtapes. They've compiled the best songs of 2007 to give you the perfect year-end soundtrack. Plus, Jim and Greg will discuss the controversial legacy of Ike Turner and review the latest album from R&B diva Mary J. Blige.

Best of 2007 Mixtapes
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Music legend Ike Turner passed away a couple of weeks ago, so Jim and Greg took this opportunity to discuss how much this controversial figure influenced the development of rock and roll. Most people's image of Turner is taken from the 1993 movie What’s Love Got to Do With It, which portrayed his violent relationship with Tina Turner. But, as is the case with countless artists and musicians, even bad people can make great art. Turner was a major music figure long before he met Tina, and many people say that his 1951 recording of "Rocket 88" led to the birth of rock and roll. Listen to the song, and check out Greg’s obituary of the musician.

Growing Pains Mary J. Blige

Growing Pains

Mary J. Blige is back with a new album that's getting lots of attention. Growing Pains is the R&B diva's 8th album in a career that has seen six Grammy Awards and 40 million records sold. So how does this effort compare? Jim thinks that Blige may have lost some of her edge -- whether that's due to sunnier times or sunnier production isn't clear though. She's known for her honest and emotional performances which often relay tough times. But Jim finds Growing Pains a little too sterile. He gives it a Burn It. Greg admits that he too was worried about how a happier MJB would sound, but he disagrees with Jim's conclusion. As a singer she has no peer, and Greg thinks she's gotten even better. He calls Growing Pains another landmark Blige record and gives it a Buy It.

The Best Songs of 2007 - Mixtapes

Jim and Greg present their Mixtapes for 2007. Check out the track listing below.

Pump up the Volume: Jim DeRogatis’ Messed-Up Mix Tape 2007

(Or 18 Songs I Loved This Year, With No Real Rhyme or Reason)

  1. Art Brut, "Pump Up the Volume"
  2. Kanye West, "Drunk & Hot Girls"
  3. Alicia Keys, "No One"
  4. Flight of the Conchords, "Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros"
  5. Operator Please, "Just a Song About Ping Pong"
  6. Care Bears on Fire, "Everybody Else"
  7. Neil Young, "Dirty Old Man"
  8. Tori Amos, "Big Wheel,"
  9. Arctic Monkeys, "Fluorescent Adolescent"
  10. The Hives, "Tick Tick Boom"
  11. Fall Out Boy, "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs"
  12. The Go! Team, "Titanic Vandalism"
  13. Battles, "Atlas"
  14. Air, "Napalm Love"
  15. New Pornographers, "Myriad Harbour"
  16. Arcade Fire, "No Cars Go"
  17. LCD Soundsystem, "New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down"
  18. Wire, "23 Years Too Late"

00:36:14 2007: Greg’s Up All Night Mix

  1. The Shins, "Phantom Limb"
  2. Arcade Fire, "No Cars Go"
  3. Peter Bjorn & John, "Objects of My Affection"
  4. Common, "Drivin’ Me Wild"
  5. CRS, "Us Placers"
  6. LCD Soundsystem, "All My Friends"
  7. Fiery Furnaces, "Duplexes of the Dead"
  8. El-P, "Up All Night"
  9. Nine Inch Nails, "The Beginning of the End"
  10. M.I.A., "Jimmy"
  11. Rilo Kiley, "Dreamworld"
  12. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, "Fortune Teller"
  13. New Pornographers, "Myriad Harbour"
  14. The 1900s, "Acultiplantar Dude"
  15. Eddie Vedder, "Hard Sun"
  16. Radiohead, "Bodysnatchers"
  17. PJ Harvey, "White Chalk"

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