Stamina Soundtrack

Be sure to scroll through the page when you visit. I’ll add songs after each finished run.

“Lose Yourself”-Eminem

This song has established itself as the first song on my running playlist. The initial piano interlude gives me time to lace up my shoes and when the beat drops so do most of my cares outside of the run. A huge commercial success, Eminem (Marshall Mathers) wrote “Lose Yourself  for the semi-autobiographical motion picture “8 Mile”  and released it way back in 2002. The serendipity of this track, written during a set break on location while filming and recorded in one take on a portable recording system, makes me believe that some things are just meant to be. For those of you skeptical of hip-hop music in general maybe the fact that it won the Academy Award that year will encourage you to give it a listen. WARNING: this track includes explicit lyrics that some may find offensive. A clean version is available for iTunes download. Listen here.

“Hands Of Time”-Groove Armada

Some of the songs on my playlist are best for cool down or recovery runs. “Hands of Time” initially attracted my attention after its prominence in the 2004 film “Collateral”. The slow moving bass line and discordant opening tones establish an otherworldly mood during a night-driving scene through the streets of Los Angeles. Since then, the song has gained popularity and been used in at least one other film (Tell No One-an excellent thriller). Reminiscent of Massive Attack’s Teardrop  and everything by Portishead, “Hands of Time”, provides a downtempo melody that helps me relax at the end of a good run. Listen here.

“When The Levee Breaks”-Led Zeppelin

This rock remake of an old Mississippi blues song is a great running song for one reason; the heavy kick of the drum. John Bonham set up a fresh drum kit at the bottom of a three-story stairwell, mikes hung far above, and just pounded it. The setup created an echo and distance in the sound that gives it more weight. Awesome. On top of that are a wailing blues harp and Plant’s anguished vocals. The combination inevitably and virtually transports you to the terrible events of the Great Mississippi flood that inspired the song. When the Levee Breaks, you better be running… Listen here.

“Breaks”-The Black Keys

This is not the last you’ll see of this blues-rock duo from Akron, Ohio on the Stamina Soundtrack. These guys are at the top of my shortlist. Picking a song was not easy, so I went with the one that introduced me to the band. “Breaks” comes off their first album, The Big Come Up, released in 2002. The best description of their freshman effort I’ve seen calls it “close-to-the-bone raw blues” and it sounds just like that; dirty and raw and tattered and cut. The ragged nature of the music especially inspires me when I leave the pavement for the dirt. I haven’t heard a song from them yet that I dislike. Give them a try or if you’ve already heard them, feel free to nod in agreement. Listen here.

“C’Mon!”-The Village Green

The song title says it all. This high-energy rocker from the Portland, OR-based  indie group “The Village Green” really lights a fire. I’ve strategically placed it a few songs into my regular playlist when my mentality and  muscles are ready for it. The enthusiasm of the opening guitar chords chased by the rattling, cymbal-heavy drum line invigorates every time it starts up. Best when cranked to “11”. The group unfortunately disbanded shortly after the release of their first album, but thankfully they left us with a perfect running tune. Listen here.

Bonus Track “Billie Jean”-Michael Jackson

I had to put a song by the “King of Pop” into the playlist this week in recognition of his passing. And I picked one of the best. Billie Jean is an iconic song, a signature song that will be admired for generations. I also considerd “We Are the World”, the charity song that he co-wrote with Lionel Ritchie, to send aid to those starving in Africa. Willie Nelson, Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Dylan, Ray Charles, even Kenny Loggins(!) were all in on the production. If you haven’t seen it in a while check it out on YouTube. It’ll take you back. See it here.

“Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked”-Cage The Elephant

Here’s an “if you haven’t heard it yet, you will soon” pick. Cage the Elephant is a young band that formed in Bowling Green, Kentucky of all places. They signed to a label in London and their popularity in England has now elevated their profile here in the States. Their garage blues guitar, shaking percussion, and partly sung/partly spoken vocals combine to lay tracks with grit and authenticity. I expect more good music to come out of this band. Try it out on the running playlist and let me know how it moves you. Listen here.

“Doesn’t Remind Me”-Audioslave

“Doesn’t Remind Me” is an alt-rock song that mixes noise and melody equally well to create an excellent background for keeping up the pace. The band materialized when Chris Cornell, lead singer of Soundgarden, joined most remaining members of Rage Against The Machine after Zack De La Rocha’s departure. It turned out to be a great match. The song comes off of their second studio release, Out of Exile, which debuted at number one when it came out in 2005. When Rage  (which will also be included on the stamina soundtrack) announced that it would get back together in 2007, Cornell split off to pursue other ambitions. Until Audiosave gives us something new, this is as good as it gets. Listen here.

“Chaiyya Chaiyya”-Sukhwinder Singh & Sapana Awasthi

This track has been in the workout mix longer than most-it never gets old. It broke into my conciousness during the opening credits of Spike Lee’s movie The Inside Man and the tribal beat and expressive hindi vocals have kept it there ever since. I don’t know what the lyrics mean, but I imagine they tell you to keep running. A.R. Rahman composed it for the 1998 film Dil Se and he has recently received a lot of acclaim for his work on the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. Give it a listen from the open to Inside Man here.

“They”-Jem

I’ve added a song with an upbeat tempo to balance some of the songs on the list that are heavier and more rough. Jem’s “They” from 2004 does nicely. Jem is among several female singers from the UK that have produced great music for running. The pop elements of the song hook right away and the energy from the electronic percussion and samples transfers right to my feet. The song features a chorus of children that recalls the Melanesian chanting of “Jisas Yu Holem Hand Blong Mi” (Jesus, You Hold My Hand) from The Thin Red Line soundtrack, certainly more elegant a song than the title suggests. Listen here.

“Around The Bend”-Asteroid Galaxy Tour

I’d heard some buzz about this young Danish Band coming out of the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas. SXSW is the most significant annual music festival and conference event for upcoming artists and legendary musicians to generate hype and experiment with new sounds. The song has a creative pop sound that features brass horns, and the lead vocalist’s playful lyrics have a quirkiness that makes this track all the more addictive. The sunny, swinging tune is guaranteed to help pick up tired legs. It’s like riding a wave runner. You can’t help but smile. Listen here.

“New Shoes”-Paolo Nutini

One more cheerful pop song for you. I was going to take a turn towards a more aggressive stretch, but since I just put my own new shoes on I had to sneak this tune into the playlist. If you’re guessing that Paolo Nutini is from Italy or Brazil, you’re mistaken. He hails from Scotland and his success as a musician has come early, an indication of his talent as a performer and songwriter. He linked in with the same producer who helped make Coldplay a phenomenon and started his first tour under contract opening for the Stones. Next time you slip on a new pair of shoes, slip on this song as well. It will help you break ’em in just right. See it here.

“Daydreamin'”-Lupe Fiasco

Lupe Fiasco is one of several Chicago-based hip-hop artists including Kanye West and Common that have defined the genre in the last few years. This song, from the 2006 release “Food & Liquor”, has a swinging, syncopated beat to run to, and the creative lyrics stand on their own poetically. As far as hip-hop is concerned, melody takes a leading role in all of Fiasco’s music, and Jill Scott’s smooth, sultry harmony vocals on this track adds an element of cool soul. WARNINIG: This track includes explicit lyrics that may be offensive to some. See it here.

“Body Movin’ (Fatboy Slim Remix)-Beastie Boys

This one should be on everyone’s workout mix. The Beastie Boys, a band that has used punk, funk, jazz, hip-hop, rap, and electronica to find success in their career and loyalty from their fans, released a best-of album at the end of the millenium. My favorite cut from the two-disc anthology is the remix of Body Movin’. Originally released on the B-Boys’ Hello Nasty LP, Fatboy dumped acid on the track and made the beats bigger. The result is perfect for any exercise, especially running. In addition, Fatboy Slim has produced several original songs that belong on this kind of playlist too. See it here

“Canyon Sounds”-Eldorado Canyon (feat. South Boulder Creek)

I left the iPod behind today to listen to the sounds of the trail. The dominant noise today came from the rushing water of South Boulder Creek. Ever present too was the combination of crunching gravel and heavy breathing from yours truly. The middle of the run featured the rumble of several diesel locomotives and the high squeal of train wheels straining against the tracks. After it passed into the tunnel the sound of the creek came back to the fore. Birdsong, canyon wind, and greetings exchanged with other trail users completed today’s soundtrack.

“Keep Hope Alive”-The Crystal Method

Another acid-heavy song originally produced for Los Angeles’s rave scene, the big beats and swooping synth pulses irresistibly from the headphones during a run. It’s hard to believe that it was released 15 years ago because it still sounds modern and fresh. Sometimes running doesn’t feel like enough for the song and I find myself jumping over benches or railings, a bend toward the sports of Parkour or free running. Check out extreme running at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6JIIPh_P4U&feature=channel.

“Silver Lining”-David Gray

This evening’s run was an easy one around the shores of Sloan Lake so I’ve decided to add another recovery/cool down song to the playlist. David Gray, a UK artist found his breakout success with his fourth album release, White Ladder, an independent effort after years without success with several labels. Aside from his international hit “Babylon” the album included several other strong performances. Silver Lining has a nice acoustic sound with some subtle electronic influences and rhythm piano. The plaintive mood yet hopeful lyrics fit well with a recovery phase or an easy pace. I’ve also found a great cover of the song by Bonnie Raitt that does the tune justice though I still prefer the original while running. Listen here.

“Spirit In The Sky”-Norman Greenbaum

Running to this psychedelic feel-good song from singer/songwriter Norman Greenbaum is a pleasure. The fuzzy guitar riff has got to be one of the best of the ’70s. It unusual to find a song that has religious-based lyrics from this era and genre, all the more so because Greenbaum is Jewish and the song references Jesus and the afterlife. Go figure. It has been used in many films, most notably Forrest Gump, Ocean’s Eleven, Knocked Up, Apollo 13, and everyone’s favorite: Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms, starring Gary Busey. Listen here.

“Ebla”-E.S. Posthumus

This trippy soundscape is brought to us by a pair of brothers out of L.A. You may not recognize their name, but you have likely heard their music before. Many of their songs have been licensed by Hollywood for the promotion of films like Minority Report, The Matrix, and Spiderman. If you’ve watched football, you’ve heard their triumphant production of the NFL on CBS Theme. The soaring nature of this song and the steady, rhythmic beat instills great energy for running. The powerful choral performance rising above the heavy electronics and drum clashes will lift your spirits when you get weary. Totally awesome. Listen here.

“Wake Up”-Rage Against The Machine

This song is for emergencies only. The caustic lyrics matched to the aggressive rap metal fusion of the song will get you going, perhaps more out of anger than anything else. The songs rips into being with a funked and thrashed take on Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir” opening guitar riff and gets more revolutionary from there. The lyrics speak to race relations in the history of the United States, quoting J Edgar Hoover and referencing Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. The song is one of several hits off of their 1992 self-titled debut album and contributed to a successful and controversial career for the next 15 years. Listen here.

“Twice As Hard”

This is a great rock and roll song. It fits in with the Rolling Stones and other classic rock bands’ sound. The opening chords almost brag about what’s to come and then sets down in a strong rhythm foundation for the length of the song. I’m surprised at the overall success of the band because they made their debut just as grunge was becoming the new sound and their classic style doesn’t fit in well with the other bands of the era. One place they fit in just fine is on my running playlist. Try it out for the uphills. Listen here.

“I Believe In You”-Cat Power

Georgia-born Chan Marshall became Cat Power when she started singing in the mid-nineties. Performing under a different name suits her well because she has made a reputation as one of the best singers of other singers’ songs. Her cover albums, The Greatest and Jukebox have been as highly acclaimed as her original songs, one of the few who can make a classic her own. Power’s voice rings with a timeless and seductive quality and the stripped down production on Dylan’s “I Believe in You” shows it off splendidly. Listen here.

“Sweet Emotion”-Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon

This song is an unlikely  cover from the equally unlikely collaboration between renowned fingerpicker Leo Kottke and ex-Phish bassist Mike Gordon. Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion” gets an interesting acoustic treatment in the capable hands of these two artists. Barely recognizable at first, the tune becomes apparent through the swampy bass of Gordon and Kottke’s legendary strumming,  understated vocals topping the performance. I think it makes a great song at the beginning of a run to get the blood moving. Listen here.

“Exodus Honey”-Honeycut

This is the only song I’ve heard by this Bay Area trio, but it stuck with me for a while after hearing it on the radio. The electronic manipulation of sounds takes this track to another planet, but the sharp percussion and the almost-but-not-quite-pop-arranged vocals bring it closer to Earth. That mix may contribute to the feeling of lightness and swiftness that I experience when the song comes up on the playlist. Even though I can’t quite put my finger on it, it helps me stay on my feet, so it will stay on my iPod. Listen here.

“Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Variation)”-Rob Dougan

Some songs were made for running and the kick and groove of this song definitely makes it one of those. Rob Dougan, an Aussie transplant to the UK, hasn’t topped it since its 1995 release. A unique combination of classical influences, electronic roots, and synth effects conspire to set you on automatic, letting the beats think for you. Its especially good for long straight roads in the plains outside of town or a session on the track. iTunes snipped a defining segment of the song so you can get a feel for the lengthy track. Listen here.

“Suddenly The Trees Are Giving Way”-Ulrich Schnauss

Here’s another song that sets down a long, easy groove ideal for long distance runs. Thematically, tingling airy bells and a cool, snapping cadence carry the song. The resulting atmosphere, both lush and compelling, not only help you to sustain your pace, but also promotes relaxation at the same time. I always run more smoothly and easily when this track plays through my headphones so I finish feeling like I haven’t run as far as I actually have. It’s also a beautiful song. I have a couple other songs from the Berlin-based producer that I haven’t run to yet, but may prove as worthy as this one. Listen here.

“Sometime Around Midnight”-The Airborne Toxic Event

A rock band from Los Angeles, The Airborne Toxic Event features the typical lead guitar, bass guitar, and drum set seen in most modern rock bands but also has a full-time violinist in the group. This alternative song from the band shows off all its members’ talents during its driving musical crescendo. The vocal performance is emotional and powerful, easy to feed off of when digging deep on a hard run. Listen here.

“Enough (Medium Key Performance Track W/o Background Vocals)”-Barlowgirl

I’m not sure exactly where I picked up this song-it may have been an iTunes recommendation or free song, but once I gave it a listen, I dropped this instrumental into my workout mix. It’s a song filled with surprises. It starts out with a quiet piano progression but out of nowhere the song builds and this group of female christian rockers plugs in, amps up, and rocks out with an arena-sized guitar riff and trumpets. The triumphant sound will help you prevail on any run.

“The Story”-Brandi Carlile

Rising from the coffeehouse scene around seattle to the national stage in a few short years (her 2007 album was produced by T-Bone Burnett) the singer/songwriter’s acoustic guitar and powerful voice have earned  her appropriate attention and acclaim. Her bluesy performance in “The Story” is one of my favorite by a female vocalist. “The Story” is just one of many great songs from this young artist. Listen here.

“Mercy”-Duffy

I’m loving me some Duffy right now and no track more so than Mercy. This retro artist, part of the neo-soul movement taking place in the UK with artists like Amy Winehouse and Joss Stone, sounds like an undiscovered Motown soul singer whose albums have just seen the light of day.  Her incredible vocals are backed by an old organ sound, strings and a healthy percussion shimmy that keep your feet shuffling along the way. Listen here.

“Underdog”-Spoon

One of the best indie rock labels over the last 20 years is a small company based in Durham, NC called Merge Records. By carefully choosing the bands they support the company has amassed a collection of unique and accomplished artists. In Spoon’s “Underdog”, a tune with a light swing, busy horns, rolling drums, and handclaps, the label’s reputation is on solid footing, and so are runners. You can see the video here.

“Beautiful Things (3Ds)”-Quasi

Here’s another offering from the folks at Merge Records-sort of. As part of their 20th anniversary celebration, Merge brought top non-label indie bands from around the country into their studio to cover some of the most successful songs from the Merge catalog. Quasi, a duo (former husband and wife) from Portland, OR offer a great mix of noise and melody, one of my favorite sound combinations during runs, on their track “Beautiful Things”. Take a listen here.

“Aly, Walk With Me”-The Raveonettes

Another track that laces melody with noisy dissonance, this song from Danish Band, The Raveonettes has lingered in my workout playlist for a long time. Part electronic, part lo-fi, part white noise, and even partly Indian, the song is bleak and beautiful, dark and menacing, and best of all, powerful. The heavy beat sets a pace and the rest gives an emotional sense that you won’t need your own rest anytime soon. Check it out here.

“List of Deamands”- Saul Williams

Hard-to-define poet/songwriter Saul Williams existed on the fringe of underground hip-hop for years before he dipped into the mainstream with a punk-hop or rap-rock album that attracted critical attention. Few could agree on what it was, but they all seemed to like it. It was a surprise to many when this controversial artist gave the rights to this tense song with twisted spoken/sung lyrics to Nike for an ad for some cross-trainers. I like the cymbals. Listening to it imparts an urgency to your mind that draws out more power and energy than you may have thought possible. Give a listen here.

“Stronger”-Kanye West

I’ve brought us to a stretch of hip-hop tunes and its hard to do hip-hop nowadays without including a track from Kanye West. He has broken out of the production side of things to become a music superstar in his own right, his talent can’t be undeniable despite the sideshow of his celebrity. It’s likely that this song will be the only one that will ever sample  Daft Punk, it shows off West’s ability to mine the unexpected to generate hits. The dry recording sound and groovy rap lines on top of his synth sample makes this song a great one to run to. The lyrics are explicit, but feel free to listen here.

“Action Satisfaction”-Jurassic 5

Make me cut this list down to just ten songs and this one makes the cut. J-5 came out of a period in hip-hop that had become stagnant after Public Enemy and Run-DMC had brought it mainstream. This cut drops a funky baseline that catches and holds up a melodic flow from rappers Chali 2na and Cut Chemist (both also of Ozomatli) among others. This mix is the finest that the genre has ever produced and seems custom-made for runnning. It blows me away that this song is just one off of  a now-legendary debut effort from this group of musicians. Please listen here.

“Let’s Get It Started (Spike Mix)”-Black Eyed Peas

This song is awesome to run to. Frontman will.i.am is a pop genius and this party jam shows off the fun-loving nature of the band. It starts with the the line “And the bass keeps runnin’ runnin’/and runnin’ runnin’ for crying out loud. How could it not be in the playlist? The high energy rap and musical performance is irresistible. No matter what your activity, you’ll do it with more intensity when this track gets you started. Listen here.

“Clint Eastwood”-Gorillaz

This track comes from the Gorillaz, an animated “virtual band” composed of fictional characters played by a number of hip hop and alternative musicians. ‘Clint Eastwood’ was their first single and became extremely popular in the band’s native UK an had success in the US too. With a great rattling beat and distinctive vocals, it has unusual production elements including a bit that sounds like it was made with bullfrogs. The title comes from a sample taken from the film “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”. Listen here. [Explicit]

“The Key”-Speech Debelle

Another track from the UK, this artist is new to the hip hop scene there, and more so here. Her win of the BarclayCard Mercury Award (think Grammy but with actual credibility) in 2009 portends the beginning of a successful carrer. “The Key”, her biggest single has a light groove driven by some jazz horns and Debelle’s vocal dialogue. It’s an easy tune for an easy run. Listen here.

Podcasts-Various Producers

Sometimes I listen to Podcasts instead of music, especially on short, easy, mindless runs. It makes me feel like I’m learning something. My favorite is Buzz Out Loud, a podcast about technology news. I also like NPR’s Planet Money, Wait Wait…Don’t  Tell Me…, This American Life, Stuff You Should Know, and Radio Lab. If music isn’t your thing or you want to mix things up, you might enjoy some of these. And they’re usually free!