The Mix-Tape Ten: Zachary Melton

There is no doubt in my mind that Zachary Melton is an incredibly cool dude. A whole lot of folks know him as the bass-playing, awe-inducing singer from the now-defunct seminal post-punk band Away With Vega, and more and more people are getting to know him as the brainchild and front-man for one of the fastest growing regional bands, Rodeo Ruby Love based out of Marion, Indiana. They are a indie-pop perfection and might just be my favorite live band around. I don't know of any band that induces such satisfying sing-alongs. Singing along is my favorite. Zach Melton is one of my favorites (part of this is also due to the fact that he shares my love for East Coast Hip Hop).





Ten Favorites by Zachary Melton


1. "What?" - Mount Eerie (Lost Wisdom)
I often struggle with enjoying entire Phil Elverum albums, but he hit the nail on the head with this one. I chose this song because it is probably the most heart-felt out of all of the songs on this record. It is so chill and soft, with my favorite line, "your love swells and pounds me."





2. "Starry Stairs" - Okkervil River (The Stand Ins)
Will Sheff sings in a lovely low voice on this song that separates it from their regular sound. Almost in the vein of Elvis Presley, his voice shakes and soothes on this soft ballad. This album has some great upbeat songs and some not so great slower songs, but this one stands above the rest.





3. "Mathematics" - Mos Def (Black on Both Sides)
In 1999, rap was being taken over by Eminem and DMX. But behind the scenes was Mighty Mos Def telling people how it really is. This song is not just a socially-just anthem, but an intelligent look at racist America. No one flows like Mos Def. And no one makes me hate being white more than he.





4. I'm Going Away - Elizabeth Cotten (Shake Sugaree)
Imagine an old black lady sitting on her porch, strumming a guitar and singing in dry, shaky voice some of the most beautiful folk/blues you've ever heard.






5. Nobody's Nixon - Cass McCombs (Not the Way EP)
It is difficult to choose a favorite song from this EP. They each of have qualities about them that makes them difficult to get out of my head. Nobody's Nixon has a driving groove that none of the other songs have. Cass McCombs has a way of making meaningful lyrics out of total nonsense. For some reason, I always enjoy the line, "I ain't your doggy woggy either."




6. "Say Something, Say Anything" - Pine Hill Haints (Ghost Dance)
I recently got this album, and after a few listens, this song stuck out the most. I like this album because the songs are upbeat and catchy. But this one has an eerie element to it that makes it more mysterious, I think, because of its chord progression and its melody. It is placed perfectly on this record.





7. "Rich Girl" - Hall & Oates (Best of Hall & Oates)
I admit that I love Hall & Oates. It took me a while to connect to Rich Girl, but nobody can sing like these dudes. Nobody knows pop music like Hall & Oates. And you'd like to think they are sissies. But listen to Rich Girl. They are calling out the bitches.





8. "Melody 4" - Tera Melos (self-titled)
I first heard this band on their split with By the End of Tonight, and I needed more. I finally got a hold of their self-titled album. I was a little disappointed with their first three songs (Melodies 1-3) because the split was so chaotic and those songs had been pretty tame. But finally with Melody 4, the chaotic mess of instrumental thrash rock came through for me. No words. Pure testosterone. There are so many great hooks in this song. Definitely my favorite on the album.



9. "Nikki" - The Dream (Lovehate)
Yes, The Dream is an R&B/pop singer. But it has been a long time since I have connected to anyone in that genre. (The last may have been Blackstreet or Mary J. Blige's "What's the 411?"). A little cheesy perhaps, but I have heard very few albums in this genre work so well. Each song compliments another to create a feeling of a "concept album." Nikki is a slow jam about moving past your ex-lover. You might be sorry, but I've moved on. Now I'm making love to Nikki.


10. "Video" - Ben Folds Five (unreleased)
This was originally a song from the band before Ben Folds Five whose name I forget. But I think they re-vamped it to sound like the piano rock we all know and love. I don't think Ben Folds wrote this one. Judging by the lyrics, I'd say it was Darren Jesse. Regardless, the flow of the song is unbelievably addictive. The chorus makes you want to go back and here that melody again. And again and again.