Black Nite Crash Makes MAGNET A Mix Tape

Seattle’s Black Nite Crash, whose name is an homage to Ride’s last single, is a band that pretty accurately describes itself as being “a little too post-punk to be psychedelic, a little too psychedelic to be post-punk.” But it’s 100-percent awesome, as you’ll hear on the quintet’s latest EP (the follow-up to 2008 album Array), which is a split 12-inch with L.A.’s Sky Parade (on Custom Made Music). Up next for Black Nite Crash are plans for a West Coast tour in July and a second album slated for a fall release. In the mean time, check out this killer mix tape vocalist/guitarist Jim Biggs and guitarist Joel Bergstrom made for MAGNET.

“Jonah Dive” (download):

Crime & The City Solution “The Dolphins And The Sharks”
Joel: Mick Harvey is a musical hero. This song by Crime is my favorite. Simon Bonney’s voice has more of a Scott Walker-type of intensity to Nick Cave’s tortured Faulkner hallucinations. First saw them in the Wim Wenders film Wings Of Desire, and they really made an impression on me. Video

Sunset Valley “Shanghai Shelly”
Jim: I moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1995: a really diverse scene with a bunch of bands that were every bit as good as their famous regional predecessors but destined to fall short of the national spotlight. Seattle’s best (IMHO) was Juno. Portland’s best was Sunset Valley. Sunset mainman Herman Jolly went on to solo works and has since resumed his pop perfectionism in his new band, Little Pieces. We have been known to cover this particular classic when sufficiently intoxicated.

Iggy And The Stooges “Gimme Danger”
Jim: I first heard this in the generally ignored/forgotten film Up The Academy. It sounded cool and kind of terrifying and made me seek out this record, which was also cool and kind of terrifying. Actually, it still is. Video

Nightmare Air “Who Who Lies”
Joel: They’re our roommates, and we dig these guys’ energy. When I’m feeling stuck trying to write the new record, I just hang out with Dave Dupuis and I’m right back on track. He’s chock-full of great ideas. He’ll randomly mention stuff where you’ll be like, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Video

The Replacements “Unsatisfied”
Jim: My favorite song by my favorite American band. This one can still leave me a sobbing mess under the right—or wrong, depending on how you look at it—circumstances. Video

Truly “Blue Flame Ford”
Robert Roth was an early supporter of Black Nite Crash, and it kind of felt like your older brother giving you the thumbs up. Just don’t call it “post-grunge.” Video

Divinyls “The Good Die Young”
Joel: I still have this on a mix tape. I listened to a lot of Australian pop music growing up, so it’s definitely nostalgic. That chorus has been seriously stuck in my head for years and years, but I’d never seen this old-school music video! Chrissy Amphlett looks a lot like Cat Power in this. Video

Echo & The Bunnymen “Heaven Up Here”
Jim: My favorite song off of my all-time favorite album. ‘Nuff said. Video

X “Los Angeles”
Jim: When I was in high school, I read Less Than Zero (great book, terrible movie). They talked about X a few times, which aroused my curiosity. Later, I played this in my car for some friends on the way to the mall and they all immediately started complaining about it. I realized then that I would probably be needing some new friends. Video

Swervedriver “Scrawl And Scream”
This was the flip side to their “Never Lose That Feeling” single and is sort of a rare track on these shores. Swervedriver was the perfect mix of atmosphere and attitude without ever losing sight of the melody. We have played a few shows with Adam Franklin, who is one of the nicest guys we’ve come across. His new material fits seamlessly with the Swervedriver stuff. Video

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead “Clair De Lune”
Joel: A long while ago, I went down to Austin to hang out with them for a couple gigs. They are phenomenal live, and I suggested they put this song in their set, to which Conrad replied it was not going to happen. I’m glad they changed their minds. Video