Sun Cleaners Presents - Holiday Mixtape (Volume 3); Re-Release

Digital Re-Release - October 2009

Update: At the request of Sun Cleaners stakeholders and as preparation for Sun Cleaners Presents...En Memorium - Holiday Mixtape Volume 4, the 2008 Sun Cleaners Presents - Holiday Mixtape is available for digital download.

You can download a zip file containing this years mixtape here.

Download the ZIP file, decompress, and drag the files into iTunes. You can then sort by Album to obtain the proper track order. Enjoy!

Given the economic downturn and cuts in the Sun Cleaners Presents operating budget, Sun Cleaners staff are unable to provide a hard copy CD this year. However, we have taken this opportunity to streamline our business practices and are pleased to offer a digital release of the latest Sun Cleaners Holiday Mixtape. Spin Magazine referred to the 3rd volume as a "pop masterpiece of copyright infringement."

This years mixtape offers a highlight of some favorite tracks in 2008 (or tracks that we discovered in 2008). We hope you enjoy it. If you like what you hear be sure to support the artists, except Radiohead and Wu-Tang, they don't need your money.

Here is the track listing (63 minutes):

1. Motorin' - The Saturday Knights, Mingle (2008)
2. Failsafe - The New Pornographers, Challengers (2007)
3. Falcon Job - Ratatat, LP3 (2008)
4. Shove It (feat. Spank Rock) - Santogold , S/T (2008)
5. Trouble Is - Common Market, Tobacco Road (2008)
6. Grape Nuts and Chalk Sauce - Blockhead, Uncle Tony's Coloring Book (2007)
7. The Captive Mind - The Helio Sequence, Keep Your Eyes Ahead (2008)
8. Bangers & Mash - Radiohead, In Rainbows (Disc 2) (2007)
9. Kiss Kiss - Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Is Is [EP] (2007)
10. Tenement Teeth - Pela, Anytown Graffiti (2007)
11. Constructive Summer - The Hold Steady, Stay Positive (2008)
12. Mykonos - Fleet Foxes, Sun Giant EP (2008)
13. Dawn Penn - No No No (Original) (1967)
14. Rising Down (feat. Mos Def & Styles P) - The Roots, Rising Down (2008)
15. 0% Finance - GZA, Pro Tools (2008)
16. Evryday Bidness - Cancer Rising, Cancer Rising EP (2007)
17. Stick Me For My Riches - Wu-Tang Clan, 8 Diagrams (2007)

The Envelope Please...

The winner of the 29^th annual Sun Cleaners Album Tournament is...

Paul Simon, Graceland (1986)

We had our money on the other strange little man's band (Radiohead, Ok Computer), but Paul Simon (sans Garfunkel of course) cruised past Elvis Costello and Sublime in the first two rounds.

In the Sweet Sixteen, Graceland faced up against Talking Heads, Remain in Light in a moderately close match-up. One participant curiously voted for Talking Heads but noted, “I'd probably rather listen to Graceland.” That seemed to be the general consensus of the entire Tournament “population.”

In the Elite Eight, Graceland squeaked out a victory over pre-tourney favorite Ok Computer. It is the stated policy of Sun Cleaners staff not to question the quasi-consensus, but needless to say, we were surprised. Perhaps "Fitter Happier" had something to do with the upset.

In the abbreviated Final Four, general animosity for U2 (actually Bono - no one seemed to mention hatred for other members of the band) and apathy over Highway 61 Revisited contributed to Graceland's triumphant rise above Kind of Blue.

Please check back soon for a list of honorable mention albums, information on the prize and future tournaments. A Sun Cleaners leadership, planning and strategic work-flow dynamics sub-committee (referred to herein as “The Committee”) will be formed soon to lead, plan and define strategies and work-flows for future tournaments... potential topics might include favorite films (all films or genre specific), episodes of the Cosby Show, or LPGA golfers (our money is on Dottie Pepper). The Committee will most likely be meeting at a pub, we hope you can join us for a future meeting (times and dates TBD).

We'll leave you with this...

Final Four - Vote Now!

The Sun Cleaners Album Tournament Final Four is set:

U2 - Joshua Tree (1 seed)
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (1)
Paul Simon - Graceland (2)
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (2)

This is the last round of voting. We are adopting a new method for the Final Four.

You can vote here!



Here is the revised bracket [pdf]

Here are some comments from participants during the Elite Eight...

"I guess Nas was right...hip hop is dead"

"Why can't we just get along. Everyone's a winner. Will this make the cover of a famous national magazine?"

"Am I one of the two girls who still like Pink Floyd? Or is this all because only 2 girls voted in the first place :)?"

"let's just give this to ok computer and be done with it." Sun Cleaners Staff were surprised by the Paul Simon "upset" of Radiohead

Elite Eight Voting Now Open!

Who will make it to the Final Four? You decide...

Click Here to Vote in the Elite Eight

Here are some short (45 second) mp3 clips to help guide the neophytes...

U2 - Joshua Tree ... Bullet the Blue Sky [mp3]
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here ... Wish You Were Here [mp3]

Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited ... Ballad Of A Thin Man [mp3]
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks ... Sweet Thing [mp3]

Radiohead - Ok Computer ... No Surprises [mp3]
Paul Simon - Graceland ... The Boy in the Bubble [mp3]

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On ... Mercy Mercy Me [mp3]
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue ... So What [mp3]

Elite Eight Now Complete!

The Elite Eight representatives have been chosen. No time for an effusive recap (yet). Here were the results.

Region 1
U2 - Joshua Tree defeats Built to Spill - Keep it Like a Secret
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here defeats Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsys (close)

Region 2
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisted defeats John Coltrane - Love Supreme (close)
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks defeats The Band - Music from Big Pink

Region 3
Radiohead - Ok Computer defeats "Jr Gong" - Welcome to Jamrock (blow-out)
Paul Simon - Graceland defeats Talking Heads - Remain in Light

Region 4
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On defeats Nirvana - In Utero
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue defeats Bob Marley & The Wailers - Exodus (extremely close)

Sun Cleaners staff are espcially looking forward to the Region 4 final, we have dubbed it the "Battle of Cool."

Check-back later in the week for the Elite Eight voting.

Sun Cleaners Staff on Sabbatical - Stay Tuned!

Sun Cleaners staff are currently on sabbatical, and have hired a number of post-docs to assist in collating the results of the Round of 16. Please check back soon for updated results...

Ripley: You're still collating? I find that hard to believe.

Round of 16 Now Open For Voting!

Who will make it to the Elite Eight? You decide...

Click Here to Vote in the Round of 16

Here are some short (45 second) mp3 clips to help guide the neophytes...

U2 - Joshua Tree ... Bullet the Blue Sky [mp3]
Built to Spill - Keep it Like a Secret ... Bad Light [mp3]

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here ... Wish You Were Here [mp3]
Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsys ... Who Knows [mp3]

Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited ... Ballad Of A Thin Man [mp3]
John Coltrane - Love Supreme ... A Love Supreme Part I: Acknowledgement [mp3]

Van Morrison - Astral Weeks ... Sweet Thing [mp3]
The Band - Music From Big Pink ... This Wheel's on Fire [mp3]

Radiohead - Ok Computer ... No Surprises [mp3]
Damian "Jr Gong" Marley - Welcome to Jamrock ... Welcome to Jamrock [mp3]

Talking Heads - Remain in Light ... Once in a Lifetime [mp3]
Paul Simon - Graceland ... The Boy in the Bubble [mp3]

Nirvana - In Utero ... Pennyroyal Tea [mp3]
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On ... Mercy Mercy Me [mp3]

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Exodus ... Natural Mystic [mp3]
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue ... So What [mp3]