Audio to Cook to Playlist
We're going to let you in on a little secret. Good things in life can be made better if they are paired with another of bit of goodness. For instance, this weekend we saw the Aristocrats. It was pretty funny and Sarah Silverman's contribution made the movie worth the ticket price. But the overall experience was made significantly better because of our nearly bottomless suburban-sized box of Junior Mints. This box was so big, it could almost be rented as a New York Studio apartment.
But we digress. The point of this story is that good can always be made better by adding earthly pleasures like food or music. While an evening in the kitchen preparing a meal is always a wonderful way to unwind from a day of mental, physical or emotional abuse by an uncaring boss, think of how much more enjoyable that evening would be with the perfect playlist of music to cook to.
Where will you find this list? Look no further. Our friend Josh, over at Audio for Drinking put together this rocking list of Songs to Cook to. He's even included some samples of the song to get a taste of the music. Read on and let us know your favorite songs to listen to while you cook:
Someone’s In the Kitchen
01. “Cuts Like a Knife” by Bryan Adams: Lets get things started with a rock anthem from a meat and potatoes man who’s more popular than maple syrup in Canada. (Personally I like to do my cutting with a Wusthof 7” Santoku Knife.)
02. “Light My Fire” by Shirley Bassey: Shirley recorded this Doors cover in 1970 and really jazzes it up.
03. "Measuring Cups" by Andrew Bird: From one of my favorite albums this year, the aptly titled Mysterious Production of Eggs, “Measuring Cups” is equal parts quiet sarcasm, smirking melodies and tenderness.
04. “Burning For You” by Blue Oyster Cult: This track off of BOC’s 1981’s Fire of Unknown Origin sounds custom-crafted for the radio with a deliciously catchy chorus.
05. “Broken Household Appliance National Forest” by Grandaddy: Eco-disaster or an ironic juxtaposition? Maybe it’s just great music to do your baking to.
The Right Ingredients
06. “Green Onions” by Booker T & the M.G.'s: Booker T & the M.G.’s provided the most important ingredient (Memphis soul) to several recordings as the house band for Stax Records throughout the 60’s and 70! but they are best remembered for this song, one of the most famous instrumental hits ever recorded.
07. "Know Your Chicken" by Cibbo Matto: A Japanese born duo with an Italian name, Cibbo Matto define fusion. The two cooked up quite a menu on 1996’s Viva! La Women (“Apple”, “Beef Jerky”, “Birthday Cake”, “Artichoke”, et al), firmly establishing themselves as patron saints of food songs.
08. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Def Leppard: One lump or two?
09. “Recipe” by G. Love & Special Sauce: This guy really like his cold beverages but his special today is a homemade recipe for chilling and grilling.
10. “Bananas & Blow” by Ween: Dean and Gene Ween are no strangers to interesting food items (mushrooms/ pork roll, egg and cheese/ chocolate, and cheese). These two particular ingredients are a recipe for a hilarious and expertly delivered Jimmy Buffet parody complete with steel drums.
11. “Jambalaya” by Hank Williams: There are hundreds of different recipes for jambalaya, Southern cooking most versatile and defining dishes but there is only one defining figure of country music and that is Hank Sr.
Dinner for Two
12. “Another Breakfast With You” by Ladytron: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Although the sound of heartbreak in Helena’s voice could make you wonder if we might just want to sleep in.
13. "The Art of Cooking for Two" by The Lucksmiths*: Is there anything more romantic than cooking for you significant other? That is unless you are a horrible cook.
Take-out
14. “Hospital Food” by eels.
15. "Vegetarian Restaurant" by Aberfeldy: Aberfeldy conjure up a bouncy, playful indie rock ditty set within the confines of a lovely vegetarian restaurant without the lentil and hippies.
16. “Greasy Spoon” by AK MOMO: Swedish electronic! pop duo AK-Momo serve up vintage electronic sounds and a story of lost love set in one of those wonderful little eateries we enjoy so much.
17. “The Smell of Outdoor Cooking” by Arab Strap: I bet you can just picture this one: grill- check, cooler- check, kilts- check? These two Scottish lads offer up one of the more existential portrayals of a barbecue ever.
Dessert
18. “Peaches & Cream” by Beck: Traditional and old-fashioned may be one way to describe this dessert but certainly not its chef. The rush though is still the same
19. "Super Bowl Sundae" by Ozomatli: A Super Bowl Sundae contains 1 scoop each of 8 ice creams, which makes this song wholly appropriate as an anthem for this eclectic multi-culti band responsible for fusing a heady mix of music genres.
20. “I Wanna Eat Chocobars” by Shonen Knife: Shonen Knife delivers the sweets and really, who can say no? Their music is almost as sugary as the sweets they sing of.
21. “Sugar In My Bowl” by Nina Simone: “Sugar In My Bowl” is raunchy, sexy and has just the right amount of panache to get us where we want to be at the end of such a decadent night.
22. “Cherry Pie” by Warrant: Everyone loves pie; maybe not big hair, but definitely pie.
The Mixer
23. “Having a Party” by Sam Cooke: Best party song ever. The Coca-cola and popcorn are optional.
24. "All the Wine" by The National: Nothing compliments a fine meal like a big wet bottle.
25. “The Drinks We Drank Last Night” by Azure Ray: A quiet moment of reflection to end our culinary odyssey.
Doggy Bag (Bonus Track)
“Eat It” by "Weird" Al: It’s absolutely impossible to compile a list like this without including Weird Al’s ode to gastronomical over-indulgence.
