Jukeboxing: The Frequency
Decider's local jukebox reviews
Scott Gordon
Where they haven't been replaced by charmless, trend-crunching tune-bots, jukeboxes can say a lot about a place, not to mention make it more fun. In Jukeboxing, Decider spends some quarters and punches some buttons at Madison bars and venues. This edition takes a look at The Frequency.
The box: Much like The Frequency itself, this jukebox is diverse but can't hide its addiction to hard rock, hard rock, and hard rock: It's got a black front with lightning bolts on it. It holds about 100 CDs. A couple of little windows look in on the player and a wheel of discs.
Price: Three plays for $1; eight plays for $2; 21 plays for $5.
Drinkin' songs: Detroit garage-rock monsters The Dirtbombs' latest album, We Have You Surrounded, keeps up the spirit of brain-stomping rock; for those oblivious to The Frequency's vibe, there's the entire Top Hits Of The Seventies: Amazing Hits compilation, featuring everything from "Takin' Care Of Business" to "Jungle Boogie" to "Free Bird."
Nerd jams: Enon's Grass Geysers, Carbon Clouds and Deerhoof's Apple O' offer a balance of noisy weirdness and pop fun. More willing to piss people off with your experimental tastes? Cue up one of a few less-compromising selections, like Mr. Bungle's California.
Mixes: Frequency bartender Nate Bush put together four mix CDs that jump around quite a bit, taking in Black Mountain, Dr. Octagon, and Radiohead, to name a few.
Locals: The box is heavy on albums from Madison-connected artists who've played The Frequency recently (including El Guante and Lorenzo's Music) but also preserves work from now-defunct local groups (The New Recruits, Pachinko, American Death).
For bar time: Want to break up the mood in a jiffy? Look no further than "Frequency Mix 3." It starts off with Les Claypool (of Primus fame) and his Frog Brigade covering Pink Floyd's bleak concept album Animals. Despite a good block of classic The Who songs in the middle, selections like Nick Drake's "River Man" and The Flying Burrito Brothers' "The Dark End Of The Street" make the disc a compelling, one-stop party-damper.
Price: Three plays for $1; eight plays for $2; 21 plays for $5.
Drinkin' songs: Detroit garage-rock monsters The Dirtbombs' latest album, We Have You Surrounded, keeps up the spirit of brain-stomping rock; for those oblivious to The Frequency's vibe, there's the entire Top Hits Of The Seventies: Amazing Hits compilation, featuring everything from "Takin' Care Of Business" to "Jungle Boogie" to "Free Bird."
Nerd jams: Enon's Grass Geysers, Carbon Clouds and Deerhoof's Apple O' offer a balance of noisy weirdness and pop fun. More willing to piss people off with your experimental tastes? Cue up one of a few less-compromising selections, like Mr. Bungle's California.
Mixes: Frequency bartender Nate Bush put together four mix CDs that jump around quite a bit, taking in Black Mountain, Dr. Octagon, and Radiohead, to name a few.
Locals: The box is heavy on albums from Madison-connected artists who've played The Frequency recently (including El Guante and Lorenzo's Music) but also preserves work from now-defunct local groups (The New Recruits, Pachinko, American Death).
For bar time: Want to break up the mood in a jiffy? Look no further than "Frequency Mix 3." It starts off with Les Claypool (of Primus fame) and his Frog Brigade covering Pink Floyd's bleak concept album Animals. Despite a good block of classic The Who songs in the middle, selections like Nick Drake's "River Man" and The Flying Burrito Brothers' "The Dark End Of The Street" make the disc a compelling, one-stop party-damper.
