An XX December

OK, OK, OK....Let's shake that last one off and start again.

How's about December's theme being....




However you interpret "LADIES NIGHT," create a mix with that theme.

Reminder/request

So, I'm guessing either a) people didn't dig this month's theme, or b) you only had the motivation for one mix. Ha. You still have like, ten days to make a family-type mix, if you want. Otherwise, you can just wait and there'll be a new theme for December.

I have an idea for December's theme, but you're definitely welcome to make theme suggestions. That way, people will actually do them? :)

Family Jamz

(made with MS Paint. Shitty, but heartfelt)

Thanksgiving at my family's house means dad's putting on opera or Gypsy Kings in the background. I don't have a problem with either, but I prefer to have something a little more dance-able while I'm carving up a turkey. Without further ado, here is a family-friendly mix for you and yours.

Download here.

1) Belle and Sebastian- I'm a Cuckoo
Belle and Sebastian are the epitome of warm and fuzzy(but not innocuous!) music. Mom and dad can get down with that.

2) They Might Be Giants- Birdhouse in Your Soul
I suspect the Giants will make it onto a lot of these lists.

3) Weezer- Surf Wax America

4) Sufjan Stevens- The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts
Sing along choruses for everyone!

5) Sam Cooke- Twistin' the Night Away
When in doubt, always go with an oldie(but an awesome one)

6) Dusty Springfield- I Only Want To Be With You

7) The Flaming Lips- Buggin'

8) Stevie Wonder- Sir Duke
I think everyone in my family can agree on Stevie Wonder

9) Jackie Wilson- I Get The Sweetest Feeling
My father practically weaned me on old-school soul.

10) The Pogues- London Girl
The only Pogues song that isn't about death, or has the word "cunt" in it. Post-Thanksgiving dinner-jig!

11) Los Campesinos!- Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats
Fun Welsh-pop

12) Ozma- Rocks

13) Bjork- It's Oh So Quiet
A little more abrasive than other songs on this mix, but this is my attempt to get my dad into Bjork. Plus, it sounds like a big band song, and he likes those.

14) Cat Stevens- Tea For The Tillerman

15) The Doors- Land Ho!
Another parental favorite. Both my mom and dad were really into the Doors. Plus, it's a sea-shanty song.

16) Peggy Lee- It's A Good Day

17) Prince- Play in the Sunshine
Bet you never thought Prince would make it onto this list. One of his songs that ISN'T about sex. Don't worry, you can play it around grandma too!

18) The Ramones- California Sun

19) Electric Light Orchestra- Mr. Blue Sky

20) The Go! Team- Huddle Formation

21) Santogold- Lights Out

A Mix for People

>>Techno Fail Part Deux: I'm still suffering from an alarmingly slow internet connection, so I've had to do the old single- song at a time deal once more. Apologies. << Full mix available here, with requisite individual links below.

Children ruin everything. With that said, here's a mix that won't traumatize the young 'uns but still keep everyone else's toes tapping, (though I suspect some eye rolls from the surly-faced alterna-teen in all of us. GEE, THANKS FOR THE GREAT MIX, JERK.)

Warning: My idea of "Music for Everyone" often veers dangerously close to what might be approximated as "hippy bullshit." But, you know what? Everyone just needs to relax, man and stop harshing each other's vibes.

1.) Preeti Sagar- My Heart is Beating: Inspired by Vivian, I too have decided to skew a bit ethnic. I have a real soft spot for songs sung in English by those for whom English is a second language. Thusly I include the following wholesome Vintage Bollywood jam from the 1975 film Julie. Despite the lovey-dovey lyrics, it's definitely something you can crank up in the car with your Nana.

2.)Queen- Bicycle Race: Nothing wrong here, (save for one easily-missed reference to cocaine). But you know, everyone's gotta learn about the old nose candy sometime. Since this is Queen's second appearance for this theme, as an extra here's a bit about Freddie's old band from his school days.

3.)Harry McClintock- Big Rock Candy Mountain: An old-timey American classic that envisions a hobo's version of heaven. Not a drinky/stabby hobo, but like a loveable 1930s style hobo with patches on his knees, toting a little rucksack.

4.) The B-52s- Rock Lobster: Everyone's favorite beach party throw-back. This is the longer album version where the last minute or so just devolves into band members making wacky aquatic animal noises.

5.) Talking Heads- Road to Nowhere: An innocuous road trip song that has a choir of people reminding us that "it's alright" even if we might not know where we're going exactly. A comfort whether you're growing up, or just growing old. Also features random shrieks around the 4:03 mark.

6.) John Cameron Mitchell- Wig in a Box: An all-around infectious feel-good toe-tapper. I maintain that even previously mentioned Satan Spawn Rush Limbaugh wouldn't be able to resist putting on a little lipstick and miming to this song. My life will be complete once Hedwig songs are available as Rock Band DLC.

7.) Bob Dylan- The Times They are a-Changin': While some may believe that mentions of revolution and change are frightening spectres of an uncertain future, I've always found them to inspire a sort of do-gooder aspirational hope. Older folks can listen and reminisce at how far their generation's come, whilst the young can hum along and see the work that still must be done.

Family fun for all!

8.) The Beatles- Across the Universe: Lyrical & psychedelic, this song always sounds like some sort of ephemeral soft pop lullaby. Guaranteed to have everyone singing along in mellow unison.

9.) Don McLean- The Day the Music Died: Sort of a sad subject matter, but delivered in a such a jaunty way that one can't help but sing along. Besides, sometimes you just need a melancholy sort of song that can be played in mixed company too, right?

10.) They Might be Giants- Particle Man: Can always count on these chaps for a case of the sillies. This song also contributed to a pretty memorable animated sequence on Tiny Toon Adventures.

11.)Traveling Wilburys- It's All Right: Because, you know what? It is all right.

12.) John Lennon- Imagine: Is this too expected? I mean, it's all right in the lyrics- this song is for everyone under the sun to sit under a tree, hold hands and be at peace with themselves and each other until we're all a happy, smiley pan-racial, post-gender, class defying coalition- like one giant Benneton ad. Also: it's the best testament to communism in the history of popular music. Never too early (or too late) to indoctrinate your loved ones.

13.)Neil Diamond- America: How can you miss with the D-man? Fist pumps mandatory each time chorus is heard, and at every use of "today" starting at around the 3:15 mark.

14.) Depeche Mode- Just Can't Get Enough: Something sweet for all.

15.)Journey- Don't Stop Believin': Perhaps too bro-y, but come on, it'll bring a smile to any old face. Once again fist pumps mandatory at each

16.) Stereolab-Lo Boob Oscillator: Everything sounds nice when you can't understand the language.

Can We Just Listen to the Radio Now?

I will be heading out with my family on our annual "we have no family nearby, so let's just go to some shitty NV town where Mom and Laura can gamble while Dad golfs and we'll all eat Thanksgiving dinner at some hotel buffet" trip. So, in celebration of this tradition, I've made a mix that will hopefully appease my family, and I can spend 80 minutes in the car not having to listen to Rush Limbaugh or local traffic news radio. Just a mix of stuff that will sit well with each family members' taste with a few good songs that don't have weird voices or noise or any of those things that immediately make my family turn on me.

Download here.

1. The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun
Beatles are guaranteed everyone-pleasers
2. Van Morrison - Come Running
3. Johnny Cash - Kneeling Drunkard's Plea
4. Willie Nelson - Bloody Mary Morning
two songs to appease my dad. Country/drinking/Jesus. The Robert Olson trifecta. And the Willie Nelson song is a great highway tune
5. Queen - Another One Bites The Dust
my mom will lose her shit at this point, because she thinks Queen's greatest hits is the "best CD ever"
6. The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
another everyone-pleaser
7. James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good)
I've found that my family is most attentive to music when it's a song they already know
8. Dusty Springfield - Son Of A Preacher Man
9. Feist - 1234
my sister didn't like this song when I put it on a mix for her. She loved it after it got played on KROQ
10. Jens Lekman - Your Arms Around Me
11. The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
12. The Lucksmiths - The Chapter In Your Life Entitled San Francisco
13. Pixies - Here Comes Your Man
14. Donovan - Sunshine Superman
15. Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out Of This Country
16. The Polyphonic Spree - Section 12 (Hold Me Now)
17. Akron/Family - River
18. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - Bag Of Hammers
19. Harry Belafonte - Jump In Line (Shake, Shake Señora)
my sister and I used to watch Beetlejuice all the time. Family memories!
20. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Lookin' Out My Back Door
my mom's favorite band before I gave her that Queen CD. And it's twangy for my dad
21. Yo La Tengo - Mr. Tough
22. Belle and Sebastian - Funny Little Frog
my mom always liked "that frog song" I played on my radio show
23. Elton John - Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)
and this is just the best song ever written, so everyone will like it

It's Cool to Love Your Family.

I'm leaving in a week to visit extended family, so I thought I'd be the first to post a mix before I leave.

I seriously re-worked this mix a few times just to get it to where it is now (I'm making it sound like a masterpiece or something. haha). But the mix you have now is a bunch of stuff my parents used to listen to in addition to some (more entry-level) music I listen to that have the same feel. What can I say, I'm a people pleaser.

Anyway, enjoy!

Download here.
1. Andrew Bird: Heretics
2. Jens Lekman: You Are the Light
3. The Clash: Rudie Can't Fail
It's catchy, you have some old school street cred, and it's kind of a nice sing-a-long.
4. Polaris: Hey Sandy
One of the best theme songs to one of the best shows (about family or otherwise) ever.
5. Camera Obscura: Lloyd I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken
6. The Kinks: Picture Book
It's about family, right?
7. Belle and Sebastian: For the Price of a Cup of Tea
8. Acid House Kings: This Heart is a Stone
9. Creedance Clearwater Revival: Proud Mary
Two facts: 1. When my dad was in college, he was a DJ at parties and he'd always throw on a CCR song. 2. When I was a kid, I asked what "CCR" meant and he got really huffy and couldn't believe that I didn't know. I'm sorry pa! I ain't cool like you! Best dad ever?
10. M. Ward: Chinese Translation
It's not because my family is Chinese that I chose this song. I just really like it.
11. Feist: Inside and Out
Everyone likes Feist, my parents love The Bee Gees, we all win.
12. 王菲: 夢中人 (or, Faye Wong: Dream Lover)
Wong Kar-Wai is a HK director that I really love. I actually watched a lot of his films before I knew it was hipster fodder/cool to watch his films. I don't know, I just knew him as this dude who made movies with actors/actresses I liked. Anyway, this song is in his film Chungking Express (along with Faye Wong). If Zhubin isn't sick of this song by now, this is for you.
13. The Smiths: This Charming Man
This song always gets people dancing/happy.
14. Battles: Tonto
My dad really likes Battles, which is kind of awesome.
15. Tom Tom Club: Genius of Love
This song bridges gaps. If you're a Mariah fan, you'd like it. If you're an 80's fan, you'd like it. If you're a ~cool~ Talking Heads fan, you'd like it.
16. YACHT: Psychic City
It's a silly sing-a-long. By sing-a-long, I mean, my mom sings along to it.
17. St. Vincent: Dig a Pony
I didn't want to put a straight-up Beatles song, so I thought I'd put one of my favorite lady singers covering the Beatles.
18. Bob Dylan: Like a Rolling Stone
19. The Choir Practice: Pretty
My mom also likes choir music. This is a compromise.
20. Peter, Paul & Mary: If I Had a Hammer
One of my mom's favorite bands. It's also pretty catchy.

Thanks for reading this all the way through. Gaga for your time:

Razor glasses!