get down to it

The theme is: sex. Once again, I made two mixes. At Halloween, I was torn between the creepy and the goofy; here, I was torn between the sweet + soulful, and the gleefully obscene.

First up: sweet + soulful.

Reach for the Body in Your Bed

1. The Seeds - "Can't Seem to Make You Mine"
2. Shadows of Knight - "Gloria"
3. Magnetic Fields - "Three-Way"
4. The Ventures - "Penetration"
5. Tyrone Davis - "A Woman Needs to Be Loved"
6. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - "Body"
7. Diane Cluck - "1/2 a Million Miles From Home"
8. Bettye Swann - "These Arms of Mine"
9. Jackie Wilson - "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher"
10. Brighter Side of Darkness - "Love Jones"
11. Ginuwine - "So Anxious"
12. Darondo - "Sure Know How to Love Me"
13. The Wave Machines - "I Keep the Lights On"
14. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - "Malin Kpon O"
15. The Go-Betweens - "Lavender"
16. Bridget St. John - "Bare Feet & Hot Pavements"

Although I can be pretty crude sometimes, I think that I do so out of that Woody Allen / Robert Crumb defense. That is, sex is awesome, but, uh, oy vey, it's nearly awe-inspiring, almost immobilizing. This mix explores both the neuroticism of sex, and that wonderful moment of just giving into it; when, as Diane Cluck puts it, you can "submit to ecstacy, with all [your] inhibitions free." We think, talk, joke, worry, dream and fuss about sex so much, sometimes we forget the actual act -- which is a sweet, simple little thing. I think these songs express our (OK, my) frustration + satisfaction pretty nicely.

Oh, and of course, they're all great songs to bone to. (There's a bit of an arc here: the first few songs suggest seduction; the middle is bursting with hot soul jams; the last songs are mellow drifting-off-to-sleep music.)

Download this one HERE!

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Second mix: gleefully obscene.


Obscene Novelties

1. "Intro" - Dr. Octagon
2. "Just Put It In My Mouth" - Akinyele
3. "Change Clothes" - Jay-Z + The Neptunes*
4. "Pony" - Ginuwine
5. "Flavor of the Month" - Black Sheep
6. "My Neck, My Back" - Khia
7. "She Swallowed It" - NWA
8. "Not Tonight (Eat My Pussy Right)" - Lil' Kim
9. "Doin' It" - LL Cool J
10. "I'd Rather Fuck You" - NWA
11. "Put It Down" - T-Pain feat. Ray + Teddy
12. "Pop That Pussy" - 2 Live Crew
13. "Crash" - Gwen Stefani
14. "Keys to Your Ass" - Imani Coppola
15. "Smell Your Dick" - Riskay
16. "Visit to the Gynecologyst" - Dr. Octagon
17. "You Can't Fuck Them All" - Rock Trajeek

So, like I said, I like to be crude sometimes. I've combed through the most infamous dirty songs, and compiled some of the filthiest, goofiest and catchiest dirty songs out there. Bust this out at a party to make everyone gradually uncomfortable. Bust this out during a first date to make your date instantly uncomfortable. You're welcome.

Download these obscene novelties HERE!

*This song isn't really obscene -- it sorta just ended up here with its sexy beat -- but lord almighty it's catchy, so on the mix it stays

I'm your sex bomb

So, as I put together this mix, I realize that, apparently, my natural sex-vibe is like....chill/intimate/narcotic/whispery [unless my partner requests otherwise]. So, thanks for the journey of self-discovery, mix CD.

Download all the sweet jams here.

1. Charlotte Gainsbourg & Calexico - Just Like A Woman
Bob Dylan songs are sexy, but his voice maybe not so much. So just slap a french gal on there and don't stop 'til the panties drop. Also, this song will cheer me up if it turns out she's a tranny. Bonuspoints.
2. Nina Simone - I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl
I know the metaphor is a little deep here, but I'm pretty sure this song is about sex.
3. Low - Venus
Gonna get it on? Better put on some music by some married Mormons.
4. The National - Slow Show
Goofy striptease ACTIVATE.
5. Broken Social Scene - I'm Still Your Fag
I like to confuse a lady while I'm in bed with her.
6. Iron & Wine - My Lady's House
Duh.
7. Smog - To Be Of Use
You know what? Me too, Mr. Callahan.
8. The Field Mice - And Before The First Kiss
I'm an immature, pop-loving romantic at heart.
9. Okkervil River - Maine Island Lovers
I just hope I'm doing well enough to distract her from the song's lyrics. Because brutally honest songs about affairs may not be her biggest turn-on.
10. White Rainbow - Guilded Golden Ladies
God. How often do I put this song on mixes?
11. Yo La Tengo - More Stars Than There Are In Heaven
One of YLT's dreamy jams. With a slow, suggestive build.
12. Múm - Green Grass Of Tunnel
Begin dreamy, female-voiced electronic block.
13. High Places - From Stardust To Sentience
Continue.
14. The XX - Night Time
Wrap it up (the block, I mean. Not like...a condom PSA).
15. Lovage - Strangers On A Train
OK. So...it starts to get a little goofy starting here. But let's be honest. This mix has probably outlived its usefulness by now.
16. Serge Gainsbourg - Melody
Two Gainsbourgs on one mix! What a country! (France, I mean).
17. Cars Can Be Blue - Dirty Song
And with that, the mood is destroyed.

Let it ride

Hey folks,

I'm gonna let the sex-jams theme ride through March. A lot of people seemed to be working on mixes that haven't been posted yet, and Feb is short, and I was out of town, and blah blah blah. Keep 'em coming.