Boo, Love!

Seeing as I'm mostly apathetic about love (emotions? Que es esto?), it was pretty hard to make an angry love mix. However, I'm a huge fan of unrequited love (see: most of my history) so most of these songs are about that. And of course, I made this mix without looking at the ones that have already been posted (Hava's), there are two overlaps, but only one artist overlap. That just means these are perfect songs for this month!

DOWNLOAD HERE.
1. The Carpenters: Goodbye to Love
Loneliness and empty days will be my only friend
From this day love is forgotten
I'll go on as best I can

2. Jens Lekman & Tracey Thorn: Yeah! Oh Yeah!
So it's over, you and I
Was my whole life just a lie?
Yeah! Oh, yeah!

3. Mirah: Don't Die in Me
All the time you felt so free
Did you forget how much you once loved me

4. Feist: Let it Die
Don't you wish that we could forget that kiss
And see this for what it is
That we're not in love

5. Joanna Newsom: Peach, Plum, Pear
And I have read the right books
To interpret your looks
You were knocking me down
With the palm of your eye

6. Bright Eyes: Lover I Don't Have to Love
Love's an excuse to get hurt
And to hurt
Do you like to hurt?
I do, I do

7. The Smiths: Unhappy Birthday
'Cause you're evil
And you lie
And if you should die
I may feel slightly sad
(But I won't cry)

8. Pulp: F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.
What is this feeling called love?
Why me, why you, why here, why now?
It doesn't make no sense, no
It's not convenient, no
It doesn't fit my plans, no
It's something I don't understand, oh

9. Buzzcocks: Ever Fallen in Love With Someone (You Shouldn't've Fallen In Love With)?
I can't see much of a future
Unless we find out what's to blame
What a shame
And we won't be together much longer
Unless we realize that we are the same

10. Vivian Girls: I Heard You Say
No you'll never be in his arms again,
I'm so cold.

11. Girls: Laura
Where did it start?
We used to be friends
Now when I run into you, I pretend I don't see you
I know that you hate me

12. The Bird and the Bee: Fucking Boyfriend
Are you working up to something?
But you give me almost nothing
Keep me helpless
Up to something on my knees
Would you ever be my
Would you be my fucking boyfriend?

13. Grizzly Bear: Ready, Able
Make a decision with a kiss
Maybe I have frostbite
And when I shuffled on back home
I made sure all my tracks in the snow were gone

14. Fever Ray: If I Had a Heart
if i had a heart i could love you
if i had a voice i would sing
after the night when i wake up
i'll see what tomorrow brings

15. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone: Nashville Parthenon
& when you make it back to Nashville
we'll forget all of your sins
& I still buy two pairs of everything
so when you come home you & I'll be twins

16. LCD Soundsystem: No Love Lost
We've been moving round in different situations
Knowing that the time would come
Just to see you torn apart
Witness to your empty heart

I'll Take Us Home: A mix about New York

It's an obvious choice--doing a mix about New York--but oh well, I make my own rules. In honor of my packing two suitcases and moving 3,000 miles to ~the City~ here is a mix with songs inspired by my new home.
P.S. If I can take some time out from relocating and familiarizing myself with an entirely new city to do this, I think you guys can bust out some mixes too. Just sayin'. :)

Download here.
1. Wu-Tang Clan: C.R.E.A.M.
2. Santogold: L.E.S. Artists
3. Matt and Kim: I'll Take Us Home
4. Simon & Garfunkel: 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
5. The Mountain Goats: Lovecraft in Brooklyn
6. The Clash: The Right Profile
7. Jeffrey Lewis: The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song
8. The Velvet Underground: I'm Waiting for the Man
9. Bob Dylan: Visions of Johanna
10. The Magnetic Fields: I'm the Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side
11. Belle and Sebastian: Piazza, New York Catcher
12. Nico: Chelsea Girls
13. Kings of Convenience: Little Kids
14. Conor Oberst with Gillian Welch: Lua
15. Cat Power: New York
16. Thom Yorke: And it Rained all Night
17. LCD Soundsystem: New York I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down (duh).

The Time of Your Life

For awhile, I was trying to decide whether I wanted to do a ~cheesy~ playlist (ALL GEORGE MICHAEL. ALL THE TIME) or a really cool mix (DINOSAUR JR., SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES). Then, I decided to just do a mix that I could listen to at anytime and it will make me happy; music that I would probably be into if I was 22 living in 1987.

Download here.
1. Cutting Crew: (I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight
2. The Smiths: A Rush and the Push and the Land is Ours
3. Guns 'n Roses: Sweet Child O' Mine
4. The Replacements: Alex Chilton
5. Echo & the Bunnymen: Lips Like Sugar
6. Talulah Gosh: Talulah Gosh
7. Sonic Youth: Schizophrenia
8. The Cure: Why Can't I Be You?
9. Depeche Mod: Strange Love
10. Madonna: La Isla Bonita

Pool Party, Bro

I made this mix with the idea that it can be played in the background while you're lying on a chaise lounge hanging out with a few friends, frozen alcoholic beverage in hand. Maybe a dancier song pops up and you do a little dance by the poolside, no bigs. So yeah, my mix is not going to be played in any super rager/PARTY anytime soon. However, if you're looking for a more relaxed beach mix, this is for you. A lot of ~favorites~ and summer jams. Listen to it in this order for MAXIMUM DOPENESS. I hope you enjoy this!
Download here.
1. Beck: E-Pro
2. Black Kids: I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You
3. Passion Pit: Little Secrets
4. The Cure: Just Like Heaven
5. The Bird and the Bee: Maneater
6. Best Coast: When I'm With You
7. Dum Dum Girls: Jail La La
8. caUSE Co-MOTION!: Falling Again
9. Happy Birthday: Girls FM
10. The Drums: Let's Go Surfing
11. Fool's Gold: Surprise Hotel
12. Taken By Trees: My Boys
13. Camera Obscura: French Navy
14. The Blow: Parenthesis
15. Beach House: Lover of Mine
16. Flosstradamus: Big Bills (feat. Caroline Polachek)
17. Annie: Helpless Fool For Love (Patrick Wolf Remix)
18. Architecture in Helsinki: Heart it Races
19. Beyoncé: Crazy in Love (feat. Jay Z)
20. Yeasayer: O.N.E.
21. Coconut Records: Nighttiming
21. Phoenix: Lisztomania

On a Good Day

I'm so going to get an award for being such an early bird! You do give out awards, right?
Anyway, here are 28 songs under 2 minutes because I like the number 28 (as much as you can "like" a number, I guess). I just listened to it and it does go by really fast but still enjoyable? Hopefully you find it enjoyable. Enough for a nice bike ride! I won't write lengthy descriptions for each song because that's too intense so here is the track list and album cover:

Download here
1. A Sunny Day in Glasgow: Magna for Annie, Josh & Robin
2. Crocodiles: Screaming Chrome
3. The Death Set: Blah!
4. Peter Bjorn and John: Writer's Block
5. Final Fantasy: ->
6. Morrissey: Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together
7. Inara George: Night Happens
8. Karen O: Igloo
9. PJ Harvey: No Child Of Mine
10. Patrick Wolf: The Shadowsea
11. Anni Rossi: Ecology
12. Belle and Sebastian: Simple Things
13. P:ano: Working
14. Talulah Gosh: Beatnik Boy
15. France Gall: Oh! Quelle Famille (avec Petits Chanteurs De I'lle-De-France)
16. Brigitte Bardot: L'appareil à sous
17. Natalie Portman's Shaved Head: Sophisticated Side Ponytail
18. Mika Miko: I Got A Lot (New New New)
19. Cold Cave: Hello Rats
20. Battles: Snare Hanger
21. Micachu: Sweetheart
22. Foot Ox: New Boyfriend
23. Phoenix: Congratulations
24. St. Vincent: We Put A Pearl In The Ground
25. God Help the Girl: A United Theory
26. Mirah: Recommendation
27. The Dodos: Eyelids
28. Joanna Newsom: On a Good Day

Take on Me

Since I was the one who suggested this theme, it seems apt that I would be the first to post a mix (unless during this time I upload/write descriptions, someone beat me to it). Thinking back to what I listened to before I listened to ~cool~ music is embarrassing, but I couldn't have it any other way. I mean, isn't childhood (and mostly high school) all about awkwardness and learning from sad, sad mistakes? I think so. To make it more lols, I will probably post a few photos too. It's not as cohesive as a "mix" nor is it anything cutting edge (expect a lot of "entry level" stuff), but I hope you still enjoy it!

DOWNLOAD HERE.

1. Patrick Wolf: A Boy Like Me
My first concert: I had just met one of my best friends (foreverrr) Cecily, and we went to Amoeba to see Patrick Wolf perform. This was for his record launch party (sort of) for "Lycanthropy." This was the first concert I went to on my own free will. The first EVER concert was when I was in Hong Kong but I honestly don't remember who I saw. All I remembered was my cousin jumping up on her chair and screaming like a crazy fan girl. It was not cool.
Here I am with P. Wolf. I think I was 15?

2. Xiu Xiu: Suha
My most recent concert: Since graduating, I haven't been to as many shows mostly because I'm lazy. But if Xiu Xiu is ever in town (or Jamie Stewart solo), I will go, no questions asked. Easily one of my top 5 favorite bands. And for fun, here is a photo of the first time I ever saw Xiu Xiu! I think I was 15 or 16. Hahah, look at how awk-awk Jamie is.

3. Joy Division: Love Will Tear Us Apart
Favorite song with "love": This was a pretty difficult one to choose from just because I have at least 450 songs with the word "love." I decided that Xiu Xiu's "I Luv the Valley, OH!" was out because it's "luv" (although I guess we can argue the TitSJ version). And although I hold Björk's "All is Full of Love" near and dear to my heart, the impact that Joy Division had (and has) on me is stronger. I could listen to "Love Will Tear Us Apart" every single day and can always find another thing I love about the song.
4. No Doubt: Spiderwebs
First CD: The first CD I ever got was No Doubt's "Tragic Kingdom." I didn't listen to the radio then, and the only music I did listen to was classical (I started playing the cello when I was eight) or Cantonese pop (parents). I think No Doubt's last single for this album came out in 1998 and I was like WHAT IS THIS???? I was in fifth grade and I found the CD in my newspaper one day. I guess someone who was packing our newspaper accidentally left it in. Sucks for them, but great for 9 year-old me. The late '90s also happened to be the revival of ska. I'm pretty sure at least one of our contributors knows VERY WELL the effect ska had on their lives.
5. Avi Buffalo: Truth Sets In
Most recent CD: When I buy CDs, I buy a few at a time so it's hard to just choose one. However, this was the newest CD I listened to. I enjoy it a lot. Hah, from No Doubt to Avi Buffalo. Life!
6. Radiohead: Idioteque
Band that changed my life: Yep, I'm just like EVERYBODY ELSE. But whatever, I heard Radiohead for the first time (not counting "Creep") and it was just like nothing I had ever heard before. It was then that I decided to seek out bands that were also unconventional...and by unconventional, I mean they weren't being heard on mainstream radio. Haha
7. The Smiths: This Charming Man
Favorite song to dance to: Every single indie club I go to, I go crazy when I hear "This Charming Man." I love The Smiths, but this song just makes me incredibly happy and I can't help but grin like the Since U Been Gone kid anytime I listen to this song.
8. The Velvet Underground: I Found a Reason
Song I want played at my wedding: This is so cheesy and I can't believe I'm sharing this with you guys, but I want my first ~dance~ with (ugh) my husband-to-be to be this song. It's not original, but whatevs, I don't claim to be cool. It's a great song and it's romantic.
9. Joanna Newsom: Peach, Plum, Pear
Song to make me feel shittier: I suffer from (teen) angst a loooot for no reason (sometimes) and if I want to feel even shittier, I listen to this song. Nothing about unrequited love and lyrics that I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND 100% to make me feel worse!
10. Sigur Rós: Ný Batterí
Song with great songwriting/lyrics: I don't understand the lyrics of this song, but I feel making up my own lyrics and meaning transcends (ho ho!) it. I mean, the beauty of the song is that it can mean different things to different people. Listening to this song brings back so many memories, thoughts, and ~feelings.~ In general, this band makes me feel this way more than any other band has.
~Bonus~
I need this song to soundtrack some random scene in a movie based on my life.
Belle & Sebastian: I Don't Love Anyone
No explanation needed, really.

Ecstasy in Miami

These are songs that will hopefully ~get you in the mood~ or make your experience a fun sexy time.
Download here.
1. Spank Rock: Bump
I can't think of a better way to get it started. By it, I mean "this mix." Obviously.
2. Rihanna: Rude Boy
Say what you will about pop songs but this SO fits the theme. She asks if you can "get it up" so you know...
3. jj: Ecstasy
I believe that any jam that combines the melody of Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" and the lyrics to Will Smith's "Miami" is a sexy winner.
4. The xx: Infinity
This whole album is a sex jam-palooza. This song is one of my favorites, though.
5. Lykke Li: Possibility
The sparse beats and the almost melancholic way Lykke's vocals sound just makes you want to hold someone forever.
6. Hot Chip: Look After Me
7. The Whitest Boy Alive: Fireworks
I hope there are fireworks in your near future, friend.
8. Air: Cherry Blossom Girl
Air is like, sex napalm. I just brought on an oldie.
9. Björk: Jóga
EMOOOOOOOOOOOTIONAL LAAAAAAAAAANDSCAPES.
10. Antony & The Johnsons: Crazy in Love
I love this song. Especially when it's sung in this almost operatic, romantic way.
11. Beach House: You Came to Me
12. Liars: The Other Side of Mount Heart Attack
Regarding the last couple of songs: see, I could be romantic, too!
13. Portishead: It Could Be Sweet
Portishead is also sex napalm. I decided to not go with the standbys (i.e. "Glory Box) and instead with a "sweet" song.
14. Broken Social Scene: Hotel
15. Bright Eyes: Lover I Don't Have to Love
Re: 14-15: For those who don't want romance.
16. Gigi: Dreams of Romance (with Zac Pennington)
17. Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg: Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus
ULTIMATE sex jam.
18. Feist: How My Heart Behaves
But I couldn't end my mix with the most risqué song, so here is a love jam.

Cover Me

You know that saying, "You snooze, you lose"? Well, that's what happened today as I was putting the final touches of my mix when I decided to go here to make sure there weren't any doubles. Any from Kyle? Nope. Phew. Then, as I was uploading my mix (the album art took awhile), lo and behold I find that there's a new entry by Anam. AND WHAT. WE HAVE THE SAME MIX TAPE NAME. And damn, one or two of the same songs. So, delete process, start again.

Anyway, I kept the album name and the glorious photo of Blackstreet because whatever. I do what I want.

To download: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=83RKOJH2
1. Arctic Monkeys: Take it or Leave it (The Strokes)
The early 2000s "This band is going to save the rock industry" is covered by the late 2000s "This band is going to save the rock industry."
2. God Help the Girl: Funny Little Frog (Belle and Sebastian)
If you haven't checked it out already, this album is full of delights: 1960s girl group style and B&S covers. This is one of those covers, done all jazzy.
3. The Welcome Wagon: Half a Person (The Smiths)
Although the rest of the album is full of Christian/gospel music (still really good and I wish we could sing this in church!), the duo decided to cover this maudlin Smiths song. There are a lot of shitty covers of The Smiths (TaTu anyone?) but this bucks that trend. Maybe it's because they have Jesus on their side.
4. Bright Eyes: Mushaboom (Feist)
Conor Oberst takes an upbeat song, puts his voice on it, and it becomes a post-I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning effort.
5. M. Ward: Green River (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
CCR, ya'll for the second time.
6. The Books (feat. Jose Gonzalez): Cello Song (Nick Drake)
I could listen to the original on repeat, but it is nice to have a refreshing take on it. The gorgeous cellos are still in it, and that's really all we need in life.
7. Friendly Fires: I'm Good, I'm Gone (Lykke Li)
The UK lads decide to spruce up this song by making it dancier and a bit sexier.
8. Xiu Xiu (feat. Michael Gira): Under Pressure (Queen)
I wish this was the only "Under Pressure" cover out there. It's fucking epic and beautiful at the same time.
9. Times New Viking: Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) (Arcade Fire)
Who knew you could take such an operatic song and turn it into a lo-fi skuzzy production and still make it sound good?
10. Arcade Fire: Poupée de cire, poupée de son (France Gall)
For those who don't know me, I'm pretty gay for France Gall and Paris in the 60s.
11. Beirut: Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
I don't think anyone could do a better cover than Jeff Buckley of this song, but this is pretty close. Sorry it's live, but that adds to the ~coolness~ factor right?
12. St. Vincent and The National: Sleep All Summer (Crooked Fingers)
I'm not a fan of The National (snooze fest) but Matt Berninger's baritone coupled with Annie's angelic vocals really makes this a winner.
13. Phoenix: Playground Love (Air)
Short and sweet. Like many a playground love.
14. Vitamin String Quartet: Eraser (No Age)
So take what I said about #9 and switch the phrases around.
15. Beach House: Some Things Last a Long Time (Daniel Johnston)
Danny J's voice is so heartbreaking in this song, and I feel that Victoria captures it well in her own haunting way.
16. Nouvelle Vague: Guns of Brixton (The Clash)
Never has The Clash sounded this sexy.
17. Lavender Diamond: Like a Prayer (Madonna)
Fact: This is my go-to karaoke jam.
18. Final Fantasy & Ed Droste: Possibly Maybe (Björk)
If I knew how to cry, this song would make me cry. It's breathtaking and sublime.

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!

In the Morning Light

Nothing is TOO scary in the morning light (unless you encounter zombies. Then it's always scary).

I'm pretty much the biggest pansy you will ever meet, so I tried to include some lighthearted Halloween songs for the wusses in all of us.

Each song links to a download link, but you can also click here for all the songs in one window (sort by "date"). I seriously tried for an hour learning how to compress things into a zip, but the "tutorial" was pretty unhelpful and I'm too tired to keep reading.
Anyway look on the bright side, you only need to download songs you don't already have! Yay!

I made it into a RAR file, FOR ALL OF ETERNITY.
Download album HERE.

1. Harry and the Potters: Song for the Death Eaters

2. The Unicorns: Tuff Ghost

3. Xiu Xiu: Bog People

4. Giraffes? Giraffes!: The Ghost of EPPEEPEE’s Ghost

5. The Velvet Underground: The Black Angel's Death Song

6. North American Hallowe'en Prevention, Inc.: Do They Know it's Hallowe'en

7. Patrick Wolf: Bloodbeat

8. Cut Copy: So Haunted

9. Whalesound: Bones Become a Ghost

10. Múm: Ghosts You Draw on My Back

11. Nouvelle Vague: Bella Lugosi's Dead

12. The Smiths: Death Of A Disco Dancer

13. Sufjan Stevens: They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhh! (Pretty obvious choice, but whatever!)

14. Tullycraft: Fangs on Bats

15. The Deadly Syndrome: I Hope I Become A Ghost

16. Girls: Ghost Mouth

17. No Kids: For Halloween

18. Tracy Jordan: Werewolf Bar Mitzvah (If you only download one song, let it be this one)