Lady Bizniz- Songs for Fancy Ladies and Others Too

Since everyone mostly seems to be waiting in the wings like a shy boy hugging the wall at a junior high dance, and it being ladies' night and all, I guess I'll go ahead and take your collective hands and ask, "I know it's a bit late, but may I have this mix?"

Full mix available Here

1. Missy Elliott-Work It: "Ain't no shame ladies do your thing/just make sure you ahead of the game." Word.

2. The Runaways- Cherry Bomb: I wish I was cool enough to run with these broads, but I have a feeling they'll straight up cut a bitch.

3. Janis Joplin-Piece of my Heart: Go look up just about any youtube vid of Janis on 1960s television. Now that's an iconoclast. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to hop in my car,visit a corporate coffee monolith and blog about how we're all pawns in the system, man, because i'm a total anarchist that way. Also, insert obligatory "Jackie Jormp-Jomp" reference here.

4. M.I.A.-Bamboo Banga: Not going to lie, when this song comes up on shuffle, I can't help myself from rapping along in highly accented mimcry: "Strike match/light fire/who's that girl called Maya?" Lines like "Barbarella look like she my dead ringer" display the sort of irreverant confidence and self-aggrandizing bravado that I wish more female artists would embrace.

5. Rupa and the April Fishes- une américaine à paris: I don't remember who turned me on to this artist, but bottom line, she's brown and she sings in French. Win.

6. Pretenders- Brass in Pocket: While the patronizing label of "girl power anthems" abound, this is one of those songs that seems to really embody a sort of empowering self-determination without being lame, (or female specific, really). Perhaps the flip-side companion to Janis Ian's At Seventeen? Together those two songs make for one mighty fine-soundin' bipolar disorder.

7. The Pipettes- Judy: Upon further inspection, this mix should really be called "being a chick often leads to less than desirable situations."

8. Metric- Glass Ceiling: Men- it's all gender apartheid-this, glass ceiling-that. Amirite, ladies?

9. Julie Brown- The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun: Bitches be shootin'.

10. Gillian Welch- My First Lover: Bitches be lovin'.

11. Blue States- Your Girl: Bitches be leavin.'

12. The Blow- True Affection

13. Bat for Lashes- What's a Girl to Do: Too expected?

Bonus:

Midnight Radio-I know I had Hedwig on my last mix, but I really couldn't resist putting this song on a ladies' night mix, what with it's name-dropping sassy brassy ladies like Yoko Ono and Tina Turner.

Ladies' Night

Download the mix here

I tried to make a mix that avoided the female-fronted acoustic-type singer-songwriter thing. So I put punk and pop and noise and such. I hope you enjoy it, my dears.

And follow along:

1. X-Ray Spex - Oh Bondage! Up Yours!

Girl power!

2. Karen O & The Million Dollar Bashers - Highway 61 Revisited

Bob Dylan cover!

3. The Phenomenal Handclap Band - 15 to 20

Disco party!

4. Xiu Xiu - Hello From Eau Claire (Gold Chains Remix)

Least gay song Xiu Xiu's ever done?

5. The Soft Pink Truth - Do They Owe Us a Living

Crass cover!

6. Lovage - Strangers On a Train

Hitchcock = Fucking

7. Salt-n-Pepa - Push It

This song makes my mix worthwhile

8. Lullatone - Pajama Party Pop

Bad segue!

9. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - White Corolla

Another comment!

10. OOIOO - Mountain Book

Japanese weirdos!

11. Ponytail - Die Allman Brüder

Baltimore weirdos!

12. Blood on the Wall - I'd Like to Take You Out Tonight

This song is ~*romantic*~

13. Dear Nora - Second Hand

I listened to this band a ton in 2009

14. Heavenly - Cool Guitar Boy

Classic girl-pop!

15. Le Tigre - Hot Topic

Most cliche song of the whole mix

16. Tiger Trap - Puzzle Pieces

Another "tiger" girl-band to balance the scales

17. Best Friends Forever - Handpocket

Thanks, Debra, for introducing me to this band with your Halloween mix :)

18. Françoise Hardy - Comment Te Dire Aideu?

Bring me back something French!

19. Dub Narcotic Sound System - Sabley Goodness

Bring me back something Olympian!

20. Kimya Dawson - Viva La Persistence

Another bad segue, but I had to get Kimya on here

21. The Velvet Underground - After Hours

And a satisfactory conclusion

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