whatchu know 'bout me?

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i apologize in advance... this mix is ridiculous.

1. first concert - Weezer : The World Has Turned and Left Me Here
Growing up with ultra-religious, born-again christian parents meant that i didn't get to go to 'rock concerts' since they are obviously of the devil. fortunately, my aunt was able to convince my mom to let me see No Doubt/Weezer (1997!)

2. favourite song - Broken Social Scene : Almost Crimes
I'm not sure why i love this song so much... but i can listen to it over & over again without getting tired of it.

3. last concert - Say Anything : Admit It!!!
Okay, i made this mix before Coachella and didn't post it until now. technically, that was the last "concert" i attended... but i'm convinced it doesn't count. so i'm saying the last show i went to was max bemis' acoustic set at ucsd... and before that? say anything with eisley.

4. favourite song with "love" in the title - Band of Horses : No One's Gonna Love You
There were probably a million songs with "love" in the title that i could've picked, but this song is so sad and makes my heart hurt a little bit.

5. favourite song with "death" in the title - Los Campesinos! : Death to Los Campesinos!
Most of the "death" songs were totally bummers, which is fine... but this song is so catchy. i can't resist the boy/girl vocals.

6. favourite song with "love" & "death" in the title - The Stills : Love and Death
It has love... and death... in the title. i couldn't help myself.

7. i definitely had a poster of this band - *NSYNC : I Want You Back
Don't judge. i used to LOVE nsync. lance was always my favourite.

8. first cd i ever stole - Blink 182 : Waggy
So i had this friend who used to borrow stuff all the time... and she borrowed my favourite flip-flops (back in 8th grade) and swore up and down that she returned them, but strangely enough, i couldn't find them. until i went to her house one day and saw them shoved in the back of her closet, with one of the straps broken. i saw "Dude Ranch" next to her stereo and decided to take it... you know, to teach her a lesson.

9. last cd i stole - Major Lazer : Keep It Goin' Louder
I didn't buy this cd because i wasn't sure i'd be able to handle all the reggae/jamaican-ness of the music. turns out i was totally right. i've only listened to it once.

10. song that reminds me of an ex - The Promise Ring : Why Did We Ever Meet?
This kid i dated a while back sang this to me and it made me laugh because it was cute. he ended up being a piece of shit, but every time i hear this song, i can't help but think about him.

11. band that changed my life - Radiohead : Fake Plastic Trees
Yeah, yeah - cliché answer. everyone loves radiohead. but no joke, the first time i ever heard this song, i think my heart broke a little bit. i still love "The Bends" - it kicks the shit out of "In Rainbows."

12. favourite driving song - Eisley : Trolleywood
Don't laugh, i always turn this song way up when I'm driving.. and i sing along. it's so cute.

13. song i want played at my funeral - B.o.B. vs Digitalism : Pogo vs. Haterz
Funerals are supposed to be bullshit and sad, but this song rules. if danielle gets to have a churro stand at her funeral, i want to remind people about "haters [being] everywhere we go."

14. song i want played at my wedding - The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
I don't know if it's the violins or the creepily endearing lyrics, but i'm a sucker for this song. is it creepy that i think dying by Mr. Right's side is a heavenly way to die?

15. song that cheers me up - Reggie and the Full Effect : Congratulations Smack and Katy
Nothing cheers me up like Reggie... music with keyboards is generally pretty happy... and this song is so cute and fun. Plus the video is adorable - PB&J.

16. song that i listen to when i want to feel even shittier - Rhett Miller : Come Around
I don't even know if i can explain this one without sounding like a pathetic, lonely piece of shit. it's the anthem for my constant state of heartbreak.

17. favourite song from a mix - Elliott Smith : Bled White
Once upon a time, this jewish kid made me a mix... and it was pretty great. he put jimmy eat world, keepsake, get up kids, alkaline trio... all the seemingly appropriate stuff... and then he put this song. it didn't really flow with the rest of the mix, but i still love it.

18. band i want to see in concert (again) - Of Montreal : So Begins Our Alabee
Okay, i saw Of Montreal at street scene... (i missed BUSTA to see them) but the set wasn't nearly long enough... so i'd really like to see another show. kevin barnes is crazy but inspired.

19. guilty pleasure - Hall & Oates : Out of Touch
How can i explain my love for hall & oates?

three songs that sum me up -
this is going to be depressing, but i can't apologize for who i am. i'm sort of a sad, sappy jerk.
20. The Stills : In The End
21. Pretty Girls Make Graves : Sad Girls Por Vida
22. Nada Surf : Inside of Love

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!

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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.