Merenia B-Day Mix 2… The revenge of Kitty Galore!

So after much care & thought, I’ve produced another mix worthy of being knighted “a lot”. This past year I’ve grown a lot and my mix is much more mature…Not! (not that my fist allusion gave that away) Actually this one’s much goofier but still packs a wallop when you least ‘spect it. That’s the old one-two right hook your mother warned you about. Its what I do.

So to start off, I figured a dreamy brit-pop landscape would introduce the cd with an introduction that says “ok the cd’s starting again”.

Badly Drawn Boy: Exit Stage Right

Next I move across the pond to a new hero of mine, movie star/musician Jason Schwartzman. Mainly I included this track because I’m like, in the west coast, also it has a cheesy but very catchy lil riff that could.

Coconut Records: West Coast

Next Stop, Andrew Bird. I had to throw a lil indie-ish stuff in here in honor of my glasses. The video is kinda creepy, the song is unique, and its fun (kinda like me?)

Andrew Bird: Imitosis

So my brit-pop introduction might have had more purpose than previously stated. My love for Blur and Parklife has raised them over Oasis w/o hesitation. So as such included the title track since its hilarious and over the top catchy fun. I love that guest “speaker”’s accent, fantastic!

Blur: Parklife

Again we take a trip back to magic America with some folksy kid rock… and not that the bawitaba dude. I showed this in the “music game” (a topic I should probably devote a post to) and think it’s a lot of fun…you know, for the kids!

Great Lake Swimmers: See you on the Moon

Next up, we continue with some Meowing and a lost cat it suburbia, but in a very oddly moving song. I described there album “Sumday” as Weezer goes through a midlife crises. Anyways its simple why I included this one: Meow J

Grandaddy: Where I’m Anymore

In order to keep things from being too heavy doc, I moved to some Classic Homestar

The Cheat: The Cheat’s themesong

Next I figured it was time for a dance party. The Strokes very own Julian Casablancas (fantastic name bytheway) fit the bill. I like this song a ton, mainly because it sounds lie a fusion of The Strokes with the 80’s!

Julian Casablancas: 11^th Dimension

For an American version of the dreamy intro I figured I’d throw in Mates of State. I’ve never seen the music video, but the songs nice. Its simple and that’s what was needed here.

Mates Of State: My Only Offer

Another Happy song, a lil louder. This time I have seen the music video, and it has ping pong in space… so I was smitten at hello.

Moonbabies: War On Sound

Insert Super Nintendo Mario Kart Sound effect here*

Ok, in an effort to reinvigorate the second half I needed something special. Of Montreal can always bring on the melody and the dancin’. So I decided on them for some fun. “When I feel like an ore, in a sunken canoe, all I gotta do is climb a ladder to you”

Of Montreal: Climb a Ladder

Now that the energy was up I needed to kick it into overdrive. Yay for Sleater Kinney. She has an amazing rock voice. She’s a punk rocker. I figured my sister would love her voice or hate it, either way I win!

Sleater Kinney: Oh!

Ok lets step back a bit, its time for indie again. Well sort of, its time to feel the Illnoise! I’ve recently come to think this album is about a 9.7 outta 9.8. Not quite perfect but pretty dang close. Its all about Illinois, who woulda thought. The transition between the first and second halves has a Cure feel to it. Anyways, its fantastic and who(m) ever says otherwise is lame.

Sufjan Stevens: Come on! Feel the Illnoise

In keeping some continuity from the last mix, I included some Weepies. No references to Sam and Libby, but I think it’s a nice cool down to the excitement hitherto felt.

The Weepies: Red Red Rose

Ok, lets not calm down too much! Lets bring back some Rawk with the White Stripes. I chose this one because it has rats! I figured that might appeal to the nephews :D

The White Stripes: I Think I Smell a Rat

Keep the energy coming…

The Hives: Inspection Wise 1999

I remembered Nia saying she liked an Interpol song from Rockband…I couldn’t remember which one. This one’s from Turn off the Red lights and is one of the first I heard from them… its got style. He knows how to sing-talk

Interpol: Obstacle 1

I needed something light and triumphant to start the encore portion. I chose another Of Montreal. This song is adorable and just makes me smile inside J

Of Montreal: An Eluardian Instance

Smile on the inside to a smile on the outside I enlist The Flaming Lips! Yeah Yeah Yeah!

The Flaming Lips: The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song

Insert Super Mario Kart Intro song here*

Super Mario Brothers: level complete fanfare to end it all off… nice!

-Love your lil bro

(ps that wasn't a command, just forgot the comma in order to make this ps)

Story of My Life

Story of My Life:

Or how Power Pop and The Flaming Lips describe my personal sine curve.

So everybody’s got that song that he or she can point to as an expression of his or her life’s battle royal. I’ve got 8. In listing them in blog form I realize that I’m revealing a ton. Feel free to speculate why these songs ring so true to me-self. Wild conspiracy theories and conjecture are not only welcome, but are what I’m aiming for you, the intelligent reader, to carry out.

-Side note, these aren’t necessarily my favorite songs of all time, though I certainly do love them. I also fancy story-of-other-people’s lives too!

Power Pop is a classification that often tells stories, which makes it naturally a Fountain spewing forth story-of-my-life kind of songs. And yes, the capitalization was most intentional…(note: other grammar items might not be intentional, so back off). So first batch of story of my life songs comes from Fountains of Wayne… no I’m not talking about Stacy’s mom :v. I’ve always loved these guys for their storytelling/slice of life style and now that I’m a “young professional” I can relate even more to their stories. Sick Day has been more relevant to me recently, “lead us not into Penn Station”, listen to all the fantastic lyrics. In fact I’m taking time off right now :D. Anyways I think the closest thing they’ve got to me is “Someone to Love”. Smart hip catchy, and hauntingly beautiful [ok maybe not that, but it’s very relevant to my life (even more so if I decided to work in NYC) with some more amazing lyrics] One song from them that is more a “story of the Harrington Family’s life” is New Routine. I think we’ve lived in most of the places mentioned and are always restless for the titular theme.

While on this subject of fountains of wayne I need to mention “Michael and Heather at the Baggage claim”(an unlikely title to one of the greatest love songs of our time). I be keen on this song, it feels like you are people watching and spotted a couple at the airport after a long trip. Also Red Dragon Tattoo makes me happy, though I only relate to the sentiment of trying to impress a lady cooler than me. (a universal theme in music)

Next up, Weezer

I know, I’ve had a lot of weezer on this here blog, but…well never mind that train of thought, I make no excuses and brake for nobody. Strangely enough, Make Believe holds most of the story of my life songs. Perfect Situation is pretty spot on, though The Other Way is my choice. (again, the pattern here is listen and conjecture)

Now its Ben Kweller time, Don’t Know Why… (actually I do)

Ok its time to delve into psychedelic space rock, something that I totally relate to (???) Most particularly I wanna talk Flaming Lips. Frontman Wayne Coyne is pretty crazy, but hits at some heavy topics through simple allegory, by way of spiders, messengers from the future, robots learning love, ambulance drivers, fights, autumn transformation and scientists racing for the prize and so much more.

But relating back to the topic at hand I submit these two as story of my life songs. Feeling yourself Disintegrate, the simple life themes/message is combined with such a lovely tune. I feel I relate to it somehow, but I don’t know why. Lastly I submit Ego Trippin, again I say conjecture.

I leave you with this beautiful instrumental, please comment folks, tell me your theories/your songs.

Thank you, you’ve been a lovely audience, its certainly been a thrill …I’d like to take you home with me,

Affectionately yours,

-James