The Evolution of the "Mix Tape"

Greetings! Long time no see! School and work have been draining, so here's a lo-fi post to get back into the groove. So of you know I made a "Mix Tape" of sorts, so I thought what better way to ease back into blogging by writing about it. No mp3s here, copyright infringement is not a fight I'd like to take on right now. But, instead, I've included links, mostly to myspace.com (the wave of the future for aspiring artists), so that you can almost have the entire mix. But if you really really like the mix, and if you ask real nice (and if I know you), I'll see what I can do.

The times, they are a-changin'. Remember when people used to make mix tapes? First it was recording songs off the radio, grainy versions of songs, often with intros cut off as you realized it was on and scrambled to hit the record button. Then, boomboxes with CD players made it easier to compile different songs onto mix tapes. Careful consideration would be given not just to the song choices and order, but also to the lengths of songs so that the mix could conform to the time constraints of cassette sides. Enter CD burners. Mix tapes became mix CDs. Mix CDs were technology's response to home-made gifts. These mixes were a way to say "Happy Birthday" or "Happy Anniversary" on a budget ... and with the added benefit of demonstrating that care and thought went into the gifts. Zoom, zoom, zoom! And now, "mix tapes" can be passed on entirely electronically. With online storage sites, one can pass on a virtual "mix tape" to others without even having to pay for the tape/disc/8-track. I'm taking it one step further here, by sending you my mix tape through intermediaries like websites. Check out the songs I chose, that is if the linked site hosts it, or listen to their other tracks. The internet is an amazing place.

Format: track title - artist (album title) ... and click on the artist name for a related link unless otherwise specified

1. Bloc Party vs. The Pussycat Dolls - Dunproofin' vs. Aggro1 (no album): Startin' it off with a mash-up of "Banquet" and "Don'cha". They mesh remarkably well, and I've listened to a lot of mash-ups. Also, the faster tempo of Bloc Party makes the Pussycat Dolls song that much better.

Just a Bloc Party site

2. Burn - Pink Nasty (no album): Take one part Usher Raymond, mix in one part acoustic guitar, shake, and serve over a soothing female voice. It'll haunt your dreams, in a good way.

3. It's Raining - Quasi (The Sword of God): Stumbled onto this band from an mp3 blog. Consists of Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss (drummer from Sleater-Kinney). The song's got a doo-wop feel but still feels modern. And its lyrics about feeling sorry for yourself don't apply to me at all. Er...

4. Your Ex-Lover is Dead - Stars (Set Yourself On Fire): Amazing boy-girl, point-counterpoint lyrics about two people who had a one-night stand and then bump into each other again. Epic sound, my favorite song from this amazing band. Canada just keeps crankin' 'em out.

5. Twin Killers - Deerhoof (The Runners Four): Really great groove from a strange, strange band. I can't understand the Japanese girl's lyrics, but I know that I like how it all sounds together.

6. The Power is On - The Go! Team (Thunder, Lightning, Strike): British sextet of youth who mix rap, pop, tv anthems, cheerleading, and more into a ball of fun. This song's not on the site, but the other ones are great as well. This one makes me want to exercise harder, that is if I exercised in the first place.

7. I Love You (Me Either) - Cat Power & Karen Elson (Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited): This is a cover song of Serge Gainsbourg, a dead French musician who wrote a lot of songs about sex and who also was a heavy influence on the French duo Air. Chan Marshall (Cat Power) coos and moans a lot, and Karen Elson is (fun fact!) the model/wife of Jack White from The White Stripes.

Just a Cat Power site

8. I Was Born (A Unicorn) - The Unicorns (Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?): The Unicorns are no more, but this album has found permanent residence in my iTunes playlist. Strange songs about death and a fear of death but wrapped in a candy coating of children's music. Atypical song structures and, yet, so very catchy. Not an easy feat.

No links because the band has broken up. However, see #20 below for the semi-reincarnation of 2/3rds of The Unicorns.

9. Walk Away - Franz Ferdinand (You Could Have It So Much Better): Not only did they survive the sophomore jinx, but they broadened their sound with this album. This track is #3 on my 25 Top Most Played songs, and it strays from the old dancehall rock sound of their debut. Unfortunately, this track isn't on their myspace.

10. Twin Cinema - The New Pornographers (Twin Cinema): The Canadian supergroup gives us a great upbeat tune with a simple but brilliant guitar riff, a catchy melody, and the wonderful twang of Neko Case. Click on "audio/video" and this track plays in the background.

11. Por Que Te Vas? - Los Super Elegantes (Channelizing Paradise): Spanish lyrics, alternating boy/girl singing, horns, overall goodness. Reminds me of my ska phase, skankin' to The Aquabats and Reel Big Fish.

12. Que Onda Guero - Beck (Guero): Thanks to Sim for the translation: "Where you goin', white boy?" Scientology be damned, Beck is still A-OK in my book.

13. Me Plus One - Annie (Anniemal): The Swedish version of Kylie Minogue. In my opinion, way better. I mean, look at that album title! How can you go wrong? The site has a remix version of this song.

14. God Only Knows - Giant Drag (no album): Boy/girl duo (notice a trend) with bite, although this cover of The Beach Boys is a sweet rendition of a wonderful song. The site's got a nice Chris Isaak cover, but I recommend "Kevin Is Gay".

15. The Legionnaire's Lament - The Decemberists (Castaways and Cut-Outs): So many great songs to choose from, but this is Gerald's favorite tune from his favorite new band. Also not on the myspace site.

16. The Denial Twist - The White Stripes (Get Behind Me Satan): I lost a little faith in these two for a second, but after seeing them perform this song and "My Doorbell" on The Daily Show (the first musical guests in the show's history), I remembered why I've seen them live three times and just generally love their stuff. And no matter how you think she drums, Meg White behind a kit is unbelievably adorable to me.

17. In a Manner of Speaking - Nouvelle Vague (Nouvelle Vague): Nouvelle Vague = Bossa Nova = New Wave. Nouvelle Vague = French women singing 80's songs they never knew prior, arranged in samba style. Great to study to.

18. Handle With Care - Jenny Lewis (Rabbit Fur Coat): Ms. Lewis, sans her Rilo Kiley bandmates, employs the likes of Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), and John Vanderslice to replace Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne (I admit it, I had to look that one up) for a cover of The Traveling Wilbury's hit single.

19. Adelaide - The Old 97's (Drag It Up): Rhett Miller and The Old 97's transitioned from alt-country mainstays to pop-infused, country-hearted songsmiths. Though this song was featured on "Veronica Mars", it's not on the myspace site. Listen to "Question", the song playing on Scrubs when Turk proposed to Carla a couple seasons ago.

20. Swans (Life After Death) - Islands (Return To The Sea): As mentioned above, 2/3rds of The Unicorns added a few friends in the reincarnation as Islands. In essence, this 9-minute "swan song" segues from the old band to the new. Listen to "Rough Gem". I sure will when I see them perform at Avalon on April 22nd. Oh joy!


I hope you enjoy this "Mix Tape". It was created with love. And it plays as I type these last few lines.