Make an 80 min mix cd and explain.
I’m not sure if people truly appreciate the art of the mixtape to be honest with you. At the very least, it commands more than an idle thought. It’s much, much more than just a random collection of songs. It’s a feeling, an emotion; a constant stream of ideas that flow together where each one is as important as every other.
There are many themes that could be considered acceptable when constructing said mixtape. You can shoot for an overal emotion or mood with the choice of lyrics and tunage. You can explore one particular band or style of music. And, sometimes, you just need to make one for a hottie (just a note to all the ladies, the quickest way to my heart is a mixtape. No contest. A girl that wants to learn me on some music is probably the hottest thing ever.). Or, in the case of mine, I created it to link from one song to the next so that it follows an overall structure which opens with some bangers, moves to more melodic phrases, a breakdown, and, finally, an epic finish. Albeit regardless of which way you choose to design your mixtape, extreme care must be taken in selection of the tracks and the arrangement thereof.
Without further ado, I present my mixtape as of April 26, 2009:
1. Mylo – I’m Back
The first song is going to literally set the tone for the whole piece so you definitely want to chose something that could lead to almost any other song on the tape. For my lead off batter, I picked “I’m Back” cause it’s a banger and it’ll get the shorties hoppin’. It has a nice dance, nu-disco vibe to it that won’t offend any generation but the production value is so high that even hipsters can’t deny how hot this song is. In addition, it’s really nice to start off with a newly released track as it sparks interest.
2. Barry Manilow – Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed?
Another banger to say the least, Barry Manilow put on his disco hat and brought the house down. This is one to keep the baby boomers from switching over to a smooth jazz station and it keeps the tempo up from the first track.
3. Kennedy – Karate
A key to the construction of mixtape tracklist is the progression from one song to the next. In this case, “Karate” falls into a similar nu-disco category as “I’m Back.” While it rocks at the same tempo as “Who’s Been Sleeping,” it is a bit more laid back to lead us into the next track.
4. La Roux – In for the Kill
Another new classic, “In for the Kill” is a melodic synthpop track which moves away from proceeding energetic dance tracks while setting up for the horn lines we’ll be blaring on the couple tracks.
5. Ghost Town Locals – Ready and Locked
It’s got all kinds of energy to keep the vibe up, but this song is about as ska as you get so it works to move the set away from the electronic/dance section. Now, we can explore some other genres.
6. Jackson 5 – I Want You Back
This is another song that almost no one can deny. 5-year-old MJ still can get the party rocking. It also serves as a nice break from a run of newer tracks.
7. The Aquabats – Martial Girl
A peppy, silly track, “Martian Girl” is thrown in just cause it is so damn fun and catchy. I can’t think of a better follow up to “I Want You Back.” A+.
8. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra – Utsukushiku Moeru Mori
A slower and even sweeter ska record, this is the first in a foreign import mini set. If you can find better Japanese ska, you buy it.
9. Wisin y Yandel ft Nelly Furtado - Sexy Movimento [remix]
I know a blond, Swedish girl that will incessantily argue the validty of Nelly Furtado singing in Spanish on a reggaeton track being that she is Canadian and not Latino at all. Regardless, Nelly Furtado could sing covers of Raffi or metal ballads and I wouldn’t care. She’s awesome. This remix is particularly amazing since Wisin y Yandel blow minds by themselves which when paired with nelly turns into (ryan spontaneously combusting)^2.
10. Paris Hilton – Stars are Blind [Luny Tunes Remix]
If there was ever a remix, it would be this one. Talk about completely destroying a song. Luny Tunes are hands down the best reggaeton producers around and they knocked this one out of the park.
11. Air - Le Soleil est Pres de Moi
For the last in the foreign import mini set, we go with this chilled out classic from Air. As it turns out, I like a lot of French musicians. I’m not sure what that says about me. This song perfectly sets up the next several tracks which comprise the breakdown of the mix. Any good mix always have a break down before a big finally.
12. Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes
I aspire to one day to be the proud owner of a boom box. And, should that day ever come to fruition, I’m sure I’ll probably need to drive my car over to my girl’s house and blare this under her bedroom window while wearing a trench coat and getting soaked in the rain. She was considering breaking up with me because her father’s nursing home ran into a problem with the feds, but I’m pretty sure this will win her back…….
13. Robert Johnson – Malted Milk
My favorite blues song of all time. Period. Of course, the live in San Quentin version of “Nobody Loves Me but My Mother” by BB King is a close second, but I do love me some delta blues.
14. RX Bandits – Taking Chase as the Serpent Slithers
There isn’t a single thing I can say about this song that would do it justice.
15. Bloc Party – This Modern Love
I’m many tracks in and I’ve already written a million words, so yea…..
16. Lykke Li – Breaking It Up
I’m invoking the power of Swedish indie rockers to up my street cred with scene chicks. Who doesn’t love a good scene chick?
17. Flyleaf – All Around Me
This song brings us out of the breakdown and is the beginning of the final go. It rocks majorly hard and is an inspiration to all. And, to all, a good night.
18. Thursday – Understanding in a Car Crash
I already fulfilled the implied requirement for any mixtape compiled by me of including at least one jersey band (Ghost Town), which means that both this song and “Ready and Locked” are so legit that I included them solely because they are awesome…..not because they are by jersey bands.
19. Five Iron Frenzy – On Distant Shores
epic. nuff said.
