Mixtape-Postcards

Angel of the Morning

There’ll be no strings to bind your hands
Not if my love can’t bind your heart
There’s no need to take a stand
For it was I who chose to start
I see no need to take me home
I’m old enough to face the dawn
Juice Newton “Angel of the Morning” (Juice, 1981)

What is up, valentine’s people! It’s been a chill weekend in the house over here; my second Covid-19 shot has been scheduled for the 27th, I finished a bunch of homework, and now I’m jamming out to Kevin Griffin do a live set on Facebook. I also took the time to give myself a pedicure and to do some skincare. 20 minutes with the Drunk Elephant Sukari Baby Facial and a sheet mask and I don’t even care that I look like the daughter from the movie “Eyes Without a Face“

This was me about 20 minutes ago. Not caring. That could also be the edible I took kicking in….

So since today is Valentine’s Day, I thought I would share a throwback mix from 2009. Let me set the scene for you; I was on Livejournal and belonged to a group called CD OF THE WEEK. Every week the mods would give us a theme and we would submit our mixes. I found a ton of great music through this group but alas it was not meant to be. Livejournal went the way of the Dodos, and this group died with it. On my PC I actually have all my old playlists saved, and this summer I think I’m going to try and put them on Spotify because y’all….I made some good mixes on there.

This was my mix for Valentine’s Day that year, and seeing as how I HATE this holiday, it is super freaking sad, and I remember a few people leaving messages on my post asking if I was ok. I was, but your girl really loves sad songs! And this mix has a bunch of my faves that I was really vibing on. So whether you’re single or coupled up, enjoy the angst of 2009 and have a great week!

In the New Year

it comes and it goes,
the record shows,
you can hang on tight,
but you still won’t know,
hope this finds you warm and dear,
in the new year.
Diners – In the New Year (In the New Year, 2020)

The ability to update every Sunday was a chore for some reason in January, resulting in my not being able to get my shit together to post on Sunday. Ugh.

The mix for last month was pretty eclectic with a good mix of old and new. Let’s start off with the old, shall we?

Nsync – Bye Bye Bye (to say goodbye to that orange shit-stain from the White House)
David Bowie – Space Oddity (Happy Birthday/Goodbye to my fellow Capricorn)
Dolly Parton – Applejack (Happy Birthday fellow Capricorn)
Suzi Quatro – Wild One (featured in “The Great” which I watched this month)
James & Bobby Purify – I’m your Puppet (lost James to COVID-19)
Luniz – I Got 5 On It – AZ has legal weed now y’all!

Now let’s look at some of the new:

Courtney Barnett – Nobody Really Cares if You Don’t Go to the Party
Neil Young & Stray Gators – Goodbye Christians on the Shore
OK GO – This Will Be Our Year
Pom Poko – Like a Lady
Ben Kweller – Just For Kids
L’imperatrice – Peur des Filles

It was a fun mix to put together and I have enjoyed listening to it during my work time. Not much else going on in my world. My district is trying to push for us to go back in person which is stupid as all of our metrics are still in the deep red. I’m also still waiting on the second dose of the COVID vaccine. So yeah, that is all from me for today. So go out, be nice, and go listen to some good music.

Emmylou

Oh the bitter winds are coming in
And I’m already missing the summer
Stockholm’s cold but I’ve been told
I was born to endure this kind of weather
When it’s you I find like a ghost in my mind
I am defeated and I gladly wear the crown
First Aid Kit “Emmylou” (The Lion’s Roar, 2012)

Well, it’s Friday and I am exhausted. School and work are going to seriously kick my ass this semester, but it will all be worth it when I get a diploma in my hands come May.

So I wanted to do a throwback mix on here from January 2018. This was my first monthly playlist, and it is SUPER themed. It’s all about cold and winter and snow and everything I love about my favorite season that I don’t get because I live in freaking Arizona. It’s very mellow and very chill, and it got A LOT of playtime. I also feel like it’s an eclectic mix of artists, from They Might be Giants to Kate Bush. Tis a good mix, pilgrim.

Okay, that’s all I can muster up now. I managed to get everything ready for my groups next week, and now I must toil away at homework this weekend. So enjoy this mix, and go listen to some good music. Later days!

Beast of Burden

“I’ve always felt it’s one of my best soul songs. It was another strict collaboration between Mick and me. I think I had the first verse—‘I’ll never be your beast of burden’—along with the hook, and we were still working very much in our traditional way: Here’s the idea, here’s the song, now run away and fill it in!”
Keith Richards, Harper’s Bazaar 2017

Welcome, to another edition of my Best in Songs. These are songs that I adore for various reasons and I want to give them a proper shout out. Today we’re going to wax poetic about one of my favorite songs from one The Rolling Stones, “Beast of Burden”

Beast of Burden is off the 1978 album “Some Girls” which ranks #468 on the Rolling Stones list of the 500 Best Albums. It was the second single off the album, and the song itself hit #8 on the Billboard Top 100, and is ranked #433 on the Top 500 Songs of All Time. The music and some of the lyrics were written by Keith Richards, with Mick Jagger improvising over top.

I’m going to straight up say it; this song is sexy as fuck. That INSANE groove just makes me feel all sorts of ways. This songs is just so in the pocket in terms of the groove, it makes the old jazz musician in me freaking giddy. The guitar interplay between Keith Richards & Ronnie Woods on lead/rhythm guitar is magical. They alternate playing high/low and pass the lead back and forth so effortlessly. And that guitar solo by Ronnie Wood? Muah, chef’s kiss. You know, I feel like everyone always talks about Keith, but I feel like people sometimes sleep on how great Ronnie is too.

And the lyrics; just light a match and set me aflame. They are simple, but forthright and sincere. I will heartily admit that Mick Jagger just oozes sex appeal and it absolutely bleeds through the speakers and into the lyrics.

I’ll never be your beast of burden
So let’s go home and draw the curtains
Music on the radio
Come on baby make sweet love to me
The Rolling Stones, Beast of Burden……hot damn

Richards has mostly confirmed that he wrote the song for Jagger, who had to carry the band through the 70’s while Richards was deep into heavy drug use. Jagger has said that “It’s a soul begging song, an attitude song. It was one of those where you get one melodic lick, break it down and work it up”. This is another in a string of amazing collaborations between these two men, that has solidified their place in rock music history.

So yeah, go and give this one a listen. Hell, listen to this whole album because it’s an underrated Stones classic. To close out, here’s a video of the Stones in 1981 performing at Sun Devil Stadium (Tempe, AZ). Later days!

Farewell, December

I held you tight,
and the crowd sang Auld Lang Syne.
Where gearing meets the sea, you turned and said to me,
this year year was ours.
Farewell December.
Matt Nathanson “Farewell, December” (Last of the Great Pretenders, 2013)

So let’s talk about December, shall we?

It passed by so freaking fast. I was super busy with work and with my school, and then there were two GLORIOUS weeks off for winter break, where I baked tons of cookies and stayed up late and just relished being able to slack off and not do much of anything.

The mix this month is SUPER short compared to past mixes. 26 songs and just under 90 minutes. But to be honest, I was kind of too busy to really find stuff AND to be even more brutally honest, I really hated most of the new stuff that came out. I just was just not down with any of it and it made me kind of sad. I actually like that’s it a shorter mix, it’s almost bite-size. Let’s dig into it, shall we?

So we said goodbye to Leslie West, guitarist for Mountain and legendary country singer Charley Pride. It was also the 40th anniversary of John Lennon’s death. For nostalgia I added “Peaches en Regalia” by Frank Zappa (my old percussion ensemble did an arrangement of this during their Winter concert that freaking KILLED), “The Kids are Alright” by The Who (which was covered by Matt Nathanson during one of his holiday shows), and “Fuck the Pain Away” by Peaches (which Dave Grohl and Greg Kurstin covered during Dave’s Hanukkah Sessions).

So yeah, enjoy my last mix for the calendar year. I will have 3 updates between now and Sunday. Later days!

Make it Through

I’ll weave the roads on every map
Into a cord that wraps you up and pulls you back
Cause I didn’t know, the winter cold would leave us moving so slow
And will summer bring the feeling back to our toes?
Until it does can I just make it through?
Sherwood “Make it Through” (Qu, 2009)

I’ve been a bad blogger.

Uh, I was just enjoying the end of my winter break before the inevitable return to work. So yeah, let’s talk about my birthday mix.

I turned 40 this year. 4-0. This is an age that when I was a kid, seemed unfathomable to me. I remember how impossible it was to try and imagine myself here, and now here I am.

The birthday itself was nice and quiet and thanks to quarantine, without the pressure of planning something to do. I woke up early and took myself on a walk while the sun was coming up. I haven’t done this on my birthday in a couple of years, and I missed it. I love the quiet and the cold air and just taking time to assess and see how I truly feel about where I am. It was seriously a great way to start my day.

The only other real highlight was going to the eye doctor. And getting cupcakes. Seriously, I’ve never really been a “birthday” person. I’ve always had a “whatever” attitude about the whole affair and I don’t really know why either. Still, maybe something fun will happen over the summer. I feel like once we are in the after part of this pandemic, and once I get to see my friends again, it’s going to be like a week-long bender. And I am 100% a-ok with that.

So that’s it. The mix for my birthday this year was a lot of fun to put together and definitely fun to listen to. No downers, all upbeat stuff that will make you wanna get off your ass and bop around. So enjoy! I’ve two more entries coming this week covering my Dec. 2020 mix and a favorite song. So stay tuned, and take care of yourselves.

Lilacs

If I’m a broken record
Write it in the dust, babe
I’ll fill myself back up like I used to do
And if my bones are made of delicate sugar
I won’t end up anywhere good without you
I need your love too
Waxahatchee, “Lilacs” (Saint Cloud, 2020)

What a fucking year. Let’s review, shall we:

JAN 29TH – KING PRINCESS @ THE VAN BUREN – PHOENIX, AZ

That was my concert list this year folks. I started out the year hoping to go to at least ONE concert a month, and suffice to say that didn’t pan out. Granted I did enjoy LOTS of streaming concerts and impromptu facebook/instragam live jams (shout outs to Matt Nathanson & Better than Ezra for keeping me sane!), I was not let down in terms of new music. Lots of artists used lockdown to create and the bounty was really good this year.

In no particular order, here are my top 5 albums of 2020

Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud
Taylor Swift – folklore/evermore (tie)
Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Rina Sawayama – SAWAYAMA
HAIM – Women in Music Pt. III

Kind of love that it’s all women this year! Anyway, my 2020 Best of playlist has 101 of my favorite songs from 2020. Seriously, it was tough to whittle it down but I really am proud of it. Lots of indie, some good hip-hop/rap and some spanish/french pop as well. This will definitely be good background tunage for when I have to do student data entry my first day back after winter break.

So that’s it folks! Tomorrow we can kiss this dumpster fire of a year goodbye, so if you do go out (which you shouldn’t, hello….PANDEMIC) please be safe and be sure to let the ones in your life know that you love them.

Peace out, and later days.

Merry Christmas, Darling

Greeting cards have all been sent
The Christmas rush is through
But I still have one wish to make
A special one for you
The Carpenters, “Merry Christmas, Darling” (Christmas Rollout, 1978)

So the presents have been opened, and the house is in a gentle lull (hopefully) and you want some tunes for the background. But you also don’t want just the traditional fare, you maybe want some covers, or lesser known holiday music for your Christmas Day.

It’s been a while since I’ve made a Christmas mix, and I really like this one. So enjoy it, and I hope that you and yours are safe and healthy. Now I’m going to go dig into some canapes and enjoy another cocktail. Happy Holidays!

White Christmas

I said, I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmas’ be white
The Drifters “White Christmas” 1954

So I missed last week. Oops. I’m still trying to get my best in 2020 whittled down to 100 songs and it’s proving a bit of a challenge. Mostly, I was busy trying to wrap up my semester (I had a math group project to finish, FUN!). But, I am here today to share with you some of my favorite Christmas albums!

This isn’t a comprehensive list, mostly because I’m not “down” with too many Christmas albums. It’s rare for me to find one I like from start to finish, but these are a few that I truly enjoy that have some good holiday bangers. Enjoy.

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, 1963

Darlene Love and Christmas go together like peanut butter and jelly. This Phil Spector produced record has your favorite Christmas classics sung by the likes of Darlene Love (QUEEN), The Crystals and The Ronettes. Even when I’m at my most grinchiest (it happens sometimes), this record gets me in the holiday mood like no other. These are seriously outstanding arrangements, and a great change from more traditional holiday musical fare. Perfect for a quiet night of holiday cocktails with that special someone.

Songs for Christmas, 2001-2006

This was a big one for me in college, where I first discovered Sufjan Stevens. This collection consists of 6 cds of holiday songs, some original and some more traditional. What I really like, is that he covers some pretty obscure traditional carols that don’t really get a ton of radio play (like “The Friendly Beasts”), which is a nice break. Also, his original songs are just silly and fun. This is one that gets played pretty much every year.

Elvis’ Christmas Album, 1957

It is not Christmas until I have heard Elvis Presley sing “Blue Christmas”. That beautiful baritone voice just makes me want to sit in front of a roaring fire with a glassful of boozy eggnog and snow coming down outside. This is a two-disc record, disc 1 has your secular classics such as “Blue Christmas and “Here Comes Santa Claus”, while disc 2 has your non-secular songs like “Silent Night”. Enjoy this one from The King, cause they don’t make them like this anymore.

A Very She & Him Christmas, 2011

I love Zoey Deschanel’s voice, and I’ve loved She & Him for awhile, and this album is just really pretty. It’s soothing and calming, and it gets bonus points for including “The Christmas Waltz” which is an underrated holiday gem. It’s wonderfully mellow and charming on every level. Perfect for a quiet night at home, and if you like this they did another Christmas Album in 2016. Once we’re out of the Corona times, this would be perfect for the background of your holiday cocktail party.

A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965

What else can I about this perennial classic that hasn’t been said before? It’s instrumental gold, sure to put even the grinchiest bastard in the holiday spirit. The arrangements are beautiful and “Christmas Time is Here” still manages to puts a smile on my face to this day. I love throwing this on as background music for decorating, baking cookies, or wrapping presents. Highly recommend this one, it’s a banger.

BONUS: A Motown Christmas, 1973

Motown and Christmas Carols are a wonderful combination, and this 2-LP compilation has some of the best. The Jackson 5, The Temptations, The Supremes AND Stevie Wonder, it’s just so good! These arrangements are some of my favorites, and the ones I love when I get to hear them on the radio. They’re also the ones that tend to end up on my holiday mixes cause they are different. Perfect to get you in the holiday mood and as the soundtrack for whatever holiday hi-jinx you get into.

Okay everyone, that’s it from me. I’m going to update Tuesday/Wednesday to talk about some of my favorite Christmas songs, and then next Sunday will be my Best of 2020 mix! So stay safe, wear a mask, and enjoy your holidays however you choose to spend them!

Christmas Time is Here

“Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year”
Vince Guaraldi Trio “Christmas Time is Here” (A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965)

We’re officially in December kids, and I for one am here for it. It’s finally getting cold in AZ, it’s my birthday month, and I only have 2 more weeks before Winter Break. My house is done up like the Whore of Babylon, and most of my Christmas shopping is done.

Back in October I shared my favorite Halloween movies, and I decided that I wanted to share some of my favorite Christmas movies. Word of warning, you will not find A Christmas Story or Home Alone on here, I actually don’t like them. Like at all. I don’t know if I was just not at the right age for those, but they are not for me. Anyway, next week I’ll cover Holiday Albums I like, my birthday mix, and my 2020 best of mix. So enjoy!

Edward Scissorhands, 1990

If you love Tim Burton color-blocking and visuals than you will LOVE this one. The performances are great, and this is also one of my favorite Danny Elfman soundtracks. It’s so ethereal it matches the visuals perfectly. This is a perfect one for the whole family.

WATCH ON: HULU, Starz, Amazon Prime, VUDU

Nation Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, 1989

So quotable, so funny even after all these years. Also, if you have a family it is SO relatable that drama that comes with your loved ones during the holidays. Maybe not for the really little kids, but if you have pre-teens/teens this could be perfect for your movie night.

WATCH ON: VUDU, iTunes, Amazon Prime, AMC

Just Friends, 2005

OMG, if you have never seen this gem than you absolutely must. Ryan Reynolds plays a music executive who returns to his New Jersey home after he left when he was 18 after being humiliated at a graduation party. It’s quotable, has a great soundtrack, and is just really funny. Definitely give this one a chance.

WATCH ON: VUDU, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Pluto,

The Family Stone, 2005

The first time I saw this movie was when I was living up in Flagstaff. The roomie and I rented this because the trailer made it seem like it was going to be a laugh riot, only to find myself freaking SOBBING halfway through. This is funny, touching, and will hopefully make you hug your family a little harder after you see it. Love this one.

WATCH ON: HULU, HBO Max, VUDU, iTunes, Amazon Prime

Die Hard, 1988

There are two types of people in this world; people who see Die Hard as a Christmas movie and people who are wrong. I just freaking love this movie with all it’s grandiose 80’s action and 80’s action movie dialogue. My favorite way to watch this is either while making Tamales or on Christmas Eve during my routine of making some cookies and having boozy eggnog. Classic in every sense of the word.

WATCH ON: HULU, HBO Max, iTunes, VUDU, Amazon Prime,

Nutcracker: The Motion Picture, 1986

I’ve mentioned being a former classical musician before, and this movie is one of the reasons that I wanted to pick up an instrument. The Pacific Northwest’s staging of this ballet is astounding, the costumes and choreography are beautiful. There are some sections that have reworked choreography, but this is something I must watch every year.

WATCH ON: VUDU, Amazon Prime

BONUS: If you want to see a different version of The Nutcracker, you should see the San Francisco Ballet’s version, which is set in 1915 San Francisco!

The Holiday, 2006

I don’t know why I love this one as much as i do, but I watch this EVERY year. It’s funny and full of holiday romance, and puts a smile on my face every time. I also love the instrumental soundtrack, and it REALLY makes me miss London during the Christmas season. It also makes me really miss living in a place that has actual snow. Still, I love this one with all its cheesy glory. Perfect if you love rom-coms.

WATCH ON: HULU, VUDU, Amazon Prime, iTunes

Miracle on 34th Street, 1947

OMG this one is one of my favorites. NBC used to show this every Thanksgiving Day and I would watch it and fall asleep after. I love the performances, particularly Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle. Also, Maureen O’Hara is a gem and I love watching her. So yeah, it’s an oldie but very much a goodie. It’s actually been awhile since I’ve seen this one, so it will definitely be on my list this year.

WATCH ON: Disney +, Amazon Prime, VUDU, iTunes

Rankin Bass Christmas Specials

OMG my childhood memories of Christmas were heavily influenced by these iconic specials. Some of my favorites include: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Twas the Night Before Christmas, and The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. I love it when Freeform shows these at crazy hours (like 1am). So freaking good and full of great songs too.

WATCH ON: Freeform, AMC

A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965

My cousin Cristina and I used to watch this EVERY time I spent the night at her house during the holiday season. I can quote almost the whole damn thing. It’s a classic, filled with tons of great music, and a beautiful message. It is not Christmas until I see this, and I must have hot cocoa while I do. Seriously, this is fantastic. Also, boo on Apple TV for almost NOT allowing ABC to air this on TV.

WATCH ON: Apple TV

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 1966

Yes, I could have included the Jim Carey version, or even the Benedict Cumberbatch one, and don’t get me wrong those are good. But they will never top this. From Boris Karloff’s narration to Thurl Ravenscroft singing “Your’e a Mean One Mr. Grinch” with his AMAZING bass, this is a perennial favorite, and to quote my brother “EVERYONE SHUT UP THE GRINCH IS ON“.

WATCH ON: Youtube

Mickey’s Christmas Carol, 1983

So when I was a kid, I used to have this as an album that I used to listen to on my little record player all year round. I freaking love this one, and I’m SO glad that it’s easier to find online now than it used to be. Seriously, when I first got a DSL line I spent forever trying to find a copy of this to download and I’m also pretty sure I gave my computer a virus in the process. Oh well, this one is great if you have little ones.

WATCH ON: Disney +, Amazon Prime, VUDU

Scrooged, 1988

Speaking of the Christmas Carol story, this take is still hilarious. This is easily one of my favorite Bill Murray roles, and there are SO MANY CAMEOS. If you can’t get down with more traditional Christmas fare, this might be right up your alley. It’s funny, dark, and heart-warming without being cheesy. Love this one.

WATCH ON: VUDU, Amazon Prime, iTunes

Love Actually, 2003

This is my Christmas Day movie. Usually in the evening after I’ve recovered from my food coma, and with some boozy eggnog and in my most comfiest pajamas. Also, the soundtrack is a banger and has some gems on there that have ended up on various holiday mixes. It’s got something for everyone, and again makes me miss London during the holiday season. The cast is also a veritable who’s who of British Cinema, so enjoy trying to guess where you know them from.

WATCH ON: VUDU, iTunes, Amazon Prime

Elf, 2003

I FUCKING LOVE THIS MOVIE. My coworker at the video store made me watch this one shift and I’ve been hooked ever since. Will Farrell is PERFECT as Buddy the Elf, and it’s so heartwarming and HILARIOUS. This is what I watch EVERY Christmas Eve right before I go to bed. It just melts my grinchy heart and makes me laugh even after all this time. Perfect for the whole family. Also, it has a pretty great soundtrack. (fun fact, I have 5 Elf shirts. They are amazing.)

WATCH ON: VUDU, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Starz, HULU, AMC

A Muppet Christmas Carol, 1992

A perennial favorite of mine, this is my Christmas Eve movie while I make cookies. I remember seeing this in theaters, and it. was the first film. to be produced after Jim Henson’s death. Michael Cain is AMAZING as Ebenezer Scrooge, and this is a must for the whole family. It has great songs, it’s funny, and it is fully of holiday warmth and charm. I’m so glad this one is getting easier to find, because it was hard to find for awhile. But if you get the chance, I highly recommend this one.

WATCH ON: Disney +, Amazon Prime, iTunes, VUDU

Alright kids, that’s it from me. I should try and get some homework done, but I’m tired so it’s probably not gonna happen. This is gonna be a crazy week, so we’ll see how I am on Sunday. Ciao babies!