I decided to do my monthly mixtape thing again. There's no real theme here, just things I've been listening to lately that I think my friends might like. I'm calling it the "Really, Lets" mixtape series, and I'll do my best to keep it a monthly thing. We were on a roll for a while, I'll see if I can at least knock two out before the end of the year.
Tracklisting:
Stereo Total - Prends moi (Take Me)
They could be singing about anything, but it doesn't really matter.
De La Soul - Big Brother Beat
I vividly remember a night from my senior year of high school where I stayed up until 3am listening to Black On Both Sides while reading a book of historical American speeches compiled by William Bennett. The next morning I inexplicably decided to run for student council. To this day Mos Def's voice reminds me of John Adams, neo-conservative principles, and pep-rallys.
Amanda Blank - I Need Love (Diplo remix)
I'll admit that I'd never heard the original LL Cool J version of this song until Nikki pointed out that this was a word-for-word remake. I was really bitter at the time and was pointing out how this song was an example of how girls are ridiculous, but after Nikki's explanation I realized that it's actually just LL Cool J who's ridiculous. Anyway the beat is awesome.
Why? - Gemini (Birthday Song)
This song is heart-wrenching. The part where he says that his girlfriend's legs look like skinny dolphins always gets to me and I'm not sure why.
The Diggs - Everyone's Starting Over
This is the fastest tempo possible for a melancholy song. Any faster and it starts sounding like goth ska, and no one wants to hear that.
Deerhunter - Never Stops
I think the best way to describe this song is to say that it sounds like Interpol if their jet crashed into the Himalayas and they had to survive a bitter winter without food or shelter, and they went crazy and started eating each other like the Donner Party. This song sounds like something they would write after experiencing that.
Leaders of the New School - Case of the PTA
Why don't rappers make songs like this anymore? Am I ever going to get to hear G-Unit rap about their social studies homework? Or Young Dro complain about cafeteria food? Or Clipse compare the drug trade to crosswalk duty?
Q-Tip - Breathe and Stop (Kleptones remix)
Chopped and screwed in outer space.
Celebration - Heartbreak
A+ use of an organ.
Built To Spill - The Plan
These lyrics are awesome:
"The plan keeps coming up again
and the plan means nothing stays the same
but the plan won't accomplish anything
if its not implemented."
It's the ultimate "put up or shut up" line, followed by 4 minutes of the band adding exclamation points in the form of epic guitar riffs. I'm pretty sure that most of Barak Obama's campaign speeches were basically just Built To Spill lyrics with words like "healthcare" and "unity" sprinkled in.
