july mixtape

Wow! It has been a long time since I last posted! There's a lot going on right now, a lot to be excited about, but rather than try to get you all caught up I thought I'd post a mix of the songs that are on repeat in my house these days. This mix is also for Jill, because it's been a while since I made her a new mix (too long, buddy, sorry!) and I think this might be just the thing to listen to while hanging in Bowness making jam. Enjoy! Summer is finally here in Vancouver so I have to get outside and enjoy it while it lasts!

tracks:

kill for love • chromatics

it's gonna take an airplane • destroyer

go outside • cults

shining escalade • hot chip

the nights of wine and roses • japandroids

when i die • johnny and the moon

party talk • craft spells

look at where we are • hot chip

american wedding • frank ocean

these days • gregg alman

11/11/11

A playlist for epic winter days. Something about this time of year makes me want to watch Twin Peaks and listen to weird music. Here are a few of the songs that I'm obsessed with right now or have been obsessed with in years past as winter sets in. Enjoy.

tracks:

1. nightcall - kavinsky & lovefoxxx

2. rock classics - the knife

3. spanish armada - ratatat

4. i never learnt to share - james blake

5. the palm of your wave - bibio

6. lay in a shimmer - pantha du prince

7. feral - radiohead

8. the children - yeasayer

9. got 2 let u - the knife

10. return to the violence of the ocean floor - moonface

11. bay of bigs - destroyer

(Thanks to Camilla, Marigold, and Emily for introducing me to some of these gems.)

dance and be married mix tape

If you were at our wedding a week ago, then you might have already heard some of these amazing tunes. Some were chosen by our guests, some by us. A couple weren't played, but I wish they were. The first song is an Elvis remix that Jeff and I stumbled upon. We like it because it's totally weird and has a great feel and also because it's not too long and is a bit unexpected as a first dance song. We thank this song for saving us from a bit of the embarrassment that is the first dance at a wedding. If our guests weren't clapping they would have heard Elvis's comment at the end that absolved us from all sappiness thereafter. Now you can listen to the whole thing in the comfort of your home and hear the little gem at the end that convinced us this was the song for us.

Our wedding dance party went from the first dance right into inviting everyone on the dance floor with James Brown. What else says it's time for fun and craziness better than James Brown? The rest of the songs are pretty self-explanatory, some slow dances, some that are always a good time, and a last song of the night that really summed it up for all of us (I think, I hope...). I loved watching our guests point at each other ("I owe it all to you!!!"), slow dance, and attempt Dirty Dancing lifts to this last song. And, yes, that Weird Al song did get played. What a love fest. Glad to have shared it with so many of our favourite people. Enjoy!

Track list:

1. Crying in the Chapel - Elvis meets The Wailers

2. Out of Sight - James Brown

3. Do You Wanna Dance - The Beach Boys

4. Let's Have a Party - Wanda Jackson

5. Love and Happiness - Al Green

6. Shout - The Isley Brothers

7. Unknown Legend - Neil Young

8. Stand By Me - John Lennon

9. Dreams Come True Girl - Cass McCombs

10. Nighttiming - Coconut Records

11. Downtown - Destroyer

12. Let's Dance - David Bowie

13. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

14. Eat It - Weird Al Yankovic

15. Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z

16. Man Down - Rihanna

17. Single Ladies - Beyonce

18. Ignition (Remix) - R. Kelly

19. (I've Had) The Time of My Life - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes

Listen to the last mix Endless Canadian Summer.

mix tape: endless canadian summer

Summer is winding down. Days are hot but a little shorter, eating berries has become a slightly frantic activity, and this weekend feels like the perfect time to come to terms with all of this. Canadians have it in the bag when it comes to making perfect summer music, maybe because we fully appreciate these warm months. You know who else seems to do a good job of making summery music? The Swedes (go, Rebecka!)! Today is my last day at work before a much anticipated (and needed!) wedding vacation -- my first real time off since I started my new job after graduation. The wedding is a week from tomorrow (and it's about to get WEDDING-Y on this blog! look out!) and our friends and family begin arriving soon. What are you doing to hold on to summer this weekend?

Here, for your enjoyment in this last week of August, is the best mix of summer tunes mix I've made in a long time:

track list:

1. Runner • Daniel, Fred & Julie*

2. A Case of You • Joni Mitchell*

3. The Swimming Song • Loudon Wainwright III*

4. Passenger Side • Wilco

5. Let's Call It Off • Peter, Bjorn and John**

6. Putting the Dog to Sleep • The Antlers

7. It's Gonna Take an Airplane • Destroyer*

8. Clinicly Dead • Chad Van Gaalen*

9. A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill • Jens Lekman**

10. Comfy in Nautica • Panda Bear

11. Atmosphere • Pink Mountaintops*

12. Staring at the Sun • TV on the Radio

13. I Just Wasn't Made for These Times • The Beach Boys

14. Don't Vote • Cass McCombs

15. Drowning • Langhorne Slim

16. All I Have to Do is Dream • The Everly Brothers

17. Don't Call me Whitney, Bobby • Islands*

18. When You're All Alone • Johnny and The Moon*

19. Party • El Perro Del Mar**

20. Don't Let it Bring You Down • Neil Young*

* Canadian

** Swedish

Here's the last mix tape if you're looking for more. I've been on a serious Canadian music kick lately. Okay, maybe not serious... Have a great weekend!

a dream goes on forever

This week's mix is inspired by a crazy dream I had last night, full of nonsensical details and incongruous happenings. My choices were also more than a little bit directed by nostalgia this time around. I've been on a Weakerthans kick (no where near as crazy as the one I was on about eleven years ago) since Jeff and I watched the art house classic "Wedding Crashers" last week and discovered that the final credits are accompanied by a Weakerthans song. Who knew? This Weakerthans song is from their second album, but I encourage you to listen to the first album, too. In my opinion it's one of the greatest albums ever and perfectly captures the Canadian prairies around oh, say, 1999. That album is representative of practically an entire year of my life and was the last thing that I bought to take with me when I moved to England in 1999. I drove my boyfriend at the time crazy with it. So, here you go, enjoy:

Tracks:

1. a dream goes on forever - todd rundgren
2. everything must go - the weakerthans
3. thieves - she & him
4. hell is chrome - wilco
5. blonde hash - chad vangaalen
6. stay free - black mountain
7. transmission - joy division
8. my favourite year - destroyer
9. shuffle a dream - little dragon
10. werewolf - cat power

You can check out the last mix that I posted here.

summer playlist: I wish I had a beach house

Tracks:
Across 110th Street • Bobby WomackGod Only Knows • The Beach BoysWhat Would I Want? Sky • Animal CollectiveSummer Day • Coconut RecordsOh No • Andrew BirdWedding Bell • Beach HouseBlue Cassette • Friendly FiresWitness • Richard BucknerLittle Man • Little Dragon
A little mix for you guys on a summer afternoon. Included is a new Richard Buckner track. I've been loving the sound of his new album...it reminds me of Richard Buckner from long ago, like when I lived on the top floor of a 1970s apartment building in Calgary and only listened to The Hill for about a year. Jeff and I saw him live in Seattle a year and a bit ago. He puts on an amazing show and is on tour right now. If you have the chance I can definitely recommend checking him out. And if you go I'm going to be super jealous. Have a great weekend, everyone!
P.S. Here's a more upbeat playlist if you need something a little more rockin' to get your weekend going!

saturday morning mix

Explicit lyrics advisory. Danielle, the Misfits cover is for you.

TRACKS:

1. Chad VanGaalen - Sara

2. MGMT - Congratulations

3. Tune-Yards - Doorstep (this is definitely my favourite band right now)

4. Cut Copy - Take Me Over

5. Panda Bear - You Can Count on Me

6. Psychic Emperor - Attitude

7. YACHT - Dystopia

8. Neil Young - Don't Let It Bring You Down

9. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins - Handle With Care

10. Jens Lekman - Another Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill

11. Tanya Tucker - Lizzie and The Rain Man