Put Your Records On

What do you get when you creatively combine a love
for music with one of your favorite social networking sites?

Well, you get the . . .

 

Most of you may not be familiar with Tumblr and that’s okay. It’s just another social networking site I use for short-form blogging. On Tumblr, I follow a guy named Jason, who is a friend of a friend that I met once in Austin during a visit home. He does this awesome thing called the Tumblr Mixtape Exchange! We submit our names and information and he pairs people together from all over the globe to create Mixtape CDs and mail them off to each other. It’s so much fun! I had a blast creating the one I sent off, and I was all smiles when I got one sent to me!

I’ve actually been meaning to do this post for a while, but I’ve procrastinated like a champ! But that all changes today. Ladies and gents, and autobots of all kinds, here is my short take on this rad mix I got from Cara at thatswhatcarasaid.tumblr.com!

[Click Track/Title line to hear the song]

Track 1: BREEZE by Apollo Sunshine
Thoughts: It’s very whimsical and light, just as the title suggests—a great song to wake up to!
Favorite lyric: The best and the worst times, the breeze is invited

Track 2: CELLO SONG by The Books
Thoughts: Reminiscent of my old keyboard with the “plunk” sound, and man oh man, how I love those strings!
Favorite lyric: But while the earth sinks to its grave, you sail to the sky.

Track 3: JULY! JULY! by The Decemberists
Thoughts: Funky funky tune! I actually really like The Decemberists so this one wasn’t hard to appreciate.
Favorite lyric: July! July! July! (It’s so catchy and simple that I just kinda groove to it!)

Track 4: CATCH MY DISEASE by Ben Lee
Thoughts: I ADORE the toy piano track laced in this one! Again, I’m a fan of Ben Lee, so this was a treat. It’s so peppy and fun!
Favorite lyric: She told me she loved me like fireworks and that’s the way I like it

Track 5: THE PAINTER by I’m From Barcelona
Thoughts: A perfect song for a sunny day! It’s very fun and makes you wanna snap your fingers.
Favorite lyric: I am just a painter. I do my crappy art. But I see what’s in your eyes. And I know what’s in your heart

Track 6: FAVORITE DAY by Bess Rogers
Thoughts: Another peppy tune that reminds me of growing up in summertimes in the ATX!
Favorite lyric: You told me you were damaged. I said I’d be your bandage.

Track 7: AIN’T NO REST FOR THE WICKED by Cage The Elephant
Thoughts: I really dig Cage The Elephant, and this bluesy tune is just one more reason why! It makes me want to hop in a convertible with the top down and drive across the country—outlaw steeze!
Favorite lyric: We got bills to pay. We got mouths to feed. There ain’t nothing in this world for free.

Track 8: WONDERING WHERE THE LIONS ARE by Donavon Frankereiter
Thoughts: This one brings the mix down to a mellow groove. Donavon’s singer/songwriter vibe is a great transition and the lyrics are pretty great.
Favorite lyric: Up among the firs where it smells so sweet or down in the valley where the river used to be, I got my mind on eternity

Track 9: SOMETHING GOOD CAN WORK by Two Door Cinema Club
Thoughts: This one’s got a great 80s vibe to it with a little kick and I can totally jam to it! The hook is great and it’s just a fun dance song!
Favorite lyric: We’re gonna show the world that something good can work and it could work for you.

Track 10: MASQUERADE by Lelia Broussard
Thoughts: I love the drums in this song and her voice/styling reminds me of Regina Spektor. All in all, a solid tune with another great chorus!
Favorite lyric: You masquerade like you’re unique. Like you’ve got a lot to say. Like there’s something underneath.

Track 11: PARACHUTE by Ingrid Michaelson
Thoughts: Okay, I DARE you to try to listen to this one without tapping your foot along . . . and possibly clapping. It’s so sassy and sweet—just the way I like it! Again, I’m not surprised that any song put out by Ingrid is stellar. She’s one of my favorites!
Favorite lyric: Don’t believe the things you tell yourself so late at night. You are your own worst enemy, you’ll never win the fight.

Track 12: HOW TO TAME LIONS by Washington
Thoughts: I remember putting this one on repeat cause it just caught me and I was like, “Man, I really LOVE this song. Wait, that voice sounds familiar.” Sure enough, I searched my iTunes for Washington and found there was another song in there by Washington that I really enjoy called CLEMENTINE. This is one of my favorites off this mix!
Favorite lyric: You be my Arthur Miller and I will be your Marilyn Monroe.

Track 13: THE DISTRICT SLEEPS ALONE TONIGHT (cover) BY JONNA LEE
Thoughts: This cover of TDSAT by The Postal Service is really sweet. I like hearing it with the female vocals and Jonna does a great job of keeping the flow while giving it a nice stripped down feel.
Favorite lyric: I’ll wear my badge, a vinyl sticker with big block letters, adherent to my chest. That tells your new friends I am a visitor here: I am not permanent.

Track 14: SHE MOVES IN SECRET WAYS by Polly Paulusma
Thoughts: A down home folksy tune that makes me want to lay by a river on a sunny day.
Favorite lyric: Days gone by I thought I had it all – filed in little boxes. Now I find I never had control, I just took little chances to move.

Track 15: WHEN YOU FIND ME by Joshua Radin & Maria Taylor
Thoughts: I fell in love with Joshua Radin’s voice when I first moved here to Seattle and heard him open for Missy Higgins. This song is just another dose of beauty in his voice—and this time adding in Maria’s lovely voice as well. I really enjoyed this track! The music is darker but still beautiful and soothing at the same time. And those strings?? Be still my heart!
Favorite lyric: Can’t you see that when I find you, I’ll find me

Track 16: MIRRORS by The New Frontiers
Thoughts: I love the simple beauty of this song—so mellow and soulful!
Favorite lyric: We saw a spark within your eyes. Your face reflected in the light. We are all angels in the sky. We are all mirrors in disguise

Track 17: IF I HAD A ROCKET LAUNCHER  by Ronan Quinn
Thoughts: A real snappy folk tune with a lot of striking lyrics.
Favorite lyric: If I had a rocket launcher I would retaliate! [His punchy vocals during that part makes me smile]

Track 18: BACK AGAINST THE WALL by Cage The Elephant
Thoughts:  Another fun one from Cage The Elephant! It rocks and rolls just right!
Favorite lyric: I’m stuck here in-between the shadows of my yesterday. I want to get away. I need to get away.

Track 19: RILL RILL by Sleigh Bells
Thoughts: Another perfect song for a sunny day! I’ve spent some quality time dancing to this one in my room! The beat and hook are catchy and very whimsical!
Favorite lyric: So this is it then? You’re here to win, friend. Click, click, settle up see you on the moon then.

Track 20: FINGERS CROSSED by Allison Weiss
Thoughts: For some reason this reminds me of the old school song SEND ME AN ANGEL . . . and I’m NOT complaining!
Favorite lyric: Wake up and shake off sleep. ‘Cause there’s work to do today. I need time, I need direction. I need something to say.

Track 21: THE SANE DESIGN by Amo Joy
Thoughts: Not only is this song pretty rockin’ because the artist has my nickname, but it’s a pretty campy folk tune that I can get into. It’s a nice song to end the mix on!
Favorite lyric: I never meant to steal your thunder so you can have it back whenever you want.

ALL IN ALL, I’m so pleased with the songs that Cara included on this mix and I look forward to doing this Tumblr Mixtape Exchange again!

On Directing

For all those times people told me I should be a comedienne, there is finally some form of justification—though it’s not something I’m currently pursuing 😉

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Your personality type: “Groundbreaking Thinker”

Creative, resourceful and intellectually quick. Good at a broad range of things. Enjoy debating issues and may be into ‘one-up-manship’. They get very excited about new ideas and projects, but may neglect the more routine aspects of life. Generally outspoken and assertive. They enjoy people and are stimulating company. Excellent ability to understand concepts and apply logic to find solutions.

Careers that could fit you include:

Entrepreneurs, lawyers, psychologists, photographers, consultants, sales represenatives, actors, engineers, scientists, inventors, marketers, computer programmers, comedians, computer analysts, credit investigators, journalists, psychiatrists, public relations, designers, writers, artists, musicians, politicians.

(via 41q.com)

And there you have it. I actually think this is pretty accurate. I admit it’s REALLY hard for me to suppress the urge to “one-up” people a lot, but it’s also a giant pet peeve of mine, so though it’s accurate on the results it’s definitely something I fight a lot to cut back on.