vetiver

The Dunce Cap: Week of Nov. 27, 2011

in: heavy rotation

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 39: Just the smell of the summer can make me fall in love. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks – or just play above!)

1. “Wonder Why” – Vetiver
2. “Summer” – Modest Mouse
3. “Bastards of Young” – The Replacements
4. “September Gurls” – Big Star
5. “Chips Ahoy!” – The Hold Steady
6. “Roman History” – Pet Lions
7. “What Is Life” – George Harrison
8. “In Bloom” – Butch Walker & the Black Widows
9. “The Girl” – City & Colour
10. “This Year” – The Mountain Goats

Look at that li’l guy! Just take a looksie; my friend Jen found this guy in his Halloween get-up, as Up‘s Carl Fredricksen, on Pinterest, and I thought he’d be perfect for the cover of my newest Dunce Cap. Fair warning, though, his cheery little mug has almost nothing to do with the rest of this mix. These are ten songs I can’t seem to get out of my head; from the hip-shaking power pop of Big Star and The Replacements (I still maintain they verge on power pop; lookin’ at you, Bebe) to the killer tempo-changers from City & Colour and Butch Walker’s take on Nirvana, I’m pretty pleased overall with this’un. It’s surely not cohesive, but it’s a good last-ditch foray/eager return to mixmaking.

Happy listening!

The Dunce Cap: Week of Aug. 1, 2011

in: heavy rotation

 

Dolly Parton by Dennis Carney

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 37: I want to run like vagrants hand in hand across this field. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks)

1. “Turn a Square” – The Shins
2. “Pumped Up Kicks” – Owl Eyes
3. “Fixed Gears and Broken Hearts” – Butch Walker
4. “Hospital Bed” – Ben Kweller
5. “Another Reason to Go” – Vetiver
6. “Stay Young, Go Dancing” – Death Cab For Cutie
7. “Costume Party” – Two Door Cinema Club
8. “Judy and the Dream of Horses” – Belle & Sebastian
9. “I Wish I Was the Moon” – Neko Case
10. “Stay…Don’t Go” – Spoon

Ho-ley ba-jeez-huss. There’s so much music comin’ out these days. There’s so much good music – I’m swimming in it. Well, that’s not totally true. I’m sitting here listening to Cake at maximum volume, caught up in the sensation of being a fluorescent adolescent, but I’ve heard murmurings of all the good tunes out there. I’m getting casually reacquainted, so you’ll notice this particular mix pairs some familiar tracks with newer gems from some well-established bands.

There’s also a pretty (no, seriously, really pretty) cover of one of the summer’s hottest tunes, Foster the People‘s “Pumped Up Kicks,” as well as a song from Vetiver, one of my very favorite acts. And a great bonus track from Butch Walker (who has a new album coming out 8.30!) with a line about cyclists. And an incredibly clever (and great) ditty from Ben Kweller (“This machine is so mature. It’s so much your – type.”)

All in all, a playlist I’m excited to listen to myself. Tracks n’ tracks n’ snacks n’ snacks n’ stacks n’… Thrills.

Happy summer. Happy listening.

The Dunce Cap: April 11, 2011

in: heavy rotation

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The Dunce Cap, Vol. 32: I wanted to control it. But, love, I couldn’t hold it. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks)

1. “The Things That You Say That You Do” – Dressy Bessy
2. “Gold Soundz” – Pavement
3. “French Navy” – Camera Obscura
4. “Everyday” – Vetiver
5. “Don’t Carry It All” – The Decemberists
6. “Seaweed Song” – Passion Pit
7. “The Hill” – Bombay Bicycle Club
8. “Never Forget You” – NOISEttes
9. “Your Ex-Lover is Dead” – Stars
10. “Fair” – Ben Folds Five

Hey, pals. This one’s actually pretty good! Happy April, my favorite month of the year for so many reasons. For instance, my 21st birthday is impending; the weather in Evanston was 80° and perfectly sunny; shit is feeling manageable. It’s one of those times when I want to wake up and do a little shimmy.

This mix is a mish-mash of songs catered to my mood: happy songs with a dark center. If you’re looking for nougat, maybe look elsewhere. Mmm. Nougat.

There’s not much else to say, not really – except love. Just love. In its most platonic and romantic forms, it’s what’s keeping me going. May your life be replete with love and lovers and loved ones.

Happy listening.

Michael: You’re just jumping right into this, huh?
Buster: That’s what you do when life hands you a chance to be with someone special. You just grab that brownish area by its points and you don’t let go no matter what your mom says.
– Arrested Development, “Key Decisions,” Ssn. 1, Ep. 4