[UPDATE]: These links have long expired, despite my promise to update them at least a few times. I don't have the time to update each track, but I have updated the zipped file which can be found below or, if you're just lazy to scroll down the page, here! Drop me a note in the comments if this file expires and you'd like to hear the mix. I promised a treat, and I'm sorry to say that despite the speculation I will not be linking you to my leftover peeps. In actuality, I'm really not sure how I could link people to left over seasonal confections. Besides, I ate all my marshmallow goodness not long after Easter. Mmm.... peeps.... No. The treat I promised is so much more exciting than peeps. It's a mix! Woot! I had started out making a mix for myself to accompany the lovely weather we've experienced in Eugene these last two weeks, and then it occured to me that I've got no reason not to share this mix with the rest of the world. So here it is, downloadable track by track, or scroll down to the bottom for a zip of the whole thing:
Another Sunny Day: The First Ever Discord/Harmony Mix:Looper - The Treehouse This track is just adorable, and ever spring like. The album as a whole didn't keep my attention for too long, but a few select tracks stood out for me, this opening one in particular. Short, sweet, cute, and sunshiney good!
Final Fantasy - This Is The Dream of Emma and Cam This is one of the first tracks to make the cut, and one of two tracks that inspired the collection as a whole. As I visited Astoria a few weeks ago to meet my future coworkers for my internship I took a drive through the beautiful little town and listened to this track over and over again. It was originally selected not because it had a spring-like theme to the lyrics, but because it just sounded nice. Then there's that part at the end where he starts going on about keeping the clouds away. poifect!
Iron & Wine - Sunset Soon Forgotten Iron & Wine had a reserved place on this set from the outset, but I couldn't decide which one. The fact is I normally reserve his music for a late and hot summer evening. 10 p.m. hits after a long warm day and all I want to hear is Sam Beam plucking away like he's sitting on a porch in a rocking chair somewhere down in the southern end of the country. But for me
Our Endless Numbered Days is for just a little cooler temperature than some of his other music. It has a more dynamic quality which warrents a wider array of seasonal listening. This track won on the merits of its title alone, and it fit with the rest of the mix.
Dar Williams - Fishing In The Morning My wife was looking through her iPod trying to help me select a few tracks. I sat down with this one first feeling guilty about not selecting anything she'd offered up yet. Then I listened to it more closely and realized it fit perfectly. The lyrics, the sound. It's a spring time wonder!
Belle and Sebastian - Another Sunny Day You might have already guessed that this track was the other inspiration for the mix, since it's also its namesake. Belle and Sebastian started to actually rock out a little more on this album, thankfully, but their music remains as temperate as the country they call home. The music, even at its hottest, never warms up too much, making them the perfect springtime soundtrack.
Norah Jones - Sunrise She may not be indie enough for some of you, but I still dig her, especially this album. The bass matched with the percussion on this track just blows me away. I really, really, REALLY like it. And you should too.
Looper - Impossible Things #2 So the appearance of Belle and Sebastian and some of their offshoots its pretty significant on this mix. Looper headed off away from B & S some time ago, and like I mentioned before, created only a few tracks that really grabbed me. This is the other one. It's a very cute story.
Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky Probably the most obvious and expected inclusion on the entire mix. For a moment I considered cutting it because of its massive popularity and predictable selection, but then I reconsidered. It's just too fitting to pass up, and it's a great song. Why leave it off just because it's popular?
The Velvet Underground - Who Loves The Sun? Feeling good yet? Did ELO put a big fat goofy grin on your face. HA! I smite thy happiness with the power of Lou Reed. It seems sunny and happy at first, and yet the lyrics tell the sad sad tale of one who cannot appreciate the sun, flowers and rain. *sniff*
Cat Stevens - The Wind Okay... okay... I'm sorry! You can stop crying now. I shouldn't have reveled in your sadness so much. Would you feel better with a little Cat Stevens? It's warm, it's hopeful! It's the best damn song he ever wrote. It's the only reason to get his album
Teaser and Firecat. It's just plain brilliant, and not as sad. I promise not to break your heart again...
Petra Haden and Bill Frisell - Yellow So I'm not such a fan of Coldplay. I don't hate them, I just never really got into them. Apparantly Petra Haden wasn't so into the inclusion of this track on the album she recorded with Bill Frisell. Then he recorded the backing track anyway and played it for her and she was convinced. I am now too. It's a beautiiful song, and in my humble opinioni this is Bill Frisell at his very finest.
We Will Build - Rain and Sun Yeah I've been talking about these guys for some time now. And I probably will for a while yet to come. There's very little to complain about here. It's just catchy and pretty and interesting all at the same time.
I'm From Barcelona - Treehouse No it's not the same version as above. But needless to say if I had not chosen a title referring to the sun in some way, this mix would've been called
The Treehouse.
that dog. - Retreat From The Sun This one could be a summer time song instead, but I fell in love with it in the springtime, and I hope you will too. This is the perfect song for the warming weather. It makes you want to take off, skip class and head to the beach. Especially when Rachel Haden freakin' ROCKS that bass at the end of the track.
Architecture In Helsinki - Spring 2008 I don't have a ton to say about this track. It's cute. It's about spring. What more do you want?
Nick Cave - Here Comes the Sun This is really the only track more obvious than "Mr. Blue Sky" hence my decision to use Nick Cave's version rather than the Beatles. All said though, George Harrison was the best Beatle by far, so give the man his props.
Click here to download the whole thing in a zip file.
That's it folks. I hope this music puts a happy little smile on your face. I'll keep the files up for a couple weeks. After that drop me a line and we can work something out.
And a little credit I think is due. A whole mix and no Andrew Bird? This is a first in a LONG time for me...
[UPDATE]: These links have long expired, despite my promise to update them at least a few times. I don't have the time to update each track, but I have updated the zipped file which can be found below or, if you're just lazy to scroll down the page, here! Drop me a note in the comments if this file expires and you'd like to hear the mix.
