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starladySo the other week at work coworker J asked me to make her a mix CD "because I don't know what's popular these days." Well, I don't really listen to popular music these days--the last time I listened to a commercial radio station willingly was years ago--but I do have a handle on some subdomains of popular unpopular music. Coworker J liked the playlist I came up with, and I really do too, so I thought I'd share.
Download the Popular Unpopular Music playlist here!
I had to fit the playlist onto a conventional 75-minute CD, which was good because otherwise I would have gone on for hours; I may wind up making another playlist with all the tracks I couldn't quite shoehorn in this time around (such as Janelle Monae! and so many others!). That said:
1. Imogen Heap, "Tidal" - Awesome semi-electronic music by a phenomenal musican (yes that's a GameBoy Advance you can hear in the background).
2. Sunset Rubdown, "You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)" - I discovered this band in December and holy crap their album is amazing, both lyrically and musically.
3. Blitzen Trapper, "Furr" - I'm not actually all that in to straight-up singer-songwriters, but I like Blitzen Trapper, and how can you not love a song about lycanthropy?
4. The Swimmers, "Hundred Hearts" - A great local Philly band, and a great song. The singers' harmonies are great.
5. The New Pornographers, "My Rights Versus Yours" - This song talks about empires, it was probably inevitable that I would love it. Another great male and female vocalist duo.
6. High Places, "When It Comes" - I like the lyrics, as well as the sounds in the background, and the singer's voice.
7. Death Cab for Cutie, "Meet Me At The Equinox" - Probably the most 'popular' song in this playlist. Obvious thematic tie-in is obvious, but damn they are a great band.
8. One For The Team, "Hard For You" - A Minneapolis band whose electro-pop keeps getting better.
9. The Secret Machines, "Lightning Blue Eyes" - I love this song, and this band (why did the one guitarist have to leave?), and the drumming in particular is great on this track.
10. The Gaslight Anthem, "High Lonesome" - A (north) New Jersey band, unique in that they wear their Bruce Springsteen influence on their sleeve. I've had dreams based on this song, though it took dance parties with my bird to get me to love it.
11. Modest Mouse, "Dashboard" - Another fairly "popular" band, but a great track.
12. Vampire Weekend, "Giving Up The Gun" - Entitlement never sounded so good. Also I'm a sucker for the subject matter.
13. Animal Collective, "Summertime Clothes" - This song starts off sounding like a train and gets awesomer, I can't not love it.
14. MGMT, "Kids" - Just awesome semi-electronica.
15. Passion Pit, "Little Secrets" - The lyrics remind me of my writing, and damn the music is great.
16. TV on the Radio, "Dancing Choose" - There's a great Cowboy Bebop AMV to this song, and the band are just great.
17. Phoenix, "1901 (One For The Team Remix)" - A double One For The Team whammy; I feel like this mix of the track goes a bit better with the playlist. I love both versions of the song itself equally.
I had to fit the playlist onto a conventional 75-minute CD, which was good because otherwise I would have gone on for hours; I may wind up making another playlist with all the tracks I couldn't quite shoehorn in this time around (such as Janelle Monae! and so many others!). That said:
1. Imogen Heap, "Tidal" - Awesome semi-electronic music by a phenomenal musican (yes that's a GameBoy Advance you can hear in the background).
2. Sunset Rubdown, "You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)" - I discovered this band in December and holy crap their album is amazing, both lyrically and musically.
3. Blitzen Trapper, "Furr" - I'm not actually all that in to straight-up singer-songwriters, but I like Blitzen Trapper, and how can you not love a song about lycanthropy?
4. The Swimmers, "Hundred Hearts" - A great local Philly band, and a great song. The singers' harmonies are great.
5. The New Pornographers, "My Rights Versus Yours" - This song talks about empires, it was probably inevitable that I would love it. Another great male and female vocalist duo.
6. High Places, "When It Comes" - I like the lyrics, as well as the sounds in the background, and the singer's voice.
7. Death Cab for Cutie, "Meet Me At The Equinox" - Probably the most 'popular' song in this playlist. Obvious thematic tie-in is obvious, but damn they are a great band.
8. One For The Team, "Hard For You" - A Minneapolis band whose electro-pop keeps getting better.
9. The Secret Machines, "Lightning Blue Eyes" - I love this song, and this band (why did the one guitarist have to leave?), and the drumming in particular is great on this track.
10. The Gaslight Anthem, "High Lonesome" - A (north) New Jersey band, unique in that they wear their Bruce Springsteen influence on their sleeve. I've had dreams based on this song, though it took dance parties with my bird to get me to love it.
11. Modest Mouse, "Dashboard" - Another fairly "popular" band, but a great track.
12. Vampire Weekend, "Giving Up The Gun" - Entitlement never sounded so good. Also I'm a sucker for the subject matter.
13. Animal Collective, "Summertime Clothes" - This song starts off sounding like a train and gets awesomer, I can't not love it.
14. MGMT, "Kids" - Just awesome semi-electronica.
15. Passion Pit, "Little Secrets" - The lyrics remind me of my writing, and damn the music is great.
16. TV on the Radio, "Dancing Choose" - There's a great Cowboy Bebop AMV to this song, and the band are just great.
17. Phoenix, "1901 (One For The Team Remix)" - A double One For The Team whammy; I feel like this mix of the track goes a bit better with the playlist. I love both versions of the song itself equally.
<3
Date: 2010-05-07 02:36 (UTC)Re: <3
Date: 2010-05-07 02:36 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-07 14:01 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-07 17:11 (UTC)Taking mostly b/c I'd like a version of Dancing Choose that isn't messed up.
:) Nice selection over all, though. I look forward to listening to the songs I'm unfamiliar with.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-07 18:35 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-07 18:36 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-08 04:01 (UTC)via Three Weeks Latest
Date: 2010-05-09 20:07 (UTC)~Dreamers
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-09 20:47 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-09 20:48 (UTC)Re: via Three Weeks Latest
Date: 2010-05-09 20:49 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-09 20:49 (UTC)Music = ♥
(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-09 20:55 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-05-09 21:01 (UTC)I waffled about the fact that many of these songs were fairly popular singles--I think I've heard all of them except for the One For The Team tracks on either of the two non-commercial radio stations I listen to, and I think OFTT gets airtime on KCMP in the Cities--but in the end they are the tracks I both liked best by the artists and could fit together. Which is a long way of saying, I hope you enjoy!
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Date: 2010-05-10 11:20 (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2010-05-13 13:17 (UTC)