Twisted Mixtape: Awesome Mix Volume 2

So Jen returned one of my very favorite blog hops this week, Twisted Mixtape!  Oh how I’d missed it.  With the stress of getting married, starting my own company, and writing twice weekly for Lefty Pop, my personal writing time has taken a serious hit.  In fact, someone of you are thinking, “oh yeah, I do remember subscribing to this blog.  I thought she’d disappeared into the void of blogging block.”  Nope, just busy.  But no way was I going to miss out on the opportunity to follow a mixtape assignment!  Today’s tape is inspired by the original Awesome Mix Volume 1 from Guardians of the Galaxy (awesome movie if you haven’t seen it).  It’s just a bunch of songs I wouldn’t mind as a soundtrack while floating around in space.  And in also keeping with the movie, these songs all skew older.  There nothing here beyond 1988.

 

U2:  Where the Streets Have No Name

Really this could have been just about any song from War or Joshua Tree

George Baker Selection:  Little Green Bag

Jen and I have discussed our mutual love for this song.  Never gets old.

Ram Jam:  Black Betty

This is just a pure rock out track.

ELO:  Mr. Blue Sky

Makes me happy.

Allman Brothers Band:  Blue Sky

I can see my childhood living room and feel the warm summer breeze coming through my window if I close my eyes.

Rush:  Subdivisions

Quintessential nerd jam.

Yes:  Owner of a Lonely Heart

Solid advice.

Toto:  Africa

Made me miss the rains and I’ve never even been to Africa.

Tears for Fears:  Head of Heels

Belongs on any mixtape I make.  One of my favorite songs ever.

Simple Minds:  Alive and Kicking

My 2nd favorite 80s new wave hit.

Pink Floyd:  Learning to Fly

Hard to pick just one Pink Floyd song, but this one has always been instantly repeatable for me.

 

After a thorough review of my songs, you could easily call them “Songs I listened to in the backseat of my childhood car”, which is fitting given how Star Lord obtained his mixtape.

 

Stay positive & love your life!

-Melissa

 

Today:

Listening to:  Bosnian Rainbows – Eli

Eating:  Rigatoni with homemade vodka sauce, arugula, and garden fresh tomatoes.

Drinking:  H20

Random thought:  This time next month I’ll be prepping for my engagement party.  Squee! So excited to be marrying my soul mate, best friend, and perfect partner in life!

Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday: Till Next Time

Here we are; it’s the very last week of Twisted Mix Tape.  All my favorite blog hops are leaving me!  Hopefully some of the buddies I’ve met through this blog will join me in the fun of my new blog hop every Friday.  Five for Friday will be an ever changing theme of lists of five.  Last week I divulged some of my personal weaknesses.  Go check it out!  It’s not too late to link up and share.  And be sure to come back this Friday…and one after and the one after that.

Goodbyes, I kind of suck at them.  So I’ll take Jen’s word that this is simply a “see you later”.  We’ll all return to share music and life later.  And if she doesn’t return to host, I know at least a few of us would be honored to take up the helm.  Thanks Jen for introducing me to so many great bloggers and friends.  You rock!

Here are my 5 goodbye songs….they follow the theme a bit loosely, but are solid jams nonetheless.

The Cars- Touch and Go

 

Tegan and Sara- Call It Off

 

Ballyhoo!- Walk Away

 

Marcy Playground- Bye, Bye

 

 

And of course I’m going to end with 311.  As the song says, I’ll be here a while.  So come say hi Twisted Mixtapers.  Don’t be strangers!

311- I’ll Be Here a While

 

Stay positive and love your life!

-Melissa

 

Today:

Listening to: 

Eating:  Arugula and pecan salad.

 

Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday: So So Def Melissa Allstars

Jen asked for guilty pleasures this week.   I think I could likely fill an entire week’s place list with some of the turds hiding in my list.  Even a music snob is subject to allowing a not-so-cool character into the party every now and then.  Most of what resides in my closet of musical skeletons is so tightly wrapped in nostalgia that I’ll never be able to part from it.  And I’m not embarrassed.  These songs, at some point in my life, were on repeat in my room, on my Walkman, or in a friend’s car.  I went with a theme within a theme this week and picked all rap/hip-hop tunes.  While I was a atl rock chick for sure in HS, these jams infiltrated a nearly embarrassment-free, guitar heavy, meaningful/deep lyrics laden Seattle love fest.

First on the list is a not so safe for work jam out of Atlanta Ga.  Yes, a bunch of country-ass white girls used to roll through the street’s of Branford, FL blasting this.

Luke-Scarred

Luniz- I Got Five on It

I’m sure my Mom and Dad loved this.

INOJ-Love You Down

Again, I’m sure parent’s were thrilled with the message.

OK, these two take us back a bit further.  My older cousins listened to these songs, so of course I thought they were the coolest.

Linear- Sending All My Love

Timmy T- One More Try

Bonus:

I should do an entire playlist dedicated to songs that were played at every dance I ever went to in HS.  That list would be so amazing awful/awesome that the internet may explode.  Here’s one of those songs.

12 Gauge- Dunkie Butt

Folks, twerking isn’t new.  Miley is simply ripping off 90s jam dance moves.  And parents our music wasn’t as innocent as you’d like to remember.  Case in point-

Yes, I still love every song on this list.  Sorry, I’m not sorry.

 

Stay positive & love your life!

-Melissa

 

Today:

Listening to:  Market Place on NPR

Eating:  Hummus wrap

Drinking:  Water

Random thought:  Where are all of the animals on Walking Dead?  Some of them would have made it away from the zombies, right?  No birds, dog, cats at all?

Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday: Up in the Air

Here’s my quickie, lunchtime contribution to TMT.  This week Jen asked for songs inspired by letting go and moving on.  My list is meant to be a journey from acknowledging an issue, attempting to take control of it,  feeling helpless and then finally moving on.  Given that I’m pressed for writing time today, I’ll let the music speak for itself.

Come a Little Closer- Cage the Elephant

Up in the Air- 30 Seconds to Mars

Falling to Pieces- Faith No More

Stop the Fu*king Car- Circa Survive

Leave it Alone- Broken Bells

Bonus:

Julian Hatfield does a wonderful cover of this Foo Fighter’s song.

Stay positive & love your life!

-Melissa

Today:

Listening to:  Spoon – The Mystery Zone

Eating:  Grits, lima beans, and ch’kin fingers

Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday: Till My Lungs Collapse

Workout songs!  This is just the mixtape I needed today! Thanks for the boost Jen!

I love music and I love fitness.  I REALLY do love it, I know that seems odd to 90% of you.  I’ve often said running or hitting the gym is my therapy.  I’ve said the same thing about music too.  So workout music must be doubly therapeutic right?  Thing is, not a lot of my music “likes” always lend them selves well to a hardcore workout.  Rock works, but guys in with long beards and oddly high voices (ie. my indie picks) do not.  I tend to find myself listening to either heavy rock or rap or rappish hip-hop with some techno/dance/dubstep added in for good measure.   A lot of the stuff I love to sweat to would not be something I really listen to during the day.

Here are five songs that may pop up on my playlist:

Galvanize- The Chemical Brothers

This one is my absolute favorite.  It will give me a burst of motivation anytime I need it.  I’ve hit repeat on many an occasion.

Eminem- I’m a Soldier

Hard to pick one Eminem song for this.

Eve- Tambourine

Skrillex- Bangarang

When is dubstep okay to jam to?  When you’re on the Step Mill.  It makes me feel like a Transformer.

Die Antwoord- Fatty Boom Boom

**Okay, this song…and all of their songs are NSFW**  Likely one of the strangest bands I listen to and that’s saying A LOT.  Also, love how crudely they pick on Gaga.  Song actually starts at 1:55.

 

Bonus:

One rock song for you because you know that’s my fave.  I left them out of the main list because this genre gets a feature nearly every week, and I couldn’t choose just one or five…or 20.

Pantera- Walk

Pantera is perfect for lifting.

 

What do you workout to?

 

Stay positive & love your life!

-Melissa

 

Today:

Listening to:  Queens Of The Stone Age – “You Got A Killer Scene There, Man…”

Eating:  Tofu scramble and protein pancakes.

Random fact:  This may be the first year I’m actually lamenting my birthday a bit.  I have adored my 30s so far, but sometimes getting older sucks!

 

 

 

Twisted Mixtape Tuesday: Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

Weather got you down?  Cold making you act like a baby?  Yeah, me too.  I prefer blue skies, sunshine, and the smell of fresh-cut grass.  Right now, however, I’m eating lunch in my office located in downtown Atlanta watching the snow fall outside.  From 32 stories up, safe in the confines of my office, it looks beautiful.  But I’m still dreaming of spring and summer.

This week, Jen over at My Skewed View asked for a playlist to cheer up a friend.  Mine seems to have some semi-unintentional weather related theme going on.  It can’t be helped.  Come on sunshine!  Here you are my interweb buddies,  5 songs (and a bonus) guaranteed to cheer you up even in the bitterest of cold!

Day by Day- The Dirty Heads

Love these lyrics:

Bright lights on
Coming off the hinge
Rambling on like a Led Zeppelin
I got my sword and my pen like mad mordagin
Outta the abyss starting to ascend
Top of the class peak of the summit
Throw your worries of a cliff watch them as they plummet

Shine on You- Matisyahu

Love these lyrics:

Oh my soul has been so low
Make them clouds fade to blue
So my love can shine on through
Shine on you

 

Mr. Blue Sky- ELO

Love these lyrics:

Runnin’ down the avenue,(Pant, Pant, Pant)
See how the sun shines brightly
In the city on the streets
Where once was pity,
Mr. Blue Sky is living here today.

 

Drivin’ on 9- The Breeders

This song isn’t really conventionally happy, but it makes me smile!  Maybe it makes me think of long drives with the stereo cranked and the windows down.

Love these lyrics:

Drivin’ on 9
I sure miss you
Pass a motel
Looking at the pines

Sun Hands- Local Natives

 

Love these lyrics:

The most beautiful colors chase the sun
They wrap her trail in a taunting gesture
That seems to sing out loud,
“this is what you’re missing”

 

Bonus:

Outside-311

A nice little, happy b-side-

 

Four instant happy makers for me:  summertime, best friend, music festival, King of Pops!

 

Stay positive & love your life!

-Melissa

 

Today:

Listening to:  Arctic Monkeys – Pretty Visitors

Eating:  Sesame Ch’kin, bok choy, veggies and rice.

Drinking:  H2O, but a Monster will be had soon.

Random fact:  Skiing is not on my list of “fun” vacation ideas.

 

Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday: We Can Dance If We Want To

Dance music.  Initially this prompt made me think of clubbing.  Clubbing makes me think of douche bag dudes (ala Jersey Shore) and drunk chicks dressed like hookers (ala….well, Jersey Shore).  I’ve never been a clubber.  While I was a teen in the 90s, I missed the whole rave moment (thank God) and I’ve always preferred going to a show or hanging at a bar  instead of a dance club.  Really the only type of dance club I’ve ever remotely enjoyed is a gay one, but that’s a story for another time.  Until that time, here’s a picture of me and my best friend Bee tearing it up on stage at Jungle (Atlanta).  Yes, we have choreographed moves.  Yes, there was alcohol involved.

Okay, on to Jen over at My Skewed View’s prompt for the week: Dance music.  Actually, this prompt really wasn’t as challenging as I first thought.  I came up with this list in no time flat.  I’m giving you 3 from the 80s, 2 from the 90s, and 2 from today.

 

80s PICKS

THE decade for dance in my humble opinion.  Nearly every song is danceable.  New Wave is actually dance music for snobs.  Or Brits.  Or snobby Brits.

When Smokey Sings- ABC

One of my favorite 80s groups.  This song just oozes 80s from the first note.  Try not to dance.

Head to Toe- Lisa Lisa & the Cult Jam

Give me a synthesizer beat and some shoulder pads and see if I can sit still.

 

Push It- Salt n Pepa

Still my jam.  Timeless classic.

90s PICKS

The 90s were FULL of dance music.   After all, there had to be an opposite to the grunge/alt rock movement.  Most of it is bad and falls under the guilty pleasures category-

Better Off Alone- Alice Deejay

And some of it…..seriously, WTF is this?

Blue (Da Ba Dee)- Eiffel 65

Yes, I owned this album.  I thought I’d bleached it from my memory, but it cropped back up today.  Just….wow.  It should have been on my list two weeks ago:  Embarrassing Albums I Owned.   Take it easy on me, I’m baring some of life’s biggest lapses of judgement through this list.

Today’s PICKS

Oddly enough, when you listen to a lot of the indie music today, it is actually dance music!  While rock owns my heart, I have plenty of room for this too.  It’s an 80s synth rehash with a slight rock vibe.

Punching in a Dream- The Naked & Famous

Midnight City- M83

This song got played to death, but for some reason I just never tired of it.

 

Stay positive & love your life!

-Melissa

 

Today:

Listening to:  Kate Tucker & the Sons of Sweden – Blue Hotel

Eating:  Leftover taco.

Random thought:  You know you’re a book nerd when you’re super excited to start your next book while you’re still reading your current book.

 

Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday: I See Stars 2013 Edition

Another pseudo 2013 best of list.  I thought I’d put these in my past.  But Jen and the crazy weekly music blog hop she posts over at at My Skewed View asked for:

This week the theme of our MixTape is – The best new songs you’ve heard this past year. Can be oldies or new songs, either way they are new to you!

Well, since I’ve already done my top albums of 2013 list and many of my favorite songs of the year coincide with that list, I’ve decided to take my list in a slightly different direction.  I’m going to list the first song “starred” on my Spotify account for every other month of 2013.  This should be fun and give a true representation of my tastes….which are all of the musical map.  Well, you’ll see.

January 3, 2013

Top Shelf- Alchemy

I love reggae.  I especially love white boy reggae.  I think it is some kind of hold over from my skater boy days which occurred nearly simultaneously with my “I’m gonna wear flannel and sulk” days.  I’m a sucker for laid-back rhythms and the overall sense of chill that accompanies this type of music.  I’ll have to dedicate a mixtape to this genre at some point.

March 6, 2013

Chelsea Light Moving- Empires of Time

Birthed out of Sonic Youth’s demise.  If you’re wondering where Thurston Moore ended up…..

May 10, 2013

Futurebirds- Virginia Slims

Nice laid-back, country/hippie/folkie sound I always tend to enjoy.  These guys are out of Athens, GA.

July 1, 2013

Tame Impala- Music to Walk Home By

I’ve featured Tame Impala on the blog a few times.  If you haven’t checked them out yet, stop what you’re doing and go.  Now.  That 60s psychedelic rock sound is still alive and well….and coming out of Australia.

 

September 3, 2013

Volcano Choir- Comrade

Perfect for a nice, relaxing moment of the day.  I’m one of the few music snobs who doesn’t enjoy Justin Veron under the monicker Bon Iver, but I dig him in this band.

 

November 5, 2013

The Gaslight Anthem- Old White Lincoln

I was lucky enough to see them at Voodoo this year.  Good, solid rock music.  It has a Springsteen sound without having to sit through the Boss’s horrid vocals (sorry Springsteen fans).

 

Bonus:

Last “starred” of 2013– December 30, 2013 Disclosure- When a Fire Starts to Burn

This album got all kinds of critical acclaim last year, but they are so bizarre.  I don’t know why I like this song, but I do.  I enjoy some electronic music from time to time.

First “starred” of 2014– January 7, 2013 Parquet Courts- Stoned and Starving

I’m always a sucker for the lo-fi, indie guitar rock.

 

Stay positive & love your life!

-Melissa

 

Today:

Listening to: Tilian – Now or Never (feat. Tyler Carter)

Eating:  Arugula salad.

Random thought:  My iPod has been acting a bit sketchy for the last two days.  Right off the bat, that worries me more than car problems.  Gasp, what would I do without “my music” at the gym each morning?!  You know, cause I definitely couldn’t just get a new iPod.  I’m ridiculous.

 

Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday: Can You Believe I Own This Album?

I’m a music snob.  Shocker, right?  I’m sure you couldn’t tell that by the obscene number of music related posts.  I like to think I have excellent taste in music.  It’s clearly way above average.  I mean, I check off the majority of the music snob test questions:

• I make music references that I’m confident no one will get….but then I’m a little disappointed if they do get them.
• I love the obscure.  It makes me feel like a pioneer when I find a new band……but then I’m secretly upset when they become mainstream.
• I love, love, love sharing new music with folks…..but then I’m disappointed if they have already heard of it.
• If you don’t agree with my music taste,  I judge you as having poor taste in music…..but we can still be friends (though Trailor Swift would make it iffy).
• I have never and will never listen to anything mainstream and am proud of every album I’ve purchased……YEAH RIGHT!

You see, my musical selections are not beyond reproach.  There are many musical skeletons in my closet.  I wish I could blame them all on the wayward tastes of a younger me, but alas, no.   Sometimes I just like the things I know I shouldn’t.  Sometimes I like things that are hot garbage!  And you know what guys, that’s A-OK!  That’s what separates me from a nasty hipster.  You see, I actually like all of the oddball, weirdo shit I listen to AND I also like some (be it few and far between) with which no self-respecting hipster would dare mar their listening sensibilities.  Snob, yes.  But as this week’s Twisted Mixtape will reveal, even the biggest snob falls short of perfection.

This week Jen asked us for a Biggest Mistake type of playlist, well I think we can all agree that purchasing what follows could easily fall under that header:

Can you believe I own this album?

Fefe Dobson- 2003

The song:  Take Me Away

I’m not sure how to explain the moment that caused this purchase.  Oh wait, it is was this damn song.  Isn’t she super cute with her tough girl persona?  More believable than some I’ve seen.

Tracy Lawrence- For the Love (2007)

The song:  Find Out Who Your Friends Are

This song is the complete antithesis of what I like, so I’m not sure how or why this snuck into my shopping cart or why I listened to it on repeat.  Note:  I did in fact hate the rest of the album. 

Afroman- The Good Times (2001)

The song:  Because I Got High

Did I really need to buy this whole album?  I’m sure I could have guessed at the contents.  At least Jay and Silent Bob are in the video.

Chumbawamba- Tubthumper (1997)

The song:  Tubthumping

I still like this song.  So there.

Actually, I dig this whole album.  It’s full of super odd, political music with bizarre interludes.

Limp Bizkit- Several albums (late 90s, early 2000s)

Yeah, everyone knows Fred Durst is a douche.  Yeah, the lyrics and vocals are kinda whatever.  But the music rocks.  I listened to them.  A LOT.  I blame Matt.

The song:  Pollution

DJ, hard, and rap-rocky, yep, pure late 90s.

So let me have it!  I’m awaiting the daggers from you fellow music snobs.  Bring it!

Stay positive & love your life!

-Melissa

Today:

Listening to: Forest Swords – Thor’s Stone

Eating:  Seasame ch’kin stir-fry.

Random thought:  I should be far more embarrassed of buying Sugar Ray’s later album than anything on this list.

Twisted Mixtape Tuesday/Trifecta Combo: Onward to 2014!

Today Jen asked us to pick one of our favorite mixtapes of the year.  Since work is still a proverbial zoo of craziness, I picked my playlist that chills me out and makes me happy.  Here’s to hoping it works!  Enjoy!

Check out my awesomely chill/happy response when I was asked to make a “slow jams’ *gag* playlist HERE.

Also, in a little combo move action, here is my contribution to this week’s Trifecta prompt:

Michael Hess inspired us with his three word New Year’s resolution – just be nice. We’re asking for your own resolutions in just three words. Make it count; we’ll be checking back in come 2015.

 

Here are the 3 words that will anchor my resolutions for 2014-

RELEASE

RELAX

RENOVATE

There is quite a bit of expounding that needs to be done on each word to make my resolutions clear, but I think that would be cheating?  Curious?  Ask.

Yes, I like alliteration.

Also, I’ll be incorporating the full resolutions into my 5 for Friday post….somehow, once I figure out how to make them fit with my intended theme.

 

Stay positive & love your life!

-Melissa

 

Today:

Listening to:  Carmen Villain – Obedience (Bjørn Torske Remix)

Reading:  The final pages of “Queen of the Damned” by Anne Rice.  This book has taken me far to long to finish.  Gonna be taking a break from this series for a while!  Excited about my next read, “Sitting Up with the Dead”.