Late Mix, Early September
From the moment I bought my first album, I’ve been a fan of making mixtapes. I’ve made them for myself, I’ve made them for friends, I’ve made them for girls that would never reciprocate my feelings. At some point I started making annual mixtapes, a sort of “best of the year”… but not quite. Why?
Here are the principals that govern my annual mix.
The song has to have been purchased within the specified year but not necessarily be from that year. So if I downloaded the GHOSTBUSTERS soundtrack this year I could have put the Ray Parker Jr. song on my 2009 mix.
I try to not include more than one song per artist but if that person has another song that falls under rule #1 and they’re working under a different name/band/project/whatever, then that’s cool. So conceivably I could have a mixtape that has Split Endz, Crowded House and Neil Finn.
I’m more interested in the mix experience than making a “great hits” of the year.
Really, that’s it.
Now a few of you might remember that I promised a mix at the end of 2008. Although I’m nine months overdue, I now present “Tony’s 2008 Mix” and as a bonus for your patience I’m throwing in “Tony’s 2009 Summer Mix (aka, The 2009 Mix, Part 1).
(I feel like a late night pitchman)
So now you’re asking “how do I get a copy?” Aside from the two people I promised copies to back in January (again, sorry), here’s what you do.
Drop a comment on my blog (not on Twitter, not on Facebook but on my Cinematic Arias blog) asking for the mix CD. I’ll email you for your mailing address.
The CD will arrive with no track names. This is purposeful. I believe a good mix has a narrative composed from the collected tracks. Resist the urge to spoil the surprise of “what comes next”. Jump in the car and listen to the whole thing at least once before you pull up Shazam on your iPhone.
By accepting a mix, you agree to come back to my blog and post your thoughts on at least one of the songs. It doesn’t have to be an essay, just a few sentences will do, but you do owe me your two cents.
But act fast because I only burned 9 pairs of these guys and I’m not making more. If you’re curious about my musical tastes, check out my blog entries tagged “music“.
Tags: Mixtape, Music
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on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 at 10:30 am and is filed under Off-Topic.
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I would like to be thrown into “the mix.”
Get it? See how funny I am?
How is it possible that I’ve known you for 20 years and never been the recipient of one of these little jems? I think its time to let me in on the great musical secrets! Please please please bring me one later this month?
let’s see what ya got. aren’t you glad we are FB friends?
kate
Pretty please with sugar on it?
I would like to procure one said copy of T. Arias’ Wonderful World of Arias please.
Tony, these were both great mixes. You’re friends are crazy if they don’t snatch them up from you – and people who actually get a copy are insane not to review right away and secure their next installment.
I drove for 23hrs the day after you gave these to me, they kept me alert enough to avoid all sorts of road hazards. The week after that I took another trip that was 11hrs each way — and my parents got to listen along with me. I will always remember talking with my dad about why a tornado might be frustrated with a cyclone.
Most of the artists and songs were new to me. I quickly purchased the “Middle Cyclone’ album and several songs from Mates of State and Metric – and my pandora.com seeds will never be the same. I’m not sure how to articulate why I liked specific songs, I just know it’s good for everyone to get out of their musical comfort zone from time to time. Also, the world would be a happier place if everyone looked up videos for Toe Jam!