"Highway"

July 2009
Themed Round: Road Trip
for: Adieu

1. Ninety Miles An Hour (Down A Dead End Street) - Hank Snow
2. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat - Beck
3. Treat Me Like Your Mother - The Dead Weather
4. Motor Away - Guided By Voices
5. Johnny Cash - Sons & Daughters
6. I Lost It - Lucinda Williams
7. Moon Palace - Luna
8. Jackson (With June Carter) - Johnny Cash
9. Someone's Daughter - Beth Orton
10. Woof Woof - Dan Deacon
11. Another Saturday Night - Sam Cooke
12. Car Song - Elastica
13. Love Like A Sunset Part I - Phoenix
14. Honey In The Sun - Camera Obscura
15. Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
16. My Girls - Animal Collective
17. On The Other Side - Vetiver
18. Vengeance Is Sleeping - Neko Case
19. Honk If You're Lonely - Silver Jews
20. Movin' Right Along - The Muppet Movie Soundtrack

Comments on the mix: Very loosely themed mix, but probably what I'd put together for a road trip at this moment. (I already did a road trip mix here.)

"Beach Ball"

June 2009
for: ord

1. Lisztomania - Phoenix
2. I'm A Lady - Santogold
3. Summertime Clothes - Animal Collective
4. Zero - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5. Black Postcards - Luna
6. Each Year - Ra Ra Riot
7. Friction - Television
8. People Got A Lotta Nerve - Neko Case
9. Sabali - Amadou & Mariam
10. Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard - Paul Simon
11. Rome (Wasn't Built In A Day) - Sam Cooke
12. French Navy - Camera Obscura
13. Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear
14. Ooh Carla, Ooh Otis - Otis Redding & Carla Thomas
15. Nothing Ever Happened - Deerhunter
16. Rock And Roll - The Velvet Underground
17. Snookered - Dan Deacon
18. Everyday - Vetiver

Comments on the mix: Just my annual summer entry.

"In the Wee Hours"

April 2009
Themed Round: Mixee-dictated
for: kickedinthehead

1. Lived In Bars - Cat Power
2. New Round - Beck
3. You Want The Candy - The Raveonettes
4. Hysteric - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5. 1000 Words - Arthur & Yu
6. Magpie To The Morning - Neko Case
7. Winter - The Dodos
8. I'm Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You - Silver Jews
9. Now That I Know - Devendra Banhart
10. This Deed - Electrelane
11. Go Now - Bessie Banks
12. Avril 14th - Aphex Twin
13. Let It Die - Feist
14. Stay Golden - Au Revoir Simone
15. Good Morning, Heartache - Billie Holiday
16. It's A Fire - Portishead
17. After Hours - The Velvet Underground
18. Martha - Tom Waits
19. Bar Italia - Pulp
20. The Orchids - Califone
21. Don't Let Our Youth Go To Waste - Galaxie 500
22. I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet) - The White Stripes

Comments on the mix: For this mix, I was inspired by my mixee's favorite time of day: "the wee hours of the morning." It turns out it's kind of hard to create an entire mix of songs that sound like the end of something. I think about half of these tracks could have filled the final slot.

Comments on the cover: Photo by Brassai. Also, I got a new printer. Yay!

"A Little Help From My Mix Club Friends"

January 2009
Themed Round: The Mix Club
for: Masticator

1. Surf Wax America - Weezer
- (from sraina, February 2005)
2. Surf Song - James Yorkston and The Athletes
- (from jimcat, October 2005)
3. Can I Steal A Little Love? - Frank Sinatra
- (from rekkidbraka, June 2008)
4. We're So Cool - The Au Pairs
- (from derhay, December 2006)
5. Get By - Talib Kweli
- (from Diddydeezie, April 2005)
6. Comfy In Nautica - Panda Bear
- (from Mike Eternity, April 2007)
7. Eighties - Killing Joke
- (from Surly Booty, February 2008)
8. Apartment Story - The National
- (from BlueJayWay, April 2008)
9. Expressway To Your Heart - Amen Corner
- (from brautigiggle, July 2007)
10. Girls Like Me - Bonnie Hayes with The Wild Combo
- (from Diane Court, May 2006)
11. Bam Bam - Sister Nancy
- (from Spinning Will, June 2007)
12. It's Getting Better - Mama Cass
- (from Masticator, July 2008)
13. He's So Fine - The Chiffons
- (from glammonkey, November 2005)
14. James K. Polk - They Might Be Giants
- (from decca, December 2008)
15. Mockingbird - Etta James & Taj Mahal
- (from CagedRage, November 2006)
16. Ooh La La - Goldfrapp
- (from nudgewinkgirl, March 2007)
17. I Hear The Bells - Mike Dougty
- (from Jedzz, September 2008)
18. Our Hell - Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton
- (from Adieu, January 2008)
19. Valley Winter Song - Fountains Of Wayne
- (from Ballroom Pink, November 2007)
20. Sampson - Regina Spektor
- (from P.D. Noosh, November 2007)
21. Don't Drop Out - Dolly Parton
- (from Sgt Howie, December 2005)
22. Everyday - The Raveonettes
- (from Lost Highway, March 2006)

Comments on the mix: Finally! A retrospective of some of the great music I received through the Club. The first track is from my very first round participating. Made for former Mix Club czar Masticator.

"Crazy 2008"

January 2009
for: Masticator

1. You! Me! Dancing! - Los Campesinos!
2. DLZ - TV On The Radio
3. Each Year - Ra Ra Riot
4. Kids - MGMT
5. Psychotic Girl - The Black Keys
6. Dead Sound - The Raveonettes
7. Lights Out - Santogold
8. Fools - The Dodos
9. Ready For The Floor - Hot Chip
10. White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
11. So Everyone - Bonnie "Prince" Billy
12. Skinny Love - Bon Iver
13. Split Lips - Sons & Daughters
14. California Girls - The Magnetic Fields
15. Cheap and Cheerful - The Kills
16. Salute Your Solution - The Raconteurs
17. Strange Victory, Strange Defeat - Silver Jews
18. Children's Crusade - Oxford Collapse
19. Along The Way - DeVotchKa
20. More News From Nowhere - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Comments on the mix: Annual year-in-review mix. See 2005, 2006 and 2007. (Printer still dead.)

"Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over"

December 2008
for: Pam

1. Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over - Jack White
2. Answer Me - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
3. Split Lips - Sons & Daughters
4. Random Rules - Silver Jews
5. I’m On Fire - Electrelane
6. Could We - Cat Power
7. Some Kinda Love - The Velvet Underground
8. Shiny Cattle - Magic Car
9. Come To View (Song For Neil Young) - Arthur & Yu
10. Go Now - Bessie Banks
11. Dead Sound - The Raveonettes
12. Red Hot - Billy Emerson
13. Wonderful Witches - Thurston Moore
14. Rebound - Charlie Rich
15. Painter In Your Pocket - Destroyer
16. DLZ - TV On The Radio
17. My Kind Of Man - Dolly Parton
18. You Don't Know Baby - Wanda Jackson
19. Ragged Wood - Fleet Foxes
20. Heartbeats - José González
21. Sunshine - Peter Salett
22. St. James Infirmary Blues - The White Stripes
23. Ol' 55 - Tom Waits
24. Just Say So - Bettye LaVette

Comments on the mix: Not a lot to say about this one, since it's themeless. Ever since I heard the title track, I thought it would be amusing to do a mix with this title — that had nothing to do with Christmas. It was tough to make a mix for Pam, who has a lot of music knowledge and great taste. I tried to offer a range of stuff. (The sad cover is due to great printer tragedy of 2008.)

"The Long Haul"

September 2008
Themed Round: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
for: derhay

1. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right - Bob Dylan
2. How Can I Love You If You Won't Lie Down - Silver Jews
3. Winter - The Dodos
4. Challengers - The New Pornographers
5. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
6. Handle With Care - Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins
7. Sweet Dandelion - Peter Salett
8. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song - Fleet Foxes
9. The Boy with the Arab Strap - Belle & Sebastian
10. So Everyone - Bonnie "Prince" Billy
11. California (All The Way) - Luna
12. Citrus - The Hold Steady
13. Free - Cat Power
14. Dragonflys - Devendra Banhart
15. Explain It To Me - Liz Phair
16. Pagan Angel And A Borrowed Car - Iron & Wine
17. Crosses - José González
18. Best Bit - Beth Orton
19. The Orchids - Califone
20. For Emma - Bon Iver
21. I Lost Something In The Hills - Sibylle Baier
22. Our Way To Fall - Yo La Tengo

Comments on the mix: The theme this month was to make up a soundtrack to a film that doesn't exist. This is a movie about four friends who, in their youth, pledged to take an epic trip together in the distant future. When the time comes, they are all in very different places in their lives, but agree to reunite. So this is a soundtrack for four friends on the road, with an undercurrent of melancholy. I wrote about the mix a little more extensively at Mix Tape Collective.

"Ice Pop"

July 2008
for: ihavecooties

1. Time to Pretend - MGMT
2. Ready For The Floor - Hot Chip
3. Peacebone - Animal Collective
4. Salute Your Solution - The Raconteurs
5. Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode
6. Bullets - Tunng
7. Gilt Complex - Sons & Daughters
8. California Girls - The Magnetic Fields
9. Your English Is Good - Tokyo Police Club
10. You! Me! Dancing! - Los Campesinos!
11. California Sun - The Ramones
12. Something's Changed - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
13. Myriad Harbour - The New Pornographers
14. Fools - The Dodos
15. Funny Little Frog - Belle & Sebastian
16. Lights Out - Santogold
17. The Opposite of Hallelujah - Jens Lekman
18. Strange Victory, Strange Defeat - Silver Jews
19. Pata Pata - Miriam Makeba

Comments on the mix: A fun summer mix in the tradition of Garden Party, Sunburn and Picnic.

Comments on the cover: Cover photo by Meredith Allen. She did a whole series of these.

"Lusty Ladies"

May/June 2008
Themed Round: Sin
for: knobbygirl

1. Ooh La La - Goldfrapp
2. He's Got the Power - The Exciters
3. 40 Boys in 40 Nights - The Donnas
4. Call Me - Blondie
5. I Just Want To Make Love To You - Etta James
6. Bad Reputation - Joan Jett
7. Buck - Nina Simone
8. I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine - Patti Page
9. Dirty Mind - The Pipettes
10. Just Can't Get Enough - Nouvelle Vague
11. In the Cold, Cold Night - The White Stripes
12. Shoop - Salt 'n Pepa
13. I'll Come Running - Lulu
14. Raspberry Swirl - Tori Amos
15. Long Island - That Dog
16. Car Song - Elastica
17. Pull A U - The Kills
18. Cool Love - Wanda Jackson
19. Kiss Kiss - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
20. Tonight's the Night - The Shirelles
21. Like A Virgin - Madonna
22. Never Say Never - Romeo Void
23. I'm Getting Better All The Time - Barbara Pittman
24. Brandy Alexander - Feist

Comments on the mix: For the "Sin" round, I made a mix of women expressing their lustful desires. Of course, as usual with my themed mixes, some of the songs don't quite fit. But close enough. I sent out More! as a bonus.

"Spring Cleaning"

April 2008
for: mandalaya

1. Blue Boy - Orange Juice
2. Kiss Kiss - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3. Pulling Our Weight - The Radio Dept.
4. Wonderful Witches - Thurston Moore
5. My Valuable Hunting Knife - Guided By Voices
6. The Nest - Sons & Daughters
7. Along The Way - DeVotchKa
8. Red Hot - Billy Emerson
9. Rich Kid Blues - The Raconteurs
10. What's a Girl to Do? - Bat for Lashes
11. White Collar Boy - Belle & Sebastian
12. Cheap and Cheerful - The Kills
13. Derek - Animal Collective
14. Welcome To The Club - Jean Chapel
15. Sailor & Widow - Keren Ann
16. Come To View (Song For Neil Young) - Arthur & Yu
17. Fear Of Trains - The Magnetic Fields
18. Keep Your Hands Off My Baby - Little Eva
19. Challengers - The New Pornographers
20. Half As Much - Patsy Cline
21. Killing For Love - José González
22. Ain't You Wealthy, Ain't You Wise? - Bonnie "Prince" Billy
23. You Don't Know Baby - Wanda Jackson
24. Skinny Love - Bon Iver

Comments on the mix: Sometimes I feel like I get backlogged with music that hasn't found its way onto my mixes just yet and I have to do a catch up mix to find a place for it all. This is a combo of stuff I've been holding on to, stuff I just discovered, and a few old favorites just for mandalaya. Given the time of year, the title was a no-brainer.