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In lieu of actually having stuff to post (plus it’s not like anyone gives a crap because I am the only person who reads this sad excuse for a blog), I’m posting the playlist for a CD I made for my friend Kara. I made it in June but I still haven’t sent it to her. Because I have no money. Not even a couple bucks to mail a tiny package. I also have to mail Amy’s birthday present.

Dead Flowers – Fay Wray

Oh Dear Me! – Shakey Bones

My Boyfriend’s Back – The Angels

One Click – The Max Levine Ensemble

I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night – Brenna Sahatjian

Anna Is a Stool Pigeon – Tom Gabel (Heart Burns sucks pretty bad but I actually like this song. I remember reading about this when it happened.)

Born & Raised – Fake Problems

Playing Politics – Fifth Hour Hero (I have never heard Discount, so I’m not sure if they do, in fact, sound similar. And I think it’s kind of weird that Allison from Discount is now like this hipster goddess. Like, she used to be this adorable kinda crusty girl from G-Ville & now she’s kicking it with Kate Moss.)

Nomad’s Revolt – Mischief Brew

Matching Overalls – Matty Pop Chart (I think we’ve already been over how I want to be BFFs with Matty. I want to put him in my pocket & carry him around with me.)

I Live in Hell – Dear Landlord

Kiss the Bottle – Lucero (Probably one of my favorite covers ever. They make this sound like a Lucero song, not like they’re just aping Jawbreaker.)

Pants – Lemuria

The Bangers Embrace – Propagandhi (A bit of humor from super-political Canadians.)

Call to the Comptroller’s Office – Bridge & Tunnel

New England – Billy Bragg

High School Stalker – Hello Saferide

We Are the Few – Streetlight Manifesto

“It’s Snowing, Let’s Overreact!”
By Amy
December 2008
No More Fighting Cats, OK? – Des Ark
Secrets of a Salesman – Rocky Votolato
Sun or Snow – Chuck Ragan & Austin Lucas
Snow Creature – Matty Pop Chart
I Am Citizen – Against Me!
Emotional Weather Report – Tom Waits
Cold Weather Gear – The Menzingers
Sleeping Weather – Small Brown Bike
Thunder Road – Tortoise & Bonnie Prince Billy
Salamander – The Butchies
I Hear the Rain – The Violent Femmes
And Then the Rains Came – William Elliott Whitmore
Interstate 8 – Modest Mouse
Fake Palindromes - Andrew Bird
Think I Wanna Die – Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
It Wouldn’t Be – Slingshot Dakota
Restless – Rumbleseat
Imitation of Life – R.E.M.
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea – Neutral Milk Hotel
Death Is Not the End – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
I listen to this a lot when I’m going to sleep.

Untitled
By Mr. Byrnes
January 2009
The American in Me – The Avengers
We Are the One – The Avengers
Paint it Black – The Avengers
Alone Again – Love
Seven and Seven Is – Love
Fuck and Run – Liz Phair
What a Wonderful World – Joey Ramone
Seven and Seven Is – The Ramones
I Don’t Want to Grow Up – The Ramones
Pet Semetary – The Ramones
Day of Wine and Roses – The Dream Syndicate
The Ledge – The Replacements
Merry Go Round – The Replacements
What’s She Done to Your Mind? – Rain Parade
Love Is All Around – Joan Jett
Hollow Man – R.E.M.
Kids Are Alright – The Who
I Have Had Enough – The Who
John Coltrane Stereo Blues – The Dream Syndicate
World Leader Pretend – R.E.M.
To Susan on the West Coast Waiting – Donovan

I made my younger sister a mix CD and she hated every single song on it. If you ask me, this is possibly one of the most devastating things that can happen to a person. However, I should have known it was coming—her music taste is strictly Top 40, which, in my defense, I was unaware of at the time. When I was going through a Le Tigre phase in high school, she was totally down for a dance party, and she loves “Holiday in Cambodia” by the Dead Kennedys. Of course, that was before middle school hit and she got all weird and lame, more concerned with the mall than anything else. (She would probably describe me as “weird and lame” as well).

So I spent 6 hours crafting this glorious gift to her and I sat the girl down and forced her to listen to it. All 22 tracks. She politely listened to the first 10 songs in full, and the rest, she skipped before they even reached the chorus. She reached over me, a sneer on her face, to quickly press the button to skip the song. I tried to stop her, but I have absolutely no muscle whatsoever, and she is a gymnast. It was not a fair match. I sat there, helpless, observing my favorite songs reduced to 10-second clips, quickly tossed to the wayside by the disdain of a 13-year-old.

Some choice criticisms:

“I can tell it’s going to be stupid” (It’s Hard to Know - Hot Water Music)

“I don’t like old music” (Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield)

“His voice is weird” (Ask the Angels - Patti Smith). I informed her that it was, in fact, sung by a woman. She refused to believe me. A Google Image search only convinced her that she was correct.

“The song name is dumb” (Like Eye Contact in an Elevator - Dillinger Four)

“This is hillbilly music” (Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show)

I love the child, I really do, but I still haven’t come to terms with the fact that we are fundamentally different. I like Jawbreaker. She likes the Jonas Brothers.