take it away.

Transient DC is frequently making me say goodbye. These mixes always overlap, but with a slightly different meaning. Here's the latest tracklisting:

1. rip it up- orange juice
2. you'll start a war- the pale fountains
3. killamangiro- babyshambles
4. starrsha- ringo deathstarr
5. blue jeans- blur
6. fortress- the glands
7. just like honey (home demo)- laura reading
8. sixteen- skywave
9. 23- blonde redhead
10. hindsight- built to spill
11. lived in bars- cat power
12. quiet time in my room- delusions
13. i know i'll see you- a place to bury strangers
14. the drowners- suede
15. cabin fever- the brian jonestown massacre
16. texas never whispers- pavement
17. angry mulch- voxtrot

rose for amber.

"There's no telling what can happen when you put a woman and a beat together." So says the lead-in line announcing Judah's Amber Rose-inspired mixtape release. Monday's launch marks a muse/producer relationship of sensual proportions.

In "The Amber Rose Instrumentals," Judah links up with Dub MD (UK) to yield thirteen short tracks. It is quite different from what I previously heard from him on Durkl's "Survivor Series" mix. The songs range from whimsical to torrid and highlight a variety of samples including Rose's voice. Pairing music and model, Judah tells a full story through this mix. His range makes it clear why he is a highly regarded producer, who has worked with those from Wale to Tabi Bonney. The only question is what does Kanye have to say about all this?

Download

i love the way she said LA.

My latest mix was made for my friend who is moving from DC to LA tomorrow. It is a grouping of feeling, well wishes, borrowed songs, tunes to drive to, and a bit of self promotion. Here's the tracklisting:


1. starrsha- ringo deathstarr
2. you're making this hard- sweet jane
3. a traitor in my mind- last tide
4. bled white- elliott smith
5. rip it up- orange juice
6. nantes- beirut
7. you're only king once- beulah
8. the d in detroit- the anniversary
9. coast to coast- the jesus & mary chain
10. sixteen- skywave
11. elevate me later- pavement
12. gentle tuesday- primal scream
13. the wait- the american analog set
14. poetaster- miracle fortress
15. blue jeans- blur
16. berlin, without return- voxtrot
17. fortress- the glands
18. just like honey (home demo)- laura reading
19. (david bowie i love you) since i was six- the brian jonestown massacre

listen to me! i'm on the stereo, stereo.

I have made mixes for quite a few people in between this and "The Mixed Tape" post, but I particularly want to share the one I put together for my bandmates. [We're indie/shoegazey, I'm the singer, we don't have a name yet, and I will definitely give more details when we do...] Anyway, this mix cd was meant to inspire songwriting, to help with band bonding, and to show some of the songs that I've been loving. Here it is:

1. starrsha- ringo deathstarr
2. sixteen- skywave
3. 23- blonde redhead
4. bled white- elliott smith
5. blue jeans*- blur
6. the drowners- suede
7. blasphemy- miracle fortress
8. all things ordinary- the anniversary
9. everything's alright when you're down-
the jesus & mary chain
10. stereo- pavement
11. angry mulch- voxtrot
12. summer babe- pavement
13. welcome to new jersey- the glands
14. center of the universe- built to spill
15. the only moment we were alone- explosions in the sky

* "Blue Jeans" shows up on basically every mix I make because it's just that meaningful. I also repeated "Summer Babe" because it's a pretty solid example of a song I'd like to emulate.

the mixed tape.

Making a mix cd is typically a complex art for me. I am torn between whether references are too obvious and whether the person I'm making the disc for will appreciate what I have to say with the music. I am not a great communicator, but I can give you an exact song for my emotions at the time. Below is the tracklisting for my end of summer mix 2008. It pinpoints the sadness of me leaving College Park for Carroll County and intertwines it with the happiness of me telling someone I'm glad we met.

1. the start of something- voxtrot
2. plastic hearts- dirty pretty things
3. here comes your man- pixies
4. bohemian like you- the dandy warhols
5. olympic airways- foals
6. kids- MGMT
7. summer babe- pavement
8. the d in detroit- the anniversary
9. the 15th- wire
10.and the washington monument blinks goodnight-q and not u
11. like a daydream- ride
12. hey boy- os mutantes
13. metal mickey- suede
14. st. pauli- art brut
15. after hours- we are scientists
16. happy when it rains- the jesus & mary chain
17. don't look back in anger- oasis
18. sedative- babyshambles
19. who'd of known- lily allen