AKA Gigi Mama.
Back from Undisclosed Seaside Location with your official Summertime Happydance Mixtape. I made some CDs for the drive down to USL, since the Zune hookup is way too complicated for driving that distance alone. The music blogs have been humming about how electro-punk and dance rock have been gradually taking over the universe, perhaps because we're all nostalgic for the '80s, perhaps because when you have no money at least you can dance. Either way, it's July, the weather is beautiful, and nobody is allowed to whine at a guitar until at least November.
1. Dragonette - Fixin' to Thrill
Dragonette want you to get on the floor and shake what your daddy gave you, and you can tell from the intro to this mix that I totally agree. This is the kind of electronic dance pop where you can hear the flashing lights and taste the watered-down Sex on the Beach that you let some dude buy you. It's the theme song for some imaginary TV drama about rich high school kids, simultaneously cynical and joyous. And it's the theme song to your damn summer.
2. A Camp - Love Has Left the Room
It's early in the mix for a slow dance, but I forgot this song was slow because it feels like a fast number. It's also a breakup song that sounds like a love song, with soaring '70s-esque vocals and violins and a choir of "bop bop bop"s in the bridge. Scandinavian magic!
3. Booty Luv - Say It
You are probably too cool to admit you like this song. You will have it on repeat for a week. Maybe you will mislabel it as a track from the new Grizzly Bear record so if anyone sees your iPod, you will not have to admit that you are in love with a pop song by a girl named Booty Luv. And you will love it, because when you sing it under your breath, people will mistake it for a pick-up line, and you will get laid.
4. Florence and the Machine - Dog Days Are Over
This song is like sitting in the back seat of a wooden roller coaster. It picks up momentum and then whiplashes you. Florence has one of the most stunning voices I know, simultaneously classic and indie-pop off-kilter. Recommended if you appreciate the artful use of ukuleles and zithers, or if you wish to play Freeze Tag while eating a popsicle and rocking out.
5. Funeral Party - Carwars
Don't let the name of the band fool you -- or the first 10 seconds of the song. This is a screaming disco rock jam. The only lyrics I can make out are "So get out, so get out, so come on." If this is your sixth margarita and you've been dancing from happy hour to last call, that's all you can sing anyway.
6. Marina and the Diamonds - I Am Not a Robot
Everybody loves this song. Seriously, it's the most remixed song of the summer, or at least the most remixed song on my blogs. If it is not the soundtrack to at least 10 Spock-related vids yet, well... I'm not surprised, but I'm sad. It feels resolutely electronic despite the organic feel of the vocals and the almost Broadway-esque oompa-doo rhythm, and again with the bad relationship songs that sound like anthems of jubilation. Insert obvious joke about how only a robot could resist this one.
7. Magic Wands - Black Magic
Hipsters partying on a roof drinking Natty Light and talking about Foucault don't need their own theme song, but if they did, this would work. There are handclaps and "hey"s and stutter vocals, plus a totally earwormy electric guitar riff. And you can dance to it. Take that, surveillance culture.
8. Zemmy - Bleed Me Dry
Speaking of defiantly happy breakup songs -- and you know we have been -- this song reminds me of my ex-girlfriend in the most delicious and rewarding possible way. It's another slowish song, and it feels like vintage Dusty Springfield blue-eyed soul. But it's a recent song by a Nigerian-British musician with a voice like frozen custard: sweet, creamy, and cool.
9. Marit Bergman - Carry Me Home
This song begins with a girly-voiced soprano singing, "When I was a man..." Yep, more Scandinavian magic. Fuzzy bass, handclaps and marimba, with a cheery backing beat and, um, windchimes. It's like one of those Top Chef dishes that sound completely weird, but the flavor profiles work perfectly.
10. The Presidents of the United States of America - Peaches
Every mixtape should include at least one classic. I ate a lot of peaches last week, although not millions, and not for free. If you were the right age at the right time, you are having a little nostalgia-gasm right now; if not, skip.
11. Chiddy Bang ft. MGMT - Kids
In the intro to this song, they say, "Chiddy Bang, and we pretty much amazing." They are, and so is this song. Not the best flow or the best rhymes, but they have a raw happy energy. What they've done with MGMT's "Kids," a song that I have deemed way too obvious for this mix, is fabulous: they've sampled the main synth hook, but they've also produced a totally different song about the same thing.
12. Mark Mallman - You're Never Alone in New York
This song sounds totally anachronistic and crazy, but I can't think of a time period it would properly fit in. It's got this relentless guitar hook (and solo!) plus synth chords straight outta Journey and tenor goddamn sax. Also, I love songs about New York.
13. NewVillager - Rich Doors
More handclaps! I mean, this is the kind of thing that's so cool right now, with the African influence and the chant-y vocals and the falsetto and the stompy bass drum. You won't know why you are dancing, but you are totally dancing right now and it is because of this song. Uncanny.
14. Regina Spektor - Laughing With
This is the point in the party where you have to go catch your breath and pee and grab another drink. For a while, I thought I didn't like Regina Spektor, but I am glad I got over my issues with her voice. This is a pretty, thinky poem, structurally simple but lyrically intricate. You can't dance to this one, but you can sway and make friends.
15. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - Dance the Way I Feel
Such a perfect summer band -- just look at the name. This is an oddly aggressive song, like the vocalist is daring you to make him dance the way someone else feels. It's one of those electro-pop songs whose layering and looping is so intricate, it sounds like a glass skyscraper. And at the same time, I defy you not to punch the air every time he says "stop."
16. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (live piano and voice version)
I have heard this song twelve kajillion times and I am more and more convinced that it is so good, it does not damage your indie cred even though it is the most popular song ever. Just so we would realize how good it is, Lady Gaga started performing it live, so we can hear how amazing her voice is without the AutoTune. Underneath it all, she's Regina Spektor.
17. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sounds
Whiny guitar rock may be dead, but I like The Gaslight Anthem anyway. This sounds way too much like my rock 'n' roll nemesis, Bruce Springsteen, but I like The Gaslight Anthem anyway. This song is what Bryan Adams's "Summer of '69" would be if that song sucked less, but I like The Gaslight Anthem anyway -- because you can totally dance to this.
18. Phoenix - Rome
I almost didn't include this song, because in the imaginary world where I live, everyone is already listening to Phoenix. But sometimes you have to make sure everyone is listening to music. I welcome my new French electro-rock overlords, and you should too.
Download one song or all of them! Comment if you want! Buy the albums if you like the songs! Dance like Snoopy!
1. Dragonette - Fixin' to Thrill
Dragonette want you to get on the floor and shake what your daddy gave you, and you can tell from the intro to this mix that I totally agree. This is the kind of electronic dance pop where you can hear the flashing lights and taste the watered-down Sex on the Beach that you let some dude buy you. It's the theme song for some imaginary TV drama about rich high school kids, simultaneously cynical and joyous. And it's the theme song to your damn summer.
2. A Camp - Love Has Left the Room
It's early in the mix for a slow dance, but I forgot this song was slow because it feels like a fast number. It's also a breakup song that sounds like a love song, with soaring '70s-esque vocals and violins and a choir of "bop bop bop"s in the bridge. Scandinavian magic!
3. Booty Luv - Say It
You are probably too cool to admit you like this song. You will have it on repeat for a week. Maybe you will mislabel it as a track from the new Grizzly Bear record so if anyone sees your iPod, you will not have to admit that you are in love with a pop song by a girl named Booty Luv. And you will love it, because when you sing it under your breath, people will mistake it for a pick-up line, and you will get laid.
4. Florence and the Machine - Dog Days Are Over
This song is like sitting in the back seat of a wooden roller coaster. It picks up momentum and then whiplashes you. Florence has one of the most stunning voices I know, simultaneously classic and indie-pop off-kilter. Recommended if you appreciate the artful use of ukuleles and zithers, or if you wish to play Freeze Tag while eating a popsicle and rocking out.
5. Funeral Party - Carwars
Don't let the name of the band fool you -- or the first 10 seconds of the song. This is a screaming disco rock jam. The only lyrics I can make out are "So get out, so get out, so come on." If this is your sixth margarita and you've been dancing from happy hour to last call, that's all you can sing anyway.
6. Marina and the Diamonds - I Am Not a Robot
Everybody loves this song. Seriously, it's the most remixed song of the summer, or at least the most remixed song on my blogs. If it is not the soundtrack to at least 10 Spock-related vids yet, well... I'm not surprised, but I'm sad. It feels resolutely electronic despite the organic feel of the vocals and the almost Broadway-esque oompa-doo rhythm, and again with the bad relationship songs that sound like anthems of jubilation. Insert obvious joke about how only a robot could resist this one.
7. Magic Wands - Black Magic
Hipsters partying on a roof drinking Natty Light and talking about Foucault don't need their own theme song, but if they did, this would work. There are handclaps and "hey"s and stutter vocals, plus a totally earwormy electric guitar riff. And you can dance to it. Take that, surveillance culture.
8. Zemmy - Bleed Me Dry
Speaking of defiantly happy breakup songs -- and you know we have been -- this song reminds me of my ex-girlfriend in the most delicious and rewarding possible way. It's another slowish song, and it feels like vintage Dusty Springfield blue-eyed soul. But it's a recent song by a Nigerian-British musician with a voice like frozen custard: sweet, creamy, and cool.
9. Marit Bergman - Carry Me Home
This song begins with a girly-voiced soprano singing, "When I was a man..." Yep, more Scandinavian magic. Fuzzy bass, handclaps and marimba, with a cheery backing beat and, um, windchimes. It's like one of those Top Chef dishes that sound completely weird, but the flavor profiles work perfectly.
10. The Presidents of the United States of America - Peaches
Every mixtape should include at least one classic. I ate a lot of peaches last week, although not millions, and not for free. If you were the right age at the right time, you are having a little nostalgia-gasm right now; if not, skip.
11. Chiddy Bang ft. MGMT - Kids
In the intro to this song, they say, "Chiddy Bang, and we pretty much amazing." They are, and so is this song. Not the best flow or the best rhymes, but they have a raw happy energy. What they've done with MGMT's "Kids," a song that I have deemed way too obvious for this mix, is fabulous: they've sampled the main synth hook, but they've also produced a totally different song about the same thing.
12. Mark Mallman - You're Never Alone in New York
This song sounds totally anachronistic and crazy, but I can't think of a time period it would properly fit in. It's got this relentless guitar hook (and solo!) plus synth chords straight outta Journey and tenor goddamn sax. Also, I love songs about New York.
13. NewVillager - Rich Doors
More handclaps! I mean, this is the kind of thing that's so cool right now, with the African influence and the chant-y vocals and the falsetto and the stompy bass drum. You won't know why you are dancing, but you are totally dancing right now and it is because of this song. Uncanny.
14. Regina Spektor - Laughing With
This is the point in the party where you have to go catch your breath and pee and grab another drink. For a while, I thought I didn't like Regina Spektor, but I am glad I got over my issues with her voice. This is a pretty, thinky poem, structurally simple but lyrically intricate. You can't dance to this one, but you can sway and make friends.
15. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - Dance the Way I Feel
Such a perfect summer band -- just look at the name. This is an oddly aggressive song, like the vocalist is daring you to make him dance the way someone else feels. It's one of those electro-pop songs whose layering and looping is so intricate, it sounds like a glass skyscraper. And at the same time, I defy you not to punch the air every time he says "stop."
16. Lady Gaga - Poker Face (live piano and voice version)
I have heard this song twelve kajillion times and I am more and more convinced that it is so good, it does not damage your indie cred even though it is the most popular song ever. Just so we would realize how good it is, Lady Gaga started performing it live, so we can hear how amazing her voice is without the AutoTune. Underneath it all, she's Regina Spektor.
17. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sounds
Whiny guitar rock may be dead, but I like The Gaslight Anthem anyway. This sounds way too much like my rock 'n' roll nemesis, Bruce Springsteen, but I like The Gaslight Anthem anyway. This song is what Bryan Adams's "Summer of '69" would be if that song sucked less, but I like The Gaslight Anthem anyway -- because you can totally dance to this.
18. Phoenix - Rome
I almost didn't include this song, because in the imaginary world where I live, everyone is already listening to Phoenix. But sometimes you have to make sure everyone is listening to music. I welcome my new French electro-rock overlords, and you should too.
Download one song or all of them! Comment if you want! Buy the albums if you like the songs! Dance like Snoopy!