FANMIX: two am on a school night
Once upon a time, there was a podfic of mizubyte's It's not my weekend (but it's gonna be my year). This podfic was just words and my voice, and it was acceptable, but it wasn't the BEST it could be.
But how to make it better?
Well, it IS a story about basement shows and underground music and sneaking into bars for bands, so.... let's add music! But not just any music - only music from 2002 or earlier, preferably by bands that get mentioned in the fic, and even better if they're bands from the Eyeball Records label.
And lo, I added music and it was Good.
At least sixty percent of this fanmix can be credited to mizubyte, who was supremely gracious when I pinged her inbox with requests for not just the music she listened to while writing It's not my weekend..., but also the music Kevin would have listened to. In my podfic, I really wanted to recreate the music scene that KJ was sneaking off to ever night - and mizubyte went above and beyond anything I could have asked for. She provided an inspirational picture of KJ (approximately age 14, used in the podfic coverart), her writing playlist, Kevin's playlist of favorite bands to sneak out of the house for, and even a list of Eyeball Records' bands circa 2001 (which, let me tell you - bands that were recording onto cassette tapes prior to 2002? ARE VERY SELDOM ON THE INTERNET TEN YEARS LATER. It was a struggle of epic proportions to find a few of these songs). quintenttsy was also super-helpful with this playlist: not only did she recommend a few songs that made list, she also put up with me whining about my musical dilemma on multiple occasions.
Mix title from the story quote: "There's no lights on in the house, no worried or angry parents waiting in the kitchen, wondering why their fourteen year old son is coming home at two am on a school night, smelling like weed and alcohol."
Download the mix as a zip file RIGHT OVER HERE.
So, here's the playlist, in order of appearance in the podfic:
Pencey Prep - 8th Grade
maybe I like the abuse / maybe I just like you
I couldn't help it! KJ is a Pencey Prep fan, and he's only in eighth or ninth grade when the fic starts. It's his theme song.
Thursday - standing on the edge of summer
when the people you love get lost in the shuffle
This one's all about KJ's feelings on absentee parenting, especially since Mom and Pop Jonas seem to forget that they have four sons instead of three.
Taking Back Sunday - Timberwolves at New Jersey
I've got the mic and you've got the moshpit
The whole feel of this song, sneaking into basement shows and letting go, embodies KJ's love of the scene.
Brand New - Sudden Death in Carolina
what difference does this difference in age make? I know how it ends
KJ is the baby of the Eyeball family, and also the oldest sib in his own. It's a tricky place to be.
Saves the Day - All I'm Losing Is Me
you can watch me disappear
And then KJ begins to pull away from his home life. After all, if no-one's going to notice he's gone, why bother sticking around?
The Used - The Taste of Ink
while I'm steady in the river drowning / this could be my chance to break out
I wanted something that would talk about KJ's less-than-stellar school record, while contrasting it with his accomplishments at Eyeball. This song does just that.
The Get Up Kids - Action & Action
no wonder now / I've finally found / the right formula
And more of KJ as he's learning how to tech from Frankie and Hambone.
Dropkick Murphys - Upstarts and Broken Hearts
gambled on a hand I wasn't ready to lose
I love the Dropkick Murphys so much, so when mizubyte mentioned them on Kevin's Playlist, I knew they were going to be on my lpaylist as well. This song goes with the part of the story when KJ first gets the job at Eyeball - his love for Jersey's bands gets validated by a desk and an office chair!
Underoath - Alone in December
I kept silent and it rained for days / my insides were drenched / but I guess that's the part of growing up / I never wanted to learn
KJ has ANGST.
Midtown - Find Comfort in Yourself
I'm never going back / there's no going back
Thanks to quintenttsy for the rec - this song is the perfect accompaniment to KJ running away from home.
Atreyu - A Vampire's Lament
I told myself the constant pain / could heal the tension burning inside / but the nights were cold and the days dragged to weeks
KJ has ALL THE ANGST, okay? His phone's been cut off and he's sleeping AT A DESK. (Also, it's a song about vampires, and a story about early!MCR. I was too weak to resist including it.)
My Chemical Romance - Early Sunsets Over Monroeville
counting your face among the living
And then KJ rides off into the sunset in the passenger seat of Mikeyway's car, guitar in the trunk and a new life as MCR's tech on the horizon. Plus, Frank plays guitar on this track. It's thematically appropriate!
Thanks for listening! Don't forget to check out the podfic, and to leave feedback for mizubyte!
But how to make it better?
Well, it IS a story about basement shows and underground music and sneaking into bars for bands, so.... let's add music! But not just any music - only music from 2002 or earlier, preferably by bands that get mentioned in the fic, and even better if they're bands from the Eyeball Records label.
And lo, I added music and it was Good.
At least sixty percent of this fanmix can be credited to mizubyte, who was supremely gracious when I pinged her inbox with requests for not just the music she listened to while writing It's not my weekend..., but also the music Kevin would have listened to. In my podfic, I really wanted to recreate the music scene that KJ was sneaking off to ever night - and mizubyte went above and beyond anything I could have asked for. She provided an inspirational picture of KJ (approximately age 14, used in the podfic coverart), her writing playlist, Kevin's playlist of favorite bands to sneak out of the house for, and even a list of Eyeball Records' bands circa 2001 (which, let me tell you - bands that were recording onto cassette tapes prior to 2002? ARE VERY SELDOM ON THE INTERNET TEN YEARS LATER. It was a struggle of epic proportions to find a few of these songs). quintenttsy was also super-helpful with this playlist: not only did she recommend a few songs that made list, she also put up with me whining about my musical dilemma on multiple occasions.
Mix title from the story quote: "There's no lights on in the house, no worried or angry parents waiting in the kitchen, wondering why their fourteen year old son is coming home at two am on a school night, smelling like weed and alcohol."
Download the mix as a zip file RIGHT OVER HERE.
So, here's the playlist, in order of appearance in the podfic:
Pencey Prep - 8th Grade
maybe I like the abuse / maybe I just like you
I couldn't help it! KJ is a Pencey Prep fan, and he's only in eighth or ninth grade when the fic starts. It's his theme song.
Thursday - standing on the edge of summer
when the people you love get lost in the shuffle
This one's all about KJ's feelings on absentee parenting, especially since Mom and Pop Jonas seem to forget that they have four sons instead of three.
Taking Back Sunday - Timberwolves at New Jersey
I've got the mic and you've got the moshpit
The whole feel of this song, sneaking into basement shows and letting go, embodies KJ's love of the scene.
Brand New - Sudden Death in Carolina
what difference does this difference in age make? I know how it ends
KJ is the baby of the Eyeball family, and also the oldest sib in his own. It's a tricky place to be.
Saves the Day - All I'm Losing Is Me
you can watch me disappear
And then KJ begins to pull away from his home life. After all, if no-one's going to notice he's gone, why bother sticking around?
The Used - The Taste of Ink
while I'm steady in the river drowning / this could be my chance to break out
I wanted something that would talk about KJ's less-than-stellar school record, while contrasting it with his accomplishments at Eyeball. This song does just that.
The Get Up Kids - Action & Action
no wonder now / I've finally found / the right formula
And more of KJ as he's learning how to tech from Frankie and Hambone.
Dropkick Murphys - Upstarts and Broken Hearts
gambled on a hand I wasn't ready to lose
I love the Dropkick Murphys so much, so when mizubyte mentioned them on Kevin's Playlist, I knew they were going to be on my lpaylist as well. This song goes with the part of the story when KJ first gets the job at Eyeball - his love for Jersey's bands gets validated by a desk and an office chair!
Underoath - Alone in December
I kept silent and it rained for days / my insides were drenched / but I guess that's the part of growing up / I never wanted to learn
KJ has ANGST.
Midtown - Find Comfort in Yourself
I'm never going back / there's no going back
Thanks to quintenttsy for the rec - this song is the perfect accompaniment to KJ running away from home.
Atreyu - A Vampire's Lament
I told myself the constant pain / could heal the tension burning inside / but the nights were cold and the days dragged to weeks
KJ has ALL THE ANGST, okay? His phone's been cut off and he's sleeping AT A DESK. (Also, it's a song about vampires, and a story about early!MCR. I was too weak to resist including it.)
My Chemical Romance - Early Sunsets Over Monroeville
counting your face among the living
And then KJ rides off into the sunset in the passenger seat of Mikeyway's car, guitar in the trunk and a new life as MCR's tech on the horizon. Plus, Frank plays guitar on this track. It's thematically appropriate!
Thanks for listening! Don't forget to check out the podfic, and to leave feedback for mizubyte!