And has it ever been a strange one.
But since it's late and you've all heard most (if not all) of the stories already, let's just cut it straight.
This year's mix is a two-parter. She works separately and as a two and a half hour whole. There are high points. There's some screaming. Some sadness and, somehow, some fun.
Titles, links (to Mediafire downloadable zip files) and tracklistings are below.
Questions/Issues/Comments...you know where to find me.
For the time being, feel the love.
Rudolph's Red Run
http://www.mediafire.com/?hx2ctt2x3stixc4
Jack Rose - White Mule II...America's flawed. She's fucked, in fact. But Goddamn is she still beautiful.
Curtis Mayfield - Pusherman...Providing the pimp to your stroll.
Liars - Scarecrows on a Killer Slant...I don't actually like this band. They suffer like fuck from an air of bored arrogance that makes me want to skin my teeth but there's something sinister about this warbled freakout that speaks to me. Perhaps it's the "AND THEN KILL 'EM ALL" shout. Perhaps it's time to get out of the house.
Faust - Chrome...Let's not pretend we actually listen to Faust. I mean, some folks must but they're just as likely to suffer the eternal debate between later early Neu! and later Can so they don't count for much. Was that rude? This song thuds.
Twin Sister - Lady Daydream...Remember 4AD? Remember how, for a time, everything they put out was beautiful and weird and smart and moody? Twin Sister do. They also give their records away for free.
Mystery of Two - Repeat It...Now the rock song. I think they're from Ohio which, for some reason, makes me very happy. Fuckentucky.
Mule - We Know You're Drunk...True grit and howl from a pack of savage recluses. Taste the sweat. Embrace the shame.
The Dicks - Hate the Police...Gary Floyd was a fat, openly gay man fronting a hardcore band in the 80s. In TEXAS! They've been covered by Mudhoney and the Jesus Lizard. Badaaasssssss.
Big Black - Cables (live)...Christmas isn't Christmas without Steve Albini.
JR Ewing - Pre Summertime Blues...I haven't shrieked nearly enough this year.
Kanye West - Runaway...Yeah, I don't know either.
Mimas - La Moustache...The best song on the second best album of the year. Last time Danny and Aimee were in town I made them sit, drunk, and listen to whole damn thing while I tried to sing along in broken English. I think they liked it. You should too.
Albatross - Surf Sisters...Deerhoof induces headaches. The Grates are over the bubble gum hill. Ponytail's dead. Take Albatross instead.
Pygmy Lush - Butch's Dream...Rambling half-folk from the less addled arm of Pg. 99. I fear you may have heard this already. I'm just remembering it again.
Caethua - Sons of Hounds...Sometimes soft, odd and pretty.
Cobra Killer - Mr. Chang...Franco-Germanic off sex dance pop. I like this one a lot. I also have a crush on Reverend Jen.
Bars of Gold - Heaven Has a Heater...Sometimes bands surprise you. Sometimes bands surprise themselves. At the best of times, everyone walks away in awe of what a transcendent thing music can be.
Crocodiles - Mirrors...Everyone wants to be the Jesus and Mary Chain these days. Crocodiles certainly do. However, unlike those pasty British shits it sounds like Crocodiles might actually like you. Crocodiles.
Frosty's Long Coal
http://www.mediafire.com/?q8enl4eq97tb4w6
1994! - Shut Up the Fuck Up...YES! I'm not sure why it took this long to get to the good time freakout but fuck it. This day is done. Our teeth are pretty. Let's forge some light ahead.
Castevet - Narrow Hallways...The best album of the year. Not, perhaps, the most inventive. Not the most profound. This is the one that gets it and this song reflects it well. Music is the matter that makes us.
Melvins - The Water Glass...You got a problem with this, I got a problem with you.
Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness (London)...If you listen to this version of this song every day for the rest of your life you will be perfect.
Fang Island - Daisy...WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
Bark Psychosis - Murder City...AAAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!
13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss Me...Crazy man, crazy. Crazy, man crazy? Oh, Roky. I don't know about you.
Slang Chickens - Parasited Out...Ben found these kids at SXSW. Dirt-caked surf country. Rolls off the speakers like a beer can kitten.
Steelpole Bathtub - The Seventh Hour of the Seventh Day...This is the closest thing to a Christmas song on here. Hear that? Those are bells. You're welcome.
Fucked Up - Black Albino Bones...I spent twenty minutes at a bar with Greg, Jeff and Shaun trying to figure out what the fuck this song was. It's Fucked Up. People LOVE them. They're Canadian. He's fat and there's a chick in the band. Art.
Omar Khorshid - Sidi Mansour...I spend a LOT of late nights sitting alone in front of a computer. One night I was thinking of Link Wray. I ended up listening to this.
Les Savy Fav - Excess Energies...A number of years ago I decided I was sick and tired of Tim Harrington's shit. A few months ago Les Savy Fav put out a fantastic record. I'm still not sure I forgive him.
Chinese Stars - Kill Me with Conversation...Arab on Radar were a band for people to hate themselves. Six Finger Satellite were so good Shellac named a record in their honor. Together (mostly) they're the hella wrong time party.
D.I. - Youth in Asia...Now you know what D.I. sounds like.
This Moment in Black History - MFA...I think this band would kick the ever-living shit out of you and me and Santa Claus if they had to or wanted to or just FUCKIN CUZ!
Future Islands - Long Flight...This band makes my heart hurt.
Candy Skins - Wembley...Everyone loves Pulp. Everyone loves Blur. Everyone loved Suede. BUT NO ONE GIVES TWO FUCKS FOR CANDY SKINS. Sure the record is forgettable (and, unfortunately, named "Fun") but this song is as fantastic as it was when I lived on cassingles.
Okkervil River - Pop Lie...I have a lot of Okkervil River for some reason. I find most of it insufferable. This song is cynical sure, but let's shimmy anyway.
Past Lives - Paralyzer...She always comes out of nowhere but when she does, we're better.
MWAH!
