Still no baby! Everything’s ready for her (including us), but no birth over the weekend. Instead, I made a couple of Mix CDs. Yes, actual, physical CDs. Yes, I still do that sometimes, though it has actually been a couple of years since I’ve done so. So because it’s been so long, I decided to make a double-disc. I also threw out my rule about trying to have only one repeat from previous discs (there are a lot of repeats on these).
For this set I just arranged my collection alphabetically by artist and started at the top. I tried not to use more than 2 songs for any given artist chosen. I got down to the “P” artists before I filled up two discs! I fudged the order a couple of times (Julia Massey shouldn’t be on the first disc, for example), but whatever.
So here are the track lists. Wherever possible I tried to link to somewhere where you could download the song, or at least to a place where you can listen to the song. I was actually able to find them all… except for the songs that I wrote myself…
Anyway, enjoy! There are some good stuffs on these: Disc 1
Link of the Month: FreakAngels
A weekly webcomic by Warren Ellis? I’m in! FreakAngels is a very British post-apocalypse story, one in which the post-apocalyptic world is pretty messed up, yeah, but people seem to be able to eek out a relaxed and somewhat comfortable life for themselves. It probably helps that the folks of Whitchapel (the setting for this story) are protected by a group of godlike super-powered people. It probably doesn’t help Whitechapel, though, that these super-powered people are basically a bunch of squabbling drama queens… A thoroughly enjoyable read. And it’s weekly. And free! Though you can of course buy the books if you want. I’m sure Warren Ellis wouldn’t stop you.
Album of the Month: Palmdale: How to be Mean
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Kay Hanley of Palmdale is one of my favorite songwriters. I don’t know how she does it again and again, but her songs are just so damnably catchy. This “How to Be Mean” EP is a perfect companion to the Palmdale EP that came out earlier this year, “Get Wasted.” Together they make one full album of hooks, hooks, hooks, and catchy, catchy, catchy melodies. Rock on.
Game of the Month: Cave Story
Love old-school, side-scrolling, platform exploration games like Super Metroid, Blaster Master, or Castlevania: Symphony of the Night? Then pull up a keyboard or a Wiimote, my friend, because you’ll love Cave Story. It’s got quite a bit more whimsy than any of those titles, but a surprising amount of depth. You’re allowed to make specific choices throughout the game that have serious effects on the later parts of the game, and there are multiple endings depending on whether you’ve done specific actions in various parts, making Cave Story have a fantastic amount of replay-value. Plus it’s damnably fun—great play control, cool weapons and items, intriguing mysteries and a good variety.
Hey! It’s been a while since I made a new mix CD! Hey! I’ve gotten a metric tonne of new music in 2010! Hey! I’ve made a mix CD with a couple of songs from a bunch of new albums I’ve collected! Hey! Here it is:
Stylo – Gorillaz feat. Bobby Womack & Mos Def
West Coast Serenade – Palmdale
Art Rap Party – Open Mike Eagle
Stuff – Locust Street Taxi
Mike Kripke’s Basement – Three Ninjas feat. Light Bear
If It Feels Good It Is Good – The Jesus Rehab
Rapper O’s – Dumbfoundead
Blame It On the Girls – Mika
Catacombs – Julia Massey & The Five Finger Discount
On Melancholy Hill – Gorillaz
Happiness Has a Half-Life – Palmdale
I Rock – Open Mike Eagle
I Miss You (It’s Quiet) – Locust Street Taxi
Five Finger Discount – Three Ninjas
Seattle – The Jesus Rehab
Night Riders – Dumbfoundead
Touches You – Mika
WTF is Art Rap? – Open Mike Eagle
Fruit Tree/Motorcycle Bong – Julia Massey & The Five Finger Discount
That’s one hour and thirteen minutes of fine, quality music right there. Plus, this mix CD has a definite pattern. See if you can discern it—there’s one song out of place! Can you guess which one!?
Yesterday something very exciting happened. Kay Hanley released a 5-song EP from her new music project, Palmdale. It’s called “Get Wasted” and, like most of Kay Hanley’s other music, it is terribly catchy.
Who is Kay Hanley, you ask? You may know her as the leader of Letters to Cleo, or perhaps the singing voice of Josie in the Josie & the Pussycats movie (she also helped write the soundtrack album). She is one of my favorite all-time songwriters. She tends towards bubblegum power-pop-rock, and her songs are frighteningly, unbelievably catchy. Hooks, hooks, hooks! Riffs, riffs, riffs! They strike a certain part of my brain that instantly switches on and says, “Yes! THIS is how power-pop-rock should sound!”
So I recommend you all go over to Amazon and download the MP3s of “Get Wasted” now. It’s less than $5.00 for the full 5-song EP, so wha’d’ya got ta lose?
FreakAngels
if you want. I’m sure Warren Ellis wouldn’t stop you. 
Palmdale: How to be Mean
Cave Story
and, like most of Kay Hanley’s other music, it is terribly catchy. 
