"First Mix CD" playlist and notes

           I didn't realize I would be listening to this playlist for decades to come, because if I had, some of these songs wouldn't have made it. But I'm more naturally a journalist than a blogger, so I have not edited the list or cut out embarrassing choices or songs I'm just tired of hearing. This is a time capsule, and I'm exposing it just as it was preserved. So here are my notes as I relistened to it just last week. Listen along for yourself via Spotify HERE. 

1.       “That’s Just What You Are” by Aimee Mann: I’m pretty sure I opened with this one because of its build-up opening, plus it’s one of those songs that I heard for a few weeks on MTV and then never heard again. Why was it on MTV, you may be wondering? Because it was on the Melrose Place soundtrack in 1995. But I do dig Aimee Mann. In small doses.

2.       “Laid” by James: This song was released in 1993 but I don’t think I heard it until 1995, but then it was everywhere. Except on the radio, or MTV. And I didn’t want to buy the album because I had never heard of any other songs by James. So when I got this MP3, it made it on my first mix cd. Now it’s the song I roll my eyes at some days and belt out on other days.

3.       “Perfect” by Smashing Pumpkins: Siamese Dreams remains one of my favorite albums of all time (though I never listen to it), but I was kind of done with the Smashing Pumpkins by 1998 when this gem came out. I do like the softer side of Billy Corgan, though he’s still a dick.

4.       “Polyester Bride” by Liz Phair: Liz Phair was one of those super cool female rockers of the 90s, and though “Supernova” was her big song, this one is much better. The music, the lyrics, the essence: so 90s.

5.       “Angels of the Silences” by Counting Crows: I never owned “Recovering the Satelites,” perhaps because the singles were so regularly played on the radio. This one was my favorite, and I still haven’t tired of it. I like the way the Counting Crows do it, but I feel like this would make a great punk song too.

6.       “Coffee and TV” by Blur: Everyone knows Blur’s famous “Song 2” (“whoo-hooo!”), but did you know Blur has OTHER songs too? I didn’t, until I heard this one. I like its mellow vibe. And it had a cool music video about a milk carton that goes on an adventure looking for the missing kid whose picture is on the carton. 

7.       “Cut Your Hair” by Pavement: This definitely came from one of my friend’s folders, but I liked this kind of “safe punk” sound, you know, where people aren’t screaming. I feel like there are a lot of inside jokes in this song too and all the digs at drummers. It still amuses me.

8.       “Roulette Girl” by Mary Prankster: Mary Prankster is a Baltimore gal, and she came and played a tiny concert in Stamp Student Union at College Park, and I loved her stuff, like “The World is Full of Bastards and I’ve Dated Every One,” and some other one I used to have but have since lost. But this one has great build up and is a great play on words, and I love it.

9.       “Here Comes Your Man” by the Pixies: This is one of those songs that dates back before my modern musical consciousness, to 1989, but I had heard it once or twice in the middle of the night on WHFS and didn’t know who or what it was, so when I rediscovered it in college, I was ecstatic. And then I discovered how much I really do like the Pixies, especially Doolittle.

10.    “Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues” by the Eels: I had forgotten the name of this song until I had to look it up for this playlist. I thought it was called “Beautiful Day.” Wrong. Do you know the Eels? They are depressing as can be, so again, small doses, but this song is catchy, and creepy. When I listen to it in the car, I turn down the volume so the kids can’t hear “GD right it’s a beautiful day” and instead sing “Got that right, it’s a beautiful day.”

11.    “Circles” by Soul Coughing: This is such a catchy song, and while it got decent play on the radio, it faded within a year or two. Not in my mind! In fact, this is one of Rye’s favorite songs. Behind “Runaway Train.”

12.    “(Rock) Superstar” by Cypress Hill: This one doesn’t fit the vibe as much, but I loved this song, and so does Josh, and you should see us car dance to this. Yes, we know most of the lyrics. And we think it’s pretty corny, like a Vanilla Ice song, but we still love it. “People see rock stars, you know what I'm sayin'? But you still try to get out… Move like everybody else, you know, it’s a fun job, but it’s still a job.”

13.    “Arlington” by Emmet Swimming: If you didn’t grow up with a D.C. station, you probably don’t know this one. They were a local band and this was a big song in 1996, and then it disappeared. But I didn’t forget! This is so classic 90s, both musically and culturally speaking. Such a time capsule.

14.    “Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba” by The Mr. T Experience: Again, some of that safe punk sound. A story about a boy in love with his teacher/growing up. And a band called The Mr. T Experience? Love it.

15.    “Scooby Snacks” by Fun Lovin Criminals: A storyline about robbing a bank, audio clips from Quentin Tarantino movies, the circular groove: classic.

16.    “Doll Parts” by Hole: I kind of liked some Hole songs, you know, because Kurt Cobain probably wrote them, but I would never buy a Hole album. But I do like this song. “I want to be the girl with the most cake.” For real.

17.    “California” by Wax: More safe punk! And this was one of the coolest music videos I’ve ever seen: just a guy on fire running in slow-mo down a street. This was a song that disappeared from the public that I was again happy to rediscover.

18.    “Jump Around” by House of Pain: Again, doesn’t make much sense on this cd, but I think I realized I had 70 or 80 minutes of space to use and I have always loved this song, since middle school dances.

19.    “Dammit” by Blink 182: I kind of hate Blink 182, more now than I did in the 90s, but this song came out as I was going through a bad break-up and I held onto it. And captured it for all time.

20.    “Into the Void” by NIN: Another surprise. I’m like magnetically attracted to Trent Reznor’s sadness but not vulgarity, and this song keeps the vulgarity at bay. I like the groove. But I can leave this song now.