Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
This mix is about how I want to cheer you up when you’re feeling stressed.
Why It’s Pretentious: Obviously, I named this after the mid-2000s buzz band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. And yet it contains no songs by CYHSY. (Unintentional irony? We’re walking a thin line here.) It does, however, contain all songs with hand claps in them because FACT: you are incapable of frowning while listening to songs with hand claps in them. It’s also pretentious because I refer to them as hand claps. It’s like, what else are you supposed to clap with? These are the things that keep me up at night.
Tracklisting, downloads, and bonus video after the jump.
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Drinking the Melon Sky
This mix is about what happens when a hopeless romantic meets a fiery redhead.
Why it’s Pretentious: At some point in my high school career, I got really into making vignettes. (Hey, some people write stories; I make mixtapes.) This one is about a quiet bookish boy in a cardigan; a spunky, magnetic girl; and that place where their whimsy meets and they fall in love. It’s about when the person you love is so mesmerizing that you’re a little lost for words, a little bit hopeless. For good measure, it features both a song in French (Rufus Wainwright’s beautiful “Complainte de la Butte”) and a string tribute to the Beatles.
Tracklisting and downloads after the jump.
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A Four Letter Word For…
This mix is about… our anniversary, maybe? Er…
Why It’s Pretentious: Sometimes I look back at mixes that I made for people and notice little subconscious things. Like, I probably should have known that including a song with the line “What do you mean I don’t love you? I am standing here, aren’t I?” on an anniversary tape meant the relationship was a little strained. (Or that when he didn’t appreciate Klaxons covering Justin Timberlake, it was definitely not mean to be.) I don’t listen to this mix much because that incidental foreshadowing is a bit strange to hear, but I do think it’s a sweet little jumble of songs. Makes me smile.
Tracklisting, downloads, and bonus quote after the jump.
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St-st-stutter Something Profound
This mix is about unusually attractive speech disorders.
Why It’s Pretentious: This mix is named after the album version of “Nails for Breakfast, Tacks for Snacks,” even though the demo version was clearly better. (Yeah, I just made Panic! At The Disco pretentious. You’re welcome.) I think stuttering is adorable and — along with handclaps, toy pianos, and crinkly lo-fi tape hiss — it’s one of my biggest weaknesses in songs. This mix contains some of my favorite stuttering songs that aren’t Ludacris’ “What’s Your Fantasy?” but are the Fresh Prince’s “Boom! Shake the Room.” Party tracks, y’all.
Tracklisting, downloads, and bonus song after the jump.
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At Last! At Last! At Last! (Side One: Pants. I Dream of Pants.)
This mix is about the people who take care of you.
Why It’s Pretentious: Tumblr! I’m sorry I had to take last week off for finals and milkshake-making, but I’m back! In case you didn’t know, yesterday was Mother’s Day. If your eyes just got really wide, don’t worry I got chu. Today’s mix is a mother’s day gift from a couple years ago. I didn’t actually give it to my real mom, I gave it to a friend of mine who took care of me during a rough time, BUT NONETHELESS. It’s a sleepy little mix meant to be listened to when you’ve just woken up on Sunday morning, so don’t leave your bed til it’s over, alright? (Vegetable puns courtesy of the Beach Boys.)
Tracklisting and downloads after the jump.
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