Daily Mixes

In addition to actual mix tapes, I like to set a minidisc to record and start a Roon Radio automated mix from a key track. I record over optical while working or doing something else. Sometimes they aren’t very interesting, but sometimes they go in unexpected directions. It’s more fun to record and play the MD blanks like this than just use the radio function directly, though I do that as well.

I usually record on my portable player at my desk. When the disc is full I put it in my main deck and run through it quickly to add track markers where needed and drop the last incomplete track. I then put it back in the portable player and use Web MiniDisc Pro to title everything. It’s a bit convoluted; the portable is convenient for recording while I’m working and excellent for titling with its NetMD functionality, but the hifi deck is much nicer for setting track markers precisely.

I figured I’d document my recordings here, especially if I ever reuse the discs in the future and want to come back to the playlists.

2023-03-18

Key Track: Poliça - Alive

Translucent gray Royal Shadow yes 74 MD

I discovered Poliça on the last daily mix. Their 2022 album Madness is brilliant. The rest of this mix is solid as well, but we’re seeing weaknesses in how Roon picks tracks on Roon Radio. There’s quite a bit we’ve seen before.

Highlights: Alive, King, neverend

Track List:

  1. Alive - Poliça (5:32)
  2. Champion - Warpaint (4:40)
  3. No Hotel - Lykke Li (2:29)
  4. All Comes Crashing - Metric (4:26)
  5. Age of Anxiety I - Arcade Fire (5:27)
  6. Lost - Zola Jesus (3:22)
  7. Lights On - Hatchie (3:59)
  8. Lipstick on the Glass (Lullaby Version) - Wolf Alice (4:08)
  9. King - Florence + the Machine (4:41)
  10. Happy New Year - Let’s Eat Grandma (4:41)
  11. Turn - I Break Horses (9:03)
  12. Home to Me - Sharon Van Etten (3:40)
  13. Die Young - Sylvan Esso (3:32)
  14. Diviner - Hayden Thorpe (3:24)
  15. neverend - Purity Ring (4:29)
  16. Toni - Interpol (4:33)

Recorded On: Translucent gray Royal Shadow yes 74 MD

Playlists

2022-11-24

Key Album: Purity Ring - graves

Black Sony MDW-74 with translucent front and solid back

Rather than basing a mix on a single key track, this one is a subset of the tracks Roon decided to play after finishing this lovely EP from Purity Ring and so doesnt include any tracks from the EP itself. I was listening actively this time and got a little aggressive skipping tracks that didn’t really fit or were repeats from past mixes. The computer still doesn’t have a clue what makes up the magic that is Purity Ring though, and is too eager to play the same tracks from the same albums regardless of the input.

In the end I like this one quite a bit, but I definitely wish these algorithms understood anything at all about music. They’re far too simplistic.

Highlights: Parade, Things Are Better, Youth, Fountain

Track List:

  1. Shinigami Eyes - Grimes (02:41)
  2. Curicó - Kiltro (05:10)
  3. Parade - Hundred Waters (02:27)
  4. Leave a Trace - CHVRCHES (03:59)
  5. Char - Crystal Castles (03:08)
  6. Lights On - Hatchie (03:58)
  7. Things Are Better - PVRIS (03:58)
  8. In My Head - Lights (03:09)
  9. Pink Lightning - Purity Ring (04:16)
  10. Echo Teuffel - Bulb (04:41)
  11. Need Your Love - Tennis (03:52)
  12. Youth - Glass Animals (03:53)
  13. Stonefist - HEALTH (03:26)
  14. Faultline - Girlpool (04:13)
  15. Lilo - The Japanese House (04:13)
  16. Egowerk - The Faint (04:54)
  17. Slumlord - Neon Indian (05:17)
  18. Fountain - POLIÇA (05:00)

Recorded On: Black Sony MDW-74 with translucent front and solid back

Playlists

2022-11-08

Key Track: Darren Korb - Out of Tartarus

Blue Maxell 80 with textured stripe pattern and translucent back and label "Happy Music Happy MD Life"

I chose a track from the Hades soundtrack to base this off of, and unsurprisingly the resulting mix was mostly video game soundtracks and remixes. There are also a couple tracks from TV shows and movies and one real surprise: a very old recording with Gustav Holst, who died in 1934, conducting.

I half hoped the computer would expand more on the broader picture of the Hades soundtrack, taking its mix of acoustic instruments and heavy guitars and finding more along those lines, but it kept pretty close to the superficial level of the brief instead. Oddly, Qobuz doesn’t even have the Hades soundtrack.

Highlights: Out of Tartarus, The Axiom, Song of Storms

Track List:

  1. Out of Tartarus - Hades - Darren Korb (05:55)
  2. Termina Field - Majora’s Mask - Rozen (04:10)
  3. Lake Guardians - Pokemon - Braxton Burks (04:56)
  4. The Axiom - Axiom Verge - Thomas Happ (03:27)
  5. Farewell - Celeste - Lena Raine (08:20)
  6. The Sanctified Mind - Destiny 2 - Skye Lewin (03:44)
  7. The Illusive Man - Mass Effect 2 - Jack Wall (02:23)
  8. Lanius (Battle) - FTL - Ben Prunty (04:20)
  9. The Cat That Knows the Conductor - Infinity Train (01:47)
  10. Dawn of the First Day - Majora’s Mask - Theophany (03:12)
  11. Jig (St. Paul’s Suite) - Gustav Holst (02:46)
  12. Song of Storms - Legend of Zelda - Rozen (02:46)
  13. Retros - Blackstar - Celldweller (04:44)
  14. Taking Sides - Republique - Zinc LeMone (01:16)
  15. First Steps - Celeste - Lena Raine (03:39)
  16. Paris Must Pay - Troy - Richard Beddow (01:40)
  17. An End Once and for All - Mass Effect 3 - Sam Hulick, Clint Mansell (04:46)
  18. White Rabbit - Matrix Resurrections - Epic Geek (02:30)
  19. Time’s End - Majora’s Mask - Theophany (08:22)
  20. Song of Healing - Legend of Zelda - Jone Ruiz (02:55)

Recorded On: Blue Maxell 80 with textured stripe pattern and translucent back and label “Happy Music Happy MD Life”

Playlists

2022-10-16

Key Track: Belle and Sebastian - A Politician’s Silence

Grey 74 minute Sony Color Collection MD

I set this one going from a track I recorded from my LP box set of Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. The box set has 16 tracks on 4 LPs, with a single track at 45 rpm on Side A of each record and 3 more at 33 rpm on Side B. It’s kind of annoying to listen to on a manual belt drive table, but it sounds great and has a few extended versions and extra tracks. A Politician’s Silence is one of the tracks not on the normal 12-track release, though it appears to be available on Apple Music.

The resulting mix is mostly fairly gentle indie tunes. I wouldn’t say there were any major standout tracks here, but the mix works. It’s a very listenable set of tracks.

Highlights: A Politician’s Silence, Will You Return/When You Come Down, Oxford Comma

Track List:

  1. A Politician’s Silence - Belle and Sebastian (05:50)
  2. Young and Stupid - Belle and Sebastian (02:53)
  3. Darkness Fades - Sharon Van Etten (04:35)
  4. This is a Photograph - Kevin Morby (03:30)
  5. All the Good Times - Angel Olsen (04:39)
  6. The Same - The Smile (04:19)
  7. Chaise Longue - Wet Leg (03:20)
  8. Jackie Down the Line - Fontaines D.C. (04:00)
  9. Champion - Warpaint (04:41)
  10. Tidal River - Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (04:28)
  11. Fever - Aldous Harding (04:17)
  12. Always Together With You - Spiritualized (06:39)
  13. Santa Fe - Beirut (04:14)
  14. Will You Return / When You Come Down - The Flaming Lips (05:24)
  15. I Want the World to Stop - Belle and Sebastian (04:35)
  16. Back to the Radio - Porridge Radio (03:08)
  17. Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend (03:18)

Recorded On: Grey 74 minute Sony Color Collection MD

Playlists

2022-10-12

Key Track: Husky Rescue - My Home Ghost

Image of a 74 minute pink TDK Lucir minidisc

I love this track and the album it’s on and thought I’d take a go at a mix based on it. But the first pass at recording landed me square in the middle of a recommendation engine failure. I had a full 74 minute minidisc of the same four artists in a loop, which doesn’t really fit with the goal of these recordings. I kept one track from each artist in that loop and then let the source keep going for a while until it finally started giving a little more variety. The end result is a pleasing mix, though as I’m finding with many of these the software choosing tracks doesn’t really understand music deeply.

This was also a reminder that minidisc titling for tracks not using English or Japanese language can be a challenge. I ended up putting some ropey transliteration of Icelandic on the disc, but show the correct titles below.

Highlights: You Know What I Mean, Remember Me?, Sunlight

Track List:

  1. My Home Ghost - Husky Rescue (03:09)
  2. You Know What I Mean - Cults (02:31)
  3. At War With the Sun - The Big Pink (04:11)
  4. Sun Went Black - Springtime Carnivore (03:38)
  5. XXX 88 - MØ & Diplo (03:43)
  6. First Call - Husky Rescue (00:55)
  7. No Logic - White Hinterland (03:41)
  8. Get in Line - I’m From Barcelona (03:08)
  9. So Sweet - Nurses (04:43)
  10. Wish I Knew - Ivan & Alyosha (03:37)
  11. Finn bikkjen! - Casiokids (05:19)
  12. Remember Me? - Saltillo (03:27)
  13. Once We Walked in the Sunlight - Papercuts (05:09)
  14. Hide Me - The Golden Filter (03:51)
  15. Breaking Up - Woodhands (03:31)
  16. Sunlight - Kyte (06:01)
  17. Á ferð til Breiðafjarðar vorið 1922 - Sigur Rós & Steindór Andersen (06:01)
  18. Loksins Erum Við Engin - múm (03:12)
  19. Until the Last - The Album Leaf (04:16)

Recorded On: Pink 74 minute TDK Lucir minidisc

Playlists

2022-10-03

Key Track: Purity Ring - watersong

Image of a clear 80 minute Memorex minidisc

This is based on a great song from the recent graves EP which nobody told me about (as is typical). watersong is the absolute standout on this mix; it has incredible texture, particularly in a good pair of headphones.

The rest is a good mix of indie rock and electronic music, but there’s not much of the forceful delicacy that I credit for the special magic of Purity Ring’s recent work.

Highlights: watersong, Femen, Coins, Guard & Prisoner

Track List:

  1. watersong - Purity Ring (03:11)
  2. Buy American - Joywave (03:23)
  3. Femen - Crystal Castles (02:33)
  4. Driftwood Fire - Small Black (05:11)
  5. Radio - Sylvan Esso (03:32)
  6. One More Year - Tame Impala (05:27)
  7. Me and Michael - MGMT (04:51)
  8. Letting Go - Braids (04:23)
  9. Might Not Make It Home - LPX (03:24)
  10. Wave to Anchor - Hundred Waters (04:41)
  11. I Don’t Want to Die Tonight - Anthony Green (03:19)
  12. changes - iamamiwhoami (04:20)
  13. Cyn City 2000 (live) - Joywave (03:13)
  14. Coins - Local Natives (04:01)
  15. Life Itself - Glass Animals (04:42)
  16. So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings - Caroline Polachek (03:04)
  17. Asking for a Friend - CHVRCHES (05:09)
  18. Beside Myself - Lights (04:14)
  19. Guard & Prisoner - Jaws of Love feat. Omotola (05:01)

Recorded On: 80 minute clear Memorex minidisc

Playlists

2022-09-29

Key Track: Phantogram - Bill Murray

Image of an 80 minute blue-green Sony color collection minidisc

Keyed off Bill Murray from Voices, which has some of my favorite album art of all time, this mix is mostly women with a good mix of electronic based indie tracks. A couple repeats on here including Don’t Move and Sleepyhead, but I’m not complaining.

Highlights: Fineshrine, Rill Rill, The Mother We Share

Track List:

  1. Bill Murray - Phantogram (03:37)
  2. Fineshrine - Purity Ring (03:30)
  3. Don’t Move - Phantogram (04:17)
  4. Tongues - Joywave (03:58)
  5. Genghis Khan - Miike Snow (03:34)
  6. Go! - M83 (03:56)
  7. The Mother We Share - CHVRCHES (03:13)
  8. Young Blood - The Naked and Famous (04:06)
  9. Figure it Out - Chaos Chaos (03:16)
  10. Die Young - Sylvan Esso (03:31)
  11. Breathing Underwater - Metric (03:55)
  12. Rill Rill - Sleigh Bells (03:52)
  13. Flesh Without Blood - Grimes (04:24)
  14. Bodyache - Purity Ring (02:55)
  15. You Don’t Get Me High Anymore - Phantogram (03:40)
  16. Shutdown - Joywave (03:44)
  17. Coming of Age - Foster the People (04:41)
  18. Graffiti - CHVRCHES (03:40)
  19. Hearts Like Ours - The Naked and Famous (04:32)
  20. The Suburbs - Mr Little Jeans (05:06)
  21. Sleepyhead - Passion Pit (02:56)

Recorded On: 80 minute blue-green Sony color collection minidisc

Playlists

2022-09-22

Key Track: Kaki King - Ingots

Image of an opaque grey Sony 60 minute with upside down text

Keyed off Ingots from Legs to Make Us Longer, this mix has some instrumental tracks and some vocal, with a good amount of rich tones and warmth. I only knew a couple of the artists that popped up here. This one is really good, with some great live recordings as well.

Highlights: Wind, Legions (War), Ouray

Track List:

  1. Ingots - Kaki King (03:55)
  2. Wind - Endless Field (02:23)
  3. Pretty Polly - Sam Amidon (04:58)
  4. The Young People - Lankum (07:03)
  5. Toneloop - The Octopus Project (03:14)
  6. Bbtone - Pinback (04:48)
  7. Legions (War) - Zoe Keating (06:03)
  8. Llyn Du (Live) - 9Bach (04:17)
  9. My Only Swerving - El Ten Eleven (05:15)
  10. Bring Me My Queen - Abigail Washburn (04:13)
  11. Suite Bergamasque: Passepied - Punch Brothers (03:32)
  12. Petal One - Areni Agbabian, Nicolas Stocker (01:52)
  13. Talk - Antoine Dufour (04:41)
  14. Ouray (Live)- Andy McKee (03:09)

Recorded On: Opaque grey Sony MDW-60 disc with text upside down from all my other MDs

Playlists

2022-09-20

Key Track: Mogwai - Ceiling Granny

Image of a transparent Sony Basic 80 Minidisc

This list is keyed off the best song from As the Love Continues, itself my favorite Mogwai release in years. From the noisy distorted guitars of Ceiling Granny it dives into other post-rock like Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Sigur Rós. This one tried several times to launch into 20-40 minute tracks which really weren’t appropriate for a mix, so I skipped those and cleaned up the breaks later. Some of the stuff on this is pretty weird, particularly Military Alphabet, Science Fair, and Another Clockwork Day.

Highlights: Ceiling Granny, Starálfur, Slowmo, Remurdered

Track List:

  1. Ceiling Granny - Mogwai (03:59)
  2. Military Alphabet (five eyes all blind) [4521.0kHz 6730.0kHz 4109.09kHz] - Godspeed You! Black Emperor (04:35)
  3. Party in the Dark - Mogwai (04:04)
  4. Science Fair - Black Country, New Road (06:20)
  5. I Can Wait - Low (04:02)
  6. Starálfur - Sigur Rós (06:49)
  7. Unsmart Lady - Dry Cleaning (03:03)
  8. Flying - Explosions in the Sky (03:03)
  9. Rooftop - This Will Destroy You (05:51)
  10. Televised Mind - Fontaines D.C. (04:12)
  11. Burial - God is an Astronaut (06:03)
  12. Chondromalacia Patella - black midi (04:49)
  13. Another Clockwork Day - Arab Strap (03:29)
  14. Slowmo - Slowdive (06:55)
  15. Remurdered - Mogwai (06:25)

Recorded on: Transparent Sony Basic 80

Playlists

2022-09-17

Key Track: Wintergaten - Sommarfagel

MiniDisc Image for 2022-09-17

Keyed off an instrumental track from Wintergaten, this one goes off in some strange directions. I deleted one really awful track but the rest is worthy.

The Scorpions track is a studio recording from MTV Unplugged.

Highlights: Abecedarium Nord, On Fire, I’m Not OK, Midnight City, Horse With No Name

Track List:

  1. Sommarfagel - Wintergatan (03:53)
  2. Scottish Dance (Pt. 2) - Mantus (02:38)
  3. Abecedarium Nord - Odroerir (09:28)
  4. Sera - Lagum (02:59)
  5. On Fire - Firewoodisland (03:35)
  6. Anything, Anything - Grey Daze (03:13)
  7. Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions (03:57)
  8. I’m Not OK - RHODES (03:25)
  9. Midnight City - M83 (04:00)
  10. Anemo - People of the Universe (04:45)
  11. Wasteland - Orion White (03:43)
  12. I Died So I Could Haunt You - Stars (03:05)
  13. Duchesse - La Patere Rose (02:33)
  14. Cure for Me - AURORA (03:23)
  15. Kimiwa Rock Wo Kikanai - Hiroki Moriuchi (04:14)
  16. Horse With No Name - Jens Thomas (05:17)
  17. Without You - Oh Wonder (03:44)
  18. Sleepyhead - Passion Pit (02:55)

Recorded on: TDK Lucir 74, transparent light blue-green

Playlists

2022-09-11

Key Track: Low - Days Like These

MiniDisc Image for 2022-09-11

Keyed off Days Like These, one of my favorite tracks from the latest Low album. This one moves around a bit, and though the source track is from the noise era of Low, the rest of the playlist is much more mellow.

Highlights: Days Like These, Little Things, Valentine, OD’d in Denver

Track List:

  1. Days Like These - Low (05:21)
  2. Followed the Ocean - Grouper (02:57)
  3. Instrumental - Black Country, New Road (05:27)
  4. You Will Never Work in Television Again - The Smile (02:48)
  5. Reach Out - Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine (03:46)
  6. Little Things - Big Thief (05:45)
  7. The Times I’m Not There - NE-HI & Jamila Woods (02:42)
  8. Dragon Slayer - Animal Collective (03:59)
  9. The Start - Liars (03:53)
  10. Vanishing - Circuit des Yeux (04:37)
  11. Valentine - Snail Mail (03:18)
  12. Everything in its Right Place - Radiohead (04:13)
  13. Scratchcard Lanyard - Dry Cleaning (04:08)
  14. Safety Dance - Angel Olsen (03:53)
  15. Witness Protection - SUUNS (04:09)
  16. Chaos Space Marine - Black Country, New Road (03:36)
  17. OD’d in Denver - Bill Callahan & Bonnie “Prince” Billy (03:32)
  18. John L - black midi (05:15)

Recorded on: Memorex MD 74, translucent light grey

Playlists

2022-09-04

Key Track: The National - All Dolled-up in Straps

MiniDisc Image for 2022-09-04

Keyed off my favorite track from the EP Cherry Tree, this one mostly sticks to the sort of indie rock music that you’d expect. Nothing fancy but everything here is good.

Highlights: All Dolled-up in Straps, Blood Bank, Santa Fe, Dancepack

Track List:

  1. All Dolled-up In Straps - The National (04:15)
  2. Cardinal Song - The National (06:18)
  3. The Funeral - Band of Horses (05:23)
  4. Blood Bank - Bon Iver (04:47)
  5. Weird Fishes / Arpeggi - Radiohead (05:21)
  6. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt 1 - The Flaming Lips (04:46)
  7. Untitled - Interpol (03:57)
  8. Between the Bars - Elliott Smith (02:21)
  9. I Don’t Want Love - The Antlers (03:22)
  10. Title and Registration - Death Cab for Cutie (03:40)
  11. Santa Fe - Beirut (04:15)
  12. Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear (04:04)
  13. Keep the Car Running - Arcade Fire (03:28)
  14. 3rd Planet - Modest Mouse (03:58)
  15. Bloodbuzz Ohio - The National (04:36)
  16. Is There a Ghost - Band of Horses (02:59)
  17. Dancepack - Volcano Choir (04:19)

Recorded on: Clear Maxell burari 74 with a silhouette of a girl walking a dog with a city skyline behind

Playlists

2022-08-30

Key Track: Danielle Ponder - Only the Lonely

MiniDisc Image for 2022-08-30

The key track for this was a recommendation from Andy Buck. Almost all this material is new to me.

Highlights: Only the Lonely, Lose Anything, The Only Way Out

Track List:

  1. Only the Lonely - Danielle Ponder (03:58)
  2. Cinco Sentidos - Tempura the Purple Boy (06:18)
  3. You Needed Love, I Needed You - Angelo De Augustine (03:08)
  4. Carousel - ginla (03:10)
  5. Party - Kenneth Whalum III (04:12)
  6. 50 Watt Smile - filous (03:23)
  7. Now You Know - Tom Rosenthal (03:34)
  8. Quero Dizer - Bruno Berle (03:53)
  9. I’m in Love - Tomoko Aran (05:54)
  10. All of the Little Things - Winston Surfshirt (04:21)
  11. The Stranger - Menahan Street Band (03:01)
  12. Lose Anything - Rachel Chinouriri (03:40)
  13. Who’s There - Mitekiss (05:31)
  14. Coffee & Clouds - FIKA (02:48)
  15. Nobody Scared - Porij (03:38)
  16. The Only Way Out - Danielle Ponder (03:21)
  17. Water - Stella Talpo (03:04)
  18. Saving Grace - Subculture (03:54)
  19. Make Sure - Kenneth Whalum III (03:15)

Recorded on: Clear maxell SX MD 74 with textured stripe pattern and translucent back

Playlists

2022-08-29

Key Track: Daughter - Landfill

MiniDisc Image for 2022-08-29

This is based on a track I first heard on a walk while letting Apple Music play music it thought I would enjoy. It really caught my attention and I added it to my favorites list immediately.

The mix has a few songs I know well, such as Laura, Not, and I Need My Girl, along with a bunch of good stuff that was new to me.

Highlights: Poke, Laura

Track List:

  1. Landfill - Daughter (04:29)
  2. Poke - Daughter (05:05)
  3. Romance - Ex:Re (06:44)
  4. Every Time the Sun Comes Up - Sharon Van Etten (04:21)
  5. Kettering - The Antlers (05:11)
  6. Yemaya - Kele Okereke (03:32)
  7. Horse’s Mane - Animic (05:25)
  8. Laura - Bat for Lashes (04:26)
  9. Avalanche (Slow) - Zola Jesus (04:57)
  10. Not - Big Thief (06:07)
  11. Heaven - Marthagunn (03:20)
  12. Line of Fire - Junip (05:41)
  13. Still - Daughter (03:33)
  14. Serpents - Sharon Van Etten (03:04)
  15. I Need My Girl - The National (04:05)
  16. Garden - Wilsen (03:30)
  17. Sprained Ankle - Julien Baker (02:55)
  18. Motion Sickness - Phoebe Bridgers (03:49)

Recorded on: Opaque light blue Victor Pocop 80 minute disc

Playlists

2022-08-22

Key Track: Low Roar - Don’t Be So Serious

MiniDisc Image for 2022-08-22

Death Stranding and my friend Alex first brought the key track from Low Roar to my attention. The whole album Once in a Long, Long While is excellent and certainly worth a listen. Most of this mix was new to me, but it does include favorites like Obedear and On Hold. The whole playlist is worth your time.

Highlights: Don’t Be So Serious, Youth, Sound of Violence, Obedear, On Hold

Track List

  1. Don’t Be So Serious - Low Roar (06:13)
  2. I’ll Keep Coming - Low Roar (05:51)
  3. Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby - Cigarettes After Sex (04:49)
  4. Love Songs for Robots - Patrick Watson (03:37)
  5. Iron - Woodkid (03:09)
  6. Youth - Daughter (04:14)
  7. Sound of Violence - Other Lives (03:45)
  8. Dream In - Tunng (04:39)
  9. Shortline - RY X (03:56)
  10. La Loba (Form Remix) - La Chica (03:22)
  11. Heaven - Marthagunn (03:19)
  12. I Know How to Speak (demo) - Manchester Orchestra (04:29)
  13. Obedear - Purity Ring (03:32)
  14. On Hold - The xx (03:43)
  15. David - Low Roar (05:38)
  16. You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are - Keaton Henson (03:50)
  17. Diviner - Hayden Thorpe (03:21)

Recorded on: Translucent yellow PrimeDisc 74 minute MD with an opaque white back

Playlists

2022-08-21

Key Track: Tegan and Sara - Walking With a Ghost from Still Jealous

MiniDisc Image for 2022-08-21

This is based on the awesome acoustic version of Walking With a Ghost from the recent Tegan and Sara record Still Jealous. Unsurprisingly the resulting playlist is mostly indie, mostly women. This is a pretty good mix.

Highlights: Walking With a Ghost, New Obsession, True Seekers, Free, Running With the Hurricane

Track List

  1. Walking With a Ghost - Tegan and Sara (02:23)
  2. Fucking Up What Matters - Tegan and Sara (02:53)
  3. True Confessions - Blondfire (03:40)
  4. Working for the Knife - Mitski (02:41)
  5. Wolves - Hurray for the Riff Raff (03:38)
  6. Catch - Allie X (03:47)
  7. Marsh - The Weather Station (04:31)
  8. New Obsession - FRANKIE (03:46)
  9. Loneliness - Maita (03:59)
  10. Out With a Whimper - Laura Stevenson (04:39)
  11. Toyboat - Sharon Van Etten (02:58)
  12. I Don’t Really Care for You - CMAT (04:06)
  13. True Seekers - Sleigh Bells (03:28)
  14. Bad Religion - Cat Power (04:20)
  15. Free - BROODS (03:43)
  16. Year of Love - Jenny Hval (04:15)
  17. Heaven - Grace Cummings (04:45)
  18. Warning Signs - Band of Horses (04:20)
  19. Running With the Hurricane - Camp Cope (04:17)
  20. Once Twice Melody - Beach House (04:45)
  21. Julien - Carly Rae Jepsen (03:54)

Recorded on: 80 minute Maxell Twinkle disc, clear front with opaque white back, gold colored disc

Playlists

2022-08-19

Key Track: Local Natives - Fountain of Youth

MiniDisc Image for 2022-08-19

Keyed off one of the best songs Local Natives has ever written, this mix hits a lot of high points of indie rock, including some of my favorite songs. Don’t Move by Phantogram is particularly good. One of my favorite mixes for sure.

Highlights: Fountain of Youth, Madder Red, Two Weeks, Don’t Move, Tiderays

Track List

  1. Fountain of Youth - Local Natives (03:55)
  2. More Than This - Local Natives (03:32)
  3. Madder Red - Yeasayer (04:03)
  4. Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear (04:07)
  5. These Kids We Knew - Rostam (02:28)
  6. Palace - The Antlers (05:37)
  7. Don’t Move - Phantogram (04:17)
  8. Tomboy - Panda Bear (04:57)
  9. King of Sweden - Future Islands (04:12)
  10. Polish Girl - Neon Indian (04:23)
  11. Too Dramatic - Ra Ra Riot (03:06)
  12. If You Need To, Keep Time on Me - Fleet Foxes (03:32)
  13. Tiderays - Volcano Choir (04:56)
  14. Queen - Perfume Genius (03:50)
  15. Dark Days - Local Natives (03:01)
  16. Romance is Boring - Los Campesinos! (02:38)
  17. Yet Again - Grizzly Bear (05:20)
  18. Bike Dream - Rostam (03:21)

Recorded on: Translucent blue PrimeDisc 74 minute MD with an opaque white back

Playlists

2022-08-18

Key Track: Yes - Starship Trooper

MiniDisc Image for 2022-08-18

The first mix of this type I recorded, and a confirmation of the potential of this method. Of course just listening to the music discovery based program directly can unearth the same tracks, but somehow making it a physical object and preserving it changes how I perceive it and increases my enjoyment and the impact of the tracks.

This is a mostly prog rock mix keyed off one of my favorite tracks from one of my favorite bands. Yes has been part of my musical life since I was a kid, and The Yes Album one I always liked. I used this album as a test recording over 10 years ago when I demoed the speakers I still use today. Others on this list that were influential to me include Pink Floyd, The Who, Rush, The Moody Blues, and Led Zeppelin.

I heard a lot of this stuff on FM 94.9 KGGO out of Des Moines growing up. I think I owe them a lot. I remember Lucky Man particularly: simple and moving and apparently written when Greg Lake was 12.

Highlights: Lucky Man, Baba O’Riley, Solsbury Hill, Nights in White Satin

Track List

  1. Starship Trooper - Yes (09:30)
  2. Roundabout - Yes (08:35)
  3. Really Don’t Mind / See There a Son is Born - Jethro Tull (04:58)
  4. Lucky Man - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (04:39)
  5. Dance on a Volcano - Genesis (06:00)
  6. I Talk to the Wind - King Crimson (06:09)
  7. Pigs on the Wing 1 - Pink Floyd (01:27)
  8. Baba O’Riley (remix) - The Who (04:58)
  9. Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel (04:22)
  10. The Rain Song - Led Zeppelin (07:43)
  11. A Passage to Bangkok - Rush (03:38)
  12. Nights in White Satin - The Moody Blues (07:46)
  13. Can’t Find My Way Home - Blind Faith (03:18)

Recorded on: Translucent green Saehan Power Wave 74 minute MD with a nearly opaque white back

Playlists