WARMER MIXTAPES #517 | by Jordy Asher and Cari Rae of Blonds
SIDE A | by Cari Rae
1. Cat Power | Hate
This song means a lot to me. I love a song that can be as simple as a few chords on one instrument, paired with a voice that can bring a wave of raw emotions over you when you listen to it. This song has always been one of the best examples of that, for me. Also, it was the first song I learned how to play on the guitar.
2. Bright Eyes | Saturday As Usual
Bright Eyes has been my favorite band since I was a young girl. This song was the beginning of my relationship with Conor Oberst. Listening to his work, and Bright Eyes helped shaped the person, and the musician I have become. Conor is a master of poetry and being painfully honest through his music and everything that he's done has always resonated in my bones.
3. Neil Young | The Needle And The Damage Done
This song always gives me goose-bumps when I hear it. I have a lot of childhood and young adult memories attached to it, and Neil Young's voice speaks to the soul; it's an unmistakable sound.
4. Animal Collective | The Purple Bottle
Avey Tare is a genius, and this is a personal favorite of mine. His lyricism is so original and unbelieveably imaginitive. This song just paints a picture in my brain and always makes me feel home and happy.
5. Nickel Creek | Jealous Of The Moon
I love just about everything Chris Thile touches. He's so talented and his voice just puts a calm wave over you as soon as you hear it. This song always kind of felt like an auto-biography, so I really relate to it.
6. Fiona Apple | Sullen Girl
Fiona Apple is one of my biggest inspirations. I've been enthralled by her since I was a young girl. I've listened to her Tidal album countless times, and this song, strangely, makes me feel like I'm never alone when I hear it.
7. Frédéric Chopin | Nocturne In F Minor, Op. 55, No. 1 (Played by Vladimir Ashkenazy)
I love Classical Music. My grandfather is a pianist/keyboardist and so is my uncle, so I've been around keys as long as I can remember. There's a picture of me as a baby sitting on my uncle's lap while he's playing piano that I adore! It was love at first listen, and so is this beautiful piece of art. A good friend of mine introduced me to Chopin and it has been quite the therapeutic relationship.
8. Brand New | Luca
You can't listen to this song and not go to a beautiful place in your mind. Brand New never stops being a great listen because with each album they've put out, they've grown and progressed together in Life and in Music and you can track their personal journies as individuals and as a band. It's really a beautiful thing.
9. Grandaddy | A.M. 180
This is such a feel good, stimulating tune. Its tone is sort of indifferent, but those kinds of songs often make me feel good because Life is generally indifferent, in my opinion. I guess I'm a truth-seeker.
10. The Flaming Lips | Watching The Planets
I'm obsessed with everything outside of Earth, so if a song takes me to the stars, I hold it in my heart. This song puts out the perfect floating in space sound, to me.
SIDE B | by Jordy Asher
1. The Beatles | Mean Mr. Mustard
Side Two Of Abbey Road... Trying to choose a favorite Beatle song is impossible for me. It's the music I grew up on, the first band that really showed me that you could do ANYTHING you wanted to musically, if you had it in you. The second half of Abbey Road is the closest thing to perfection I've ever heard. It's proof that even song fragments from these four were incredible and flawless pieces of art. Every time I listen to it, I hear something new. Every time Mean Mr. Mustard comes on I always think, I really hope I can write something this cool some day. All of their talents are showcased (altogether even on The End where everyone in the band does a solo). It's cemented and documented proof of how incredible these four people were together.
2. Radiohead | How To Disappear Completely
This song.....This is a tough one. This song is dark and sad, a feeling I knew too well for a long time. This song kept me company through a lot of sad moments throughout my life. If it gives you any inkling just how dark my mindset was, I always used to think When I die, this song should be played at my funeral. I love this song because from the first time I heard it, I didn't feel alone in my sadness. Saying I'm not here, this isn't happening was therapy for Thom Yorke. As it turns out, it was probably therapy for many other people as well.
3. Chuck Berry | You Never Can Tell
A main staple in my life, when trying on a new pair of clothes, jackets, sunglasses, etc.... Is to ask, Is it Vincent Vega-cool?... This song highlights quite possibly the coolest movie of all time, preceeded by the coolest conversation between two of the coolest characters of all time, and plays over the coolest dance sequence of all time. I'm talking of course about Pulp Fiction. I've loved this movie my entire life. It has always been one of my favorites since I first saw it when I was younger. I go out of my way to watch it at least a few times every year. When Cari and I first started dating, there was one night where we were having a conversation in her car about this movie. We quoted lines, and made jokes and she called me Vincent Vega to be funny. At some point after that we went inside and turned on the television. That movie just happened to be playing at the exact scene when Vincent Vega takes Mia Wallace out. There are only great memories tied to this song for me and nothing will ever change that. This song is Vincent Vega-cool.
4. Portishead | Glory Box
This song kept me hopeful that there were still women out there that wanted to grow the fuck up. The reason why Cari and I work so well is because we're honest with eachother. About everything, every single thing. Too many people spend their relationships playing cat and mouse, waiting for the other person to guess what's on their mind or bothering them, being mad just because they have the right to be. Nothing but games. In this song, she says I'm so tired of playing with this bow and arrow/Gonna give my heart away, leave it to the other girls to play... It is her moment to say to herself, I don't want to be this way anymore, so I'm going to change myself... I (as well as Cari) live my life by this mantra. This song means a lot to me because it kept me hopeful through a lot of shitty years that I would some day meet the woman I imagined singing this song. I finally met her.
5. Fiona Apple | Across The Universe (The Beatles Cover)
Fiona Apple's voice melts me into puddles. It is classic and modern mixed together and a beautiful hazy coktail that strikes a balance between self assuredness and self consciousness. Now understand that I HATE any cover of a Beatles song. I think they're all terrible and people should NOT cover something as perfect as the Beatles. However, I've been on the fence for a long while if I like this cover better than the original. It is so brilliantly done. The mood stays as consistent as the lyrics, and there's something so beautiful about the simplistic approach.
6. Air | Playground Love
This song hits me like a ton of bricks every single time it starts. It's amazing in every way, shape and form. The music speaks for itself and describes the overall message behind the song perfectly. Longing, love, lust, aggravation, admiration, desire, they're all trapped beneath the surface of this calm and collected exterior. I hope I can write something this amazing one day. Also, the fact that Thomas Mars (from Phoenix) does the vocals on this song makes it even better.
7. Bob Dylan | It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
Bob Dylan at his most profound. This song is a testament to his beautiful poetry and rhyme patterns. With a repetitive guitar riff and vocal line for 7 1/2 minutes, this song taught me how to stop listening to Music and to start listening to exactly what someone was saying. This song. The music plays second fiddle to Bob Dylan's incredible lyrics. The imagery he uses is unique and effortless. This song is a small dose of genius that the World might never know again.
8. Nas | N.Y. State Of Mind
Whenever flying or driving into NYC, this song gets put on every time. The beat is consistent and simple. With a song this perfect, it's easy to see why everyone became so attached to Hip Hop when it first came out. Nas is completely raw in his approach on this song, and as poignant as ever. Good Hip Hop (Wu Tang, Notorious B.I.G., Mos Def, The Roots) encompasses the NYC vibe for me. I'd take this song about NY over Frank Sinatra's any day.
9. Arcade Fire | Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
I love this song. It channels Blondie and all of the dawning Electronic Dance Music. The synths and sounds are so ethereal and dreamy. It always puts me into a good mood when it comes on. I think in a few years, this song will be recognized as a classic.
10. Gorillaz
All Of It... My taste in Music is an exploration of all different types of styles, and recognizing what's good about EVERY type of Music. It took me a while to realize, but Damon Albarn might be my favorite modern artist because he represents all of that perfectly. His work is inspiring and is only highlighted by the excellent producers he works with. I literally love every Gorillaz song in existence. I remember when the Clint Eastwood video first started airing on, it stopped me from doing whatever I was doing the entire summer. I left the television on MTV or The Box or VH1 all day in hopes that it would come on. Every time it did I listened, watched, enjoyed, studied, fell in love. This guy has earned this career with every bone in his body and his purpose is to effortlessly make incredible, amazing, thoughtful, intricate, and beautiful music.
1. Cat Power | Hate
This song means a lot to me. I love a song that can be as simple as a few chords on one instrument, paired with a voice that can bring a wave of raw emotions over you when you listen to it. This song has always been one of the best examples of that, for me. Also, it was the first song I learned how to play on the guitar.
2. Bright Eyes | Saturday As Usual
Bright Eyes has been my favorite band since I was a young girl. This song was the beginning of my relationship with Conor Oberst. Listening to his work, and Bright Eyes helped shaped the person, and the musician I have become. Conor is a master of poetry and being painfully honest through his music and everything that he's done has always resonated in my bones.
3. Neil Young | The Needle And The Damage Done
This song always gives me goose-bumps when I hear it. I have a lot of childhood and young adult memories attached to it, and Neil Young's voice speaks to the soul; it's an unmistakable sound.
4. Animal Collective | The Purple Bottle
Avey Tare is a genius, and this is a personal favorite of mine. His lyricism is so original and unbelieveably imaginitive. This song just paints a picture in my brain and always makes me feel home and happy.
5. Nickel Creek | Jealous Of The Moon
I love just about everything Chris Thile touches. He's so talented and his voice just puts a calm wave over you as soon as you hear it. This song always kind of felt like an auto-biography, so I really relate to it.
6. Fiona Apple | Sullen Girl
Fiona Apple is one of my biggest inspirations. I've been enthralled by her since I was a young girl. I've listened to her Tidal album countless times, and this song, strangely, makes me feel like I'm never alone when I hear it.
7. Frédéric Chopin | Nocturne In F Minor, Op. 55, No. 1 (Played by Vladimir Ashkenazy)
I love Classical Music. My grandfather is a pianist/keyboardist and so is my uncle, so I've been around keys as long as I can remember. There's a picture of me as a baby sitting on my uncle's lap while he's playing piano that I adore! It was love at first listen, and so is this beautiful piece of art. A good friend of mine introduced me to Chopin and it has been quite the therapeutic relationship.
8. Brand New | Luca
You can't listen to this song and not go to a beautiful place in your mind. Brand New never stops being a great listen because with each album they've put out, they've grown and progressed together in Life and in Music and you can track their personal journies as individuals and as a band. It's really a beautiful thing.
9. Grandaddy | A.M. 180
This is such a feel good, stimulating tune. Its tone is sort of indifferent, but those kinds of songs often make me feel good because Life is generally indifferent, in my opinion. I guess I'm a truth-seeker.
10. The Flaming Lips | Watching The Planets
I'm obsessed with everything outside of Earth, so if a song takes me to the stars, I hold it in my heart. This song puts out the perfect floating in space sound, to me.
1. The Beatles | Mean Mr. Mustard
Side Two Of Abbey Road... Trying to choose a favorite Beatle song is impossible for me. It's the music I grew up on, the first band that really showed me that you could do ANYTHING you wanted to musically, if you had it in you. The second half of Abbey Road is the closest thing to perfection I've ever heard. It's proof that even song fragments from these four were incredible and flawless pieces of art. Every time I listen to it, I hear something new. Every time Mean Mr. Mustard comes on I always think, I really hope I can write something this cool some day. All of their talents are showcased (altogether even on The End where everyone in the band does a solo). It's cemented and documented proof of how incredible these four people were together.
2. Radiohead | How To Disappear Completely
This song.....This is a tough one. This song is dark and sad, a feeling I knew too well for a long time. This song kept me company through a lot of sad moments throughout my life. If it gives you any inkling just how dark my mindset was, I always used to think When I die, this song should be played at my funeral. I love this song because from the first time I heard it, I didn't feel alone in my sadness. Saying I'm not here, this isn't happening was therapy for Thom Yorke. As it turns out, it was probably therapy for many other people as well.
3. Chuck Berry | You Never Can Tell
A main staple in my life, when trying on a new pair of clothes, jackets, sunglasses, etc.... Is to ask, Is it Vincent Vega-cool?... This song highlights quite possibly the coolest movie of all time, preceeded by the coolest conversation between two of the coolest characters of all time, and plays over the coolest dance sequence of all time. I'm talking of course about Pulp Fiction. I've loved this movie my entire life. It has always been one of my favorites since I first saw it when I was younger. I go out of my way to watch it at least a few times every year. When Cari and I first started dating, there was one night where we were having a conversation in her car about this movie. We quoted lines, and made jokes and she called me Vincent Vega to be funny. At some point after that we went inside and turned on the television. That movie just happened to be playing at the exact scene when Vincent Vega takes Mia Wallace out. There are only great memories tied to this song for me and nothing will ever change that. This song is Vincent Vega-cool.
4. Portishead | Glory Box
This song kept me hopeful that there were still women out there that wanted to grow the fuck up. The reason why Cari and I work so well is because we're honest with eachother. About everything, every single thing. Too many people spend their relationships playing cat and mouse, waiting for the other person to guess what's on their mind or bothering them, being mad just because they have the right to be. Nothing but games. In this song, she says I'm so tired of playing with this bow and arrow/Gonna give my heart away, leave it to the other girls to play... It is her moment to say to herself, I don't want to be this way anymore, so I'm going to change myself... I (as well as Cari) live my life by this mantra. This song means a lot to me because it kept me hopeful through a lot of shitty years that I would some day meet the woman I imagined singing this song. I finally met her.
5. Fiona Apple | Across The Universe (The Beatles Cover)
Fiona Apple's voice melts me into puddles. It is classic and modern mixed together and a beautiful hazy coktail that strikes a balance between self assuredness and self consciousness. Now understand that I HATE any cover of a Beatles song. I think they're all terrible and people should NOT cover something as perfect as the Beatles. However, I've been on the fence for a long while if I like this cover better than the original. It is so brilliantly done. The mood stays as consistent as the lyrics, and there's something so beautiful about the simplistic approach.
6. Air | Playground Love
This song hits me like a ton of bricks every single time it starts. It's amazing in every way, shape and form. The music speaks for itself and describes the overall message behind the song perfectly. Longing, love, lust, aggravation, admiration, desire, they're all trapped beneath the surface of this calm and collected exterior. I hope I can write something this amazing one day. Also, the fact that Thomas Mars (from Phoenix) does the vocals on this song makes it even better.
7. Bob Dylan | It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
Bob Dylan at his most profound. This song is a testament to his beautiful poetry and rhyme patterns. With a repetitive guitar riff and vocal line for 7 1/2 minutes, this song taught me how to stop listening to Music and to start listening to exactly what someone was saying. This song. The music plays second fiddle to Bob Dylan's incredible lyrics. The imagery he uses is unique and effortless. This song is a small dose of genius that the World might never know again.
8. Nas | N.Y. State Of Mind
Whenever flying or driving into NYC, this song gets put on every time. The beat is consistent and simple. With a song this perfect, it's easy to see why everyone became so attached to Hip Hop when it first came out. Nas is completely raw in his approach on this song, and as poignant as ever. Good Hip Hop (Wu Tang, Notorious B.I.G., Mos Def, The Roots) encompasses the NYC vibe for me. I'd take this song about NY over Frank Sinatra's any day.
9. Arcade Fire | Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
I love this song. It channels Blondie and all of the dawning Electronic Dance Music. The synths and sounds are so ethereal and dreamy. It always puts me into a good mood when it comes on. I think in a few years, this song will be recognized as a classic.
10. Gorillaz
All Of It... My taste in Music is an exploration of all different types of styles, and recognizing what's good about EVERY type of Music. It took me a while to realize, but Damon Albarn might be my favorite modern artist because he represents all of that perfectly. His work is inspiring and is only highlighted by the excellent producers he works with. I literally love every Gorillaz song in existence. I remember when the Clint Eastwood video first started airing on, it stopped me from doing whatever I was doing the entire summer. I left the television on MTV or The Box or VH1 all day in hopes that it would come on. Every time it did I listened, watched, enjoyed, studied, fell in love. This guy has earned this career with every bone in his body and his purpose is to effortlessly make incredible, amazing, thoughtful, intricate, and beautiful music.
