Mix Projects.

Hi. Sorry I have been lax in updating; life happened to me and I haven't fully recovered.

However, I will let you in on the best idea we [Mandy and myself] ever had.

Project Mix Tape!

It started at Hole In The Wall a few months ago. We wrote out a list of 'categories' and people we knew loved music, had lots of it, and actively make mixes. (Btdubs, we had to keep the list of people pretty short to accommodate party plans, and many of the people including were Mandy's friends, so please don't be hurt if you meet those criteria and you weren't part of the original group...). We sent the list out and everyone made apropos mixes, and then we had a party where we listened to some of the categories and drank and danced and loved each other's faces off. The party for the second go round happened Friday night. Both have been two of the best nights of my life. As I've explained it to some people -- "this is what parties would be like if everyone always acted exactly how I want them to."

Here are the lists & my picks:

Volume One:
The Theme Song To The Movie Of Your Life: That Summer Feeling - Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
A Song That Always Makes You Happy: Love Power - Dusty Springfield
Your Favorite Song When You Were 13: Runaway Train - Soul Asylum
Your Mom's Favorite Song: What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
A Song You Remember From the Best Live Show You've Ever Seen: Westfall (live) - Okkervil River
The Song You Would Most Like To Hear Live, But Haven't and Can't: Summer Babe (Winter Version) - Pavement
Your Bender / Lost Weekend Anthem: Kiss Off - The Violent Femmes
The Song You Want To Be Playing The First Time You Kiss Your 'One True Love': Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
The Ultimate Doin' It Song: Come On In My Kitchen - Robert Johnson
Your Favorite Beatles Song: Blackbird
A Song You Wish Was Written About/For You: Love And Some Verses - Iron and Wine
A Song For Riding Your Bike Around After The Apocalypse: Wake Up - The Walkmen
High Speed Car Chase Song: Let The Poison Spill From Your Throat - The Faint
'Guilty Pleasure' [A Song You Love But Would Never Put On A Regular Mix For Someone]: Bathwater - No Doubt
A Song You Should Have Written But Someone Else Did It First: A Better Son/Daughter - Rilo Kiley
A Song In A Foreign Language You Wish You Spoke: Tengo un Trato - La Mala Rodriguez
The Song That Always Makes You Cry: Two-Headed Boy Part Two - Neutral Milk Hotel
A Love Letter To Someone Specific: I'll Be Yr Bird - M. Ward
A Song You Want Played At Your Funeral: When I'm Gone - Phil Ochs
The Ultimate Dance Track: Let's Go Crazy - Prince

Volume Two:
Your Fight / Duel / WWF Song: To Hell With Poverty - Gang of Four
Your Favorite Song From The Last 12 Months: Paper Planes - M.I.A.
Explain 'Rock and Roll' To Aliens: Good Lovin' - Young Rascals
Your Father's Favorite Song: Be Here Now - Mason Jennings
Your Favorite Cover: Dancing In The Dark - Mirah
The Vocal Performance You Wish You Could Replicate: Bye Bye Baby - Mary Wells
The Ultimate Singalong Song: If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out - Cat Stevens
Your Favorite Instrumental Song: La Valse d'Amelie (piano version) - Yann Tiersen
A Song That Reminds Someone Of You: New Slang - The Shins
A Song Dedicated To Your Current Crush: Season Of The Shark - Yo La Tengo
The Ultimate Breakup Song: Do What You Gotta Do - Nina Simone
Your Favorite Country Song: Blue Wind Blew - The Flatlanders
Your Favorite Bob Dylan Song: You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
Your Favorite Holiday Song: Rebel Jesus - Jackson Browne
The Ultimate Summertime Roadtrip Song: Jogging Gorgeous Summer - Islands
The Best Fast Skate Song: A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturday - De La Soul
Your Favorite Song About Death: Black Eyed Dog - Nick Drake

Volume Three is in the works. A slightly different format has been called for, and it might go something like this:

1. What does the place you're from sound like?
2. What does your heart sound like?
3. What does your brain sound like?
4. What does your body sound like?
5. What did being little sound like?
6. What did high school sound like?
7. What did college sound like?
8. What does DRUNK sound like?
9. What does winning sound like?
10. What does an orgasm sound like?
11. What does eye contact with a stranger across the room sound like?
12. What does falling in love sound like?
13. What do your dreams sound like?
14. What loneliness sound like?
15. What does your best friend sound like?
16. What does waking up sound like?
17. What does your future sound like?

We'll see! Do it with your friends! It's the most fun ever!

Pictures from the last party to give you an idea just how much fun we're talking here: