this is how to play the main riff from ducktail’s ‘killin’ the vibe’.
‘STACKS OF THINGS IN MY BEDROOM’ SERIES RETROSPECTIVE
GOOD JOB, I AM SO SORRY
‘STACKS OF THINGS IN MY BEDROOM’ SERIES PART IV: ALL OF THE PANTS I OWN
‘STACKS OF THINGS IN MY BEDROOM’ SERIES PART III: STRINGED INSTRUMENTS I EITHER OWN OR AT LEAST HAVE IN MY POSSESSION RIGHT NOW
‘STACKS OF THINGS IN MY BEDROOM’ SERIES PART II: SOME TAPES I FOUND WHILE LOOKING FOR BOOKS ON MY FLOOR
‘STACKS OF THINGS IN MY BEDROOM’ SERIES PART I: EVERY BOOK THAT WAS ON MY FLOOR
before building this little mixtape i opened a TextEdit file and went through a few different theme ideas — “songs that have been ruined by ex-gfs” // “#funeralsongs” // “songs i’ve had sex to.” i’m not Rob Gordon and i didn’t like any of these ideas.*
lately i’ve been feeling a quiet discontent that sometimes becomes a not-so-quiet discontent. and i can’t even blame it on the weather because it’ s the middle of summer out here in SF.
these are songs that (to me) say fuck it, feel discontent. revel in those #firstworldproblems. and maybe write a song or a poem or something about it and stuff. yeah? yeah.
IN A WILD DEEP // BEFORE THE DESERT NIGHT WAS COLD
everyone needs to pay-what-you-will and buy this EP. it’s like the new bon iver/grizzly bear love-child. it’ll make you contemplate all over your twitter.
BEACH HOUSE // MASTER OF NONE
i dated a girl in 2009 who got me into beach house and now i pretend i’ve always liked them. “Master of None” was a pretty prominent piece of Miranda July’s The Future, which i saw a couple weeks ago (i don’t recommend it, but that’s a different story). i haven’t been listening to beach house much recently, but i went back and googled “what’s that beach house song in the future” and have been listening to this one a decent amount.
THE MICROPHONES // I WANT WIND TO BLOW
“there’s no hope for me / i’ve been set free / there’s no breeze / there’s no ship in my sea.” phil elvrum can sustain a good metaphor.
THE BIG PINK // VELVET
one of my music snob friends gave me this song. i used to listen to it in LA when i was trying to get over the girl who got me into beach house.
RADICAL FACE // WELCOME HOME
this is my way of getting hopeful now, or something.
TV GIRL // BABY YOU WERE THERE
this is a nice little piece of retro. i don’t really listen to the lyrics. just dig that keyboard part.
MATHIEU SANTOS // JUST NEED TO KNOW
some PR person sent me this. i was about to delete the email but then they namedropped Brian Wilson and i fell into the trap. Mathieu Santos is the guy from Ra Ra Riot. this song is him repeating “i just need to know” over a Beach Boys-esque melody that circles around and goes nowhere. kind of like waiting anxiously to see what your gf/bf is gonna do next. i see what you did there, Mathieu.
WILCO // I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART
this is the under-2-minute demo version of the real 6+ minute version. i prefer this one. “i’m hiding out in the big city blinking / what was i thinking when i let go of you?” <—— preach it, Jeff.
ALEX TURNER // GLASS IN THE PARK
i don’t know if this one really fits into the scheme of things. it’s really pretty and it’s from the Submarine EP, which was the soundtrack to the British coming-of-age movie that came out this year and copied Wes Anderson’s bag of tricks. the whole EP is great but this song was quiet enough for this mix.
THE WALKMEN // I LOST YOU
no one does “i’m sad but i’m gonna get angry and drunk and yell about it outside the bar” better than The Walkmen. hamilton leithauser is hot though, i don’t know how he has so many girl problems.
SWIMMING // TAKE IT EASY/FOR LOVE
this is my friend/former bandmate Max’s band. everyone loves Real Estate these days (rightfully), but they should love Swimming too.
MALAKAI // ANOTHER SUN
one of my favorite breakup songs. ever. apparently they now spell it “Malachai.” they can give phil elvrum a run for his money when it comes to sustaining those weather metaphors.
WASHED OUT // FEEL IT ALL AROUND
this is like saying, feel that ennui, but feel it with a beer in hand. or two beers. i know everyone knows this song but i came to it about a year late.
*i have had sex to one of these songs. you can guess which one.
By Diana Salier
