my gr8est mix for 2008

It can be difficult to narrow down your favourite songs of the year onto one CD, so this year I figured I'd make my life a bit easier and go with a theme. Since I moved to South Korea in 2008 to become an English teacher, I thought it was only appropriate for that to be the theme of my CD. I wanted to share my playlist, as well as my reasoning behind selecting this track listing. Ok so here it goes...

1. Me & My Man (Whitey vs. Chromeo Fly Whitey Remix) - Chromeo
I suffer from a little something known as the "travel bug" so naturally after graduating university I wanted to get away....

2. Far Away - Cut Copy
far far away....

3. Paper Planes (DFA remix)- M.I.A
so I hopped on a plane....

4. Thursday (The Twelves Remix) - Asobi Seksu
and moved to an Asian country known as South Korea (not to be confused with Japan, but Asobi Seksu is better than any K-pop out there)...

5. Embrace the Martian (feat. KiD CuDi) - KiD CuDi
I had to get an "alien" card from the Immigration Office once I arrived....

6. Blind - Hercules and Love Affair
and sometimes I find it very difficult to understand the things around me since I can't read anything around me, because I have yet to learn their alphabet...

7. Crying - TV on the Radio
so I cried a little bit for feeling illiterate...

8. House Jam - Gang Gang Dance
but eventually accepted Seoul as my new home...

9. Little Kids - Deerhunter
because I love teaching the little kiddies....

10. Talk Like That - The Presets
even though sometimes they make me a little crazy when they speak Korean....

11. Your English Is Good- Tokyo Police Club
they have amazing English skills for itty bitty kindergartens....

12. Say Aha - Santogold
They love playing this game where they repeat every. single. thing. I. say.

13. Plastic People - Kraak and Smaak
I think Koreans are very beautiful people...like plastic people...and because of my "yellow" hair, I occasionally get called a Barbie doll...

14. She's Expensive - The Virgins
They never let a fun night come to an early end because the bars are open forever!

15. The Vowels Pt. 2 - Why?
Now for the comforts that I miss....CHEERIOS!

16. Bryn - Vampire Weekend
and of course my loving father...bryn....

17. The Girl - City & Colour
but at the end of the day I'll live without cheerios for the year while I'm chasing my dreams by touring around the world...

the end.

this is how i like my beats.

It's no mystery that I'm a sucker for a good electro beat, so my next share inevitably falls into the "remix" category.
This track comes from Terry Lynn's EP "Kingstonlogic: The Remixes." It combines Greg Kobe's electro beat with Terry Lynn's powerful lyrics that paint a picture of the harsh reality that defines the present state of affairs in Kingston, Jamaica. In my opinion, the end result comes up nothing short of brilliant.

Terry Lynn - Kingstonlogic (Greg Kobe Remix)

i've got your number.

i'm sharing my song obession of the week.
i'll spare you the sickeningly sweet story of how this band came to be.
it's addictive. mostly happy-go-lucky with enough quirk that it's not annoying.
Passion Pit play the Horseshoe Saturday Jan 24.

Passion Pit - I've Got Your Number

Snow/Fall

A playlist for November, right on time. Take a break from life/studying/work to dance in the leaves and frolic in the snow.

Tracklist:
1 // Elliott Smith - Rose Parade
2 // Broken Social Scene - Stars & Sons
3 // Mother Mother - O My Heart
4 // Salt - So
5 // Snailhouse - The Medicine Makes My Heart Beat A Little Faster
6 // Joan Baez - Here's To You
7 // Beirut - Scenic World
8 // Cold War Kids - Saint John
9 // White Stripes - Jumble, Jumble
10 // Green Go - Watch Your Step
11 // Shout Out Out Out Out - Procrastinator's Fight Song
12 // Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth
13 // Chinese Food - Red Head Heart
14 // Danielson - Bloodbook on the Half Shell

Download, as usual, here

rrrrrrrrremix

hello,

i wanted to share a little ditty that i just can't seem to get out of my head. the virgins on their own are fun and dancy, but when the twelves does a remix of one of their songs...well this is the result. enjoy!

the prettiest little cover i ever did hear.

Ane Brun is one of many gems to come out of Sweden.
her cover of 'true colours' is nothing short of magical.
she plays the el mocambo in toronto, november 7.

True Colours - Ane Brun
True Colours (live) - Ane Brun

A Change of Pace (October Playlist)

Hi friends,

Here is a playlist for the month. I believe this will be a good accompaniment to a nice, fall day. To be listened to on a short walk (leaf-kicking is a must), followed by tea and blankets and general coziness.

1 // Fleet Foxes - Your Protector
2 // Women - Lawncare
3 // The Lovely Feathers - Photo Corners
4 // Spiral Beach - New Clouds
5 // Of Montreal - For Our Elegant Caste
6 // Portual, the man - How the Leopard Got His Spots
7 // TV On The Radio - Dancing Choose
8 // Pixies - Break My Body
9 // Gowns - Fake July
10 // Rilo Kiley - Ripchord
11 // The Real Tuesday Weld- Apart
12 // Innocence Mission - Lakes of Canada
13 // Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip - Magician's Assistant

enjoy & download here.