create a mix cd for every one of my moods

Heaven! All the music in all the libraries in the entire state, at my fingertips! There was something I wanted for a mix I’m making, and although it wasn’t at my library, I now have a request in. I love the library!

Hooray! They are fabulous and eclectic and hilarious.

If they get listened to more than once, I’ll consider them a success.

And people singing about happy things with sad voices… perhaps it’s a bittersweet mix?

I went to an amazing dance performance this weekend (thus all the new goals about fitness and dancing-I was inspired!). One beautiful dance used a song I really liked-though I can’t tell anymore if it’s something about the song or just my experience of first hearing it that way. Anyway, with a little research on the program from the event and on iTunes, I discovered it was the song Chicago by a folk artist I have never heard of, Sufjan Stevens.

(Click here to listen to a sample of the song on Amazon.com. But please don’t buy it there!)

Now I am feeling inspired to look through my collection for other songs with a similar emotional tone, and to make a mix CD. So far everything else that comes to mind (Ani DiFranco, REM, Carrie Newcomer, Peter Gabriel) is really old, and I don’t know if it would sound good together. I might include something from the Garden State soundtrack—that was kind of similar in tone, and more recent.

Suggestions for tracks to include are welcome.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to fill out a survey or anything so I can win a free one. I’m just going to start saving my money!

A spooky dark mix for Halloween that’s not cheesy with lots of screaming or other silly sound effects. Good music that speaks to our shadow selves. Think “funhouse gone bad.” Think “trapped in a funhouse” (with a bunch of zombies… carrying a big knives).

Here are some tracks to start with, off the top of my head:

1. Such A Lovely Thing by Devotchka (track 9 from How It Ends)

2. Rosemary by Gomez (track 3 from We Haven’t Turned Around, but the version I downloaded from who knows where is slightly faster and better than this one)

3. Something by Nick Cave, maybe Right Red Hand, but I don’t know his music well and I’m sure there are better ones out there.

4. Something by Tom Waits, maybe off Mule Variations, although again, I don’t know his entire voluminous discography well and I’m sure there’s something better

What other spooky, dark, dissonant, creepy music that sounds like it’s made by a zombie band do you know?

If y’all really love the unique and obscure and musically interesting as much as I do, then why aren’t we working together! ? ! No need to scour the internet ‘til all hours of the night! I’ll just ask you guys for tracks you’d recommend.