So the Babylonian amulet thing didn't live up to expectations? That's unfortunate.
a grave faux pas that I would never forgive
Only if you believe that petty imaginary rules outweigh the musical experience.
Apo, this is ben we're talking about here.
I let nothing outweigh the musical experience, teo.
Not in so many words, no.
I've got my eye on you, Ghandi.
The better to model Rimmer's mispronunciation.
I'm back in Orange County, the odd place we call our hometown, and heaven help me, I feel the coolness leaching out of my pores. Then ennui, it creeps over me.
So I'm unsure about that my coolness quotient is sufficiently high enough to appreciate your mix. I am sure, however, that I will never make you a mix, because you would very definitely judge me severely and grow to hate me, or worse, pity me.
Although, I've always felt odd about downloading a free mix from the web at any rate. It just doesn't seem very personal. Where's my personal mix, w-lfs-n?
I let nothing outweigh the musical experience, teo.
What if the musical experience made repeated improper use of the subjunctive?
I never judge anyone for anything, BL.
It just doesn't seem very personal.
It's not personal—or rather, what personality it has is purely inner-directed, since I only made the thing to satisfy what you might call my muse. Being personal is not a necessary quality of good mixiness, though.
If you want a personalized mix, I will need to be furnished with intelligences.
9: [violating the sanctity of off-blog communication] ben is generally pleased to receive, and politely critical of, music mixes you send him. I recommend it. But he still won't go down.
13 is only true if the "mix" you send me is your band's album and/or tour ep.
That is, if what you send me is something else, I will go down.
"Being personal is not a necessary quality of good mixiness, though."
This is true, but I suppose I've only ever made/received personal mixes. That's what distinguishes the old school mix tape from the professionalized mix that results from the mix quest. Then again, you are DJ Fancypants. I still like the personalized mix. AT made me one called "Sex/Cheese/Music/Baby" which is awesome, but then again she is awesome.
I will *try* to make *you* one, and either it will be very cliche or very particularly themed so that you can't intuit what is my real taste in music, even though you are totally without judgment. I'll send it in the mail. At least along the way to being judged I can violate some DMCA (although those who think mixes are not independent works of fair use art are morons or corporate slaves).
What kind of "intelligences" do you need? I want my own w-lfs-n mix!
Isn't it about time for some more w-lfs-n mixes, homeboy?
I'd also like to point out that Jackmormon thought she'd be "too lame" (ludicrous!) for one of the physical mixes I mailed out last year, and she later repented of it.
18: isn't there one attached to this very post? Or do you mean burned cds with cd cases and all that jazz?
17: among the intelligences that would be nice are some hint as to what your real taste in music is, actually. One wants one's recipient to enjoy the received, nicht wahr? You can describe it in general terms, I guess.
20: The people appreciate real mail, and your cases were most impressive last time. Go!
(I promise to return the favor this time. That could be a condition. Plus, doesn't Armshmasher owe us mixes? Hm.)
I ran Smasherbot for several days. I want mix!
Ah. Okay. I will send you a list of fave bands/singers/styles that aren't embarassing to admit. I don't dare list them here, even those I consider to be unembarassing picks, because what if I should be embarassed by them? I fear you, all of you, you music elitists you.
It must be a real CD with a CD case. The tangibility/physicality of the thing is everything. It doesn't count unless you get in the mail or hand delivered. I print out my own CD covers on card stock and send them along with homemade cards and other little gifts in care packages. One comin' atcha, w-lfs-n!
I am beginning to suspect that Belle and ben do not know each other exclusively through this blog.
Does anyone know if it's possible to buy (blank, white) digipaks in quantities less than the hundreds?
I have a grand aesthetic scheme for a mix I'm making, and a digipak would be ideal. I could always fall back on cardboard slips, but that's lame by comparison.
print out my own CD covers on card stock and send them along with homemade cards and other little gifts in care packages.
Well la-di-frickin'-da.
"Well la-di-frickin'-da."
Whatever, when you get a big ol' Jiffylite bubble mailer in the mail you will squeal with delight like a little girl at a basketful of kittens.
you will squeal with delight like a little girl at a basketful of kittens
Referred here forthwith as "benning up".
27: Yes, BL revealed recently that she and Ben had watched a film together, which suggests regular off-blog communication.
AWB and destroyer, don't you guys ever need to sleep on school nights? It's almost 3 out there, no?
It doesn't count unless you get in the mail
I don't think this is legal.
My earliest class is 11 a.m., and tomorrow it isn't until 1:30.
Although most classes are canceled tomorrow, so everyone was out drinking anyway. Not me: I had the pleasure of reading an incomprehensible Foucault interview. (The interview: really not a good format for philosophy.)
32: Dude, people really read these things and pay attention.
Either that, or watching movies is like totally radical behavior.
32: Tday rearranges my week. Friday classes are held tomorrow.
My earliest class is 11 a.m., and tomorrow it isn't until 1:30.
There are some things I miss about college.
35a and 35b are both true. The single people here are monitored with freakish attention.
There are some things I miss about college.
It's actually a terrible schedule. All of my classes are consecutive and during lunch hours, so I'm late and hungry most of the time.
I have this whole week off, which I consider recognition of my birthday. Thank you, Remedial Undergrad U, but I still feel old.
I, too, have this whole week off, except for the work I have to do.
The single people here are monitored with freakish attention.
Right down to the length of their dates.
It's actually a terrible schedule. All of my classes are consecutive and during lunch hours, so I'm late and hungry most of the time.
That does sound kind of rough. Still, it has its advantages over being at work by 8:30 every day.
33: One of my copyright law prof friends would agree with that assessment that ALL digital reproduction is a violation of copyright law, but mixes are arguably fair use. Just don't try to send it through international post, because you have to declare it before posting it, and some international laws are more stringent, or else it's just a sticky wicket of yeah, the fair use argument is still an argument. I can't imagine a prosecution for a mix CD though. If so, dude, millions of young hipsters are going to jail.
If so, dude, millions of young hipsters are going to jail.
What a shame that would be.
except for the work I have to do
Don't remind me: I'm still enjoying the fiction of vacation. I figure if I start my research on friday I'll be ok.
42, 47: Now there's something I definitely don't miss about college.
35: The watching of moving pictures in the company of another is indeed a radical activity, but that's beside the point.
My omnipresent-yet-largely-lurker status here has resulted in an unnecessarily detailed knowledge of what was said by whom, I am afraid. When you acquire knowledge of so many details of strangers' lives, yet have remained invisible while doing so, there is a temptation to assume an intimacy that may be inappropriate in any comments you do make. It's an interesting phenomenon.
48: Yeah! Alumni! Everywhere! Wait. I have to work soon. Good night, all.
Luckily for me, I asked for tomorrow off and my request was granted. I still have to get up early, though, because my mom wants to start on our seven-hour drive in the morning.
49: omnipresent s/b ever present, probably.
Someone should make a mix for insomnia. Apologies if such a mix already exists.
It is an odd thing: I am quickly worn out up at school, but go home and visit the parents in soporific Orange County (I'm rustin' in Tustin), and I can't for the life of me fall asleep. Maybe it's the novelty of having TV again, maybe a Sealy mattress isn't better than the Ikea crappy ones, or maybe you just can't go home again.
The mix looks great, and I can't wait to listen to it. Thanks!
In the meantime, though, ben:
it was because of such considerations of arrangement that the Tom Waits song of which I was originally thinking I might use, "The Part You Throw Away", that I did not end up using it
Come on, now. What the hell is that?
re: 54
Looking at that sentence again, I am wondering if English is Ben's first language.
53:Idaho, No Pussyfooting, Cowboy Junkies,Nick Drake, Popol Vuh, James Taylor
About Ute Lemper: I have and like very much both Berlin Cabaret Songs and the Kurt Weill one.
Sort of relatedly, I am quite in love with about three songs from this set of covers of Weill--this collection introduced me to John Zorn, although sadly I don't like any of the other John Zorn I've heard as much as the track on here. This compilation also has some spectacularly bad stuff on it. Everyone wants to sing Weill's songs, but few people can project the irony and intelligence needed to sing them well. This is particularly true of Lou Reed and Sting, people.
Everyone wants to sing Weill's songs, but few people can project the irony and intelligence needed to sing them well.
Irony and intelligence both describe David Bowie. I recommend the version of "Alabama Song" from Stage.
I actually like Morrison's butthead version of Weill's whiskey song. Cabaret-butthead fusion. Mmmmmm.
I second the Berlin Cabaret Songs recommendation! The material is fabulous. She does "Peter, komm zu mir zurück" with a nice slow swing, much livelier than Marlene Dietrich's canonical version.
much livelier than Marlene Dietrich's canonical version.
You know, "Peter, komm zu mir zurück" has always been one of my least favorite Marlene Dietrich standards: so dreary, so whiney. Reading this I have to wonder whether--gasp!--it could be the fault of the singer and not the song. I will have to check out the Ute Lemper version.
That said, I love "Nimm Dich in Acht vor blonden Frauen" and "Kinder, heut' Abend" so much that it absolves Marlene of all sin in my eyes.
Lemper has a comical little aside at the end of the song about whom she's addressing (i.e., who this 'Peter' is). Turns the song on its head.
Raus mit den Männern aus dem Unfoggedblog!
(leaves)
I think my favorite recording of a Weill performance is Lotte Lenya singing "Surabaya Johnny." I'll happy sit and listen to Lenya all day, but that one draws blood.
(returns)
The New Pornographers have issued a challenge: Make a video of one of our songs as performed by Michael McDonald.
There's a nice cover of September Song by Bryan Ferry on his cover album.
I don't actually know English at all.
That is some weird lineup on that album, Frowner.
Todd Rundgren does Weill?! I listened to the snippet at Amazon and what I heard didn't disgust me. I was bored by the snippet of the Charlie Haden cut. Too bad. I like Haden's stuff. Yeah, Reed's cover of September Song sounds lame.
Thanks. This gives me some ideas for the Christmas list. I think I'll add the Lemper CDs.