This week’s Monday Mix is being posted on a Tuesday! Zzzaaanny!

So I have been debating whether to make the trip to Chicago this August to go to a quaint, little festival you may have heard of called Lollapalooza, and as of now I am almost 90% sure I am gonna go. Not only is the lineup ridiculous, but Chicago just seems like such an awesome place to visit. So today’s mix is in honor of Chicago, and all the artists it’s produced as well as the music it’s inspired. Enjoy!

Go Go Gadget Flow by Lupe Fiasco

Chicago by Sufjan Stevens

Chicago at Night by Spoon

Far, Far Away (Live) by Wilco

posted by: MOLLY

It’s officially summer, and god I can feel it. The past couple of days have consisted of the slow, thorough heat of June creeping up and utterly overwhelming me. But summer isn’t summer without sweat pooling in the hollows of necks, damp hair curling around sunburnt ears, and a general sun struck wooziness. With each song in today’s mix I tried to capture the atmosphere of  a balmy summer day bleeding into a hot summer night, whether it be lyrically or otherwise. Enjoy!

I’m On Fire by Bruce Springsteen

This song is full of unresolved tension, and not just in the words Bruce is singing. It’s present in the way he sings them, in the steady beat and persistent strumming of the guitar. It’s the musical equivalent of a loaded stare across a room, and is perfect to listen to driving alone at night after a blistering day. 

The Lengths by The Black Keys

The sliding guitar in this song is just so completely in tune with what summer weather is to me. It’s sticky, it’s lingering, and when it’s over you miss it. The only difference is while I tend to whine a bit about how damn hot it is, I will never whine about this song. 

Play With Fire by The Rolling Stones

It’s hard to think of another band that has spanned over such a variety of sounds while still holding mass appeal. Play With Fire is a truly heated song (the main line is a warning, after all) and is perfect for this mix. 

Bankrobber by the Clash

I could wax philosophical (gush uncontrollably) about the Clash all day long, but I’ll spare you. Instead, I’ll just say that Bankrobber has this perfect, dizzying sound to it that reminds me of sitting out too long on a hot day, knowing you should go seek shelter but staying put anyways.

True story*: I used to work at a maternity wear store. I thought that job had cleared me of any of my pregnancy related fears, but a recent viewing of a video with a couple of very young looking, pregnant women dancing to Fergalicious really brought them rushing back. I can’t post the video here, apparently it is inappropriate by youtube’s standards. I guess this video is not for the eyes of anyone under 18. I think this is the first time I’ve ever wished I was under 18, and oh how the tables have turned. All those 17 year olds walking around, their brains free from pregnant dancing and Fergie. Curse them.

Nothing against pregnant women! I know it’s beautiful and all that but I am sorry, I am a little freaked out that there’s a living person inside of you! Holy crow, right in your torso! JUST CHILLIN, LIVING AND ALL THAT. INSIDE OF YOU. I HAVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME JUST TAKING CARE OF MY OWN NEEDS! I DON’T KNOW HOW I WOULD DEAL WITH A PREGNANCY! MAYBE I TOO WOULD DANCE TO FERGIE IN A FIT OF INSANITY. OH GOD NOOOOOOO! 

Anyways, there’s a point to all of this. The store I worked in actually played some pretty decent music, in between some Jewel and weird songs about morning wood (yeah, I don’t know). So, my time working in maternity wear has inspired today’s mix!

Last Request by Paolo Nutini

Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder

Naive by Lily Allen

Two Hearts by Ryan Adams

Heart of the Matter by India Arie

posted by: MOLLY

*Another true story: I hate it when people start sentences with true story, so I guess I now hate myself. Oh well.