August Mix: And We Glowed In The Moonlight

In case you didn’t know, I’m a huge fan of the moon. It’s just up there in the sky, being all big and fascinating, and at night it’s lit up like a giant bulb. Many a short story I’ve written has begun with some mention of the moon or the night sky in general (if you think I love the moon, just wait until the day I tell you how much I love stars!). So it’s no wonder that this month I’m rolling out a mix about that celestial body looming out in space, because August 2012 has two (count ’em: 2!) full moons. August 1 brought us the Full Sturgeon Moon, and look up in the sky the evening of August 31 to see the first Blue Moon since March 2010.

Of course, we all know I love to celebrate anything with a sweet mix. And BOY do I have a lot of moon songs. So I selected the ones I thought most appropriate for this particular month of moons. Hope you all have a wonderful Blue Moon!

Download:August Mix: And We Glowed In The Moonlight

June Mix: Late Night With Abby: 2

As you may recall, back in April, I presented a mix made in the style of the incredibly awesome Late Night Tales compilation series (highly recommended if you haven’t heard them). At the time, I was pretty sure it was one of the best mixes I’d ever made. I usually think that about all my mixes when they’re brand new. But I’ve completed the second in my series of copycat compilations, and I don’t think I’m at all wrong in saying that I’ve completely outdone myself with this one. That last Late Night With Abby mix seems amateur compared to this masterpiece.

I do feel like putting these mixes together is an art. This isn’t a typical car mix I’d make of songs I want to hear and that make me excited. No, Late Night Tales is about expressing and creating a mood. Though many songs in the compilation you may not always have occasion to listen to independently, your mind develops a new appreciation for them when presented in this context. You’re glad to hear the songs; you want to hear them. They complement each other in the order they’re given. Maybe that’s why I enjoy making these so much. It’s a creative challenge that allows me to hear music in a way I hadn’t before, and I learn to appreciate it all over again.

Late Night With Abby: 2

Nosaj Thing – Caves

General Elektriks – La Nuit Des Ephemeres

Jean-Jacques Perrey – E.V.A. (Fatboy Slim Mix)

Diamond Doves – Club Night

My Favorite Songs: Harry Nilsson, ‘Bath’

It never fails. Every time I’m driving somewhere in my car and the speakers sing at me, “I’m leaving here this morning, and I don’t know where I’ve been,” I think, “HEY, this sounds JUST LIKE Harry Nilsson!” Then I look at the index card where I’ve written down the CD’s song list and see:

“Bath” — Harry Nilsson

And then I feel really dumb, because not only did I put the song on the CD myself, but I recall that every occasion when I hear it, I think it’s somebody who SOUNDS like Nilsson, but then am reminded that it actually IS Nilsson. I don’t really know why this keeps happening. Probably after this post, I will no longer have that problem. Though, kudos to me for — without KNOWING the song is Nilsson — LIKENING it to Nilsson. I mean, in my defense, I’ve often reviewed music that sounds so much like Nilsson, it could actually be him, so this probably comes down to trust issues. How can I trust what I’m hearing is Nilsson when he’s one of the more emulated artists of music past in today’s indie universe (other strongest contenders, in my experience, being David Bowie and Neil Young).

I mean, come on, just listen to this cover by The 88. It’s pretty much exactly the same. SUCH TRICKERY.