D.C.’s Weird Shit Mix — Vol. 1

Look, you guys all know me. You know I’m pretty much always blasting Alanis or Fiona or Gwen, you know, chicks who sing like they’re about to either kiss you or key your car. That’s totally my style. Powerful women yelling over guitars? That’s church. But this mix? This one’s not that. Not really.

This is one I made late, after taking another pounding on the field. I had one of my best games, but shocker, we still lost, like always. I kept playing it over and over in my head until it got too late to try to sleep. So, I grabbed my monstrous CD folio and started pulling weird shit out to put together a “get my head right” mix. I figured it would be a good way to clear my head clearer. You know feel the funk, let our the rage, all that shit. I just needed something to help me get my ass moving again. You know, shake off the bad energy of our eighth loss of the season and restore some positive vibes in my life. I flipped through disc after disc. I think I’ve got over 300 by now. Hitting Strawberries at the Fairfield Mall has become a Monday ritual and half my allowance goes to music, the other half to 7-Eleven runs.

I flipped page after page, pulling out the songs that make me feel something. I really had to resist putting on some No Doubt. Man, I love their vibe—and Gwen, total babe—but that’s not what this mix was going to be about. No Cranberries, no Garbage, and I definitely couldn’t throw on “Ironic” again without feeling like a parody of myself. So I started pulling stuff that felt weird in the best way possible. Before I knew it, it all got kinda sideways. Not bad—just not where I usually live.

Like, “Deeper Shade of Soul”—that one starts it off. It’s smooth, funky, totally fun vibe, right? It feels like you’re hanging with someone smoking a cigarette with their feet in a kiddie pool. I don’t know what they’re on, but I’m into it. Then you get “Good Times” by Tropadelic and “Super Stupid” by Funkadelic back-to-back. That’s not even a transition. It's more like taking a left turn on a red light. If that makes any sense. I know it doesn’t. But it works.

There’s some stuff in here I just threw in because it made me feel something. “The Most Beautifullest Thing” by Keith Murray? Man, I swear—such a chill beat and his flow is so underrated, in my opinion. Plus, I’m totally on his side in the beef against Ja Rule.

I dropped in “Mary Jane” and “Jump” because they both make me dance different—one’s a head-bob, the other’s an ass-shaker. When it hits that part, I just move like I don’t care who’s watching. I mean, I never really do, but that jam makes it easier. All those hits are so good. Seriously, you ever try to stay bummed while Chaka Khan is yelling “I Feel For You” in your ears? You can’t. Trust me, I’ve tested it.

Then there’s some totally different vibes. Yeah, they’re loud—“Diggin the Grave,” “Township Rebellion,” “Bad Mouth.” Jer got me into that shit and I’m not the least bit mad at him for it. I had to drop those tracks in just so he wouldn’t groan when I try to pop this disc in when we hang out, which is pretty much all the time. Rage, Fugazi, Faith No More—they’re not in my regular rotation, but sometimes you gotta let the walls shake a little. Plus, have you ever heard Mike Patton’s soulful side? I mean, this song isn’t that, but still—so powerful. And Zack from Rage, man, he’s so small but his voice is so big. I totally respect that kind of control and power.

Then there’s Prince. You’ve always gotta have Prince. Doesn’t matter what the rest of the mix is doing—“Jack U Off” comes on and suddenly it’s a party. Then there’s the rest of those, what I call, alt-funk tracks: “My Drawers,” “Midas Touch,” “Joystick.” That’s me getting silly. That’s me remembering it’s okay to smile when you feel like the universe is shitting all over you.

And to keep that wacky energy and wrap it all on a high note, it ends on “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Because I’m not always sure it is. But I want to be.

Anyway. This mix definitely isn’t for everybody. I’m not even sure it’s for me all the time. But if you ever catch a night where the lights feel too bright and your thoughts feel too loud? Toss on this mix and get your ass moving. It’s the best medicine. I can’t promise it’ll fix everything—but it definitely won’t make it worse.

And to keep that wacky energy and wrap it all on a high note, it ends on “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Because I’m not always sure it is. But I want to be.

Anyway, this mix definitely isn’t for everybody. I’m not even sure it’s for me all the time. But if you ever catch a night where the lights feel too bright and your thoughts feel too loud? Toss on this mix and get your ass moving...