Download the zipped folder here. If the songs get lost in your media library, just search for the ones with the genre labeled "Dan2012".
1. Hospitality - The Birthday
I am a huge fan most every song on this album, so I start off the 2012 soundtrack with the opening song from their local show.
2. Beirut - Sante Fe
A song from 2011 I didn’t get around to liking until 2012, after seeing it on someone’s best-of-the-year list.
3. Surfer Blood - I’m Not Ready
Barbara liked their first record, and I loved this song and “Miranda” from their recent EP. I did not love when their lead singer pled no contest to battery of his girlfriend. This led to a conversation with my coworker about how that should impact my enjoyment of their songs - the Chris Brown dilemma, if you will. It led to a classic thought on her part:
One of my favorite artists, Richard Buckner was caught up in a thing when his truck was found with a burnt up severed head in the seat. I was conflicted, but then thought, “maybe most of his songs are about cutting people’s heads off?” and then somehow I was okay with it, cause his songs are good. He was cleared of the charges later.
4. Andrew Bird - Sifters
There are two outstanding songs on this album, and I have chosen this one over “Eyeoneye” for the playlist. This song is a mixture of Benjamin Button and “The Luckiest”, and should resonate more than that song, seeing as how this guy isn’t on his fourth wife like Ben Folds.
5. Thao and Mirah - Folks
I dunno. This song is good. It fits well at this spot in the playlist, I think.
6. Fruit Bats - You’re Too Weird
See? It just fits between these two songs.
7. Sleeper Agent - Proper Taste
I first heard this album with the windows down on a bright spring day and I was super pumped. But this is probably the only essential song, unless you really like hearing guys who sound like Jack White.
8. Hot Chip - Flutes
Maybe you’ll hate this, but if you’re on the fence, I think you’ll find after the thirtieth listen that your head will bob along happily.
9. Tegan & Sara - Closer
I first heard this live on Conan, and was confused when the first strange lilt was sung: clo - saaaAAAAAH! A few weeks later I heard it on the radio while driving, and a few weeks after that I bought the damn thing when I saw the album wasn’t going to be released for another 90 days. The video is pretty fun, too:
Tegan & Sara // "Closer" (Dir. Isaac Rentz) from More Media on Vimeo.
10. Rolling Stones - The Last Time
When Mick Jagger was on SNL with Arcade Fire, I kind of heard this song for the first time, you know? It’s not a classic rock staple I’ve heard a billion times like Satisfaction, and while it sounded like a bit of a mess on the 30 Rock stage, I liked the energy of the performance.
11. Veronica Falls - My Heart Beats
Sort of like a British, gothic, surf-rock Mamas and the Papas. Sort of.
12. Fiona Apple - Werewolf
I have a lot to say about this song, but it is stuck in draft form until Alipete finds the mojo to email me back. To be continued.
13. We Were Promised Jetpacks - Pear Tree
Hearing him shout metaphors before the drums and guitar ramped back up was a highlight of the Kansas City show. There is no other current band that sounds as great when played at high volume.
14. Menomena - Pique
Failure / Genitalia wins this year’s Soul Asylum Memorial Funeral / Urinal Half-Rhyme Award.
15. Metric - Lost Kitten
You may find her voice annoying on this track, but I dig it. It’s a hell of a lot less annoying than Lou Reed’s appearance on the album. “Youth Without Youth” is also worth hearing.
16. New Cassettes - Silent Guns
These guys opened for We Were Promised Jetpacks. My immediate opinion of them was dampened by the singer’s appearance and enthusiasm, because I am an asshole. In my defense, dude was wearing a bracelet or two.
17. New Order - Age of Consent
We used to use the New Order song on the Trainspotting soundtrack when we came out of commercials -- err, underwriting -- on my college radio show. Every now and then I’ll hear another of their songs and wonder if I should dip deeper in the catalog.
18. Sauna Youth - PSI Girls
I cannot comprehend a word of it, but I thank Fluxblog for the recommendation. It sounds like something that should be playing over a montage -- I picture a bunch of incorrigible teens running wild on a Saturday night.
19. Sak Noel - Paso (The Nini Anthem)
I guess our trip to Providence was weird. The most memorable moments were tossing glass bottles into plastic tubs, mowing a lawn, seeing Floyd whip a squid carcass across a stream, and being exposed to this song in a hookah bar after stuffing ourselves with fresh seafood. If you’re worried that you don’t comprehend the deep meaning behind this song, the video will explain everything concisely:
20. Brett Gelman - I Am Bane
The Gelmania podcast is one-third chuckles, one-third insane stuff that isn’t too good, and one-third comedy gold. This is from episode 10, which was pretty great. My all-time favorite is probably episode 2, which features Adam Scott and Megan Mullally in a super fucked-up play, recorded live.
