Mike's Soul Mix

One of the first mixes I ever made was called Mike's Soul Mix and I created it in the summer of 2000, right after my parents got a brand new computer that could burn CD's! I popped it in the other day and blew my mind. I think I blew Dobbin's mind as well whe I played it for him. I don't mean to brag or anything, but I have really good taste in music. Let this mix list explain why:

1. "She Drives Me Crazy" - Fine Young Cannibals (FYC) - 1988
Just a killer pop tune. You either hate it or love it. Me? I love it. It's got this guitar riff you can't ignore, vocals you can barely understand and "in your face" drums. You all know it and you kn ow you love it too.

2. "Crazy" - Seal - 1990
I guess I was a fan of songs with the word "crazy" in them. But this is song impressive because it sounds like no other songs during it's time. If it was released today, it would be a hit single. The chorus is great "No we're never gonna survive, unless we get a little crazy". Also there is an awesome drum fill in the middle of the song which wins me over every time.

3. "Dirty Laundry" - Don Henley - 1982
This is a good song, but I really don't know why it's on this mix. It doesn't really fit at all. I became a huge Don henley fan in the summer of 2000 and I must have really liked this track. It's your typical political and social commentary that you expect from Don.

4. "Beast of Burden" - Rolling Stones - 1978
My favorite Rolling Stones song. Just a funkyish soul tune. Great melody, sensual lyrics. Great guitar work. A pop masterpiece.

5. "Everywhere" - Fleetwood Mac - 1987
This is the song where people make fun of me for liking. Cuz it sounds kinda whimpy and too girly. But I love the keyboards and the gentle vocal stylings of Christine McVie and the looped drum part. I will even go as far to say that this is my favorite Fleetwood Mac song...there I said it.

6. "Walking in Memphis" - Marc Cohn - 1991
You know this one. You like it. You know why. Nothing can beat the piano work and passionate lyrics in this song. And this guy got shot in the head!

7. "I'm on Fire" - Bruce Springsteen - 1984
It's at this point in the mix that I start to bring it down a bit. And when I say a bit I mean a lot. It's not uncommon for me to do this in a mix and then Andy and Shawn will say something like "Man, you're really bringing this mix down, this must have been a dark period in your life". Anywho, this is the start of a 4 song slide of musical greatness. This isn't a sad song, but a slow, darkish sounding song that is one of my very favorite Bruce songs of all time.

8. "Tell Me I Was Dreaming" - Travis Tritt - 1994
Yes, Travis frickin' Tritt. A country artist. How dare I. Anther thing about my mixes is that I like to include a country song or two on my mixes. Because believe it or not, there are good country songs out there! And this is one of them. One of the darkest country songs I know. It's about this guy who's wife dies in a drowning accident and he is mad that she never told him goodbye. And the tag at the end of the song is amazing. Back me up here, Dawg.

9. "Coming Back to Life" - Pink Floyd - 1994
"Where were you when I was burned and broken?" opening this tearful song of doubts, disappointment and finally hope. Awesome guitar solos and steady back beat make this one a winner. Rick Wright R.I.P.

10. "Snow on the Sahara" - Anggun - 1997
You may have forgot about this song or have never known it. This a cool electronicish song, sweet vocals, dark but uplifting. A very girly song as well but I'm not afraid to admit I like it!

11. "In The House of Stone and Light" - Martin Page - 1994
The end of the slide. A masterfully beautiful tune. Great bass. Amazing vocals. What a song for a one hit wonder! Definitely a song I wish I had written. The vocal breakdown in the end is to die for.

12. "Learn to be Still" - The Eagles - 1994
Man, what is up with 1994 being such a great year in music? One of my favorite Eagles songs. A very simple song with complex lyrics. One of Don's finest. A lot of biblical imagery in the song too which makes it cool.

13. "Losing My Religion" - REM - 1991
The song that turned me on to REM freshman year of college. There is a mandolin in this song which makes it so cool! I heard that the phrase "Losing Your religion" means "going crazy".

14. "Everything is Different Now" - Don Henley - 2000
This was Amber's and my song from Freshman year. Don Henley was the very first concert we went to together in the summer of 2000 at the Marcus Amphitheater. He played this song and we went nuts! We wanted this to be the song for our first dance at our wedding, but you really can't dance to it!

15. "Burn Down the Mission" - Phil Collins - 1991
This is an Elton John cover song from the Two Rooms album to honor Elton and Bernie Taupin for their work. A killer track. Tight horns, gospel choir, fast. I highly recommend people download this track; it'll just make you want to dance!

16. "Stand by Me" - Ben E. King - 1961
Whoa, old song here. But a touching way to end a great mix. Can the lyrics get any better? No. I think this song is also way ahead of it's time; sounds like it could be from the late 60s.

In other news...

I'm running in a relay marathon this Sunday with some friends. I'm looking forward to it because I have never been a relay team before (except high school). Our team name is WAPAM! which is acronym from the first letter from each person's first name. Camann is running it and will do awesome!

Our lawn is green again! Thank you fertilizer and rain!! I mowed it on Monday and I think it was as thick and lush as it has ever been. It clogged up the mower like 100 times.

Our first discussion for Book Group is tonight. We're reading "Renovation of the Heart" by Dallas Willard which is about trying to put your character in line with Christs. So it's something we can all benefit from!

I realized that it has been one year tomorrow that Mrs. Dobbins has been gone. And I miss her a ton. Man, time flies. I remember thinking that I was going to get a phone call that I didn't want to get sometime that week. But the Dobbin's family is like glue and they can take a hit and keep on going like no body's business! I shall have a Berry Weiss or other fruity beer this weekend in honor of her! (that was our thing)

Alright, I should get back to work!