Past The Verge. The Heartbreak Anthology: Part 4

So it’s been a while I know, but things are now rolling again and this month the heartbreak anthology will be completed, at least this volume. This is the mix for women’s sadness, which is a brutal and powerful thing to experience for most involved parties. To be clear, I’m not talking about a scorned woman. That was the purpose of PFU #002. I’m talking about the times when a woman feels truly and honestly sad, desperate , and afraid that she is not or will not be loved. When she has no ideas of how to fix things, no plans for solutions or alternatives, just a dangerous vacuum. This has it’s own special and heavy gravity. With all attempts to have female sadness romanticized, marginalized, and  mocked I feel that its true impact never changes. I think it’s possible to appear unfazed or actually be temporarily indifferent to a devastated woman, but that doesn’t last. Only true sociopaths are immune.

When woman are strong or weak there seems to have be a comfortable cliche to soften, dismiss, or reverse the situation, but when women are truly destroyed, the world seems out of balance, something is wrong. Men don’t, and probably never will, have this power. I like that. Be it chauvinism, guilt, misguided pity, the reality of maternal nature, world history, personal hang-ups, or just me being a pussy…I don’t care. I like the fact that this gender imbalance (or at least my view of it) falls into the woman’s court.

I realize that the idea of making mixes for women that are supposed to sync up with their heaviest emotions is ridiculous, but this is my offering. I tried to feature songs that had a few various root causes of women’s sadness (relating specifically to heartbreak) that I have run across, from the understandable to the illogical and maddening. In an attempt to keep the relevance of this blog I am having two guest mixes for female sadness and anger that will be done by actual females coming later this month. Seeing the contrast alone should be fun or at least educational. Here we go ladies: A soundtrack to one of the things that (most)men are afraid of.

PFU MIX #004

USE: Dealing With Heartbreak, Shock and Depression Stages. For Her.

1. Little Dragon – Twice
2. Beach House – Some Things Last A Long Time
3. Shangri-Las - I’ll Never Learn
4. Lali Puna – Don’t Think
5. Patsy Cline – Why Can’t He Be You?
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Down Boy
7. Betty Crutcher – So Lonely Without You
8. Blonde Redhead – Misery Is A Butterfly (Wicked Version)
9. Aretha Franklin – Without The One I Love
10. Holly Golightly with The Greenhornes – There Is An End
11. Nina Simone – Either Way I Lose
12. Cat Power – Metal Heart (Original Version)
13. Heart – Alone
14. Boss Hog – Texas
15. Dolly Parton – Jolene
16. Portishead – Mysterons
17. Etta James – Fool That I Am
18. Neko Case – (Look For Me) I’ll Be Around
19. Delizia – Laissons Passer les Annees
20. Mazzy Star – Into Dust
21. Debbie Dean – A New Girl
22. Yael Naim – Toxic

LINK: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?yynj3xtkdmy

Sadgasm. The Heartbreak Anthology: Part 3

Good Evening. Let’s Get Sad. To that place where someone leaves you and advice and logic are useless. The mind usually leaps into a mode to fix its own imbalance as quickly as possible. This, of course, is usually the worst sort of reaction because heartbreak isn’t commonly a quick fix. Even if there is hope for a relationship most often there is a sizeable amount of arduous time apart required to recalibrate yourself and then properly recognize, accept, and mend the toxic elements that brought everything down. That’s if you’re lucky.

This mix is for men, and a woman’s mix will be following shortly. However, I think they all the sadness mixes will work for both sexes, much more than the anger mixes. Sadness usually makes us be a bit more accepting of another point of view because, well, we want everything to be ok.

I think that the brain has a hard time suddenly losing what it had come to assume was an essential element, no matter the amount of clues beforehand. The natural human reaction to say or do anything to solve a long view problem overnight (like a rotten relationship) eventually reminds us all that we, despite our quasi-sophistication, cannot escape becoming very irrational and dishonest with ourselves at our core.  This is a generalization, but seeing how most cultures defend this behavior in art, music, etc. as an inescapable defining human characteristic, I’d say its close enough to declare embedded in us. I don’t think we can evolve out of it. So…here’s what we get back for all of that intractable self destruction and pain.

Some of these songs are by the people who “cause” this sadness and the rest were written by really, really desperate and devastated people at their most irrational and broken. They’re so fucking good.

 PFU MIX #003

USE: Dealing with Heartbreak - Depression and Bargaining Stages. For Him.

1. James Brown – Goodbye My Love, Parts 1 & 2
2. Peter, Bjorn, and John – The Chills
3. Al Green – Don’t Hurt Me No More
4. Willie Nelson – Both Sides Now
5. The Walkmen – Many Rivers To Cross
6. Chuck Berry – Wee Wee Hours
7. Johnny Thunders – You Can’t Put Your Arm Around A Memory
8. Elvis Presley – That’s When Your Heartaches Begin
9. The White Stripes – A Martyr For My Love For You
10. Little Stevie Wonder – Sunset
11. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Sympathetic Noose
12. Sammy Ward – Bread Winner
13. Kyu Sakamoto – Sukiyaki
14. Pavement – Here
15. Sam Cooke – Bring It On Home
16. Waylon Jennings – Delia’s Gone
17. Frank Sinatra – In The Wee Small Hours of The Morning
18. The Magnetic Fields – I Don’t Want To Get Over You
19. Otis Redding – You Don’t Miss Your Water
20. Neil Young – Heart of Gold
21. The Make-Up – Time Machine
22. LCD Soundsystem – Someone Great

LINK: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?wvmozyzzojk

Girl Trouble. The Heartbreak Anthology: Part 2

Ok, this one is a heartbreak anger mix for women. It’s always a bit dangerous soundtracking for the other gender. Picking songs that go along with male frustration and loss is a pretty effortless task, but flipping the card to score what women would find helpful when they are pissed at, well, you is uphill and bittersweet to put it mildly. I’m sure there must be some rooted psychological block foiling the idea. I must have told myself 10 times to put a Tori Amos song on this mix and for some reason it didn’t end up there. On the other hand I’m sure we all pick up some hate empathy from the opposite sex just from being around it, plus I hate most men anyway so maybe this will work. We’ll see. Open fire ladies. Leave some feedback. I hope you get a sardonic chuckle out of this one at least…

PFU MIX #002

Please keep the track order. I’ve tried everything to have it load automatically, but itunes always has other priorities. If anyone has a suggestion I’m listening.

USE: Dealing with Heartbreak – Shock and Anger Stages. For Her.

1. Aretha Franklin – Chain of Fools [Extended Version]
2. The Fitness – Dance This
3. The Fiery Furnaces – Single Again
4. Fabienne DelSol – I’m Gonna Haunt You
5. The Slits – I Heard It Through The Grapevine
6. Loretta Lynn – The Pill
7. Von Iva – Not Hot To Trot
8. Lykke Li – I’m Good, I’m Gone
9. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – Doing All Right With The Boys
10. France Gall – Laisse Tomber Les Filles [Chick Habit]
11. Beyonce – Irreplaceable
12. The Ting Tings – Keep Your Head
13. Josie Cotton – Johnny, Are You Queer?
14. Petula Clark – Romeo
15. The Duke Spirit – Love Is An Unfamiliar Name
16. Big Mama Thornton – I Smell A Rat
17. The Kimonos – You Better Run
18. The Flirtations – Nothing But A Heartache
19. Ladytron – Another Breakfast With You
20. The 2 of Clubs – Heart
21. Erykah Badu – Tyrone
22. Annie – Take You Home

LINK: http://www.mediafire.com/?zznhymnykol

Let The Healing Begin. The Heartbreak Anthology: Part 1.

Ka-Boom. This is the “official” beginning of Production For Use. For the first real post i didn’t want to leave anyone out. I tried to think of the most fitting and encompassing opening to a blog that aims to provide specified life soundtracks. Heartbreak was the only real answer.

Listening to music to deal with getting your heart stomped is probably the most common use of all music, ever since humans knew enough words to say “Fuck this, I’m leaving”.  I’m sure there’s a romantic explaination…something about the heart technically being an instrument. Cruelty and sensitivty appears to be engrained in our genetic make-up, therefore heartbreak is also the most common theme in music. It beats love songs by a mile…in numbers and appreciation. This isn’t surprising. Heartbreak is one of the only things everyone can relate to. Love songs are excessive supplements, break up songs are a necessity.

Against my better judgement I decided to take on the task of finding a handful of what I thought were the most useful songs for heartbreak. Not just song about heartbreak, but songs that would be useful when you are actually going through it. As you may imagine there is a long and diverse list. Heartbreak is never simple, even when it is.  Valentine’s Day seemed like the ideal place to start. PFU will be presenting several different collections of songs for romantic loss over the coming days. This is an attempt at a handy loveworn anthology. The mixes are gender specific and loosly follow the 7 stages of greif. The kick-off mix is for men, and the tone is angry.

Remember to please retain the song order.

PFU MIX #001

USE: Dealing with Heartbreak - Shock & Anger Stages. For Him. 

1. Steve Martin – How To Leave Your Lover
2. Saul Williams – List of Demands (Reparations)
3. Simon & Garfunkel – Cecilia
4. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – There’s Something Wrong With You
5. Q65 – Get Out Of My Life Woman
6. The Wu-Tang Clan – Dogshit
7. The Rolling Stones – Some Girls
8. Zeigenbock Kopf – I Know Sorry When I See It
9. The Sonics – Shot Down
10. The Lovemakers – Whine and Dine (DJ Cuba Gooding Jr. Remix)
11. Crooked Fingers – Solitary Man
12. Desmond Dekker – This Woman
13. Willie Nelson – Bloody Mary Morning
14. The Dirtbombs – Lost Love
15. Half Japanese – 1,000,000 Kisses
16. Baby Huey & Baby Sitters – Messin With The Kid
17. The Cold War Kids – There’s Something Not Right With Me
18. Ghostface Killah – You Know That I’m No Good (Ft. Amy Winehouse)
19. The Bee Gees – Earnest of Being George
20. Pere Ubu – Final Solution
21. Phoenix – Consolation Prizes
22. John Lee Hooker – I’m Bad Like Jesse James (Live)
23. Journey – You’re On Your Own

LINK: http://www.mediafire.com/?mcm2jvy2ezf

Roll em.

Welcome. This is my Music Blog. Since the prestigious Internet is so saturated with these things I had to select a concept that I thought was fitting considering what I have to offer. I wanted more than random 1-4 track leaks and I’m not suited to handle a dangerously hyper-focused (and wonderful) dorkout blog so I picked something that fit comfortably in the middle.

The aim of this blog is to give you a mix at least once every week. A small collection of songs with a central purpose, but not just a theme. I’ve found that 24 songs about water or visible panty lines don’t really have much of a practical use. The topic usually gets pretty tired by song 10 or 11, particularly without some sort of commentary. The mixes here will be soundtracks suited to real life situations so that when in those situations they (hopefully) will be a top notch companion. Each mix will fit onto a regular blank CD and occasionally will have printable artwork and track listings.

I’m starting with Christmas because I’m a Christmas freak and I thought there should be more mixes out there for people who probably hate most Christmas music. This is essentially a soft opening of the blog to work out any kinks, take suggestions on the format, and gear up for the first polished Production for Use mix in January. I’m including last year’s Christmas mix just to have some good kickoff swag. Download them both. I’ve added two Christmas stories this year. Enjoy the holiday music, please give me feedback or questions, and enjoy the end of 2008.

NOTE: I’m not trying to just give away songs. If ANY band does not want their work available through this blog, PLEASE tell me and I will repost the mix without it. Upon request I will provide ways to purchase any of the albums that these songs originally appear.  If you like these artists, buy them, and more importantly: Go to Their Shows and Buy Their Merchandise.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DOWNLOADING MIXES: Most of the PFU Mixes will be downloadable only as a whole through Rapidshare or Mediafire. The reason is that these sites keep uploads longer than most other sites of their kind, there is little or no ads/spyware, and they’re relatively simple to use.

RAPIDSHARE: Once you click on the link you will be taken to Rapidshare and asked to select Free User or Premium User. Select Free User. You will then have to wait about one minute and then you can begin downloading the mix.

MEDIAFIRE: Click on the download link. Save the file to the folder you want it in.

Each mix will be in a ZIP file format. Once you have downloaded the mix you will need to “extract” the mp3’s.  Most PC’s and Apples have programs built in that will do this. If not, go to this link: http://www.rarlabs.com/download.htm

Download Winrar for whatever system that you have. It’s small, safe, and free. After you download the program just click on the ZIP file and Winrar should open automatically. It will tell you it’s a trial version, but trust me just close out the message and you can use it for as long as you want. Just select the mix and click “extract to” at the top. Then select where you want to keep the files (ie, music folder), extract, and then you have a folder of mp3’s ready to be played however you want. Feel free to email me any questions about any of this.

ONE FINAL NOTE: I spend a lot of time selecting the sequence of these songs. The order should automatically be retained after you put it on your computer, but if not please try to keep the songs in order. Thanks.

 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PRODUCTION FOR USE MIX: #0/#00

USE: Enjoying the Holidays without enduring Mannheim Steamroller.

2008 TRACKLIST:

1. Steve Carell – The Countdown
2. The Soul Saints Orchestra – Santa’s Got A Bag Of Soul
3. Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians of the British Empire – Mistletoe
4. Jacques Dutronc – La Fille Du Pere Noel
5. Caribou – The Snow Capes
6. Lightnin’ Hopkins – Santa
7. The Fireflies – X-Mas Song
8. Kay Martin & Her Bodygaurds – I Want A Casting Couch For Christmas
9. Reuben Anderson – Christmas Time Again
10. The Soulful Strings – Merry Christmas Baby
11. Diplo – When Eggnog Goes Bad
12. Mahalia Jackson – Christmas Comes To Us All Once A Year
13. Ringo Starr – C’mon Christmas
14. John Coltrane – Greensleeves
15. Donny Burns – Cool Yule
16. Daniele et Michele – L’hiver
17. Margo Guryan – I Don’t Intend To Spend Christmas Without You
18. Hot Lava – X-Mass Wii
19. Chuck Berry – Merry Christmas Baby
20. The Purse Snatchers – Christmas Lights
21. Jackie Gleason & His Orchestra – It’s Christmas Time All Over The World
22. Ernest Tubb – Happy Texas Christmas You All!
23. The Walkmen – New Year’s Eve
24. The Black On White Affair – Auld Lang Syne
25. Donovan – New Year’s Resolutions

LINK: http://www.mediafire.com/?4mzjjmleqjt

CHRISTMAS STORY:

David Sedaris – Six to Eight Black Men

LINK: http://rapidshare.com/files/174731206/Christmas_Story.zip

 

2007 TRACKLIST:

1. NORAD – Santa Promotional Spot
2. Sufjan Stevens – Hey Guys! It’s Christmas Time!
3. Ike & Tina Turner – Merry Christmas Baby
4. Bey Ireland – All I Want For Christmas is A Go-Go Girl
5. Jack Scott – There’s Trouble Brewin’
6. Run DMC/Clarence Carter – Christmas In Hollis/Back Door Santa (Mix by DJ Riko)
7. Smokey Robinson and The Miracles – Let It Snow!
8. The White Stripes – Candy Cane Children
9. Unknown – Christmas Tumor
10. Elvis Presley – Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me
11. Clyde Lasley & The Cadillac Baby Specials – Santa Came Home Drunk
12. Johnny Cash – It’s Not Cool To Kill On Christmas
13. Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians of The British Empire – Pete Townsend’s Christmas
14. Marvin Gaye – Purple Snowflakes
15. Pizzicato Five – Snowflakes
16. Luna – Egg Nog
17. Kay Martin & Her Bodyguards – Up Your Chimney
18. The Raveonettes – The Christmas Song
19. Proxy – Sugarplum Jeans
20. Vince Guaraldi Trio – Skating
21. The Manhattans – Alone On New Year’s Eve
22. Loretta Lynn – I Won’t Decorate Your Christmas Tree
23. Carla Thomas – Gee Whiz, It’s Christmas
24. The Maytals – Happy Christmas
25. The Rolling Stones – Winter
26. Starflyer 59 – I’ll Be Home For Christmas

LINK: http://www.mediafire.com/?zymkmzqd1nm

 

CHRISTMAS STORY:

William S. Burroughs & Kurt Cobain – The Priest They Called  Him (A Junkie’s Christmas)

LINK: http://rapidshare.com/files/174947576/01_the_priest_they_called_him.mp3