20130709

California

For years I had been thinking about making a mix about California. When I made a mix about the United States in general a few years ago, it because apparent quickly that more songs have been written about California than any other state. Ironically, California is one of the 13 states I have yet to visit.


That mix I made 5 years ago, LA to NYC, I blogged about at the time, and it has become one my favorite mixes I have ever done. Even my wife will ask to listen to it.

Anyway, I knew eventually I would make a mix strictly about California, I just didn't think it would take 5 years! It is a pretty interesting thing to listen to now that it is finished, because California is a dichotomy. Everyone initially loves it in concept, but many people HATE it when they truly spend time there.


Tracks 2 and 3, both titled "California Girls", sum up this mix perfectly:

The Beach Boys:

The Magnetic Fields:

And so here is the mix, and the 20 tracks will fit on a standard CD:

1. Pacific / Sleeping At Last 2:49
2. California Girls / The Beach Boys 2:38
3. California Girls / The Magnetic Fields 3:01
4. California Dreaming / Mamas and the Papas 2:41
5. California / Mates Of State 2:32
6. California / Low 3:23
7. California / Copeland 5:26
8. California Wasted / Toad the Wet Sprocket 3:50
9. Why You'd Want To Live Here / Death Cab For Cutie 4:45
10. Earthquakes And Sharks / Brandtson 2:57
11. Money Money / The Lassie Foundation 4:40
12. Malibu / Hole 3:50
13. Going To California / Led Zeppelin 3:36
14. I Remember California / R.E.M. 5:04
15. California Brown And Blue / Denison Witmer 5:04
16. San Andreas Fault / Natalie Merchant 3:59
17. In California / Neko Case 3:29
18. Not California / Hem 4:11
19. San Pedro / Mogwai 3:27
20. Hollywood / P.O.D. 5:22