Help me make a music mix

September 12, 2009 5:15 PM

Help me create a mixed music folder for my friend who recently broke up with her boyfriend. She really likes Belle & Sebastian and...

...I like B&S too but I don't listen to music a lot. I'm not music-fluent at all so I'll just list the kinds of music she likes (also, I'm aiming for happy, upbeat yay-ish music):

- She really liked the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack
- She likes Ratatat
- Also, John Frusciante but I think he's a little...depressing for the music folder
- Indie folk stuff

Her birthday is also coming up. I wanted to make this to cheer her up so I was going to download a bunch of albums or songs from these different artists and slap them onto a jumpdrive. Then I was going to put the jumpdrive in a cute little box and give it to her. Is there any other way you would do it?

Thanks!!

posted by bluelight to grab bag (14 comments total)

You can find many suitable tracks by The Lucksmiths, The Boy Least Likely To, and Camera Obscura.
posted by ludwig_van at 5:30 PM on September 12

I loved Ratatat's remix of Bjork's "Wanderlust". Very good for an "I'm leaving all this behind me" sort of vibe.
posted by hermitosis at 5:42 PM on September 12

i think the jump drive is the best way to go, because it's easy for her and she can burn CDs or put it on her mp3 player, and have them on her computer too.

musical suggestions (song titles in brackets if i can think of specifics):

- architecture in helsinki (one heavy february)
- ben lee - he's one of my favourite upbeat artists (we're all in this together)
- cut copy (going nowhere)
- eric hutchinson (oh!)
- forest city lovers
- gentleman auction house (abcdefgraveyard)
- gotye (the only way)
- halou
- the highway beautiful
- lcd soundsystem!!
- los campesinos
- matt & kim (yea yeah)
- nada surf (beautiful beat)
- ok go (here it goes again)
- phoenix
- stereophonics (lolita, have a nice day)
- tegan and sara (i won't be left, speak slow)
- the weakerthans (our retired explorer)
- tilly & the wall (perfect fit)
- tokyo police club (your english)

and, the best feel-good song of all time: "everyday people" by sly & the family stone. it's not new or indie, but it's so damn good.

i also second the boy least likely to.
posted by gursky at 5:56 PM on September 12

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Basically their entire self-titled album.
posted by oinopaponton at 6:01 PM on September 12

"Wake up" by either Yoko Ono or Trio. I prefer Trio's version but they're both great.
posted by rhizome at 6:02 PM on September 12

I listened to "Flakes" by Mystery Jets literally 43 times after my last relationship ended (just checked the number in iTunes). "Ragged Wood" by Fleet Foxes and "So Far Around the Bend" by the National are also ideal.

... Okay I just went back and noticed that you said you're looking for happy upbeat music. Sorry about that, but I'll leave the above responses in case you feel like diversifying a bit. Happy songs in the same genre: Los Campesinos - You! Me! Dancing!, Matt & Kim - Daylight, Noisettes - Never Forget You, The Be Good Tanyas - The Littlest Birds, The Magnetic Fields - You and Me and the Moon, Yelle - Ce Jeu.
posted by telegraph at 6:09 PM on September 12

Not upbeat, but I love I Don't Want To Get Over You, by the Magnetic Fields as covered by Mary Lou Lord.
posted by sully75 at 6:56 PM on September 12

Passion Pit - Manners....the whole album is upbeat, catchy goodness
posted by pilibeen at 7:08 PM on September 12

The Bird and the Bee
Mates of State
MGMT
Stars
The Ting Tings
White Rabbits
posted by ephemerista at 7:57 PM on September 12

In a somewhat similar (Scottish) vein as B&S but noisier/more musically interesting, check out The Delgados. Particularly tracks from Peloton and The Great Eastern, but the covers that populate the last portion of their The Complete BBC Peel Sessions are also very good.
posted by kowalski at 8:19 PM on September 12

The new album by fun. is really good and catchy and fun.
posted by PhatLobley at 9:30 PM on September 12

Seconding Camera Obscura if she likes B&S, also Tegan & Sara: Speak Slow is great, and also specifically Call it Off.
Also, the Streets has a song called Dry Your Eyes. He's a rapper but his stuff is very melodic and very easy on the ears - I am only into very very few types of rap and he's on my list of favourites. And this is definitely the best break-up song I've ever heard.
posted by alona at 9:39 PM on September 12

I'm From Barcelona, Bloc Party, The Blow, The Brunettes, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Cibo Matto, The Fiery Furnaces, The Format.
posted by scarykarrey at 10:10 PM on September 12

The genius behind Belle and Sebastian just released an excellent new project that might be just the thing: God Help The Girl.
posted by fatllama at 2:32 AM on September 13