Cute as metal

August 2, 2007 12:38 PM

I need to make a mix cd for a very cute girl. However, I'm a little bit punk, she's a little bit rock n roll.

Some of her favorite bands are Mono, High on Fire, Turbonegro, and Radio Birdman. Some of my favorite bands sound nothing like this. Help!

posted by Homeskillet Freshy Fresh to media & arts (50 comments total)

This reads like "please tell me how to express my deepest feelings for this girl." It's tough to do without knowing what you want the mix tape to *say.*

My advice would be to give her a mix tape of music you think she'd like from your collection. There's got to be something in the 'ol CD case that you could get her turned on to.

Also, do you want it to be a mix tape of music you think she should hear, or music which is somehow meaningful to your relationship with Cute Girl? It's an important distinction.
posted by craven_morhead at 12:51 PM on August 2, 2007

Make her a mix of songs you like, that maybe fall slightly inline with her existing tastes. Introduce her to songs and bands that you like and think she might enjoy. Make the goal of the mix be to share something about yourself, while borrowing the words to let her know you think she's cute.

On preview, as Craven says, the goal of the CD is important, though I think it could accomplish both goals in some cases.
posted by chriswarren at 12:53 PM on August 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

Making a mix CD can be a great time to introduce who you are to someone else. So what if your favorite music isn't hers ... yet. Don't be afraid to share some of your favorites, as she's probably already heard bands similar to her favorites.

But yes, if you're trying to have this mix CD say something, choose the songs you put on it with a little thought. Some that will make her laugh, some that she'll fall in love with, some that she can "rock" out to (even though you're punk and she's roll).

Good luck!
posted by blueorchids at 12:56 PM on August 2, 2007

But...but...now wait. I'm sure someone here could provide you a good enough playlist based on the bands you've mentioned, but isn't the point of a mix CD supposed to be that it comes from...you know...you? I think you should hit up whatever mp3 service you normally use and listen to a few songs from bands you know she likes, try to find the common ground between your taste and hers, then provide her with stuff you like that you think she'll enjoy, too. I bet there's more than you're guessing.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 12:56 PM on August 2, 2007

Make a mixtape full of Mono, High on Fire, Turbonegro, and Radio Birdman.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:56 PM on August 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

(On review, what everyone else said.)
posted by kittens for breakfast at 12:56 PM on August 2, 2007

Fuck common ground! Make a mix of your music! Tell her it's what you like to listen to, then ask if she'd be so kind as to suggest stuff she likes. In this way, cultural exchange takes place!
posted by Greg Nog at 12:58 PM on August 2, 2007

Mix tapes aren't about the music, they're about the message. If you like this girl, you will make a mix tape full of songs you like that describe how you feel for her. If you want to be subtle, do half songs that describe how you feel about her and half songs that are just good. Don't worry; she'll still figure it out.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:01 PM on August 2, 2007 [2 favorites]

Reverse the situation. Ask yourself: would I like very cute girl to make a mix CD for me full of songs that strangers thought I might like; or would I like a mix CD from her full of songs that have some personal significance for her, that she likes, and she would like to share with me?
posted by googly at 1:01 PM on August 2, 2007

Yeah, seriously. This is not something we can answer for you. The point of a mixtape is that you're saying "Here's a sampling of who I am, musically, and I think you'll like it too."
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 1:02 PM on August 2, 2007

Death to false metal!
posted by vbfg at 1:03 PM on August 2, 2007

PinkSuperhero, I think that's something he has to figure out. Is it just to expose her to new music? Doubtful, especially as she's described as the Cute Girl, but possible.

Also, you may want to go watch High Fidelity for the monologue on mix tapes.
posted by craven_morhead at 1:11 PM on August 2, 2007

You're a "little bit punk" and you're not into Turbonegro or Radio Birdman?

Good luck with the mixtape...
posted by sharkweek at 1:12 PM on August 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

Some say make a mix of music you like. Some say make a mix of music she likes. Have you considered the third option? A mix of music neither of you like? Just wait until Michael Caine's chill-out album comes out and burn a copy of it and give it to her and tell her you made it. She will bone you halfway through the second song.
posted by ND¢ at 1:20 PM on August 2, 2007

Don't make her a mix CD. Write her a poem, or perhaps a short story or a bagatelle.
posted by ludwig_van at 1:24 PM on August 2, 2007

Now, wait. My husband and I have somewhat different musical tastes. He's made me mix tapes for various occasions, and he also loans me his CDs so I can expand my horizons. That's all fine and good, but when I hear something familiar in his mix CDs it makes me happy. It means he took the effort to find something he knew I'd like. He found a punk cover of one of my favorite songs once, and another time he made sure to include a few songs from our wedding. The best mix CDs are something you can hand her and say, "These are some songs I like, I think you'll like them too," not, "Behold my musical tastes!" Including a few songs you're positive she'll love - go ahead and use songs you like from her favorite bands - will show that you were thinking about her when you burned that CD.
posted by christinetheslp at 1:28 PM on August 2, 2007

Just draw on the CD. With different colors of permanent marker. Smile, talk about some of the music. You'll be fine that way.
posted by tmcw at 1:29 PM on August 2, 2007

Ohhhh, I like the idea of finding punk covers of a couple songs she likes.
posted by craven_morhead at 1:35 PM on August 2, 2007

And really, another purpose of a mix tape (or mix CD) is to have a variety of songs that are somewhat different yet flow together interestingly ... hence the "mix." The ideal mix for your lady would be songs from your collection that you really like (some with lyrics along the lines of "my girl is so awesome") -- but try to mix it up in terms of tempo, vocal style, subgenre, etc. Play around with the song order. (My husband's favorite way to start a mix CD is with a fairly short song -- under a minute -- followed by a big loud catchy track.)
posted by lisa g at 1:36 PM on August 2, 2007

Be careful with that kind of talk or klangklangston will come in here and link to his blog.
posted by ND¢ at 1:47 PM on August 2, 2007

I guess Mefites don't like rawk, because they were able to answer the crap out of this question (two years ago), and they both basically boil down to "Help me find music that I don't know enough about in order to woo a girl."
posted by 23skidoo at 2:02 PM on August 2, 2007

A lot has changed since then 23skidoo. We've grown up a lot in the last two years. Its this damn war.
posted by ND¢ at 2:06 PM on August 2, 2007

Thanks for the suggestions, but perhaps I didn't explain myself properly. I'm not trying to express my deepest affections, shes going on a road trip and doens't have a cd burner. I would like to make her a mix of some similar bands that she would enjoy.

I am asking for recommendations on a mix cd, not a love letter.
posted by Homeskillet Freshy Fresh at 2:14 PM on August 2, 2007

You want to rifle through the MP3 Jukebox at stonerrock.com. If you're not sure which bands in there will match her tastes just say so and I will pop back in later this evening or tomorrow at the latest to help you out.
posted by The Straightener at 2:21 PM on August 2, 2007

Art of the Mix, Tiny Mix Tapes, MixMatcher, WebJay
posted by IndigoRain at 2:28 PM on August 2, 2007 [3 favorites]

if she's into metal, and you are a punk, then you already know that you can through some old hardcore onto the mix cd and she'll "get it". if you don't like old hardcore, or you shop at hot topic, then you need to make a mix tape that is 50% songs she likes, 25% hard songs that you like and 25% of songs that will remind her of you - IE. if you're a geek or a freak, throw on Atom and His Package. If you tend to consider yourself sophisticate and debonair, toss on some Violent Femmes. If you really do shop at Hot opic and she is okay with this, put on Covenant or some Norwegian Death Metal.

She's going on a Road Trip, throw on songs she'll know and songs that will make her think of you. Easy. Peasy.
posted by Stynxno at 2:41 PM on August 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

Okay, look: a mix tape serves a purpose. You're trying to share music that, to you, for whatever reason, makes you feel the kind of emotion that you want to feel. It might be a straight tape for happiness, or feeling melancholy, or romantic, but it's about emotion.

So don't look to others for this. Pick the songs that work for you, and she'll listen and judge for herself. If she gets something out of the songs as well, you're (in theory) more compatible than if she goes "eh."

Still, if you insist on forcing the compatibility, find punk covers of rockin' songs and vice versa.
posted by davejay at 2:48 PM on August 2, 2007

Ok, it's a road trip mix tape. If you don't care at all about love-letter-ness, I'd just find kickass road trip songs. Born To Be Wild. A little Tom Petty thrown in there maybe. Stuff you want to drive to. I wounldn't worry much about genres.
posted by craven_morhead at 3:07 PM on August 2, 2007

Why mention her cuteness if that's not a factor?
posted by sweetkid at 3:09 PM on August 2, 2007

Yeah!
Why do American punk-rock boys always go out with the American new-wave hooker girls? I don't know! I don't like it!

I come from Norway and we don't like punk-rockers going out with the little bullshit new-wave hooker girls. We are going to teach you all a lesson. In Norway punk-rockers go out with punk-rock girls or telephone hookers, unless...they go out with themselves and do homosexual activity. This is a Norwegian folk song from Bergen, Bergen-Belsen, it is called “Tomorrow I'll Be Dead Because I Went Out with a New-Wave Girl Even Though I Was a Norwegian Punk-Rocker!!!"

I'd say if you just put "I Morgen Skal Eg Daue" by Turbonegro on there, you're good to go.
posted by atomly at 4:00 PM on August 2, 2007 [2 favorites]

It seems by the 4 bands listed here that your friend has pretty diverse tastes. I am a lot bit punk and am very into 2 of those bands (Radio Birdman and Turbonegro) and enjoy what I've heard of High on Fire. This also goes for most of the punks I've known. I have very little doubt that she will like your music (assuming by "a little bit punk" you don't mean you're really into Blink182). There's a ton of crossover in the metal/punk/post punk music scenes.

Agreeing with everyone else. Make her a mix of your faves. I bet she digs it.
posted by Drew_Blood at 4:08 PM on August 2, 2007

She likes punk rock. Maybe you don't.

Things that will be aces—

Stooges, The Avatars, The MC5, Blue Cheer, Guitar Wolf, The King Brothers, Thee Coranados, The Butcher's Orchestra, Mangazoidos, Abwertz, Destroy All Monsters, SSM, Mazinga, The Henchmen, The Dirtbombs, Bantam Rooster, Buzzcocks, Flipper, Human Eye, Clone Defects, The Paybacks, The Sirens, The Hellacopters, Scott Morgan and the Solution, The Boomerangs, Wolfmother, The White Stripes, Tyvek, Fifth Period Fever, The Defektors, The High Strung... Those are just off the top of my head, without being able to see my music collection.

Maybe I should make the mixtape. Then I'll have two girlfriends, and you'll have none.
posted by klangklangston at 4:13 PM on August 2, 2007 [3 favorites]

"Be careful with that kind of talk or klangklangston will come in here and link to his blog."

OH NOES! (I can't tell if you're making fun of me or not).
posted by klangklangston at 4:15 PM on August 2, 2007

Gentle ribbing I assure you.
posted by ND¢ at 4:52 PM on August 2, 2007

And no one, not a single one of you, said, "Give her a mix tape of Mefi music and see if she likes that"? For shame!
posted by misha at 5:45 PM on August 2, 2007

T-Rex and the Cramps, baby. They're horn-ay.
posted by solongxenon at 5:45 PM on August 2, 2007

mono is awesome. In that vein, I would recommend:
red sparowes
battle of mice (which occupies a nice middle ground between punk and rock)
windmills by the ocean
and of course any relationship that mixes punk and rock could only be described as
evil madness
posted by extrabox at 7:16 PM on August 2, 2007

Consider yourself heshed:

Keelhaul - Carl vs. the 10000 lb Shadow

Operator:Generator - Polar Fleet (underrated monster featuring Matt Pike of HoF's old band mate Tony Choi)

Goatsnake - Innocent (monster groove's, killer driving music)

Zeke - The Hammer

Big Business - Grounds for Divorce

Dixie Witch - Set the Speed

The Hidden Hand - Sunblood

Kylesa - Clutches (Nausea)

JJ Paradise Players Club - Stash Panties

Meatjack - Sleep

Milligram - Winner vs. Loser

More tomorrow!
posted by The Straightener at 8:13 PM on August 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'm going to second Guitar Wolf. Anybody who can't enjoy it at least a little is lacking.
posted by tehloki at 8:59 PM on August 2, 2007

It's been said before, and it's still true: cute girls have closets full of mix tapes that they never listen to. Don't give her another one for the pile.
posted by Caper's Ghost at 9:11 PM on August 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

The WiLDHEARTS - Beautiful Thing. Don't mind me - I just discovered The WiLDHEARTS and I'm obsessed!
posted by philad at 11:29 PM on August 2, 2007

I can't believe no one's mentioned Punk Rock Girl by The Dead Milkmen or Suzy Is A Headbanger by The Ramones. Maybe even Boom Swagger Boom by The Murder City Devils.

Other Ramones songs:
Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World
Oh Oh I Love Her So
She's The One
Do You Wanna Dance
posted by fandango_matt at 12:56 AM on August 3, 2007

The Muffs: Rock And Roll Girl
posted by fandango_matt at 1:01 AM on August 3, 2007

The White Stripes: Fell In Love With A Girl
posted by fandango_matt at 1:05 AM on August 3, 2007

A couple more and you should be good to go:

Cable - The Big Rock

Baroness - Red Sky

Melvins - Civilized Worm

Jesu - We All Falter

Capricorns - 1977: Blood for Papa

Totimoshi - Cellophane

Hellacopters - By the Grace of God

Sonic Flower - Sonic Flower

Add these and the others to Itunes and burn and you're good to go. All this stuff is heavy and has a metallic feel to it but is also influenced by punk and big 70s rock.
posted by The Straightener at 6:03 AM on August 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Rocket from the Crypt, the Supersuckers, Hot Snakes, the Dwarves, Motorhead, the Ramones, Gluecifer, Girls Against Boys, the Sultans, Queens of the Stone Age, the Distillers
posted by Atom12 at 6:54 AM on August 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

More:

Motorhead, 25 Suaves, Hella, Death From Above 1979, Tad, The Ruiners, Human Wick Effect, Napalm Death, Wolf Eyes, Comets on Fire, Boris, Acid Mothers Temple, Crush Kill Destroy, Slint, Killdozer, Big Black, Rapeman, Shellac, Dillinger Escape Plan, Lanternjack, The Impaler, Coke Dick Motorcycle Awesome, Buckcherry, Paw...

(I don't necessarily like all of these bands, but they're what you asked for).
posted by klangklangston at 9:23 AM on August 3, 2007

Oh, and the Bronx and the Saints.
posted by Atom12 at 1:35 PM on August 3, 2007

You all are incredible. I'm glad you all were able to recommend some great bands. To hell with her, I'm making a mixtape or twenty for myself now.
posted by Homeskillet Freshy Fresh at 8:29 PM on August 8, 2007

I would create a pallet of beauty. Starting with a little rock and roll McDonalds. Then moving to any 15 minute Meatloaf song. My transition would then move to songs written by yourself on personal voice recorder and all the songs are you making animal noises into it. The end of this lovely mix would entail bits and pieces of the audio tracks of two movies. One would be the movie Gummo and the other would be Happiness. Now If that doesn't turn a girl on... I mean thats has always worked for me.
posted by Bon Joey at 11:53 AM on September 20, 2007