Mixtape! (Because I am nothing if not a procrastinator)

I just couldn't stay away, could I?

Actually, I just wrapped up a paper (one down, four to go.... somehow that isn't encouraging me much) and decided to take a quick break that turned into a rather long break that culminates in me formulating my very first Never Get Sung Mixtape.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dispatches from Academic Hell:


Basically, this is a collection of late-night study music to keep one's sanity when you're still in the library at 3am working on that ten page paper that try as you might, you can only stretch to eight. I've put a good mix of mellow stuff and stuff with beats, vocal stuff and instrumental stuff, and I think it sets a pretty good, slightly surreal mood to chill you out while keeping the brain alive and engaged.

Due to file space limitations, this baby's going up in one big zip file on MegaUpload. (For those of you unfamilar, the link will take you to a site where you have to wait a few seconds and unclick some banner ads in the corner to access the download button... leave a comment if you can't figure it out and I'll try to help out)

Dispatches from Academic Hell.zip [MegaUpload]

The Rundown, with notes:

Miles Davis- So What: Nine and a half minutes of pure cool, best enjoyed with that first coffee of the evening (stay away from the Red Bull, kids... it tastes like cancer) as you boot up the computer and open Microsoft Word.

Colin Meloy- California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade: A sprawling acoustic medley of acoustic Decembrists songs to set you mind at ease while you struggle with the introduction before writing a placeholder and moving on.

Wilco- Via Chicago: Simple yet utterly surreal and tinged with more than a little darkness, it's a sure sign that you're entering the night owl world.

Thad Jones- A Child is Born: Simple, elegant jazz with a slow mournful trumpet line that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside as the caffeine kicks in.

The National- Secret Meeting: Let's get this party started with some mid-tempo rock! (Wilco obsessives will note I'm cribbing Jeff Tweedy's stage banter from Kicking Television, but it fits)

Sufjan Stevens- Chicago (String Remix): Some stripped down Sufjan goodness, because as the clock strikes Midnight, the full-on orchestral attack might just make your head explode.

Dave Brubeck- Take Five: Once again, cool is defined. Time for another coffee?

Ron Sexsmith- Everyday I Write the Book: Let Ron's gentle Kermit the Frog voice and acoustic plucking combined with Elvis Costello's lyrics be guide you as you finally hit your stride.

Elvis Costello- Stranger In The House: When Declan McManus goes all honky-tonk on you, you know its getting late and the janitor must be sweeping up somewhere.

The Funk Brothers- Stingray: A solid funk groove to give you your second wind

Erlend Oye- Sheltered Life: Kicking up the beats to prevent you from dozing off and drooling all over the keyboard

The Flaming Lips- Ego Tripping At the Gates of Hell: Writer's Block? Don't Panic... I'm pretty sure that Wayne Coyne's voice and new-agey lyrics possess magical inspirational properties.

Jon Brion- Monday: Nothing stimulates the mind like memories of how much your head hurt the first time you saw I Heart Huckabees

Final Fantasy- This is the Dream of Win and Regine: By now you're already half-dead, so the inevitable trance that Owen Pallet's violin-rock will put you into can only help at this point

The Beatles- Across The Universe: My roommate used to pull all-nighters with this one on loop... it made me talk in my sleep. Feel free to do the same for the duration of your all-nighter, or just start the CD over again.