The Ghost of Mixes Past.

Whoops. I did it again. I made another mix.

This time, it's all about All Hallow's Eve, and it's not quite as lengthy. Although, you will still need to download both links. Two, not three, this time. I'm practicing brevity. Really. Don't believe me?

Please, take note, this ain't yo daddy's Halloween bash. Oh no. Sorry, but there's no "Thriller", and definitely no "Monster Mash". I've no reserves with the former, but the latter is on the last of my nerves. That's why I've set myself on another themed mission to destroy it. Here's two discs worth of madness for your complete spiritual betterment. This isn't the first time I've delved into musical themes, mind you. I'm essentially the caped crusader of thematic journeys. Why else would I include The Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs among some of my most treasured albums ever? Okay, okay, maybe it's the fantastic songwriting and genre-exercising. But, maybe... just maybe... it's about the finer things in life: themes.

Here's a little lesson in exactly how mad I might be:

My heartbeats are synchronized to the music of the moment.
My most valued memories are accompanied by musical footnotes.
I am haunted by the ghost of the tunes that drove me down memory lane.
My vitality is persistent enough for three nights sans sleep in haunted houses leftover from the third world war, caught in an esoteric time warp to my backyard circa 2008.

Honey, I'm home!


Now, where was I? Or, should I ask, where've I been? Last February, 2007, I decided I'd listen to ghost-themed albums and songs for a week. These are the ones I came up with, and a brief excerpt from the blog I had written:

Ghost-themed albums/songs I enjoyed:

Wilco- A Ghost Is Born, Brian Eno/David Byrne- My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, The Unicorns- Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?, Wolf Parade- Apologies to the Queen Mary, M83- Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, Bishop Allen- "Ghosts Are Good Company", Figurines- "Ghost Towns", Gorillaz- "Ghost Train", I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness- "The Ghost", The Joggers- "Horny Ghost", Man Man- "Banana Ghost", Menomena- "Ghostship", Neutral Milk Hotel- "Ghost", Pretty Girls Make Graves- "Ghosts in the Radio", Rage Against the Machine- "Born as Ghosts", Regina Spektor- "Ghost of Corporate Future", Sparklehorse- "Ghost in the Sky", Ted Leo & the Pharmacists- "I'm a Ghost", The White Stripes- "Little Ghost", etc.

Did I miss anything worthwhile?

Wait, what are you asking? Why am I doing this? No, see, you don't understand. You listen to music as recreation: as background music at work, music to sing to in the car, dancing music at a club, studying music, music to sleep to, music to copulate to, etc.

I listen to music like it's my job. I'm not listening, I'm working.


At least that's what I said/wrote in 2007. Now, it's 2008. Wake up.

Here are a few albums I may enjoy this Halloween, as I have in Halloween past:

Elliott Smith- From a Basement on the Hill
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy- I See a Darkness
Radiohead- The Bends
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness- Fear Is on Our Side
of Montreal- Satanic Panic in the Attic
Mogwai- Young Team

As for the rest of the music I enjoy for Halloween, well, you'll just have to check out The Planet Pluto's second official mix! Please, hold your applause until both albums are finished. Also, make sure you download both zipped files from the two links. Otherwise, you'll have a discombobulated mess. And, if you're using iTunes, the tracklisting and Album Mix title should come up. If it doesn't, let me know, and I can give you the listing as intended.

Enjoy, the Ghost of Mixes Past!:

Part 1 of 2

Part 2 of 2



While you're waiting for those to download, feel free to check out this youtube of Obama roasting McCain.

And, remember, trust the Midas touch... unless it's your children.