Song library meme time: most heard songs. Check iTunes or Winamp or Last.fm or whatever, and post your top five most heard songs. My top five are:

1. Ben Folds Five – Army (119 plays)
2. Ben Folds Five – Sports & Wine (113 plays)
3. Against Me! – T.S.R. (101 plays)
4. Volcano!!! I’m Still Excited – In Green (100 plays)
5. Brendan Benson – Metarie (98 plays)

I cannot remember the last time I played “Metarie”, but after I first heard it I listened to it literally every day for probably two months straight (or more). All of which makes me wish Last.fm showed me on what dates I listened to any of the songs scrobbled. My listening habits would make for a very skewed graph, I bet.

61 degrees outside, bright and sunny, with big, fluffy clouds spotting that old upside-down sea. Spring is here, for real this time, and I would be remiss in my duties to not act accordingly: eleven songs for laying around in fields of cool grass and soft breezes. So without further ado, let’s take a trip.

These United States – First Sight – I was very hesitant to post this song, let alone as the lead track. I am a sucker (oh my heart melts instantly!) for a song with a slow crescendo before a wild crash. But “First Sight” just builds and builds and builds, until my only recourse is to play the song over and over until it magically rewrites itself. But what’s to rewrite? It’s too beautiful already.

Memorable quotes: You can get home, but you can’t get in. Locks are like longing (an ever-changing thing), and keys are just clouds made of metal and spark. We knew exactly who we were, and yet couldn’t quite say who we still are.

Trip Planner: Hangovers off, shoes on, and out the door.

Alamo Race Track – Stanley vs. Hanna – It may be the first verse (quoted below), or the ghostly chorus singing “don’t forget that number I wrote on the back of your hand”, or a million other things…but I listen to this song and I am suddenly a decade younger, sitting in the middle of a three-ring circus, tripping on acid. It is an odd experience.

Memorable quotes: Don’t trust a man with the creepy little eyes. He is at once a friend, but you’re scared inside. Then, he beats you up ’cause you bust his lip, and you ask yourself, “What have I done?” Then, he locks you up in the trunk of his car.

Trip Planner: It is around that time for feet to begin hurting, but with the destination finally in sight, who can help but get a little skip in their step?

The Owls – Isaac Bashevis Singer – Such a sweet little song about nothing. A three-and-a-half-minute biography about, not the Nobel Prize-winning author, but Isaac Bashevis Singer the man. The sort of man you want as your best friend: well off, far from snobby, comfortably hospitable, and always has a stocked bar.

Memorable quotes: Isaac Bashevis Singer, he didn’t always live in New York, but he knows about the ladies.

Trip Planner: Kick off those shoes, and feel the grass beneath your feet.

She & Him – Why Do You Let Me Stay Here – Actress Zooey Deschanel is the she of She & Him, and M. Ward is the he. And…I don’t know, when was the last time M. Ward produced something bad? In other news, Deschanel’s voice rings with such soft innocence, but where does it come from? A prize to whoever can tell me her secret; my guess is sun showers and rainbows.

Memorable quotes: Why don’t you sit right down and stay a while? We like the same things, and I like your style. It’s not a secret, why do you keep it? I’m just sitting on the shelf.

Trip Planner: Can’t you take a hint? Just sit right down and soak in the day.

Patrick Wolf – The Magic Position – John Cusack in High Fidelity spoke on the problem of starting a mix with the best song. Give a person what they want straightaway, and who knows if they’ll ever make it past track one? A song like this has to be buried in the middle, tucked away until the sun and birds have infused you with such hope and love that you can’t even imagine things getting any better.

Memorable quotes: It’s you who puts me in the magic position, darling. Now, you put me in the magic position to live, to learn, to love in the major key.

Trip Planner: Oh fuck! The ice cream man is here!

But don’t worry, there’s always more.

Side Two: Set the dial to random and volume up to awesome:

Hospital Bombers – The Devil’s Music
Two Hours Traffic – Nighthawks
The LK – Private Life of a Cat
Evan Voytas – We’d Be Good Together
Feist – Feel It All (Britt from Spoon Remix)
Wildbirds & Peacedrums – I Can’t Tell In His Eyes

Trip Planner: Stomachs full, the only thing left to do is wait until the sun sets and the moon rises, dancing and lazying all the meanwhile.

The New York Times launched a new blog yesterday: Measure for Measure: How to Write a Song and Other Mysteries. The blog will feature songwriters “[pulling] back the curtain on the creative process as they write about their work on a songs in the making.” The inaugural post is written by none other than Andrew Bird.

Atlas Sound – Winter Vacation – Let’s start this mix off with a little reminder of winter. This slow churner comes from the solo project of Bradford James Cox from Deerhunter. This sonic atmosphere of ambience has so much to pick out of it, but only works as its magnificent whole.

Born Ruffians – Hummingbird – Next, an upbeat groover from Canadian indie-rockers Born Ruffians takes us away from the chill and right into a warm happy place. The “uh-uh-oh-oh’s” from singer Luke Lalonde are sure to get you smiling, and bopping along.

Fleet Foxes – Mykonos – Now, after all that joy, we need a cool soother. This Seattle five-some are perfect for this. Taking their cues from CSNY, they create calming melodies in a style which they like to call “baroque harmonic pop jams.” Harmony, oh yes.

She & Him – This Is Not a Test – When Zooey Deschanel decides to record an album, she chooses M. Ward to work with. Resulting is the Volume One album of her ‘60s pop type of songs. “This Is Not a Test” certainly sounds this way with its simplicity…take a listen!

Miracle Fortress – Little Trees – Another calm one, this song has vocals very similar to Loney, Dear with music providing a similar simple cheer as well. You will certainly get lost in its breezy feel.

Ra Ra Riot – Dying Is Fine – Time to pick up the beat a bit with another groover from a band from Syracuse University. The seven members play a variety of instruments, and with how they use their strings, they get a fair comparison to Arcade Fire. You’ll definitely be a-toe-tapping here.

Plants and Animals – Good Friend – Even more Canadians bring this song with light intensity. You can feel it in their vocals and in the continuous plunking of the guitars. If that’s not enough, wait for the arrangements at the end.

Grand Archives – Sleepdriving – Easily the saddest sounding (and easily the best) pop song I’ve heard in awhile, this one comes from former-Band of Horses’ member Mat Brooke and his new band. Its bittersweet harmonies and slow progressions should completely cloak your ears with amazement.

Destroyer – Leopard of Honor – Daniel Bejar is back with his own odd style of song-writing (and his odd voice, of course). He tells his story set to truly Destroyer music until the song fades away with some nice “la-la’s” from Bejar.

Man Man – Doo Right – Just Honus Honus at the piano, playing and singing his song about heartbreak, “Doo Right” is another truly unique Man Man song. A perfect closer to this mix.

Norwegian rockers Syme have been classic UMR favorites ever since they released their debut, Swing Swing, in 2005. They’ve already completed two successful tours in America, performing both at SXSW and CMJ music festivals. These interviews were conducted during their first tour across America!

Listen to the interview, mp3 style:

Introduction mp3

Interview mp3

Or read the transcript, eyes style

Where does the name Syme come from?

KETIL: It’s from the book 1984 by George Orwell. He’s one of the minor characters, in a way. He’s a guy called Syme who’s an expert in the language “Newspeak.”

How did Syme come together as a band?

BEN: The last day of high school we played a cover song – we were asked to play a cover song – so then we played this Swedish song. I played the drums, he played the bass, and he played the guitar – had a great solo with it. And that might seem completely irrelevant to some today, but the fact is that after that concert, or that one song, the whole summer, this was the last day of high school, and the whole summer we played together.
KETIL: Cause we started playing together
FREDERIK: Yeah, we started playing together and that’s…
BEN: And the whole summer we were together almost every day playing in the basement of his house, and 4 years later we came together in Bergen.
FREDERIK: We knew this guy, Eyvand, our guitarist, we knew him from our home town. He was a friend of ours. He liked our band and he played guitar so it was natural to ask if he would join our band. Then we were four, and we needed a drummer, so we had an audition in Bergen five years ago…
VIDAR: Still haven’t paid me!
FREDERIK: Shutup! So three guys showed up and this was the best of the three so we picked him.

How would you compare Syme to the other bands you guys are in?

KETIL: The other bands we’re working with are slightly different, but I would say Syme is the band where everyone comes together with their own influence, in a way.
FREDERIK: It’s the band we’ve been working on the longest. We’ve been playing together, more or less, as this band for five or six years now. I think it’s a good thing to have other projects that are different so that you can have an outlet for musical perversities, or whatever.

Why do you sing in English?

KETIL: In Norway you grow up and you learn English from your first year at school, and all your influences in culture and music, especially, are from English speaking artists. So in that way it’s kind of normal to sing and work in English, and most Norwegian bands do actually. Within Norway there aren’t too many people and we’d like our ideas to go further than just Norwegians, I guess.

Why is Syme touring in the US and how is the tour going?

FREDERIK: We’re here in the us because we’re trying to sell our syme product, which has grown strong in norweigh and playing in the US has been a really good experience. It’s just that we get better and better every time we play a show, and playing five or six shows in a row just, yeah, makes the band stronger. So it’s got nothing to do with how many people show up to the gigs, it just has to do withwhat we put into it. From my point we put 110% all the time, and that’s real important.

Why does Syme make music?

KETIL:Music is definitely the most beautiful artform there is, so we just want to make great art. ….And get free chips backstage at concerts.

Now that we’ve got that over with, some easier stuff…Is this everyone’s first trip to America /NYC? If so, is it what everyone expected it to be?

KETIL:Vidar (the drummer) has studied medicine in atlanta for 6 years, and I’ve been to New York for a holiday two years ago, but the rest of us are nubies. Personally I really love New York, and think it’s one of the friendliest towns I’ve ever been to.

Have you guys had some really great or terrible experiences yet?

KETIL:The squirrels in Central Park, the Planetarium at Museum of natural history and some transvestite-heavy parties are highlights so far. We were really worried about bringing our tons of musical instuments through costums, but when we got there they treated us like kings. One of the costums people just couldn’t believe we were not the Beatles.

In Norway, if I’m not mistaken, you recently headlined many tours. How are you dealing with being an opener again?

KETIL:Being an opener is just like being a goalkeeper at a penalty shootout in the world cup, you have nothing to lose.

How do you feel about the bands you’re set to open for? Had you heard of any of them before this tour?

KETIL:I sat hidden under my desk at the record shop were I work the other day, listening to some Middle Distance Runner.
Think they’ll suit our music just fine!

Are you excited about the Montreal Pop Marathon and CMJ showcases?

KETIL:We’ve been hearing some really good things about Montreal, so I think that festival gig will be one of the highlights. Great bill as well, and I get to practice my french
between the songs.
I expect CMJ to be more chaotic as we’re playing two shows on one day, but still it’s hopefully going to be some people with golden
handshakes cheering at the back.

Is making it big in America one of your main goals? If so, why?

KETIL:Focusing on the American market seems like a win-win situation for us right now, as this first US-tour has started a nice little Syme-buzz in Norway as well.
For some reason both american friends living in Norway, american magazines (like you!) and US labels have flattered us so much with their
praise that we just couldn’t resist giving you back some love.

What sort of a fan base do you have in Norway? Do you want more Norwegians, Western Europeans or Americans to like your music? Why?

KETIL:See above

I heard a rumor about another album in the works. When do you guys plan to release it?

KETIL:We’ve been playing quite a few new songs on tour now, so we can’t wait too long before we hit the studio. Our goal is to get things on tape by the end of the year.

Do you think you’ll ever hit the Midwest or west coast?

KETIL:We’ve already been talking about coming back to the US early next year, so I think we’re very likely to try out some other parts
of the country then.

There are two days left of snow and cold, two days before the skies clear and warmth pours down again on this side of the world. A running thread through the last few naked mixes was a strong disdain for everything winter, and the songs tried to keep the cold at bay until at least a moment or two of dancing and smiles could be had. But with the dreaded season finally coming to a close, I am dedicating this mix to sitting alone in bed with the covers drawn tight while the wind beats at the window.

When possible, lyrics will replace any prosaic exposition.

BARR – Untitled – The melancholy of this song, more than any guilt from consistently cheapening an entire season, is the soul of this mix. Listening to Brendan Fowler slowly speak to us about a friend too into something that is destroying their life, sounding as if he is reading a letter directly to that friend, is heartbreaking. This is an intervention backed by fragile music. And when Fowler finally sings (and it’s just two lines, just “you have to make it out” and “when you make it out“), you want to hug and assure him things will be okay as soon as the snow clears.

I don’t know if I can save everyone, but I’m taking you with me, ’cause I need you and you need you, and we… you and I need you, and this world needs you. Even this world… not this small dark world, but the big earth, even with less room has space for you, and that’s a really important space.

Jason Anderson – On Vacation – Jason Anderson speaks here through old telephone lines and faraway geographies, filled with a nostalgia one could only know with eyes closed and mind imagining endless white plains. This is the song you sing softly to an answering machine after you’ve killed an entire bottle of liquor and found that box of old love letters under your bed, hidden away in that corner you were so sure at the time you would never find again. (thx eca records)

And you just sort of sat there, and you had a cigarette… then it burned down, right to… right down to your fingers, and you let it drop on the cold asphalt. And I think of that, and I think that’s, like, really the night that we sort of fell for each other, you know? As people, as friends, and… I know that so much has changed since then, but I’ll always remember that night on the street.

The Avett Brothers – If It’s The Beaches

If it’s the beaches…if it’s the beaches’ sands you want, then you will have them. If it’s the mountains’ bending rivers, then you will have them. If it’s the wish to run away, then I will grant it. Take whatever you think of while I go gas up the truck. Pack the old love letters up; we will read them when we forget why we left here.

Okkervil River – Listening to Otis Redding During Christmas – New Hampshire must have soil soaked with pensiveness and heaviness. This song is dedicated to all those who have drove through their hometowns feeling like strangers, reminiscing over the past when a surreal and grand future seemed right around the corner. Alternatively, to that first real love that never leaves your head. (thx okkervil river)

I know that it’s home because that’s where the stereo sings “I’ve got dreams to remember.” But not even home can be with you forever. It’s Christmastime and the plane flies me over white hills to a town in a dream, where the sky is frozen and still, and a room (that’s not mine but it’s just like I left it before, with the wax from the candles all dusty and locks on the door) where I held you so tenderly, and where in summer I opened your letter to me.

Nathan Larson – Aviva Pastoral – Brooding and haunting, this track has been slowly permeating my head for the past few weeks. Most well known for soundtracking the demise of a chocolate bunny, I warn you it is the sort of track that ingrains itself deep, and you may not realize it until you turn off the lights to sleep, only to hear it emanating from phantasmal speakers.

Mechanical Bride – Umbrella – Mechanical Bride completely rips the lyrics from their pop shell and runs them through a dark blender. The airy bells, sharp piano, and reverberating vocals make this cover much different than the original R&B track, and maybe even more ghostly than “Aviva Pastoral” above.

Jaymay – Gray or Blue – Okay okay okay, it is due time for something with a little pace to it. “Gray or Blue” is nothing profound, but it is everything unrequited romance is: quiet and unpredictable and hopeful and sad. On their own, the lyrics may seem trite even, but Jaymay sings with such sincerity and emotion that you can’t help but develop a crush of your own.

And I’m winning you with words because I have no other way // I want to look into your face without your eyes turnin away // Last night I watched you sing because a person has to try // And I walked home in the rain because a person cannot lie

Kat Flint – Go Faster Stripes – Don’t say I never bring you nice things.

The next naked mix will be more upbeat, I promise. All puppy dogs and hand grenades hand jobs happiness and everything else that goes into all that Spring pandemonium. We’ll enter the new day with bang.

“Summer Time Love” is a single by Japanese hip-hop group m-flo. Released last summer, it is the perfect thing to turn to as winter comes to an end and the sun reminds us what it’s good for. Oh, and there’s a naked mix on the way, so keep this song handy. You are probably going to need something to cheer you up afterward.

Jason Anderson has been a little busy. After releasing Tonight last August, he started putting a new song everyday on MySpace for a couple of months, followed up Tonight with the freely downloadable On the Street in January, and just released The Hopeful and the Unafraid a few weeks ago (plus bonus disc). Now the “A Song a Day” songs are being compiled and released, starting with part 1 of course.

The Morning News has six-word reviews of 763 South By Southwest mp3s, all tabulated and rated for your easy perusing. The songs are taken from a collection of songs from showcased artists that SXSW has been releasing since 2005. Unfortunately, SXSW did not this one year for some reason, but Greg Hewgill saves the day on that front, providing trackers for all of the Showcasing Artists torrents for 2005 – 2008.

The winners of Said the Gramophone’s Wonderful Video Contest have all been decided, with all the prizes doled out appropriately. The winning video for “Peacebone” by Animal Collective really does blow the rest away. The video is as frantic, bloody, and energetic as the song itself (plus sock puppets). But it’s really a matter of finding something great among a bunch of really good.

The video for Bon Iver’s “The Wolves (Act I and II)” came out today, and I see it easily becoming one of those videos that defines the song. Watching Justin Vernon and director Matt Amato drink solemnly over a bonfire in the woods of Wisconsin is a moving accompaniment. The story of the video compels even more:

This is by any description, a project that almost never happened. Rushing to get to Wisconsin for fresh snows and still frozen air, Director Matt Amato arrived in Eau Claire, hometown of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, in late January. In the midst of warming up after a long journey and excitedly telling Justin about all the projects he had on the horizon, Matt received a phone call. One of his best friends had suddenly and tragically passed away. All logic and reason were thrown out. Nobody knew what to do. Matt didn’t know whether to stay or go, or how he would even manage to get back to the airport in his state of shock. Justin just tried to stay calm. Between a flurry of phone calls and attempting to contact some of Matt’s family to accompany him home, night fell. Almost by default, Matt remained in Eau Claire in the company of his newest acquaintance. Something about it was safe, and that was enough. The next morning, Matt read the lyrics to “The Wolves” and felt as if those were the exact words he needed to hear from his departed friend. That pretty much sealed it. Matt would stay and work, even as the thought of making a video became the last thing on their minds. They built a bonfire and just let it burn all day and into the night, and Matt filmed.

With their first album, Tripper, Efterklang broke set boundaries and experimented magnificently with normal pop music, using mostly electronics to create their sound. Parades is definitely the same band, a noticeable change has occurred. Instead of those electronics, they’re now using more horns, chants, marching drums, crashing symbols and string arrangements.

The first comparison that would have come up before was experimental atmospheric band Sigur Ros, but now they’re much more easily compared to the indie rock band Arcade Fire, a band that would never have even come to mind while listening to Tripper.

By succeeding in changing up their sound they’ve done only what the most talented bands can ever dream of doing – think of Radiohead. Efterklang did not give us more of the same, and the different is just as good – and for that they are commended.

Watch the video for “Mirrador:”

My Last Day starts off like a dancy, clappy Ladytron album, but ends up being so much more. The next track is a pretty melody played by what sounds like a quiet little organ, with exotic samples mixed in, then a beat. What follows throughout the album is a combination of the three sounds: pretty piano melodies, exotic samples and dancy beats, but what matters most is how they’re arranged. They’re all put together masterfully, often in unexpected ways and use vocals sparsely and wisely.

The sound Hiorthoy creates is a brand new one, inspired by electronic heroes like DJ Shadow and Four Tet, but taken to a new place unheard of before now (except for, perhaps, his previous works). The standout track is “Album,” a jazzy electronic train ride that piques with brilliantly used electro-synths. Not only is it the best song on the album, but it’s in the running for best song released all year.

Watch the video for “Alt Måste Bli Anorlunda:”

It is three weeks into February, and I have had it up to here with this winter business. Punching the wind hasn’t had much effect, nor have the many concerned letters to a number of gods, so a naked mix is in order. 11+2 songs to brighten those blues, whatever color they may be.

Tracklisting:

Badly Drawn Boy – The Shining (The Avalanches Good Word for the Weekend Remix) – Every bit as smooth as the original, this Avalanches remix injects the somber Badly Drawn Boy version with a few ounces of sunshine. What better way to begin the day then by listening to this song? “And suddenly you’re in love with everything,” croons Damon Gough, and you can just imagine the blue skies and bright sun rising behind him.

Hello Saferide – San Francisco – “It’s time to call in sick, and pack your bags,” because we’re going to San Francisco. I wrote previously on Maia Hirasawa, who does backup vocals for Hello Saferide and learned much of her trade from her time in this Swedish twee-pop band. Listen for: hand claps, lead singer Annika Norlin.

Pelle Carlberg – Riverbank – It really seems impossible to compose an upbeat mix of warm songs for warm weather days without drawing heavily on those damn Swedes. Xylophone, light guitars, and is that a kazoo? Pelle Carlberg, you had me at do do do.

Benji Cossa – Sunset – I am convinced Benji Cossa created this song solely to defy expectations. How fun, he must have wondered, can a song entitled “Sunset” really be? Take all the languor typical of the early evening hours and throw them away. Cossa’s builds his sunsets from hand waving and playing under the covers.

Voxtrot – Soft and Warm (Daytrotter Session) – I want to rough things up for a moment. Voxtrot is an Austin, TX band introduced to me by the illustrious Christina Hood, and the combination of them, Okkervil River, and Spoon makes me think someone should rename the city to New Sweden. You know, because the city breeds some fantastic bits of music. Also, my first-choice Voxtrot song was “Kid Gloves”, but it was scrapped when I realized it wasn’t a Counting Crows cover.

Pinewood Derby – October – A catchy, rough (I warned you) song, made even rougher by the poor recording quality. Maryn Jones manages lead vocals, mustering all the buttery goodness she can. Fans of this song will have to settle for a few MySpace tracks; the band is on hiatus until April, just in time for spring.

Boris Smile – Adventures with Rockets – “The stars are in your eyes, and that’s just a stupid pickup line, but I’ll use it since there are no planets in sight. I love your pearl white boots, and your skintight rocket suit.” RIYL: swooning, astronomy, punk rock pop star love.

Jens Lekman – Boisa-bis-o-boisa – One last trip to Sweden, I promise. This time the kids are coming with, and they’re bringing strings.

Mallu Magalhães – J1 – History shows hand claps, singing children, or steel drums are all you need for a good song. So who is Mallu Magalhães? Likening her to un Feist (o Cat Power) pequito is a good start, but for now she’s just a 15-year-old from Brazil with a little pop in her dreams.

Over the Rhine – I’m On A Roll – Somewhere between settling on Americana and folk, Over the Rhine decided to record a song that sounds straight from Cat Power’s The Greatest. “I’m On A Roll” is for that lazy bike ride through the country alongside dirt roads and horse-drawn carriages. Pink cotton candy clouds and pet tyrannosaurus rexes.

Jason Anderson – Tonight (live) – The eponymous track from Jason Anderson’s latest album, this one headlines the act on the record, but I wanted to end the show with a bang. “Tonight” is straightforward indie pop rock, eight minutes long and never boring. Plus, it uses that secret ingredient of goodness: crowd participation. (Anyone falling in love with this live rendition, Tonight the album is every bit as energetic.) In the musical of my life, it is night time in the city, and I am singing this song, dancing down the street with a smile on my face and stars in my eyes.

Bonus tracks for Japanese release only:

Maritime – Boy From School – Something about Davey von Bohlen’s vocals make this Hot Chip cover an even darker vein of pop than the original. Best for climbing the stairs toward a New York City apartment at night, neon signs glowing through the window, party at the end of the hall with good friends and pretty girls to keep the cold away.

The Elected – Would You Come With Me – Would you?

This is a mix to remind you of the winter. Start it knowing full and well that it’s cold out, but forget that and take off your clothes and feel the music anyway. Then, remember the cold and enjoy the frost-bite!

Tracklisting:

1. Evangelicals – Snowflakes – This mellow song about the snow in the air and on the ground will get you in that comfortable mood as the surreal music plays with those soft vocals that soothe you into a daze.

2. A Sunny Day in Glasgow – Ghost in the Graveyard – Then, let the daze continue with the dissonant fuzz of these siblings from Philadelphia. The far-off vocals let you slip out from reality (and the cold), and into your own little world.

3. The Owls – Welcome to Monday – Now you’ve left the cold and you listen to this light twee pop song that literally welcomes you. It may seem too calm, but that’s just how the music gets you trusting enough to undress.

4. Shocking Pinks – Second Hand Girl – The grooves begin now with this upbeat song. It still has the calming vocals and fuzzed out guitars that should win you over completely.

5. wheat – Move=Move – And, if you haven’t fallen captive to the music yet, this is the one to do it. The serene voice of Scott Levesque assures you that “the things that you love come naturally” and you know it with how easily this song enters your heart.

6. Vampire Weekend – M79 – The cold is long gone as you listen to M79, easily the most catchy, complex song from the amazing debut by these guys from Columbia College. It is truly magnificent with its fleeting strings and Ezra Koenig’s unrestrained yelp-y vocals. If you haven’t started undressing yet, you soon will.

7. The Tough Alliance – The Last Dance – Once the dancing begins, the clothes start coming off. Close your eyes and jump around the room to the synth-ed out music from this Swedish duo. Know, however, that this is not your last dance, as the song’s title suggests.

8. Studio – Out There – Contradicting the previous song’s title, the dancing continues in a much more dazed out manner. Perhaps this is because the cold starts to come back to you just a bit, but the clothes are still falling off, as the music commands. Another Swedish group, Studio takes their cues from New Order and makes incessantly groove-able electronic music. For these 16 minutes, the music works itself into you, and that’s exactly what you want.

9. Les Savy Fav – Comes & Goes – As soon as Studio ends, Les Savy Fav brings you back to the real world with the help of Emily Haines, and the clothes are all gone! You don’t mind too much as this bittersweet song assures you that it’s better not too care too much and let it all happen as it should.

10. Yeasayer – Wintertime – Then, Yeasayer kicks in with their post-apocalyptic music that brings the frost in full effect. The chill sets in with Chris Keating’s vibrant vocals giving you a sense of unease as this mix comes to a close and you are completely frozen. However, just know that it’s all solid, solid gold.