2020 – Inkspots of Birds

2020 was indeed a weird year. A couple of times I thought about putting together a purely pandemic inspired mix, but ultimately decided against that. It wasn’t until December that I really started sorting through a collection of songs to build this year’s mix. In the end I still ended up with some music I had considered for my pandemic mix (Hard Year, Leisure) as there was really no way to ignore the year we had.

As the I narrowed down the songs for this mix and started finding an order for them I kept getting a nagging feeling that I could arrange them in a way that would create a story narrative. Ultimately I discarded my original mixes and succumbed to the urge of a narrative mix. It may not flow between songs quite as well, but I don’t think I would have been quite satisfied if I had not done it this way.

My real struggle with this mix was coming up with a name, which is what I base the artwork off of. As you may realize, I always take the mix name from one of the song’s lyrics, and I sometimes know what that is before I even start putting the mix together. Before deciding on “Inkspots of Birds” I had toyed with “Weiner Dog” and “Mind is a Machine,” but wasn’t happy with any of the artwork I was coming up with. (I really wanted Weiner Dog to work). Only after I had figured out the artwork could I order the USB drives, which is why I got this mix out a little later than I would have liked.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Hard Year
Josh Joplin
Jaywalker

I’ve been a fan of Josh Joplin for years. This song just summed up our collective year too well not to include it, and clearly it had to be the lead song this year.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Mexico
Sophie Turner
Next Time

Sorry, I couldn’t get the hook out of my head. M-E-X-I-C-O. Besides, who couldn’t use a trip to Mexico now and a few margaritas.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Hey! Ya, You
The Elwins
Beauty Community

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Apex Predator
Dual Core
Downtime

This is the second time I’ve used a Dual Core song in one of my mixes. These guys have really smart lyrics. This particular song (while representing the pandemic in my mix) is a personification of global warming and told from it’s perspective. Genius.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Roll On Slow
Glen Hansard
Between Two Shores

Great horn section.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Curve of Love
Andy Jenkins
Sweet Bunch

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Leisure
XTC
English Settlement

This song sort of reflects how some of us may have felt in April and May when everything was closed and we were sitting around trying to figure out what to do. Also, a good excuse to sneak in an XTC song.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Shame
Sego
Sego Sucks

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Sports
Viagra Boys
Street Worms

I didn’t think this song would end up in one of my mixes, but the more I listened to it the more I liked the whole absurdity of it. I enjoy watching the Philadelphia Eagles, but I’m by no means a sports fanatic. However, I know a number of people who were beside themselves without baseball and the NBA this past spring.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Bad Self
Darkbird
Bad Self EP

This is a great rocker, and an ode to Prince after his death. Several of his songs are referenced.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Black Cloud
Postdata
Lets Be Wilderness

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Standing On The Corner
Warmduscher
Whale City

Great groove for a dark song about drug addiction.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Everytime I Run
Husky Loops
Spool EP

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Take Everything
Greg Laswell
Take A Bow

Love the timbre of his voice on the chorus.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Got To Me Since
Izaak Opatz
Mariachi Static

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Moment of Truth
Blue King Brown
Worldwide

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Today Is The Day
Eels
The Deconstruction
A poppy song from a reliable artist.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

I’m Good
Wafia
I’m Good SingleA song of self affirmation.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

I Hear The Bells
Mike Doughty
Haughty Melodic
This song sounds like the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s optimistic about new beginnings.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

Music Is Worth Living For
Andrew W.K.
You’re Not Alone

Bonus track – I thought this song was a spoof at first, and still sounds like one. It makes me laugh but at the same time reflects a genuine feeling of the joy of music. I thought it fitting to include this song.