On the plane yesterday on the way home from North Carolina, I finished “Love is a Mix Tape” by Rob Sheffield. It’s a sweet memoir written by Sheffield, a Rolling Stone writer, about his relationship with his now-deceased wife. Each chapter starts with the track listing of a mix tape, which I thought was just plain fantastic. Not many books have made me cry … I’m usually a pretty tough cookie, but this one did.

It made me want to make a mix. So, tonight, I did. I called it “The Core in Heathercore,” because the songs I chose if I wrote them, I’d consider them to be autobiographical, or just really important in my development as a person. I’m not explaining this very well.

Here is the track listing and some notes:
1. “The Kindness of Strangers” - American Analog Set
For those who received a mix tape from me after AmAnSet released “Know By Heart” in 2001, this track was most likely on it. It was all subconscious. But really, I added this track to *everything*. That is why it’s first.

2. “She’s Got A New Spell” - Billy Bragg
One of those songs that make me happy to be alive and a music fan. This song is usually my answer to the question: “Name a song that describes you.”

3. “Black Metallic” - Catherine Wheel
This song, off of Catherine Wheel’s “Ferment”, makes me want to fornicate.

4. “Title and Registration” - Death Cab for Cutie
One of my favorite Death Cab songs

5. “Needle in the Hay” - Elliott Smith
This song was on my brain because I watched Sad Kermit’s version. One of Elliott’s bests.

6. “The Way I Am” - Ingrid Michaelson
Yes, that song from that iPod commercial. It’s probably my most perfect karaoke song ever… it’s exactly my range. Pretty song. Wonderful sentiment.

7. “C’mere” - Interpol

8. “Bill Gates Must Die” - John Vanderslice

9. “Supernova” - Liz Phair
“Fuck & Run” is another one of my anthems, but I chose “Supernova” because it makes me want to shake my ass.

10. “Gold Soundz” - Pavement
In “Love is a Mix Tape,” he talks a lot about Pavement, and well, that put me in the Pavement mood.

11. “Perfect Lines” - The Promise Ring
I remember seeing The Promise Ring at Summerfest during the summer between 8th grade and 9th grade. “Nothing Feels Good” is my favorite record of theirs.

12. “Think I Wanna Die” - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Since I heard this song a few weeks ago, I have probably listened to it a bizillion times. Great pop song.

13. “Sally Cinnamon” - The Stone Roses
Throughout high school, I was Brit Pop-obsessed. This is hat’s off to that period of my life. Ian Brown really doesn’t have that great of voice, but I still love The Roses.

14. “New York City” - They Might Be Giants
Holy Cow! This song makes me so incredibly happy! I usually listen to it before I enter work to give me a little spring in my step.

15. “Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House” - Yo La Tengo
A nice little chill-out way to end a mix

This mix is missing some important bands … no Beatles, but it’ll do…

What would be on your Explain Yourself mix?