Allllrighty. Folks, this is what I wound up with, and I don't mind telling you that it absolutely killed 'em dead. Just slayed 'em. The setting for this was a 2-story boat that we rented for her for 2 hours (11pm-1am) last night, with about 25 of her friends on it. Open bar, open food. Speakers allll over, these 2 discs ran back-to-back, perfectly an hour each pretty much. A captain guy drives you slowly around the lake, you look at the capitol and downtown while you get sloshed and dance.
Witness, the Solid Gold Dancers:
Disc One:
1.
Drop It Like It's A Whole Lotta Love - Led Snooppelin Someone posted this a month or two back, and it's just a really damn good opener. Kitschy, yet very likeable on its own merit. It got props.
2.
In the Morning (Album Version) - The Coral Never heard it, but credit to Dalen for another excellent recommend. I love it now.
3.
She Will Have Her Way - Neil Finn Busty shot me this a while ago. Unh, sweet sweet candy. So goddam good.
4.
DC Sleeps Alone Tonight - Postal Service Obvious but good. Dancy.
5.
Anecdote - Ambulance Ltd. The recipient of the mix (Fawn) looooves this one, as do Busty and I. We play it out regularly. If you don't know it / have it, tell me, and YSI will happen.
6.
I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow Obvious but appropriate.
7.
Ordinary Angels - Frente I've mysteriously had this disc since it was new, mid 90's. Soft-edged girl-pop. Good, pretty.
8.
I Predict A Riot - Kaiser Cheifs Courtesy of DHJerichoMix. F'in great song. Ditto abt YSI on this one, but I suspect we all have this one already.
9.
Garbage Day - Ike Reilly Holy shit. Much like every band that played Live Aid, this song
stole the show on Yail's 2004 Mix. If you don't have it, YSI will again happen. This is mandatory, people.
10.
Don't Change - INXS Obvious, good.
11.
Breaking Us In Two - Joe Jackson Even more obvious, but sometimes you gotta ease up on the new material for a song or two to get the girls nodding their heads again.
12.
Carolina - Josh Rouse Props to Derris for championing this disc long long ago. We also cover this.
13.
Cruel To Be Kind - Nick Lowe 'Nother obvious one.
14.
Portions For Foxes - Rilo Kiley While this was also on Yail's 2004 Mix, the wife bought the disc months back, and thus she technically gets credit for it.
15.
Never Say Never - Romeo Void Might like you better if we slept together. 'Nuff said. Props go to Nobody.
16.
The First Five Times - Stars I think it was Loog who pushed this disc around, and I know Busty loves it as well. Postal Service-esque.
DISC TWO:
1.
Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz Direct request from the wife, and was well-loved by those in attendance.
2.
Black Tambourine - Beck I wanted something dancy (read: good) but didn't want one of the beaten-up singles.
3.
Plan To Stay Awake - The Deathray Davies This one I Know came from Loog. Very up-beat, very easy to enjoy.
4.
If You Were Here - Thompson Twins Had tons of rec's for these guys, and there were soooo many hits to choose from, but I dug around and found this one from the end of 16 Candles. The stereo was fucking up during this one, and people were piiiissed off. I think I heard "Oh my god I LOVE this song" from 5 different people.
5.
Switchin' to Glide - The Kings My god what a good recommend. A+++ Bilz. Just dead-on. I dare anyone to have 5 beers, hear this on a good, loud stereo, and not freak out on the sugary choruses. I think I'd only heard the full song like, twice, whereas I've heard "Nothin matters but the weekend" in snippet-form on EVERY radio station's Friday Drive Home intro, right before "Iiiii don't wanna work, I wanna bang on de drum all day."
6.
Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly) - Social Code Proppas to Nobody, once again. Couldn't find the original on iTunes, but this is some punky band covering it, and I actually like this version a shit-ton. It gets close to Blink 182 territory sound-wise, but I don't think they cross that line. Hell, the song's so good you just sorta overlook it.
7.
The Walls Came Down - The Call Credit to Bilz again. I didn't know this one well, and wondered how it would go over, but a quick glance around saw a lot of recognizing smiles / head bobbing. Man knows what he's doing.
8.
The Way We Get By - Spoon I knew Fawn liked this one ahead of time. At this point, I was just killing her, and it was awesome to behold. Like every new song just had her jaw dropping.
9.
Ageless Beauty - Stars I felt the Stars merited 2 spots in this affair. This is another damn-fine song. Chorus = candy.
10.
Blue Monday - New Order Once again Nobody nails it. Spot-on. Recognizeable but not worn-out, dancey but dark. A+.
11.
Sound Of Settling - Deathcab For Cutie I believe Busty called this "perhaps my favorite song of 2004." If not, he'll just post about what an idiot I am, as per usual. But I agree with whoever said it. And again, knew Fawn liked it. I assume you all have this?
12.
Already With Someone - Wheat This got a lot of airplay on the local good radio station, but it's a really infectious song. And it went over very well. I wish the rest of their album had been as good.
13.
Generals And Majors - XTC Courtesy of Albion's XTC Mix. Was playing this around the house and saw her enjoying it.
14.
7 - Prince Sketch actually rec'd Sign O' The Times, but something about it didn't fit right. But it did get me thumbing through his catalogue, and remembering how very very much I love this song. I almost went with Darling Nikki. That or Head. Man, go through his list on iTunes... wins the award for Dirtiest Song Titles if sheer volume is factored in. Reads like a Penthouse Forum letter.
15.
How Soon Is Now - Morrissey Per wife's request. Great live version. I'm not much on sad-sack Morrissey generally, but this is a damn good song.
16.
Under the Milky Way - The Church Also per the wife, also very good. Kinda obvious, but just right mood-wise.
There were a LOT more good suggestions that I couldn't fit in. Thanks everyone. This came out better than I'd hoped.