So I was thinking the other day about an idea. Let me know if this is dumb, as it very well could be.

I know a lot of us are interested in certain bands but havent really heard much of them and dont have the time to invest in exploring all these bands. I know Yail has sent me a mix of Frank Black and one of Marah that were great.

What if everyone who wanted to participate selected one band that they really know and puts together a best of mix for sharing to other interested parties? No more than 12 tracks. Try to select bands that others may be not be that familiar with. For instance maybe I take The Go Betweens or Richmond Fontaine or something that I am a huge fan of but others dont know much about.

Thoughts?

Go for it.

I was working on some single-artist comp things. I don't know about sticking to just 12 tracks, though. Might as well fill up a CD with however many tracks can fit, assuming the artist has enough quality stuff.

Seems like a great idea.

Would this be a YSI thing? 'Cuz I'm still trying to figure that shit out - but otherwise I'm into it. And if I can find the time to spend on YSI I might even be up for that, too.

I've already got best-ofs of Mott the Hoople, Graham Parker, Joe Henry, Rancid, Jon Spencer, You Am I, and Giant Sand that I could chip down to an acceptable length.

isn't this what allmusic.com and p2p services are for? i mean, it seems like a fine idea, but it will inevitably turn into a ysi fest.

ok - maybe we expand to no limit. i just have a hard time limiting YSI as there is no limit.

z - a lot of us dont use p2p services. but for someone with access to everything already there would be no need for this.

OK, I guess I can see why you wanted to limit it so that people aren't trying to YSI 30 tracks or something. Maybe single-CD length would be a good guideline?

yeah i think a cd is around 70 minutes or so. how about that.

I think the idea is to curate your mix -- that is, make good selections amongst an artist's ouevre.

I think it should be 74 minutes or less

well, i don't use p2p services either. i'm just going on previous experience with mix projects like this on other boards. maybe this will be different, though.

I'd say there should be nothing holding you back from including songs from artists that are immediately relevant to the focus artist of the mix. That is, side projects, predecessors (influencers) and successors.

do you guys REALLY want a Duran Duran mix from me?
(if so, I already posted one in the mix forum a few months ago)

Count me in if we did CD mixes. And I'd probably do a mix of Blonde Redhead's greatest hits.

lol dana.

I was working on a Howard Devoto mix: early Buzzcocks, Magazine, and stuff from his solo album.

And I have a Can mix done.

Also, CDs are up to 80 minutes.

i also think it'd be easier to go backward - making a list of bands that people are interested in, instead of volunteering to make mixes first. i can't imagine there being too many bands that at least one person here can't handle.

you know, I'm sure there's someone out there that could explain the genius of a say... Great White... or a Collective Soul...

yeah I thought about that but was worried we'd get some obscure bands that no one would have a clue about. or we'd get people making mixes for bands that they really dont know that well. like i could do a mix for a lot of bands but only really make an awesome one for a couple dozen bands.

i'm down for it.
great idea!

ok so possible participants:

1. rparis74
2. radcliffe
3. billyg
4. miceelf
5. daystar
6. opa
7. drinky
8. ish
9. z (skeptical)

I'd be up for this. Don't know what I'd put together right at this second though.

The Giant Sand comp is tops.

I am interested in getting in, but I'm in the process of re-ripping so much stuff that I'm really limited at the moment, and for the near future.

I also agree with 12 tracks, because 18-20 just tends to run too long.