Mix Tape of the Day: May 2, 2015 - Sting and the Police

1. Roxanne - The Police (1978) It's the weekend.  I just wanted to relax and listen to some Police.  I'm fond of many of their tracks, but I'll admit, it took me a while to warm up to their first hit.  But just wait until the mix where I feature the Moulin Rouge! version.  I love that interpretation!

2. So Lonely - The Police (1978) I hadn't heard this one before and it's a shame.  It's a lot of fun!  And those 4 chords appear!

3. Message in a Bottle - The Police (1979) For some reason, I enjoy Police songs sparingly.  I feel like their songs are always playing on the radio which makes me enjoy them less and less.  They're good, but not repeatedly in a short amount of time.  It's like a rich dessert.

4. Walking on the Moon - The Police (1979) This is just your basic reggae-inspired Police song, in case you only have 5 minutes to teach someone about The Police.

5. Don't Stand So Close to Me - The Police (1980) First heard this one on Friends when everyone in NYC assumed Joey had VD.  Kind of changes the context a bit.

6. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police (1981) The only non-creepy love song by the Police. Perfect for your rom-com soundtrack!

7. Every Breath You Take - The Police (1983) Everyone's favorite Police song that isn't about what everyone thinks it's about (except, now they do because that's what it's famous for).

8. Synchronicity II - The Police (1983) If it weren't for the next song on this list, I would have past this one by.  But now I understand that Synchronicity is one of those must have albums.

9. Velvet Elvis - "Weird Al" Yankovic (1988) Yeah, you can't escape Weird Al.  He already did "King of Suede" but he wasn't done with the Police just yet.  Here is his ode to kitsch.  For a kid born right this short-lived fad was popular, I had no idea what this song was actually about until I did my research.

10. Fragile - Sting (1987) Sting departed the Police in the '80s to form his own lucrative solo career.  While I feel he didn't have as many classics, there's no denying his talent.

11. Fields of Gold - Sting (1993) Here's that Sting song that you know.

12. Brand New Day - Sting (1999) Since I can't post "Desert Rose" again, "Brand New Day," will have to suffice today.  Hmm, I hope Sting isn't getting too full of himself.

13. King of Pain - Alanis Morissette (1999) I've already featured my favorite Police song on a previous mix, but I had to include it here too.  Fortunately, one of my favorite artists covered it beautifully.

Mix Tape of the Day: April 4, 2015 - Alanis!

Yesterday, I noticed that an Alanis Morissette song was on the 2002 chart so that was my signal to finally do my Morissette mix.  As one of my favorite artists, I knew we'd get around to her eventually.  Today's the day!

1. You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette (1995) While Morissette had been trying a name for herself as a generic early '90s teen pop idol in Canada, it wasn't until 1995's Jagged Little Pill that she changed her style and everyone took notice.

2. Hand in My Pocket - Alanis Morissette (1995) Something about this song really showcases Morissette's talent at being different.  The fact that every chorus ends with a completely different, non-rhyming phrase keeps the listener on their toes.

3. Mary Jane - Alanis Morissette (1995) The whole Jagged Little Pill is quite strong.  While it spawned five great singles, the other tracks are just as wonderful.  Take "Mary Jane," for instance.

4. Ironic - Alanis Morissette (1995) Yes, we get it.  It's not ironic.  How ironic.

5. You Learn - Alanis Morissette (1995) Morissette just had so many pearls of wisdom to share with us!

6. Head Over Feet - Alanis Morissette (1995) This is my favorite Morissette song.  She gets me.

7. Uninvited - Alanis Morissette (1998) Sometimes, you just want Morissette to sing a haunting melody with her beautiful warble voice.

8. That I Would Be Good - Alanis Morissette (1998) Right?!

9. Thank U - Alanis Morissette (1998) I feel like this song is the reason Morissette was selected to play God in Dogma.  Whenever I picture God, it's always the Morissette incarnation that I envision.  Sorry, Morgan Freeman.

10. Hands Clean - Alanis Morissette (2002) Here it is, the song from yesterday that made me realize it was time for Alanis Morissette today.

11. Simple Together - Alanis Morissette (2002) This one's somewhat of a rarity.  But it's such a great simple Morissette-y song that I had to include it.

12. Everything - Alanis Morissette (2004) :)

13. Eight Easy Steps - Alanis Morissette (2004) I really like it when musicans make great "final" songs.  This isn't actually Morissette's last song.  She still has some great post-2004 songs.  But the structure of this one, with the accompanying music video just feels like a great ending retrospective to a decade of music.  Why not go out on top?