Posted as promised yesterday, although this is super late since I tend to post “month mixes” on the last days of the previous month. Oh well. Sorry? I still listen to this mix a lot anyway, so I suppose it still counts as current. Just a few songs; I haven’t been very exciting musically lately anyway.

LISTEN: Spotify | Let me know if you need a .zip!

— Return to the Moon (Political song for Didi Bloome To Sing, With Crescendo) by EL VY
Return to the moon, I’m dying. Return to the moon, please

A Matt Berninger/Brent Knopf side project? Sign me up! This is decidedly less somber than The National, even with Matt B’s gloomy vocals. I posted about this before here, with a video that’s worth watching (I think), especially if you like dancing Matt, which I do.

— Warm Blood by Carly Rae Jepsen
My hands and heart were tied, but I was scared of almost nothing at all

This is one of my favorite tracks off of EMOTION, which is pretty much a perfect record. In my humble, trash opinion. “Warm Blood” was produced by VW’s Rostam Batmanglij, and it’s amazing and sultry, but not in a weird red-lacy way. If that makes any kind of sense at all, haha. I think this is a good preview of just how different—but in a good way—Emotion is from Kiss.

— Fireproof by One Direction
It’s been so long, we must be fireproof

“Fireproof” is my favorite One Direction song to force people to listen to, haha. It’s so good, honestly. Surprisingly by One Direction, but at the same time, kind of not.

— What Do You Mean? by Justin Bieber
First you up and you’re down then you’re between

This was the song that counted down an excruciatingly long time to its release and was met with weird disappointment. Which I don’t get because it’s a great tune. “Where Are Ü Now” was set as the standard, and while that song is fucking fantastic, it doesn’t mean that this isn’t. I love this one so much, it’s been on repeat quite a bit.

Anyone who says this is a rapey song, please read the lyrics, because Justin Bieber actually became the poster boy of consent (at least with this song) while we weren’t looking.

— Coffee by Miguel feat. Wale
Sweet dreams turns into coffee in the morning

I heard this first on The Breakfast Show, and it’s so sexy, lol. Coffee is a euphemism, let’s just say that.

— Thinkin Bout You by Frank Ocean
Excuse the mess it made, it usually doesn’t rain

I’m a million years late but this is still a beautiful song. I started listening to Frank Ocean via “Bad Religion,” as rec’d by Ching, but a few other song stuck with me. One of them was this one, lol. I mean, I didn’t know it was a hit, but I mean, I understand why everyone loves this one, I guess. It’s so good.

— Roman Holiday by Halsey
And we know that we’re headstrong, and our heart’s gone, and the timing’s never right

Halsey released Badlands, and it’s a pretty good album, but this might be my favorite new track. Maybe. I think I like her sound much better on her EP, but there are some ace songs like this one. I think it’s her lyrics that mostly feel clunky, but otherwise, a solid effort.

— Baby Britain by Elliott Smith
You’ve got a look in your eye when you’re saying goodbye, like you want to say hi

I was reconnecting with Mr. Smith and this one stuck out to me the most. It doesn’t sound as sad as some of his other songs, but of course the words tell a different story.

— The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack by Liars
I won’t run far, I can always be found. I will stay by your side, and I want you to find me, so I’ll stay by your side

This is one of the handful of Liars songs I’ve listened to. I forgot which old mix I put this in, but I was reminded of its beautiful existence by way of Matt Berninger’s sad playlist on Rolling Stone’s Spotify. It’s an incredibly sweet song, kind of grounding, in a way. The lyrics are sparse, but repeated like a mantra, like a reminder.

— Nightwater Girlfriend by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Nightwater girlfriend, getting high in the backseat. Never change, never let them win

Kind of a perfect SSLYBY song, I think? I’ve been loving Fly By Wire a lot lately, and this is one of the songs off of it that I fell in love with.