May 5, 2023 2 min read

A power-pop mixtape

A mix about a song about a mixtape

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If it's not obvious, the lyrics to the song "Power Pop Mixtape" on Warm Blanket are literally just a tracklist of a mixtape. It's the majority of the songs on a tape that my friend Scott made for me when we were in our early 20s. We'd drive around and he'd play me power pop songs and punk and mod stuff that I mostly hadn't heard before. He had a great 45 collection and continues to be a great DJ. I've saved most of my mixtapes, but that one is by far one of my favorites.

Another friend who used to make me power pop mix CDs is my friend Evan "Funk" Davies, who's an amazing DJ on WFMU. You can listen to his show live on the air noon-3pm ET or check out the archives!

I like the concept of communicating with someone via tracklistings on mixtapes, or learning more about music and art through your favorite songs. Digging through the liner notes. Finding new things that speak to you thanks to people you trust.

Here is a list of all the tracks I reference in the song, which you can also listen to as a playlist on YouTube or Spotify.

The Knack - Good Girls Don't
Joe Jackson - On Your Radio
The Undertones - Thrill Me
Nick Lowe - So It Goes
Joe Jackson - One More Time
The Police - Next To You
The Jam - Down In The Tube Station at Midnight
REM - Radio Free Europe
The Jam - Town Called Malice
The Style Council - Head Start for Happiness

Power Pop Mixtape

Good Girls Don’t Like the Knack does
On Your Radio by Joe Jackson
You Thrill Me, And So It Goes
by the Undertones and Nick Lowe

Just come over we’ll go for a drive
I’ll play you all the things I’ve got on 45
Power pop and punk rock, too
One More Time, Next To You

Jammin out with a Midnight subway
REM in their heyday
Hadn’t heard a Town Called Malice
You got me, Headstart For Happiness.

Made another mixtape
Not another heartache
Laughing at our mistakes
Reminiscing teenage

🎶

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