Ok, so that zer0 thing didn't work out too well ... and well, I was pretty fucking depressed at the time, so it seemed like a good idea. Hell, I'll admit when I'm wrong and I've screwed up ... good thing this isn't one of those times, as the world just wasn't ready for zer0, that's all. ALL HAIL ... THE RETURN OF THE DRUNKEN TH3SPACE! HOOOORAH!

So yeah, this is a new feature of mine, and I'm going to rip off the Promise Ring for the title ... partly because they kick ass, and mostly because I feel like it. So you're probably all asking yourself 'what the hell is he talking about? is he going to make us actual mix tapes and mail them to us? he's really taking this rejoining of the medicated masses thing a little too far, ya know...'. Well, here's the premise of this little project ... and yes, I am going a little overboard after re-associating myself with the rank-and-file world order that is the 'depression management through medication' industry, so what? It's not like YOU have to take the medicine for me, hippo! I have digressed ... I shall now regress (is that a word?)!

In theory, I am going to make you all a mix tape, but only in theory. In actuallity, what it's going to be is a list of songs (compiled mostly from my cd collection and mp3 playlist) that I feel would play well together on a tape (or cd-r, if that's your thing). What I ask in return is for you all to add your own mix tape lists (please do this by adding comments to the article, emails mean I have to post them for you, and I'm fucking lazy), the best of the bunch will get a personalized copy of MY mix tape and a place in some mix-tape hall of fame thing I'm working on for my own site. How's that sound so far?

Okay, now for the rules of the game. Since I'll be doing this all out-of-pocket, all mix tapes will be put on tape (for the time being). If this works out and gets a lot of attention, I may consider doing mini-disc/cd-r down the line ... but are we down the line yet? No sir, we are not!. The tapes I like to use are the tapes preferred by tape-traders the world over ... Maxell II-S 90 minutes (if you think I'm going to make 110 minute tapes, you're a fool, yo!) ... this means that all lists submitted absolutely MUST come in at or under 90 minutes with a minimum play time of 86 minutes (dead air sucks ass, and if you can't fine a good 3 minute song, you suck, yo!). Bands can only be repeated if you use songs that don't appear on the same album, and they can't appear back to back for any reason (for example...if you drop some Dave Matthews Band action on us, you can use 'Two Step' from Live At Red Rocks, but you would only be able to use 'Typical Situation' if you're culling it from another album entirely, hopefully Dave & Tim: Live at Luther College). Mix tape lists must try to be as thematic as possible, as that is how it works, since these are my rules afterall. All songs must be notated correctly with the band name, song title, album title (or show date/location), and run time.

Well, that's that ... and now for the list!

• Built To Spill - The Normal Years - Joyride (3.37)
• MU330 - MU330 - Stagnant Water (2.00)
• Catherine - Sorry - Songs About Girls (3.00)
• Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out of Something - All Night Diner (4.44)
• Chomsky - A Few Possible Selections - Song For Girls (4.09)
• Flaming Lips - Soft Bulletin - A Spoonful Weighs A Ton (3.32)
• Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes - Add It Up (4.43)
• Superdrag - Regretfully Yours - Sucked Out (2.45)
• Alkaline Trio - Maybe I'll Catch Fire - Fuck You Aurora (4.49)
• Fugazi - Steady Diet of Nothing - Runaway Return (3.59)
• Reggie & The Full Effect - Promotional Copy - Relive the Magic(2.39)
• Wilco - Summerteeth - A Shot In The Arm (4.19)
• Get Up Kids - Something to Write Home About - Ten Minutes (3.12)
• Link 80 - ...the Struggle Continues - My Girl (2.41)
• Weezer - Pinkerton - El Scorcho (4.05)
• Angry Salad - Angry Salad - 99 Red Balloons (2.55)
• Bad Religion - Stranger Than Fiction - 21st Century Digital Boy (2.47)
• The Ataris - End is Forever - You Need a Hug (3.49)

theres more

• The Deathray Davies - The Return of the Drunken Ventriloquist - Clever Found a Name (3.44)
• NOFX - So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes - Champs Elysees (2.01)
• Belle & Sebastian - The Boy With the Arab Strap - The Boy With the Arab Strap (5.14)
• Fountains of Wayne - Fountains of Wayne - Radiation Vibe (3.41)
• The Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings Single - You're All I've Got Tonight (3.10)
• Built To Spill - Keep It Like a Secret - Carry the Zero (5.44)
• Alkaline Trio - Alkaline Trio - My Friend Peter

Thats the list ... 25 songs ... total play time (according to my figuring skills) is 89minutes 28seconds, give or take. The overall theme of this tape (as well as it's title) is HAPPY-PEPPY (pessimism). If you want to win a copy of this tape, made and decorated by yours truly, all you have to do is follow the tape making rules I set forth and compile a list of your own songs. I pick the winner, and since my music collection is pretty damned diverse, don't be afraid to use any Al Green or Frank Sinatra or NWA or whatever it is you're in the mood for.

If anyone is interested in making a tape of these songs, or hearing any of these songs, hit napster ... you might also want to buy the vast majority of the cd's though, as they're all damn good, and most of the bands on my list are relatively DIY and need all the money they can get. Good luck and have fun!