how do you narrow down your one single favorite song from both the 80s and the 90s? it's nearly impossible. but here at the friendly confines of abpg, we specialize in the near-impossible.

yes friends, for the first time in abpg #MixDay history, we're bringing you an epic 2-"disc" set. each mixtaper has picked their 2 favorite tracks ranging from 1980 to 1999 and we've got a little bit of everything. there's certainly something for everyone.

happy listening!

Thank God it's #MixDay: Best of 80s Disc 1

1. i'm gonna be (500 miles) / the proclaimers :: amanda hoelzeman
2. when doves cry / prince :: ryan byrd
3. patience / guns 'n roses :: alissa mathews
4. strangelove / depeche mode :: paula cigainero
5. the glamorous life / sheila e :: jason wiest
6. obsession / animotion :: lindsay irvin
7. she sells sanctuary / the cult :: kristen heldenbrand
8. little red corvette / prince :: doc harper
9. the killing moon / echo & the bunnymen :: amber brewer
10. please don't go / kc & the sunshine band :: mark friedman
11. come on eileen / dexy's midnight runners :: alex graham
12. vampira / the misfits :: graham cobb
13. we built this city / jefferson starship :: bekah caraway
14. dress you up / madonna :: jennifer pyron
15. you can call me al / paul simon :: audra wallace

Thank God it's #MixDay: Best of 90s Disc 2

1. 6th avenue heartache / the wallflowers :: amanda hoelzeman
2. black hole sun / soundgarden :: ryan byrd
3. wonderwall / oasis :: alissa mathews
4. breaking the girl / red hot chili peppers :: paula cigainero
5. can i get a… / jay-z :: jason wiest
6. tearin' up my heart / nsync :: lindsay irvin
7. are you gonna go my way / lenny kravitz :: kristen heldenbrand
8. misery / soul asylum :: doc harper
9. common people / pulp :: amber brewer
10. smooth (ft. rob thomas) / santana :: mark friedman
11. wannabe / spice girls :: alex graham
12. if it kills you / drive like jehu :: graham cobb
13. everybody (backstreet's back) / backstreet boys :: bekah caraway
14. zombie / the cranberries :: jennifer pyron
15. volcano girls / veruca salt :: audra wallace

// download the .zip //

sometimes, the day never ends. sometimes, you're on the brink of snapping. sometimes, you just feel like you can't go on. if you've ever experienced these things, we've got the mix for you!

for this #MixDay, we've compiled a list of get-you-through-the-day songs. some will give you energy, while some will calm you down. either way, these are all songs that will help you make it through your day.

happy listening!

1. dogs day are over / florence + the machine :: amanda morgan
2. i want to break free / queen :: lindsay irvin
3. the beat / ben rector :: alex graham
4. on a day like this / elbow :: ryan byrd
5. bad romance / lad gaga :: jennifer pyron
6. b.o.b. / outkast :: chip taulbee
7. party in the usa / miley cyrus :: audra wallace
8. common people / pulp :: kristen heldenbrand
9. it's not you it's me / coconut records :: liz sendejo
10. they just don't know / gyft :: alissa mathews
11. take a look around / limp bizkit :: paula cigainero
12. 200 miles from memphis / donald cowen :: tre baker
13. ms. jackson / outkast :: aubri duran
14. she's long gone / the black keys :: bekah caraway
15. teeth / lady gaga :: jason wiest

// download the .zip //

for every #MixDay-er, the musical journey must begin somewhere. for some of us, our entry point served as the launching point for a long and similar journey. for others, it merely serves as an embarrassing reminder that we had no taste in the 80s… either way, this week, we've taken a look back to our first album. whether it be vinyl, cassette, cd (or 8 track?), we all began somewhere and we thought we'd share it with the world.

happy listening!

1. Every Heartbeat / Amy Grant :: Alex Graham
2. Pac-Man Fever / Buckner & Garcia :: Mark Friedman
3. Leave Me Alone / Michael Jackson :: Ryan Byrd
4. Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old) / Garth Brooks :: Justin Myers
5. Rhythm is Gonna Get You / Gloria Estefan :: Lindsay Irvin
6. Billie Jean / Michael Jackson :: Paula Cigainero
7. Life is a Highway / Tom Cochrane :: Audra Wallace
8. We're Not Gonna Take It / Twisted Sister :: Graham Cobb
9. Ghostbusters Theme / Ray Parker, Jr. :: Aubri Duran
10. Nobody Gets Off in This Town / Garth Brooks :: Jason Wiest
11. Beat It / Michael Jackson :: Alissa Mathews
12. Take it Like a Man / Michelle Wright :: Amanda Morgan
13. Too Much Time on My Hands / Styx :: Tre Baker
14. Hot for Teacher / Van Halen :: Jennifer Pyron
15. Baby, Baby / Amy Grant :: Bekah Caraway

// download the .zip //

on january 15, we kicked off our latest round of #MixDay with 19 fresh-faced mixtapers. 6 months later, we've amassed a collection of retro, country, hip hop, indie, pop and mark friedman. we've seen a little bit of everything. truly, it's been the best of times…and the, um, worst of times (you can choose which mixes fall in which category…).

while we prepare to launch a new #MixDay initiative (that will look somewhat different), we thought we'd pause to take a look back. thanks to the choices of mixtapers bekah caraway and tre baker, we present to you, thank god it's #mixday: the best of 2010 (so far).

enjoy.

1. All That She Wants / Ace Of Base :: Alissa Mathews
2. Gone, Gone, Gone / Robert Plant & Alison Krauss :: Audra Wallace
3. Auditorium / American Princes :: Amanda Morgan
4. Gone For Good / The Shins :: Paula Cigainero
5. Young Forever / Jay-Z :: Lindsay Irvin
6. Encore / DJ Danger Mouse (The Beatles / Jay-Z) :: Chip Taulbee
7. The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us! / Sufjan Stevens :: Liz Sendejo
8. For You / Greg Kihn :: Mark Friedman
9. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go / Wham! :: Ryan Byrd
10. The Power Of Love / Celine Dion :: Aubri Duran
11. I'm In Love With My Car / Queen :: Tre Baker
12. Video Phone (Ft. Lady Gaga) / Beyonce :: Jason Wiest
13. I Fell In Love With A Girl / The White Stripes (Bluegrass Cover) :: Sam Eifling
14. Pretend You're Alive / Lovedrug :: Chris Earls
15. High & Dry / Radiohead :: Justin Myers
16. Sunny Afternoon / The Kinks :: Graham Cobb
17. In Spite Of Ourselves / John Prine With Iris Dement :: Jennifer Pyron
18. New Slang / The Shins :: Bekah Caraway
19. Someone Great / LCD Soundsystem :: Keely Kaffenberger

// download the .zip //

the beauty of #MixDay is that each mixtaper provides a little unique slice of their musical life. variety is, in fact, the spice of said life. but occasionally, we get caught in a bit of a pop/rock/rap rut here at the #MixDay headquarters. enter jennifer pyron, editor of @LRFamily, stage left. she's single-handedly pulled us out of the rut and into a solid mix of classic country, where outlaws and loose women ruled the day.

so, strap on your cowboy boots and enjoy the ride.

Thank God it's #MixDay: Beware Outlaws & Loose Women

1. L.A. Freeway / Guy Clark
2. We’re Not The Jet Set / John Prine with Iris DeMent
3. Evangeline / Emmylou Harris (with The Band)
4. Desperadoes Waiting For A Train / The Highwaymen
5. Angel from Montgomery / John Prine and Bonnie Raitt
6. Suspicious Minds / Waylon Jennings and Jessie Coulter
7. Tecumseh Valley / Townes Van Zandt
8. No Swallerin’ Place / June Carter
9. Luckenbach, Texas / Waylon Jennings
10. That’s The Way The World Goes ‘Round / John Prine
11. Ford Econoline / Nanci Griffith
12. Texas Cookin / Guy Clark
13. Pancho and Lefty / Willie Nelson
14. Hotter Than The Mohave In My Heart / Iris DeMent
15. Sunday Morning Comin’ Down / Kris Kristofferson
16. Red Dirt Girl / Emmylou Harris
17. Cocaine Blues / Johnny Cash
18. Late Night Grand Hotel / Nanci Griffith
19. In Spite of Ourselves / John Prine with Iris DeMent
20. Whiskey River (Live) / Willie Nelson

// download the .zip //

several months ago, we kicked off the inaugural round of abpg's #MixDay. no doubt about it, it's been a huge success. we've had everything from 80s pop to singing poop to pirates in your pants. certainly, it's been good so far.

we'll be back next week with a whole new slate of mixtapers, so be sure to check back here next friday. you'll see some old names and some new ones, so it's sure to be an extra helping of awesome in 2010.

to kick off the year, though, we're gonna take a look back. we've taken a single track from each person's mixtape to create a best of 2009 mix. (the song choice/order was determined by what order people went. for example, paula was in the 5th week, so we picked her track #5 from her previously-submitted mix.)

happy listening!

1. Entertain / Sleater-Kinney :: Lance Turner
2. Born Again / Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons :: Ryan Byrd
3. Coconut / Widespread Panic :: Jennifer Pyron
4. So Deep / MSTRKRFT :: Gabe Couch
5. Daybreaker / Beth Orton :: Paula Cigainero
6. Hey Hey You Say / Papa Fritas :: Graham Cobb
7. In the Waiting Line / Zero 7 :: Amanda Morgan
8. Heart it Races / Architecture in Helsinki :: Amber Brewer
9. The Con / Tegan and Sara :: Chris Earls
10. Black Friday / Steely Dan :: Tre Baker
11. Driving Song / Widespread Panic :: Alissa Mathews
12. Slow Life / Grizzly Bear :: Bekah Caraway
13. Lost / Anouk :: Audra Wallace
14. Catch That Girl / Pirates in Your Pants :: Mark Friedman
15. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas / Mr. Hankey :: Chip Taulbee
16. Don't Look Back in Anger / Oasis :: Justin Myers

// download the .zip //

joy to the world, #MixDay has come! yes, indeed, our last MixDay of 2009 (i think) has come and we bear great tidings of goodness to the world. for this mix—titled Gifts to the World—each mixtaper has submitted a single track that they consider, naturally, a gift to the world. as you can see, this is a sordid group of music connoisseurs. nevertheless, when you combine the likes of extreme with the bee gees and a certain pirate musical group, awesomeness is sure to ensue.

enjoy!

Thank God it's #MixDay: Gifts to the World

1. More Than Words / Extreme :: Amber Brewer
2. The Gambler / Kenny Rogers :: Audra Wallace
3. I Wanna Sex You Up / Color Me Badd :: Ryan Byrd
4. One / U2 :: Alissa Mathews
5. X-Mas Gift / il libretina :: Graham Cobb
6. Stayin' Alive / Bee Gees :: Bekah Caraway
7. Losing My Religion / R.E.M. :: Amanda Morgan
8. Macarena / Los Del Rio :: Chip Taulbee
9. Heretics / Andrew Bird :: Jamie Walden
10. Fire & Rain / James Taylor :: Justin Myers
11. Purple Haze / Jimi Hendrix :: Keely Kaffenberger
12. Hallelujah / Jeff Buckley :: Lance Turner
13. Respect / Aretha Franklin :: Paula Cigainero
14. The Gift / The Velvet Underground :: Tre Baker
15. Do They Know It's Christmas / Band Aid :: Jennifer Pyron
16. Silver Bells / Pirates in Your Pants :: Mark J. Friedman

// download the .zip //

here we go. the second installment of abpg's Thank God it's #MixDay is here! first up, we've got jennifer pyron, editor of @LRFamily. jennifer's taking us back with a great "retro"spective. for those born post-1989, prepare to be taken to a faraway land called Awesome.

alright, happy listening!

Thank God it's #MixDay: A "Retro"spective by Jennifer Pyron

1. Dancing Queen / ABBA
2. My Generation (Part 2) / Todd Snider
3. Coconut / Widespread Panic
4. A Little Less Conversation / Elvis Presley
5. Deadbeat Club / B-52s
6. Groove is in the Heart / Dee-Lite
7. Alison / Elvis Costello
8. Mother Mary / Foxboro Hottubs
9. What's My Scene / Hoodoo Gurus
10. A Campfire Song / 10,000 Maniacs
11. I Drove All Night / Cyndi Lauper
12. Punk Rock Party / Mulehead
13. My Life Would Suck Without You / Kelly Clarkson
14. Killians Red / Nada Surf
15. Take the Skinheads Bowling / Camper Van Beethoven
16. That's the Way That the World Goes Round / John Prine
17. Here Comes Your Man / The Pixies
18. King of Birds / R.E.M.
19. Interstate Love Song / Stone Temple Pilots
20. Thriller / Michael Jackson

// download the .zip //