I woke up this morning with potential titles for this mix leaping from my brain (woah): No Leap Till Brooklyn, I Hear The Secrets That You Leap When You're Talking In Your Sleep, (Don't Fear) the Leaper, etc., which had me thinking about how lucky I am to be spending part of my Leap Day listening to music, thinking about music, and writing. What are you doing with your Leap Day?
At the very least, you can listen to this.
1. "Leap Year Blues" - Big Bill Broonzy
Women, take care of your men. Give them your paychecks and give them some loving until the sun goes down. Big Bill isn't so far off the mark, given the folk traditions associated with leap years. (BTW, I've decided that my burlesque name is Scarlett Petticoat.)
2. "Feb 29th (Ian)" - Maggi, Pierce, and E.J.
Ok, I'm in love. Fags & Mags!
3. "The Calendar Hung Itself" - Bright Eyes
Frantic genius contemplates the passage of time, life and death, gnawing jealousy, and your smoking habits.
4. "Yekatit (February)" - Mulatu Astatke
Dearest darlings, please listen to and purchase the entire Ethiopiques, Vol. 4 record immediately and get your Ethio-jazz on. You will not be disappointed. I promise.
5. "Look Before You Leap" - Gregory Isaacs
Just thinking about Gregory Isaacs made me listen to Mos Def's "Ms. Fat Booty" three times in a row. I'm proof positive that white people love them some Mos Def!
6. "The 29th Day" - DJ Wally
DJ Wally...also known as Pish Posh...also known as Keef DeStefano, is part of the NYC "avant-gardist abstract beatz scene." I can't figure out what the dude is saying in the first sample of this track. Sexual grease? Anyone? (Meaning, does anyone have suggestions for what the dude is saying, not like, "Hey, do you want some sexual grease?" I know it's Leap Day and everything, but eew.)
7. "29th & Going" - Fontanelle
Beaty, Lynchian noise somehow captures both the weirdness of Leap Day and of fontanelles.
8. "Calendar Girl" - Stars
I could eat Amy Millan's voice with a spoon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She put out a solo record in 2006, but I favor the Stars stuff.
9. "Song for the Julian Calendar" - The Mountain Goats
Let the battle of the calendars begin!
10. "Gregorian Chant: Adoro te devote, Hymnus in Honorem SS. Sacramenti" - Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of St. Maurice & St. Maur
Say that ten times fast. Can't you just picture the Mountain Goats and the Monks in a cagematch? I've got to admit that I'm kind of into the fact that I just got the brothers onto a mix.
Happy Leap Day, folks! Make the most of it. And if today is your birthday (like Ja Rule), you are known as a "leapling." Is there anything cuter than that? I don't think so, I really don't.