i may be a bird in a cage but at least it's your cage

i've been making what i call a christmas mix -- that is, not holiday songs but a mix made at the holidays -- since 1997; first they were tapes, then for a few years cds, and finally, in the digital age, the last two years have been downloadable zip files, and this year is no exception. these are songs that meant something to me this year, for various reasons, and they are for you. behind the tag are the songs, each available individually, and the whole shebang is available as a zip file [here]. the individually tracks are down now, but the zip will be available for at least another month.

happy holidays, happy 2006, happy music sharing -- whatever floats your boat. this is from me to you. xoxo.

1. our retired explorer (dines with michel focault, paris, 1961) [the weakerthans]: just one more drink and then i should be on my way home/i'm not entirely sure what you're talking about
   
   
2. the golden age of aviation [the lucksmiths]: for argument's sake, let's pretend we could stop arguing/over which of us is wrong and why it isn't you
   
   
3. if you need a reason [mason jennings]: i guess you don't want me to think/so instead i'll dream and drink
   
   
4. my list [the killers]: let me wrap myself around you/let you show me how i see/and when you come back in from nowhere/do you ever think of me
   
   
5. god is a dj [pink]: if god is a dj then life is a dance floor/you get what you're given/it's all how you use it
   
   
6. another train [the poozies]: there's another train, there always is/maybe the next one is yours/get up and climb aboard
   
   
7. if i ever leave this world alive [flogging molly]: wherever i am you'll always be/more than just a memory/if i ever leave this world alive
   
   
8. new south [kate campbell]: it’s getting hard to find good grits and gravy/i know you know what i’m talking about/well, that’s the price you have to pay for progress/a nd to be living in the new south
   
   
9. manifesto no. 1 [shooter jennings]: but if that’s how you say hello, you can kiss my ass goodbye
   
   
10. new monster avenue [the mountain goats]: fresh coffee at sunrise, warm my lips against the cup/been waiting such a long time now, my number's finally coming up.
    
    
11. your misfortune [mike doughty]: when everybody says no, no, no/well it's your misfortune and none of my own/wrong, wrong, wrong/well it's your misfortune that sweetens my song
    
    
12. inverigo [thea gilmore]: we are bedrock we're underground we are sharp as the rain/we are gathering pace we are thunder wrapped in cellophane/we are running from the storms of our youth into more of the same
    
    
13. we are more [erin mckeown]: you hate the words of war, but baby/face it, that's what it's been for us/we were never good fighters or very good soldiers/but through this we are more
    
    
14. the believer [rhett miller]: had to be hard to keep hating yourself/when these people are so well-behaved
    
    
15. 3rd planet [modest mouse]: the universe is shaped exactly like the earth/if you go straight long enough, you'll end up where you were