Reading Lists
NOVEMBER MIXTAPE by Michael J. Seidlinger
Meurks’ Super Awesome Facebook Mix & Other Social Media Platforms
I’ve thought about this mixtape a lot, grappling with a few different themes (including one involving capturing a week in time, the trendy music I listened to and now hate, which would be titled, “Hey You Dug This a Week Ago”) but I decided to work on creating a mixtape full of music that I actually want to listen to, beyond any sort of concept or theme.
So, consider this mixtape a selection of music from “Meurks,” the main character of The Strangest, Zachary’s internet presence. This is music he’s posted and/or shared across social media platforms, music from bands/artists that he’s liked on Spotify, Facebook, and maybe even lurked, watching live videos on YouTube for longer than he would have cared to admit. And sure, you can assume that I’m using the “Meurks” internet presence, for this mixtape at least, as loosely autobiographical.
Yeah, I like this music. I hope you dig at least a track or two.
1. Darkest Hour — “With A Thousand Words To Say But One”
This mixtape begins with two different “opening tracks.”
This one’s for those looking for a harder edge. Meurks likes to blast this whenever getting caught in a Twitter conversation.
1. Dance with the Dead — “Robeast”
This mixtape begins with two different “opening tracks.”
This one’s for those looking to dance, I guess. Meurks likes to listen to this on repeat when scrolling his Facebook newsfeed first thing in the morning, when all the day-old posts show up.
2. Trevor Something — “Sega Genesis”
Meurks kind of likes this version of Grimes’ “Genesis” better but mostly because of the artist’s name. He’s so chill, he doesn’t need to have a surname.
3. Caspian — “Arcs of Command”
Meurks likes epic post-rock, in particular this one from Caspian, a band he follows on Twitter and Spotify, mostly due to how it borders on progressive metal.
4. Wilson — “My Life, My Grave”
Meurks likes to party and you better believe that he takes his life in his hands.
5. Skycamefalling — “Laura Palmer”
Meurks liked hardcore metal before it became metalcore and this band is one of the few that still holds up. Meurks gets that the song title is a Twin Peaks reference.
Meurks likes this track because it reminds him of videogames back when they weren’t all Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty.
7. This Mortal Coil — “Song to the Siren”
Meurks totally doesn’t play this song on repeat while crying.
8. Nails — “Wide Open Wound”
Wow, talk about a complete switchup — Meurks follows up tears with music that tears right through you.
9. Brand New — “Noro”
Meurks isn’t sure if this band is still brand new. Still likes it.
10. Crosses — “Bitches Brew”
Meurks likes this band. He also likes the vocalist’s main project, Deftones. Meurks is frequently judged for liking Deftones.
11. Maylene and the Sons of Disaster — “Hell on the Rise”
Meurks listens to this song. He doesn’t follow the band on Twitter or Spotify.
12. He Is Legend — “China White III”
Meurks likes this song because it reminds him of that time he got locked out of his apartment with his phone at a little under 50% battery life and had to wait for the landlord to show up. It took forever, what Meurks refers as “slow time.”
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-Michael J. Seidlinger is the author of a number of novels including The Strangest, The Fun We’ve Had, and The Laughter of Strangers. He serves as Electric Literature’s Book Reviews Editor as well as publisher-in-chief of Civil Coping Mechanisms, an indie press specializing in unclassifiable/innovative fiction and poetry.
