Me and the Mixtape: September 2006 Edition

Me and the Mixtape is a 60-minute tracklisting for a mixtape out of a given style, mood, situation, or a period of time.

1. Justin Timberlake f. T.I. - "My Love" [Futuresex/Lovesounds]
Most just kneel on one knee and buy a diamond ring when proposing; Timberlake writes a worldwide phenomenon.

2. Junior Boys - "In The Morning" [So This Is Goodbye]
Wham! Bam! Thank you, Mr. Jeremy Greenspan. Don't even bother making breakfast.

3. The Rapture - "Whoo! Alright Yeah... Uh Huh" [Pieces Of The People We Love]
The only way to get kids dancing again is to infect them with a fever in which the only prescription is more cowbell.

4. Scissor Sisters - "Ooh" [Ta-Dah]
Disco's not dead; it's alive, homesexually kickin', and as glamorous as ever.

5. The Album Leaf - "The Light" [Into The Blue Again]
San Diego post-rocker illuminates novices how a majestically glacial instrumental should sound like.

6. John Mayer - "Stop This Train" [Continuum]
If by "train" he means the train of foxy celebrities he dates, why would he even consider stopping it?

7. Yo La Tengo - "The Weakest Part" [I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass]
22-year veterans delay retirement with another cheerful piano romp.

8. Sparklehorse - "Don't Take My Sunshine Away" [Dreamt For Light Years In The Belly Of The Mountain]
Linkous' brittle, Coyne-ial vocals is enhanced when harmonized with guest Sol Seppy in this Beach Boys-infected neo-psychedelia

9. Lupe Fiasco - "Kick, Push" [Food & Liquor]
The superb storytelling of this Chi-town vanguard is on display here; this time, inspired by skateboards.

10. Basement Jaxx - "Everybody" [Crazy Itch Radio]
Infectious, lively, energetic, what everybody has come to love about these Brixton house monkeys.

11. Fergie - "London Bridge" [The Dutchess]
Beat from J-Kwon's "Tipsy", delivery from M.I.A., swagger from Gwen's "Hollaback girl"; counterfeit hit of the year.

12. Darkel - "My Own Sun" [Darkel]
One-half of French ambient pop specialists, Air, wants his very own time under the sun.

13. Xiu Xiu - "Save Me" [The Air Force]
San Jose experimentalists cries for help and pretends to be Interpol for a day.

14. Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton - "Reading In Bed" [Knives Don't Have Your Back]
Metric's riff-happy electronic escapade is put aside for a bit in favor of this haunting piano ballad.

15. Ryan Adams - "Look Who Got A Website" [internet]
A white country boy from North Carolina attempting to rap; absolutely hilarious; Ryan Adams, "you a g-g-g-g-genius!"