Well. Here we are at the start of another semester.

I taught my first class today: American Theatre and Drama. I love teaching this class. We read a lot of plays – 2 or 3 a week – and talk about them and what was going on in theatre, and America, and the whole world when they were first written and performed. We talk about whether or not they’re still relevant.

“Would you want to be in this play today? Would you want to design costumes for this play? Would you want to see a production of this play today?”

These are the questions I get to ask about plays like Aiken’s adaptation of Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Hellman’s The Children’s Hour; Herne’s Margaret Fleming and Finley’s We Keep Our Victims Ready. The students usually have very strong opinions. It’s fun.

In other news, I have finally finished my Best of 2012 mix tape. You can download it here. Don’t be fooled by the ads on the page: click on the link that says “click here to start download from sendspace,” which is NOT the first thing on the page. They try to trick you!

Here’s the deal with 2012: it was not as epic a year for music as 2011, in my opinion. My favorite albums, which are represented in the mix, include Janet Feder’s Songs with Words, David Byrne & St. Vincent’s collaboration, Love This Giant, Grizzly Bear’s Shields, Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die (yes, really, that shit is a BRILLIANT commentary on America), Tame Impala’s Lonerism, Beach House’s Bloom, Jack White’s Blunderbuss, and The Divine Fits A Thing Called Divine Fits. Those albums are super good.

The rest of them were sort of “meh,” or “fine,” but included high points, which you’ll hear if you listen to my dang mix. Because of this, I included some songs in my mix this year that were only released as singles or on EPs, because: they’re super good. So: be prepared for some Wye Oak, Lia Ices, St. Vincent, and The Antlers.

I’m just going to go ahead and say it: I don’t know what all the fuss is about with Mumford & Sons. You guys: all their songs sound the same to me. But whatever. They’re on the mix. You can listen to the one song I put on the mix and know: the whole album sounds like this song. Which sounds just like their last album. (Sorry Josh).

I hope that you enjoy it.

I DO.

Here’s a picture of Yoshimi dancing to my mix. Clearly: he’s learned a thing or two from his apartment dance rehearsal sessions with LA. Isobel is taking copious notes, as always.