[Mix] Graduating From College

It's hard to believe my undergraduate career is now nothing more than memories collected over a four year span, represented in the form of a piece of paper showcasing my specialization. It's been an exciting and enjoyable collegiate experience full of growth - both personal and academic. Although, it's still somewhat of a strange feeling when people say or text "Congratulations!" probably because I have yet to wrap my noggin' around the aspect of being finished. It feels like another summer break as of right now, except in a couple of months I'll begin to realize this academic break knows no seasonal bounds. Liberating, terrifying, and enthralling - phew, I need a graduation mix stat!

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[MP3] Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band - Slowly (Oh So Slowly)

I'm glad that Conor Oberst is still making music fine enough to be included on another one of the many mixes I've made in my lifetime. Part of the reason stems from the fact that people my age have grown up with the singer/songwriter, starting from his adolescent years with Bright Eyes to his current solo work. In many ways I've grown up with Oberst as his sound progressed from an alternative genre to his current folky style, one that led to this song's creation. The song kicks off with an "Potential, you're a loaded line / The veil between the world and the faceless bride" which strikes a collegiate chord with me for some reason. Not to mention the chorus "Slowly (oh so slowly).. it's slowly ending!" will be a theme for my last summer of freedom before the real world tries to make me its bitch, say it ain't so!

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[MP3] The Format - I'm Ready, I Am

One of my all-time favorite Format songs, not only because it's catchier than the swine flu on Cinco de Mayo, but also for it's appealing lyricism. It's great one liner after one liner that come together coherently, like "Cause there's no love like apathy" (attendance optional classes) or "Old classmates please drop all your pens / Don't write a word cause I won't reply / And I'm not bitter, no / It's just I've passed that point in my life" (starting college off fresh, sans high school pals). Lead singer Nate said he wasn't going to write anymore based from personal experience after the release of Dog Problems, yet that's one reason their music was so accessible.

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[MP3] John Lennon - Watching The Wheels (Acoustic)

If you forced me to write a list of five people I could bring back from the dead to hang out with, John Lennon is a lock for the list without even thinking. Aside from being an extremely creative and interesting human being, the style of music and alluring personality of his songs are timeless. The acoustic version of "Watching The Wheels" is easily relateable to some of the dreams and aspirations I've told some friends and family about. Always supportive, they can't help feeling the need to be a "voice of reason" to remind me my ideas don't fit the system. Thanks for the reminder, sing it John: "People say I'm lazy dreaming my life away / Well they give me all kinds of advice, designed to enlighten me / When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall / Don't you miss the big time boy you're no longer on the ball!"

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[MP3] Kings Of Leon - Ragoo

I think it's safe to say that, by now, Kings Of Leon are going to be a mainstay within rock for quite sometime. There are numerous tracks on Because Of The Times that strike a chord but "Ragoo", with its southern drawl and storybook lyrics, has earned a spot on this mix. My ears still perk up for this track everytime, even some two years after the initial release. Not to mention the opening line of the song will be what I'm thinking as toss my cap into the air tonight, "I wanna say here's to me gonna change the world!"

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[MP3] The Features - The Idea Of Growing Old

I'm not sure if there is an actual statistic floating around somewhere in academia or on the internet, but I'd venture to guess there are a large number of collegians who fall in/have a tussle with love do so whilst in college. For some, it may be where you find the person you're intent on spending the rest of your days with while, for others, it may have been a blissful couple of semesters with someone you'll come to refer to as your "college sweetheart" when reflecting. Either way, I think The Features take the cake for one of the most romantic songs ever made. It's not even a sappy song, rather one with an up-tempo beat and a chorus containing the phrase "You turn me on to the idea of growing old". Find someone that turns you on in that manner and hold on tight.

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[MP3] Kleenex Girl Wonder - Forget The World

Not everything about college is full of social activity and taking it easy; it can be intensely stressful with a constant cloud hanging overhead reminding you to act wisely because there are only four years to decide in which area you're specializing. Forget the fact that all through high school and beforehand, teachers and administrators told you to learn as much as you could from different areas - be well rounded. From freshman year on it's all about focusing, venturing down a specific path. That was an aspect of college I personally found unappealing - one of the reasons the oft overlooked Kleenex Girl Wonder's "Forget The World" was a tune I've always found soothing when frustrated about the future, "I'm still young and already I'm bitter / So something must be wrong / I may quit but I'm not a quitter / I just like moving on."

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[MP3] The National - Green Gloves

Hopefully you've heard this song by now, a little dash of music from my (childhood) hometown band The National to add some depth to the mix. For some reason, I can see this song being the the track one would play sitting alone in a chair by the fireplace with nothing more than a glass of whiskey as company. Indeed, it's the type of somber track that is achingly beautiful but one which would succinctly soundtrack life's failures. Perhaps I'm thinking too far ahead, but how many of the people you befriended in college will you still know a few years into your career-driven future? Maybe I'll be sitting by the fireside, "Falling out of touch with all my friends / Are somewhere getting wasted / Hope they're staying glued together / I have arms for them."

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[MP3] Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

Oh, come on. I had to use this track! The advice is great and the timing appropriate - too bad Baz isn't addressing my commencement tonight.

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It's a nice full circle feel for IGIF too; it was at the beginning of my freshman year in college that Connor and I became a dynamic duo. A lot has changed in our respective lives and within the site since that time but, let me tell ya, it's merely a precursor of things to come. If you've enjoyed IGIF thus far, you're gonna love all of the things right around the bend without school acting as a distraction. Sit back and enjoy the ride, the real world is an exciting place.

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