Artist	Song
Pet Shop Boys	What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Ani DiFranco	The Waiting Song
Billy Bragg	Qualifications
The Smiths	Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
Lyle Lovett	Once Is Enough
Cannibal Ox	The Cold Vein
The Police	Driven to Tears
Tears for Fears	The Start of the Breakdown
They Might Be Giants	Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head
The Golden Palominos	Breakdown
The Band	The Weight
Elvis Costello	Tear Off Your Own Head
Tom Waits	Looks Like I'm Up Shit Creek Again
Ute Lemper	It's All a Swindle
The Boomtown Rats	I Don't Like Mondays
The Violent Femmes	Kiss Off
The Police	When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around
Dire Straits	Brothers In Arms
Billy Bragg	Some Days I See the Point

Comment:

I started this mix back in November, when I reached a sort of breaking point. It was going to be one of those my-life-sucks-and-I-can't-quite-keep-it-together mixes. Is this the start of the breakdown? I can't understand you. Look, I am walking as if I am living. And heaven knows I'm miserable now.

But although I enjoyed listening to the draft playlist, I never really worked the mix out. My mood improved; I let it go.

Then things went down the tubes again, and depression turned to self-righteous indignation. How can you say that you're not responsible?

Then came a Kafka-esque turn, so the mix took on some new flavors. The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. I hope you know that this will go down on your permanent record. Tear off your own head. Touch the puppet head.

Now I am toughened to it all. Welcome to the new status quo. I used to listen and not interrupt--but once is enough. All mankind has lost its reason--life is good, knock on wood (knock, knock).

But that isn't where I want to live. I'm not seeking easy answers or inner peace--I'm just looking for some relief.

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