In response to his custom made Beatles mix CD, Joey gave me a copy of his Muse favorites and Girl Pop mix. I chose to review Girl Pop first considering the weather is more suited for that general style more so than the apocalyptic conspiracy theory songs by Muse.

The familiar opening “Wooaahhh” in Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” excited me because that is great start. It’s on of my favorite car ride jams for its passion and heart-pounding beat. However, when Gaga was followed by Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend,” I became worried. Lavigne is irritating but her cheerleading is even worse.

Sorry Joey, but the mix hit a cold streak for me during Freezepop’s “Brainpower,” an animatronic song that reminds me of the movie Tron, which was followed by Taylor Swift's “Love Story” then Miley’s “party in the USA.” I nearly gave it up; when finally "Zero" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, reeled me back in.

What I loved about the mix is the new tunes Joey brought to my attention like “Ice” by Lights, electro-pop with a killer catchy chorus. My favorite song is “Around the Bend” by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour. Their horn hooks intertwined with synth-organs and tight drum cracks satisfied my need for funky dance jams. His bonus round track, a Lazy Town/Lil Jon mash-up, was surprisingly awesome once I got over the lyrics about how to bake a cake.

Overall the mix cd is pretty good, particularly because songs I only enjoyed on the radio I now have in my Itunes Library. (This is why digital music turned the industry upside down). However, I think it would benefit from some rearranging like putting the two distinct 60's pop throwback numbers (“Chick Habit” and “I Was Made For You) back to back. Also I would edit it down by chopping out all of the Taylor Swift and replacing it with Beyonce. Here’s the entire track list with some side notes, what are your thoughts?   

1. Lady Gaga – Bad Romance – (awesome)
2. Avril Lavigne – Girlfriend – (awful)
3. The Ting Tings – Shut Up and Let Me Go (love that chord progression also used in "American Boy")
4. Freezepop – Brainpower (Soulless video game music)
5. Taylor Swift – Love Story (torture)
6. Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA (torture continues)
7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero (Getting my groove back)
8. Lights – Ice (Dig this new Jam!)
9. Lady Gaga – Poker Face (She’s one of my favorites but maybe too present on the mix)
10. The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – Around the Bend (the standout track)

 
11. Taylor Swift – Thug Story (Go Away Taylor)
12. Lily Allen – LDN (I love her attitude, Joey picked winners by her)
13. Garbage – Cherry Lips  (I never heard this Garbage track and I feel better now that I have)
14. Katy Perry – Hot N Cold (I prefer "I kissed a Girl")
15. Paramore – crushcrushcrush (played out, but my favorite from Riot!)
16. April March – Chick Habit (It sounds interesting but I wouldn't put it on repeat)
17. Taylor Swift – You Belong With Me (no really, Taylor, Go Away!)
18. Lady Gaga – Paparazzi (Lady Gaga and Lily Allen can stay)
19. Lily Allen – Not Fair
20. She & Him – I Was Made For You (decent throwback diddy)
21. Superbus – Radio Song (decent pop punk song)
22. Shiny Toy Guns – Major Tom (Kind of boring)
23. Lil Jon v. Lazy Town – Mashup (Kind of ridiculous, which is why I love Mash-ups)