a regular dozen

is twelve. twelve is an excellent number. there are twelve days of christmas, twelve signs of the zodiac, twelve hours in half of one day, twelve beers in my fridge, twelve cookies in my cookie jar and, of course, twelve months in one year.

all of a sudden i've found myself in a place where 'best of' lists are being drawn up all around me. all of a sudden i've realised it's november, soon to be december, soon to be santa, soon to be drinking way too much champagne, soon to be 2010.

and it's caused me some reflection. not in a wack corny way, more just like a gentle reminder to cast my mind back over the things i have (and haven't) done since the beginning of this year. and voila, i've made a mixtape of songs to go with said reflection that have something to do with each and every month of the year.

i feel like it was january and i blinked and now 09 is nearly gone. then again, that could have something to do with the fact that new years eve is not the only time of year i drink too much champagne. and i've had some pretty great blinks along the way. x

january rain - david gray

is the best sort of rain. there's nothing like cooling your hot and sticky limbs in a january afternoon downpour as you breathe in the smell of the wet stuff splashing down on blister-making hot roads.

one heavy february - architecture in helsinki

short and sweet, much like the second month of the year. in february i like to stay out way too late to make the most of daylight savings and the last promises of summer.

march of the meanies - the beatles

in march i like to use my artistic license to make a mix tape since there are nil songs i like about the month of march. plus this is super exciting, in a cinematic action movie kind of way.

april 8th - neutral milk hotel

an introspective tune, perfect to listen to when you're curled up on your couch in april looking through a rain-spattered window at the leaves turning all crunchy and brown.

maggie may - blur

in may i like to listen to bands playing covers whilst continuing to use artistic license when making mix tapes. i also like to daydream about escaping to summer in europe as the weather becomes chilly.

miss june '75 - the brian jonestown massacre

june is my favourite month of the year. it's roses, pearls, warm scarves, warmer snuggles and birthday cake.

july, july! - the decemberists

july. a month so great you have to say it two times in a row. with punctuation! in july i like to rug up and go for bike rides in the winter sunshine.

august moon - gregory & the hawk

cold, clear, dark, sharp nights make for chilly bones, but also the brightest, whitest moons of the year. bring your hip-flask of inside warming cognac.

pale september - fiona apple

perhaps one to listen to whilst you're in the northern hemisphere, for it to make literal sense. but a beautiful song to listen to anytime, anywhere in any other sense.

october, first account - be your own pet

in october i like to strip off the layers, stop bringing jackets to work and dream of impending summer plans as i turn the clock for daylight savings.

sweet november - sarah blasko

where i am right now. in november i like to remember how good it was to see sarah blasko live at the enmore in october.

will you still love me in december - julie doiron

the last on my list. in december i like to listen to this song as i run through the year in my mind and think of the dances i've done along the way.