Mask Party Review (Soundtrack in Retrospect)

Track 3: Fugazi - Waiting Room

I am standing in the long June evening surveying my yard with an old friend. He throws metal horns when he hears this song. We take a moment and sing together, "I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait." Another candidate for "anthem of a generation". We say music nerd code words to each other ("Ian MacKaye", "Steady Diet") and laugh at the way different parts of the US interpret sub-cultural identities. Women take note: this is how some men actually bond.

Track 19: Information Society - What's on your Mind (Pure Energy)

50% of crowd sings along to this song. They remark to the other half as to the medium upon which they listened, such as "cassingle", "recorded from radio" or "my first cd". The medium is the message.

Track 30: Foster The People - Call It What You Want

"Dude, what IS this?"

Track 52: Meat Loaf - I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)

My wife and I have an independent approach to social gatherings. We tend to have separate experiences at parties - hanging out more with other friends than each other - so we make it a point to come together for 1 or 2 songs specifically to dance together. When I mix the music, I always choose a song or two for that purpose. When this song came on, I ran to get her: "Honey, our song's on!" She came to the dance floor, cocked an ear to the ridiculous introduction of the 12 minute original album version of the song, and sat down with her head in her hands. "You brought me in here for this?" she cried. "I was winning at Susie sticks!"

Track 54: Kanye West featuring Rihanna - All Of The Lights

This track takes me right out of my head every time. Rihanna's voice and the hypnotic beat make me stop and listen. Tonight is the first time I've heard the song as it's meant to be heard: loud, on a full dance floor. On the final chorus, we all close our eyes and raise our hands. It lasts just an instant.

Track 58: Mark Ronson featuring Ghostface Killah - Lose It (In The End)

There's a dude I can count on to come running from anywhere to come dance to this song. I smack his ass.

Track 65: David Guetta featuring Akon - Sexy Bitch

"Is your friend always so flirty?"
"She is, and her husband is the smartest man in a hundred mile radius, with the earning potential of any 10 other party guests put together, so good luck with that."

Track 85: Phoenix - Lisztomania

Everyone knows this song, and loves it. I notice that there's something about the melody and vocal delivery here that appeals across demographic lines. Note to self: always play this one at mixed-generation weddings.

Track 99: The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name

This jam reverberates in my house. Everything meshes, and for a moment, the sound is perfect. Giant, clear, booming even. All the furniture in my living room is pushed back, and a circle of dancing people fills the space. Somebody calls out, "break up the circle!" and we switch: bouncing around in pairs, sandwiches and trains, avoiding the strange instinct to make circles. Our cheerleader is right: spread the energy around - don't keep it all contained. I love that every gathering has lessons like this.

Track 104: Justice - D.A.N.C.E.

This turns out to be the last proper party song of the night. It's a benediction, reminding us to take the lessons we learned on the dance floor tonight out into the world.

Track 110: The Pixies - Head On

This song is too loud. My house is warm, and smells like only house parties can smell. I can tell it's going to be awful in the morning, but that comes with the territory. Someone has cleaned my kitchen, and I remember again why it is that I count my riches in friends.

Track N: Groove Armada - At The River

The party tells me it's over, and I send off the evening sitting down by myself to cleanse with the sand dunes and salty air. I imagine all my guests home and safe, ready to nurse hangovers and nap on the couch tomorrow. I turn off the lights, drink one more glass of water, and remember to brush my teeth.