If it’s December at You Ain’t No Picasso, then it’s time for Mixmas! Every year I like to turn YANP over to some of my favorite bands to showcase some of their favorite songs through a themed mix. They pick a theme, five songs that fit the theme and then share a little about why they picked each one. This year I’m also giving away a YANP shirt, so check below for the hint about tomorrow’s mix.

MP3: Oh No Ono – Internet Warrior

The first Mixmas contribution this year comes to us from Nis Svoldgard of the Danish group Oh No No. Though I didn’t hit up Denmark while in Europe, I heard the band there when their record label head, Dan Koplowitz, played their new album Eggs on the drive back to Helsinki. Instant adoration. And now that you’ve written a feature for a music blog, Nis, you are a true “Internet Warrior” just like your song. Here’s Nis’ mix:

“Nis’ Creepy Christmas Mixmas”

Since I’m a bit of a paranoid guy so to speak, and since it’s just about the darkest time of the year, I’ll go ahead and make a list of the creeeepiest songs for Christmas ever. Literally songs that make my toes bend and make me sleep with the lights on. Hope I don’t ruin your Christmas mood:

Scott Walker – Clara

It’s written from an experience Scott had in 1945 when he (and his mother?) went to watch the news in a movie theater (that’s what you did back then). The story was about Mussolini and his wife who had been executed by a mob after having lost the war. It’s really frightening and beautifully described. “The breast are still heavy” etc.

MP3: Krzysztof Penderecki – Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima
The morning. The planes. The bombs. The screams. The horror. Took me about two years before I was able to listen to this all the way through. It’s just so painful and agonizing. Everything is too bright and clear in this dream. The best way of understanding war through art.

MP3: Suicide – Frankie Teardrop (demo)
Just the most intense and dark rock song ever. I’m just sitting here holding my breath and waiting for the screams to kick in. Kinda hard living in the 70′s, huh?

The Beatles – A Day In The Life [Youtube link]
We’re alone. There’s no meaning to life and there’s no god and you’ll never be able to get really close to anyone. Wanting is all there is. So go on. Try to see if you can make it make sense.

Frightening?

MP3: The Shaggs – Who Are Parents
These girls just sound so brainwashed. I love the song and the way they handle their instruments but at the same time it reminds of those nightmares where people don’t have faces and you can’t make contact with anyone. Total apathy.

Tomorrow’s hint: the second contributing band is a psychedelic jam band from Athens, GA San Francisco, CA with more touring members than anyone else in this year’s Mixmas.