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The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library Makes MAGNET A Mix Tape

And now for something completely different: Michael J. Epstein holds a Ph.D. and is a professor of audiology/scientist who teaches classes like anatomy and physiology of the auditory system, hearing science and noise & hearing—which would all probably have us addicted to Adderall and stuck in the library for hours on end. However, that work load is clearly not enough for Dr. Epstein, who also leads the Motion Sick, owns Boston-based music licensing company Launch Over and recently founded a new side project, the Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library. The band is unconventional in every way, comprised of nine members found on Facebook and Craigslist and incorporating instruments such as glockenspiel, flute, melodic and more. Though we thought it impossible, Epstein was able to squeeze this mix tape into his very busy schedule, saying, “Every year, I like to create a mix to help symbolize the transition from the rainy introspective spring into the carefree, sunny days of summer. It’s really a mix tape all about transitions and transformations. We begin by cleaning up the remnants of winter and experiencing its aftermath and end with … well, beach cats. Here are some songs that I’ve discovered in the past year that made the story.”

“Faith In Free Part I” (download):

Count Zero “My Mockingbird”
This tale of the mockingbird, which symbolically absorbs the pain of the protagonist, is the perfect sponge for soaking up gray skies. It’s also pretty catchy and a bit breakneck. Video

Mellow Bravo  “Where The Bodies Lay”
It’s the morning after and last night was a doozy. I hope to never experience a hangover like this one, but at least it’s got a solid rock drive to guide you through the day-after-regret haze. Video

Jeremy Dubs  “Listen The Snow Is Falling”
Jeremy Dubs’ beautiful electro rendition of this Yoko Ono song is also well supported by its single-shot video. The underrated original was released as a b-side to “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” and explores the uniform and shared experience of a moment of peace across the globe. Video

Hallelujah The Hills “Get Me In A Room”
While it’s true that, knowing how much the world has given me, “it would be wrong to sing the blues,” sometimes there’s no overcoming a little seasonal affective disorder with HtH. Hey, even if I seem a little down, just put me in the game and let it all happen is what they’re saying … I think … and I support that. Video

Streight Angular “Everyone Is Syncopated”
Perhaps the first step is recognizing that everyone fights through the same awkward transitions. None of us is ever quite on the beat. What this has to do with chickens all being exfoliated, I cannot say, but I am certain that it is indeed related. Video

Bunny’s A Swine “I Should Have Left The Bushes Hours Ago”
In all the chaos, all the regret, all the change, BAS still begs you, “Please do not turn out your inside light.” Do what they say—or else. We’re just about at the end of the tunnel. Video

Golden Bloom “Rhyme The Reason”
The clouds are clearing, we’re doing it again, but pretending it’s the first time. Finally some happy pop as we near the end of the story. This song also has a great video where a silver-legginged superhero transforms everyone for the better. Video

The Susan Constant “Came/Went”
The subversive, but happy-sounding pop continues and even if “you’re too busy and I’m too crazy and you’re just standing around wasting everybody’s time,” we’ll work together to climb out of the cave and bask in the summer sun. We’re almost there. Video

Fat Creeps “Nancy Drew”
This song serves as kind of the summer fake-out. It’s that last cold, drizzly day before we make it. It’s a little dark and droney, but when Fat Creeps presents the observation that “there’s a cat and a hamster in my peripheral vision,” we know that something good is about to happen. It foreshadows the impending heat and the final moments of the mix … Video

Summer Villains “Beach Cats”
Nothing is happier than the summertime excitement of, well, beach cats. And with our fine, sandy feline friends, we ring the arrival bells of summer. Video