Okay, just in case you guys haven’t gotten enough back-to-school jams, here’s a second helping. Anything to ease the pain of the inevitable, you know? It’s probably described best in this moment from Season 5 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (why yes, I have been watching the whole show again, starting from the first episode. You can shut up about that now):
Buffy: How was school today?
Dawn: Um, the usual, big square building filled with boredom and despair.
Buffy: Just how I remember it.

Lord, school is awful. On with the show.

Kanye West – “School Spirit”

Kanye rules it when it comes to school-themed albums. The man’s oeuvre reads like this: The College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation. Out of all of those, “School Spirit” is actually one of the only tracks that’s strictly about school. Still, there’s no way we could put together a back-to-school mixtape without Kanye.

Best line:
They say, “Oh you graduated?”
No, I decided I was finished

Hot Chip – “And I Was A Boy From School”

I loved the Britpop back in my college days (O HI, just dated myself), so anything that sounds even vaguely similar is a nostalgia trip. Hot Chip’s 2006 single is Britpoppy AND “Amp”-worthy (bonus points if you remember that MTV show, young’uns), so I’m kind of glad that somebody’s keeping that ‘90s dream alive.

In honor of ‘90s MTV (R.I.P.), here’s a music video:

The Go! Team – “Huddle Formation”

This band’s main concept is primarily cheerleading. I don’t think I need to say much more.

Best line:
The song ends with a great big “YAY!”

Pixies – “U-Mass”

“U-Mass” was brought to us by Trompe le Monde, the Pixies’ last album. Arguably the best song ever about collegiate pretensions. Also, the lyrics read like The Rules of Attraction.

Best line:
It’s educational!

Sonic Youth – “Teen Age Riot”

Apparently, “Teen Age Riot” is about a world in which J. Mascis is president – seriously, how do teenage daydreams get any better than that? I clearly remember buying Daydream Nation in high school after reading about Sonic Youth in Sassy – that opened up a whole world of new amazing shit to listen to. Absolutely essential.

Best line:
Looking for a ride to your secret location
Where the kids are setting up a free-speed nation, for you

The Ramones – “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School”

In the movie of the same name, the song is supposedly written by hottie groupie Riff Randall! By the end of the movie, The Ramones have taken over the school and made Riff an honorary Ramone. You gotta rep The Ramones on any and all of your back-to-school mixtapes.

Best line:
I hate the teachers and the principal
Don’t wanna be taught to be no fool
Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock’n'roll high school

The Pipettes – “School Uniform”

Everything about The Pipettes is cute. Cute cute cute cute cute. So cute, in fact, that this song is labeled “Punk/Polka” in my iTunes. Awww! (Barf.) Anyway, this little song about sexual confusion is adorable.

Best lines:
I should have noticed it before
(It wasn’t noticeable before)
my girlfriends said they saw before
him looking at the boys

Aaaaaaaand I’m spent. I’m tapped out, guys. Any suggestions for more songs to add? I’m sure we missed some big ones.