Monday Mixtape, Vol. 134

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Happy Monday, all! A bevy of tunes for your enjoyment, starting with Dylan LeBlanc, a newcomer (for me) with a new rock album that’s been blasting through my speakers. The first track of his album, the first track of this mixtape, is probably his best.

Have I told you how much I love Midland? Probably the only “country” band that I listen to regularly a band who I also saw live and they completely rocked the place. Really great show and crowd. And did I mention that “Drinking Problem” has to be the best country song written in the past decade or two? IT JUST IS. This is their new track off their upcoming album. My britches are bunched.

Speaking of great live performers, one of the best rappers I’ve seen live, Big K.R.I.T., has a bass thumping new track which I believe you will enjoy.

A number of other great tracks, including a belated one from Andrew Bird, whose new album this year, My Finest Work Yet, may be facetious (I’m using Andrew Bird words) on his part but aptly named in my estimation.

Leaving us is a “demo” track from Hippo Campus. This band is AWESOME and UNIQUE, and I can’t exactly believe why they’re not beloved by more, but they released some more intimate demo tracks from their previous albums. Always cool to hear songs in their infancy.

Have a good week!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 133

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We’re stating the mixtape with a track from a rapper, Denzel Curry, whose new album, ZUU, is a contender for rap album of the year, and one of my favorite albums I’ve listened to all year. The production is unique, raw, and Denzel Curry brings a heavyweight punch to certain tracks while displaying his verbal dexterity on others. If you dig the songs on here, check the album out.

Speaking of favorite albums of the year, I have another album, a COMPLETE 180 from Denzel Curry, the mellow and delicate Faye Webster. She instantly reminded me of Natalie Prass with a touch of country (thanks to that slide-guitar featured throughout), and my wife thought she sounded like a chill Gwen Stefani, which I thought was an apt comparison.

Webster’s Atlanta Millionaires Club (Yeah, I’m not sure about the album name OR THE ALBUM COVER…) is a true album, it flows completely from the front to the back, recounting a romance with “Jonny” that didn’t work out. Love it.

Palace continue to release great singles,  and I’m hoping a new album is in the mix. Clairo is a new pop artist, whenyoung reminds me of the music woman-child of Best Coast and Florence & The Machine, and finally, Bon Iver released a new track, which sounds like a combination of all three of his albums. It’s got electronics (22, A Million), a catchy chorus (For Emma, Forever Ago), and a subdued rhythm (Bon Iver). I’m digging it.

Have a great week!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 132

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I haven’t exactly been reliable with these Monday Mixtapes every week, so apologies. But this week’s mixtape is quite an eclectic mix. We got rap, rock, indie, grime, a country-ish ballad, and electronic instrumental.

I’m really digging the new Logic album, another great one by a very under appreciated rapper. On the other side, there’s another track on here with an over appreciated, a well appreciated, and a much appreciated rapper, Young Thug, J. Cole, and Travis Scott, respectively. Then there’s Skepta, the gunslinger from the UK, with a new track, the spacey “Bullet From A Gun.”

Something about “Big Softy” just clicks. The song only gets better as it goes along, and I can listen to this one over and over. Albert Hammond Jr., the guitarist of The Strokes fame, has created a hell of a solo career. Nothing will top his top debut album, Yours to Keep, which I hold near and dear to my heart, but he continues to make great stuff, and he’s clean now! Yay!

Does this Justin Townes Earle song sound so much like Van Morrison? I get so many hints with his voice and the overall vibe of the track. His new album is a good listen, give it a whirl.

That’s all I got people. Enjoy your week. Think positive! Your thoughts are the only things that create action.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 131

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So…everyone’s dead on Game of Thrones. Well, not everyone, but mostly. I suppose that’s what was to be expected. Just let Sansa rule with Arya as hand to the Queen, and we’ll all be happy.

This week’s mixtape starts off reeeeall chill, I can’t get enough of Billie Marten’s voice. One of a kind. It’z crazy to think she’s only 19, that’s a lot of talent!

I’m been constantly listening to the Vampire Weekend album, and it’s one of those albums that’s just too long. 18 tracks?? Really?? If they had cut the 6 weak-ish tracks out of the album, it would be a really, really, good album. It’s still good, and when it’s great (Unbearably White, Bambina, This Life, How Long?, 2021), it’s really great. It just can’t keep the momentum up.

Holy Ghost! continues to kick ass, and “Escape from Los Angeles” is a seven minute opus!

If you haven’t listened to TOKiMONSTA, she’s a pretty great producer of, usually, laid back jams. Good to just throw her stuff on when you’re looking to relax a bit yet be productive.

Have a good week all!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 130

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Salutations to all you Monday Mixtapers! This mixtape is surrounded by Big Wild, a newly discovered electro-pop band that I’ve been digging. Their instrumental, “Pale Blue Dot,” might be my favorite track of them all.

If you didn’t catch the Band of Skulls track on last week’s Mixtape, here’s another gem. Despite the misfortunate terrible band name, these guys (and girls) rock. Been enjoying this album.

Have a great week all!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 129

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Happy belated Easter and Passover and any other holiday (…420) you may have celebrated over the weekend!

There’s so much great new music to digest this week, including new stuff from Vampire Weekend, Idlewild, Bibio, and Band of Skulls.

Many years ago, 19 to be exact, Idlewild released 100 Broken Windows, a phenomenal indie rock album that drew me into the Scottish band. A couple years after that, they released the somewhat more mature but still amazingly raucous, The Remote Part. I’m listening to it right now, and it stands the test of time. I actually have to listen to these albums all week. Please dig into these guys if you’ve never explored.

I've actually never listened to The Brian Jonestown Massacre before, but I’ve constantly read their name. Their new album kicks ass. Speaking of kicking ass, Band of Skulls is keeping rock alive, and “Love Is All You Love” is a testament to that.

If you liked Bibio’s old stuff, a la Ambivalence Avenue, this album goes back to his roots. Super chill, great background music. “Before” is one of my faves on the new album.


Monday Mixtape, Vol. 128

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Oh mercy! I’ve been gone for at least three weeks, I sincerely apologize. You’ve had such a glut of music in your stomach and soul missing! I blame my “real” job, which has been getting a lot busier and very interesting. There have been a few points where I’ve felt the business is about to really turn a corner and some real momentum is gaining. The first two times were a bit of false starts, and I have no idea where the biz may go from here, but it’s another good feeling. You have to feel this every once in a while to keep everything loose and fun, and keep hope alive, so that’s a good thing. 

ANYWAYS. This week’s mixtape is going to mimic my mood, so it shall be an upbeat slew of jams.

Friendly Fires released a single, one of my favorite songs I’ve heard from them in years  it seems just yesterday that their amazing 2008 debut album was playing on repeat on my speakers.

The Japanese House released what is easily one of my favorite albums this year so far. This is certainly my fave jam on the album.

Foals continue to make really good music. I’d say I’m a tad disappointed overall in their new album since their quality control album to album has been so damn consistent, and this year’s album sounds to be one of their weaker entries, but this track and “Sunday” are still great tracks, standouts on the album. 

I’m excited to hear Foster the People’s new album. If this single is any indication, it should be a good one. Speaking of quality control, these guys only have three albums, the last two of which I thought were wildly underrated (their second album was so weird and different, akin to MGMT’s wild left turn with their awesome, crazy, and orbital second album, Congratulations) thereby making the band seem underrated and under appreciated. Yet they were headlining the festival circuit on their last album. They’re a bit of a conundrum to me, I never feel like I meet too many huge fans of theirs or hear too much about them from critics, but they’re still making great music.

Enjoy the rest of the jams and the whole of the week! I’ll see you next one.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 127

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This week’s mixtape is for all the lovers of singer/songwriters, the rambling poets exhaling smoke, folk, and lullabies in the wind.

Every one of these artists I’ve only recently discovered (and Townes Van Zandt has been making music since the 70s! Guess I got some work to do for him), and it’s like they all hit me in a slow motion hurricane. These are all beautiful songs in their own right, but the songs all move at a soft, steady pace. This is music to burn a fire to. Let the embers and colors float amongst the darkness and close your eyes. Escape to the sounds of the crackling fire, like a record player, play the night away.

And let yourself fall asleep…