Monday Mixtape, Vol. 168 - Sufjan Stevens' The Ascension Meets Radiohead's Kid A

I’ve got an interesting mixtape for this week thanks to Sufjan Stevens blowing my mind with his latest album, Ascension. I immediately got vibes of (one of) Radiohead’s masterpieces, Kid A.

The influence is uncanny, and I’ve never heard a better album that maintains an artist’s own brilliance (listen to the intense and otherworldly“Death Star”) while also paying tribute (knowingly or unknowingly) to Radiohead’s classic from twenty years ago.

This week’s mixtape features my favorite songs from Stevens’ new album followed or preceded by the song from Kid A that I believe influenced the sound.

Kid A was WAY ahead of its time, and Stevens’ album sounds part of the time. The album can be chaotic and pulsating, lonely as the single star shining in the night, holy and ethereal, or all the above in one track.

The album is purely electronic, and the result puts Stevens’ talents in a rare stratosphere. This album is HEADPHONE/VINYL MUSIC: you have to hear it purely to get every strand and syllable, each whisper, every key collaborating into a galactic explosion of electronics and beauty. I’m just blown away.

The Ascension is a long album (1 hour 20 mins). It’s heavy (“a season of pain and hopelessness,” as Stevens says in “The Ascension”) and deals with dark and hopeless thoughts. Musically, it’s the complete opposite of his last album, the amazing “Carrie and Lowell,” but thematically, it has a lot of parallels.

I still haven't tackled Stevens’ earlier stuff, which is highly beloved and acclaimed, particularly 2003’s Michigan and 2005’ Illinois. I will get to it shortly.

But in the meantime, I hope this mixtape strikes a chord with those who love Stevens., Radiohead, or are just discovering one of them!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 167

Don’t have a lot to say on this Monday, but this is a great playlist to smoothly transition into the start of the week. Let’s work on stopping the fear mongering that the media and politics and WHAT FEELS LIKE EVERYTHING AROUND US is spewing. People can’t take away your positivity or hopefulness.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 166

It was 2012, I was a spry 28 years old spending a weekend at Austin City Limits in Austin, TX with a group of great friends and music lovers. We walked into the concert at Zilker Park in the early afternoon on a sunny Friday to a band I had heard of but never heard, Delta Spirit.

The song we heard is indelibly marked in my brain as a reminder of that day, that weekend, and the joys that music can bring, bringing friends closer together:

“Tear It Up,” from Delta Spirit’s self-titled third album, was the opening to our weekend of fun and a hell of an anthem. What a memory.

Eight years have passed, and Delta Spirit just released their fifth album, What Is There. I’ve listened to it all the way through a few times, and it’s great. I want to say it’s their best, but I’m still debating whether their self-titled album was better.

Wherever I end up on that internal debate, nothing will take my ears off of “Making Sense,” the first track on today’s mixtape, and on e of the best songs Delta Spirit has made. There’s something to the spacey synth that punctuates this song. It ties together a typical yet great Delta Spirit song.

“The Pressure” is another banger by Delta Spirit on the mixtape. Their energy is infectious and the pace non-stop.

Another thing I’ll never forget from that awesome set at ACL in 2012 was their frontman/guitarist, Matthew Vasquez, in the midst of his band going to town on a hard rock interlude, started climbing the scaffolding on the side of the main stage. Easily twenty feet into the air, high off god knows what (I can’t imagine it was just life at 1pm in the afternoon, but who am I to judge?), he starts dangling with one arm and swinging on the scaffolding.

We’re all witnessing a potential death while also getting to see some crazy rock star shit a la Eddie Vedder.

I remember the look on his bandmates’ faces. They continued to play, but they all saw their future falling before their eyes in the name of rock. Most of them looked slightly bemused. No one was angry, no one was particularly scared. That was Matthew being Matthew, I suppose.

But I’ll remember the energy. The feel of the crowd’s shock, fear, and genuine appreciation of some dude’s craziness and commitment to being a showman.

Vasquez climbed down easily, grabbed the mic, and screamed on.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 165

So much great stuff for you on this Monday! We start it off with Pink Sweat$, a chubby black guy who physically (and I guess a bit musically too!) reminds me of PM Dawn (who gets a nostalgic nod on this mixtape too) while musically reminding me of an amalgamation of Frank Ocean, Bruno Mars, and Khalid. And let’s also give respect where respect is due: he’s got the best album cover of 2020 on wrap:

Another newcomer, Nick Grant, is one talented rapper. Loving “FEDS” and been listening to him a bunch recently. You’ll hear more of this guy.

As usual, Justin Vernon is in high demand. He was on a Taylor Swift track from her phenomenal new album, and he’s got an appearance on a song on The Japanese House’s recent LP.

For the David Byrne / Talking Heads fans out there: Whitney came out with a cover of “Strange Overtones,” and they put a tad of a spin on it while staying true to its roots, so I think it plays pretty well.

Speaking of Talking Heads’ covers, I recently got the 10th Anniversary vinyl edition of Local Natives "Gorilla Manor” (one of only 1,000 made!). Gorilla Manor is easily one of my favorite records of the past decade, and it always gives me nostalgic memories of where I living, what I was doing, who I was, and so much more. Albums that really bring you back to a time yet still resonate on listens today are truly special. And my goodness, does “Wide Eyes” sound amazing on vinyl! (Sorry, no Local Natives on today’s mixtape.)

Every track Arlo Parks has released in the past couple years, I’ve been totally digging. She always has good beats, and she reminds me a bit of Clairo (maybe it’s the voice?) but she’s got more rhythm. Check her out.

Finally, a favorite of mine, Sir Drake. I didn’t think the use of “baby” so often could actually turn into a catchy track. The video is also pretty funny as he’s just getting embarrassed by pro athletes on Nike’s campus (and yes, also a pretty huge marketing ploy though I don’t think Drake is on Nike but all the other people are).

Drake’s the best. I just love him. I love all the haters of Drake, and the people that don’t consider him a rapper, or think he’s weak or whatever, it’s comical to me because they get SO UPSET. It’s just like, dude, just go back to listening to Gucci Mane and leave me in peace. Not ironically, but this Drake track is all about all the dumbs rappers that talked shit to Drake and spoke of the huge life they lived, yet now they’re broke and fell off the map. The consistency of Drake’s quality is ridiculous. It’s still going. And I’m loving it.

That’s all, have a great week.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 164

It’s Monday. So here’s a mixtape of the rap variety with a dash of the incomparable Glass Animals, who certainly know their way around rhythms.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 163

Happy Monday, and what a great mixtape I have for you today! There’s been a lot of new stuff that’s been released as well as discovered, so buckle up.

I was surfing YouTube, and you know how if you hover your cursor over a video, it will give you a bit of a preview? Well I came across this video from some band named Parcels:

My gut instinct said I had to click on this video because these guys were either going to REALLY suck or be awesome. Mr. Mustachio in the White Turtleneck?? This guy is either a total clown or the dude can get down. So which one is it? Take a listen and make your own decision.

I was amazed by how serious and how soulful these dudes were. Not only is their music soulful, but they all look like they’re totally locked in and making love to their own sound and melody. THESE GUYS LOVE THEIR MUSIC. And who can blame them??

I've been listening to this live album nonstop on Spotify, but I actually enjoy it much more on video because you really get a feel for how all these sounds are made as the director does a great job exhibiting all of the musicians playing their tools.

Also, Parcels’ transitions between songs is really cool to watch live. Since I had never heard them before, I wasn't totally sure when a new song started because their transitions are so smooth and seamless.

Parcels only has one album from 2018, and even if you listen to that album, which is super enjoyable, you can tell how far they’ve come as musicians in the past couple years. Very cool to see a band develop in talent like this.

These boys from Down Under are like a mix of Daft Punk, a dash of the Bee Gees (or maybe it’s just that blonde dude’s hair), a dash of the Doobie Brothers, maybe a little Phoenix, all updated to current times.

So guess who else dropped new albums? Taylor Swift and Logic. I really, really, disliked Taylor Swift’s last album. I thought it was a terrible, recycled sounding waste bin of pop music. Ouch. Just when I thought it couldn’t be worse, I was right because Swift released a truly phenomenal piece of music, folklore, easily one of the best albums I’ve heard this year.

Swift’s albums flows perfectly, draws on a sound, theme, and tone, and doesn’t waver too far, creating an incredibly cohesive piece of work from start to finish. I found it refreshing that the album’s songs took on all sorts of characters and stories instead of Swift’s well-worn personal travails. It was time for her to dig in elsewhere and find emotion.

There’s not one bad track and multiple standouts. My two favorites, at least as of today, are “the last great american dynasty,” “invisible string,” and “august.”

While “august” sounds like a somewhat typical pop song, I’m a sucker for any track where the singer just really wails out in emotion, hitting a high note you rarely hear her hit. Swift does it at around 2:00, “cuz you were miiiiIIIIINE TO LOSE!”

There’s something Sufjan Stevens about “invisible string” that I love, and I thought her best storytelling was on “the last great american dynasty.”

Now to Logic. He has claimed that he is retiring so he can be present during his son’s life. An incredibly admirable thing to do, and I hope him the best. I’ve always liked Logic, and he’s always been hated on as another “white rapper,” although he’s biracial (but you’d assume is white if you didn’t bother to research him).

He’s got technical talent, and I’ve always loved his beats and influences as well as one of those rappers who seems mostly to be real to himself and not pretend he’s something he’s not. Always respected that, and I wish he got more credit that he does. But this is a great album to go out on, possibly his best.

The album harkens back to the 90s - early 00s, particularly showing some love to Outkast, Tribe, MF Doom, Kanye, and even Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid! Once a gamer, always a gamer!

Oh, and I put Kyle on here. Great rap track.

Have a good week all, stay safe.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 162

My Morning Jacket just released a surprise album, The Waterfall II. It’s a release of other songs that MMJ recorded while making their last album, The Waterfall. Check out my album review from 2015 of the Waterfall here!

What I’m left guessing with this second installment is that the songs on this new album are b-sides. I’ve listened through the album a couple times, and it needs many more, but “Feel You” is the standout. It’s a great ballad with a killer guitar riff that will bring you back wanting to hear the song again. Love these guys.

There’s some new stuff from a couple bands that have made frequent appearances on the mixtape: Whitney and Foster the People. There’s also some brand new bands, like the unique teenage artist, boy pablo (hailing from Denmark!) and the spacey Mildlife.

Have a great week!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 161

Party peoples, put on some headphones and enjoy an eclectic mix of R&B, pop, electro-pop, rock, rap, soul, rhythm, and flow! This mixtape has everything, so I hope you like at least a few of the songs.

And if you don’t, I hope that one of the things my Monday Mixtapes bring is music that you don’t like at first. Have you ever noticed that some of the most impactful music for you is not kind to the ears the first time you hear it?? It’s too new, you’re not use to the sound, and therefore, you don’t like it. But that’s just a first impression! Please give everything a chance.

So I hope you don’t just listen to this mixtape once. Listen to it many times and see if anything grows on you. The first time I heard Radiohead, Kings of Leon, Kanye West, and so many more, I didn’t like it. Time and patience made me realize.

Anyways, that’s my soapbox. I’ll see myself down and out.

RIP to Pop Smoke.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 160

Some great music today starting with the aptly titled, “Dreamland,” by the incomparable Glass Animals. These guys sound like no one else, and I can’t wait for the new album.

I heard “Edge of Town” by Middle Kids on SiriusXMU and was blown away by it. That chorus! It indelibly sticks in your mind and will not leave, you just wait!

Come to think of it, this is a pretty catchy mixtape. Every song except for Phoebe Bridgers’ “Punisher” were all songs that I liked the first time I heard them, which is usually the result of something sticky in the sound. Let’s see if it works with you!

Enjoy the Monday, I hope you had a good fourth of July amidst what has been a year that’s been a very dark test of our democracy, and the strangest fourth of July’s in my lifetime. America will endure.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 159

Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s a good day for music.

Let’s start with the young lads from Dublin, Ireland, Fontaines D.C. I found about them through a random video I watched of their performance on Seattle’s famous radio station, KEXP.

They give off some DIIV vibes (certainly on the first track on the KEXP video for “The Lotts“), but there’s more to them than DIIV. They’re raw, and their debut album from last year spans all sorts sounds from ballad (“Roy’s Tune”) to party starter (“Boys in the Better Land”) to Irish diddy (“Dublin City Sky”).

Part of the performance was an interview, and it was interesting to hear them talk about their origins, which started with beers at pub discussing poetry. Fast forward to now, a band to watch, a sound I love.

Haim just released their third album. I enjoy it so far though there doesn’t seem to be a better song than the previously released (and bonus track) “Hallelujah.” I love the opener “Los Angeles,“ and I’ll be listening much more to see whether I get into it.

Twin Peaks is a band that started out years ago as a bunch of knuckleheads who sounded like they had just picked up their instruments as tools to drink more and get louder (that’s a compliment!), but they’ve really turned into a band that’s keeps improving and making better music. “What’s the Matter” is the most recent example.

I still don’t know what I think of Grimes’ new album. It’s good, and I don’t think I’ve given it the proper time, because if I did, I think I’d like it a lot more. I rediscovered “Delete Forever” as I listened to the album again recently, and there may be a few more to add in the coming weeks as I cycle through some more listens.

Finally, I have no idea who Israel Nash is, but he’s got some soul a la St. Paul and the Broken Bones and sound country feel a la Chris Stapleton while giving some Neil Young (who ALSO released a new album, which I hope to feature next week) vibes. That’s a pretty, pretty, good combo.

And that’s it people, enjoy your week!