Monday Mixtape, Vol. 138

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This White Reaper track has got to be the song of the summer! How good is the guitar??

It only takes a few seconds into this recently released Lupe Fiasco track that I knew it had to be recorded back in his Food & Liquor days. If it wasn’t for Lupe’s “F and F” shoutout (to Lupe’s label 1st and Fifteenth) that he constantly yelled out on his classic debut album, the production and flow is old school Lupe. According to Complex, this was recorded before Food & Liquor and will be part of a release by Lupe’s longtime business partner of unreleased tracks over many years of their label. Can’t wait.

Not sure who Litany is, but “My Dude” got me caught with its 80s vibe and the gal’s voice.

Funny because I was talking on last week’s mixtape write-up about how Whitney reminded me of Real Estate, but then I started listening to Golden Daze, and dear lord, Golden Daze wins for best album of the year that sounds like Real Estate. It’s not a bad thing, Real Estate had the acoustic indie chill vibe on lockdown for many years at which point Mac Demarco kind of took over (and might have ceded the belt given how much I disliked his last album), but there were bound to be a ton of admirers influenced by Real Estate. Often imitated, never duplicated.

Enjoy the other music on this week’s mixtape and have a great week!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 137

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Starting the mixtape with a new troubadour by the name of Alfie Templeton. He’s giving me some vibes of a more pop oriented Mac Demarco. His track “Stop Thinking (About Me)” show his pop chops while “Tragic Love” has that total Mac Demarco chilled out vibe.

ALPINE. These guys & gals are VERY underrated. A Is For Alpine is a really great debut album (from 2013) and no one sounds like them. They just released a new track that is as catchy as their best stuff and a hint of what’s to come on their new album. Check them out, go deep!

Speaking of underrated, Spoon is one of those somewhat unsung heroes of rock n’ roll. They’ve kept the torch alive for all the new bands to take rock forward, and they’re one of the most consistent bands in all of music.

Whitney’s debut album was really good. I can see how they’re divisive since the lead singer’s voice, is, um, a bit high, a bit weird, a bit whiny, and maybe VERY annoying to some, but it works for me, and they’ve developed a pretty big following. I compare them a bit - at least via the relaxed vibe - to Real Estate, though I’ll take Real Estate over them any day of the week.

Omar Apollo sounds like a mix between Gary Clark Jr. and Leon Bridges. Need I say more?

Faye Webster. If you didn’t read my earlier stuff, her album this year is easily one of my favorites, it might still be sitting at #1 today. SO LISTEN.

AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 136

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Hello all. Hope the weekend treated you well. Come along with me on this summertime Monday and listen to some tunes!

I just started listening to Crumb, and “Cracking” was the first song I ever heard from them. It’s entrancing with an out of tune horn reverberating in the distance to a slow beat. A cool song.

Tycho is not for everyone, or it’s not for every time of the day. Chill is it’s game when you need to space out to distract yourself and get down to writing or doing spreadsheets. This is the kind of music I tune in to zone out.

So Two Door Cinema Club hasn’t ever topped their amazing debut album, but their fourth album is a good change of pace, a bit less formulaic then their second and third albums. “Satellite” is probably my favorite song on the album, and I’m constantly singing along to every “Oh" in the chorus.

After listening to the Black Keys new album a number of times, “Lo/Hi” is the best track on it.

Kevin Morby is a singer/songwriter who has had a number of albums, some stuff I like, other stuff I didn’t care for. I’m liking his new album, and I love the way “Oh My God” ends in the last minute or so, it’s a reversal of course of where the song seems to be going and a surprise ending.

PUP’s new album is one of my leaders for Album of the Year. I keep going back to it. Front to back, it is one non-stop kegger. I love it.

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.