Monday Mixtape, Vol. 42

Because I missed last week (which makes it two missed mixtapes in about the past four weeks - sorry), there is a large amount of music that I would love to just jam in here. Fortunately for me, I can add some tracks to the backlog that didn’t make the cut. 

So what’s happened in the past two weeks? Kanye’s album got released on Spotify, I discovered a new rapper from DC who is amazing (thank you Paddy), Pete Yorn released a Pete Yorn-y album, my Spotify Discover Playlist was ON POINT and I found two really cool new bands, Young Thug dropped a mixtape/album/who knows and was featured in a captivating GQ profile, Bibio released an album, AND Tame Impala decided to remix a song from Miguel’s new album.

The crazy thing about Tame Impala’s remix (last track on the mixtape) of Miguel’s “Waves - It wasn’t even the best remix. That honor goes to Kacey Musgraves, who gave a bit of twang and a whole lot of beach vibes while still keeping the super charged sexual innuendos alive. “Body surf on me / don’t stop / I wanna ride that wave / all night / I wanna ride that wave.”

Miguel makes some baby making music, but hearing Musgraves sing these lyrics takes it to another level. 

KANYE. A divisive figure who I officially can no longer defend. The transgressions are too many at this point. I can still love his music, but I’m totally tired of him. This is one of my favorite tracks from his new album with rap god Kendrick Lamar. I think the album is pretty great and certainly worth a listen for any rap fan. I’ll have some more tracks from the album in other mixtapes.

I spoke about Thugger earlier. His music is just strange, but that profile I read provides a bit more insight into the guy. He’s an alien. And it sounds like a man with a lifestyle that will leave him dead at a very early age. 

LOVE this song from Moses Gunn Collective, particularly that drugged out guitar bending to infinity. 

Remember Pete Yorn? That guy that had a classic album musicforthemorningafter? Well this track reminds me a lot of it. Sorry that I’m just asking the guy to play the hits, but when you’ve made like five other albums (most of which i’ve listened to!) and just aren’t doing it for me, it’s all I ask. 

Bibio releases tracks like “Wren Tails” that make me think I’m coasting through a Wes Anderson movie in a convertible watching the leaves change. Beautiful songs. 

Oddisee is a rapper from DC who my buddy put me on to. I have been listening to him a lot the past week and am amazed with his technical abilities (his second verse in “Want Something Done” is sick!) and production. This guy has some serious talent and is due to breakout. Just a taste of his rhymes: 

“We started off locally / and now this chains globally / that’s the way it’s supposed to be / single seeds only grow to trees / if left alone to breathe / so lets take some time to expose the weeds / feeding off the roots of the culture vultures next to you / convincing you to stay in the forest when they the record crew.”

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 14

In lieu of putting any tracks from Tame Impala's album, here's a mix of all sorts of genres: we got folky pop (Civil Twilight), FUNK (Thundercat), indie rock (EZTV), electronic (Jamie xx), R&B (Miguel), electro-pop (Cannons), singer/songwriter (Dave Monks from Tokyo Police Club!), and whatever the hell TiRon & Ayomari are creating (which is at the very least awesome and interesting).

I'm hoping to get my Tame Impala review up this week, I've been listening to the album relentlessly for the past week or so, and I feel like there's so much to say about it. Stay tuned!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 4

My Morning Jacket released their new album last week, and "Compound Fracture" is my favorite song on the album. My review of the album will be published tomorrow!

Best Coast also released their new album, California Nights, last week, and as they tend to do on each of their albums, I become crazily fixated on a few track. In this album's case, it's "Jealously" and "Feeling OK." Bethany Cosentino knows how to make a simply structured song sing. Her formula has pretty much stayed the same since their debut Crazy For You, but it's always worked for me. If you like these two tracks, check out my 5 Faves playlist I made a while back! 

Future Island's new track is a continuation of their last album, specifically the tracks "Spirit" and "Seasons (Waiting on You)," so you guessed it - it's a great track!  

Ryley Walker is a singer/songwriter I recently stumbled upon. "Primrose Green" should be played outside in a garden, it's sound is so delicate and warm.   

Miguel, Miguel, Miguel. This is such a sexy song. This is the version of the song without Wale because Miguel should be the only one singing on a track like this.